2 year plateau and confused about differences in calories
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some sites say I should eat 2080 cals/day to lose 2 lbs/wk, this one and MyPlate say in the 1300s.
What is the differnece and what am I doing wrong?
Now with all of your other answers, I'm going back to your original question and reiterate. Please know that we all support you and want you to find success. I know when you're on a website like this it can feel like people are attacking you. So, <hugs> ok?
The websites are estimating your TDEE to be anywhere from 3080 to 2300 calories per day. They're just websites using formulas. They don't know you. We don't know you. We're just guessing.
But I can tell you this for sure, what you're doing wrong is you're eating more calories than you think you are. You haven't lost weight in two years because you:
(1) don't know how many calories per day your body uses
(2) don't know how many calories per day you're consuming
But the good news is it's possible to figure these things out! You can buy a FitBit! You can learn how to cook for yourself! You can actually do what you need to, if it's something you really want.
I really hope you're able to figure out what changes you need to make. Best of luck, ok? And we're here to try to help
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then you need to eat less. You asked for suggestions then get defensive when people offer advice. If what you are doing isn't working you need to try something else.Using a food scale can be a real eye opener. What you assume is 4 ounces chicken could be 6, what you think is 150 grams rice is 200. Logging a medium piece of fruit at 50 calories when its really 125grams @ 100 calories. Part of the problem is there are so many MFP entries, its easy to pick low #s. A 500 calorie deficit, gone - just like that!
Without weighing its impossible to get accurate #s. And I suspect the people working in the cafeteria mean well, but probably are wrong also. Not to mention if they're serving items that have multiple ingredients its hard to keep it all straight.
If what you're doing is not working for you, it might not hurt to pick up a $10-15 food scale and give it a try. Personally I use the postage scale at work. Small office, and I got a few odd looks but I got over letting that bother me. I do try to take it back off the gram setting when I'm done though...
I don't cook at home s what I eat either comes out of a package (like a frozen item) or something that already has a calorie assignment. I've discussed things with the chef at work and they actually weigh out and measure their portions because they are health-conscious...it's a large chain of cafeterias that services my employer.
I know you all think I'm making excuses, but I'm not. Im very careful and generally don't use most of the MFP entries...I find them inaccurate and figure it out myself. If I go to an eating establishment, I ask how much the meat weighs or whatever.
I've been doing this for a long time so I've become very good at eyeballing how much a half cup or cup is, and I'm pretty accurate within a small range of error.
The other thing that comes into play is that I have a lot of muscle mass. My legs are large but very muscular and at one time I could press 500lbs with them. My family is all built this way (like a defensive line for a football team) and we have large legs, wide hips, and broad shoulders.0 -
then you need to eat less. You asked for suggestions then get defensive when people offer advice. If what you are doing isn't working you need to try something else.Using a food scale can be a real eye opener. What you assume is 4 ounces chicken could be 6, what you think is 150 grams rice is 200. Logging a medium piece of fruit at 50 calories when its really 125grams @ 100 calories. Part of the problem is there are so many MFP entries, its easy to pick low #s. A 500 calorie deficit, gone - just like that!
Without weighing its impossible to get accurate #s. And I suspect the people working in the cafeteria mean well, but probably are wrong also. Not to mention if they're serving items that have multiple ingredients its hard to keep it all straight.
If what you're doing is not working for you, it might not hurt to pick up a $10-15 food scale and give it a try. Personally I use the postage scale at work. Small office, and I got a few odd looks but I got over letting that bother me. I do try to take it back off the gram setting when I'm done though...
I don't cook at home s what I eat either comes out of a package (like a frozen item) or something that already has a calorie assignment. I've discussed things with the chef at work and they actually weigh out and measure their portions because they are health-conscious...it's a large chain of cafeterias that services my employer.
I know you all think I'm making excuses, but I'm not. Im very careful and generally don't use most of the MFP entries...I find them inaccurate and figure it out myself. If I go to an eating establishment, I ask how much the meat weighs or whatever.
I've been doing this for a long time so I've become very good at eyeballing how much a half cup or cup is, and I'm pretty accurate within a small range of error.
The other thing that comes into play is that I have a lot of muscle mass. My legs are large but very muscular and at one time I could press 500lbs with them. My family is all built this way (like a defensive line for a football team) and we have large legs, wide hips, and broad shoulders.
I'm not getting defensive at all...if you'll go back and read, even another person noticed that it sounded a bit like an attack. I asked for advice and said what I was doing. Nothing I said was defensive.
If I didn't have a struggle with losing weight I wouldn't be here.
Thanks for your encouragement and assistance.0 -
some sites say I should eat 2080 cals/day to lose 2 lbs/wk, this one and MyPlate say in the 1300s.
What is the differnece and what am I doing wrong?
Now with all of your other answers, I'm going back to your original question and reiterate. Please know that we all support you and want you to find success. I know when you're on a website like this it can feel like people are attacking you. So, <hugs> ok?
