D'oh. Just figured out why I'm stuck.

tapirfrog

There's this big link on the blue bar at the top of the page? And it says "Reports"? And when you click it, you can see your compiled data for the last week or month or whatever? And one of the options is Net Calories?

Well. In the last 45 days, I've racked up 27 days under my calorie goal ... by about 50 or 100 calories per day. And I've had 18 days over my calorie goal ... by anywhere from 250 to 1,000 calories per day. So, on average, I'm eating at maintenance. I'm just doing it in the way that makes me feel as deprived as possible.

Math is a cruel, cruel mistress.

[places hands over face]
[shuffles off stage]

lmhbuss

This made me giggle! Good for you for figuring it out and being accountable for it! Now that you know, you will totally fix the problem.

Francl27

Just to be clear... Your goal is not your TDEE. That bar in the middle, it's your goal, not your TDEE. Your TDEE would be 500 calories over it (assuming you log exercise calories too). So just because you eat under or over your goal doesn't mean you're eating above your TDEE, ie, it doesn't mean you're eating at maintenance (unless you're not logging properly).

sjp_511

Yup, I've been there. Those days where you think "It's ok, I have been very good lately!" can slow all progress when they occur too often. Good luck getting back on track!

tapirfrog

Thank you for being cheerful rather than saying "Daaaaaaang you are an idiot." Because I sure feel like one!

Yeah, I'm accountable. I mean, physics kind of holds me accountable, you know? I just wish I'd explored that mysterious "Reports" link a long time ago.

Also, here is a lesson I have learned: the "Just for today" mentality works *only* if you have the same goal every day. "Just for today I'll stay under my calories" alternated with "Just for today I'll enjoy extra snacks" doesn't work. I have to take a longer view.

Man, it's hard to take the long view and also think "just for today" but have the same goal and still not obsess about being perfect. It really is a mental game.

tapirfrog

Just to be clear... Your goal is not your TDEE. That bar in the middle, it's your goal, not your TDEE. Your TDEE would be 500 calories over it (assuming you log exercise calories too). So just because you eat under or over your goal doesn't mean you're eating above your TDEE, ie, it doesn't mean you're eating at maintenance (unless you're not logging properly).

I've been thinking in terms of Calories Burned, Calories Eaten, Net Calories, so I now have to step away from the computer and really think about the whole TDEE thing as well so I can internalize what you've said. Thank you. I think I'm doing it right, but, well, I thought that before and see what it got me.

husseycd

Thank you for being cheerful rather than saying "Daaaaaaang you are an idiot." Because I sure feel like one!

Yeah, I'm accountable. I mean, physics kind of holds me accountable, you know? I just wish I'd explored that mysterious "Reports" link a long time ago.

Also, here is a lesson I have learned: the "Just for today" mentality works *only* if you have the same goal every day. "Just for today I'll stay under my calories" alternated with "Just for today I'll enjoy extra snacks" doesn't work. I have to take a longer view.

Man, it's hard to take the long view and also think "just for today" but have the same goal and still not obsess about being perfect. It really is a mental game.

This is actually how I maintain. I eat at a deficit M-Thurs, and then cut loose a little on the weekends. Even if I have a 500 calorie/day deficit during the week, I still have to watch what I eat on those off days or I'll start to gain weight.

Achrya

Just to be clear... Your goal is not your TDEE. That bar in the middle, it's your goal, not your TDEE. Your TDEE would be 500 calories over it (assuming you log exercise calories too). So just because you eat under or over your goal doesn't mean you're eating above your TDEE, ie, it doesn't mean you're eating at maintenance (unless you're not logging properly).

I'm going to say that if the OP is occasionally below goal ( but also occasionally above goal by 250-1000 calories that there is a really really really good chance they are in fact averaging out at maintenance. The fact they aren't losing weight just makes that even more likely because when one is neither losing nor gaining...well. Then they're maintaining.


OT: Good for you for realizing there's a problem and looking into it to see where you're going wrong. A lot of people just continue on doing the same thing and then blame the process when really small user tweaks are what's needed.

Holly_Roman_Empire

Just to be clear... Your goal is not your TDEE. That bar in the middle, it's your goal, not your TDEE. Your TDEE would be 500 calories over it (assuming you log exercise calories too). So just because you eat under or over your goal doesn't mean you're eating above your TDEE, ie, it doesn't mean you're eating at maintenance (unless you're not logging properly).

Yes, this is correct. If you're averaging around that line in the middle, you should still be losing. I aim for a range around my calorie goal of 1500, not 100 or 200 calories under it!

ETA: But the fact that you are having more "high" days than "low" days tells me that you should probably put a little more focus on eating your calorie goal.

