2 Days in and Discouraged

veganistanic

Hi everyone,

I just started. I started at 138 (5'2" at 44 yrs) and I had a difficult time sticking to 1200 calories so I had 1380 and I gained .4
The next day I had 1330 calories and maintained the .4 gain.

I know I'm only two days in but I am finding this discouraging.

I am a vegan and have been probably consuming around 1600-1800 calories to gain 25lbs so I thought after two days a smidge would come off, not gain. Before joining mfp I was trying to stick to raw till 4 but the weight kept fluctuating 1 up and 1 down.

I can't excercise for at least a week or two due to an injury but I have been sedentary for quite some time.

Any suggestions/motivation?

I just don't want to fail at something else.

StaciMarie1974

Weighing yourself when you've just started is not a great idea. Our bodies are not so efficient that they immediately show results. What you do today could take a few days or more to process thru. Give it 2-3 weeks perhaps.

1200 is a hard # to stick to, for many people. 1300-1400 might be more sustainable for you. Even though everyone says that losing weight 'begins in the kitchen' - moving more does burn more calories. Doesn't mean you have to do anything complicated. Just look for ways to increase activity. Park further away from the stores. Jog in place while watching tv, or walk in place if jogging is too much for your present condition.

Last, but not least, how accurate are you on the calorie count? Do you use a food scale for all solid food? Account for cooking oils, condiments, etc.? If not this is something you can improve upon.

_runnerbean_

Try not to be discouraged. I find that what I did last week shows on the scales this week. Also, my weight naturally fluctuates by one or two pounds from day to day. I weigh daily but try to look at the overall trend over a week or two. Keep doing what you are doing and you should see results next week. Weigh all your food to measure the calories accurately at the start. 1200cals is hard to stick to so maybe try to walk daily if you can to earn a few extra calories .

A_Dabauer

I just don't want to fail at something else.

Sounds like you are very hard on yourself, as other posters have said, it's not a battle that can be won in a day or two days, it takes time effort and energy.

As well .4 of a gain, even on consecutive days means nothing really. My weight can be up a pound or two over night for no apparent reason. This is a pic of my graph...not all down by any stretch!



It's a long term trend you need to watch. So relax, take some time, and let your body work.

OMG finally got my graph to work!

Alexc2013

HI,

Don't be discouraged. Your caloric intake is too low. Go to fat2fitradio.com. Under Tools, click on Military Body Fat. This will give you your body % fat. Once you get this %, write it down & go back to tools. Click on BMR. Plug all your numbers in. This will generate a table of what your caloric intake should be based on your activity level. Once you determine your activity level, change your settings on MFP to reflect this. Good luck. E-mail if you have any questions.

MityMax96

Hi everyone,

I just started. I started at 138 (5'2" at 44 yrs) and I had a difficult time sticking to 1200 calories so I had 1380 and I gained .4
The next day I had 1330 calories and maintained the .4 gain.

I know I'm only two days in but I am finding this discouraging.

I am a vegan and have been probably consuming around 1600-1800 calories to gain 25lbs so I thought after two days a smidge would come off, not gain. Before joining mfp I was trying to stick to raw till 4 but the weight kept fluctuating 1 up and 1 down.

I can't excercise for at least a week or two due to an injury but I have been sedentary for quite some time.

Any suggestions/motivation?

I just don't want to fail at something else.

Not trying to sound rude or be a jerk....

But 2 days and you are discouraged???
Did you get to your current size in 2 days??

Stay on your plan and give it time.
oh, don't weigh every day.....
once a week, track it over time and see which way it is trending

Tedebearduff

Hi everyone,

I just started. I started at 138 (5'2" at 44 yrs) and I had a difficult time sticking to 1200 calories so I had 1380 and I gained .4
The next day I had 1330 calories and maintained the .4 gain.

I know I'm only two days in but I am finding this discouraging.

