one... freaking... pound...

perseverance14

What if your TDEE is more like 1800? How can you be sure it's as high as you think?

I used this website, http://www.bmi-calculator.net/bmr-calculator/harris-benedict-equation/, to determine my BMR and then used their multiplier of "Light Exercise (1-3 days per week)", even though I go to the gym more often than that in order to be on the safe side. But that's actually one of the things I plan to talk to the doctor about, seeing if there's a way to accurately determine where my metabolism REALLY is. If I was horribly off and eating 500 - 600 calories a day MORE than I'm burning, I guarantee you I'd see pretty immediate weight gain. My body is good like that.

If you have logged super accurately for the past month it should be really simple to accurately calculate your true TDEE. Just add all the calories then divide by however many days.

I'm not sure I understand what you mean here. Doing an average caloric intake per day isn't going to show me what my expenditure is. I could go for 5 days eating nothing, but my body is still burning calories just in the fact that I'm alive and moving. That doesn't mean my expenditure is zero just because my intake is zero. Can you clarify this for me?

Not to offend, but if you used to have an ED, did you ever have a period after that where you ate normally? If not, you probably have a lower BMR than normal because of it. The only way I have heard to help that is to eat at maintenance for a couple/few months then go back to the deficit. Here is a topic about it.

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/391492-rebuilding-a-broken-metabolism

UsedToBeHusky

Okay... first, I want to begin by pointing out how overly defensive you seem to be. Aside from the usual discussion about calories in/calories out, you felt the need to defend how often you go to the gym when 3 times a week is more than enough, and honestly, exercise isn't even necessary for weight loss.

Alright, secondly, assuming that there are not hormone issues at work here, you are probably underestimating your food. Even if you think you are overestimating, you would be quite surprised how far off you could be. Buy a cheap scale at Walmart (I got mine for like $10) and start weighing your food. I am almost willing to bet that at least some of the portions of the foods you eat are way off. Pasta is a real bad culprit of this. A single portion of pasta isn't even worth putting on your plate, IMO.

Third, if you have seen some benefits to your efforts other than the scale, then you are doing something right. This is a long tedious process and it doesn't deliver instant results. You need to learn to be more patient with your body.

meridianova

You can go around and around with every member of this forum and dissect every answer they give you, but it's blatantly obvious after reading 4 pages of this nonsense that no one here can give you the response you desire. It doesn't even exist.

You may not think so, but a lot of people have provided a lot of good information on things I'd either only speculated on or hadn't considered at all. The answer is out there, but I'm not going to find it by myself.

Squamation

I'm not sure what is wrong? You wanted to lose weight, and you are losing weight and inches. That's something to celebrate! Congratulations! Keep with it and keep losing weight/inches and improving your overall health.

Side note: Were you "within normal" thyroid numbers given to you by an Endocrinologist or will the appt your making be your first with a specialist? I had "normal" numbers but it was low end normal and my body needs high end normal to function at its best. Ask where you fall on the spectrum.

whitebalance

OP, two weigh-ins over the course of a month just isn't enough data to show a trend. I weigh in every morning, and it's not uncommon for my weight to be up or down a pound or two from one day to the next. When I worked out particularly hard one week, I suddenly woke up four pounds heavier than the previous day. I swallowed hard, double-checked my discipline, and then carried on. By the end of the following week, that mysterious extra weight was gone. Imagine if that had been my once-monthly weigh-in!

EvgeniZyntx has published awesome, amazing, game-changing tools. I see you've discovered them. I have nothing to add, except that if you make adjustments to your program, I recommend making them slowly and giving your body time to react so you can review the results.

meridianova

]Not to offend, but if you used to have an ED, did you ever have a period after that where you ate normally? If not, you probably have a lower BMR than normal because of it. The only way I have heard to help that is to eat at maintenance for a couple/few months then go back to the deficit. Here is a topic about it.

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/391492-rebuilding-a-broken-metabolism

Yes. The problem started in college, ran at its worst for a few years, then I started eating again and ballooned up. Low-carbing fixed things by providing freedom within the rigid control structure. I've flipped back and forth between low-carbing and eating normally because nothing seemed to affect my weight at all... no losses, anyway. The last time I lost significant weight was while I was pregnant.

I'll check that out. Thank you.

UsedToBeHusky

After reading the thread, I want to make one more suggestion to the OP.

