trying hard but can't seem to lose it

curvygirlsrock

Hey everyone, sorry if I'm posting this in the wrong section, I've only just joined up today so I'm still working out how the site works. Anyway, my question is this: does anyone else have a problem eating as many calories as the calorie counter recommends you should be having?

I'm confused because I've been finding it so so so hard to lose weight but, according to the calorie counters in the food and exercise diary, I'm burning more calories than I thought I was each day and, generally, my food total is at least 1,000 calories less than what it recommends, even though I'm including everything i eat, right down to the last grape or tbsp of hummus.

Does anyone have a suggestion about where I'm going wrong? - I'm so confused! (I'm also pretty overweight, which I thought would mean the weight would come off quicker at the start, but every pound is a nightmare struggle)

Thanks to anyone who can offer some help!

curvygirlsrock

Hey everyone, sorry if I'm posting this in the wrong section, I've only just joined up today so I'm still working out how the site works. Anyway, my question is this: does anyone else have a problem eating as many calories as the calorie counter recommends you should be having?

I'm confused because I've been finding it so so so hard to lose weight but, according to the calorie counters in the food and exercise diary, I'm burning more calories than I thought I was each day and, generally, my food total is at least 1,000 calories less than what it recommends, even though I'm including everything i eat, right down to the last grape or tbsp of hummus.

Does anyone have a suggestion about where I'm going wrong? - I'm so confused! (I'm also pretty overweight, which I thought would mean the weight would come off quicker at the start, but every pound is a nightmare struggle)

Thanks to anyone who can offer some help!

lotusfromthemud

I'm not an expert, and if you can you should find a nutritionist to help you, but here's my experience.

I was eating what I thought was very carefully, and exercising at least six hours a week, and I was stuck. I showed a day of my food diary to an acquaintance who is a nutritionist (gotta love free advice) and her first words were "well, clearly you're not eating enough". I weighed 150 at the time, and I'm aiming for 135. I went from 1200 net calories a day to 1600, and I'm losing weight again. The first few days of eating all my calories were tough...I literally felt like I was eating all the time. I don't eat a lot of high-calorie foods, so with mostly fruits and veg, I was eating all the time! After a few months of this, I'm down to 139.

Especially on my heavy exercise days, it's hard for me to eat all or nearly all my calories, but now my metabolism is adjusting. I get hungry, I eat a small amount, I'm not hungry anymore. A few hours later, I get hungry and I eat again. I've also learned how to add in a few good fat, high calorie things back into my diet. (Avocados and walnuts are my best friends.)

That being said, you should talk to a doctor. You may have a thyroid issue, or other issue that should be explored.

and yes, curvygirlsdorock!

tdroseler

How long have you been at this....this time round, viviakay?
It was explained to me once that we are constantly resetting our metabolism, and that by not eating enough to cover all that we do, we are actually slowing it down. In otherwords...we cause our bodies to burn those calories at a minimum.
It is true that in order to loose weight you have to take in less than you put out, but if you are "starving" yourself...and you may not even realise it...then your body is going to hang on tight to every calorie you take in.
That was one of the great things about this site, that made me join. it does all the math for you. What is recommended here is still for weight loss. It may seem like you need to eat a lot to keep up, but in the long run you will loose weight faster, and healthier. Just need to resset the metabolism to what "normal" should be for you.
And yes, ssee a nutritionalist or Dietitian...someone who went to school, lol....and can help you with your adventure of getting healthy.

lotusfromthemud

I weighed 220ish about two and a half years ago, td,

I've been using this website for about three months, and it helped me bust through my (final?) plateau by eating more.

And yes, I love this site...I hate math!

curvygirlsrock

thanks to you both for the advice
Td, yes I know you can eat too little - I don't believe in starving yourself, I eat whenever I'm hungry, I just try to go for low-fat options; lotsa fruit and veg. That said, I don't really have much of an appetite, overeating is definately not my prob. And vivia, I had kinda heard about adding more cals into your diet to help get past plateaus (a friend who does weight watchers said she was told the same thing) I just have no idea how much I should eat - but a nutritionist is a good idea (and so, come to think of it, is a thyroid check.)
anyway, thanks again to you both. congrats on your weight loss vivia!