3 weeks dieting/exercising and I gained weight. :(

likeabanner

Somebody help.

While I don't eat the best, and I have no way to eat 3 square meals a day or eat 5-6 small meals a day... I have tried to cut my calories down to 1200-1500 daily (whereas before I was eating well over 2,000 a day). I try to exercise at least 30 minutes a day. I try to hit the gym 3 times a week but with 40-45 hours at one job, 25-30 hours at another, and 3/4 time school (8 credits)... I don't have all the time to be proper.

I tried that TEED thing, but I don't have any set schedule, or set hours doing ANYTHING from how crazy my schedule is. I figured if my body needs minimally 1200 calories daily, I should aim for that. If I'm a little over, I'm okay. Whenever I exercise, I eat back what I lost because MFP said I should. I try to eat much more protein than anything else. If I can't get to the gym, I try to go for a 2-3 mile walk/jog with my dog. I have a lower back injury, asthma, and glaucoma.. so I can't overexert myself.

I weighed 185 when I started. After the first week, dropped to 183. Now I'm at 188, almost 90. I weighed myself on an empty stomach too. What am I doing wrong? Can somebody help?

I'm also a very picky eater, but when I do snack, I try to eat in moderation, or pick a healthier substitute.

amann1976

unfortunately you are probably not getting enough rest because of your schedule

Textmessage

It's hard to say without seeing your diary. The way you describe your daily life, it seems so hectic that I'd be inclined to believe you aren't consuming enough nor tracking efficiently.

mjrkearney

Aside from yeah, more sleep, what you are describing sounds like perfectly normal weight fluctuations.

tequila09

what everyone else said.

how tall are you? have you been taking measurements? have you tried calculating your bmr and eating that?

OMGeeeHorses

you fluctuate 5lbs up and down daily.

boatsie77

"What am I doing wrong?". you ask...I counted "I try or I tried or I'm trying" 7 times in your post, so you aren't really 'doing' anything wrong..

likeabanner

Textmessage, I keep a little memo book with me and I write everything down that I eat, and I log it multiple times daily. I have internet access at my full time job, and usually downtime there, so I log there and at home. I also log my exercise right after doing it.

How am I not getting enough calories? I've read so many different things. One said to reduce what your body needs by 500 a day to efficiently burn off 1 pound of fat a week. The TEED thing, like I said, just wouldn't work for me. I suppose not sleeping appropriately could have something to do with it. I will get broken 3-4 hour naps and on a day where I have the time, or a night off, I sleep for 10-14 hours.. not kidding, lol.

This BMR... I think it told me about 1500 calories. If so, I am in the ballpark for doing it right. I just feel awkward switching to a different calorie/method only 3 weeks in.

And we fluctuate 5 pounds? That's never happened with me. I've always weighed 187 on a scale whenever I did it for the past 2 years. So either that's creepy, or I'm an exception, lol.

MysticRealm

How can the TDEE not work for you? I don't understand what the problem is with doing the TDEE -10to20%?

thkthn

try barcoding in items and using a scale to make your lunch and dinner recipes. You may be under calculating your calorie intake.
Also if doing a lot of exercise building muscle makes you weigh more initially - you should be finding clothes are looser?
Use items if you can that are calorie counted already - prepacked healthy items and scan them. Just ideas Cheers

Textmessage

Textmessage, I keep a little memo book with me and I write everything down that I eat, and I log it multiple times daily. I have internet access at my full time job, and usually downtime there, so I log there and at home. I also log my exercise right after doing it.

How am I not getting enough calories? I've read so many different things. One said to reduce what your body needs by 500 a day to efficiently burn off 1 pound of fat a week. The TEED thing, like I said, just wouldn't work for me. I suppose not sleeping appropriately could have something to do with it. I will get broken 3-4 hour naps and on a day where I have the time, or a night off, I sleep for 10-14 hours.. not kidding, lol.

This BMR... I think it told me about 1500 calories. If so, I am in the ballpark for doing it right. I just feel awkward switching to a different calorie/method only 3 weeks in.

