Can someone look at my food diary?
Phoenxyx79
Posts: 22
I am having a bit of difficulty. I should be losing the two pounds a week and I am not. Today the scale was a pound heavier and I am hoping that is due to water gain or the fact that I am still sore from my weight lifting saturday. I have a TON of weight to lose and don't want to be doing something wrong. I use the body media fit and will on some days eat back some of my exercise calories. Currently I weigh 256.
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Replies
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1. http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/819055-setting-your-calorie-and-macro-targets
2. If you aren't already using one, get and use a food scale. Weigh all solids. Measuring cups/spoons are not accurate:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JVjWPclrWVY
3. http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1080242-a-guide-to-get-you-started-on-your-path-to-sexypants
4. http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1235566-so-you-re-new-here
5. http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/872212-you-re-probably-eating-more-than-you-think
6. http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1234699-logging-accurately-step-by-step-guide0 -
You have a lot of vague entries. Three ribs, two cups of strawberries, etc. Food like that should be weighed, or you risk underestimating calories.0
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Additionally to what has been said about getting a scale, which is absolutely true, i just want to share my experience: I started off with 235 and also wanted to lose 2 pounds a week, but it didn't work in the beginning. I just got frustrated with the 1500kcal a day. So i decided to change my goal to 1 pound a week and got 1790kcal a day, which then worked fine! I just think with your current weight the calorie goal is to low to lose any weight, so i would settle for 1 pound a week and i think it will work better for you.0
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I don't know ANYONE who can put just a tablespoon of cream cheese on a bagel! It's very easy to underestimate stuff like that. A tablespoon of cream cheese is like a dollar's worth of quarters stacked. Is that really all you're using? Measure measure measure
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Your logging isn't accurate. 3 Ribs for example how big are they? How much do they weigh? You need to weigh everything. If it's not a liquid weigh it that is the only way to be accurate. Also make sure you use accurate entries. Any recipes enter your own don't use the ones on the database. Once you have your logging accurate you will then know how much you are actually eating so will then have a baseline to work from.0
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According to your ticker, you have 81 lbs. to go. The less you have to lose, the more slowly it comes off. That's just the way the human body works. At your size, a healthy loss is more like 1 lb. per week.I should be losing the two pounds a week and I am not. Today the scale was a pound heavier and I am hoping that is due to water gain or the fact that I am still sore from my weight lifting saturday. I have a TON of weight to lose and don't want to be doing something wrong. I use the body media fit and will on some days eat back some of my exercise calories. Currently I weigh 256.
Weight loss is not linear. Weigh yourself once a week. Take photos & measurements, too.
As for your diary, learn to log everything you eat & drink accurately & honestly. Buy a digital scale, and weigh everything you eat—including packaged food, and especially nuts. Right now you're guesstimating.
Read this: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1080242-a-guide-to-get-you-started-on-your-path-to-sexypants0 -
I do measure the cream cheese and its just tad so my bagel this isnt too dry.
As far as the strawberries I do a guesstimate since I dont eat alot of fruit.
Sometimes I do not have the ability to measure but I am doing my best to be accurate.
I wish I could settle for one pound a week but I dont want it to take 2+ year to get all of this weight off. I lost weight before and lost 70 pounds in about 10 months. I was in a car accident and gained it all back. Not that I am cleared on exercise and I am done feeling sorry for myself (overeating), I want to get the weight off in a fast and safe way.
I am trying my best to focus on the fact that I am eating better and exercising at least 3x a week. I would like the scale to cooperate. Is it possible I am not eating enough on days I do not net 1200?0 -
Measuring is terribly inaccurate. If you want to lose weight, weigh your food.
Please rethink your weekly weight-loss goal. At your size, you cannot lose 2 lbs. per week in a healthy way. And you need to learn healthy habits if you want to keep the weight off this time.
Read the Sexypants link: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1080242-a-guide-to-get-you-started-on-your-path-to-sexypants0 -
I think I am going to get a lot of crap for my answer, but here it goes:
I think you have solid advice on the entries above. If you are not making the progress that you'd like, then you *must* make changes or you are going to continue to not make progress: measure and weigh everything. I'm not saying to carry the scale with you to your birthday dinner at a restaurant. But other than that, make it a point to weight.
Those ribs you ate? Were they just boiled plain? Did you add barbecue sauce? salt? (account for everything. Barbecue sauce is not calorie free)
Also, I think you are consuming way to much processed food.
