Two + Months in, not a pound gone

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Replies

  • jadethief
    jadethief Posts: 266 Member
    I don't think that opening up my diary will help at all. I started out only eating 1300 calories a day, that's what I naturally eat when I eat what I want and don't try to watch what I'm eating (including dessert). I track every bite by weighing with a food scale or measuring with measuring cups and spoons, I never estimate and I always record what I've eaten before I move from the table,so I don't forget anything. I am very serious and dedicated to my weight loss. I'm not an over eater and I'm not a person who thinks they can fudge the numbers and "no one will know." I measure, I weigh and I record.


    If you don't want to open your diary to the public, consider friending a couple of people from this thread and asking them to take a look privately.
  • Wow! So many responses! You guys are awesome!

    I'll try to get all your questions answered.

    I do have a lot of weight to lose, that's how I burn so many calories.

    The reason I am this big is because I had that adrenal problem and your adrenal glands work together with you thyroid to control your weight. Essentially, it was the same way someone with a thyroid problem gains weight, but it seems dishonest to say that because the problem was in my adrenal glands and not in my thyroid. (as I said, all are back to normal now)

    I haven't been tested for any food intolerances or allergies, but I have gone on an elimination diet several times for breastfeeding children who were presenting with food allergies. These lasted weeks, some months and I never saw a difference in my weight then either (though I've never done one for me).

    I do eat out a few times a week, and I do record all of that, but vismal made a really good point about the chef not using a scale like I do at home, so I'll cut that out for a few weeks and see if that helps any. I'll also switch to weighing more and using volume measurements only when necessary.

    I'm still making my way through the links.

    If caloric deficit = weight loss for everyone, always, forever, then I don't understand why I haven't gained since almost doubling my intake. I am exactly the same weight and measurements as I was two months ago (and for the last seven years).

    Thanks guys, you are fantastic!
  • kelleybean1
    kelleybean1 Posts: 312 Member
    Why the closed diary????
  • DivineChoices
    DivineChoices Posts: 193 Member

    If caloric deficit = weight loss for everyone, always, forever, then I don't understand why I haven't gained since almost doubling my intake. I am exactly the same weight and measurements as I was two months ago (and for the last seven years).

    When you upped your calorie goal, did you also change the way you were logging? If you went from eyeballing portions, etc to measuring with cups, you might have been at the SAME caloric intake as before. In my honest opinion, whenever someone plateaus, the first step in figuring out the problem is to map out the intake as accurate and precise as possible. That means not ONLY weighing all solids on a food scale AND measuring all liquids in a measuring cup, but ALSO recording the correct entries in your diary.

    CICO works for EVERYONE. If it's not working for you, then one side of that equation is off balance. If you are being 100% truthful in your food diary, weighing everything you can, choosing correct entries, and opting to eat back 50-75% of your 'exercise" calories (from the bodymedia), then something is not be accounted for. Whether its you're not burning what you think you're burning - to adjust for this, eat less. Or your consuming things you're not aware of or haven't accounted for - any chance you're sleep eating?

    Conservatively, cutting 100-200 calories off your daily calories goal, will increase the deficit on paper and you should see some weight loss. If your bodymedia says you burn 3000 calories on a lazy day, then change your food goal to only 2000 calories and DON'T eat back exercise calories, or only eat back 50% of exercise you purposefully do (i.e. go for a walk, etc). That should be a 2 lb per week rate of loss (1000 calorie daily deficit).

  • When you upped your calorie goal, did you also change the way you were logging? If you went from eyeballing portions, etc to measuring with cups, you might have been at the SAME caloric intake as before. In my honest opinion, whenever someone plateaus, the first step in figuring out the problem is to map out the intake as accurate and precise as possible. That means not ONLY weighing all solids on a food scale AND measuring all liquids in a measuring cup, but ALSO recording the correct entries in your diary.