The websites are estimating your TDEE to be anywhere from 3080 to 2300 calories per day. They're just websites using formulas. They don't know you. We don't know you. We're just guessing.
But I can tell you this for sure, what you're doing wrong is you're eating more calories than you think you are. You haven't lost weight in two years because you:
(1) don't know how many calories per day your body uses
(2) don't know how many calories per day you're consuming
But the good news is it's possible to figure these things out! You can buy a FitBit! You can learn how to cook for yourself! You can actually do what you need to, if it's something you really want.
I really hope you're able to figure out what changes you need to make. Best of luck, ok? And we're here to try to help
I eat very little salt, believe it or not. I rarely salt my food and to be honest I don't eat a lot of packaged food, either. It's hard to explain, I suppose. We eat out but I always choose good options like lean meats and again, little fat, fried, etc.0 -
Y'all just forget about it, okay? No one seems to be able to help, even my doctor, when I explained that there was a history of hypothyroidsim in the family. She just snurled and said it was my food. It cannot just be my food. There has to be something else.
Thanks to those who really tried to offer advice. For the rest of those who think they know it all, good luck.
Sorry, I didn't come here to be attacked.0 -
If you are hypothyroid, and it's not controlled, get it controlled. If you don't know if you are hypothyroid, find out. If your OB won't do this, get a different doctor.
If you are certain your tracking is accurate and you are maintaining or gaining, eat fewer calories, consistently, for a long time.0 -
We eat out
*Sits you down, takes you by the hand, looks you dead in the eyes*
THIS is why you aren't losing weight the way you think you should.
There's ways to fit dining out into a healthy lifestyle. It's true. Now, I don't know you, but from what you've told us. THIS is why YOU specifically aren't losing weight the way you think you should.0 -
I measure cereals and milk and things like that and most everything else I can get the calorie count from the package.I rarely salt my food and to be honest I don't eat a lot of packaged food, either
Am I the only one shaking my head and going, "Huh? I'm confused."?
My original comment was going to be that I don't put salt or seasonings on food, either, but I am constantly battling a problem with too much sodium, it goes way over what MFP says I'm supposed to be getting, so sodium might be the culprit. But with the two statements above, I'm just scratching my head now.
Sorry you're feeling attacked.0 -
I hate to break it to you, but it's likely your food intake. If you aren't losing weight, and you aren't weighing food, that is the first place for you to start. If you've never done it, how would you know you're guesses are pretty accurate? If you think there is a medical condition involved, get tested and find out, so you can get proper meds and nutrition advice.
And....someone who has been thin all of their life is actually a perfect person to take advice from. They're obviously doing something right.0 -
One alternate thought... Is your OBGYN the only doctor you've discussed this with? I'm only asking as that was the doctor you indicated suggested 1200 calories per day to lose weight. It might be in your best interest to consult someone else regarding hyperthyroidism, etc. as its clearly not the OBGYN's specialty.0
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@ Sunshinesoprano - I hope you'll consider trying to get another doctor's opinion. I won't presume that our circumstances are anything alike, I will just tell you that I've watched my weight fluctuate for more than 10 years and dutifully tracked what I was eating, did exactly what the doctor ordered, and it seemed to have minimal effect on weight loss or weight gain. For a while, I just shrugged and accepted that it was my lot in life. Then last year, at my regular wellness check up, a new ARNP in the practice glanced through my chart and suggested some testing - hormone levels, etc, etc. Thyroidism and other hormonal imbalances , as well as metabolic disorders, can be difficult to diagnose. Perhaps print a report of your food and exercise diary from MFP to take with you when you see a doctor or nutritionist.0
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i have not seen one person attack you. Is your only doctor your ob/gyn? If so, she is not educated in other testing you might need. If you think there is a medical reason behind your inability to lose, then you need to see a family practice doctor or a specialist. If they test you and everything is fine, then you should ask yourself if you are willing to try anything different to lose weight. You won't lose if you aren't willing to try new things. Sounds like you eat out a lot and eat packaged foods a lot. That slows things down due to sodium and not knowing calories when eating out. When people ask for advice, usually they are open to it. Doesn't seem like you are open to anyone's suggestionsY'all just forget about it, okay? No one seems to be able to help, even my doctor, when I explained that there was a history of hypothyroidsim in the family. She just snurled and said it was my food. It cannot just be my food. There has to be something else.
Thanks to those who really tried to offer advice. For the rest of those who think they know it all, good luck.
Sorry, I didn't come here to be attacked.0 -
I hate to break it to you, but it's likely your food intake. If you aren't losing weight, and you aren't weighing food, that is the first place for you to start. If you've never done it, how would you know you're guesses are pretty accurate? If you think there is a medical condition involved, get tested and find out, so you can get proper meds and nutrition advice.
And....someone who has been thin all of their life is actually a perfect person to take advice from. They're obviously doing something right.
I think there is a lot more to being thin or heavy than just doing something right. If you look at my family, we're all built like football players. We're not meant to weigh 120 lbs.