And we fluctuate 5 pounds? That's never happened with me. I've always weighed 187 on a scale whenever I did it for the past 2 years. So either that's creepy, or I'm an exception, lol.

BMR is the caloric amount your body uses daily just to function at base level. So you should always be eating more than that. I think you need to sit down and fully read this. Re-read it and re-read it again if you have to. Ask questions about parts you're confused about too.

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/937709-in-place-of-a-road-map-ver-3-0

I still have a huge hunch you aren't 100% accurate the way you feel you are.

likeabanner

"What am I doing wrong?". you ask...I counted "I try or I tried or I'm trying" 7 times in your post, so you aren't really 'doing' anything wrong..

Aw thank you. I also tried WW last year and after a few months on that, I just stopped losing. I wasn't exercising at all because I didn't have time to, and with the Hurricane here, it just wasn't feasible considering I was homeless for a bit.

dakotababy

That is a whole lot of "tries".

Textmessage

OP, have you considered opening your diary to us to maybe help you?

seanezekiel

I fluctuate like this. I find only weighing myself on friday mornings takes care of this. Also I dont strictly worry to much about eating back calories.

likeabanner

How can the TDEE not work for you? I don't understand what the problem is with doing the TDEE -10to20%?

It asks how many hours I sleep, work out, etc... and I don't have anything consistent to give it. Sometimes I get 3 hours of sleep between 2 days, and sometimes I can sleep for 14 hours if I actually have time to. My gym or workout routine will never be consistent, and neither will how much I can eat, sit, or move around. My days are not consistent, so TDEE cannot give me an accurate amount if I am not accurate with the information I give it. That is how it can't work for me. How do I know I need 2100 calories or 1500? If one day I get 3 hours of sleep and I work for 24 hours straight

try barcoding in items and using a scale to make your lunch and dinner recipes. You may be under calculating your calorie intake.
Also if doing a lot of exercise building muscle makes you weigh more initially - you should be finding clothes are looser?
Use items if you can that are calorie counted already - prepacked healthy items and scan them. Just ideas Cheers

What does barcoding mean? If it's smartphone related, I don't have one, lol. I don't even own an ipod. And yes, my jeans DO fit looser! Tops are still the same, but pants definitely.

Textmessage, I keep a little memo book with me and I write everything down that I eat, and I log it multiple times daily. I have internet access at my full time job, and usually downtime there, so I log there and at home. I also log my exercise right after doing it.

How am I not getting enough calories? I've read so many different things. One said to reduce what your body needs by 500 a day to efficiently burn off 1 pound of fat a week. The TEED thing, like I said, just wouldn't work for me. I suppose not sleeping appropriately could have something to do with it. I will get broken 3-4 hour naps and on a day where I have the time, or a night off, I sleep for 10-14 hours.. not kidding, lol.

This BMR... I think it told me about 1500 calories. If so, I am in the ballpark for doing it right. I just feel awkward switching to a different calorie/method only 3 weeks in.

And we fluctuate 5 pounds? That's never happened with me. I've always weighed 187 on a scale whenever I did it for the past 2 years. So either that's creepy, or I'm an exception, lol.

BMR is the caloric amount your body uses daily just to function at base level. So you should always be eating more than that. I think you need to sit down and fully read this. Re-read it and re-read it again if you have to. Ask questions about parts you're confused about too.

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/937709-in-place-of-a-road-map-ver-3-0

I still have a huge hunch you aren't 100% accurate the way you feel you are.

Perhaps. It said my BMR should be 1596. Seems like a lot... should I adjust to that?

PhearlessPhreaks

"Do, or do not. There is no try." ~ Yoda


As someone else already noted, there's a lot of "trying" in your post; not that trying is a bad thing, because all of us fall off the horse, and when that happens, the important thing is to pick yourself up and get back on. Having said that- I have to wonder if perhaps you are underestimating what you eat and overestimating your exercise? Because you have an extremely busy schedule, it's even more important that you schedule your food and fitness planning into your day, as part of your routine. I understand that you don't have a 'routine' as most would classify it, but, you do know your schedule from week to week with your jobs and school, so work your food and exercise into it. If it is on the back burner whenever you can get to it, of course it won't work.