    CICO works for EVERYONE. If it's not working for you, then one side of that equation is off balance. If you are being 100% truthful in your food diary, weighing everything you can, choosing correct entries, and opting to eat back 50-75% of your 'exercise" calories (from the bodymedia), then something is not be accounted for. Whether its you're not burning what you think you're burning - to adjust for this, eat less. Or your consuming things you're not aware of or haven't accounted for - any chance you're sleep eating?

    Conservatively, cutting 100-200 calories off your daily calories goal, will increase the deficit on paper and you should see some weight loss. If your bodymedia says you burn 3000 calories on a lazy day, then change your food goal to only 2000 calories and DON'T eat back exercise calories, or only eat back 50% of exercise you purposefully do (i.e. go for a walk, etc). That should be a 2 lb per week rate of loss (1000 calorie daily deficit).

    When I increased my calorie goal I did not change the way I was logging or measuring in any way. I started at 1300, went to 1700 and then up to 2000. I stayed there for a month, then up to 2300 for two weeks, then up to 2500 last week. All of this was by the recommendation of my nutritionist (she is a weight loss specialist). At every one of these caloric intakes my results was exactly the same: no change. I do not eat back any calories. She gives me a total caloric intake to eat every day and that's what I eat regardless of what I burn.
  • thavoice
    thavoice Posts: 1,326 Member

    When you upped your calorie goal, did you also change the way you were logging? If you went from eyeballing portions, etc to measuring with cups, you might have been at the SAME caloric intake as before. In my honest opinion, whenever someone plateaus, the first step in figuring out the problem is to map out the intake as accurate and precise as possible. That means not ONLY weighing all solids on a food scale AND measuring all liquids in a measuring cup, but ALSO recording the correct entries in your diary.

    CICO works for EVERYONE. If it's not working for you, then one side of that equation is off balance. If you are being 100% truthful in your food diary, weighing everything you can, choosing correct entries, and opting to eat back 50-75% of your 'exercise" calories (from the bodymedia), then something is not be accounted for. Whether its you're not burning what you think you're burning - to adjust for this, eat less. Or your consuming things you're not aware of or haven't accounted for - any chance you're sleep eating?

    Conservatively, cutting 100-200 calories off your daily calories goal, will increase the deficit on paper and you should see some weight loss. If your bodymedia says you burn 3000 calories on a lazy day, then change your food goal to only 2000 calories and DON'T eat back exercise calories, or only eat back 50% of exercise you purposefully do (i.e. go for a walk, etc). That should be a 2 lb per week rate of loss (1000 calorie daily deficit).

    When I increased my calorie goal I did not change the way I was logging or measuring in any way. I started at 1300, went to 1700 and then up to 2000. I stayed there for a month, then up to 2300 for two weeks, then up to 2500 last week. All of this was by the recommendation of my nutritionist (she is a weight loss specialist). At every one of these caloric intakes my results was exactly the same: no change. I do not eat back any calories. She gives me a total caloric intake to eat every day and that's what I eat regardless of what I burn.
    take that sticker off the scale that they put an arbitrary weight on to make it look like its on without using battery
  • kelleybean1
    kelleybean1 Posts: 312 Member

    When you upped your calorie goal, did you also change the way you were logging? If you went from eyeballing portions, etc to measuring with cups, you might have been at the SAME caloric intake as before. In my honest opinion, whenever someone plateaus, the first step in figuring out the problem is to map out the intake as accurate and precise as possible. That means not ONLY weighing all solids on a food scale AND measuring all liquids in a measuring cup, but ALSO recording the correct entries in your diary.

    CICO works for EVERYONE. If it's not working for you, then one side of that equation is off balance. If you are being 100% truthful in your food diary, weighing everything you can, choosing correct entries, and opting to eat back 50-75% of your 'exercise" calories (from the bodymedia), then something is not be accounted for. Whether its you're not burning what you think you're burning - to adjust for this, eat less. Or your consuming things you're not aware of or haven't accounted for - any chance you're sleep eating?

    Conservatively, cutting 100-200 calories off your daily calories goal, will increase the deficit on paper and you should see some weight loss. If your bodymedia says you burn 3000 calories on a lazy day, then change your food goal to only 2000 calories and DON'T eat back exercise calories, or only eat back 50% of exercise you purposefully do (i.e. go for a walk, etc). That should be a 2 lb per week rate of loss (1000 calorie daily deficit).

