How do you stay patient when not seeing results??
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I have a group of "virtual friends" on a forum who share the same goal and frustrations with me. We just go there and whine. then life goes on. Surprisingly it does help me stay focused and motivated. LOL0
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I have multiple metrics so that I can usually find a silver lining some where. If it is really the scale you need to see move then I would set my net to 1700 for 4 weeks and see what happens, jumping all over the place isn't going to give you consistent data to draw any usable or reliable conclusions from. That and make sure you are being accurate and honest, including weighing out (and recording) everything that you eat (I had issues for awhile found out that the "little bit of ketchup or bbq sauce here and there was erasing my deficit).0
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...I haven't lost weight eating 1600 or 1900 calories a day...
Your diary shows 2 days of 2000 calories and then a whole lot of unlogged days.
Bottom line: you're eating too much for your activity level.
This... even though you say you eat the same thing daily, it's very easy to miscount if you aren't logging. Also, my TDEE calculations have you around 2200 calories, so it's possible you are near maintenance.
^^^this...I believe you were overestimating your activity level to arrive at your TDEE number. Remember, all of this is estimation and trial and error...nobody has a TDEE of exactly XXXX calories all of the time.
I'd agree that your TDEE is probably closer to 2200 calories...so if you're actually consuming 1900 calories, you only have about 1/2 Lb per week deficit built in there. For one thing, that's going to be pretty hard to see just week to week as any fat loss with that small of a deficit can be masked by water and waste...and secondly, it gives very little room for error...which means that on days you are going over, you're pretty much at maintenance and who knows on the other days you aren't logging.
Really, for calorie counting to work, you have to actually count the calories. You say that you're just eating the same thing, etc...but calorie creep is very easy and you have pretty much no wiggle room for error. Personally, I'd get that all straightened out and get my consistency on and then I'd go from there.0 -
I power through it. To give you stats so you know where my advice is coming from, I'm 44 female, current weight 237.4 lbs and eating at MFP recommended of 1270 calories, while still finding my perfect macros. I eat back at least half my exercise calories when I do exercise (single mom and son's homework takes precedence over the gym). I've lost 39 pounds since June 2013. I am a daily weigher because I cannot stay away from my scale either. It doesn't budge sometimes, and other than that, it goes up and down constantly. Some of what helps me is drinking plenty of water (not diet soda, not unsweetened tea, not undoctored coffee but water). For me that's 1/2 my body weight in ounces daily (okay actually it's just over that 1/2), so @ 237.4 lbs, I should be drinking at least 118.70 ounces of water daily. I just attempt to drink 1 gallon (or 128 ounces) of water daily. I do have my Coke Zero, and/or unsweetened tea but I do not count those as "water" daily. I try to get at least 7 hours of sleep nightly. Now realize that if I do not get the minimum sleep or I do not drink enough water, then I can guarantee a gain or stay the same on the scale.
Weight loss isn't linear. Yes, it's important to rule out any medical conditions but barring those, you might just need to change up your macros including daily calories. You might be one of those people that need to really watch carbs because your body doesn't process them correctly. Or maybe it's a gluten (wheat) sensitivity. I know people that have to eat low carb, high protein and others that work better on the high carb, low fat. Everyone is different and the guidelines of one of the diets like Atkins, South Beach, Paleo Diet, or even the Zone diet might work for you. It could even be that you just need to use one of those diets to kick start it and then find your rhythm. Weight loss isn't an exact science either. A lot of trial and error to find out what works for your body.
From what I remember of your stats, you are closer to "ideal" weight than you realize (20 to 30 lbs from the high end of the range) so you're going to lose a bit more slowly than say me who is still closer to 70 lbs from the high end of that range. And from what I understand, watch out when you enter that range because then it gets even slower (those last 10 are the worst from what I keep reading but even they can be achieved).
