What am I doing wrong??

BlessedShauna777

Hello Are you taking chest, waist and hip measurements also? you could have gained muscle and only taking measurements will confirm whether you lost or gained FAT. for example, i weighed in yesterday and gained two pounds but my waist went from 36 to 34 inches I hope this helps.

stormieweather

You didn't ask for lunch suggestions, but I switched from cardboard meals (Lean Cuisine, Kashi, Smart Ones,and Healthy CHoice) to a healthier sandwich.

I use Fold-It's (whole grain), but used to use La Tortilla low-carb tortilla also, all natural turkey or ham deli meat (Hormel), sliced cheese, lettuce, tomato, onion, mayo, mustard. It's a filling meal for only about 250 calories and about 25g of protein. For variety, you can switch from ham and swiss to turkey and cheddar. The cost is pretty reasonable as well, $5 for meat, $5 for cheese, $5 for bread, and $2-3 for the veggies. Total of $17 or so for a week's worth of lunches.

Sometimes, I'll bring leftovers or a salad, as well.

Speaking of lunch...I'm hungry!! :laugh:

marycmeadows

the other thing i notice is the quality of the foods youre eating doesn't look that great... (not criticizing) but there's a lot of packaged stuff as opposed to fresh. Also, try upping your protein. I aim for at least 100g of protein a day, it really does help with weight loss. A lot of folks will say that it doesn't matter what you eat as long as you are under calorie goal, but I disagree. You have to feed your body right in order to keep it working properly and lose weight.

Also, do you strength train? that helps with weight loss too. Additionally, if you've been doing zumba three days a week for a year, your caloric burn for that activity probably isn't what you think it is because your body is used to that activity and therefore, you are burning calories more efficiently (i.e. burning less calories in the same amount of time) -- ever heard of muscle confusion? You have to change it up to keep burning a lot of calories.

Good luck!!
sw 303.4 (1/1/11)
cw 198.4 (105lbs down)
gw 160

howeclectic

This is very good logic:) I've thought that the calorie burn estimates for Zumba are a bit high. The problem is.... where to find good stats? People wear their fit HMR and Fit bit and some come back with figures like 700 - 1000 calories. It just seems overly optimistic and if you eat those calories back when you haven't really burned them, that's a problem. Does anyone have any credible resources for calories burned during typical exercise?

Your Total Calorie Burn/Mile
Your Net Calorie Burn/Mile
Running
.75 x your weight (in lbs.)
.63 x your weight
Walking
.53 x your weight
.30 x your weight

Adapted from "Energy Expenditure of Walking and Running," Medicine & Science in Sport & Exercise, Cameron et al, Dec. 2004.


(top number is total, bottom is Net. Since your BMR is already calculated in your calorie count- you worry about net). So.. if you are 200 pounds and run 5 miles per hour.. you would burn 125 calories per mile for a total of 600 calories in an hour. Use the equation above and your knowledge of your running abilities to help you gauge generally what effort levels are required for calorie burns.

lorenzoinlr

First, you did the right thing asking for help. It's why we're all here. Let me try and inspire you. I could never have had a successful weight loss without finding a place like this. I've had my bumps in the road going through exactly what you're going through among other issues. I can remember feeling discouraged and at a loss and I imagine I'll continue to encounter that from time to time. This journey is a process. If you continue to seek help and learn from the resources here and elsewhere on the web, you will succeed even if it doesn't feel that way during this very brief moment in our life. Just follow the instinct that brought you here and trust that success will be there for you. Exhilaration awaits. Congratulations on showing up!!!

Others have pointed out things that I might reiterate and add to. Water is really important. I was a camel when I got here. Now I'm a fish. Exercise calories were and continue to be one of the most challenging things for me. I haven't found a substitute for trial and error. My heart rate monitor (HRM) is a guide, both the ones on my wrist and on the machine, both of which read off the same chest belt and produce very different results! One was higher than the other early in my workout experience and have since flip flopped. Check a number of different sources on the web to get a range and then adjust based on weight loss and experience. I now take 60% of one reading and 110% of the other.

