A Slap In To Reality

mynewlife10

So, I weighed myself and in a whole week I lost 1 pound. At first, I was very disappointed - I knew I had a deficit of 8,400 calories and couldn't understand why all that hard work only yielded 1 pound. I decided to go back to last week and really look at the numbers and here is what I found (after being brutally honest with myself):

- I had numerous Whole Foods drinks that are like Vitamin Waters (but not "Zero") so they have calories and sugar

- I had two 16 oz. cups of Sprite at the football game on Saturday

- Regular ranch dressing on the 1/2 salad I had when I went out to lunch on Saturday

- Some chips late Sunday (just snacking around)

- No nutritional supplements (such as Iron and Vitamin D, which I know for a fact I am deficient on based on my blood panel)

So, there I have it - I didn't log any of the above, and it all added up at the end of the day. This morning I have started to ONLY drink water and I will get moving on my Iron and Vit. D intake. It seems as if everything else is working the way it should.

The self honesty is as big a part of succeeding as anything and I have been slapped in to reality.

LoggingForLife

Agreed...it's all those little things that you think don't count!

kristen6022

Denial is an awful thing, huh? Great job on that 1lb though. You keep that up and in 8 weeks you'll be down 8lbs. See a trend! LOL

I know after this past weekend (wedding in Atlanta, lots of eating out and drinking), I'll be up again on Friday. My stomach seriously wonders what I have done with it since I've been so GOOD the past 2 months. After stuff like that you just have to look at what you did and learn from it.

Good luck hun. It's great that you are learning so much...stick with it and I swear it's the best reward ever!

afat12

Agreed...it's all those little things that you think don't count!

For sure! That is why MFP is so important, those little things will get you.

mynewlife10

What's great about this is that I made mistakes - what if everything had been perfectly run and I still only lost 1 pound with a 8,400 deficit? At least I can do something about this.

foxruddellc1

Good for you! It is really important to be honest about what you are eating, but at the same time, 1lb is something to be proud of!!! Keep up the good work and keep watching what you eat. Use this as a learning experience!!!
If I drink booze, that KILLS my calorie intake, 60+ ounces of beer on Sunday added up to over 900 calories that day!!!!
As for the ranch dressing, and most of the other dressings, they are awful for you, made out of weird mixes of different oils... If you do want dressing, try making your own, balsamic or white vinegar, olive oil and spices... Hope this helps!!!

3500 = 1lb, 7000 would be 2, from what you shared, you probably lost 1.5lbs but water weights 8lbs a gallon, which is roughly what you should drink throughout a day. When did you weight yourself? Had you done all you buzness and not had anything to drink?

DopeItUp

You didn't ask, but I am going to offer a suggestion. Lower that deficit. You have only 49lbs to lose, shoot for 1lb a week. Maybe 1.5lb/week TOPS (probably not, especially as a woman). 8400 calories is at least 2x too high. You will have much greater long-term success.

kristen6022

What's great about this is that I made mistakes - what if everything had been perfectly run and I still only lost 1 pound with a 8,400 deficit? At least I can do something about this.

But don't think it's "perfect science" and every week you'll lose 2lbs. That's setting yourself up for failure. I'm set to lose .5lbs/week (I only had 8 vanity pounds to drop). Some weeks I drop 1lb, some 1.5, some .2. Weight loss isn't linear and some weeks you'll eat perfect and workout perfect and gain. In the end, on average, it does work. So, stick to it and before you know it, you'll be maintaining at goal!

ldrosophila

i think youll find if you do nothing else but cut out the caloric drinks it'll make a difference.

waltcote

For me it's learning, adjusting and moving forward. Becoming a better me day by day. :bigsmile:

MysteriousMerlin

It's hard to be honest with yourself about everything we're eating. We just have to be realistic! I've been planning out my days in more detail, and it's helping. I allow for some light snacking, and it helps me stick to it.

mynewlife10

Thank you for the suggestion. I am not aiming for that much of a deficit - my calorie intake stays at 1,200 or above. The deficit happens from my exercise so I am comfortable with it because it is not from "starving" myself.

Briko3

So, I weighed myself and in a whole week I lost 1 pound. At first, I was very disappointed - I knew I had a deficit of 8,400 calories and couldn't understand why all that hard work only yielded 1 pound. I decided to go back to last week and really look at the numbers and here is what I found (after being brutally honest with myself):

- I had numerous Whole Foods drinks that are like Vitamin Waters (but not "Zero") so they have calories and sugar

- I had two 16 oz. cups of Sprite at the football game on Saturday

- Regular ranch dressing on the 1/2 salad I had when I went out to lunch on Saturday

- Some chips late Sunday (just snacking around)

- No nutritional supplements (such as Iron and Vitamin D, which I know for a fact I am deficient on based on my blood panel)

So, there I have it - I didn't log any of the above, and it all added up at the end of the day. This morning I have started to ONLY drink water and I will get moving on my Iron and Vit. D intake. It seems as if everything else is working the way it should.

