Its been 3 weeks, have only lost 2 pounds.

snowflake954

Hello there, My name is Taylor and I have been using my Fitness Pal for about 3 weeks in a row. I track everything, Ive only missed a few days. I feel much healthier.I have so much more energy! I used to drink maybe one glass of water a day (I would drink soda and juice). Not I drink up to 14 glasses of H20 a day. And rarely have a soda. Still after all of this hard work, I have only lost 2 pounds. My starting weight is 252 pounds, and I am 5'9''. Anyone have any ideas why my weight loss is so slow? I do work out a few times a week.

Hi Taylor. I went back 10 days in your food diary, and it's true, you're missing some days, others you're way over on your calories, others---you're over on fats and sugars. I think you're lucky to have lost 2 lbs. Sorry, but you have to tighten up. Also noticed that you don't have your carbs listed and seem to be eating alot of them. Your macros are important to follow to lose weight properly--less loose skin, wrinkling etc. Tracking accurately, and everyday, make a difference if you've decided to count calories. Keep going, don't give up, but I'd advise to be more careful. Best of luck to you.

ccozzi89

Also the fact that she is even losing weight is a healthy thing. I don't know her BMI but according to her recommended daily value of her calories/protein/fat/etc I am going to assume she is at least overweight. People who fall into the category of overweight and + should and COULD be losing at least 2 pounds a week, until they are at a normal or "healthy" weight, and they start to lose 1 pound to half a pound a week. Losing more than a pound a week when you are at a healthy weight isn't really recommended.

My point is...she could be losing more. She even said it herself, and I'm sure there's a reason. She isn't eating as healthy as she could and that definitely plays a role. I'm recommending she lower her fat and sugar. ANY doctor will tell her this.

Vigilance88

It's not all about calorie deficit. She is getting more than enough fat and sugar, so there is no deficit there. You could lose weight on junk food if you were deficit in all of the above macro nutrients I mentioned, but the point is that she isn't. Once again..it's NOT all about calorie counting. If you eat a diet of pure sugar and fat all day and it equaled 900 calories and 50 grams of fat and your goal was 1200 calories with 60 grams of fat, you wouldn't be losing weight. Maybe you should try it and let me know how well that goes for you.

no.

It's going fine for many people on this site who eat what they want, stay below cal limits, and lose. try again

Vigilance88

That's not the point. Everyone knows healthy macro balance is better for you. You are saying you can't lose weight if sugar/fat is over the limit, even if you're below your cal limit. Just no.

lindsey1979

You're clueless and btw I don't have time to troll around websites. I'm actually trying to help her out. Maybe you should see a dietician yourself and come back to this page and tell me what they say. She is eating way too much sugar and fat, and that is a fact that she is storing the additional energy. She is NOT on an Atkin's diet where excess fat and even protein is encouraged. Only a high fat/high protein diet with minimum carbs/sugar would cause her to gain weight via gluconeogenesis, but she is eating too many sugar and carbs and therefor storing anything extra. Also many days she exceeded her calories. She should definitely be losing MORE weight. You obviously know nothing on the topic.

Just to clarify, are you recommending a low carb, low fat and high protein diet? I agree that limiting carbs can be really useful for some people, but I hadn't heard of someone recommending that they lower fat as well. Oftentimes, when someone is suggesting that you lower carbs, the person is also suggesting that you raise fat to higher levels and protein to moderate levels (if no there).

I'm recommending lowering her fat in accordance to her diet now. She is getting too much fat, sometimes by as much as 20 grams. I'm also telling her that her protein is fine. Her sugar and carbs need to be lowered as well, since her sugar is wayy too high according to her journal and her recommended daily value.

Okay, but if that's the case, then she'd just be lowering her calories a lot, right? If her protein is the same, and she lowers fat and carbs, she'll be greatly lowering calories altogether?

Perhaps if you just give an idea of calorie goal and macro breakdown, that would be easier to understand what you're recommending here.

ccozzi89

That's not the point. Everyone knows healthy macro balance is better for you. You are saying you can't lose weight if sugar/fat is over the limit, even if you're below your cal limit. Just no.