Your carbs have been low and your sugar high. I was consuming less than half my recommended carbs and found it plateaud me by messing with my metabolism. If you can reduce your sugar that will also help. The less processed foods the better and the more you can use this resource for food ideas the easier this will get. GOOD LUCK, YOU CAN DO IT!!!

garita93

I think I have been pretty accurate on my water intake. As far as measuring my food, I have driven my kids and husband nuts with my measuring my food. I do have a scale and I have been using measuring cups, spoons, etc.
As far as lunch, I don't eat pork or certain types of fish so switching from ham to turkey to chicken isn't an option but I will try changing to eating sandwiches. I just figured eating the bread wouldn't be all that great, even though we buy whole wheat.

As far as strength training, yes, that is what I had started last week, Thursday to be exact and it wasn't until Sunday morning that I could walk up my stairs without cringing. So yes very sore for strength training.

Here is the additional problem I have, yes I do eat a far amount of processed foods but the reason being is because I can eat anything fruits or vegetables or nuts unless they are processed in some way otherwise my throat swells shut and my mouth swells and my lips get...well....huge. My mom says it is the mold content and the processing of it takes care of the mold. I don't really know.

I would love to have a banana for breakfast, or an apple with my lunch but I can't unless I want to die basically. lol

Smuterella

your Mom says that....what about a Doctor?

paulo500

The sure way to lose weight, and keep it off for life, is to STOP eating wheat, vegetable oils and SUGAR!
You might be "slightly" eating better than SAD (Standard American diet).
A quick search on wheat and the toxic cereal grain will shed light on the seriousness of it. I GUARANTEE you will drop serious weight when you ditch cereal grains and processed sugars.
Refined sugar needs to stop. Fructose goes straight to your liver which can't be absorbed. Your liver does the only thing it can do with fructose and creates fat around itself. The same (or worse) than what alcoholics suffer from.

Last, but not least, stay away from fast food like the plague. Most use so called "healthy" vegetable oils which are in actual fact, killing man kind. VO is high in omega 6 and blowing our ratio of o3 to o6 out of portion.


What's foreign to most people, is eat "healthy fat" will help you lose fat! Saturated and monounsaturated should be your main focus and intake.(Coconut oil, real butter, etc) These are the optimum fat that our body needs for fuel. It is the most efficient fuel for our bodies. Yep you will hear the critics on this i guarantee it now. But research yourself and it will change your life and probably save others when you spread the word. The health benefits cannot be ignored. Chronic pain and inflammation will disappear. You will feel incredible once you change your diet.

My diet is based on high fat, low carb/protein. 65-20-15% respectively. I was already a tall skinny guy, but i lost 15 lbs just by dropping sugar and wheat in the first couple weeks.

To get you started. Research the high fat, low carb diets...ie.Paleo diet.

Good luck.

garita93

When I was younger I was taken to a doctor for allergy testing and they said that I tested positive for everything that they tested me for except sugar. Go figure, had it retested by a different allergy doctor and they said the same thing.

ninerbuff

I have measured myself but haven't lost any inches. I have been doing Zumba for a year now 3 days a week. the only thing I have changed since joining MFP is my calorie intake and trying to exercise more. I only lost 6lbs prior to joining MFP doing Zumba. My daily activity level is very low, I have a full time desk job and then I do the Zumba and other workouts for exercise plus house work (which I don't log).
So more water I should be drinking? That will make all the difference? I drink at least 4 glasses everyday, more when I am at home.

According to the zumbacalories.com website for my weight it shows burning 712 for 60min for moderate, which I do higher then that but didn't want to over shoot the estimate.

Need more than Zumba now. If it's been a year, then your body is totally acclimated to the workout. Try lifting some heavy *kitten* weights to increase your RMR. Deadlifts, squats and bench to start.


A.C.E. Certified Personal Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 28+ years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

DenverKos

Here is the additional problem I have, yes I do eat a far amount of processed foods but the reason being is because I can eat anything fruits or vegetables or nuts unless they are processed in some way otherwise my throat swells shut and my mouth swells and my lips get...well....huge. My mom says it is the mold content and the processing of it takes care of the mold. I don't really know.

