30 days of logging and only 3.2lbs gone to show for it

lysistrataNix

What am I doing wrong? I'm truly sedentary, I'm up to cook for the kids and do some light cleaning and I go to the gym. I don't think I've been eating all that bad and I'm going to be getting a fitbit to help out. Do I need a kitchen scale now?

Help?!?

rainbowbow

I'd love to help... But I've noticed a few things in your diary.

1.) what are you doing that you burn 800-1000 calories? (if it's "light cleaning" that is included in your TDEE and should not be considered exercise)

2.) for your burning 800-1000 calories you are not eating your calories back. If it says you have "x calories remaining" you should aim to hit your goal. Creating too much of a deficit can hinder your weight loss.


Let me know!

lysistrataNix

anytime there are calories burned that is a true workout, by either a fitness video done at home or my hour spent at the gym or both. I don't log laundry, light cleaning, and all the other stuff. To me there's no point in that. I want to lose 2lbs per week but because I'm sedentary MFP will only set me to 1200 a day to meet and that puts me at a 1.5 projected loss per week. Also I think I"m not counting my calories the right way either so that's why I don't eat to my full goal.

escloflowneCHANGED

If you are eating 1400 calories and burning 800, that means you only had a total of 600 calories for the day! you won't lose weight like that, either only burn 300-400 calories when you go to the gym or add more healthy non processed food to your diet!

chrinsky

I feel your pain! I've been logging in for a month also (and I've been killing it at the gym!) and I haven't lost a single pound! My clothes aren't fitting any differently either!
Hope you find something that works for you soon! Try not to get discouraged (I'm trying really hard too!)!

lysistrataNix

Please define processed foods to me. I don't always cook from scratch so I might add a box that has seasoning mix and noodles or rice to add to the meat. My husband isn't fully on board with dieting so I'm trying to compromise.

lysistrataNix

I also don't always have a lot of time to cook. I watch kids during the day and when the last one goes home I go to the gym for an hour then come home and make dinner. I used to go workout after I ate, but it was really hard on me to run and do the elliptical on a full belly.

granolagrl85

Please define processed foods to me. I don't always cook from scratch so I might add a box that has seasoning mix and noodles or rice to add to the meat. My husband isn't fully on board with dieting so I'm trying to compromise.

If it comes in a jar, box, or packet it's processed. There could be so many reason why you aren't losing. You could be building muscle, retaining water from sodium, your not measuring your food, MFP is telling you that you are burning more than you are...Keep at it. Don't give up.

tigg17

You're definitely not eating enough! Your body is going into starvation mode and basically just hanging on to every calorie you intake because it doesn't know when it will get fuel again! Eat back your extra exercise calories!! Also, I'd really watch your sodium; you seem to over by quite a bit each day so you may be carrying a lot of water weight too! Good luck to you!!

granolagrl85

On the weekend make large batches of things that you can use later in the week. For ex. I made baked sweet potatos the other night. I baked extra, saved it, and they will be turned into sweet potato pancakes. You can also freeze extras for homemade tv dinners. Make a few chicken breasts and make a large salad for several days at a time.

rainbowbow

I also don't always have a lot of time to cook. I watch kids during the day and when the last one goes home I go to the gym for an hour then come home and make dinner. I used to go workout after I ate, but it was really hard on me to run and do the elliptical on a full belly.

.

Here's how i do it. I eat mostly fresh foods. My normal day goes like this
Breakfast- high protein plain greek yogurt, maybe some cereal?
snack- apple
Lunch- (I dont eat meat but) leftovers, pita with spring mix and hummus, carrots/celery with hummus, Soup, Baked ramen, Salad. But you could eat all the above, chicken breast with brown rice, simple stuff you can make in advance and just pick up and go.
Snack- Fiber One bar, apple, carrots, zuchini
Dinner- Pasta, Pizza, Vegetarian Chili, Roasted potatoes, Breakfast night!


Really its so easy to make things in advance, freeze it, and then put it in tupperware. It sounds like you are on the right track as far as how you are doing things... this weight loss thing is slow so youve got to keep at it! Also, they are saying maybe eat "cleaner" like more fresh fruits, veggies, lean meats, etc. which doesnt have to involve a lot of cooking!

Also, make sure you are eating enough calories!

lysistrataNix

I guess I'll have to see what I can do. As far as eating goes I'll look at my intake and groan because I still have to eat more... I have a hard time finding enough to eat.

lysistrataNix

By the way what is hummus? I keep seeing it and I have no idea what it is.

katieg2289

Hummus is a type of dip. It is delicious on veggies or crackers! It comes in different flavors. It kind of reminds me of bean dip, but it's healthier.

escloflowneCHANGED

I eat it with celery now since the pita bread is so high in calories. Its a chick pea mix with garlic, lemon and tahini. I eat it everyday!