Just because you are no longer anorexic does not mean that you aren't still struggling with emotional issues surrounding it. You started off defensive in your OP. People attempted to offer you advice in a friendly tone and you attacked them. For each person that has attempted to help you, you have responded in defense of any suggestion that you might be doing something wrong. But you didn't lose anymore than one pound so you did something wrong.

I think you might need to see a psychologist and get some help addressing some of your emotional distress over your ED and your current efforts at weight loss. I mean, it should not be offensive to you when advice is presented to you in a respectful manner. Even if it's not the advice you wanted.

Good luck!

penny0919

Saying you might be logging inaccurately does NOT mean your a dumb!

I thought having a food scale was excessive and annoying until I finally got one. My prepackaged, proportioned Costco bread rolls had a serving size of 80g on the package. Well when I weighed them, they are actually 100g so the calorie count is not accurate. That adds up if you eat one a few times a week.

"First of all, if you're not familiar with In-n-Out, they're not your typical burger joint. Their meat is delivered fresh daily and isn't frozen, their veggies and toppings are prepared on site from partnership farms run by former employees. Their fries are made from fresh potatoes on site, cooked immediately.

They're the closest thing you're going to get to a homemade burger that isn't made in your home. They also treat their employees far better than any other fast food joint. If I'm going to indulge in something within my macros, that's going to be it. "


That is awesome but that doesn't mean they are low calorie or that you know how much each burger weighs. That is the problem with eating out (and believe me, I LOVE TO EAT OUT! I just know I have to cut down when trying to lose weight).


I'm sorry you have a history of ED. I agree with those that said to hide the body scale but use the food scale more. (((hugs))) hang in there.

meridianova

I'm not sure what is wrong? You wanted to lose weight, and you are losing weight and inches. That's something to celebrate! Congratulations! Keep with it and keep losing weight/inches and improving your overall health.

Side note: Were you "within normal" thyroid numbers given to you by an Endocrinologist or will the appt your making be your first with a specialist? I had "normal" numbers but it was low end normal and my body needs high end normal to function at its best. Ask where you fall on the spectrum.

I asked two different OB/GYNs to run hormone blood panels on me to see if something was off enough that I should consult a specialist. Both told me that I fell within the "normal" range, just not where. However, my blood pressure runs on the low end, so it left me wondering if "normal" for everyone else is "too low" for me, or if the tests they ordered were basic ones and what I need is something more extensive.

This last month was an experiment... someone else mentioned that I should talk to an endocrinologist, so before I did that I wanted to rule out the other options I have control over: food and exercise. Dieting alone did nothing. Dieting plus regular exercise is providing turtle results. I'm patient, but a pace of 3 years to get to my first goal is kind of ridiculous. So I told myself that if I wasn't getting significant results with diet plus exercise (I figured 5lbs in a month wasn't too much to expect, though I truly expected nothing), I'd see a doctor. A lot of the responses now have given me enough information so that I know what questions to ask and what to bring up rather than just saying "why am I broken?"

nellyett

Progress is progress but I understand that you were expecting much more. There are a large number of variables to consider.

First, weight will fluctuate daily as others have said. What you want to note is the TREND over a period of time. That's already been discussed.

Second, if you are using the TDEE - 20% method, then you DO NOT eat back exercise calories. They have already been factored in for you. Log your exercise as 1 calorie.

Third, as you are following the Atkins diet (which I have done a few times in the past and had success with but was too restrictive for ME), it is VERY tricky to estimate calorie levels. Oils and fats are incredibly hard to calculate and are very calorie dense. The only true way as others have said is to weigh your butters and oils like it or not. This is not possible to do when eating fast food or at restaurants. As someone else mentioned, consider up to a 20% variable. Could be either way but definitely not accurate. I suspect this is your biggest culprit right here.

Fourth, are you filling up with low carb vegetables or at least some sort of fibre supplement like psyllium or chia seeds? In addition to fibre, you need to ensure that your WATER (not coffee) intake is high, especially on a keto/atkins type diet to flush out those ketones, and any waste regularily.

Fifth, again as already stated, if you're adding in new workouts, your muscles may be holding onto water. A more accurate weight reading is after a day or two of rest.

Sixth, don't use the scale as your only guide. It's just a tool. Instead, go by bodyfat %, measurements, and pictures.