...aaaaand I have stated that her macro nutrients are NOT balanced. Her fat and sugar is WAY over the limit, that's not anywhere near balanced. I also stated it's not all about calories, probably 100 times on this board. And yes, I am definitely saying that if her macro nutrients (specifically fat and sugar) are over, even if her calories are under, those will be stored as extra energy i.e. FAT

tayloripeterson

Thank you all for your feed back. I want to be clear on one thing. I am NOT on a diet. This is a life style. And for me, it is not possible for me personally to make all of my macro goals every single day, yes there are a few days where I do go over, but who hasn't had a milkshake every once and a while. Its all in moderation. I agree with both sides, I should be eating more vegetables and protein. And weighing my food is a FANTASTIC idea. I will start doing that. I guess that when I started doing this, I would lose weight faster than I am. I am currently 251 pounds, and I am 5 feet 9 inches. SO I am very over weight. And just for a few people peace of mind, I am seeing a MNT (Medical Nutrition Therapist) who is helping me. Thanks for the responses guys

lindsey1979

Thank you all for your feed back. I want to be clear on one thing. I am NOT on a diet. This is a life style. And for me, it is not possible for me personally to make all of my macro goals every single day, yes there are a few days where I do go over, but who hasn't had a milkshake every once and a while. Its all in moderation. I agree with both sides, I should be eating more vegetables and protein. And weighing my food is a FANTASTIC idea. I will start doing that. I guess that when I started doing this, I would lose weight faster than I am. I am currently 251 pounds, and I am 5 feet 9 inches. SO I am very over weight. And just for a few people peace of mind, I am seeing a MNT (Medical Nutrition Therapist) who is helping me. Thanks for the responses guys

It may just be a time delay due to water retention issues, so keep that in mind.

ccozzi89

You're clueless and btw I don't have time to troll around websites. I'm actually trying to help her out. Maybe you should see a dietician yourself and come back to this page and tell me what they say. She is eating way too much sugar and fat, and that is a fact that she is storing the additional energy. She is NOT on an Atkin's diet where excess fat and even protein is encouraged. Only a high fat/high protein diet with minimum carbs/sugar would cause her to gain weight via gluconeogenesis, but she is eating too many sugar and carbs and therefor storing anything extra. Also many days she exceeded her calories. She should definitely be losing MORE weight. You obviously know nothing on the topic.

Just to clarify, are you recommending a low carb, low fat and high protein diet? I agree that limiting carbs can be really useful for some people, but I hadn't heard of someone recommending that they lower fat as well. Oftentimes, when someone is suggesting that you lower carbs, the person is also suggesting that you raise fat to higher levels and protein to moderate levels (if no there).

I'm recommending lowering her fat in accordance to her diet now. She is getting too much fat, sometimes by as much as 20 grams. I'm also telling her that her protein is fine. Her sugar and carbs need to be lowered as well, since her sugar is wayy too high according to her journal and her recommended daily value.

Okay, but if that's the case, then she'd just be lowering her calories a lot, right? If her protein is the same, and she lowers fat and carbs, she'll be greatly lowering calories altogether?

Perhaps if you just give an idea of calorie goal and macro breakdown, that would be easier to understand what you're recommending here.

I don't know her BMI or weight loss goal so I can't give you exact numbers in terms of what I am recommending. But according to her journal, she is over in sugar and fat. Her protein never exceeds her recommendation (from what I looked at.) What she should be doing is substituting the foods with high sugar and fat with healthy foods that are low in sugar and fat, and still have the same calories. Just because she lowers her sugar and fat doesn't mean she is lowering her calories if she SUBSTITUTES those for healthy options. I know athletes and people who need to gain weight and have been on a 3,000 calorie diet with so-and-so amount of fat (don't remember exactly) and instead of eating white bread and butter for a snack, they eat hummus and whole wheat pita, for example- and that has zero cholesterol, perhaps the same amount of fat and calories. Or choose low fat cottage cheese over low fat fruit yogurt- which usually has more calories but wayy less sugar. Do you get it?

sijomial

That's not the point. Everyone knows healthy macro balance is better for you. You are saying you can't lose weight if sugar/fat is over the limit, even if you're below your cal limit. Just no.

...aaaaand I have stated that her macro nutrients are NOT balanced. Her fat and sugar is WAY over the limit, that's not anywhere near balanced. I also stated it's not all about calories, probably 100 times on this board. And yes, I am definitely saying that if her macro nutrients (specifically fat and sugar) are over, even if her calories are under, those will be stored as extra energy i.e. FAT

What little credibility you had has just gone!
Comical.

lindsey1979

You're clueless and btw I don't have time to troll around websites. I'm actually trying to help her out. Maybe you should see a dietician yourself and come back to this page and tell me what they say. She is eating way too much sugar and fat, and that is a fact that she is storing the additional energy. She is NOT on an Atkin's diet where excess fat and even protein is encouraged. Only a high fat/high protein diet with minimum carbs/sugar would cause her to gain weight via gluconeogenesis, but she is eating too many sugar and carbs and therefor storing anything extra. Also many days she exceeded her calories. She should definitely be losing MORE weight. You obviously know nothing on the topic.

Just to clarify, are you recommending a low carb, low fat and high protein diet? I agree that limiting carbs can be really useful for some people, but I hadn't heard of someone recommending that they lower fat as well. Oftentimes, when someone is suggesting that you lower carbs, the person is also suggesting that you raise fat to higher levels and protein to moderate levels (if no there).