    When I increased my calorie goal I did not change the way I was logging or measuring in any way. I started at 1300, went to 1700 and then up to 2000. I stayed there for a month, then up to 2300 for two weeks, then up to 2500 last week. All of this was by the recommendation of my nutritionist (she is a weight loss specialist). At every one of these caloric intakes my results was exactly the same: no change. I do not eat back any calories. She gives me a total caloric intake to eat every day and that's what I eat regardless of what I burn.
    take that sticker off the scale that they put an arbitrary weight on to make it look like its on without using battery

    ROTFLMAO now THAT'S funny!

  • When you upped your calorie goal, did you also change the way you were logging? If you went from eyeballing portions, etc to measuring with cups, you might have been at the SAME caloric intake as before. In my honest opinion, whenever someone plateaus, the first step in figuring out the problem is to map out the intake as accurate and precise as possible. That means not ONLY weighing all solids on a food scale AND measuring all liquids in a measuring cup, but ALSO recording the correct entries in your diary.

    CICO works for EVERYONE. If it's not working for you, then one side of that equation is off balance. If you are being 100% truthful in your food diary, weighing everything you can, choosing correct entries, and opting to eat back 50-75% of your 'exercise" calories (from the bodymedia), then something is not be accounted for. Whether its you're not burning what you think you're burning - to adjust for this, eat less. Or your consuming things you're not aware of or haven't accounted for - any chance you're sleep eating?

    Conservatively, cutting 100-200 calories off your daily calories goal, will increase the deficit on paper and you should see some weight loss. If your bodymedia says you burn 3000 calories on a lazy day, then change your food goal to only 2000 calories and DON'T eat back exercise calories, or only eat back 50% of exercise you purposefully do (i.e. go for a walk, etc). That should be a 2 lb per week rate of loss (1000 calorie daily deficit).

    When I increased my calorie goal I did not change the way I was logging or measuring in any way. I started at 1300, went to 1700 and then up to 2000. I stayed there for a month, then up to 2300 for two weeks, then up to 2500 last week. All of this was by the recommendation of my nutritionist (she is a weight loss specialist). At every one of these caloric intakes my results was exactly the same: no change. I do not eat back any calories. She gives me a total caloric intake to eat every day and that's what I eat regardless of what I burn.
    take that sticker off the scale that they put an arbitrary weight on to make it look like its on without using battery

    Hilarious!
    You know.... duct tape and a sharpie, we can all weigh whatever we want.
  • HA HA HA! Thanks, I needed a good laugh!
  • HA HA HA! Thanks, I needed a good laugh!

    Laughing will keep you sane, especially when dieting. My young daughter once decided she was going to count calories like mommy does. She used an ink pen to alter calorie numbers on all her favorite snacks and tracked them in a notebook for a couple days. When I got a peek at it, she had herself eating snacks to the tune of 50,000 per day. I think she thought the more the better lol
  • segovm
    segovm Posts: 512 Member
    I think the reason people are having a hard time with this is because you either represent an evolution in human existence wherein mankind no longer needed to eat to stay healthy and alive or you are measuring stuff wrong.

    I personally want to believe the former but history suggests that the later is more likely to be true.

    I would suggest just logging everything for a while, open up the diary and let folks offer some honest advice. Obviously consult with your doctors as we are all just internet experts but we do try to help!
  • cdn_beaver
    cdn_beaver Posts: 130 Member
    What are your daily macros? There is so much information everyone can learn from by taking a look at your diary.
    I would also suggest measuring your body as a sign of weight loss and not just basing it on the number on the scale. I went through 3 months of physio therapy where I was lifting weights and doing strengthening exercises. The scale only dropped a couple pounds but my measurements changed a lot! Muscle weights more than fat so you could be building muscle through your exercises.
  • roanokejoe49
    roanokejoe49 Posts: 820 Member