I would love to have a banana for breakfast, or an apple with my lunch but I can't unless I want to die basically. lol

HUH??? I've never hear of this. What is the name of this ailment and what have doctors said??

As for caloric burn for zumba, as someone else said, every body is different. I wear a HRM and I do burn between 650 - 750 calories in an hour long class - I'm sure my lack of coordination and frivolous movements add to my burn! I do work out hard, though, and know my heart rate is accurate as I take a pulse count, too.

smplycomplicated

Please don't take offense at this but Why are people so focused on their scales? Take your measurements. stick to your calorie goal..keep an eye on your sodium intake and drink alot of water. More than 8 cups a day. Scales fluctuate so much..seriously it's really hard on your confidence if you stay focused on the # on the scale. Today is day 91 on MFP for me. I have only lost 12 lbs, But i have lost 20+ inches in my waist,hips,bust,butt, and arms. i avoid the scale, because anytime i have worked my *ss off ..stepped on it and not seen a significant change it has discouraged me. then i get down on myself and for a split second i want to give up. I weight in twice a month. that's it.

Just keep doing your best. don't second guess yourself all the time, and do not give up!

garita93

HUH??? I've never hear of this. What is the name of this ailment and what have doctors said??

Stated in the post above, don't want to seem like some kind of freak, it just limits what I can and can't have. I am trying the best that I can with what I am able to eat. Just didn't want to make it seem like I am completed opposed to having them. I crave them actually.

garita93

Please don't take offense at this but Why are people so focused on their scales? Take your measurements. stick to your calorie goal..keep an eye on your sodium intake and drink alot of water. More than 8 cups a day. Scales fluctuate so much..seriously it's really hard on your confidence if you stay focused on the # on the scale. Today is day 91 on MFP for me. I have only lost 12 lbs, But i have lost 20+ inches in my waist,hips,bust,butt, and arms. i avoid the scale, because anytime i have worked my *ss off ..stepped on it and not seen a significant change it has discouraged me. then i get down on myself and for a split second i want to give up. I weight in twice a month. that's it.

Just keep doing your best. don't second guess yourself all the time, and do not give up!

I have lost 1/2 inch overall! I measure every week.

vim_n_vigor

Water weight. When you exercise, and particularly with increasing exercise, your body stores water for 2 reasons. One, it stores water for aid in muscle repair, and two, when you exercise, you use glycogen. When you increase exercise, your body stores more glycogen in preparation for the increased exertion. It takes roughly 4 parts water to store one part glycogen, so if your body stores an extra pound of glycogen, you will also gain 4 pounds of water weight.

As for the person who suggested it was muscle, it takes months of hard work and eating over maintenance to build 4 pounds of muscle, you can't accidentally do it in a week on a calorie deficit.

^^^^This. Depending on your body and intensity, etc, you can see gains like this for a short time (few weeks) and hold on to it for a few weeks more, again depending on your body. But the plus side of this is that you will usually start to see really good losses after your muscles stop storing this excess.

crystal8208

Water weight. When you exercise, and particularly with increasing exercise, your body stores water for 2 reasons. One, it stores water for aid in muscle repair, and two, when you exercise, you use glycogen. When you increase exercise, your body stores more glycogen in preparation for the increased exertion. It takes roughly 4 parts water to store one part glycogen, so if your body stores an extra pound of glycogen, you will also gain 4 pounds of water weight.

As for the person who suggested it was muscle, it takes months of hard work and eating over maintenance to build 4 pounds of muscle, you can't accidentally do it in a week on a calorie deficit.

I never said 4 pounds of muscle. I said "some muscle and water retention to heal the muscle". Just because I was a little confused when I typed doesn't mean people should laugh at me. I'm new and still learning too. I was just trying to help out.

garita93

I just wanted to give an update, since I first posted this thread I have lost 23lbs! What changed, water intake and I adjusted my net calories to less. Finally found what worked for me. And I have lost 11 inches in the last 2 weeks. It amazes me how much you misunderstand a concept then it clicks and it is really whatever works best for you and your body. Thanks to all of you who posted ideas and encouraged me to look at things differently. :flowerforyou: