I don't get it...

Bubsys_mom

I have been on MFP for 15 days. I have changed the way I eat by a lot and am almost always under my calorie goal. I started off at 230.8 when I first started. When I weighed last Sunday, I was 225. The past couple of days I have weighed it has been between 235-244. WTF?!

I know weight can vary daily, but by that much? I am seriously depressed about it and can feel my mind start to shut down and just say forget it. But that other part of me is telling me to shut up and just keep on. It's kinda ruined my mood the past couple of days.

I need a kick in the behind...don't let me give up. I don't want too.

ETA: I made my diary public. Don't be too harsh to me, but some help would be appreciated.

ravenwcatz

Some ladies gain as much as 10lbs during their periods. It's not fat, it's just from the bloating/fluid retention, and should go away after Shark Week is over. Perhaps that has something to do with it?

Bubsys_mom

Some ladies gain as much as 10lbs during their periods. It's not fat, it's just from the bloating/fluid retention, and should go away after Shark Week is over. Perhaps that has something to do with it?

I haven't had my period in a couple months. (No I am not pregnant either.)

kikicooks

Weight can fluctute for many reasons. After a quick glance at your diary you do have many days with pretty high sodium, this can cause you to retain water and bloat. Some foods take longer to digest so that could be holding on too. Are you doing any strength training? Lifting weights can cause the muscles to retain water while they are repairing themselved. Being near your period could be a factor. Your body is adjusting to a new lifestyle also, give it time to catch up.

crystalflame

You've really got to stick to this a little more. You're over on calories about half the time - not so much that I'd expect you to gain weight, but you're probably not going to lose much that way either. Your sodium levels are high because you're eating a lot of packaged food, so you may be retaining quite a bit of water from that. It's also possible you were dehydrated on that Sunday weigh-in, so you saw an artificially low number.

Clean your diet up some - fresh veggies and raw meat that you cook yourself. Stick to that calorie goal and do not go over it. Keep at this a few more weeks, and if you're doing it right but still don't see weight loss, talk to your doctor.

ZyheeMoongazer

1. Try to reduce your sodium intake (its a hard point for me too sometimes)
2. Drink more water
3. Clean diet (as mentioned, less packaged foods, more fresh ingredients)

Bubsys_mom

Weight can fluctute for many reasons. After a quick glance at your diary you do have many days with pretty high sodium, this can cause you to retain water and bloat. Some foods take longer to digest so that could be holding on too. Are you doing any strength training? Lifting weights can cause the muscles to retain water while they are repairing themselved. Being near your period could be a factor. Your body is adjusting to a new lifestyle also, give it time to catch up.

Yeah, I wondered if it was the sodium. I am not doing any strength training right now. Just walking when I get the chance to and some yoga. I do want to get in a gym, but it all depends on the cost.

You're over on calories about half the time

Where am I over half the time? I am always under it? I am confused. o.o

and if you're doing it right but still don't see weight loss, talk to your doctor.

See, this sucks. I don't have insurance, therefore no doctor without breaking the bank.

nitabean47

Just sent you a friend request.....I too have those fluctuations....today I was 260 and Tuesday I think it was I was 254. IDK what it is either I am still trying to figure that out. I went and briefly looked at your diary and noticed that you don't track sugar. There are hidden sugars in a lot of things and you may want to consider adding it in to track. I am here if you need me!!

susanp57

I took a look at the last 2-3 completed days of your diary. There was one vegetable, cucumber. Almost everything else was something packaged. Very little was actually fresh food.

Chris99mu

What are your macro splits? The one day I looked at you had 226g of carbs. That's Quite a bit. Maybe try to up your protein and decrease carbs a bit? I know a lot of ppl, myself included, try for a 40/30/30 split of carbs/fats/proteins.

Go to town on hydration.

Start researching weight training programs in addition to cardio regularly. Remember: the more muscle you have, the more fat you can burn/replace/eliminate.

Also, put the scale away! Get a seamstress tape measure (flexible) and promise to weigh yourself 1 time a week or even month. Day to day fluctuations are too dramatic sometimes and can really toy with your hard work and momentum.

GL :-)

AmandaMarie916

Eh, the rise and fall. I found that when I'm under calories I don't go anywhere. I have to get to my calorie mark or very close to it to see results. When my numbers go up it motivates me to get going walk a little longer push a little further. It could be muscle that's building. Try taking measurements around your legs arms and waist. Sometimes you see results around those areas that are getting smaller rather than the scale because of muscle.

moontyrant

You've been on mfp for two weeks. your problem is that you have been using a scale as a measure of progress. 1. use measuring tape for the next month and put the scale away. if you don't see any progress then, change something else. 2. stick with it. two weeks isn't a whole lot of time in the grand scheme of things and it's very difficult to see progress so soon.

