Not losing.

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Replies

  • vim_n_vigor
    vim_n_vigor Posts: 4,089 Member
    What if-

    you never lost another pound, but got down to whatever size you ultimately want to be?
    you lost all the pounds you want to get to your ideal weight, but your body stayed the size it is?

    I'd rather see the inches go.

    Some people will go long periods of time waiting for the scale to change while their measurements change drastically (think months here, not weeks). The closer you are to goal weight, the more likely this is to happen. There are many ways to make progress.
  • hillm12345
    hillm12345 Posts: 313 Member
    What works for you may not work for me. There is no black and white in weight loss.

    You said it best yourself.. and obviously what you are doing is NOT working for you. If you don't like the advice of the thread, then take your own advice. :flowerforyou:
  • chubbygirl253
    chubbygirl253 Posts: 1,309 Member
    If you are losing inches the scale will catch up. Keep doing what you are doing and try to be patient. Remember, people dont see the number on the scale, they see how you look in your clothes. And the scale will eventually catch up, you dont hear of thin and slender hot looking people that step on the scale and they weigh a ton. No.

    At first my weightloss was quick and then I incorporated more fitness and my scale started being a jerk. I felt my body slimming down but the scale didn't move. But the end of the month I did my measurements as usual and I had lost 17.5 inches from all over my body that month. All in all, I'd rather lose the inches!
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    measurements are a far better measurement of success than the number on the scale. These include the inches as well as BF%. There are a lot of people around who've achieved their goal weight, but they're still at a relatively high BF%...it's not until they gt the BF% down and increase their lean muscle mass that they really look rockin'...and this usually means they'll actually be a bit heavier than their original goal weight.

    As an example, my goal weight is 180Lbs losing fat (which would put me at a healthy BMI)...once that goal is reached, my next goal will be to put about 10Lbs of muscle on while simultaneously burning the fat which will put me in the 185-190 Lb range, but my BF% will be significantly lower and I will be more muscular. Muscle weighs more than fat.
  • Scales are not always the best indicator of a healthy lifestyle. A good tool, yes; but not the tell-all. A healthy lifestyle consists of eating healthy and exercising. Another key factor is getting enough sleep. Small changes to your habits will lend results. Keep in mind that as you begin to build muscle via exercise, your scales will actually go up rather than down. Don't lose the inspiration. Focus on the extra energy you now have from keeping up a healthier exercise regimen. Ultimately, you will want to move to 5 or 6 small meals a day to keep your metabolism going. Healthier choices (think the exterior portion of your supermaket) like fresh fruits and vegetables (be mindful of not too many fruits because of the natural sugar content) and lean proteins and nuts. And don't forget about water. Drinking plenty of water is a must for a healthy body. Cardio activity 3-5 days a week for 45 minutes to an hour is good. Choose what you like and find friends that like it too to add an accountability factor. Once you have the wiser food choices in place and the cardio, grab a couple of free weights and start adding a little tone and definition (you can google Women's Health Toning or Men's Health to get a few good exercise ideas). As you begin to add muscle you will also start to burn more calories (even while you sleep!). Your goals are attainable and can be acheived. It will take time and commitment but it will not consume all of your time. I encourage you to make small changes one at a time as to not get overwhelmed so that you can acheive short-term goals. This will lead you up to your overall goal with success along the way. Weight loss and a healthier lifestyle can be acheived and YOU can do it! Good luck & don't give up!
  • psuLemon
    psuLemon Posts: 38,428 MFP Moderator
    Muscle takes up less space than fat. The more muscle you have, the more calories they burn. Every time you improve your lean body mass is a victory. You didn't put the weight on in just a week and you said you have lost inches so why allow yourself to be frustrated because the scale won't move? The last time I weighed myself was back on November 20th last year. I don't own scales but I do have a measuring tape.
    Change up her exercise routines and see if that helps. But yeah, you do have to eat so that you can fuel your body so that you have the energy to exercise and lose those pesky pounds. I've upped my calories once since I joined and I'm going to do it again at the end of the month. I've shed around 50 so far and want to do another 50 lbs. I've changed up my exercise to include more weights. So now it's going to be the food, again.

    And I can tell you there is about zero chance of here increasing her lean body mass. It's practically impossible to gain muscle on a calorie deficit.
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    Also, a couple of pounds could easily be water retention. I can fluxuate a couple of pounds easily in a given day just with water. If I weight myself the day after I've had a big sodium day, I'm always 1-2 Lbs heavier on the scale than I truly am. If you've just started workingout again, that can also cause water retention.

    If you're losing inches but the scale number is up, you can be assured that it isn't weight from fat.
  • sylvabelle89
    sylvabelle89 Posts: 61 Member
    See these last several comments are EXACTLY what I needed to hear. No question that you few are genuinely trying to help me, not tear me down for how I'm currently doing things.

    Thank you very much for giving me some insightful information that will ultimately benefit me. :)
  • RunDoozer
    RunDoozer Posts: 1,699 Member
    First of attacking people is rude and unnecessary. They are just trying to give you legitimate advice and just because you don't like it doesn't mean they're wrong.

