I just don't seem to get it!!

Anyone have the magic answer?? I am trying to eat properly and eat enough and I work out pretty heavy between cardio and weights, I'm filling up on proteins and trying to eat regularly, nothing seems to be happening, well ok not nothing, I have built muscle I can see that, but not really losing any weight, I'm on 3 months of healthy eating and working out. Now as most people do I have days that are not so good (ie: take out etc) is that whats holding me back?? More cals? Not enuf cals?

Anyone have a few mins to check out my diary and offer up advice?? I'll go make sure my diary is public.

Thanks in advance.

Replies

  • tobirhae
    tobirhae Posts: 108 Member
    I don't have any advice for you because I am in the exact same boat. I've been eating well and working out since the start of the year and I've barely lost any weight. I started P90X 3 1/2 weeks ago, though, and as of Saturday I had lost an inch and a half around my waist. I'm trying to focus on losing inches instead of the scale. It's helping me for now. :)
  • nytdreamer80
    nytdreamer80 Posts: 123 Member
    Kris, same thing happened to me for THREE months. I upped my calories and decreased my work out. That still didnt work. I went on vacation for a week. Didn't log (but was mindful of what I was eating) and ate at my maintenance calories (which is like 2020), and made sure I drank my 8 cups of water and BAM, a 2 pound loss after 3 months of just being STALLED..
    I so can relate. Try that. Don't give up, I know how discouraging it can be when you are busting ur tail and see nothing on the scale. Rest assured things are happening even when we thing nothing is!
  • nytdreamer80
    nytdreamer80 Posts: 123 Member
    and I See you are not tracking your sodium. Add that in, and you will be AMAZED how much sodium we eat on a daily basis. Of course this retains water and could be a culprit in why you arent seeing anything.
  • JSheehy1965
    JSheehy1965 Posts: 404
    and I See you are not tracking your sodium. Add that in, and you will be AMAZED how much sodium we eat on a daily basis. Of course this retains water and could be a culprit in why you arent seeing anything.

    That's what I was going to suggest. Are you tracking your sodium? And drinking lots of water? That could be one of the things.
  • rides4sanity
    rides4sanity Posts: 1,269 Member
    This is assuming your calorie goal is at or slightly above your BMR, not going to promote starving.....I'm probably going to get bashed for saying this, but... try eating back only half of your exercise calories. It's true we need fuel to workout, but it is also true that we would burn some calories even if we weren't exercising. If you try it and feel sluggish the next day up it to 60% and see how you feel. When you find the percentage that works stick to it for a few weeks and see.

    For me if I burn less than 1500 calories, I eat back about half, if I burn more than 1500 I find that an extra 750 is usually sufficient for me to feel good the next day. These are general numbers, and if I wake up the next day hungry and lethargic I eat a bit more in the morning. This might throw my diary off for the day but over the two day, I'm good and I'm not miserable.

    I guess what I'm saying is that finding the right balance for you might take a little while, and some trial and error. When you are adjusting your diet, make notes in your diary as to how you feel and use what your body tells you to hone in on your solution.

    Best of luck! Oh, and I do track sodium and try to keep my diet fairly unprocessed.
  • callikia
    callikia Posts: 226 Member
    The problem is that you're assuming there is ONE magic answer. I've been on a stupid yo-yo plateau for a super stupid long time now. (Do you hear the bitterness in my voice?) I've tried the eat more/exercise less, then eat less/exercise more, then don't log anything and just go "off plan" for a week, and on and on and on. The trick is finding YOUR magic answer. This is why the diet industry is full of claims of "I did it so can you" with negative reviews on the products from people who weren't able to do it. Chin up. Try something different. After all, the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results, right?

    Good luck to you!
  • andrea9873
    andrea9873 Posts: 171 Member
    I was just about to post the exact same thing!!! Whoa! I honestly don't get it either...eat more...net vs. goal vs bmr vs tdee...it's like physics class.

    Here's where I am at the moment....i plan to do an interval speed workout at the track this evening for about 60 mins will wear a HRM to track my calories. Likely around 450-500 range,

    So I need to figure out how to eat after
    Calories Remaining
    Goal Food Exercise = Net
    1200 570 - 108 462
  • From the replies in this thread, I've just added sodium to my diary :wink:
  • Krisgren
    Krisgren Posts: 93 Member
    I would rather a magic answer bahahaha. jk. Ok so now I've added sodium tracking (it says 2500 on mfp is that right?) I don't track my water because I am an avid water drinker (at least 10-12 a day) so I don't really worry about that. Thanks a lot for getting back to me you guys, you've given me some stuff to think about, I appreciate your responses.
  • MostlyWater
    MostlyWater Posts: 4,294 Member
    there is no magic answer. there is no magic. you just need to keep at it.
  • JSheehy1965
    JSheehy1965 Posts: 404
    Keep going and don't give up. If you're feeling healthier and more toned than before, then that's a good thing, right? :happy: