Am I being impatient or am I doing something wrong?

OPile
OPile Posts: 104 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
Hi

This is my first post but I've been so interested in what I've read so far I was hoping for some specific advice please. The first thing I should say is that I'm fairly obsessive about weighing everything I eat at the moment, and when I can't I try to over estimate. I generally try to eat half my exercise calories back. I'm doing 30DS everyday (I wore a HRM for 5 times, but it stopped working so since then I've been inputting an average of those 5, however I have a new one arriving today), I cycle every other day (not very far - 5 miles - but my bicycle is a hellish dinosaur) and I generally ride my horse 3 or 4 days a week. I'm an artist so when I'm working I'm pretty sedentary, but I have 6 dogs and 3 horses who keep me fairly active the rest of the time. Sorry for the essay, but I thought I'd try to answer as many questions as I could in advance.

My problem is this. I've been logging since 15th jan. And (apart from a 10 day holiday abroad) I've stayed consistently under 1400. I'm 5'10" and 33. I started at 195. I am hoping to lose between 1and 2 pounds a week and my current goal is 161 (but I hope to lower that when I achieve it). On 16th march I had got down to 176. I haven't changed anything much since then, apart from adding the pathetic cycling and I have gained 2 lbs.

Now my question is- is this just a normal blip or am I eating too much (my diary is open and as accurate as possible- I weigh everything I can). If this is normal that's fine, I'll stick with it. However if you think I should exercise more or eat less please let me know.

Thank you so much in advance for hour replies.

Replies

  • Dewymorning
    Dewymorning Posts: 762 Member
    That sounds like very low calories for all that activity.

    Are you including horse riding in your exercise calories?

    My sister is also a horse rider and she eats like a horse. :P

    Well, not really, I have helped her feed her horse and they eat a huge amount of calories.


    Have you read this topic: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1080242-a-guide-to-get-you-started-on-your-path-to-sexypants
  • Dewymorning
    Dewymorning Posts: 762 Member
    Oh, sudden thought, is the 1400 gross or net (i.e. are you eating more than 1400 but then subtracting exercise to get back to 1400)?
  • OPile
    OPile Posts: 104 Member
    It's gross. I do log the riding, but I have been using endomondo (without a HRM) to record the calories and I've been riding regularly for so long I really don't think it counts as exercise (except my lessons- my trainer is harsh and they count!)

    Thank you so much for replying.
  • Dewymorning
    Dewymorning Posts: 762 Member
    This might sounds counter-intuitive, but it could be the extra exercise which is causing the weight loss to stop.

    Two sides to this, one is the impacts of stress hormones such as cortisol, on the body. A temporary increase in these hormones are good for you, but when these hormone levels stay raised they are bad for you, and can negatively impact on your weight loss. Exercise raises cortisol levels.

    The second is that exercise can increase the amount of glycogen/water weight.

    If it is only the second which has caused the weight gain then you should start to see your weight drop again after another week or two.

    However, if it is the first you either need to exercise less or eat more. 1400 calories with that amount of activity seems too low.
  • beautifulwarrior18
    beautifulwarrior18 Posts: 914 Member
    You aren't eating enough.
  • SezxyStef
    SezxyStef Posts: 15,267 Member
    You just added in new exercise...the 2lbs is probably water weight/glycogen stores to repair the muscle.

    Give it a couple weeks..

    but you shoud be eating 1400 net calories...in other words eat your exercise calories back.
  • OPile
    OPile Posts: 104 Member
    I am so glad it's not that I'm eating too much as I've been trying very hard and trying very hard to be accurate.

    Thank you so much for your replies.
  • SezxyStef
    SezxyStef Posts: 15,267 Member
    I am so glad it's not that I'm eating too much as I've been trying very hard and trying very hard to be accurate.

    Thank you so much for your replies.

    Just remember to eat part of your exercise calories back to aid in fueling your next workout. MFP has already set enough of a deficet in your calories to lose the weight you want.
  • LynneW1983
    LynneW1983 Posts: 1,161 Member
    I started Kettlebells four weeks ago and gained 5lb over next two days,while eating 1600 as I normally do. It was a mega hard class. My weight would go down 2lb over week then go back up after class. It took 3 1/2 weeks for that weight to come off. Stay strong it probably just water weight.
  • The_1_Who_Knocks
    The_1_Who_Knocks Posts: 343 Member
    It is a normal blip, plus you are getting to the point where the pounds will come off pretty slow anyway. I think you are eating plenty, but not too much to lose.
  • MinnieInMaine
    MinnieInMaine Posts: 6,400 Member
    What others said...PLUS, you're definitely being impatient and I think you have a slightly unrealistic goal. With 18 pounds left to lose, a more appropiate weely weight loss would be 1/2 a pound per week. Once you change this goal on your MFP settings, you will get more calories per day which should give you the increase mentioned above. Good luck!

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