    Anyways, You said you are eating between between 1200 and 1600 calories that is a huge gap inbetween the two. You need to figure out how much you should really be eating and stick to it otherwise you probably won't get the weightloss youre looking for. You need to figure out your BMR (Basal metabolic rate) which is the calories that your body needs to survive. Eat below this and you probably won't lose weight. I'm willing to bet that the weight you did lose is water weight not fat. As far as you being full that has no bearing on how your body reacts to the number of calories you are taking in. I can eat one meal a day and not feel like I need to eat for the rest of the day, but it is bad for me and it sounds like you're doing the same thing. The other thing you need to calculate is your TDEE ( Total Daily Energy Expenditure) this is the amount of calories you typically burn in a day. To lose weight you need to eat somewhere between your TDEE and BMR. The typical amount is TDEE- 20%.

    A lot of people have lost weight this way and I believe it's the healthy way to do it.

    You can find the calculators for both here.
    http://www.fat2fitradio.com/tools/bmr/

    When you use this take the calories at the bottom based on your activity level and multiply it by .8
    That will give you your TDEE.
    It will probably be higher than you thought you should be eating but that's what your body needs
  • LaDonnaF
    LaDonnaF Posts: 53 Member
    Girlfriend,

    We know it is frustrating. The HEALTHY way to lose weight is often not the fastest. You are doing an AMAZING job already and it's only been a short while since you started back on this health and fitness train ;-)

    Keep up what you're doing. I would recommend you weigh in 1-2 times a month, same time everytime... after you've used the facilities and before you put anything in your mouth. Take measurements. Take pictures.

    Please do not eat 1200 calories a day. MFP is customizable so if you haven't already figure out your Total Daily Energy Estimate (iifym.com) and then subtract 15-20% of that for weightloss. Refer back to your numbers (and weigh in) in 4-6weeks. If nothing has changed (this doesn't include losing inches and/or going up in weight) revisit your situation... if you've been hungry or lacking in energy I'd say eat more.

    You're right... everyone's body is different... but the general formula isn't... less calories in=weightloss. However, if you're eating TOO few calories... that does not equal weightloss. Lol.

    Try to get in a positive mindset about eating and exercising... otherwise you'll lose motivation.
  • Sapporo
    Sapporo Posts: 693 Member
    good grief. I don't think some of yal are getting what I'm saying!!!
    Yes, LOVE the inches lost. I was so happy to see that.

    Yes, I was still bummed that I had gained.

    All I asked in my original post was an approximate time when the scale should be moving if I keep following all the MFP guidelines.
    That's all, I don't understand how anyone can get out of this that I'm starving myself, obsessed with my weight, or unhappy with my inches lost...


    completely baffled at the ruckus this has caused.

    Welcome to MFP. The forums have degenerated to crap, sorry about that :(
  • RunDoozer
    RunDoozer Posts: 1,699 Member
    good grief. I don't think some of yal are getting what I'm saying!!!
    Yes, LOVE the inches lost. I was so happy to see that.

    Yes, I was still bummed that I had gained.

    All I asked in my original post was an approximate time when the scale should be moving if I keep following all the MFP guidelines.
    That's all, I don't understand how anyone can get out of this that I'm starving myself, obsessed with my weight, or unhappy with my inches lost...


    completely baffled at the ruckus this has caused.

    Welcome to MFP. The forums have degenerated to crap, sorry about that :(

    No one but the OP was causing any ruckus
  • sylvabelle89
    sylvabelle89 Posts: 61 Member
    Alright Doozer, got it. Thanks for the advice.
  • I gained 4lbs during the christmas hols and now i am struggling to lose the weight again i do 40mins yoga and muscle exercise each day and eat around 1100 calories a day.
  • SylentZee
    SylentZee Posts: 262
    Really? I'm starving myself....yet I never go hungry.

    I had a friend in high school who dropped 175lbs keeping her calorie intake around 1400 & fat around 40 a day. Exercised every day.

    Now tell me again, how am I starving myself at 1600 a day.

    I don't want to sound like pessimist, but, no one has the same metabolism they had in high school.

    If you stick to your normal workout routine and find that you're not losing weight or any inches off of your body, then it's definitely time to add some change your workout. I hit a plateau and it took me FOREVER to get around it, but, once I changed my marcros and my workout, I lost 10lbs and 2 more inches on my waist.

    I say give it time and see what your results bring in the upcoming weeks.
  • SylentZee
    SylentZee Posts: 262
    I gained 4lbs during the christmas hols and now i am struggling to lose the weight again i do 40mins yoga and muscle exercise each day and eat around 1100 calories a day.

    You may want to eat a bit more and add higher intensity cardio and see what that brings you. Balance out your carbs and fat, don't let them be the bulk of what you take in.
  • sylvabelle89
    sylvabelle89 Posts: 61 Member
    what are marcos? And yes, this is true about your metabolism lol Didn't really take that into consideration
  • LaDonnaF
    LaDonnaF Posts: 53 Member
    macros are the breakdown of calories you're eating.... carbohydrates, fats, protein. different peoples' bodies react differently to percentages of fats vs. carbs, etc.

    when you're eating lower calories it's better to have more filling proteins and fats over carbohydrates.... but everyone's different.
  • BeingAwesome247
    BeingAwesome247 Posts: 1,171 Member
    Like ya said....it's only been a week....took ya longer than a week to gain right?


