I don't understand :-(

lioness0806
lioness0806 Posts: 115 Member
edited January 1 in Health and Weight Loss
I'm addicted to MFP and love watching my scale go in the downwards direction. So even though I'm only supposed to weigh in once a week I do so every other day.
What I don't understand is how it appears to be going down every time and then there comes a point where I hover at one weight for awhile then slowly, but surely, the scale goes up. My scale used to hover ritually between 155 and 160, now it hovers between 163 and 169.
This has happened before, I want my scale to stop thinking its a yo-yo. Please help!

Replies

  • cmriverside
    cmriverside Posts: 34,458 Member
    Are you only trying to lose 19 pounds more in total? Set your Goals page here with this guideline in mind:

    If you have 75+ lbs to lose 2 lbs/week is ideal,
    If you have 40-75 lbs to lose 1.5 lbs/week is ideal,
    If you have 25-40 lbs to lose 1 lbs/week is ideal,
    If you have 15 -25 lbs to lose 0.5 to 1.0 lbs/week is ideal, and
    If you have less than 15 lbs to lose 0.5 lbs/week is ideal.

    From the MFP BMR calculator page:
    "Our calculator uses the Mifflin-St. Jeor equations to estimate your BMR which is believed to be more accurate than the more commonly used Harris-Benedict equation."

    These are the Mifflin-St. Jeor equations (weight in kilograms, the height in centimeters, and the age in years):
    from: http://www.freedieting.com/calorie_needs.html

    Men
    10 x weight (kg) + 6.25 x height (cm) - 5 x age (y) + 5

    Women
    10 x weight (kg) + 6.25 x height (cm) - 5 x age (y) - 161.
    _______________________________________________

    YOU are responsible for choosing an accurate activity rate. Don't try to speed up the process by choosing "Sedentary" just because it is an option.

    Almost no one is Sedentary. If you care for children at home, or go to school or have ANY type of job, you are not Sedentary. Choose accordingly.

    The reason this site, Myfitnesspal, uses the Mifflin-St. Jeor equations is because this site allows you more flexibility in your added exercise. In reality, some people will not get much if any real exercise, and MFPal gives you the option to add this in as needed.

    That is why the Mifflin-St. Joer equation is a better tool than the more commonly used Harris-Benedict equation.


    So, just make sure you are eating enough. Usually people will hit weight loss plateaus when they are undereating.

    Also, eating your exercise calories is really important now that you don't have much to lose. You don't have buffer of fat for your body to use, so undereating is a bad idea at this point, here are some more resources:

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/186814-some-mfp-basics

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/61706-guide-to-calorie-deficits

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/10589-for-those-confused-or-questioning-eating-your-exercise-calories

  • MommaMeatus
    MommaMeatus Posts: 18 Member
    Bump!
  • lioness0806
    lioness0806 Posts: 115 Member
    Out of the choices I have for my activity level I chose the most appropriate. I live a highly active day during my week. I could be I'm eating too few calories, I'll try to maintain closer to my calorie allotment. I bought a pedometer/ calorie counter last week that I use solely for the calorie counter. This last week I burned anywhere between 600 - 800 calories in a given day (I'm in construction).

    As far as your other question, from my starting weight to my goal weight I had only about 25 lbs. to lose.
  • lioness0806
    lioness0806 Posts: 115 Member
    Bump
  • purpleipod
    purpleipod Posts: 1,147 Member
    Stop weighing yourself so often, weight fluctuates.
  • cmriverside
    cmriverside Posts: 34,458 Member
    Out of the choices I have for my activity level I chose the most appropriate. I live a highly active day during my week. I could be I'm eating too few calories, I'll try to maintain closer to my calorie allotment. I bought a pedometer/ calorie counter last week that I use solely for the calorie counter. This last week I burned anywhere between 600 - 800 calories in a given day (I'm in construction).

    As far as your other question, from my starting weight to my goal weight I had only about 25 lbs. to lose.

    So, then are you set to "Active"? And "Lose 1/2 pound per week"? I do't know what you have your calories set to, but you need to eat enough to keep your body working at top efficiency, and keep your immune system healthy. Since you have so little to lose, you really should not be eating less than your TDEE minus 10%.


    Check out the Group here "Eat more to weigh less." They have a number of sticky posts at the top of their forum that would apply perfectly to your situation. When you get close to your goal, it is a very fine line you have to walk, and you cannot have a large deficit of calories.

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/groups/home/3817-eat-more-to-weigh-less
  • dsmpunk
    dsmpunk Posts: 262 Member
    Are you doing any strength training? Building muscle will help increase your metabolism when at rest.
This discussion has been closed.

Categories