It doesn't have to be complicated. Eat less than your body requires to maintain your current weight, and eat enough so that you are not in too large of a deficit. I tend to stall out when I eat too little and my body does it's damndest to hold onto everything it can no matter how hard I work out.

And last, don't be so defensive. This is a positive life change. Consider the advice that you've ASKED for as constructive and from people who genuinely want to help out. If they didn't, they wouldn't bother taking the time to reply.

Jennocence

The thing that made a huge difference for me is eating 5 meals a day, but small meals. It seems to give me more energy, which I assume is a sign of more fat burning. Also, I have to force myself to eat vegetables, because when I don't, it doesn't matter how great everything else is, I just stay stagnant. Like other people have said, everyone's body is different, but I think basic, balanced nutrition is important and what works. Also, keep in mind that processed foods are usually super high in sodium. I try to eat all whole foods (*TRY*) and cook them myself sans salt, but I know that is difficult. You may want to customize your diary to include sodium goals and see if staying under 2,000 helps. It may be water weight, but the good news is that will just drop right off once you limit sodium and drink your 10 cups of water. Plus, trust me, you feel so much better.

meridianova

After reading the thread, I want to make one more suggestion to the OP.

Just because you are no longer anorexic does not mean that you aren't still struggling with emotional issues surrounding it.

I know. And I know I'll be dealing with it for the rest of my life.

You started off defensive in your OP. People attempted to offer you advice in a friendly tone and you attacked them.

I have only attacked one person, and that was because she answered in a way that indicated to me that she didn't bother to read my original post. When you make boundaries clear, does that then mean that you simply excuse the actions of anyone who ignores those boundaries?

For each person that has attempted to help you, you have responded in defense of any suggestion that you might be doing something wrong.

If you saw my responses as defensive, then I apologize. They were meant to be offered as clarification.

But you didn't lose anymore than one pound so you did something wrong.

Hence the reason for posting in the first place.

I think you might need to see a psychologist and get some help addressing some of your emotional distress over your ED and your current efforts at weight loss. I mean, it should not be offensive to you when advice is presented to you in a respectful manner. Even if it's not the advice you wanted.

Good luck!

There's a difference between respectful advice and generic, blanket advice that supposedly covers all bases, but you've already tried that and it's not effective. When someone asks a question and they say "please don't give me the answer of X because I've already tried X and it doesn't work, so I need options OTHER than X," how is it respectful to say "you need to try X"? All you've done is wasted your time, wasted the OP's time, and shown that you're incapable of comprehending standard American English. Consulting a psychologist aside, why is it that I should be any less than angry when someone does something I've explicitly told them not to?

meridianova

Progress is progress but I understand that you were expecting much more. There are a large number of variables to consider.

First, weight will fluctuate daily as others have said. What you want to note is the TREND over a period of time. That's already been discussed.

Second, if you are using the TDEE - 20% method, then you DO NOT eat back exercise calories. They have already been factored in for you. Log your exercise as 1 calorie.

I haven't been using that method. The way I do it is to log all food eaten first and keep it within (or as close to within) my limits as possible, then log exercise afterward. I'm not eating back what I've exercised because those calories "don't count" in my mind... and by that, I mean they don't count toward daily INtake or provide me a buffer zone. If I didn't exercise, I'd still be in a 500 - 600 calorie per day deficit, which is why I thought a one pound loss over a month was lower than it should be.

Third, as you are following the Atkins diet (which I have done a few times in the past and had success with but was too restrictive for ME), it is VERY tricky to estimate calorie levels. Oils and fats are incredibly hard to calculate and are very calorie dense. The only true way as others have said is to weigh your butters and oils like it or not. This is not possible to do when eating fast food or at restaurants. As someone else mentioned, consider up to a 20% variable. Could be either way but definitely not accurate. I suspect this is your biggest culprit right here.

I measure the butter and oils by the tablespoon and log accordingly. You're right, it's impossible to account for that when going out, but the best any of us have is the nutritional information that those restaurants have provided online, which (hopefully) also take into account the preparation methods rather than just the finished product.

Fourth, are you filling up with low carb vegetables or at least some sort of fibre supplement like psyllium or chia seeds? In addition to fibre, you need to ensure that your WATER (not coffee) intake is high, especially on a keto/atkins type diet to flush out those ketones, and any waste regularily.