You can do it!0 -
Really, for calorie counting to work, you have to actually count the calories. You say that you're just eating the same thing, etc...but calorie creep is very easy and you have pretty much no wiggle room for error. Personally, I'd get that all straightened out and get my consistency on and then I'd go from there.
^^ This. you really have to knuckle down and count your calories to ensure that your intake is what you think it is0 -
Whether I log it or not, for 2 weeks I ate the same 2 eggs, approx the same grapefruit, the same 2 oz of chicken breast, the same 1/2 cup of rice, the same 170 g of baby carrots, the same 2 cheese strings, the same 2 yogurts, the same scoops of protein powder, glutamine and amino acid recovery because even though I didn't log it I measured it. Everyday.0
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i have other fitness related goals besides weight loss. i always see results for those.
and since i know that i can't defy physics i know that even if if i dont see a scale loss in a week if i'm eating at a deficit then the laws of the known physical universe tell me that there will be a loss in mass.0 -
Whether I log it or not, for 2 weeks I ate the same 2 eggs, approx the same grapefruit, the same 2 oz of chicken breast, the same 1/2 cup of rice, the same 170 g of baby carrots, the same 2 cheese strings, the same 2 yogurts, the same scoops of protein powder, glutamine and amino acid recovery because even though I didn't log it I measured it. Everyday.
How do you manage to only eat 2oz of chicken? That is like one chicken finger from most restaurants. Honestly, I would start you are 1700 calories 40% carbs, 30% protein and 30% fats. But you have to measure and weigh all your foods and log for one more to do a true analysis.
Also, do you have any medical issues? Pcos, hypothyroidism, etc?0 -
I haven't seen any result for over a year with all this calorie counting, weight training, cardio, and other stuff, but if I stop, I will look worse...I don't want to be worse than I already am...0
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There is more to be grateful for than just losing weight. You seemed a little stressed, start focusing on something else so you can get your mind off of losing weight. For example, try progress pictures, try measuring your body, try seeing how strong you got since you started working out and depending on what workouts you are doing, try paying attention to how flexible you are getting. You are improving but not in the area you want to improve in. If you are really working out and giving it your all then be patient. Rome wasn't built in a day and neither was you. It took 9 months for you to get made and 2 people. So give yourself some time and be grateful for what you are improving in.
P.S. Muscles weights more than fat so that can be one of the reasons why u are not losing weight.0 -
Even if you don't even lose a pound your body is still changing from exercise.0
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If you are fairly overweight, you can eat at a deficit and gain muscle. When I first started, I lost 20 inches in a few weeks, without losing any weight. Still eating at a deficit, and still gaining visible muscle. I would probably gain muscle faster if I was not eating at a deficit, but I still have a good bit of fat to lose.0
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How do you manage to only eat 2oz of chicken? That is like one chicken finger from most restaurants. Honestly, I would start you are 1700 calories 40% carbs, 30% protein and 30% fats. But you have to measure and weigh all your foods and log for one more to do a true analysis.
Also, do you have any medical issues? Pcos, hypothyroidism, etc?
I don't know how I manage to eat 2 oz of chicken, but I do! All the other snacks I eat make it not so bad
At the moment I am 1800 calories and 40% carbs and 30% fat and protein.
I am also waiting for results from blood work to test my thyroid.
I will respond to everyone else in a different post0 -
GuitarJerry: If the 5 week comment was for me, 5 weeks is because that's how long each phase of T25 lasts.
asprettyasme: I am pretty stressed but it's not because the scale isn't moving, it's because the scale isn't moving AND my clothes are just as tight as they were before. Not much else to focus on.
When it comes to muscle gain, I gain in my biceps fairly easily (either that or I lose fat there first) but until I get fat off me, I can't really say for sure what muscle gain I have....... if any0 -
I would try lowering your calories for a couple weeks to see what happens.0
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For ME, it is not just about seeing results. It is how I FEEL. There were days when I felt like crap, seeing no results, not change on the scale, or in my clothes. BUT I noticed a clarity in my skin. A smoothing of cellulite. Healthier nails and hair. Just to FEEL GOOD was enough to get through those days and keep my patience.0
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In the beginning it took me 2 weeks to lose 1 kg, then nothing for 2 months! But I was losing inches. Finally it's moving again. Just don't give up, keep exercising and logging. You'll get there!
