not working!!

gilly88

hi guys,
just looking for a little reassurance - i am really trying to eat what MFP gives me, (i mean i eat my exercise cals) but i just dont seem to be losing!! i work out four/five times a week, generally dont eat bad foods (my cals are generally good ones) but it doesnt seem to be working!

any tips on what i might be doing wrong?

thanks, im a bit fed up!!

gilly88

hi guys,
just looking for a little reassurance - i am really trying to eat what MFP gives me, (i mean i eat my exercise cals) but i just dont seem to be losing!! i work out four/five times a week, generally dont eat bad foods (my cals are generally good ones) but it doesnt seem to be working!

any tips on what i might be doing wrong?

thanks, im a bit fed up!!

Anna_Banana

I recommend also taking measurements of yourself. I have gone several weeks with out losing any pounds, but have lost 1/2 inch in both my waist and hips.

Also the figures on here guestimates. You could try to lower your calories a little, just don't go under 1200 calories a day.

shorerider

Have to give us more info--

how many calories are you eating for one.

gilly88

whoops, sorry should have done that!
i want to caveat this by saying that i am not really overweight, but am naturally small framed. in the last year have put on 10lb which i dont feel comfrotable with and would like to tone up and lose.
i weigh 128lb, am 21 and 5'6.
i work out 4 times/week with intervals, spin and weights. also try to walk/pilates on off days. MFP puts me at 1200/day and when i work out i burn around 250.

thanks!!

Anna_Banana

It could just be weight gain from becoming more "womanly". Woman gain extra fat in their hips and tighs to help prepare them for carrying babies. You could try to up your exercise and see it that helps. Also what does your alcohol consumption look like? Those calories also need to be figured in.

ranaelynn

I seond the idea of the tape measure as well!

3babybeans

I agree with the tape measurer. Also, you don't have a "lot" to lose, so it may take a little bit for your body to kick into gear to start losing that amount. Good luck!

3babybeans

I'm a bit concerned about you wanting to weigh 118, though. Calculated, a female at 5'-6" & 118 lbs., the BMI is 19 & the lowest it should be 18.5. I know you said you were small framed, but just keep it in mind that anything under 18.5 for BMI is considered unhealthy. I just wanted to put that out there to make sure you aren't putting yourself in danger of becoming "too" skinny. Be healthy & good luck! :flowerforyou:

Anna_Banana

I'm a bit concerned about you wanting to weigh 118, though. Calculated, a female at 5'-6" & 118 lbs., the BMI is 19 & the lowest it should be 18.5. I know you said you were small framed, but just keep it in mind that anything under 18.5 for BMI is considered unhealthy. I just wanted to put that out there to make sure you aren't putting yourself in danger of becoming "too" skinny. Be healthy & good luck! :flowerforyou:

These were my thoughts too, but I was too lazy to actually punch in the figures. Beans you rock

3babybeans

Thank you. :blushing: I've just seen too many of my friends (& my friends' moms, actually) go to "unhealthy" weights that I don't want to see other women subject themselves to that.

gilly88

thanks for your comments. i'll start measuring but my clothes still fit the same so i am skeptical about my results!
dunno, maybe i am just eating more than i think! i wear a HRM so i know i burning that much.

yeah, i hear what u are saying about 118 being low....honestly i have issues with food (used to be anorexic as a younger person) never chronically btu enough to muck up my metabolism!

thanks again for all your comments its nice to feel like people are supportive!

3babybeans

Oh, sweetie. I'm 5'-7" & was at my lowest of 118 when I was 17. I was so unhealthy but my weight was a result of incredible stress that I was going through at the time. I see pictures of me from that time period & it really makes me cringe b/c I really was just simply unhealthy. Try focusing on eating healthy foods & taking good care of your body & you'll feel much better doing that than focusing on a silly number on the scale. :flowerforyou:

shorerider

whoops, sorry should have done that!
i want to caveat this by saying that i am not really overweight, but am naturally small framed. in the last year have put on 10lb which i dont feel comfrotable with and would like to tone up and lose.
i weigh 128lb, am 21 and 5'6.
i work out 4 times/week with intervals, spin and weights. also try to walk/pilates on off days. MFP puts me at 1200/day and when i work out i burn around 250.

thanks!!

Got to agree and say I don't think you need to lose weight. Maybe just tone.

Oh, and there is NO WAY you should be at 1200--you're starving your body literally. 1200 is way too little given your size and age. Sorry. You need to eat more.

gilly88

but 1200 is what MFP gives me?? i mean, i do eat my exercise cals. sorry hope i dont sounds like im complaining or anything, i just really want to be healthy and am a bit confused!

thanks for being so kind, 3babybeans!

shorerider

How much did you select to try to lose a week. You really don't need to lose at all I don't think (to say it again) but you should be looking at NO more than 1/2 pound a week weight loss. If that.

3babybeans

but 1200 is what MFP gives me?? i mean, i do eat my exercise cals. sorry hope i dont sounds like im complaining or anything, i just really want to be healthy and am a bit confused!

thanks for being so kind, 3babybeans!

I don't think you're complaining, I do certainly think you're confused, though. You're connecting a specific number on a scale directly with the word healthy. There's a healthy RANGE of healthy weights for your height. If MFP gave you 1200 cals/day, I'm guessing that you asked MFP to help you lose 2#/week and for someone that only wants to lose 10 pounds, this is not the best way to do it, imo.

