Am I destined to be fat or what?

MirandaKeeler

Hey everyone!
Thank you for reading my post!
I am a 21 year old woman. In high school (only four years ago) I was 130 pounds. Best shape of my life. After moving out, going through college, work, and big schedule changes, I am now 220 pounds. There have been many times that I have decided that I'm tired of being fat, and I want to be healthy and I start dieting, and after six or seven weeks, I'm the same weight/measurements. I started again recently and I've been taking supplements from Complete Nutrition, working out for an hour five days a week, and I have not gone over my calorie count once and still nothing. What am I doing wrong? Will I ever be thin again?

juliafromrf

Do you weigh your food?

If you do, have you consulted a health professional who ruled out any hormonal problems?

LoveLoveandRage

I gained 80 pounds in less than 3 years and nothing I did would help the weight budge. I did go to the gym as I was gaining the weight to try to stop it, but no matter how hard I worked out, I hardly lost an ounce.

I'm not saying that your story will be the same, but I went to the doctor and had my thyroid tested. The numbers were pretty high, indicating a low thyroid. After 6 months of treatment, I still hadn't lost anything, and was diagnosed with PCOS (Polycystic ovarian syndrome). Both of these things contributed to my weight gain and my inability to lose it.

I am now on medicine for both and had to implement diet and lifestyle changes (which are a daily struggle) but I am finally losing the weight slowly.

I think it is worth getting checked out if you are able to, because I would have never thought that I had these two health issues, I just thought I was supposed to be fat.

violasmith85

Are you weighing your food? One of the biggest and most common mistakes people make is not accounting for the real amount they're eating. You haven't been overweight that long, I've been morbidly obese since I was 10. So I can tell you honestly, if i can do it. You can do it. It just takes a little time figuring everything out. Since most of us eat the same foods most of the time it becomes pretty easy to keep track of calories once you're doing it right. My biggest mistake in the beginning was guesstimating what I ate. Also drinking enough water to compensate for the extra sodium I ate.

soechsner09

Just looking at your diary, I'd say drop the supplements and spend that money on better food options. You may not be going over your calories but nutritionally not all the best choices. I also agree you may be underestimating if you're not measuring your food. I was surprised when I began measuring/weighing because my perception of amounts was so off. You can do this, and you don't need Complete Nutrition to do it.

GothyFaery

I jsut glanced over your diary and here's what I'm going to say. I think you may be under estimating what you eat and over estimating what you burn. Almost 900 calories after an hour on an elipical sounds a little high to me. MFP is really bad for over estimating burn calories. That's why a lot of members opt for a HRM.

Also you had logged a "Generic - Cheese Burger on Grilled Bun, 1 patty" for 390 calories. That seems WAY low. Most buns are 200+ calories. Not to mention that you have no idea how big that patty was. Try to stay away from any generic entry in MFP as they are often wrong and even if they are right, they normally are not right for what you want. You would be much better off entering your entire burger one item at a time.

Lastly, are you using a food scale to weigh your food? If not, you are going to be shocked when you buy one (which I suggest you do ASAP)!

Amberlynnek

I just went through your diary and you consume a lot of high calorie, high sodium, high sugar, overly processed food. As long as you are in a calorie deficit you can have these things but are probably underestimating them. Get a scale, have smaller portions of favorite items and pair with a salad or veggie. Its all about balance. Try cooking at home more and preparing meals. You will eliminate a lot of hidden fats and oils that food is cook in and thus overall eliminating calories. You should make convenience meals more of a treat instead of the norm. Fill your day with fresh veggies, fruits and lean meats to fill up on and you will find you can eat a lot more during the day. Also, you seem to always eat back all of your exercise calories and not in the form of healthy protein and carbs. Try eating back only half of your workout calories as these may also be grossly overestimated. But all in all, I'd say your "diet" and nutrition need some major overhaul.

ninerbuff

If you believe you will and don't do what you need to......................then yes. Barring any health/hormone issue, you pretty much have control of your weight.