RivenV

Just to be clear... Your goal is not your TDEE. That bar in the middle, it's your goal, not your TDEE. Your TDEE would be 500 calories over it (assuming you log exercise calories too). So just because you eat under or over your goal doesn't mean you're eating above your TDEE, ie, it doesn't mean you're eating at maintenance (unless you're not logging properly).

I'm going to say that if the OP is occasionally below goal ( but also occasionally above goal by 250-1000 calories that there is a really really really good chance they are in fact averaging out at maintenance. The fact they aren't losing weight just makes that even more likely because when one is neither losing nor gaining...well. Then they're maintaining.


OT: Good for you for realizing there's a problem and looking into it to see where you're going wrong. A lot of people just continue on doing the same thing and then blame the process when really small user tweaks are what's needed.

I agree with all of this. It's hard sometimes to swallow your pride and say, "Oh gosh... I've been doing this wrong. Well, no wonder I haven't seen the results I want!" But results don't lie--so, seriously, good for you for figuring out where you were off track. :flowerforyou: Hopefully you'll start seeing the results you'd like to see soon.

RachelRuns9

I know this feeling!!! The reports have helped me out a lot. Check them out on your phone too - they are really easy to read and you can get a 'weekly average' on the phone app that I don't think you can see on the website.

likitisplit

:applause:

Great job for tracking honestly.

Great job at having a clear perspective on what the reports were telling you.

WAY TO GO! for making a positive change in response to your learning.

tapirfrog

Say my TDEE is 1500. And my Net Calorie goal is 1300. So I can either eat 1300 calories and not move a muscle all day, or 1500 calories and walk for 45 minutes. Either way, my Net Calories come out to be 1300, and that's less than my TDEE, and the weight comes off.

Sometimes my Net Calories are 1200. Yay, I'm closer to my goal!

Sometimes I have a treat and my Net Calories are 1800. I'm actually eating more than I'm burning, yikes!

And if I eat too many treats above my Net Calories, they balance out my low days and they also balance out my TDEE and then I stay at the same #$@(*&#$! weight for months and I am maintaining and I want to scoop out my eyeballs with a spoon. Right?

Okay. Just makin' sure I got it all correct.

Next stop: deciding whether or not to press the big red button labeled "Do Not Press" on that wall over there. I'm working my way up to the hard concepts slowly.

tapirfrog

:applause:

Great job for tracking honestly.

Great job at having a clear perspective on what the reports were telling you.

WAY TO GO! for making a positive change in response to your learning.

I really appreciate that. Thank you.

RaspberryKeytoneBoondoggle

I love math and i love this thread! This is why TDEE works:flowerforyou:

Mr_Knight

I mean, physics kind of holds me accountable, you know?

You know that.

I know that.

But a whole lotta folks are still in denial...

Holly_Roman_Empire

Say my TDEE is 1500. And my Net Calorie goal is 1300. So I can either eat 1300 calories and not move a muscle all day, or 1500 calories and walk for 45 minutes. Either way, my Net Calories come out to be 1300, and that's less than my TDEE, and the weight comes off.

Sometimes my Net Calories are 1200. Yay, I'm closer to my goal!

Sometimes I have a treat and my Net Calories are 1800. I'm actually eating more than I'm burning, yikes!

And if I eat too many treats above my Net Calories, they balance out my low days and they also balance out my TDEE and then I stay at the same #$@(*&#$! weight for months and I am maintaining and I want to scoop out my eyeballs with a spoon. Right?

Okay. Just makin' sure I got it all correct.

Next stop: deciding whether or not to press the big red button labeled "Do Not Press" on that wall over there. I'm working my way up to the hard concepts slowly.

I highly doubt that your TDEE is 1500 calories, but yeah, I think you have the right idea.

tapirfrog

I highly doubt that your TDEE is 1500 calories, but yeah, I think you have the right idea.

Okay, thanks for confirming my stake in the ground is in a good place.

Yeah, my TDEE isn't 1500. It's 1750. I should have said "for example." I just wanted quick-n-e-z numbers to test my own reasoning with, and it seemed like "1300" and "1500" were easier to deal with while doing mental math and doing comprehension checks.

I guess if my newfound relationship with the "Reports" button doesn't help, then I will lower my Net Calories goal. And if *that* doesn't help, then I'll get my TDEE checked by something more accurate than an armband, if there is such a thing.

But one step at a time. First, I shall obey the mighty Law of Averages, the one that says "Eating sensibly all week does not allow you to consume an entire marionberry pie on Saturday afternoon."

tapirfrog

I mean, physics kind of holds me accountable, you know?

You know that.

I know that.

But a whole lotta folks are still in denial...

But .. but the diet pills that cause uncontrollable oily anal leakage! The ads promised they'd work!

likitisplit

I highly doubt that your TDEE is 1500 calories, but yeah, I think you have the right idea.