I've heard both sides of the "coffee is/isn't water" debate. Considering that coffee does help flush out waste, I put it in the "water" category, along with tea or water with crystal lite (which I also drink a lot of, both at work and at home). Soda isn't water, but I've cut that out as well. I've never understood why people would declare that a flavoring agent added to water would somehow change water so significantly that it stops hydrating your body. My ketones were in the "Light" range this morning, so it looks like they're getting flushed out properly. I'd worry if I was getting into the superdarkpurple range. I used to have chia seeds for breakfast, they just didn't seem to be making much difference.

And last, don't be so defensive. This is a positive life change. Consider the advice that you've ASKED for as constructive and from people who genuinely want to help out. If they didn't, they wouldn't bother taking the time to reply.

Believe it or not, I really am trying. It's not easy to take a personal, private thing and make it public for people to pick apart, even when asked. There has been a lot of good advice that I've taken to heart.

UsedToBeHusky

After reading the thread, I want to make one more suggestion to the OP.

Just because you are no longer anorexic does not mean that you aren't still struggling with emotional issues surrounding it.

I know. And I know I'll be dealing with it for the rest of my life.

You started off defensive in your OP. People attempted to offer you advice in a friendly tone and you attacked them.

I have only attacked one person, and that was because she answered in a way that indicated to me that she didn't bother to read my original post. When you make boundaries clear, does that then mean that you simply excuse the actions of anyone who ignores those boundaries?

For each person that has attempted to help you, you have responded in defense of any suggestion that you might be doing something wrong.

If you saw my responses as defensive, then I apologize. They were meant to be offered as clarification.

But you didn't lose anymore than one pound so you did something wrong.

Hence the reason for posting in the first place.

I think you might need to see a psychologist and get some help addressing some of your emotional distress over your ED and your current efforts at weight loss. I mean, it should not be offensive to you when advice is presented to you in a respectful manner. Even if it's not the advice you wanted.

Good luck!

There's a difference between respectful advice and generic, blanket advice that supposedly covers all bases, but you've already tried that and it's not effective. When someone asks a question and they say "please don't give me the answer of X because I've already tried X and it doesn't work, so I need options OTHER than X," how is it respectful to say "you need to try X"? All you've done is wasted your time, wasted the OP's time, and shown that you're incapable of comprehending standard American English. Consulting a psychologist aside, why is it that I should be any less than angry when someone does something I've explicitly told them not to?

Here is the thing, X is the only way to scientifically lose weight. The factors of X must be in place in some form for weight to be lost. Whether we are talking Paleo, Primal, Keto, gastric bypass, raspberry ketones, or green coffee bean extract. Your body must burn more energy than it consumes to lose weight. Period.

Now, hormones can play a factor in weight loss. I was kind of avoiding delving into this because I'm not entirely certain I know what I'm talking about, BUT if you were once anorexic, then it was pretty likely that your body built up an excess of cortisol. I have no idea what kind of damage specifically that can do to your body. All I can tell you is that cortisol is designed to help the body maintain performance under stressful circumstances. Now, odds are, if your anorexia phase was several years ago, that most of your cortisol from then has dissipated. Maybe (again I am clueless here) your body changed to react to lower levels of cortisol. There really is no way of knowing. But once you have explored all your potential "hormone culprits" in the end, you will still have to approach weight loss from a calories in/calories out method of some type.

I read the post. The girl was respectful and offered you the best advice that she knew to offer you. You inferred tons of hidden meaning in her statement that wasn't there. That tells me that you aren't really managing your emotions well if you can't take advice objectively. Hell, getting terribly upset over the kind gestures of strangers is enough emotional stress to cause a cortisol release. Cortisol isn't just triggered by physical stress. Emotional and mental stress, like the kind you are obviously creating for yourself over your weight loss, can do it too.

Just relax. Accept all advice graciously. And give yourself an honest review about your food choices, your exercise choices, and your mental and emotional well-being. No one has shamed you here, but you reacted as if they did. There is something wrong with that. That is not the normal reaction of a mentally and emotionally secure and stable individual.

WBB55

I measure the butter and oils by the tablespoon and log accordingly.

Could the answer be as simple as you're not weighing your butter an oils, but are instead measuring their volume? I'm honestly, and in no way meaning to be anything but 100% supportive here, I don't mean to trigger your anger. But personally I weigh in grams all my butter and fats. I don't trust the volume measurements of anything, personally.

fivethreeone

One pound down is progress in the right direction. Honestly though, one month is probably not *quite* enough time to see a major difference when you are doing this "the science way."