And rant on here every week when it doesn't go down, that's what I did. Also put up statuses when you do go over your food so you can remind yourself, actually you haven't been perfect, maybe it's that?0 -
According to my scale I'm having a stall for 3-4 weeks. Only lost 1 lb. In the mean time I've lost 2-3 inches in my waist and 2 inch in my chest. I went from XXL to an already loose XL shirt, while not "losing" weight. So don't worry about the scale. It's probably the worst (weigh) way to measure your progress. Just keep doing what your supposed to be doing.0
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I would try lowering your calories for a couple weeks to see what happens.
I started the first couple weeks at 1500 and then upped to 1800. Neither produced better results
Skykilr1: I haven't checked my measurements since feb 2 but aim fairly. Retain if I have inch loss it is so minimal I could chalk it up to measuring wrong0 -
I got out of the mindset that I was trying to lose weight and there was some kind of schedule it had to happen on. I resolved myself to make better choices for every meal, every day, from now on. All the other stuff will come if I keep a caloric deficit and exercise.Some months have been good and others marginal. I stay positive because I know I am doing the right thing.0
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How do you manage to only eat 2oz of chicken? That is like one chicken finger from most restaurants. Honestly, I would start you are 1700 calories 40% carbs, 30% protein and 30% fats. But you have to measure and weigh all your foods and log for one more to do a true analysis.
Also, do you have any medical issues? Pcos, hypothyroidism, etc?
I don't know how I manage to eat 2 oz of chicken, but I do! All the other snacks I eat make it not so bad
At the moment I am 1800 calories and 40% carbs and 30% fat and protein.
I am also waiting for results from blood work to test my thyroid.
I will respond to everyone else in a different post
Keep us posted on the blood work. If the results come back negative, there are a few other things that you can try. Each should be done for 4-6 weeks before switching. Here is what I would try in order:
1. Go low carb (it's possible there might be some insulin sensitivity, which isn't all that uncommon.
2. If that doesn't work, restore to basic macros and go gluten free - Again, possible intolerance which doesn't show up on many test. You can get tested for celiac but this is a viable option until further test are needed. This is actually how my wife discover she had an intolerance. With further research, there has been some linkages between my dysautonomia (more specifically Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome) and gluten sensitivities.
3. If that doesn't work go lactose free.
Now, I understand this can be a long process, but for many people who dont want to dumb a ton of money into exploratory procedures, it's well worth it. The main thing is only cutting one thing out at once so you can pinpoint. When you cut multiple things as once, you assume it's all 2 or 3 things which make long term sustainment difficult. When you do these, you have to be committed though. It truly is the only way to figure it out. For example, going gluten free 6 days a week and then eating it again the last day, defeats the purpose.
What I would recommend is to research the next approach a week or two out. And follow up after each approach to provide findings. Additionally, I would start calories around 1500-1600, merely because even with hypothyroidism, it allows many women to lose weight still... some have to go a bit lower.
Now one last question, have you recently done long term suppression of calories? Or what is your recent (year or two) of diet history. Is there any periods with extreme low calories? This can affect results. For example, people who recover from HCG diets can take long periods of time to correct hormones and get a body to a point where it will lose weight again. One person I worked with took about months for that to happen after 4 phases of HCG... it was brutal.0 -
I will keep you posted with my blood work results
I attempted paleo 2012-2013 (6 months) with very little exercise and no results (minus my initial 12 lbs in 3 weeks). The thought of going low carb or lactose free frightens me because even after 6 months of paleo I thought about grains and chips and breads all the time and it made me sad
When I first started losing weight (gosh, 2010 or 2011??) I did 1300 calories (chicken breast salad twice a day) and cardio (elliptical) 5 days a week and since then I found my will power isn't as great as it used to be but I did lose weight. Then in 2011 I had a PT and she pushed me hard and I saw some change but not enough. My PT even accused me of cheating on my diet!