Now, I'm not into the whole "grow your own, harvest and only eat from the earth" approach; but I think you will be making better progress if you introduced more fiber and nutrient rich foods instead of frozen dinners (you can cook ahead and freeze and take the meals to work, if that's the problem) Also, try to limit things like Popeye's and stuff like that. Even if it says it is lean chicken, you have no way of knowing exactly what amounts of sodium and fillers they are adding to them in the factories.
I am not saying stop living and NEVER go out. But if what you are currently doing is not giving you great results and you are committed to changing, then you must try an alternate approach....see if that gives you better results.
Another thing, (please don't hate me) but a bagel and cream cheese is not exactly part of a fantastic breakfast. If you love it, have it every once in a while. But I think you would benefit from having something else like oatmeal and a veggie frittata, hard boiled eggs and apples. Substitute the packaged cereal for steal cut oats and berries.
If you DON'T want to settle for a pound a week, then make hard changes to your diet. Simple as that.
The food you consume is the fuel for your workout, for your day, for your approach to the day.
Make those calories worth it.
Eat lean protein with every meal, whole grains, fresh veggies. If you don't eat a lot of fruit, you may find it easier to down smoothies (and you can add some veggies like spinach and celery and still have them taste really good)
I agree with the poster that said to be particularly diligent with logging and weighing nuts they are PACKED with calories and fat. (Coincidentally, my doctor recommended that eat nuts/trail mix/cheese throughout the day when I was pregnant and had problems GAINING weight, so beware they will pack on the pounds if you eat them a lot)
Best of luck in your journey.0 -
Hi Editorgrl,
I did read that post when I started. He said 1% is feasible for most people and that would be 2.5 pounds a week for me. I would want to lose 2 pounds a week until I get into the 100's and then decrease to 1lb a week. Am I not understanding his post. I thought as long as you eat more than 1200 calories a week as a woman than it is a healthy weight loss?0 -
I think I am going to get a lot of crap for my answer, but here it goes:
I think you have solid advice on the entries above. If you are not making the progress that you'd like, then you *must* make changes or you are going to continue to not make progress: measure and weigh everything. I'm not saying to carry the scale with you to your birthday dinner at a restaurant. But other than that, make it a point to weight.
Those ribs you ate? Were they just boiled plain? Did you add barbecue sauce? salt? (account for everything. Barbecue sauce is not calorie free)
Also, I think you are consuming way to much processed food.
Now, I'm not into the whole "grow your own, harvest and only eat from the earth" approach; but I think you will be making better progress if you introduced more fiber and nutrient rich foods instead of frozen dinners (you can cook ahead and freeze and take the meals to work, if that's the problem) Also, try to limit things like Popeye's and stuff like that. Even if it says it is lean chicken, you have no way of knowing exactly what amounts of sodium and fillers they are adding to them in the factories.
I am not saying stop living and NEVER go out. But if what you are currently doing is not giving you great results and you are committed to changing, then you must try an alternate approach....see if that gives you better results.
Another thing, (please don't hate me) but a bagel and cream cheese is not exactly part of a fantastic breakfast. If you love it, have it every once in a while. But I think you would benefit from having something else like oatmeal and a veggie frittata, hard boiled eggs and apples. Substitute the packaged cereal for steal cut oats and berries.
If you DON'T want to settle for a pound a week, then make hard changes to your diet. Simple as that.
The food you consume is the fuel for your workout, for your day, for your approach to the day.
Make those calories worth it.
Eat lean protein with every meal, whole grains, fresh veggies. If you don't eat a lot of fruit, you may find it easier to down smoothies (and you can add some veggies like spinach and celery and still have them taste really good)
I agree with the poster that said to be particularly diligent with logging and weighing nuts they are PACKED with calories and fat. (Coincidentally, my doctor recommended that eat nuts/trail mix/cheese throughout the day when I was pregnant and had problems GAINING weight, so beware they will pack on the pounds if you eat them a lot)
Best of luck in your journey.
P.S: I Found a really nice food scale on Amazon for about $13. The brand is Cuissential. HTH0 -
Thanks beachhouse,
I am slowly getting there with my diet. We bought a house not too long ago and my schedule is insane. I am lucky if I make to the gym when I want.
I was eating horribly before, fast food breakfasts, hot chocolates, eating out for lunch and having mutliple helpings at dinner and ice cream or brownies most nights.
I eat alot of prepacked not just to start the change and i know its not ideal. I plan to revamp my diet meal by meal soon.
I know this is a lifestyle change and I know if I make two drastic of changes I will rebel. (sad but true).
I am also trying to focus on being more active.
How do you weigh everything and not let food take over your life?0 -
I will check out the food scales on Amazon.