The self honesty is as big a part of succeeding as anything and I have been slapped in to reality.

And sometimes it's just the salty meal you had the day before causing you to retain a little bit of extra water.

sidney7305

Hi, I'm just starting out myself. This is the beginning of my second week and I have lost one pound. That being said, I truly sympathize. What I am trying to focus on is that this is a lifestyle change. I have to do what I am doing now for the rest if my life and it will never come off as fast as we want it too.

mynewlife10

Can anyone here tell me how to get rid of the ticker, by the way? It isn't working.

mynewlife10

It's hard to be honest with yourself about everything we're eating. We just have to be realistic!

This is so true.

TheCaren

A pound a week is respectable! However, I understand what you mean about being honest and logging EVERYTHING and not just ignoring little things here and there.

mynewlife10

Hi, I'm just starting out myself. This is the beginning of my second week and I have lost one pound. That being said, I truly sympathize. What I am trying to focus on is that this is a lifestyle change. I have to do what I am doing now for the rest if my life and it will never come off as fast as we want it too.

We can and will do this.

LivingtheLeanDream

Can anyone here tell me how to get rid of the ticker, by the way? It isn't working.

you can reset it if you like - re-input your starting weight, then put in your current weight today and that'll sort the problem. If you don't want it appearing at all go into settings and change the privacy settings (I think! its a long time since I fiddled around with that!)

mapenguinkeeper

I also have a severe Vit D deficiency and found it WAAYYYY easier to take the Gummy Vites than try to choke down the horse pills. It's also beneficial for my arthritis.

midwest_fittie

Pease add me, I love your honesty. I need more of it in my life and more people to point out what I'm doing wrong.

mynewlife10

I also have a severe Vit D deficiency and found it WAAYYYY easier to take the Gummy Vites than try to choke down the horse pills. It's also beneficial for my arthritis.

Do you know your level? Mine went down to a mere 10 I am supposed to be at 50-80. No wonder I have had major struggles. I take 50,000 IU drops per day because now the sun has left town and fall has set in.

mynewlife10

Pease add me, I love your honesty. I need more of it in my life and more people to point out what I'm doing wrong.

Thank you; that is very kind of you. I will add you right now.

mynewlife10

Can anyone here tell me how to get rid of the ticker, by the way? It isn't working.

you can reset it if you like - re-input your starting weight, then put in your current weight today and that'll sort the problem. If you don't want it appearing at all go into settings and change the privacy settings (I think! its a long time since I fiddled around with that!)

Thank you!

stacygwalters

I have a trick to eating a salad out. Get the ranch on the side, then dip your fork in the dressing before stabbing a bite of lettuce, spinnach or whatever it is you're eating. You still get a taste of the dressing without adding up a ton of calories & fat. Also, at home, I make my own ranch dressing & it's much lower in calories. Pick up a single serve container of plain greek yogurt, mix it with a packet of hidden valley ranch dressing mix & add a little skim milk...you could probably try using unsweetened almond milk as well but I've not tried that just yet. I can't imagine you would be able to tell a difference other than in the calories. Put it all in a pourable container and shake! You can google the actual recipe & calories. I think it's about 33 calories per serving. Try not to get discouraged though. 1 pound, is 1 pound and it adds up! I've lost 2 pounds per week the past 3 weeks & no, it's not falling off as quickly as I'd like but it's progress!

20ever

Your body keeps an accurate journal of your diet regardless of what you write down.

DopeItUp

Thank you for the suggestion. I am not aiming for that much of a deficit - my calorie intake stays at 1,200 or above. The deficit happens from my exercise so I am comfortable with it because it is not from "starving" myself.

That really doesn't change anything. Intake at 1200 calories (probably already too low as it is) and then adding bunches of exercise to hit 8400 calorie deficit per week (that's 1200 a day, insanely high for someone with less than 50lbs to lose) is very unhealthy and will inevitably cause failure. Moderate deficit for a longer period of time is the smart way to go. Extreme deficits result in loss of lean body mass (extremely bad) and nutritional deficiencies. Not to mention, they result in the extremely common adherence issues resulting in failure.

mynewlife10

Thank you for the suggestion. I am not aiming for that much of a deficit - my calorie intake stays at 1,200 or above. The deficit happens from my exercise so I am comfortable with it because it is not from "starving" myself.

That really doesn't change anything. Intake at 1200 calories (probably already too low as it is) and then adding bunches of exercise to hit 8400 calorie deficit per week (that's 1200 a day, insanely high for someone with less than 50lbs to lose) is very unhealthy and will inevitably cause failure. Moderate deficit for a longer period of time is the smart way to go. Extreme deficits result in loss of lean body mass (extremely bad) and nutritional deficiencies. Not to mention, they result in the extremely common adherence issues resulting in failure.

Thank you for your input

nancybuss

Good job analyzing what went on. Congrats on the first pound lost!
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