Confused, Worried, and need some help

dewdrops4life
dewdrops4life Posts: 17
edited December 2024 in Food and Nutrition
Can anyone give me a few tips?

I started on MFP mainly to log what I'm eating and what exercise burns etc. The days I have logged so far, I've just eaten normally and logged it. It always ends up quite a bit below the calorie recommendation unless I slug a few Mtn Dews during the day.

Problem is, if this is how I always eat and it's way below, leaving a calorie deficit, shouldn't I have been losing weight before this? Is there some secret that I'm not in on?

I'm 224lbs and have been for about 2 years. Prior to this, my heaviest was 167 and that was when I was pregnant with my youngest. I've been eating about the same things as I always have...

An example of a normal day for me:

Wake up 6am: Grab a Dew (Hopelessly addicted) Not hungry for breakfast, so don't eat.
10-11am (ish): A little hungry, will normally eat some toast with peanut butter or a turkey sandwich, depending on how hungry I am.
5pm (ish): Make supper for the kids, and I might eat what they are eating, depending on what it is, or make a package of ramen. (They absolutely refuse to eat meat except chicken, mostly their meals are pasta or chicken)
9-10pm: Grab a snack like cottage cheese or toast or something
12-1am: Go to bed

Through the day, I average about 5 cans of Dew. (horrible, I know)

I work at home, mostly sitting at the computer for a good part of the day, but I also clean for about 3 hours/day (dishes, putting laundry away, vacuuming, mopping, take out trash, etc)

Any tips or insight would be greatly appreciated!
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Replies

  • Pandasarecool
    Pandasarecool Posts: 508 Member
    Quit the Mountain Dew. I know its hard, but that is a TON of sugar. And your body converts sugar to fat if it is not being used as energy. Slowly reduce to only 1 can a day, than reduce to none. ONLY WATER. This should work! Good luck!:drinker:
  • taylor5877
    taylor5877 Posts: 1,792 Member
    Lets start with something realistic...

    Can you stomach diet Mtn. Dew?
  • daisiemae123
    daisiemae123 Posts: 277 Member
    Lets start with something realistic...

    Can you stomach diet Mtn. Dew?

    ^ start with this. I know people say how horrible diet soda is for you but going cold turkey to water is probably just going to frustrate you at this point. My husband lost 10 lbs (that he didn't need to lose) just because I switched him to Coke Zero.
  • taylor5877
    taylor5877 Posts: 1,792 Member
    (avoids the swinging sabers of the all natural people)

    Coke Zero actually tastes better to me than regular coke anyway...
  • dewdrops4life
    dewdrops4life Posts: 17
    Lets start with something realistic...

    Can you stomach diet Mtn. Dew?

    I like Diet Dew, but when I switched to it about a year ago for a few months, this may sound weird, but my stomach was constantly gurgling... loud. When I switched back to regular, it stopped.. Not sure what it was, but it was embarrassing. Sitting on the couch with my fiance watching a movie, it would just gurgle so bad...
  • abcmom03
    abcmom03 Posts: 89 Member
    I think there are several changes that you can make...but don't do them all at once. Try to cut down on the Dew...maybe diet Dew? Also, eat something in the morning to get your metabolism going. Even a piece of fruit is better than nothing. I am not sure but I think there is probably ALOT of sodium in ramen noodles? Eat those calories! You aren't reaching your calore goal and what you are eating isn't very healthy :(


    GOOD LUCK!
  • jasonp_ritzert
    jasonp_ritzert Posts: 357 Member
    You may actually be putting your body in starvation mode. If you eat a snack at 10 p.m. and don't eat until 10 a.m., you are depriving your body of nutrients for 12 hours (or half your day), which may not be good for keeping your metabolism up. Also, you may not be getting enough sleep. A recent study showed that people that got less than 7 hours of sleep per night weighed more, so shoot for 7-8 hours of sleep per night.

    I can understand the Mt. Dew addiction, it may be the caffeine you are craving. How about some coffee with a little cream and sugar (or artificial sweetener)? 5 cans of Mt. Dew at 5 cans/day = 850 calories and 200+ grams of sugar, not the best carbs to be eating.

