Would love some input...

LisaKyle11

Good Morning, All,

I am hoping to get some advice.. I have been doing MFP for at least 5 months and have not really lost 1 pound. I have fluctuated a few pounds here and there, but nothing has stuck. So essentially I am maintaining. The problem I have with this is that I am actually trying to lose a few pounds! I know that I have gained muscle in the past year due an aggressive journey with yoga/power/vinyasa. Before that, I was mainly just doing cardio. Can a few of your maybe check out my dairy and see if there is something that I should switch up or change? I am baffled as to why the heck I can't just drop a few pounds of fat. (BTW, I am not overfat to begin with -- 5'7" 135 pounds). Just want to shed a few more. Could it really be that I am still not eating enough?

Thanks!!

AdGalicia

You are already at your ideal weight

RoniDoll

Try drinking more water. Take your body weight, divide it by 2 and that is the number you should drink in ounces.

ladyhawk00

Have you tried going up to maintenance cals? That is what I would do, for at least a couple of weeks, preferably a month. Really, you should be at or near maintenance anyways, since what you're trying to do is lower BF%, not necessarily lose weight. And are you doing any weight/resistance training other than yoga? Yoga is great, but not really enough, IMO.

RoniDoll

and actually you don't even need to lose weight. I am 5'7, 5'8 ish and my "ideal weight" is 135. That is what i have been told by my MD and nutritionist.

godroxmysox

Try drinking more water. Take your body weight, divide it by 2 and that is the number you should drink in ounces.

Really; i did not know that!?

The smaller the amount you need to lose, the harder it is. I have been shedding pounds like crazy, but I know it will eventually slow down =(

AliCat2705

I agree that you are pretty well at your ideal weight so your body may just not want to change. As far as dieting goes you sem like you are doing pretty well...you stay right at where you are supposed to be and seem to even have a few cheats in there which is good. I would say either a) try yo yo dieting for a bit to see if it tricks your metabolism a bit, or step up the intensity of your workouts and dont eat the extra cals...?

liveinbliss

I think it looks like what your eating is fantastic, but I do think you could probably up your calories a bit and just see what happens. I have lost virtually nothing in 6 months so I feel your pain! I have been tinkering with my calories to try to get it right but haven't stumbled across anything that works for me. I keep telling myself that all work I'm doing is paying off even if the scale doesn't move. I think age is fighting against me at this point :noway: as much as I hate to admit it.

Curry0724

You may not believe that it is a good weight, however your BMI is great! HOWEVER if you consider yourself a lean/muscular build... that BMI is actually right at an unhealthy level. So if you are muscular and only weigh 135, you are probably having a hard time loosing because it would not be good for your body to do so. However, if you really don't have much muscle at all, then I don't know what the problem is haha I suggest measuring your body fat % and see how much muscle you really have!

Jade_Butterfly

I can understand you wanting to lose a few as we are built differently, but 135 at 5'7. I would be more than happy to look at your diary. :bigsmile:

DaniJeanine

I'm in a very similar situation to you...I've been recording and staying overall on-track for three months and I've only lost two pounds. But, I think the reason why is because you really dont have anything to lose, you just *want* to lose (same here). It comes off verrrrry slowly if it all when you're already at a low or ideal weight.

jbug100

I would say that you are already very slim at that height and weight. I am also in my 40's. I lost 25 lbs (165 to 140). Despite continued efforts, I have not been able to go below 140. I think that our bodies are telling us something. Especially since we have built lots of nice muscle with dedicated excercise, I think our bodies may be comfortable at this weight. I would love to get to 135, but I am at peace with 140. I may try to tweek things a little to see if I can shed those last pounds, but otherwise, I think I'll just enjoy 140. Good luck!

LisaKyle11

Thanks for all your input, everyone. Yes, 135(ish) is a good weight for my height. I think I am still a little in shock though, because just 1 year ago, I was at 128...and most of my life 125 or so. SO... all of a sudden, I gain almost 10 pounds without changing anything -- outside of exercising differently (resistance with yoga). Still a quandary for me, but I am trying not to obsess about it too much. I just wish I wasn't totally maintaining on such a fairly low calorie intake! :-0

MrsCon40

Thanks for all your input, everyone. Yes, 135(ish) is a good weight for my height. I think I am still a little in shock though, because just 1 year ago, I was at 128...and most of my life 125 or so. SO... all of a sudden, I gain almost 10 pounds without changing anything -- outside of exercising differently (resistance with yoga). Still a quandary for me, but I am trying not to obsess about it too much. I just wish I wasn't totally maintaining on such a fairly low calorie intake! :-0

A year ago you were 128 and you've put on A LOT of muscle Is it just the scale that's irritating you? Are you happy with what size clothes you are wearing? I know that my scale is a mean *kitten* that's trying to make me sad - but I've lost 2 pants sizes so I'm pretty happy with that!

I would try adding 200 more calories and see where that gets you...

emyback68

Do you use an HRM? If you are really fit, you may be burning a lot less calories then MFP predicts. I just got an HRM and found out I had been over -reporting my calorie burns by 200 calories each day. 600 calories on the elliptical for an hour was really only 400. That's a big difference. And not because I was not working out hard (I do!), just because my heart rate stays lower and recovers very quickly even when I am working hard. Just a thought.

LisaKyle11

I don't have a HRM...but intend to get one as soon as we can pull it off. Any suggestions for brand/type?

emyback68

I got a Polar F4, which seemed highly recommended. I got it for about $70 on Ebay. I like it. I is very comfortable, and very easy to use. (I just don't like the numbers it gives me!!!). But it has pushed me to go harder and harder during my workouts, and add elements (like jump roping) that get my heart rate up. I know for me it was a good investment, because I was found out I was eating too much.

dustyhockeymom

I don't have a HRM...but intend to get one as soon as we can pull it off. Any suggestions for brand/type?

I have a Polar F4. I got it at Sports Authority for $89. I had a shock when I first starting using it because both the machines and the MFP calculators were giving me a lot higher calorie burns than my HRM did. I highly recommend it. It is easy to use and I don't even notice I am using it.

DaniJeanine

I have a ProForm...forget the model number but it's the one that comes with the chest strap. I love it! No matter what brand you chose, just make sure you get one with the chest strap...its much more accurate!