Perhaps you should schedule an appointment with your doctor or a nutritionist. They will be able to tell you more specific things you can do for YOU that would be healthy. Plus, if you've had problems with eating disorders in the past, it would be good to have some professional help guiding you in this so you don't slip back into your old bad habits.

Toning up, like what Shore said, would probably make you feel awesome! There's a challenge on here that I'm doing & you can find it at hundredpushups.com. It has been a great way to tone my arms & I'm getting some great core strength in it also. Yoga, Pilates, weight & resistance training, stuff like that. I hope that we've helped you somehow!

age1389

You may not be losing because maybe your body is happy with your weight. I'm 5"1 and weigh about 111 to 115. With your height I wouldn't recommend you losing anymore. I would suggest you do some pilates, some weight training to tone up.
But if you still want to lose weight I suggest you up your calories to 1400. It seems you exercise alot and I think your body needs more food.


-Adrienne

keiko

It's not working because you don't have anything to lose. You have gained 10 but it was probably 10 your body needs. Please do not make yourself sick trying to get to an unhealthy weight.
I am doubting that mfp has only given you 1200 cal. I am guessing you either accidently or intentionally put in wrong numbers. I think I read on a previous post that mfp has you on 1600 cal.
You say you have had anorexia. I think you still do. Please talk to your Dr.
Kelly

shorerider

Ok, just looked back and see that you have posted before about "not losing" and have been told by many others, including myself at least 2 previous times, that 1200 is not enough. You also said before that MFP suggested I think it was 1500 but you didn't feel right about eating that much but would try it. Have you tried it?

I'm not trying to sound mean here but I'm not understanding why you're not trying some of the advice that myself and others have given you before several times? If you're not going to listen or try what we're suggesting, then why ask? Again, not trying to sound mean but trying to figure out where you're coming from in this

gilly88

sorry - appears i have offended some people and thats the last thing i want as i really appreciate that we are all here for generally the same reason and that you are genuinely trying to help.
to clarify, MFP has always had me at 1200, losing 1lb/wk. i have said before that, with exercise, i should eat about 1500 but that this has made me feel uncomfortable (but i have done it). i will take all your advice and reduce my goals to 1/2lb/wk. also will eat a bit more than am allocated each day, so that i am definitely getting enough cals.

again, i really do want to listen to you and im sorry if it appears that i haven't. i won't pipe up again unless i am sure i can't find the info elsewhere on the site!

thanks for all your help.

songbyrdsweet

sorry - appears i have offended some people and thats the last thing i want as i really appreciate that we are all here for generally the same reason and that you are genuinely trying to help.
to clarify, MFP has always had me at 1200, losing 1lb/wk. i have said before that, with exercise, i should eat about 1500 but that this has made me feel uncomfortable (but i have done it). i will take all your advice and reduce my goals to 1/2lb/wk. also will eat a bit more than am allocated each day, so that i am definitely getting enough cals.

again, i really do want to listen to you and im sorry if it appears that i haven't. i won't pipe up again unless i am sure i can't find the info elsewhere on the site!

thanks for all your help.

Don't feel uncomfortable. I know it's difficult to associate higher calories with better fat loss, especially having a history of an ED, but it's important to sort of 'get over it' so you can begin to feel more comfortable and nourish your body. Your body is very complex and EVERYTHING you do requires calories--even thinking! The brain uses a ton of energy, as do the organs--things you don't realize right off the bat. If something's not working, there's no reason to stick to it, right? And if you stick to calories that are too low, where will you go once you plateau again? No one is offended, just concerned for your health. I think shifting your concern from the scale to body composition would help you form healthier goals. :flowerforyou:

shorerider

It's not a matter of being "offended" but of wanting to help but appearing to have previous advice not listened to--which, like I said, makes me wonder why keep asking. many people have come on here before and continue to ask the same questions over again until they seem get the answer they were looking for--which isn't always the correct or healthy one.

I still say you don't need to lose and think you need to look at just doing some toning exercises and see what that produces. I think you might be happier and your body might be healthier.

ChubbyBunny

I agree with song...
"Healthy" is such a relative term. It varies by person.
I haven't looked to see much of what your goals are, but I believe if you are at a "happy" weight don't push your body to extremes. I do recommend, as others, working out ( It will help give you a more defined, trim look and may do very little to your actual weight.) and playing with your calories. MFP set me to 1200 a day as well (I wanted to lose 2# a day) I didn't lose anything. Only when I increased my calories did ANY weight come off. MFP isn't intended to be a "cookie cutter" program, and sometimes people think it is. You are given the option to make changes that suit you and your lifestyle. It will help give you a more defined, trim look and may do very little to your actual weight.

You mentioned an ED, at 5'6" trying to hit 118 is an extreme. As a fellow ED "survivor" it would be asking me a lot to hit that, even though I am only 5'4". Don't go to extremes that your body is not meant to be at.

Don't sacrifice your bodies health for an image in your head. Sometimes, our minds are not our kindest or most honest allies.

:flowerforyou:

gilly88

ok well, again, thanks for all y'all suggestions and hope i didn't upset anyone.

i will raise the cals and take on board what u say!