    Also, you say your resting metabolic rate is 2345, so you're saying you're burning about 850 calories through exercise every day? That's a LOT of exercise. I think your calculations are off; you're overestimating how much you're burning and you're eating too much. That's my opinion.
    If her resting rate is 2345 she doesn't need to burn 850 in exercise. Resting metabolic rate doesn't take into consideration daily activity. RMR is what you body burns just from running itself. Walking around your house, cooking, cleaning, bathing, etc are all not accounted for in RMR. It also doesn't take into account thermic effect of food. So her total expenditure (the 2800-3300 she listed) is RMR + exercise + thermic effect of food+ NEAT (non exercise associated thermogenesis). Not just RMR + exercise.

    Preach it, brother.
  • My nutritionist has me eating 50% carbs 30% fat and 20% protein. If I don't watch it closely it ends up at 40-45-15.

    My trainer has measured me and not found any change at all. My weight hasn't changed in either direction despite doubling my calories slowly over the last two months. I weigh every day and see a range of about 5 pounds, but that range hasnt changed in the last 7 years, except when I was pregnant. Interestingly, when I am pregnant I lose weight and when I come home after the birth I am 25 lbs down, but that is all back by my 6wk postpartum appointment.I have had 3 and this happened al three times.
  • lindsey1979
    lindsey1979 Posts: 2,395 Member
    There are caveats to CICO which some people have a hard time acknowledging. Whether it's a difference in biochemistry that we don't fully understand or difficulty in calculating the CO part of the equation, I'm not sure. But the TYPE of calories will make a big difference for SOME people. For example, people with insulin resistance will lose more weight with the same amount of calories if less of their calories come from carbs because of the abnormal glucose metabolism issue with insulin resistance. They've done studies on this (for those that insist on seeing it, I'll look for it to be posted with an edit). So, for people with such issues, how they create the deficit makes a HUGE difference in their actual weight loss.

    First, are you weighing everything you eat with a food scale so you're sure of your actual intake? If you're not doing this, I highly recommend doing this first to get an accurate picture of the CI part of the equation. This is probably the most common error most people make -- grossly underestimating their calories eaten. And, as others have pointed out, measuring spoons/cups aren't as accurate as weight for solids. Please do this first.

    Second, if you're already weighing your food and confident in your intake, then you need to go to the doctor again and get things checked. I know you said you were fine, but I was told I was fine for over 10 years by 4 different doctors until I really researched issues myself, understood what tests needed to be done and what they meant. Then, bingo, I finally got the correct diagnosis and treatment --- and not only felt 1000x better, but also finally started losing weight like a "normal" person.

    From my journey, I'm familiar with thyroid issues and insulin resistance. Do you know if you've had the following tests done for them and what their numbers were:

    Thyroid -- Free T3, Free T4, TSH, both antibodies (TPO and Tg)
    Insulin resistance -- A1C

    Over 40% of US adults have insulin resistance in pre-diabetic or diabetic levels (2/3 of the pre-diabetic folks are undiagnosed) -- and that makes it very hard to lose weight and very easy to gain weight without the proper diet, and possibly medication. That's a LOT of people. 8% or so of the population have a thyroid disorder, 2/3 of which are undiagnosed.
  • vismal
    vismal Posts: 2,463 Member
    OP at this point I am beginning to wonder why you won't open your diary? Multiple people have requested it in order to help you. I'm not trying to be accusatory but what is your reasoning for not wanting to?
  • Dr__Girlfriend
    Dr__Girlfriend Posts: 100 Member
    I don't want to be rude, but I have a lot of friends, women, in your exact situation who have Hashi's or PCOS.
    It is not as simple as cals in, cals out for them.
  • emtjmac
    emtjmac Posts: 1,320 Member
    If you burn more calories than you consume, you will lose weight. Weigh your food carefully, log every gram. Log every condiment, every topping, every single thing that goes into your mouth. Forget about eating calories back, just figure out your TDEE and eat the same amount every day whether you exercise or not.

    I used this:

    http://iifym.com/tdee-calculator/

    I also multiplied by body weight by 0.8 to find the number of calories I should be eating every day.

