feeling discouraged

ashleyShades
ashleyShades Posts: 375 Member
in Motivation and Support
I have been logging in and working out since January and my weight is fluctuating still. I'll admit that I'm usually very, very good during the work week and then on the weekends even if I don't over eat I will only eat one large meal a day or skip working out. My boss is doing South Beach and has lost 12 pounds in 3 weeks. I don't want rapid results. I want results that last but I'm not getting any. I'm currently 5' 6" and 206 pounds. I'm eating 1330 calories a day and working out 4-5 days a week. My workout consists of cardio warm up, strength training and then more cardio.
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Replies

  • ArmandoG28
    ArmandoG28 Posts: 283 Member
    1330 cal too low . eat like the thinner person you wanna be. fir example im 280 lbs-+ and i eat like the 250 lb man i wana be so i eat at 250 sedentary lifestyle . i work out 5 days a week weights cardio . try the calculators on fat2fit.com .hope this helps
  • ashleyShades
    ashleyShades Posts: 375 Member
    1330 cal too low . eat like the thinner person you wanna be. fir example im 280 lbs-+ and i eat like the 250 lb man i wana be so i eat at 250 sedentary lifestyle . i work out 5 days a week weights cardio . try the calculators on fat2fit.com .hope this helps

    Thank you!
  • Melo1966
    Melo1966 Posts: 881 Member
    You definately need to eat more with the workouts you are doing. I am at 1,650 and do far less than you and am losing more than a pound a week.
  • ashleyShades
    ashleyShades Posts: 375 Member
    You definately need to eat more with the workouts you are doing. I am at 1,650 and do far less than you and am losing more than a pound a week.

    I will try that this week! Thank you. I was really sick last week and could barely hold down a meal but I'm back to feeling 100%
  • ashleyShades
    ashleyShades Posts: 375 Member
    I'm going to push through my work out today and try to keep going.
  • cebreisch
    cebreisch Posts: 1,340 Member
    I agree with those that encouraged you to up your calories. Also keep in mind that what you eat is the more important of the two between working out and what you're eating. (Impressed with your workouts too!)
  • juniperbug1980
    juniperbug1980 Posts: 35
    I agree with everyone else about eating more. I upped mine to about 1500 cal a day (because I was getting dizzy, and you know, I like to eat) and started losing about 2lb a week. You need to play with the calories a little to find out what suits you.
  • ashleyShades
    ashleyShades Posts: 375 Member
    I agree with everyone else about eating more. I upped mine to about 1500 cal a day (because I was getting dizzy, and you know, I like to eat) and started losing about 2lb a week. You need to play with the calories a little to find out what suits you.

    I hope you guys are correct! Thank you!
  • Francl27
    Francl27 Posts: 26,371 Member
    I agree. I'm at 1470 calories a day right now, that's at 191 lb and sedentary... I probably exercise about the same, and I'll eat a bit more if I'm hungry on exercise days (which is pretty much every day). How do you get 1300 with 206 lbs? The 'lose 2 lb a week' setting? I've lost 17 lb in the last 2 months with the 'lose 1 lb' setting. Heck I should probably should eat a bit more too.
  • Ultragirl2374
    Ultragirl2374 Posts: 390 Member
    Yes, I think you need to increase your calories. Try to spread it out throughout the rather than one large meal. And drink lots and lots of water.......(this message is for myself as much as it is for you! :tongue: )
  • Shuleran
    Shuleran Posts: 48 Member
    Yep. I am with everyone else. I aim for 1500 a day but if I work out and burn 500-700 calories then I eat to about 1700 calories and still have some left in my calorie "bank". I am down 22 pounds in 12 weeks. So , EAT GIRL!
  • cubbies77
    cubbies77 Posts: 607 Member
    Once you adjust your number, give it a few weeks before adjusting it again. As females, our weight fluctuates greatly, so it's hard to analyze a calorie change after only one or two weeks. To get my "magic number", I had to play around with it for several weeks.
  • ashleyShades
    ashleyShades Posts: 375 Member
    I think it's set at losing 1.5 pounds.
  • ashleyShades
    ashleyShades Posts: 375 Member
    I ate 1,662 calories yesterday but burned about 500-600 at the gym. Should I have eaten back more of my "extra" calories from working out?
  • ashleyShades
    ashleyShades Posts: 375 Member
    I weigh 6 pounds more than I weighed last week. I'm flabbergasted. There is no way in hell that I have eaten 18, 000 calories over my goal.
  • TimeForMe99
    TimeForMe99 Posts: 309
    Yes, you should be eating back your exercise calories. Working out will build/retain muscle and strengthen your organs but isn't really about weight loss.

    Your scale says you gained six pounds, but how do your clothes fit? That's a lot, even for water weight, so maybe the scale is just playing with your head. It might help to review your macro settings; be sure you are getting sufficient protein and fats. The current recommendations (which could change tomorrow!) are protein at 1gram per pound of lean body mass (100 - 110 ave for women) and 25-30% fat. The balance is carbs. Ask at the gym about a body fat % eval and you can calculate your LBM from that.