A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

yellowlemoned

If you don't have a food scale start saving to get one. (they really arn't that expensive, i saw a digital food scale on nomorerack yesterday for about $15.) In the meantime use what you have, like measuring cups and measuring spoons. I remember thinking this same thing when I started out here. You'd be surprised how easy it is to underestimate what you are eating. What looks like 1 cup of cereal could easily be 1.5 - 2 cups. and when you add milk to your cereal what looks like 1/2 a cup is easily 1 cup. It doesn't sound like a huge difference but that's double the calories of what you thought you were consuming.

Also, like a few other people have mentioned MFP WAAAY over estimates your calorie burns. Aim to only eat back about 1/2 of your exercise calories, because that's probably much closer to what you've really burned.

You may not be choosing the healthiest good options, which you should probably consider changing, but the fact of the mater is weight loss is as simple as calories in vs calories out.

bajoyba

Hey Miranda! I took a peek at your diary, and it looks like you're logging everything. For me, that was THE most important thing.

The first thing I notice about your diary is that you tend to use volume and size to measure your food intake (like using measuring cups/spoons or estimating a fruit or vegetables size as 'medium' or 'large'). I did the same thing in the beginning, and it is a great first step. But for the sake of accuracy, you may want to consider getting a food scale and weighing all of your solids.

Some people find that to be a little restrictive, and I understand that, but for me, it made a huge difference. A cup of dry oatmeal vs. a serving of dry oatmeal in grams will be different. Sometimes even prepackaged foods (like the english muffins I eat every morning) weigh more than they are supposed to. When you're measuring food instead of weighing it, you're bound to consume more calories than you think you are.

You may especially benefit from weighing most of the food you prepare yourself because it looks like you eat out somewhat regularly. While I don't believe there's anything wrong with eating out, restaurants and food service workers are rarely precise or careful about portion sizes. Even if a chain restaurant has calories listed for all of their menu items, you can assume that the food you get will be different calorically from what is listed on the website or menu.

Some other tips: Try to avoid using generic or homemade entries in the database. Be as specific as possible when you log foods (including brand name). If you're making a meal at home, enter all of the ingredients separately or create your own recipe, and don't forget things like cooking oil or butter.

mccindy72

1. Toss those supplements out.
2. Get a good heart rate monitor so you know exactly how many calories you are burning, you are most likely overestimating your calorie burn at the gym.
3. Weigh all your solid foods with a digital scale.
4. Log everything you eat, don't cheat yourself (and yes, you're only cheating yourself when you don't log something). Even if you go over for the day.
5. read this: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1235566-so-you-re-new-here

No one is 'destined' to be fat. You are in control of your own body, and your own weight.

Calliope610

Only you can answer your question. You and you alone control your destiny.

I'm just gonna leave this right here.

Read these:
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1235566-so-you-re-new-here?hl=so+you're+new+here

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1080242-a-guide-to-get-you-started-on-your-path-to-sexypants

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1217573-so-you-want-to-start-running

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/974888-in-place-of-a-road-map-2k13

TL:DR the link right above this one then ->http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/975025-in-place-of-a-road-map-short-n-sweet

Excuses??? http://www.nerdfitness.com/blog/2014/06/02/the-no-excuses-play-like-a-champion-challenge/

If you have 75+ lbs to lose 2 lbs/week is ideal
If you have 40-75 lbs to lose 1.5 lbs/week is ideal
If you have 25-40 lbs to lose 1 lbs/week is ideal
If you have 15 -25 lbs to lose 0.5 to 1.0 lbs/week is ideal
If you have less than 15 lbs to lose 0.5 lbs/week is ideal

Want to lift heavy things?
http://www.nerdfitness.com/blog/2011/07/21/meet-staci-your-new-powerlifting-super-hero/

Stronglifts Summary
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/560459-stronglifts-5x5-summary

Stronglifts Womens Group
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/groups/home/4601-stronglifts-5x5-for-women

Hubbard_stephen

Just to add to what others have already mentioned. Your carb to protein ratio seems really high. Almost everyday the past couple weeks on your diary has a twice as many carbs as protein logged. Typically a diet higher in protein and closer to a 1:1 carb/protein ratio is more optimal for fat loss. Best of luck to you.

