REALLY need some advice :/

Calliope610

Hey! Can you give us some info like height, weight, age, and open your diary? People will be able to give you much better advice then.

Yeah, sure, sorry... I'm 5'5, 232lbs and 22 years old. Diary opened now.

(I've not logged for the past two days, due to frustration, which is why I've needed to ask for help)

I am 5'4", 205lbs, 51yo and MFP has me set at 1440cals/day (1lb/wk weight loss goal). However, I get about 500 cals in exercise, so I eat 1900-2000cals/day, which roughly matches my TDEE caloric requirements. You may want to ditch the MPF NEAT recommendation and try using the TDEE method. Please read the following link - it explains it all quite nicely.

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/975025-in-place-of-a-road-map-short-n-sweet

MzManiak

Do you keep a daily log of your weight somewhere?

What number did you log on July 1? July 31? August 15? September 1?

Not sure if you're trolling, or are just trying to be mean. But good luck with that... Have a flower :flowerforyou:

I'm trying to help you. I asked you for your weight on those exact days, and you did not give me an accurate answer.

Did you weigh yourself on July 1? Did you log it? What was the number you logged on that exact day?

He's really not trying to be a jerk. Everyone else, that maybe you found "helpful", is just throwing out suggestions based on other people's experiences... Jonnythan is trying to figure out what, specifically, could be the problem you're having, so he can give you the most relevant advice FOR YOU.

He's also pointing out that just because you 'think' you are doing everything right... there are obviously inconsistencies and measurements that you could take to benefit YOU.

Try to accept help when it's offered and not take criticism as an insult. :flowerforyou:

korygilliam

(okay guys, it really isn't that significant if she doesn't report the decimal of a weight change...really...)

Some lessons I learned when I was trying that may help:
0-Eat back ALL of your calories...that's what it is there for.

1-instead of making a daily net goal, make a weekly one. This allows you to be under and over on days, but it's the total balance that matters. This also helps your body not get adjusted to knowing that 'everyday, I will have 1450 cals to burn...' It's an easier form of cycling calories (or zig zag)

2-if I only did my diary, I only maintained. I had to exercise after a certain amt of loss to lose any more weight.

3-don't over exercise. I got to a point that I was doing 6-8 hours of exercise a week and I came to a dead stop in my loss (used a good HRM...counted everything). When I cut down to five 40 min routines instead of six 1.5 hr routines, I started losing again

4-Don't drink your calories

5-Measure yourself! Sometimes you are actually losing fat, but the muscle growth offsets the fat loss. You could be getting skinnier/slimmer, but your scale can't tell.

6-Watch your salt/sodium intake. Sometimes we just a swollen with water instead of fat...regardless, it looks about the same. (fluffy!)

7-Ultimately-I agree that I don't think you are eating enough. Do a search for BMR & TDEE in the message boards and learn how to calculate your basal metabolic rate and your total daily energy expenditure...maybe you are more or less active than you think you are. (I ended up purchasing a fitbit to see how much it said I moved in a day. Gave some useful info, but I don't recommend to use it for your exercise burned calories because it doesn't know your heart rate)

8-oh, and make sure and change up your exercise routine every month or two. You body becomes adjusted and it no longer burns as many calories (and get a HR monitor to determine your calories burned...the MFP one is a generic value and is no way accurate to what each individual person burns).

Good Luck!

themommie

Agree with above poster, thanks for the great advice. And log everything

Holly_Roman_Empire

Some lessons I learned when I was trying that may help:
0-Eat back ALL of your calories...that's what it is there for.

1-instead of making a daily net goal, make a weekly one. This allows you to be under and over on days, but it's the total balance that matters. This also helps your body not get adjusted to knowing that 'everyday, I will have 1450 cals to burn...' It's an easier form of cycling calories (or zig zag)

2-if I only did my diary, I only maintained. I had to exercise after a certain amt of loss to lose any more weight.

3-don't over exercise. I got to a point that I was doing 6-8 hours of exercise a week and I came to a dead stop in my loss (used a good HRM...counted everything). When I cut down to five 40 min routines instead of six 1.5 hr routines, I started losing again

6-Watch your salt/sodium intake. Sometimes we just a swollen with water instead of fat...regardless, it looks about the same. (fluffy!)

8-oh, and make sure and change up your exercise routine every month or two. You body becomes adjusted and it no longer burns as many calories (and get a HR monitor to determine your calories burned...the MFP one is a generic value and is no way accurate to what each individual person burns).

Good Luck!

All of these specific ones were true for me, too. And I would add that if you really are serious about this lifestyle change, it would GREATLY benefit you to get a heart rate monitor and food scale if you haven't already. The cost of both is nothing when you compare it to the progress you will see from using both.

jonnythan

This thread is why the Eat Train Progress group only allows two people to answer these types of questions. A torrent of random nonspecific advice doesn't help much, especially when the person asking for help is not logging consistently and not being forthcoming about data.

erulasse

I have a scale and heart rate monitor. I agree, they're sooo helpful

Mischievous_Rascal

Hey! Can you give us some info like height, weight, age, and open your diary? People will be able to give you much better advice then.

Yeah, sure, sorry... I'm 5'5, 232lbs and 22 years old. Diary opened now.

(I've not logged for the past two days, due to frustration, which is why I've needed to ask for help)

I am 5'4", 205lbs, 51yo and MFP has me set at 1440cals/day (1lb/wk weight loss goal). However, I get about 500 cals in exercise, so I eat 1900-2000cals/day, which roughly matches my TDEE caloric requirements. You may want to ditch the MPF NEAT recommendation and try using the TDEE method. Please read the following link - it explains it all quite nicely.