Food can be deceiving- some days, I feel like I'm eating myself out of house and home, but I come nowhere near my calorie allottment… other days, it seems like I've hardly eaten, and I'm already nearing my goal for the day. If I didn't log my intake, I would have no idea at all… just saying.

Best of Luck to you!!!

Textmessage

Textmessage, I keep a little memo book with me and I write everything down that I eat, and I log it multiple times daily. I have internet access at my full time job, and usually downtime there, so I log there and at home. I also log my exercise right after doing it.

How am I not getting enough calories? I've read so many different things. One said to reduce what your body needs by 500 a day to efficiently burn off 1 pound of fat a week. The TEED thing, like I said, just wouldn't work for me. I suppose not sleeping appropriately could have something to do with it. I will get broken 3-4 hour naps and on a day where I have the time, or a night off, I sleep for 10-14 hours.. not kidding, lol.

This BMR... I think it told me about 1500 calories. If so, I am in the ballpark for doing it right. I just feel awkward switching to a different calorie/method only 3 weeks in.

And we fluctuate 5 pounds? That's never happened with me. I've always weighed 187 on a scale whenever I did it for the past 2 years. So either that's creepy, or I'm an exception, lol.

BMR is the caloric amount your body uses daily just to function at base level. So you should always be eating more than that. I think you need to sit down and fully read this. Re-read it and re-read it again if you have to. Ask questions about parts you're confused about too.

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/937709-in-place-of-a-road-map-ver-3-0

I still have a huge hunch you aren't 100% accurate the way you feel you are.

Perhaps. It said my BMR should be 1596. Seems like a lot... should I adjust to that?

Yes. Nobody should ever be eating below their BMR, unless a doctor tells them to for a very good reason.

Melissa11412

I started at 185 on 12/31/12. Missy size 14 was getting tight and i was thisclose to size 16. As of 2 weeks ago I weighed in at 168 and my current 12's are loose. I'm also 48 years old, work a full time job and am usually functioning off of 4-5 hours broken sleep a night due to perimenopause. I have no other health issues I know of.

For me, the key was consistency. I weight train 4 days a week using mostly heavy, compound movements. I run 3.1 miles 3-4 days a week. (or sub 2 of the days with some gym cardio lol).

I ate 1500 cals a day when I started out, now i'm up to 1600-1700. I make sure a large amount of the calories are protein, carbs and fat from mostly whole foods. I supplement with BCAA's and whey protein, fish oil and a multi. I log everything i eat every day, good, bad or indifferent.

Sunday is my cheat day, i eat what i want and i still track it. My calorie count on those days range about 2000-2300.

I measure myself once every Sunday. I think I weigh myself about every 2-3 months. As long as the inches lost are adding up, that's all that matters to me. If I weighed myself all the time it would drive me nutso, I cannot handle the constant fluctuations, but the tape measure does not lie.

It sounds like you are indeed trying and that's a good thing. It sounds like what you are doing isn't working for you but that's a good thing also, it means you have found a way that doesn't work so now you can try something else. Your schedule sounds majorly hectic and you probably don't have a lot of down time for yourself.

If it were me, i'd do workouts that would give me the most bang for my buck...weight lifting using compound movements, circuit training, HIIT...something that could get me in/out of the gym in 40 minutes or so. I'd do the little things that add to movement, including parking farther away from my destination, taking stairs at all times, walking one extra time around the building, etc

I'd make up some lean mean whole food casseroles, breakfast burritos, etc...i even use the rotisserie turkey breast they have at the grocery stores (just take the skin off) that's a great convenient source of protein and I can add a piece of fruit to it, or mix up some of the shredded turkey breast with some lowfat mayo, lettuce and roll it up in some Flatout bread for a nice wrap.

It may be a bit difficult for you working so much and classes on top of that but it can be done. Good luck and hope to see your success story posted soon!!