    Maybe if you tried eating more small meals throughout the day that have lean protein, complex carbs, and good fats it would rev up your metabolism and you wouldn't need the Mt. Dew.
  • RougeIllusion
    RougeIllusion Posts: 59 Member
    The Mountain Dew is a problem..that's a lot of sugar. I would try to cut down on that. Also it seems that you're eating mostly carbs all day with the toast and the ramen and the sandwiches. Maybe try to incorporate some fruits and veggies in there. Since you work at home maybe you could stop every couple hours and do some kinda quick 10 to 20 minute workout to get moving a little bit.
  • CottonCandyKisses
    CottonCandyKisses Posts: 246 Member
    5 cans of Dew= 850 extra calories a day. I would much rather use those towards food! 850 calories a day is alot though, esp of empty sugar. I would try and cut back, drink some more water and eat some better foods.
  • TheLittleVoice91
    TheLittleVoice91 Posts: 80
    1-stop mountain dewing
    2-eat breakfast
  • morgansmom02
    morgansmom02 Posts: 1,131 Member
    I am pretty sure you need to eat more foods with nutrients and switch to diet dew.
  • dawnp1833
    dawnp1833 Posts: 264 Member
    I started in a similar position - what I was eating wasn't that many calories, so why wasn't I skinny. But making healthier food choices would make a huge difference for you. It did for me. Watch the "macros" when you log - like how much sodium you're getting. Sodium makes you hold water and gain weight. The ramen has lots of sodium and very little nutritional value.

    Can you make some small changes? Like having fewer Mt. Dew's and more water? Even swapping 1 or 2 Dews for a bottle of water will make a difference. Maybe adding some fruit and vegetables into your diet. Make sure that your turkey sandwich is not on white bread and is low sodium or non-processed meat?

    These small steps will help you lose weight but will make you feel better too and give you lots of energy.

    By the way - my sister went to a seminar on nutrition for children and they said that some artificial sweeteners cause acid reflux and other issues in some people. So that could be why the diet dew makes you gurgle.
  • babygrant1981
    babygrant1981 Posts: 2
    Don't you feel ill or sick?? If my diet was like that I'd feel like crap to be honest.

    Where's the veggies and fruit?

    I'd go to diet mt dew.

    Drink a protein shake in the morning.
  • dickies002
    dickies002 Posts: 3
    The way I got off sugar soda was to start doing half regular and half diet in the same cup, and then eventually just started doing all diet. It helped with the transition and may help your stomach ease into Diet Dew.
  • cartrat
    cartrat Posts: 120 Member
    The Mountain Dew is a problem..that's a lot of sugar. I would try to cut down on that. Also it seems that you're eating mostly carbs all day with the toast and the ramen and the sandwiches. Maybe try to incorporate some fruits and veggies in there. Since you work at home maybe you could stop every couple hours and do some kinda quick 10 to 20 minute workout to get moving a little bit.

    this.

    carbs = sugar too. so that's a buttload of sugar you're consuming in a day.
  • fbmandy55
    fbmandy55 Posts: 5,263 Member
    I used to drink 4-5 32oz mt Dews a day. I was addicted too. Once I switched to 1-2 cans of diet coke and water instead, my first 30lbs FELL off.

    It's possible, do it!
  • taylor5877
    taylor5877 Posts: 1,792 Member
    I'm going to go against the grain of some of the more strict members on this forums, and say that one or two diet sodas if you want them, really isn't something you HAVE to cut out.

    That's perfectly fine IMO.
  • arellolson
    arellolson Posts: 129 Member
    I don't see many veggies on your daily list. I would suggest that you add those. Your body is probably starving for nutrients. And maybe you could switch from Mountain Dew to just plain soda water and add a little lemon/lime and stevia for sweetener. Best of luck to you!! :happy:
  • KaseyQT
    KaseyQT Posts: 4 Member
    I would definitely say you’re in starvation mode. The things you’re taking in have virtually no useful nutrients for your body and so your body is most likely clinging to the fat like a life raft because it’s convinced you have no access to food! The reason you’re probably addicted to Mt. Dew is because the caffeine gives you energy that you need because you’re not getting it anywhere else. Start eating a more balanced diet with proteins, fruits, and veggies (and less sodium) and you’ll not only have more energy but you can convince your body you’re taking care of it and it can let go of the fat!
  • kimpossible471
    kimpossible471 Posts: 268 Member
    Also - are you measuring or weighing your food? Make sure your calorie intake is accurate. 1Tbsp of peanut butter is shockingly small when you actually measure. It's possible you are taking in a lot more calories than you realise....on top of the Mt. Dew.

    (I say this as I drink a diet Mt. Dew myself....had mostly stopped - but once in a while....it can't be helped :))

    A lot of salt will make you retain water as well - you'll be shocked at what you drop initially if you can consistantly cut that back.


    Good luck.
  • Glasgow_Vegan
    Glasgow_Vegan Posts: 209 Member
    Lets start with something realistic...

    Can you stomach diet Mtn. Dew?