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/975025-in-place-of-a-road-map-short-n-sweet

THIS!!!! I did the same thing...I went down instead of up and stalled out big time, for a very long while. TDEE is where it's at - you get to eat well and lose weight. It's awesome.

JoRocka

What was your weight at the beginning of July? What about the end? What about now?

232lbs
232lbs
232lbs

We can't help you if you don't give us accurate information.

If your scale said exactly 232 on July 1, July 31, and September 11, it's probably broken.

LOL i don't have a digital- mine is one of those awful dial ones... and not only is it hard to read- it's bouncy (surprise) ... my weight is often recorded like that... so I can **semi** understand. LOL because that's how I record my weight- usually within a pound or two....

but that being said.... he IS trying to help you OP. Don't take it personal. It is NOT a personal attack. That question is one any professional would ask. Seriously.

the less specific the information to work with- the less helpful the advice can be given.

jonnythan

It's becoming clear that the OP is not ready for honest advice.

JoRocka

it's MFP.

Are you REALLY that shocked?

dorisbunker39

Simply put, you know as all of us that go up and down, you need to *kitten* your own thoughts. Putting on no weight is better than putting on weight. I started at 224 lbs at 22, I went down to 196 and stayed there for over a year, still did not give up. Your fat comes off quickly then your body needs to change with exercise you will achieve this and if you don't like it, well you ant going to change by starving. More food Mrs and more workouts. You will see the pounds come off then. I have continued to lose around 7 lbs a year and kept it off. This is not a quick fix, you need to see this a a life change not a number on the scales.

erulasse

It's becoming clear that the OP is not ready for honest advice.

I just think it's really bloody pedantic. I said more than once I KNOW it's something I'm doing wrong.
I don't write down my weight every single day in some chart. All I know, is that give or take a few decimal points, on the months you initially asked, I was 232lbs.

Even if I'd lost 1-2lbs in that time it still begs the question of how someone as fat as me would only lose a few pounds in 3 months.

I can't tell you how much I weighed on a certain date picked at random, sorry.

auntiebabs

I'm now on 1,270 a day and I'm hungry. A lot.

watch your sweets... BOTH sugar and artificial sweeteners increase your appetite.

Get your nutrition in first, it reduces cravings for sweets... Try focusing on what you should eat instead of what your shouldn't eat.
(Everyone know to get calcium and iron, but potassium and magnesium are important too.)

MzManiak

It's becoming clear that the OP is not ready for honest advice.

I just think it's really bloody pedantic. I said more than once I KNOW it's something I'm doing wrong.
I don't write down my weight every single day in some chart. All I know, is that give or take a few decimal points, on the months you initially asked, I was 232lbs.

Even if I'd lost 1-2lbs in that time it still begs the question of how someone as fat as me would only lose a few pounds in 3 months.

I can't tell you how much I weighed on a certain date picked at random, sorry.

That's part of the problem, and one of the points he's trying to make. If you really want to figure out what adjustments to make, start keeping an accurate food diary, weight log, and exercise log. Otherwise, you and everyone who tries to help you, can only guess at where the problem lies.

cupcakes_and_cardio

I wouldn't lower your calories that much. if MFP set you to 1700 and you lost (which was probably a lot of water weight, yes, but you still lost), I wouldn't decrease 500 calories. I'm on a plateau right now and it's frustrating, but I'm going to keep what I'm doing and see what happens and if nothing happens, well, I'll probably lower 300 calories or just not eat back exercise calories anymore. I would try 1400 cals and see how that works for you, but that's just my opinion.

jonnythan

I can't tell you how much I weighed on a certain date picked at random, sorry.

You should start logging your weight in addition to your calories.

Your food logging is inconsistent and your weight+measurement logging is apparently nonexistent. Keep a hyper-accurate food, weight, exercise, and measurement log for a month.

You can only make quality changes to fix whatever's wrong if you already know what you're doing and what the actual results are. Otherwise you're just throwing things at the wall to see if any of it sticks.

OzarkNana

I agree with most here regarding accurate tracking of calories, weight and exercise. What I see is a LOT of "packaged" foods, not a lot of veggies and fruits.....white breads instead whole wheat/whole grains. Packaged foods contain a lot of sugars and sodium, both of which are not good for you. While you may be staying within your calorie limits WHAT those calories come from DO matter.

Instead of packaged breakfast meals have fresh fruit, 100% whole wheat toast with sugar free jam, egg white omelets made with veggies from last nights supper, 2% shredded cheese and some Canadian bacon. Filling AND good for you. Be sure you have a mid-morning and afternoon snack, try to make them a protein like Light String Cheese, hummus with cut up veggies, some Laughing Cow cheese on celery etc. If you don't eat between your main meals your blood sugar spikes and dives and you get hungry and are more likely to eat something you shouldn't. Allow yourself some kind of "sweet treat" if you like them. A sugar Free fudge pop mixed with a tablespoon of natural, no sugar added peanut butter tastes just like a Reeses Peanut Butter cup and is low in calories. The P. Butter is a protein too.

You can do this, it takes time, it takes patience and it takes the will/drive/motivation to not just lose the weight but to make a change in your diet that will be easy to maintain when you reach your goal. Your not "dieting to lose" your changing your eating habits to LIVE a healthy life.

I wish you the very, very best in your journey.....and I applaud your coming here and opening yourself and your diary up to comments. I don't think anyone here wants to hurt you, they just want to give you the help you had asked for. While not everyone posts that help in a "gentle" way they really do want the best for you.....feel free to contact me if you need help, I'd be happy to do it...