Losing weight quickly not sure why

AngelaBianco82

Hi and story for the long post just wanted to arm with as much info as possible

I'm not much of of fitness buff or anything and everyone I ask tells me something different but I just want to make sure I'm doing this right because I have a baby and I want to be a better version of me.

I joined MFP Nov 12 to start tracking my food intake, because I know that food is an issue for me. I had a baby in June and started working out in begin in August.

My starting weight in August was 270 and when I joined this site I was 262 so I hadn't lost a lot of weight but I was fitting into my clothes.My goal weight is to be 180, and than work on a lower weight of hopefully 165

When I joined MfP my starting goal was 1lbs a week, but I was losing more than that in a week so I changed it to 2lbs a week. I'm a very active person now because I'm on Mat leave. When I'm back at work I will only being working out hour workout five to six days a weeks., and 30 mins walking the baby and dog. I want to lose as much weight as possible before I go back but I also want to do it right

My regular exercise routine right now

One hour everyday of strolling walking
30 mins home video of low-impact aerobics at least 6 days a week
20mins Jillian Micheals workout 6 days a weeks right now i'm doing 6pack in 6 weeks

I record everything I eat and my exercise. I also eat back most of my calories, but I'm still losing weight quickly which is great but It also worries me.

My current weight is 242 so I have lost 20 pounds in 6 weeks. However, the last time I did my measurements I had stayed the same or only lost 1/2 inch. I do my measurements on the 15th of every month.

Any insight or advice would be great

Thanks

Firefox7275

If you are losing weight not inches that might suggest you are burning muscle but gaining fat, or possibly holding water or both. Quickly looking through your food diary it's not the healthiest and your protein intake is inconsistent. You are often not eating protein until the evening and then a massive serving - the body cannot store spare amino acids so will draw from (break down) your muscles if it needs them which the last thing you want. It also can only process a certain amount of protein at any one sitting, the remainder being converted to sugar or body fat! Try 30g or so of protein at each meal and snack.

Consider eating less sugar and white refined carbs, processed/ ready made/ junk should be no more than about 10% of daily calories. These foods put the body into a state of stress, encouraging fat to be laid down especially on the waist and muscle to be burned. More mineral rich foods (beans, lentils, nuts, seeds, wholegrains), more oily fish and more fruits and vegetables. IMO track either fibre (at least 14g per 1000 cals) or sugar or both - you can change the settings on MFP. Have you been tested for insulin resistance?

Exercise wise quality is more important than quantity, assuming you are healthy do an intense workout for a maximum of one hour four times a week - on the other three days do active recovery, just your basic 10,000 steps of walking at any pace. This helps maintain or increase muscle mass, gives you a boost to your metabolism for up to two days after you do a workout, gives your muscles and connective tissue the chance to repair (exercise breaks them down). Now you have a base of fitness you really want to be intermittently be gasping for air, muscles burning and screaming, sweat running off you; if you do much the same thing week in week out the body becomes efficient so burns fewer calories each session.

MemphisKitten

Are you breastfeeding? That can make you drop pounds more quickly, especially if you're eating low-cal.

Chief_Rocka

It'll slow down on it's own, I wouldn't worry about it at this point.

secretlobster

It'll slow down on it's own, I wouldn't worry about it at this point.

This

I have to say this is the most odd concern I've seen in a while

Capt_Apollo

It'll slow down on it's own, I wouldn't worry about it at this point.

yeah. pretty soon you'll be posting a topic about how it was coming off so quickly before but now it isn't so you're on a plateau.

slwells1983

That is not bad! I have lost 16 pounds in 3 weeks going on 4 now! It just depends on how strict and how hard you are working. Keep doing what you are doing

LizL217

Weight loss is often faster at first and gets slower later, so like others have said I wouldn't worry too much about it.

And I also second the comment that breastfeeding could be accelerating the loss, but again, that's nothing to worry about.

What you may want to worry about is maintaining muscle mass, particularly since you're saying you aren't losing inches. Try to incorporate some body-weight exercises in addition to your cardio (push-ups, sit-ups, squats... all can be done at home) to help you strengthen your muscles and prevent muscle loss. If you have access to a gym, a trainer could help you get into a good weight lifting routine as well.