Edit: Just to give you an idea of what a high protein diet might look like I've linked my diary log from yesterday. http://www.myfitnesspal.com/food/diary/Hubbard_stephen?date=2014-09-15

MKEgal

I am a 21 year old woman. In high school (only four years ago) I was 130 pounds. Best shape of my life. After moving out, going through college, work, and big schedule changes, I am now 220 pounds.

Find a healthy goal weight based on BMI: http://www.shapeup.org/bmi/bmi6.pdf
Multiply that by 10 & you have your calorie goal. That's TOTAL, not net. Ignore net.

This calculator will tell you not only your BMI, but how many servings of various foods to eat to maintain that weight.
If you enter your healthy goal weight from above, this will help you plan your food intake.
https://www.bcm.edu/research/centers/childrens-nutrition-research-center/healthyeatingcalculator/eatingCal.html

There have been many times that I have decided that I'm tired of being fat, and I want to be healthy and I start dieting, and after six or seven weeks, I'm the same weight/measurements.

Stop dieting. Change your life. Diets are temporary & once you stop the restrictions you'll go back to your unhealthy eating & gain the weight back again.
But after a month of eating reasonable calories & exercising, you should see some improvement.
It's good that you're doing measurements too.

I've been taking supplements from Complete Nutrition, working out for an hour five days a week, and I have not gone over my calorie count once and still nothing. What am I doing wrong? Will I ever be thin again?

You gained weight, and are not losing weight, because you are eating more calories than your body needs.
The reason doesn't matter - gluttony, PCOS, whatever, the underlying cause is the same: you're eating more than you need.

Basics about goal setting:
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/blog/MKEgal/view/2014-06-08-setting-goals-667045

While some supplements are linked to lower weight:
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/blog/MKEgal/view/2014-06-29-some-dietary-supplements-are-linked-to-weight-loss-673580
It'd be better not to rely on them, instead eat a nutritious, balanaced variety of foods.

While weightlifting is important, and will have you looking fabulous & strong once the fat is gone, you need to do mainly cardio.
http://articles.latimes.com/2011/may/16/health/la-he-fitness-muscle-myth-20110516
"Claude Bouchard of the Pennington Biomedical Research Center in Baton Rouge, La., who has authored several books and hundreds of scientific papers on the subject of obesity and metabolism... told me that muscle, it turns out, makes a fairly small contribution to RMR.
... based on the biochemical and metabolic literature — a pound of muscle burns six calories a day at rest and a pound of fat burns about two calories a day.
... muscle, contributes only 20-25% of total resting metabolism.
... intense aerobic activity like running burns twice as many calories per hour as hard weightlifting, and the metabolic boost from added muscle is not nearly enough to compensate for this difference... "


helpful links
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/819925-the-basics-don-t-complicate-it

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1080242-a-guide-to-get-you-started-on-your-path-to-sexypants

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/872212-you-re-probably-eating-more-than-you-think

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/833026-important-posts-to-read

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/blog/MKEgal/view/2014-07-24-motivation-encouragement-680938


Eat breakfast. Eat about half your calories for breakfast.
Read the last half of this blog post, with its links to research backing those statements:
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/blog/MKEgal/view/2014-06-10-some-studies-about-weight-loss-667818


"Most weight loss occurs because of decreased caloric intake. However, evidence shows the only way to maintain weight loss is to be engaged in regular physical activity.
"To maintain your weight: work your way up to 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity, 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity aerobic activity, or an equivalent mix of the two each week."
(The page explains moderate & vigorous.)
http://www.cdc.gov/healthyweight/physical_activity/index.html


The basics about exercise:
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/blog/MKEgal/view/2014-06-08-exercise-667080
.

erickirb

Just to add to what others have already mentioned. Your carb to protein ratio seems really high. Almost everyday the past couple weeks on your diary has a twice as many carbs as protein logged. Typically a diet higher in protein and closer to a 1:1 carb/protein ratio is more optimal for fat loss. Best of luck to you.