About the smoothies, i dont like the taste of fruit or drinking calories. Any other way to go about that?0 -
How do you weigh everything and not let food take over your life?
You need to weigh stuff for recipes when you cook anyway....
Just leave a set of scales out, it isn't going to take over your life.0 -
I do measure the cream cheese and its just tad so my bagel this isnt too dry.
As far as the strawberries I do a guesstimate since I dont eat alot of fruit.
Sometimes I do not have the ability to measure but I am doing my best to be accurate.
I wish I could settle for one pound a week but I dont want it to take 2+ year to get all of this weight off. I lost weight before and lost 70 pounds in about 10 months. I was in a car accident and gained it all back. Not that I am cleared on exercise and I am done feeling sorry for myself (overeating), I want to get the weight off in a fast and safe way.
I am trying my best to focus on the fact that I am eating better and exercising at least 3x a week. I would like the scale to cooperate. Is it possible I am not eating enough on days I do not net 1200?
I think if you maybe start with the 1lb a week and start seeing a difference you can always change your goal to 2lbs. When you don't see the scale move it can be VERY frustrating and then you might sabotage yourself, speaking from personal experience. You'll get there!0 -
How do I log when I do not cook? Some days I am not the one cooking so I try to do the best I can.0
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How do you weigh everything and not let food take over your life?
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I have found once you start weighing things, it does get easier and you start to recognize what a "real" serving looks like.0 -
Ask questions! My boyfriend does most of the cooking ...so I ask him and use the recipe builder to figure out the calories!0
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Thanks Soy!!
I am trying to not rely on processed foods but the portioned out meals feel safer some days than weighing and going it alone.
I have an addictive personality and I know obsessing over weighing everything may be a rabbit hole I am scared to go down
. 0 -
I don't think that 2lbs a week is unreasonable at your weight. I started at 246 and for the first several months I averaged 2lbs a week. After I dropped out of the 200s I averaged 1.5lbs a week. I try to stay at 1500 calories most days but allow myself to go as high as 1750 if I have worked out beyond my norm.
I am at a point now where I am elated to lose 1lb a week but am happy if it is only .5lbs.
I eat fairly healthy and still have my indulgences so I don't think a bagel and cream cheese is so bad. I just finished a peanut butter and banana sandwich for breakfast...it is within my calorie goals and provides me with protein...fat...fiber...potassium...and some micronutrients.
My advice...just keep working on making some adjustments...it took me several weeks to find what would work for me.
Good luck...0 -
Looks like some of your food measurements are either over estimated or under, I suggest using a food scale. And you should be drinking enough water, try this simple formula Current Weight/2 = ? oz of water. Your water shouldn't be less than that.
And also try to recalculate your goals.0 -
Thanks beachhouse,
I am slowly getting there with my diet. We bought a house not too long ago and my schedule is insane. I am lucky if I make to the gym when I want.
I was eating horribly before, fast food breakfasts, hot chocolates, eating out for lunch and having mutliple helpings at dinner and ice cream or brownies most nights.
I eat alot of prepacked not just to start the change and i know its not ideal. I plan to revamp my diet meal by meal soon.
I know this is a lifestyle change and I know if I make two drastic of changes I will rebel. (sad but true).
I am also trying to focus on being more active.
How do you weigh everything and not let food take over your life?
I know what you mean about "too many changes and you will rebel"
I do the same thing. Always.
• If you don't like drinking calories and you don't like fruits, maybe smoothies are not a good choice for you. There's nothing wrong with that.
• Personally, I don't plan on weighing my food forever. But I found out that one of my biggest problems is portion control. And since I stated tracking my food I realized that what I previously though was 1 serving/ 1 portion, was actually 2 or 3 servings!!! So I was grossly underestimating my caloric consumption.
I think that once I begin to understand portions, being able to exercise self-control *and* I have reached my goal weigh, I will be able to eat without weighing everything.
To me it is not that much of a bother. When I cook, I have to measure the ingredients anyway. So now, I just measure 1 more time (in the scale, this time) before it goes in my plate.
Sure, it is a bit of PITA, but if it can give me results, I'll do it.
• As far as not time to make it to the gym, I totally understand. I have two little kids at home that will NOT stay at my gym's daycare soooooo... quick workout videos are my best friends:
Less than 30 minutes and I am panting:
• Jillian Micheals' 30 Day Shred
• JM Shred it with Weights
• Lotte Berke Method
• Cable on Demand (free!) videos
• C25K program (free) 20-30 minute walk/jog around the neighborhood.0 -
Thanks Soy!!