    They don't sell if here but if it's an energy drink then do that. Then gradually cut down over a few weeks.
  • Polly758
    Polly758 Posts: 623 Member
    You'll want to read this, it will answer your question

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/3047-700-calories-a-day-and-not-losing
  • CarmenSandiegoInVA
    CarmenSandiegoInVA Posts: 235 Member
    HOnestly you're not eating enough, at all. And the Mountain Dew, is pure sugar and empty calories. Sugar is Liquid fat. It hinders weight loss.
  • KrysGettinFit
    KrysGettinFit Posts: 131 Member
    I have been where you are, with the Dew especially. I loved it, it was my favorite. I would wake up and have either a Mt. Dew or a Coke. Once I decided to start losing weight I realized how much I needed to cut back on soda. It used to be the ONLY thing I drank, I would only drink water if you held my mouth open and forced me. I slowly started to cut back, where I would have about 8 cans/bottles of soda a day, I started having 5 and when I was craving it I would compromise and drink a bottle of water and if I still wanted the soda, I would have a small glass. Then I cut back even more to 3, doing the same thing. I eventually got to the point where all I was drinking was water. Well I have slowly re introduced myself to soda, although now I try to stick ot one can of cherry coke zero at lunch. If I really want it, I will have it. But again, only after I have drank a bottle of water. This helped me a lot.

    As far as what you are eating during the day, you are seriously depriving yourself of nutrients, try having a piece of fruit in the morning. A banana is what I usually try to have every day. I love Ramen, but I haven't had it in 4 years because of the sodium content. It is just so bad for you.. Maybe try to cut down on that to once a week? Also you definitely need to snack more on things like baby carrots and apples etc. You seem to be needing to eat more of the "good" stuff.

    I hope this helps, stick with it!
  • ChristyRunStarr
    ChristyRunStarr Posts: 1,600 Member
    5 cans of Dew= 850 extra calories a day. I would much rather use those towards food! 850 calories a day is alot though, esp of empty sugar. I would try and cut back, drink some more water and eat some better foods.

    I was just going to do this math for you...part of the reason you might not be hungry is due to all the Mountain Dew and sugar. Try switching to diet first or try something like, ok if I have X for breakfast, then I can have a Mountain Dew (diet or regular if you can't stand diet) with lunch. Starting slow is better than nothing-you'll get it done, good luck!:smile:
  • Mistyblu08
    Mistyblu08 Posts: 580 Member
    Lets start with something realistic...

    Can you stomach diet Mtn. Dew?

    I like Diet Dew, but when I switched to it about a year ago for a few months, this may sound weird, but my stomach was constantly gurgling... loud. When I switched back to regular, it stopped.. Not sure what it was, but it was embarrassing. Sitting on the couch with my fiance watching a movie, it would just gurgle so bad...

    its the fake sugar in it -know several people myself included that this happens to...you need more healthy calories throughout the day - try 6 small meals throughout the day ....the pop is filling you up with carbonation so you dont feel hungry-cut back to small can in am and one at lunch....and move more....try fitting in a 15 min walk 3 times a day to start or dance if you like that. also more sleep ....basic humans need at least 7 hours of uninterrupted sleep (experts say) the caffeine from the Dew is keeping you awake longer.....btw I love mtn dew too:) cut myself back to 1 can of diet once or twice a month....I drink coffee for my caffeine fix or green tea but try to keep it to before 2pm. :) hope this helps.
  • gypsybree
    gypsybree Posts: 218
    You're not eating enough calories.
    I was eating 1600 calories and now I eat 2600 calories and now I lose weight and I wasn't before.
    Once your body stabilizes and you start losing weight you will quit losing weight. When that happens that is when you will need to create a surplus.
  • HotAshMess
    HotAshMess Posts: 382 Member
    First I'd cut the soda in whatever way you have to do it. Mix it with diet for awhile. Switch to something else entirely. Drink the diet. Whatever you have to do. Liquid calories suck. SO many people lose right away when they drop the sugary drinks.

    Also....if you aren't losing, perhaps you have your activity level set to high, are recording exercise too generously, or under recording your food? I deliberately have mine set to sedentary so I can record ALL of my exercise (and I eat my calories back) and if I'm not sure how much food I have or what entry matches what I'm eating the closest I round up and choose the one with more calories.
  • lfasullo08
    lfasullo08 Posts: 1 Member
    It seems to me that you aren't eating nearly as much as you should be. The majority of your calories are probably coming from all of the mountain dew you're consuming.

    In addition, the foods that you are eating (from the description you provided) all seem like they're processed carbohydrates. I would really try to get in more protein and vegetables. Your body is most likely in starvation mode because its not getting near the nutrition it needs.


    If you're interested you should check out : http://www.marksdailyapple.com/#axzz24xhUZVOM

    It might help you see what all the foods you're eating now might cause weight retention.
  • laurenellenmarie
    laurenellenmarie Posts: 331 Member
    I went from a similar spot. Not the soda but the small meals.
    I started snacking like literally all day on veggies.
    The pounds have been FALLING off.
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