    Strive for a weekly average, so you can save a reasonable amount of calories for the weekend. Just don't go too far overboard or you'll fall back into old habits.
  • ashleyShades
    ashleyShades Posts: 375 Member
    It's hard not to be discouraged
  • TimeForMe99
    TimeForMe99 Posts: 309
    It's hard not to be discouraged

    Of course it is. Your body will take time to adjust to a higher calorie level but you'll be the better for it. It's also much easier to stay on track 7 days a week if you have a higher calorie bank. Stay off the scale for a while and judge your success by your clothing and the mirror. Consider taking measurements as well (yes, scary - I know).

    BTW - ignore your boss' "success". People lose weight in the early days on nearly any eating plan, and South Beach is very restrictive so this is even more pronounced. I've never known anyone who kept the weight off for any length of time on SB because it's just not a realistic way of eating. Also, bear in mind that everyone is different, and some people (and scales) aren't always truthful.
  • jmd_66
    jmd_66 Posts: 6 Member
    You have to feed the fire to get it to burn. You will get there.
  • imchicbad
    imchicbad Posts: 1,650 Member
    You should stop obsessing about the scale and pay attention to your measurements. Your trading muscle for fat. So your progress will show in inches not pounds. After a about 6 weeks or so, the pounds fall off. Don't get all weird about it. Like you said, doing it the right way is best. But it also takes patients.
  • ashleyShades
    ashleyShades Posts: 375 Member
    You should stop obsessing about the scale and pay attention to your measurements. Your trading muscle for fat. So your progress will show in inches not pounds. After a about 6 weeks or so, the pounds fall off. Don't get all weird about it. Like you said, doing it the right way is best. But it also takes patients.

    Thank you.
  • ashleyShades
    ashleyShades Posts: 375 Member
    I had a better day today...
  • BlueObsidian
    BlueObsidian Posts: 297 Member
    I weigh 6 pounds more than I weighed last week. I'm flabbergasted. There is no way in hell that I have eaten 18, 000 calories over my goal.

    Have you thought about weighing yourself even less often, maybe once a month? A hard workout and a high-sodium day can cause a good five pounds of bloat for me. It happens. But if the scale is stressing you out, maybe using it even less often would be a benefit. You can take measurements and get on the scale at the beginning of the month, and then just focus on making healthy choices on a daily basis.
  • Bootjockey
    Bootjockey Posts: 208 Member
    I agree. You probably need to eat a litlte more. Eat closer to what you need daily. Try 1600-1700 calories a day...

    Trust me. Look up member "Tina0926", she and I had some LONG conversations about her calorie intake, and how I thought she should increase it (fairly dramatically), and I think she's lost like another 15lbs or so just in the last couple months since she started eating more.

    Look her up, I bet she'd love to have another MFP buddy!

    -BootJockey
  • peopletalk
    peopletalk Posts: 519 Member
    i started at 206 and i'm 5'6 and i have lost 10 lbs in 2 months. it's not always consistent but i'm working on it. i probably don't exercise as much as you but i eat around 1500 calories a day.
    feel free to add me if you want! sounds like we have similar goals.
  • ashleyShades
    ashleyShades Posts: 375 Member
    Thank you all for the good advice!
  • RhondaOnAJourney
    RhondaOnAJourney Posts: 34 Member
    Others have already said, but I'd investigate your calorie allotment. It seems too low. You can't maintain that. Others will argue, but do your research. You'll see. I'm about 22 lbs heavier than you and my calorie allotment is 1880 a day; I've lost 7 pounds in 5 weeks (now that includes doing Chalean Extreme and cardio).

    Do your research--you definitely aren't eating enough. Look into macros, too.
  • lynn1982
    lynn1982 Posts: 1,439 Member
    Not sure if it has been mentioned, but make sure that you're weighing your food. When I first started on here, I used to measure and sometimes guess my portions. Then I got a kitchen scale and it turned out I was often WAY off. Also, are you using a heart rate monitor for your workout burns? The numbers given on MFP are not always accurate. These are just some things to keep in mind. People tend to tell you on here to "up your calories" all the time...that has never actually worked for me. I wish it did though!
  • RhondaOnAJourney
    RhondaOnAJourney Posts: 34 Member
    Not sure if it has been mentioned, but make sure that you're weighing your food. When I first started on here, I used to measure and sometimes guess my portions. Then I got a kitchen scale and it turned out I was often WAY off. Also, are you using a heart rate monitor for your workout burns? The numbers given on MFP are not always accurate. These are just some things to keep in mind. People tend to tell you on here to "up your calories" all the time...that has never actually worked for me. I wish it did though!

    SOOOOO true! Great advice. Same thing happened with me. I was 'eyeballing' portions and finally bought a cheap little food scale at Walmart. My 'eyeballing' was off! lol And I also bought an HRM...SO helpful. Great advice.
  • ashleyShades
    ashleyShades Posts: 375 Member
    Not sure if it has been mentioned, but make sure that you're weighing your food. When I first started on here, I used to measure and sometimes guess my portions. Then I got a kitchen scale and it turned out I was often WAY off. Also, are you using a heart rate monitor for your workout burns? The numbers given on MFP are not always accurate. These are just some things to keep in mind. People tend to tell you on here to "up your calories" all the time...that has never actually worked for me. I wish it did though!

    I do have a hrm and I do measure my portions and try to bring food to work as often as I can

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