I am trying to not rely on processed foods but the portioned out meals feel safer some days than weighing and going it alone.
I have an addictive personality and I know obsessing over weighing everything may be a rabbit hole I am scared to go down.
If weighing your food can be a trigger for ED or other issues and you still would like to lose weight, I would *seriously* consider the advice of a nutritionist or other professional to help you achieve your goals safely. No other way around it.
Take care of your health first.0 -
I don't think that 2lbs a week is unreasonable at your weight. I started at 246 and for the first several months I averaged 2lbs a week. After I dropped out of the 200s I averaged 1.5lbs a week. I try to stay at 1500 calories most days but allow myself to go as high as 1750 if I have worked out beyond my norm.
I am at a point now where I am elated to lose 1lb a week but am happy if it is only .5lbs.
I eat fairly healthy and still have my indulgences so I don't think a bagel and cream cheese is so bad. I just finished a peanut butter and banana sandwich for breakfast...it is within my calorie goals and provides me with protein...fat...fiber...potassium...and some micronutrients.
My advice...just keep working on making some adjustments...it took me several weeks to find what would work for me.
Good luck...
Thanks Annie.....
I feel like its one of the hardest things that most people will ever do and alot of people dont understand it.
I am going to start eating cleaner one meal at time.
The struggle is real0 -
Thanks Soy!!
I am trying to not rely on processed foods but the portioned out meals feel safer some days than weighing and going it alone.
I have an addictive personality and I know obsessing over weighing everything may be a rabbit hole I am scared to go down.
If weighing your food can be a trigger for ED or other issues and you still would like to lose weight, I would *seriously* consider the advice of a nutritionist or other professional to help you achieve your goals safely. No other way around it.
Take care of your health first.
I go to the gym and do one hour classes instead of 30 minutes a day. does that make a difference? I am going to add in walking on days I cant go to the gym.
For me it may not be ED, but when I hyperfocus on something my life then revolves around it and then other parts of my life suffer. Does that make sense?0 -
I try to drink 80-100 oz of water a day I just dont log it in. I also try to get it all in while at work. Once I go home the kids are my focus and I may not drink all evening. I do drink an unsweetened ice tea with dinner as a treat.0
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I looked at 4 of your days... That's probably not the best representation of what you eat overall but that's all the time I had. Firstly, you're about a decade younger than I am so at least you have metabolism in your favour!
Let me say, good on you for tracking! Good on you for taking control of your health and good on you for being a busy mum!
If I compare myself to you (not knowing your measurements/ body metrics), all I have is age, so I can only say I eat WAY MORE than you do but I eat whole foods. I'm Celiac, so it's 'easy' as I *cannot* eat anything prepared by somebody else! The downside is I'm an excellent cook and tend to far overeat (hence eating way more than you do). I do not eat grains, as a rule, not just the wheat and barley associated with Celiac but I try to avoid them all. If I take rice or corn, it's a treat food. I am NOT low carb! I just do not do well eating grains. I also see a lot of dairy.
Especially as a cancer survivor, I think it'd be great for you to look into the dairy connection. This isn't some hippie stuff. This is biochemistry. Dairy is a growth thing (I'm obviously not a doctor) and that's why body builders who don't want to use steroids walk around swigging dairy. So, it a) is not good at all for people with neurological disease, inflammatory diseases or some types of cancer and b) it makes you bulk up.
I know the ads say 'those who eat our yoghurt lose X % more than other dieters.' I'm just saying that a study and there are other studies which show the opposite. Maybe those yoghurt eaters weren't eating fast food instead, right? So, you have to kind of read a whole lot of scientific stuff and then TRY it. If it works for you, COOL. If it doesn't, well now you know, right?
Anyway, what I see is a lot of grains and a lot of dairy (compared to me). I eat at least 18C of dark leafy vegetables (various sorts) a week in addition to some other veg. I eat little fruit. I'm not perfect but I'd rather eat veg than fruit due to nutrient content. Since I have several autoimmune diseases, I have to really focus on nutrient-dense foods. I still eat sugar and empty calorie stuff--again, not perfect! But focusing on adding things that are nutrient-dense will better serve your body functions and will curb hunger.
I hope sharing my stuff helps. I don't know what's right for you but I can say I think you're great for working it!0 -
Big numbers of sodium are burning my eyes :noway:0
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Big numbers of sodium are burning my eyes :noway:
While it may mask loss with water, excess sodium shouldn't hinder fat loss as long as they're in a calorie deficit.0 -
Tiny I asked for suggestions not sarcasm. I am not in the frame of mind to indulge childish behavior0
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