    My goal is set to 0.5lb/wk on fitness pal and ultimately that is what I'm using as it was very close to my calculations.
  • emtjmac
    emtjmac Posts: 1,320 Member
    I don't want to be rude, but I have a lot of friends, women, in your exact situation who have Hashi's or PCOS.
    It is not as simple as cals in, cals out for them.

    Maybe I'm wrong, but it seems to me that the incidence of PCOS and Hashimoto's does not support the number of people on MFP who claim to have these disorders. Again, I could be wrong but it seems like every time I turn around someone else is posting about how they can't lose weight because they have PCOS. If a physician diagnoses it, fine, but if not... it's just an excuse.
  • There are caveats to CICO which some people have a hard time acknowledging. Whether it's a difference in biochemistry that we don't fully understand or difficulty in calculating the CO part of the equation, I'm not sure. But the TYPE of calories will make a big difference for SOME people. For example, people with insulin resistance will lose more weight with the same amount of calories if less of their calories come from carbs because of the abnormal glucose metabolism issue with insulin resistance. They've done studies on this (for those that insist on seeing it, I'll look for it to be posted with an edit). So, for people with such issues, how they create the deficit makes a HUGE difference in their actual weight loss.

    First, are you weighing everything you eat with a food scale so you're sure of your actual intake? If you're not doing this, I highly recommend doing this first to get an accurate picture of the CI part of the equation. This is probably the most common error most people make -- grossly underestimating their calories eaten. And, as others have pointed out, measuring spoons/cups aren't as accurate as weight for solids. Please do this first.

    Second, if you're already weighing your food and confident in your intake, then you need to go to the doctor again and get things checked. I know you said you were fine, but I was told I was fine for over 10 years by 4 different doctors until I really researched issues myself, understood what tests needed to be done and what they meant. Then, bingo, I finally got the correct diagnosis and treatment --- and not only felt 1000x better, but also finally started losing weight like a "normal" person.

    From my journey, I'm familiar with thyroid issues and insulin resistance. Do you know if you've had the following tests done for them and what their numbers were:

    Thyroid -- Free T3, Free T4, TSH, both antibodies (TPO and Tg)
    Insulin resistance -- A1C

    Over 40% of US adults have insulin resistance in pre-diabetic or diabetic levels (2/3 of the pre-diabetic folks are undiagnosed) -- and that makes it very hard to lose weight and very easy to gain weight without the proper diet, and possibly medication. That's a LOT of people. 8% or so of the population have a thyroid disorder, 2/3 of which are undiagnosed.

    I do use measuring cups for some things. I will be weighing more and eating out less to ensure more accurate calculations in the future ( thanks for the tips!).

    I have had all of those tests done except A1c. They did a fasting glucose and it was fine. All of those tests (plus cortisol, and some other hormones) all came back normal.

    I will talk to my nutritionist about insulin resistance and see what she thinks about changing my macros.
    Thank you for the response!
  • Dr__Girlfriend
    Dr__Girlfriend Posts: 100 Member
    I don't want to be rude, but I have a lot of friends, women, in your exact situation who have Hashi's or PCOS.
    It is not as simple as cals in, cals out for them.

    Maybe I'm wrong, but it seems to me that the incidence of PCOS and Hashimoto's does not support the number of people on MFP who claim to have these disorders. Again, I could be wrong but it seems like every time I turn around someone else is posting about how they can't lose weight because they have PCOS. If a physician diagnoses it, fine, but if not... it's just an excuse.

    Um, whoa. These are not people on MFP.

    The OP stated that she already has Adrenal and Thyroid issues. It's not as simple as cals in cals out for those people.
  • There are caveats to CICO which some people have a hard time acknowledging. Whether it's a difference in biochemistry that we don't fully understand or difficulty in calculating the CO part of the equation, I'm not sure. But the TYPE of calories will make a big difference for SOME people. For example, people with insulin resistance will lose more weight with the same amount of calories if less of their calories come from carbs because of the abnormal glucose metabolism issue with insulin resistance. They've done studies on this (for those that insist on seeing it, I'll look for it to be posted with an edit). So, for people with such issues, how they create the deficit makes a HUGE difference in their actual weight loss.