And by less processed foods, I meant more salad and vegatbles that are fresh and not prepared before hand. if you look at my diary you will see i usually eat leftovers for lunch and a high fiber/fat/protein breakfest.

lysistrataNix

Is hummus kept in the refrigerated section or what? I've honestly never seen it. :embarassed:

katieg2289

Yes it is. At our Safeway it is kept in the little refrigerated area that has the special cheeses and stuff in it.

deksgrl

I'm confused. You say you are truly sedentary, but then you say you go to the gym and you are working out and burning 800 calories? That is not sedentary.

EmCarroll1990

I just took a super quick look through your diary, not even looking at your food simply your calories. Almost every other day, you've got at least 600 calories remaining. You need to try your very best to eat back about 80% of the calories you get back after working out. You're body is not being refuelled and is going to stop doing anything, hence the lack of more weight loss.

robbward4

it took me about 60 days to really notice a significant loss in weight, i think it may just be your body readjusting to your new eating habits. also i found eating a decent breakast at dinner before seven seemed to work. definately breakfast though as it kick starts your metabilism. just keep at it and find what works best for you because everyone is different and it may take time for you to find your way but keep it up it really does work!!! good luck

MummyOfSeven

I've been here for 200+ days and I've lost 20 lb.
That's about the same rate of loss. Approximately 1 lb every 10days.
There's nothing wrong with that.
Slow and steady wins the race.

princilam99

You are losing almost 0.75 lbs a week... While this may not be your weekly goal, at least you are on the decline. I know "have patience' isn't what you want to hear, but give yourself a break and more than 30 days for you and your body to adjust to logging foods and choosing the right foods for your body.

runbyme

I noticed in your diary that you are not keeping track of your total fat intake for the day. Hang in there though and don't give up! You'll get this figured out! We'll all help as much as we can even if it's just listening! :flowerforyou:

Mrsairforce

Just taking a quick peek in your diary, your sodium levels are extremely high. Eat those exercise calories back and if you work out everyday measure yourself! You could be losing inches! Eat lots of fruits and veggies, I eat carrots and apples nearly every day.

MinnesotaManimal

also..... 3.2 lbs in 30 days? thats nothing to sneeze at, you should be proud of what you have accomplished thus far. if you kept that steady, that would be nearly 40 lbs by this time next year.

genericaroar

Eat more, more fruits and veggies specifically...i don't think you're doing terrible at all though.

princilam99

Also, I don't think a mom of two and daycare is sedentary! I'm sure you get up with the kids throughout the day (just my opinion). And you say you also go to the gym...

memcd911

I'm confused. You say you are truly sedentary, but then you say you go to the gym and you are working out and burning 800 calories? That is not sedentary.

Also if you're managing a family that includes children, you're probably not sedentary regardless of working out. You may need to change that, which would change your calories. And you do need to make sure your deficit isn't too high or your metabolism will drop.

david081

In your original post you mention kitchen scales. You need to weigh the food you are eating. Most people over estimate the quantities if they don't weigh stuff. I would be careful about taking advice to eat more to lose weight, particularly when it comes from some people that have lost nothing! I carry a big defecit every day through exercise, and have lost 21lb so far...

lysistrataNix

When I started MFP I was sedentary, like desk job kind of sedentary which is what MFP defines as sedentary. Maybe I should change to lightly active? I think fitbit will help me fully determine my activity level and give me a better idea of my calories burned.

I guess the whole deficit throws me off because before MFP there was just eat only 1200-1500 calories and workout and that's it. The calories burned were never included in old school dieting (that I know of).

I'm definitely not giving up though, I'm trying to find ways to change things to help me better and I'm trying to make choices I can live with for the rest of my life.

Josie_lifting_cats

I struggle with the same thing you do. I didn't look to see if it mentioned how much you currently weight and want to lose, but I've been kind of hanging around the same general weight for a couple of months. I recently calculated my BMR and TDEE, and I try to eat at LEAST my BMR (also sedentary - mine is 1,453) and less than my TDEE. I also noticed a huge difference when I ate a little more but posted a significant amount of calories burned. I've been doing 30 Day Shred and lost some serious inches, but not a single pound. I just started Ripped in 30 now, but pair it with Extreme Shed and Shred whenever I can. That leads to a 1,000 calorie burn, and I lost 2 pounds last week that way.

Then my kids and husband got me sick.

Feel free to add me - I totally know what you are going through, and maybe together we can find a trick that works for our bodies! :-)