Melissa

likeabanner

Hey everybody. So my main question is...
if my BMR is 1600, do I manually set the goal on MFP and it adjusts the rest of the values? I think that is what I should do.

socajam

I think you all wasting too much on this, obviously she has no intention of opening the diary for the truth to be seen. I prefer to help someone who is listening.

MysticRealm

Hey everybody. So my main question is...
if my BMR is 1600, do I manually set the goal on MFP and it adjusts the rest of the values? I think that is what I should do.

Yes, just manually change the goal to about 1800 and that should probably be pretty close to right.

jadams1650

As a previous poster said...read the following several times...

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/937709-in-place-of-a-road-map-ver-3-0

Then you will know...

peggysue218

It has nothing to do with her diary. The only thing that matters is how many calories she is consuming. OP, make sure you eat 1200 calories - be really strict with yourself about it. Don't eat back exercise calories unless you have to (lightheaded, starving to death, etc.). I promise it will work but you have to be dedicated. It's the only way to lose weight quickly (if that is indeed what you're seeking).

AKA... Ignore TDEE nonsense and road map nonsense and clean eating nonsense.

jadams1650

It has nothing to do with her diary. The only thing that matters is how many calories she is consuming. OP, make sure you eat 1200 calories - be really strict with yourself about it. Don't eat back exercise calories unless you have to (lightheaded, starving to death, etc.). I promise it will work but you have to be dedicated. It's the only way to lose weight quickly (if that is indeed what you're seeking).

AKA... Ignore TDEE nonsense and road map nonsense and clean eating nonsense.

^^^ Bad Advice ^^^

MysticRealm

It has nothing to do with her diary. The only thing that matters is how many calories she is consuming. OP, make sure you eat 1200 calories - be really strict with yourself about it. Don't eat back exercise calories unless you have to (lightheaded, starving to death, etc.). I promise it will work but you have to be dedicated. It's the only way to lose weight quickly (if that is indeed what you're seeking).

AKA... Ignore TDEE nonsense and road map nonsense and clean eating nonsense.

^^^ Bad Advice ^^^

I agree that it's bad advice! I eat 1500-2200 cals a day and am easily losing weight even though I am in a healthy BMI range now. I would HATE to eat so little food when I can lose weight just as easy (or easier!) than eating virtually nothing.

PrincessEliNa

It has nothing to do with her diary. The only thing that matters is how many calories she is consuming. OP, make sure you eat 1200 calories - be really strict with yourself about it. Don't eat back exercise calories unless you have to (lightheaded, starving to death, etc.). I promise it will work but you have to be dedicated. It's the only way to lose weight quickly (if that is indeed what you're seeking).

AKA... Ignore TDEE nonsense and road map nonsense and clean eating nonsense.

:noway:

I guess I can only share my own personal experience, but I was eating 1200 Calories, and it was just not working at all for me. I was not losing weight, and was very unhappy. I did a little research, upped my calories, and have been much happier (and skinnier) since.

bajoyba

It has nothing to do with her diary. The only thing that matters is how many calories she is consuming. OP, make sure you eat 1200 calories - be really strict with yourself about it. Don't eat back exercise calories unless you have to (lightheaded, starving to death, etc.). I promise it will work but you have to be dedicated. It's the only way to lose weight quickly (if that is indeed what you're seeking).

AKA... Ignore TDEE nonsense and road map nonsense and clean eating nonsense.

...No. Do not do that.
1200 is a low and arbitrary number. It's fine for some people, particularly very small people or people with underlying medical conditions. MFP sometimes assigns it to people if they don't have a lot to lose but plug in an aggressive 2 lbs loss per week. But even then, MFP intends for you to eat your exercise calories back. You shouldn't net below 1200 calories unless a doctor prescribes it and monitors your macros and weight loss.

I agree that it only matters how many calories you are consuming. Calories in vs. calories out seems to be working fine for me. I do try to make healthy choices, but I don't freak out about having a couple slices of pizza every now and then.

