Stuck!

thepennelopy

Hey Guys,
So I have a goal to lose about 5 pounds a month so that I'll be around or near my goal weight between March and May, My birthday and the day I graduate, but I've been stuck at this...spot. I did a google search about found out about Fucoxanthin, L-Arginine, and Sacha Inchi. I read that they help with weight loss if taken daily, has anyone else used these and found results? If you have any tips on losing weight please let me know!
Thanks!

shivles

Maybe you're expecting too much, it's only recommended you loose one pound a week. Opening your diary will help us help you

grimendale

5 lbs a month is a little agressive. Without more information, it's hard to help. Open your diary. How long have you been stuck? What's your body fat percentage at? How long have you been dieting? If you are close to your natural set point, it is going to be hard to keep up with large losses.

trogalicious

Hey Guys,
So I have a goal to lose about 5 pounds a month so that I'll be around or near my goal weight between March and May, My birthday and the day I graduate, but I've been stuck at this...spot. I did a google search about found out about Fucoxanthin, L-Arginine, and Sacha Inchi. I read that they help with weight loss if taken daily, has anyone else used these and found results? If you have any tips on losing weight please let me know!
Thanks!

1. Don't put date goals on weight loss. This isn't a sprint, it's a marathon.
2. Don't even worry with any "weight loss" supplements.
3. Your goal is too aggressive for only wanting / needing to lose 20 lbs (according to your ticker)

In fact, here's the wall of text I provide in most of these threads:
I give this in a lot of noobie threads for people that show up here and want to lose weight.:

1. don't trust the initial setup that MFP provides. If you put in the wrong/inaccurate information, it'll tell you to eat an amount that may not be applicable.
2. Make sure you eat enough.
3. Figure out what works for you and is sustainable/healthy/long term.
4. avoid fads. don't buy in to any "Hey, try the twinkie and vodka diet"
5. Don't cut out anything now that you don't plan on literally giving up forever.
6. GET A FOOD SCALE. Weigh everything. No, seriously.
7. Get an HRM with a chest strap. You'll at least have a better idea of what you're burning. It'll be more accurate than the generic info in the exercise database.. and even more than the cardio machines.
8. Don't go balls out. You'll burn out. I see 300 lb people show up here, instantly start working out and cutting their intake SEVERELY... trying to cut out all of their carbs at once.. whatever. Take it slow. Figure out how much you need to eat FIRST in order to lose.. then incorporate exercise.
9. Don't cardio yourself to death.
10. Take the information on the forums with a grain of salt. A lot of people that have been here for a while.. and have been successful, may seem jaded. They give out GREAT advice day after day, only to be met with people that refuse to listen.
11. Eat real food. Not diet food. Not "low fat, sugar free, now without X." It's easier to get/find/count.
12. don't set time restrictions.
13. measure yourself weekly. Don't just weigh. Measure and take pictures.
14 BE PATIENT.
15. Avoid forum topics that have "1200" in the title. It's just full of butthurt. Lots of it.
16. This isn't a game, it's about changing your lifestyle. Do that.

pretty much that.

...and don't fall into the "1200 calorie" vertigo of suck because of:

the typical MFP users does this:
1. I wanna lose weight, let's try MFP.
2. OH! Wow, it tells me I can lose 2 lbs a WEEK? AWESOME!
3. I just sit at a desk when I'm not working out, I guess I'm sedentary.
4. MFP tells them 1200 calories, and they don't even eat that.. then they work out on top of it.. creating an even bigger deficit.
5. Lose a lot, fast, brag about 1200 calorie success.
6. Come back in a few months trying to figure out why they're dizzy, tired, not losing weight.
7. Get on the forums, ask why they aren't losing.
8. Get two responses (I eat 1200 and lose) (I eat 2200 and lose)
9. Argument ensues about who is right.

Now. That being said. These threads happen hundreds of times per day. Most times, and I mean really.. seriously.. 95% of the time.. people get the 1200 number because they don't put the right information in when they set up the account. There are a great number of people that are trying to help. I'm one of 'em.

I'm a hardcore advocate of actually finding out what works for the individual.. by means of other calculators, averages, time, practice, and patience.

Blanket prescriptions of 1200 calories "because it worked for me" is more harmful to the generic new user than the "figure out what you need to eat." Unfortunately, one is a LOT easier to type.