I suggest you stick to exactly what you've been doing for another 2-3 weeks, and weigh again then. If at that time you have not lost at least another pound, then revisit the question. In my own experience and in observing others, assuming total accuracy in logging, it takes 6-8 weeks to really get things going.

acollis1

I did just peep out your diary based on some of the comments. Try making small changes one at a time, like replacing that daily coffee drink with the "lite" version, all that cream and sugar isn't doing you any favors. Maybe consult a nutrionist, you said calorie counting is hard for you, I find that if I eat mostly whole, unprocessed foods I lose weight without paying attention to the calories so much. Maybe ask your doctor to refer you to a nutritionist, with your history your insurance may even cover it.

I follow low carbing, so there is no sugar in my coffee (and I've trained the coffee shop people on how to make it). It's seriously just coffee and cream... that's it.

I'm already eating whole, unprocessed foods.

No, you're not. Dunkin donuts, pizza, chipotle, Italian sausage, and 5 guys all within a few days. low carb or not fat is fat, sodium is sodium, fast food is fast food. I'm not trying to be rude, but I find when I am not successful and I "don't know why", it's usually because I am not being honest and trying my best. And "honestly" a little sugar would probably be better to consume than a half cup of heavy whipping cream everyday. You need to find a professional to help you come up with a nutrition plan, not an endocrinologist. If your bloodwork is normal, that means there's nothing physically wrong with you it doesn't matter where in the normal range you are. You should accept that and do what you need to do to move forward. Again please don't take offense, I'm just trying to make you be honest with yourself I was hoping to sign on here and find that you took some of our advice.

liekewheeless

I say give it a couple of months and see if you lose consistently.
I know a pound isn't much when you have a lot to lose, but if it's a steady loss and you keep it off, it will eventually add up.

Since you indicated you have a history with an eating disorder I would be very careful about cutting more calories. You ARE losing weight. Maybe not as quick as you want but it's coming off.

Do measure as others have suggested to give you more visual proof you're going in the right direction.

I think you are doing great, just keep at it.

If things slow further or you get to frustrated with your results, talk to your doctor, bring your food log and maybe he/she can help fine tune it.

meridianova

Here is the thing, X is the only way to scientifically lose weight. The factors of X must be in place in some form for weight to be lost. Whether we are talking Paleo, Primal, Keto, gastric bypass, raspberry ketones, or green coffee bean extract. Your body must burn more energy than it consumes to lose weight. Period.

I do understand that. Maybe the heart of my question is "what outlying factors will interfere with loss of weight/mass if energy expenditure already exceeds energy intake?" The human body runs on chemistry, which gets tricky. There are so many variables that can interfere with any expected reaction, making it less OR more than what can be accounted for by the sum of the parts.

Which leads me back to, "if X isn't working, then what other factors are getting in the way of X?" You and others have mentioned cortisol levels, which is another one on my list to ask the endocrinologist about. Once those factors are either eliminated or put back in their proper places, then the caloric deficit I'm already creating should kick in with accepted, expected levels of weight loss.

Just relax. Accept all advice graciously. And give yourself an honest review about your food choices, your exercise choices, and your mental and emotional well-being. No one has shamed you here, but you reacted as if they did. There is something wrong with that. That is not the normal reaction of a mentally and emotionally secure and stable individual.

I get that. And believe me... I'm trying. This has been so private and so personal for so long that opening up at all becomes its own fight to prevent more triggers. Fluffy the three-headded dog has been guarding this particular trap door in the third floor West wing for a very long time. Some barking and a snap or two are inevitable.

meridianova

Could the answer be as simple as you're not weighing your butter an oils, but are instead measuring their volume? I'm honestly, and in no way meaning to be anything but 100% supportive here, I don't mean to trigger your anger. But personally I weigh in grams all my butter and fats. I don't trust the volume measurements of anything, personally.

Is it fair to assume that the way things are logged in MFP, with the pre-entered food database, that those calculations have already been made? Butter is 4oz per stick, 8 tablespoons, so 1/2oz per tablespoon. I have a food scale already and do use it when there's going to be a bigger variation between volume and weight (like with shredded cheese... is that a packed half cup or a lightly sprinkled half cup?).

Honest question... how far do you trust the packaging and the food database?