I am a vegan and have been probably consuming around 1600-1800 calories to gain 25lbs so I thought after two days a smidge would come off, not gain. Before joining mfp I was trying to stick to raw till 4 but the weight kept fluctuating 1 up and 1 down.

I can't excercise for at least a week or two due to an injury but I have been sedentary for quite some time.

Any suggestions/motivation?

I just don't want to fail at something else.

Your not ready to make a change and your expectations are crazy.

Realign your goals and set real expectations, look for a change to happen in 3 months and if you see a change within those 3 months than hey your ahead of the game!

When I say your not ready it's because your writing posts like these, if you were ready than you would be self motivated. No one can help you find this it comes from within and it's up to you to find it.

newhealthykim

It takes 4 weeks for you to see your body changing.

It takes 8 weeks for your friends and family to see your body changing.

It takes 12 weeks for the rest of the world to see your body changing.

Give it 12 weeks. Don't quit.

There are a lot of pictures with this saying. I tried to do it here, but I'm not good at adding pictures.

BRaye325

You made the decision that you needed to do this.
Decide again.... who do you want to be?

veganistanic

No I don't think you're a jerk at all. I just got very nervous when I cut my calories so much and saw an increase in weight and then maintained it. When I try other plans I usually see a drop day 1 and 2 and then it seems to go up after a few more days so I quit the plan. This is unusual so I just got really nervous that this will work especially since i am so hungry.

I am used to vegan "all you can eat" plans which is how/why I have gained so much weight.

veganistanic

Wow, who are you to say that I am "not ready"?

I am ready. I got the app, I've been logging every morsel for the last 2.5 days and I have come to the message board for support so that I continue and not give up as I have done in the past.

This type of feedback is very demoralizing and unhelpful.

Lesa_Sass

If you have gained 25 lbs eating between 1600 and 1800 calories, there is something wrong.

I am 5 foot 3 and I got to my goal eating 1400 per day net.

I suggest going to the doctor and having your hormones checked.

caracrawford1

Relax. Its been two days. 48 freakin hours.
.4 could be a slight fluctuation in water weight. I wish results happened that quick but the reality is the don't. I've been at this 131 DAYS.

Tiamo719

Wow, who are you to say that I am "not ready"?

I am ready. I got the app, I've been logging every morsel for the last 2.5 days and I have come to the message board for support so that I continue and not give up as I have done in the past.

This type of feedback is very demoralizing and unhelpful.

They're not trying to be demoralizing at all, if anything, you should feel encouragement from what they say. They're telling you to give it time and not be discouraged in only two days.

Good luck to you.

cnowotarski

I didn't weigh myself for the first week 1/2 once I joined. I am strict about only weighing in once a week. My body weight can fluctuate daily as do most people. Hang in there. Stick to your calorie plan and give it some time! I once dieted for two weeks before my body decided to drop one ounce! I don't know, it was just stuck on this particular weight and took some time to adjust to the new plan. Anyway, I would just die to be 138 pounds! I started at 175 and am down to 169 now, it's been slow going but it's happening! Good luck to you!

Lesa_Sass

Wow, who are you to say that I am "not ready"?

I am ready. I got the app, I've been logging every morsel for the last 2.5 days and I have come to the message board for support so that I continue and not give up as I have done in the past.

This type of feedback is very demoralizing and unhelpful.

I honestly suggesting getting a good group of friends for support. The people on this board are horribly sarcastic, rude and down right mean at times. It is NOT a good place for support.

sdcpaman

Agree with others that two days is too short a time to evaluate. Let whatever injury you have heal, then pick up extra calories through exercise. Ironically, when I have a good day at the gym and a light day of eating, I do not see immediate results. I sometimes gain a few fractions of a pound after that day at the gym, but after a day or two, I see the results. I do try to watch what I eat, but I try harder to get my 10,000 steps in a day. A good day of exercise will give me 400 - 600 additional calories to eat, which I sometimes do and sometimes don't. I have been at it for 12 weeks, and as an earlier poster said, the world is starting to notice.....

sjaplo

It's taken me 9 months to lose 20lbs - that's an average of .5lbs a week. Some days I'm up, some days I'm down. It takes time to learn what works for you.

cheers.