AmyRhubarb

^^ THIS! Good info, listen to Trog! :drinker:

alisonlynn1976

Those supplements aren't going to do anything. Accept that there are no shortcuts and it's really just calories in/calories out.

whowe82

Hey Guys,
So I have a goal to lose about 5 pounds a month so that I'll be around or near my goal weight between March and May, My birthday and the day I graduate, but I've been stuck at this...spot. I did a google search about found out about Fucoxanthin, L-Arginine, and Sacha Inchi. I read that they help with weight loss if taken daily, has anyone else used these and found results? If you have any tips on losing weight please let me know!
Thanks!

1. Don't put date goals on weight loss. This isn't a sprint, it's a marathon.
2. Don't even worry with any "weight loss" supplements.
3. Your goal is too aggressive for only wanting / needing to lose 20 lbs (according to your ticker)

In fact, here's the wall of text I provide in most of these threads:
I give this in a lot of noobie threads for people that show up here and want to lose weight.:

1. don't trust the initial setup that MFP provides. If you put in the wrong/inaccurate information, it'll tell you to eat an amount that may not be applicable.
2. Make sure you eat enough.
3. Figure out what works for you and is sustainable/healthy/long term.
4. avoid fads. don't buy in to any "Hey, try the twinkie and vodka diet"
5. Don't cut out anything now that you don't plan on literally giving up forever.
6. GET A FOOD SCALE. Weigh everything. No, seriously.
7. Get an HRM with a chest strap. You'll at least have a better idea of what you're burning. It'll be more accurate than the generic info in the exercise database.. and even more than the cardio machines.
8. Don't go balls out. You'll burn out. I see 300 lb people show up here, instantly start working out and cutting their intake SEVERELY... trying to cut out all of their carbs at once.. whatever. Take it slow. Figure out how much you need to eat FIRST in order to lose.. then incorporate exercise.
9. Don't cardio yourself to death.
10. Take the information on the forums with a grain of salt. A lot of people that have been here for a while.. and have been successful, may seem jaded. They give out GREAT advice day after day, only to be met with people that refuse to listen.
11. Eat real food. Not diet food. Not "low fat, sugar free, now without X." It's easier to get/find/count.
12. don't set time restrictions.
13. measure yourself weekly. Don't just weigh. Measure and take pictures.
14 BE PATIENT.
15. Avoid forum topics that have "1200" in the title. It's just full of butthurt. Lots of it.
16. This isn't a game, it's about changing your lifestyle. Do that.

pretty much that.

...and don't fall into the "1200 calorie" vertigo of suck because of:

the typical MFP users does this:
1. I wanna lose weight, let's try MFP.
2. OH! Wow, it tells me I can lose 2 lbs a WEEK? AWESOME!
3. I just sit at a desk when I'm not working out, I guess I'm sedentary.
4. MFP tells them 1200 calories, and they don't even eat that.. then they work out on top of it.. creating an even bigger deficit.
5. Lose a lot, fast, brag about 1200 calorie success.
6. Come back in a few months trying to figure out why they're dizzy, tired, not losing weight.
7. Get on the forums, ask why they aren't losing.
8. Get two responses (I eat 1200 and lose) (I eat 2200 and lose)
9. Argument ensues about who is right.

Now. That being said. These threads happen hundreds of times per day. Most times, and I mean really.. seriously.. 95% of the time.. people get the 1200 number because they don't put the right information in when they set up the account. There are a great number of people that are trying to help. I'm one of 'em.

I'm a hardcore advocate of actually finding out what works for the individual.. by means of other calculators, averages, time, practice, and patience.

Blanket prescriptions of 1200 calories "because it worked for me" is more harmful to the generic new user than the "figure out what you need to eat." Unfortunately, one is a LOT easier to type.

MFP told me to lose 2 lbs a week to go down to 1500. I'm at between 1500-1600. 1600 = 25% reduction. My Dr. wanted me do eat anything I wanted as long as I stayed at 50 or less carbs per day. He is a little asian dude. I tried low, low, carb. Lasted about 1/2 day. My wife is using another site and we compare info. Today is 5 days of our lifestyle change, and thanks to MFP and this forum, this is the longest I have stuck it out, and I think it may stick this time.