brownshuga30

You seem to be burning alot of calories daily from your workouts but if I can just make a few suggestions after going through your food diary. Your taking in well over 2k calories per day but its not filled with healthy items. First try eating a low fat or non fat yogurt instead of a fruit on the bottom yogurt. It has way more calories and sugar than a 6 oz cup of low or non fat. Also you are eating alot of "empty calories". Try to eliminate or reduce the amout of candy and cookies you're snacking on. Try replacing those with alot of fruits and vegetables throughout the day. Something else that is helpful to me is snacking on 1 serving of lightly salted peanuts or almonds throughout the day. Also add more protein to your diet. Remember that you are trying to make this a lifestyle change not just a crash diet to return to work. You may not be able to be so active once you return to work so try creating a plan that will also work for you there. I don't know if you listed strength training but I will also suggest adding at least 2-3 days. Goodluck on your weightloss!!!!

slowturtle1

If you are losing weight not inches that might suggest you are burning muscle but gaining fat, or possibly holding water or both. Quickly looking through your food diary it's not the healthiest and your protein intake is inconsistent. You are often not eating protein until the evening and then a massive serving - the body cannot store spare amino acids so will draw from (break down) your muscles if it needs them which the last thing you want. It also can only process a certain amount of protein at any one sitting, the remainder being converted to sugar or body fat! Try 30g or so of protein at each meal and snack.

Consider eating less sugar and white refined carbs, processed/ ready made/ junk should be no more than about 10% of daily calories. These foods put the body into a state of stress, encouraging fat to be laid down especially on the waist and muscle to be burned. More mineral rich foods (beans, lentils, nuts, seeds, wholegrains), more oily fish and more fruits and vegetables. IMO track either fibre (at least 14g per 1000 cals) or sugar or both - you can change the settings on MFP. Have you been tested for insulin resistance?

Exercise wise quality is more important than quantity, assuming you are healthy do an intense workout for a maximum of one hour four times a week - on the other three days do active recovery, just your basic 10,000 steps of walking at any pace. This helps maintain or increase muscle mass, gives you a boost to your metabolism for up to two days after you do a workout, gives your muscles and connective tissue the chance to repair (exercise breaks them down). Now you have a base of fitness you really want to be intermittently be gasping for air, muscles burning and screaming, sweat running off you; if you do much the same thing week in week out the body becomes efficient so burns fewer calories each session.

IMO this is very good advice. Breastfeeding does make a difference, and it's true that you lose more/faster in the beginning. It is a little scary sometimes when the weight is moving faster than expected, and frustrating when it's not moving as fast as expected. It's always good at those points to go back and re-evaluate your routine and your nutrition. For what it's worth, I pay zero attention to what MFP says as far as my expected weight loss each week. When it said I'd lose 1 pound a week I lost .5-.8. When it said I'd lose .2 a week I lost .8-1.0. I'm currently on maintenance calories (based on TDEE from another site, not from MFP) and am actually still losing about .5 every 2 weeks, but MFP says that with this calorie goal I'll gain weight. So take that for what it's worth, but know that you can't always go by what MFP says. Track your own progress and results and play with your calories until you find what's comfortable for you. Congrats on the new baby and good luck!

AngelaBianco82

Thanks everyone for your advice. I'm not breastfeeding but I heard that contributes to weight lost too.

I know that my diet is horrible and sadly it's much better than it was before I joined the site. I was concerned that I was losing muscle especially when I didn't that much inches at my check point.

I will try and work on my diet a bit more and less junk type foods that aren't good for my body anyway.

mag2906

Thanks everyone for your advice. I'm not breastfeeding but I heard that contributes to weight lost too.

I know that my diet is horrible and sadly it's much better than it was before I joined the site. I was concerned that I was losing muscle especially when I didn't that much inches at my check point.

I will try and work on my diet a bit more and less junk type foods that aren't good for my body anyway.

Try to eliminate cookies and chocolate from your daily menu.
It would be a good idea to take your time now to learn how to eat for the rest of your life.

Once you hit your goal weight or even go back to work, your calorie burn will drop and it will be hard to stick to your calorie limit if you got used to eating 1000 cal worth of chocolate a day.

I got fat on chocolate and cookies – those are only to be enjoyed on special occasions!

AngelaBianco82

you are right...I totally treat myself too much

plateaued

Your first 3 pounds was probably water loss. 2 pounds a week is doable in the early weeks so you are probably OK. It will slow down.

Firefox7275

you are right...I totally treat myself too much

Try to stop viewing junk food as a treat, many ingredients are slow poisons - treating your body is giving it all the nutrients it needs to work effectively and efficiently. You don't treat a member of staff by buying them poor quality equipment/ materials or treat yourself with cheap and nasty shoes that fall apart in one wear. If you continue with that mindset you risk gaining all the weight back as soon as you stop dieting. Find other treats - healthy tasty meals you enjoy, beauty treatments (at home or a college if money is an issue), new clothes as you lose, fitness gear or membership, gorgeous new beads or gadget for your jewellery hobby and so on.