Bubsys_mom

I eat a lot of packaged foods. I just don't really like cooking too much and don't even really know where to begin if I did. (Healthy stuff anyways...) I am kinda picky with veggies and don't care for too many, though I do like cucumbers, broccoli and salads.

I love bread and I think that is a weakness of mine. I guess I need to try to cut that out a bit more.

Thanks everyone for the feedback. Going to mess with my journal settings a bit.

Also, I drink anywhere from 4-10 glasses of water a day and usually don't drink anything else other than coffee. So I do get plenty of water.

kikicooks

I eat a lot of packaged foods. I just don't really like cooking too much and don't even really know where to begin if I did. (Healthy stuff anyways...) I am kinda picky with veggies and don't care for too many, though I do like cucumbers, broccoli and salads.

I love bread and I think that is a weakness of mine. I guess I need to try to cut that out a bit more.

I love bread too so I know how that goes. Try to eat more whole grain breads, higher protein and fiber is better for you and keeps you full longer. I still eat the 'bad'(but oh so good) sometimes but try to mainly eat whole grain. You can still lose weight by eating the packaged processed stuff, but try to eventually eat more whole foods. When I 1st started losing weight I ate a lot of lean cuisines and sandwiches with lunch meat, boxes of processed rice, etc. I still lost weight because I was controlling my portions. Hey, Jared lost a ton of weight on Subway and that has a ton of sudium. But, over time I eventually learned that stuff isn't the healthiest and started eating less processed foods. Your body will thank you if you do.

ShannaB83185

Less sodium and more water... also check this out! Extremley helpful and it really helps you understand weight loss in general. Good luck!

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/654536-in-place-of-a-road-map-2-0-revised-7-2-12

Francl27

Not enough veggies or fruit. Too many bagels/crackers/bread. I know it fits your carb goal, but when most of it is from that stuff, it's just not good for you (plus it has extra sugar).

Basically too much processed stuff. And you go over the fat limit too much, IMO. It's not a big deal if the extra is from nuts or olive oil, but it doesn't seem to be the case.

A few things you can improve:

- stop the vanilla and other 'light' yogurts in the morning. They're packed with processed sugar. Buy a big container of low or non fat plain yogurt and add some berries to it.
- try to limit yourself to one big source of processed carbs a day - either a bagel or some bread, but not both (and stick to two slices)
- switch some of the sandwiches for salads (with just a bit of olive oil and vinegar - I like dijon mustard too) or lettuce wraps
- get rid of the prepackaged stuff at dinner. Cook yourself some lowfat meat or fish and have it with vegetables and brown rice/sweet potatoes/squash
- try to limit yourself to one protein bar a day (yeah, having a hard time with that some days also)
- try to stick to whole grains if you're going to have crackers, bread or bagels, brown rice instead of white
- those lunch maker things look bad. You'd be better off buying whole grain crackers, low fat cheese, and low sodium deli turkey and skip the dessert
- avoid buying processed stuff like burgers or meals that you could make yourself with 93% fat free beef, for example. They are often packed with GMOs and other unhealthy stuff.

Hope it helps a bit. I'm not perfect by any means and I'm too chicken to open my diary (plus everything seems over goal now that I changed my goals this week LOL).

Pollywog39

Don't weigh yourself too often, and DON'T obsess about the number on the scale.
Try to eat food you make yourself - with "real" ingredients. I know it's not easy..................but it's possible. More salads, more nutritious stuff........it truly WILL make a difference.
I LOVE bread..........but have mostly given up "white" bread. Find more nutritious choices :bigsmile:

Don't give up. Never, ever...........................just slowly keep moving forward. You can do this - you WILL do this!

Much success !!!

Bubsys_mom

I am eating wheat breads and my bagels are wheat bagels.

I just measured myself and put it in my weigh-in section. I am going to do my best to avoid the scale for a couple of weeks.

Going to the store tomorrow, so I will do my best to get more fruits/veggies. Like I said, I love salads (usually with chicken haha) so I will try to do better on eating that too. I guess I was so absorbed with the calories and kinda ignored the macros.

Thanks again everyone for the help and suggestions.

DoriGaga

Really really compare labels for breads... I am a bread addict, and some whole wheat bread has tons of sugar and calories... Look for whole grain over whole wheat, and compare the labels of different brands for the ones with the least calories and highest fibre.

I literally cannot cook anything that doesn't come from a frying pan, pot on the stove or microwave. The oven is a foreign concept to me! But that's ok because with veggies, raw is better!