Not an excuse, but you can't put the skin of a WV Beetle on a Ford Explorer.0 -
thin people are not always naturally thin. They develop habits that cause them to not overeat. They are active. They limit bad food.I hate to break it to you, but it's likely your food intake. If you aren't losing weight, and you aren't weighing food, that is the first place for you to start. If you've never done it, how would you know you're guesses are pretty accurate? If you think there is a medical condition involved, get tested and find out, so you can get proper meds and nutrition advice.
And....someone who has been thin all of their life is actually a perfect person to take advice from. They're obviously doing something right.
I think there is a lot more to being thin or heavy than just doing something right. If you look at my family, we're all built like football players. We're not meant to weigh 120 lbs.
Not an excuse, but you can't put the skin of a WV Beetle on a Ford Explorer.0 -
i have not seen one person attack you. Is your only doctor your ob/gyn? If so, she is not educated in other testing you might need. If you think there is a medical reason behind your inability to lose, then you need to see a family practice doctor or a specialist. If they test you and everything is fine, then you should ask yourself if you are willing to try anything different to lose weight. You won't lose if you aren't willing to try new things. Sounds like you eat out a lot and eat packaged foods a lot. That slows things down due to sodium and not knowing calories when eating out. When people ask for advice, usually they are open to it. Doesn't seem like you are open to anyone's suggestionsY'all just forget about it, okay? No one seems to be able to help, even my doctor, when I explained that there was a history of hypothyroidsim in the family. She just snurled and said it was my food. It cannot just be my food. There has to be something else.
Thanks to those who really tried to offer advice. For the rest of those who think they know it all, good luck.
Sorry, I didn't come here to be attacked.
I am very open to suggestions. What I"m trying to explain is that I make good choices and that's why I'm frustrated.
I know the answer everyone likes to give is...
Don't eat out
Don't eat junk
Don't eat processed....
But I don't. That's just the thing. I eat healthy foods and get no where. I eat out and eat the healthy choices, not taken in by the illusion of a salad being healthier than a chicken breast or whatever. I am well-educated and have had just a few upper level science classes in my life, so I know what is good and what isn't.
Hence my frustration.
I really don't feel like anyone is listening to me.0 -
thin people are not always naturally thin. They develop habits that cause them to it overeat. They are active. They limit bad food.I hate to break it to you, but it's likely your food intake. If you aren't losing weight, and you aren't weighing food, that is the first place for you to start. If you've never done it, how would you know you're guesses are pretty accurate? If you think there is a medical condition involved, get tested and find out, so you can get proper meds and nutrition advice.
And....someone who has been thin all of their life is actually a perfect person to take advice from. They're obviously doing something right.
I think there is a lot more to being thin or heavy than just doing something right. If you look at my family, we're all built like football players. We're not meant to weigh 120 lbs.
Not an excuse, but you can't put the skin of a WV Beetle on a Ford Explorer.
Really? Because I know a lot of thin people that eat like crap and are skinny anyway.
I think you and I are going to have to agree to disagree on this one.0 -
Will you open your diary?0
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She's a really skinny person and an OBGYN so I'm not sure this is really her forte.
Dat reverse discrimination
No, that's being realistic that an historically thin person has no idea what it's like to have a lifelong weight struggle.
If I said I hated her because she was skinny, that would be discrimination.
you've known her since birth?0 -
you said you don't cook at home and eat things from a package. That's a red flag to me right there. You can't know exactly what you are eating if you eat out a lot. Do you just want people to say you are doing everything perfect but still gained 9 lb? I personally would make a dr appt ASAP to rule out a medical condition but you previously lost 50 lb so I'm guessing that you would have had these problems before. But talk to a dr (not ob dr) and if all of those years are ok then you know you are eating too much
i have not seen one person attack you. Is your only doctor your ob/gyn? If so, she is not educated in other testing you might need. If you think there is a medical reason behind your inability to lose, then you need to see a family practice doctor or a specialist. If they test you and everything is fine, then you should ask yourself if you are willing to try anything different to lose weight. You won't lose if you aren't willing to try new things. Sounds like you eat out a lot and eat packaged foods a lot. That slows things down due to sodium and not knowing calories when eating out. When people ask for advice, usually they are open to it. Doesn't seem like you are open to anyone's suggestionsY'all just forget about it, okay? No one seems to be able to help, even my doctor, when I explained that there was a history of hypothyroidsim in the family. She just snurled and said it was my food. It cannot just be my food. There has to be something else.
Thanks to those who really tried to offer advice. For the rest of those who think they know it all, good luck.
Sorry, I didn't come here to be attacked.
I am very open to suggestions. What I"m trying to explain is that I make good choices and that's why I'm frustrated.
I know the answer everyone likes to give is...
Don't eat out
Don't eat junk
Don't eat processed....
But I don't. That's just the thing. I eat healthy foods and get no where. I eat out and eat the healthy choices, not taken in by the illusion of a salad being healthier than a chicken breast or whatever. I am well-educated and have had just a few upper level science classes in my life, so I know what is good and what isn't.
Hence my frustration.
I really don't feel like anyone is listening to me.0 -
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