Can somebody please...

cindy4mica

.....tell me what the heck I'm doing wrong? I'm eating at/below my calories & exercising and am losing next to nothing. It's reeeaaally discouraging and I'm about to attack the pantry (and let me tell you, Little Debbie & my pantry are bff's). Please take a look at my diary and lmk. Thanks!

mamapuddin17

Just a quick glance you're way over on sodium!

2012Wendy

Just a quick glance you're way over on sodium!

That's the first thing that jumped out to me as well. Decrease the sodium and increase the water.

cindy4mica

Just a quick glance you're way over on sodium!

Yeah, I just started to have that appear on my diary and was shocked when I saw how much sodium is in everything!

fittocycle

I agree-sodium could be the issue for you. It might be tough but try to reset your sodium goal to 1500 a day. Most health professionals view that number as the upper limit needed by adults. And please, drink more water too. If you stick with the lower sodium limits and add more water, I bet you'll see the scale move within a week! Good luck to you!

lizard053

Oh yeah, sodium can really cause you to retain water!!! Drink more water to flush it out, or eat more fresh foods.

Try switching up your routine. You're getting close to goal, it's going to be tougher to lose. You've done great so far, so don't give up now! Take a new class or buy a new workout DVD. Keep your body guessing to help get you going again!

MaximalLife

I don't think you're eating enough.
How many pounds are you trying to lose per week?
If it's more than 1lb, you might be stifling your metabolism. The biggest mistake people make is eating too much.
2nd biggest mistake? Eat too little.
High deficits just don't work well for most people.
Why?
Because if your calorie deficit is too great you can easily suffer from
loss of muscle mass (slows down your metabolism) and impaired general progress.
You have to find what is right for you but you also need to remember that your body
is a machine and without the right type and amount of fuel there could be problems
either with loss of muscle, loss of energy, less weight loss/plateaus, etc.

Stick with the MFP recommendations.

free2live72003

Just a suggestion-- i would try the following changes:

--increase water significantly (to at least 8)
--decrease sugar slightly
--decrease sodium significantly (by 1/2)
--increase protein by about 20 gms
--decrease carbs slightly

Good luck--don't cave yet, success is just around the corner!

raisingbabyk

Could be so many reasons it's hard for a stranger to guess but:
- Maybe 1200 is too low for you
- Maybe your measurements/food weigh is off and your eating more (or less) than you think
- Maybe your daily activity level is higher than you though and your burning a lot more calories than you think (thus eating too little)
- Sodium is high but you should still be losing. I had the same amount of sodium as you for 6 months and still lost weight, and now I am just starting to work on that.

bcampbell54

Sodium maybe, sugar a little high, and though it may be counter-intuitive, maybe you should look at upping your calories a little.
Looks like homeostatis might have set in..

gettinthere

my diary is open as well, I would love a few pointers!!

2012Wendy

I think the chicken you are eating must be heavily processed (injected with things), because that sodium level seems incredibly high. Perhaps if you swapped that out for a less processed version your sodium levels would drop considerably. I'm really sensitive to sodium and find myself retaining alot of fluids. On days I know I've had alot of salt, I really try to increase the water to flush it through my system.

cindy4mica

Thanks, everyone! Great advice! Less sodium/more water. *Maybe* more food. I'll try it. I've been doing the "6-Day Slim Down" diet from my "Brazil Butt Lift" exercise program. The don't allow you nearly enough calories (less than 1,200 for sure), yet tell you in another booklet never to eat below 1,200 or above 2,000.