Okay, thanks for confirming my stake in the ground is in a good place.

Yeah, my TDEE isn't 1500. It's 1750. I should have said "for example." I just wanted quick-n-e-z numbers to test my own reasoning with, and it seemed like "1300" and "1500" were easier to deal with while doing mental math and doing comprehension checks.

I guess if my newfound relationship with the "Reports" button doesn't help, then I will lower my Net Calories goal. And if *that* doesn't help, then I'll get my TDEE checked by something more accurate than an armband, if there is such a thing.

But one step at a time. First, I shall obey the mighty Law of Averages, the one that says "Eating sensibly all week does not allow you to consume an entire marionberry pie on Saturday afternoon."

I've found that estimating your calories eaten/calories burned until you figure out where your estimated maintenance is and then dropping your calories eaten/increasing your calories burned is a good functional way of doing TDEE without having to science overly much.

loriemn

hey,,I didnt know that either,,I just looked at mine,,it says I have had 0 trans fats! is that even possible?..the rest of the vit are all good,but I take supplements anyway,and the net calories and such are up and down..probably like you actually maintaning and I didnt even know it,,I need to pay closer attention,but I am lifting as heavy as I can,so I am eating more lean protien,and never even count the handful of kale or spinach I put in my egg whites,really how many calories can a handful of kale effing have!

tapirfrog

I count that stuff so it stacks up in my vitamins/nutrients/fiber total. Makes me feel virtuous!

Anonycatgirl

OP, I love you. The subject of weight loss seems to make a lot of us lose perspective and our senses of humor. Kudos for keeping both!

tapirfrog

:flowerforyou: Thanks. For about thirty seconds I was extremely butthurt at the universe and I was all "Do you mean I've been doing all this hard work for nothing?!" and then that voice in my head (you know, the one that gets me in so much trouble when I let it talk to other people) said "You haven't been doing it for nothing, *kitten*. You've been paid quite well in pie."

And then when my ears drooped, the voice continued "The real problem you might want to work on is your inability to average a column of numbers."

So I told the voice to shut up, and after that I couldn't get all butthurt because really, where were the broken promises, lies, and betrayals here? Nowhere. The math worked exactly as math does.

Everyone here was much nicer to me than that voice was. Like I said, when I let it talk to other people I usually end up having to buy presents to smooth things over.

writergeek313

We all make mistakes! I think that's part of the learning process. I've been stuck for a few months. I recently got a food scale, and the first few times I used it, I kept saying "Oh...that explains it." Even with measuring I was eating way more than I thought I was, which means I've been eating at maintenance the last few months instead of at a deficit.

quirkytizzy

Math is a cruel, cruel mistress.

[places hands over face]
[shuffles off stage]

I love you so hard for that!

hmaddpear

You're doing great - working out why things aren't shifting is one of the harder bits of the battle.

The good thing is, now you know what's wrong, it's relatively easy to fix - and the results will start coming in again.

Good luck!

:flowerforyou:

lynn_glenmont

Just to be clear... Your goal is not your TDEE. That bar in the middle, it's your goal, not your TDEE. Your TDEE would be 500 calories over it (assuming you log exercise calories too). So just because you eat under or over your goal doesn't mean you're eating above your TDEE, ie, it doesn't mean you're eating at maintenance (unless you're not logging properly).

Yes, this is correct. If you're averaging around that line in the middle, you should still be losing.

Yes, but this doesn't sound at all like what OP is describing.

Well. In the last 45 days, I've racked up 27 days under my calorie goal ... by about 50 or 100 calories per day. And I've had 18 days over my calorie goal ... by anywhere from 250 to 1,000 calories per day. So, on average, I'm eating at maintenance. I'm just doing it in the way that makes me feel as deprived as possible.

27 * 100 = extra 2700 calories below target deficit
27 * 50 = extra 1350 below target deficit
18 * 250 = 4500 above target deficit
18 * 1000 = 18000 above target deficit

So, taking the smallest and greatest possible swings from those numbers, OP is averaging somewhere between 40 [that is, (4500 - 2700)/45 days total] and 370 [that is, (18000 - 1350)/45 days total] calories a day above OP's target deficit level. I don't think OP said what his/her goal loss per week, but if it's a half pound per week (250 calorie deficit), then the math works perfectly to be at maintenance. (370 > 250 > 40)

If OP's goal loss is one pound per week (500 calorie deficit), then the math suggests a weight gain of a half-pound to one and two-third pounds over 45 days, but I'd say that maintaining on that slight of a mathematical excess is well within normal errors (from measuring food intake, database errors, manufacuturer "leeway" in labeling food, times when estimating is unavoidable, natural variation in OP's measurement from amount of water stored, food in various stages of digestion/elimination, etc.).