I am now back at square 1 with my weight loss. Anything I accomplished is long gone
My bf lent my his Arnold Schwarzenegger encyclopedia of modern bodybuilding so I could try the workouts in it0 -
Nothing worth having comes easy.0
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I didn't read any responses.
I have been plateaued scale wise for over a year! Why don't I give up? Because if I do then I will never achieve anything. The scale may not be moving but my body is changing I know it in my clothes and I see it in the mirror. I know because each week I am adding more weight to my lifts. I know because I can go farther without getting tired. The measure of progress is not only reflected by a number on a scale.0 -
I have a tendency to go back and 'examine' everything I did. There are a few things you have control over when watching what you eat: 1) Portion size - go back to measuring cups for a few days. Get used to what a 1cup serving and a 1/2 cup serving look like again. 2) What are you eating? Are you favoring or avoiding certain food groups? Have you consumed a crazy amount of sodium? 3) How am I exercising? Have I been doing the same thing day after day for the entire time? Have I been able to make progress?
A few weeks ago, for some reason I went back and read the directions for using MFP. I noticed that the recommended calories included exercise and that the goal calories were NET calories (after exercise was subtracted). Well, I started making sure my NET calories ended up around 1200 like it said. Poof! I lost 4 lbs. I supposedly learned my lesson years ago about reading the directions. Guess I forgot about that temporarily. Oops.0 -
I will keep you posted with my blood work results
I attempted paleo 2012-2013 (6 months) with very little exercise and no results (minus my initial 12 lbs in 3 weeks). The thought of going low carb or lactose free frightens me because even after 6 months of paleo I thought about grains and chips and breads all the time and it made me sad
When I first started losing weight (gosh, 2010 or 2011??) I did 1300 calories (chicken breast salad twice a day) and cardio (elliptical) 5 days a week and since then I found my will power isn't as great as it used to be but I did lose weight. Then in 2011 I had a PT and she pushed me hard and I saw some change but not enough. My PT even accused me of cheating on my diet!
I am now back at square 1 with my weight loss. Anything I accomplished is long gone
My bf lent my his Arnold Schwarzenegger encyclopedia of modern bodybuilding so I could try the workouts in it
When you went paleo, where you tracking calories and macronutrients? I know things might be scary or tough, but at some point you have to realize whats more important to you... this is what my wife had to realize. It's been a year since she went gluten free and still misses it. And occasionally, she will try to sneak some and pay for it (major GI issues). It is definitely tough though because we are limited from going to certain restaurants.0 -
I had some periods of a few weeks where nothing would happen and then suddenly I'd drop a few pounds all at once. I'm pretty patient about stuff like this by nature, and I don't feel rushed. For me, this was a permanent lifestyle change, not a short-term, temporary effort with a set deadline. I had the rest of my life to accomplish my goal so there was no feeling of needing to hurry. (That was almost 3 years ago and I've been on maintenance ever since.) :flowerforyou:0
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When you went paleo, where you tracking calories and macronutrients? I know things might be scary or tough, but at some point you have to realize whats more important to you... this is what my wife had to realize. It's been a year since she went gluten free and still misses it. And occasionally, she will try to sneak some and pay for it (major GI issues). It is definitely tough though because we are limited from going to certain restaurants.
My cousin was helping me with meal planning. I never focused on macros but I tried to keep a 1500 calorie diet. I'm trying really hard to stay away from chips and if I need something I have been eating gluten free pretzels (only a serving but it's usually in the evening) and instead of bread or wraps I have a rice blend at lunch. I have recently introduced steel cut oats at breakfast (by recent I mean Thursday last week)0
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