I'm recommending lowering her fat in accordance to her diet now. She is getting too much fat, sometimes by as much as 20 grams. I'm also telling her that her protein is fine. Her sugar and carbs need to be lowered as well, since her sugar is wayy too high according to her journal and her recommended daily value.

Okay, but if that's the case, then she'd just be lowering her calories a lot, right? If her protein is the same, and she lowers fat and carbs, she'll be greatly lowering calories altogether?

Perhaps if you just give an idea of calorie goal and macro breakdown, that would be easier to understand what you're recommending here.

I don't know her BMI or weight loss goal so I can't give you exact numbers in terms of what I am recommending. But according to her journal, she is over in sugar and fat. Her protein never exceeds her recommendation (from what I looked at.) What she should be doing is substituting the foods with high sugar and fat with healthy foods that are low in sugar and fat, and still have the same calories. Just because she lowers her sugar and fat doesn't mean she is lowering her calories if she SUBSTITUTES those for healthy options. I know athletes and people who need to gain weight and have been on a 3,000 calorie diet with so-and-so amount of fat (don't remember exactly) and instead of eating white bread and butter for a snack, they eat hummus and whole wheat pita, for example- and that has zero cholesterol, perhaps the same amount of fat and calories. Or choose low fat cottage cheese over low fat fruit yogurt- which usually has more calories but wayy less sugar. Do you get it?

Well, she said she's 246 and 5'9", so her BMI has to be around 36.3 or so. Not sure of her weight loss goal, but I imagine she'd like to lose at least 50 lbs, perhaps as much as 80 or 90.

I'm still not following you on how she lowers her sugar and fats without also lowering her calories. I can understand how someone can choose lower GI carbs/sugars rather than higher ones -- which is particularly important for those with carb sensitivity issues. So, are you recommending that she lower the ADDED sugar and instead opt for the same number of carbs (or the caloric equivalent) through other food choices? So her carb numbers would stay the same, but her actual added sugar numbers would go down?

LeanButNotMean44

I'm still not following you on how she lowers her sugar and fats without also lowering her calories. I can understand how someone can choose lower GI carbs/sugars rather than higher ones -- which is particularly important for those with carb sensitivity issues. So, are you recommending that she lower the ADDED sugar and instead opt for the same number of carbs (or the caloric equivalent) through other food choices? So her carb numbers would stay the same, but her actual added sugar numbers would go down?

I think that is what she is suggesting - complex carbs instead of simple carbs (i.e. whole wheat pita instead of a regular pita, veggies instead of dinner rolls, etc.).

Vigilance88

And yes, I am definitely saying that if her macro nutrients (specifically fat and sugar) are over, even if her calories are under, those will be stored as extra energy i.e. FAT

You don't store energy if you're at a deficit. It's not that hard to understand.
Can I gain muscle if I'm eating over my protein limit, but under sugar/fat/cal limits? Nope

Yep_imchicbad

I've been training in the gym for over 2 years now, and I can tell you from my experience that macros makes a huge difference as well as caloric intake and calories burned. I want to build muscle and lean out. That's what my goal was. I'm hoping to compete.

I also took a quick look at all the posts here on peeking into her diary, and with just a couple of glances, I noticed there's no listing for SODIUM... there's a lot of high trans fatty food with high sodium in the OP's diary as well, trust me, I was an Oscar Meyer fan and Jenny O fan until I saw the sodium intake when I logged. I was plateaued for almost a year with no change all due to macros. High sugar, trans fat, and sodium, and carbs, will kill any progress even if your within your calorie range. This I can relate to.

Now having the occasional treat is ok, but everyday crap will leave you bloated and stuck. Its crazy for people to think that its ok to be high above your macros on a daily basis and make gains. You will plateau and bloat. This has been my experience. Processed food and fast food are a huge contributor to a lot of different problems, regardless. And not including cheat days lol

Aaron_K123

Again I want to reiterate it is honestly too early to know how you are doing. For people congratulating her on losing 2 pounds she has no idea how much fat she has actually lost only weighing herself for 3 weeks lets be honest. Most peoples bodies fluctuate by a good 5 pounds or more over the course of days or weeks due to changes in water retention and that fluctuation will mask the amount of fat you are truly losing until you have been logging consistantly for months at which a trend will establish where you can predict your weekly loss.

OP you can't tell how much fat you have lost yet, need to keep at it for at least twice as long. If you are correct and you HAVE lost 2 pounds in 3 weeks that is a very good loss rate and one you should be happy with not upset by.

All this second guessing and suggestions are on the back of insufficient data. It serves no purpose.