Rogiefreida

I wouldn't sweat less than a half pound in 2 days. Water weight can make you fluctuate +/- up to 5 pounds in a day, so .4 pounds isn't anything significant at all.

Stick to the process and see what happens. Throwing the towel in after 2 days and a .4 gain is like slashing your tire because it was down 5 pounds on air.

VladW

You're discouraged by the weight of less than a full glass of water? Over two days? ok.......

sweetcurlz67

it's truly a process. it's a change in lifestyle. i don't care if you're a meat eater or a vegan. if you use MFP as it's intended and you properly record you calorie intake and your burns you will see progress - over time. two days is not over time. do not give up hope. you didn't gain weight in two days, you will not lose it in two days. also, when you do begin to lose, the first few pounds will be water weight then you will slow down with the weight loss. again, it's a lifestyle change. keep at it and you will do great! :flowerforyou:

oh and you'll learn that the 'meanies' here are actually mostly on point and offer great advice!

edited to changed misspelled word!

girlwithcurls2

No I don't think you're a jerk at all. I just got very nervous when I cut my calories so much and saw an increase in weight and then maintained it. When I try other plans I usually see a drop day 1 and 2 and then it seems to go up after a few more days so I quit the plan. This is unusual so I just got really nervous that this will work especially since i am so hungry.

I am used to vegan "all you can eat" plans which is how/why I have gained so much weight.

If you are discouraged by a .4 pound gain, then this will be a really tough journey for you. Read through the Success Stories and see how it really happens. Weight fluctuates. Daily. Hourly. A .4 pound gain is not a gain. My intent is not to sound snarky, but your post sounds unrealistic and I agree with the poster who feels you are not really ready for change. If you were in it for the long haul, you'd do what you need to do for 30 days, and then get on the scale and take measurements.

veganistanic

Thanks to all who took the time to respond. I do get that 2 days is ridiculous to judge. I just got freaked out by a gain because whenever I start a "plan" I usually lose the first day or so that's all.

I haven't calorie counted in a long time and from everything I have read in the vegan world you do not need to. Clearly I do otherwise I wouldn't have gained as much weight as I did.

I will hang in there but I certainly won't be using this message board for "encouragement".

I will have to find that from within.

It's too early in my journey to get such hostility.

MKEgal

I started at 138 (5'2" at 44 yrs) and I had a difficult time sticking to 1200 calories so I had 1380 and I gained .4
The next day I had 1330 calories and maintained the .4 gain.
I know I'm only two days in but I am finding this discouraging.

Going by BMI, a healthy weight range is 105 - 130, so you're very close to a healthy weight.
http://www.shapeup.org/bmi/bmi6.pdf
But you're short enough that 120 lb (1200 cal) is reasonable.

Having so little to lose, it's going to happen slowly.
If you lose 0.5 lb a week, or even every 2 weeks, that's a victory.
In 2 days you're not going to see anything, or at most you'll see water weight loss.
You didn't gain weight in 2 days, you're not going to lose it in 2 days.
To lose a pound, you have to cut or burn 3500 calories.
But if you can do weightlifting, even body weight workouts, you'll likely see changes in shape maybe before you see changes in weight.
You might find that your weight stays the same but your body slims down, because fat is fluffy & muscle is compact.

I can't excercise for at least a week or two due to an injury but I have been sedentary for quite some time.
Any suggestions/motivation?

"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."
http://www.cdc.gov/healthyweight/physical_activity/index.html

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/blog/MKEgal/view/2014-07-24-motivation-encouragement-680938
For the longer explanation, see the post.
- Set small intermediate goals & celebrate every one.
- Take measurements.
- Take pictures.
- Weigh yourself regularly.
- Be flexible; forgive yourself.
- Celebrate the non-scale victories (NSV's)
- Don't make any food forbidden.
- Don't give up!!!!
This woman lost 124 lb, and describes herself as a "not-stopper".
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1411868-i-ve-been-here-2-5-years-and-have-lost-124-pounds
"I'm a not-stopper. I'm not a go-getter or a great organizer or planner or more committed than anyone else. I probably didn't even work harder than lots of folks who eventually quit. All I am is a not-stopper."