BUT, if you know your BMR is around 1600, you should net at least that amount. Some people with unpredictable schedules prefer not to use the roadmap because their activity varies too much. What they do instead is eat slightly above their BMR and then eat all of their exercise calories back on top of that. I follow MFP's recommendations for a 1.5 lb loss per week and eat back my exercise calories, but when I compare it to the roadmap, there isn't a huge difference in numbers. With working so much, you may be underestimating your activity level.

Quality of sleep and stress levels can also affect weight loss.

beautifuldiskize

Make sure you weight yourself as soon as you wake up in the morning, after you've peed. That's when it's accurate.

likeabanner

As a previous poster said...read the following several times...

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/937709-in-place-of-a-road-map-ver-3-0

Then you will know...

Yes, I bookmarked that page! On a night where I have a good hour or so to REALLY read it and understand it, I will read it... and take notes for myself. This is just a bad time in the week for me! Hopefully this weekend, when I actually have an afternoon off, I can read it over.

It has nothing to do with her diary. The only thing that matters is how many calories she is consuming. OP, make sure you eat 1200 calories - be really strict with yourself about it. Don't eat back exercise calories unless you have to (lightheaded, starving to death, etc.). I promise it will work but you have to be dedicated. It's the only way to lose weight quickly (if that is indeed what you're seeking).

AKA... Ignore TDEE nonsense and road map nonsense and clean eating nonsense.

...No. Do not do that.
1200 is a low and arbitrary number. It's fine for some people, particularly very small people or people with underlying medical conditions. MFP sometimes assigns it to people if they don't have a lot to lose but plug in an aggressive 2 lbs loss per week. But even then, MFP intends for you to eat your exercise calories back. You shouldn't net below 1200 calories unless a doctor prescribes it and monitors your macros and weight loss.

I agree that it only matters how many calories you are consuming. Calories in vs. calories out seems to be working fine for me. I do try to make healthy choices, but I don't freak out about having a couple slices of pizza every now and then.

BUT, if you know your BMR is around 1600, you should net at least that amount. Some people with unpredictable schedules prefer not to use the roadmap because their activity varies too much. What they do instead is eat slightly above their BMR and then eat all of their exercise calories back on top of that. I follow MFP's recommendations for a 1.5 lb loss per week and eat back my exercise calories, but when I compare it to the roadmap, there isn't a huge difference in numbers. With working so much, you may be underestimating your activity level.

Quality of sleep and stress levels can also affect weight loss.

When I do get to sleep, it's usually solid and unbroken. However, it depends on a 3 hour nap in between shifts, or a good 8-12 hour sleep on a night off. I got 5 hours last night, and I'm hoping to get 4 hours tonight. I am off tomorrow night but have tons of homework to catch up on. I wouldn't say I'm stressed... just always busy and occupied. And I did eat some pizza the other night, and still managed to be around my calorie limit, lol. I hadn't had pizza for almost a month before that!

JessHealthKick

It has nothing to do with her diary. The only thing that matters is how many calories she is consuming. OP, make sure you eat 1200 calories - be really strict with yourself about it. Don't eat back exercise calories unless you have to (lightheaded, starving to death, etc.). I promise it will work but you have to be dedicated. It's the only way to lose weight quickly (if that is indeed what you're seeking).

AKA... Ignore TDEE nonsense and road map nonsense and clean eating nonsense.

*slaps* you are stupid and promoting an ED and unhealthy behaviour. If you have light headedness and aren't eating enough, your body eats your MUSCLES and you LOSE MUSCLE - who wants that?

Your heart is a muscle by the way so need to keep muscles healthy and fed well.

Of course if you are exercising and eating only 1200 you are actually starving your body from so much calorie loss and you will lose. NOT FAT. YOU WILL LOSE MUSCLE and f*** up your body.

edit: I used to eat 1200 + eat back, and didn't lose anything. When I started exercising MORE and eating MORE I lost. Now I exercise most days and eat close to 2000 on my big cardio/weights days. I have hypothyroid so it shows how each case is different, but eating more is always the answer on MFP.