    First, are you weighing everything you eat with a food scale so you're sure of your actual intake? If you're not doing this, I highly recommend doing this first to get an accurate picture of the CI part of the equation. This is probably the most common error most people make -- grossly underestimating their calories eaten. And, as others have pointed out, measuring spoons/cups aren't as accurate as weight for solids. Please do this first.

    Second, if you're already weighing your food and confident in your intake, then you need to go to the doctor again and get things checked. I know you said you were fine, but I was told I was fine for over 10 years by 4 different doctors until I really researched issues myself, understood what tests needed to be done and what they meant. Then, bingo, I finally got the correct diagnosis and treatment --- and not only felt 1000x better, but also finally started losing weight like a "normal" person.

    From my journey, I'm familiar with thyroid issues and insulin resistance. Do you know if you've had the following tests done for them and what their numbers were:

    Thyroid -- Free T3, Free T4, TSH, both antibodies (TPO and Tg)
    Insulin resistance -- A1C

    Over 40% of US adults have insulin resistance in pre-diabetic or diabetic levels (2/3 of the pre-diabetic folks are undiagnosed) -- and that makes it very hard to lose weight and very easy to gain weight without the proper diet, and possibly medication. That's a LOT of people. 8% or so of the population have a thyroid disorder, 2/3 of which are undiagnosed.

    YES YES YES. This idea that it's all been settled and it's just CICO is very tough for me to fully buy into. The body is an incredibly complex system, and there is a ton of variation among people. Modern medical science is still a very recent and ever-changing field. To think that it's all been completely figured out, and there some extremely simple blueprint seems like an oversimplification. I think different body types/biochemical profiles handle different kinds of macronutrients differently. Much differently, in some cases.
  • Dr__Girlfriend
    Dr__Girlfriend Posts: 100 Member
    If you are linking her TDEE calculators you obviously haven't read the thread, she has had many legit tests done to measure her RMR, and its sitting at 2485. She also has a body media fit device.
  • bizgirl26
    bizgirl26 Posts: 1,795 Member
    If you want opinions you need to open your diary if you dont want assistance leave it closed. Not trying ot be rude as mine is closed but I am not asking for help. A lot of times when one opens their diary we can see reasons why they are not successful
  • LoneWolf_70
    LoneWolf_70 Posts: 1,151 Member
    if you're not gonna open your diary this is a complete waste of time.
  • Dr__Girlfriend
    Dr__Girlfriend Posts: 100 Member
    I really second getting tested for insulin resistance. Re-check your thyroid levels. Also, kudos to you for sticking to it. I can't imagine being in your situation, it must be so frustrating. I'm really proud of you for sticking with it despite the lack of progress. Hang in there, ok?:)
  • OP at this point I am beginning to wonder why you won't open your diary? Multiple people have requested it in order to help you. I'm not trying to be accusatory but what is your reasoning for not wanting to?
    I'm aware that looks suspicous and I have been lurking around for a while so I expected that. The reason I haven't is because I have a fantastic nutritionist who I meet with every two weeks. We go over my diary every time.
  • juggernaut1974
    juggernaut1974 Posts: 6,212 Member
    if you're not gonna open your diary this is a complete waste of time.

    Yep...this.

    Not meaning to be rude, just honest.
  • BekaBooluvsu
    BekaBooluvsu Posts: 470 Member
    Nevermind. I should've read more before posting
  • vismal
    vismal Posts: 2,463 Member
    OP at this point I am beginning to wonder why you won't open your diary? Multiple people have requested it in order to help you. I'm not trying to be accusatory but what is your reasoning for not wanting to?
    I'm aware that looks suspicous and I have been lurking around for a while so I expected that. The reason I haven't is because I have a fantastic nutritionist who I meet with every two weeks. We go over my diary every time.
    What does you going over your diary with your nutritionist have to do with opening it for us to see as well?