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

13bbird13

First starting out is very difficult. I know this because I've started 4 times, myself. I'm in Try #4 of losing the same 25-ish pounds, and 48 hours is my usual "aw, the heck with it" mark where I start asking myself who I'm trying to impress and why I bother, and why I shouldn't just call for a pizza instead of fixing a healthy dinner. But it passes.

I agree with previous posters; hang in there and give it more time. Give it at least two weeks. If you haven't seen your weight start to drop a little, take a closer look at your portions and ensure that you're not eating more than you think you are. Once you start to see results, the motivation is there to keep doing what you're doing and knock a few more pounds off. Also, take your current measurements: hip, waist and neck. Sometimes when I don't see the scale dropping, I do see another half-inch or so less of myself when I get the tape measure out.

MKEgal

Very little hostility directed at you, lots of good advice plainly given.
And you say you're at 138, want to lose 24 lb, which would be 114... toward the low end of a healthy range.
And less than 0.5 a lb fluctuation is nothing - drink a glass of water or have a bowel movement & you can see that much change.

One other point - most women aren't used to weighing themselves every day. If you're approaching the start of your period, you're going to gain weight. Yeah, duh, you say. But you don't realize how much until you've been weighing yourself every day, for months. If I can hold steady the week before, it's a big victory. Usually I gain several pounds. But I know it's temporary.

Ready2Rock206

PATIENCE - it is your friend. Also maybe restricting so much isn't a good idea. No reason to be miserable while losing weight... Keep it up - you'll see results.

VladW

I will hang in there but I certainly won't be using this message board for "encouragement".
I will have to find that from within.
It's too early in my journey to get such hostility.

I sometimes wish that MFP had a "funny" button....

wwstewart

Two days isn't long enough. Don't trust the scale for a while. It'll mess with your head. It messes with mine a lot.

daw0518

First of all, you can't gain half a pound of fat by eating 180 calories over your goal. If you're set at 1lb loss/week & 500 calorie deficit, then you're still at a deficit by 320 calories. Even if you ate 180 over maintenance it wouldn't be enough to gain half a pound. I can assure you that you didn't actually "gain weight" so rest easy.

Aside from that, don't get discouraged. 2 days is too soon to start being hard on yourself. Some days it will be easy and some days it will be hard. Accept that as soon as possible. I joined MFP in 2012 but didn't start using it to actually lose weight until January of this year. I don't suggest taking that long to get your act together, but my point is that it just takes time and it takes you being determined. You can't make true change until YOU DECIDE you want to, and I learned that the hard way. Just keep logging and keep trying new things to figure out what works for you. Try some new foods, try new schedules of eating, experiment with drinking more or less water, getting more or less sleep. Everyday is a fresh start. If what you did yesterday didn't work, then try something different today. You'll find your balance in no time!


ETA that, similar to others here, didn't weigh myself when I first started out. I didn't even own a scale until I was like two months in. I focused exclusively on finding foods that I enjoyed and that helped me stay under my calorie goal. After a few months of staying under my goal and noticing some changes in how my clothes fit, I bought a scale & was happy to see I had lost 11lbs & that motivated me to keep doing what I was doing.

pplastics

Staying positive is more than half of the battle. You will have to find a way to deal with the ups and downs of this process.

Do me a favor. Weigh yourself. Drink a really big glass of water. Weigh yourself again a few minutes later. The scale will probably show a bigger gain than you are worried about now.

It can take a few days for your body to show any loss on the scale. I remember reading somewhere that the body can retain extra water just before a drop in weight. Something about the way the body processes fat loss. That small gain might just be a sign of good things to come!