Help, please

dbtman
dbtman Posts: 19 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
Hello. I have been on MFP for two weeks now. I have faithfully been logging my meals and watching portion sizes like a hawk. I too only want to lose between 5-10 pounds (I have previously lost about 40 pounds before finding MFP) so these last 5-10 pounds are killing me. MFP has set my goal caloric intake to 1200 calories per day before exercise. I run about 5 to 6 days a week (I have been for months now) so I am getting exercise.

Here is my problem. The first week I stayed below my calorie goal on 99% of the days and was able to lose 2 pounds. However, in the second week, I still stayed under my calorie goal (except for two days where I went over by 17 and 26 calories) but i gained a half pound. Can anyone tell me why this is and what I am doing wrong?

I am still running pretty much 5-6 days a week and I haven't added any strength training so it's not like I added muscle to account for that weight gain. It is very frustrating to me to work so hard at trying to lose weight just to see that I gained. Any help/advice would be greatly appreciated.

Replies

  • Koldnomore
    Koldnomore Posts: 1,613 Member
    The problem is that MFP can not possibly have all the information to set a 'proper' calorie goal for you. When you are so close to your goal your numbers need to be BANG on - MFP will give EVERYONE 1200 when you pick to lose 2lbs/week. For you 2lbs/week is WAY WAY too aggressive with so little to lose.

    You will need to calculate your TDEE and do a 10/15% cut from that. Should be losing closer to .5lb/week for the last 15 or so lbs. Read the Newbie thread here: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/10665-newbies-please-read-me-2nd-edition and find the information you need to do the calculations - Don't rely on MFP settings for this.
  • DanaDark
    DanaDark Posts: 2,187 Member
    1. How tall are you?
    2. What weight are you?
    3. What sex are you?
    4. Open your diary?
    5. What is your TDEE?
    6. What is your BMR?
    7. What is your weight loss goal per week?
    8. How many calories are you burning on your runs?

    All you told us is: I want weight loss. I run. Help.

    BTW... Been on for 2 weeks... that's 14 days. 1 day not on mark accounts for 7.14% of the days. So, couldn't have been on track 99% of the days.
  • dbtman
    dbtman Posts: 19 Member
    Sorry that I didn't give enough information.

    I am 5'6" tall.
    Currently I weigh 121.8 lbs.
    I am a female.
    My BMR is 1302.33
    When I used a TDEE calculator it said that my TDEE was 2008.
    When I used the website that was recommended in another post, it said I should consume 1953 caories a day.
    My weight loss goal is one pound a week.
    I usually burn anywhere from 300 to 380 calories per run depending on how long I run and type of run.

    Sorry about the 99%, but I was speaking figuratively not literally.
  • prokomds
    prokomds Posts: 318 Member
    At 121 pounds, do you really think you need to lose more weight? I'm 5'6" and I'm trying to get to about 135. Honestly, is it more that you still want to lose inches off your body? If you're only 121 pounds and still not happy with your shape, it's probably time to incorporate some strength training into your routine. And even if you're certain that you still need to lose pounds, it should be half a pound a week at most
  • 126siany
    126siany Posts: 1,386 Member
    At 121 pounds, do you really think you need to lose more weight? I'm 5'6" and I'm trying to get to about 135. Honestly, is it more that you still want to lose inches off your body? If you're only 121 pounds and still not happy with your shape, it's probably time to incorporate some strength training into your routine. And even if you're certain that you still need to lose pounds, it should be half a pound a week at most

    I agree. You're already at the low end of the healthy BMR range for your height. It doesn't sound as though weight is the issue for you, but perhaps you need to add strength training to your exercise plan.
  • dbtman
    dbtman Posts: 19 Member
    Thanks for the suggestions. I can see that most people would not think that I need to lose more weight. Sometimes I can get obsessed. I still don't like how my body looks, especially my mid-section so maybe I will try weight training. Any suggestions?
  • 126siany
    126siany Posts: 1,386 Member
    The New Rules of Lifting For Women is an inexpensive and well-respected guidebook to weight lifting for women. If free weights scare you, even doing a machine circuit at the gym would get you started on a whole body strength training routine.

    There are some groups on MFP for The New Rules of Lifting For Women. It's often abbreviated to NROLFW.

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