Edit: Just to give you an idea of what a high protein diet might look like I've linked my diary log from yesterday. http://www.myfitnesspal.com/food/diary/Hubbard_stephen?date=2014-09-15

What? As long as the calorie deficit is the same and they are getting the required minimum amount of protein (for most 100+ grams/day) the carb to protein ratio will not impact anything

ahoy_m8

Good comments above. You say in the past you have seen no results after 6-7 weeks, but how many weeks has it been in this most recent attempt? A couple other considerations: (1) People can retain water weight (muscular hydration) for a week or two when starting or adding intensity to exercise. As muscles repair themselves, adapt to the new stresses, and gain condition, they release the protective water. (2) Some people experience water retention that, on the scale, masks fat loss for 3 or 4 weeks. Then "whoosh," several weeks of weight loss visible on the scale all in a day or two. The hypothesis is that as the body "burns" fat, it replaces fatty acids extracted from the fat cells with water, and for some reason this is metabolically more efficient than just leaving the cells empty/smaller. People report the "whoosh" can be triggered by an unusually high carb meal (signaling the body isn't starving) and alcohol (a diuretic), among other things I can't remember.

Seeing no results for strenuous efforts is frustrating. Part of the frustration, for me, is not understanding what is going on. Dedicated tracking over **several months** will reveal patterns that will help you understand what is going on, and that will make the ups and downs less frustrating.

Stick with it and best of luck!

Camo_xxx

You control your destiney so you can be fat or fit, it's up to you.

But until you get serious about it I would say based on your current regime you will continue to be fat.

Plenty of good advise already given on how to take charge of your destiny already given.

Time to suck it up and change it.

Hubbard_stephen

Take a look at her diary. It's far to high in carbs for her daily caloric intake she's trying to hit.

Many days you're not even hitting 50g of protein, while over 200g of carbs. I'd bet you'd start to see significant weight loss within weeks if daily caloric intake is what you're claiming to log and you were closer to <150g carbs and 100g+ protein.

There are tons and tons of articles and peer reviewed essays that talk about high protein diets being a contributing factor to fat burn. http://www.bing.com/search?q=diet+high+in+protein+weight+loss&src=ie9tr

MirandaKeeler

Thank you to everyone for giving me their input. I appreciate the feedback.
Also, for the people who have been saying that I'm over-estimating burned calories and underestimating my calories, I just use MFP. I don't know exactly how to calculate burned calories, so I use MFP, I enter in my time and let it work it out for me. I also just search for what I'm eating, and add that too. Especially if it's from a restaurant that isn't listed. I'm not trying to be dishonest, I'm trying to get as close as possible using what I have and what I know.
But thank you again. It really helps me take a good look at what I am or may be doing wrong.

GothyFaery

Thank you to everyone for giving me their input. I appreciate the feedback.
Also, for the people who have been saying that I'm over-estimating burned calories and underestimating my calories, I just use MFP. I don't know exactly how to calculate burned calories, so I use MFP, I enter in my time and let it work it out for me. I also just search for what I'm eating, and add that too. Especially if it's from a restaurant that isn't listed. I'm not trying to be dishonest, I'm trying to get as close as possible using what I have and what I know.
But thank you again. It really helps me take a good look at what I am or may be doing wrong.

I don't think any one is saying you're being dishonest. We're just trying to point out what could be causing you to stall. As for the burned calories, you could either not eat them all back (try half instead) or you can actually change what MFP puts in for you (if is says 500, change it to 250).

Same with the food log, no one is saying you're dishonest but you could have a better guess than what you currently are doing. When I eat at a restuarnt that doesn't list calories, I try to find something from a chain resturaunt that is similar (I even google pictures of it to compare). That will get you so much closer than using the generic or homemade entries in the database.

Keep pushing forward. You can do this!

ETA: When in doubt, estimate higher intake and lower output. If you're not sure which food entry you should use, go with a higher calorie one.