    Don't weigh in weekly - let your body adjust
  • SylentZee
    SylentZee Posts: 262
    macros are the breakdown of calories you're eating.... carbohydrates, fats, protein. different peoples' bodies react differently to percentages of fats vs. carbs, etc.

    when you're eating lower calories it's better to have more filling proteins and fats over carbohydrates.... but everyone's different.

    Exactly, everyone is different and you may want to do some research to pinpoint a ratio that revolves around your goal.

    We're all rushing to get the holiday weight off but you can't rush progress lol.
  • gabriellejayde
    gabriellejayde Posts: 607 Member
    I lost 9 lbs before the holidays on MFP. Wasn't exercising much at the time and gained some back during the holidays. Now I'm back on it and have been exercising an hour a day eating anywhere from 1200-1600 cals a day....and I've gained two pounds, but lost 2 inches. When am I gonna see the scale move in the right direction again?

    next week.
  • hayleycreates
    hayleycreates Posts: 27 Member
    Well I sure learned a few things from this thread!

    1. I think I'm eating too few calories maybe too. MFP has me at 1370 per day. I'm 259, with a 155 goal (Please, I know the numbers don't count worth crap, but they are just a framework which is fluid)

    I went to the site Dozzer mentioned, the fat2fitradio and got quite a surprise. I think it said that my BMR was 1901 calories. I'm pretty active now with cardio 5 times a week, yoga twice, strength training 3 times and zumba or swimming once a week. So I think I'll try upping my calories and see what happens maybe.

    2. Nook - I totally understand. I can't wait to see the 199 on my scale too. I know scales are second class citizens and measurements, strength and how we fit in our bodies are most important - but when you've been over 200 for a long time, it's a really goal to see that 2 move to a 1. There is no denying it will be a feeling of fantasitc accomplishment. That being said, I suppose that it shouldn't be the focus, it should be the benefit. Know what I mean?

    3. Ruckus Schmuckus, I've been on the end of that for sure. I made a HUGE mistake commenting on my feed to a MFP friend that hooray for logging 605 calories from exercise, but careful using them if you don't need too. I think I have the most hated MFP commentor posted on back. I was just trying to say that it really is all calories in vs. calories out (quality ones that is)
    So I know what it's like when you post something that seems so banal and it becomes misinterpeted and then you feel worse like no one understands.

    Anyway - thanks for all the great information everyone. Much appreciated.
  • psuLemon
    psuLemon Posts: 38,428 MFP Moderator
    I gained 4lbs during the christmas hols and now i am struggling to lose the weight again i do 40mins yoga and muscle exercise each day and eat around 1100 calories a day.

    You may want to eat a bit more and add higher intensity cardio and see what that brings you. Balance out your carbs and fat, don't let them be the bulk of what you take in.

    If she increases cardio, then she will further increase caloric requirements. She can simple just eat more for awhile but changing a routine will be good.
  • mallen404
    mallen404 Posts: 266 Member
    If you aren't eating healthy ie, fruits, veggies, lean protein ( such as chicken) every day that would cause it.

    It's 80% Diet and 20% exercise. the 80% is what you are putting in your body. I have LOST 10LBS but eating more fruit and veggies and protein and not eating processed foods..
  • ChristyRunStarr
    ChristyRunStarr Posts: 1,600 Member
    I'll admit I haven't read each and every post but check this one out, you need to make sure you're eating the right amount (for YOU not anyone else) http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/654536-in-place-of-a-road-map-2-0-revised-7-2-12
  • fbmandy55
    fbmandy55 Posts: 5,263 Member
    I understand some people are telling you things you don't want to hear but really, you are either very young or very old and act very childish. Your replies to what people are advising are nothing short of temper tantrums. Grow up.
  • Hanfordrose
    Hanfordrose Posts: 688 Member
    "When am I gonna see the scale move in the right direction again?"

    Oh... Sis. You are asking us to answer a question that is completely out of our control. Your body may be doing some simple adjustments to compensate for your diet, your exercise level or any number of other factors.

    Just like you, many of us have let the scale control our feelings at time. I think that most of the folks on MFP have had the similar frustrations. We want to will that scale to show us a number. Then, we want to scream, when it doesn't show up.

    You are so blessed to be almost to your 'magic number'. Believe it or not. That is my magic number too. I have to weigh less than 200 pounds to get surgery for my knees and be able to stand and walk again. I still have 55 pounds to go. I will celebrate with you, when you cross over from 200 to 199...but in the meantime, I will pray for you to see progress in everything that you do.

    "I know I should probably reduce my exercising to 4-5 days a week and possibly eat more on those days but what other advice can y'all give me?"

    My only advice is to be patient, Sis. It will come, if you continue to be faithful to your food plan and exercise regime. It has got you this far...hasn't it? Everything...in God's time. Love you, little sister.