I know what you mean on not liking veggies, but try cutting way back on sugar and anything sweet for a little bit, even cut back on fruit, and your taste buds will change. Some vegetables actually have a kind of sweetness, and they start to taste better as you get used to them... there are some veggies I don't like and I will never like, but I have expanded my tastes some, considering I used to NEVER eat them!

I am also addicted to weighing myself.... it really does get me down... my weight can fluctuate up to 10lbs in a single day... make sure you always weigh yourself at the same time (early morning is best, before you eat anything). It's easier said that done because I have weighed myself twice today, even though yesterday I promised I would stay off the scale for a week!

And with diet changes, go slowly, every time you go to the grocery store, swap a couple things for healthier/better versions... if you do it all at once you are setting yourself up to cheat. Gradual, small changes add up to big, lasting results in the long run.

And you don't need to go to the gym to work on strength training. Go on YouTube, you can find a ton of videos to try on there... Jillian Michaels' 30 Day Shred is on there, among others. Working your muscles is important because your body will redirect some of the calories you eat towards repairing and maintaining muscles, and it will have to turn to your fat stores to for fuel (that's the after burn, your body continues to burn calories after a work out). Also, it will prevent your body from burning muscle, because you are using the muscles, you send the signal to your body that you need to keep those. If you are only calorie restricting and doing cardio, your body may burn muscle, because it is hard wired to store fat.

da_bears10089

i can't look at your diary...

olDave

It's ONLY been 15 days on MFP!! This plan needs to be given at least 2 to 3 months to see if it works. I'd suggest only weighing every 1 to 2 weeks. Remember....one pound/week AVERAGE weightloss is considered good on this plan.

Good luck and be patient.

Bubsys_mom

i can't look at your diary...

That's because I made it Friend's Only again. I got a lot of helpful information and I am going to take what has been said and try to work with it.

TigressPat

has anyone asked/wondered if perhaps she is using different scale? weighing at different times? weighing on uneven surfaces?

or if all of these are constants, maybe the scale is simply broken?

EmmieBaby

I just weigh myself every week not every day...it would discourage me to do it every day.

__Di__

I have been on MFP for 15 days. I have changed the way I eat by a lot and am almost always under my calorie goal. I started off at 230.8 when I first started. When I weighed last Sunday, I was 225. The past couple of days I have weighed it has been between 235-244. WTF?!

I know weight can vary daily, but by that much? I am seriously depressed about it and can feel my mind start to shut down and just say forget it. But that other part of me is telling me to shut up and just keep on. It's kinda ruined my mood the past couple of days.

I need a kick in the behind...don't let me give up. I don't want too.

ETA: I made my diary public. Don't be too harsh to me, but some help would be appreciated.

That would piss me off too, it is annoying

Any chance you could open your diary, it is like trying to read a book without braille whilst being blind otherwise.

btw hold fire on giving up, I bet there is a really simple explanation, we just have to find it and when we do, you will be well on your way again.

Lt_Starbuck

Here is a genuine, truly meant in the best intent, bit of butt kicking....

"I guess you really only wanted this enough to work on it for two weeks."

Im sorry. You asked.

:flowerforyou:

Bubsys_mom

has anyone asked/wondered if perhaps she is using different scale? weighing at different times? weighing on uneven surfaces?

or if all of these are constants, maybe the scale is simply broken?

Same scale, just bought a month ago and same surface. Though, I have weighed at different times but usually try to do it in the morning after I pee and before I do anything else.

Francl27

Wheat doesn't mean whole grains. Honey wheat bread for example, it's not whole grains.

I don't like veggies much either, I have them for dinner but don't eat a ton of them... I try to eat more fruit.

kikicooks

Wheat doesn't mean whole grains. Honey wheat bread for example, it's not whole grains.

So true. You really need to read labels. Some wheat breads are the same as eating white breads.

Bubsys_mom

Wheat doesn't mean whole grains. Honey wheat bread for example, it's not whole grains.

So true. You really need to read labels. Some wheat breads are the same as eating white breads.

So 9 grains and such like that?

c2hrist3a

I am eating wheat breads and my bagels are wheat bagels.

I just measured myself and put it in my weigh-in section. I am going to do my best to avoid the scale for a couple of weeks.

Going to the store tomorrow, so I will do my best to get more fruits/veggies. Like I said, I love salads (usually with chicken haha) so I will try to do better on eating that too. I guess I was so absorbed with the calories and kinda ignored the macros.

Thanks again everyone for the help and suggestions.

'Wheat' bread can be really deceiveing. You should seek out breads that have no less than 3g of fiber per serving. This will help it to stick with you a little longer. Home Pride wheat bread is as worthless as white bread-no fiber or very litte. If you want carbs pick the ones higher in fiber. That's how I stay full. You can feel free to add me and look at my food diary.