Friend lost hope.

Would need to know what her activity level and exercise programs are like. I'm at 1540 cals, 5'10", 223 lbs., lifting four days per week, elliptical for 20 minutes per day on two of those days, don't drink water at all, and I am losing weight faster than I can track it. Sounds like either her caloric intake is took high, or she isn't active enough...or both.

I have a friend on MyFP that is female, 5' 3", and 190lb. Her diary is fine with regards to what she eats - the only problem I have is her water intake is too low. Her calorie goal is 1440 and she is often around this or slightly below. It has been a week using MyFP and she has not lost any weight and is disheartened. I will not prejudice any responses by telling you what I told her, but would appreciate others giving their reasons. Thanks.

Did she actually ask for your opinion then?

Drinking enough water (as you obviously know) is important. But calorie counting/watching is not how you lose weight. Diet is an important factor, of course, but if she's not doing much physical activity she probably won't gain weight (she might though, depending) but she certainly won't lose weight. She needs to, in my opinion, incorporate some sort of fitness plan into her lifestyle if she intends on losing weight and not just eating healthier.

All the best to her, whoever she is.

Water is important. She's also only been at this a week, tell her to push through for at least a month. Lastly most people who look/say they are doing what they should, but not losing are usually not being 100% honest with themselves. She may not be logging bites of cookies, or candies throughout the day, or juice etc....she might not be logging honestly because she doesn't want people to think she's failing. Not trying to get all physiological, just saying, its the internet you can only go on the honor system but sometimes that makes giving advice hard.

Water is important. She's also only been at this a week, tell her to push through for at least a month. Lastly most people who look/say they are doing what they should, but not losing are usually not being 100% honest with themselves. She may not be logging bites of cookies, or candies throughout the day, or juice etc....she might not be logging honestly because she doesn't want people to think she's failing. Not trying to get all physiological, just saying, its the internet you can only go on the honor system but sometimes that makes giving advice hard.

This is also an important factor and often the reason people do not see a weight loss. They need to be absolutely honest with logging and should be weighing and measuring foods and liquids.

Tell her not to take the whole thing too serious. It's not good for long term development. She should weigh herself once a week at the same time & state. If she doesn't notice any change then she should examine whats wrong. It could be:

1. She's not putting in the right measurement. Usually I don't worry myself too much about that (I approximate). Writing 3 ounce as 4 ounce or vice versa is fine. However, writing 8 ounce as 4 isn't. Doing so with lots of food can mean she's been overeating.

2. She's not eating enough. Eating more than requirement > Eating less than requirement. At 1400 cal she needs every single calorie, skipping it is bad for her overall health and will lead to the body resisting the weight loss.

3. Not drinking enough water. Seriously, this is the easiest thing to do Just drink water here and there and you should meet the goal. Eat something salty if you want the incentive (Not too salty though, would lead to health problems)

4. She's not exercising. Exercising is only 10% of the work (90% is the diet), but its still a significant 10%.

5. She's weighing at different times/states. Currently I'm @ 245ish lbs and if I measure my weight at 7 in the morning and 3 in the afternoon, I see 2-3 lbs difference, sometimes even more. Best way to get the right measurement is weighing yourself in the morning AFTER going to the toilet BEFORE eating breakfast. (note; if someone eats something bulky the night before weighing themselves, they shouldn't weigh themselves)

5. She is rushing the whole thing. Sometimes change can take up to a month. In my case, I found that its been 2 weeks since I've lost any weight (I was measuring daily; i.e obsessed). 3 days after I noticed that I had dropped 4 lbs (I double checked). Body can play tricks on you like that. A good rule to follow is: If you're not eating at maintenance or more and you find yourself stuck on the same weight, its jedi mind tricks and water weight.

Would need to know what her activity level and exercise programs are like. I'm at 1540 cals, 5'10", 223 lbs., lifting four days per week, elliptical for 20 minutes per day on two of those days, don't drink water at all, and I am losing weight faster than I can track it. Sounds like either her caloric intake is took high, or she isn't active enough...or both.

Her activity level is lightly active, no exercise regime yet.

chances are, she put in "lightly active" and is fooling herself... if she has any type of work that isnt standing on her feet ALL DAY and moving all day, she considered Sed. lifestyle.. and if she isnt weighing and measuring foods (as i saw in other posts) then she has NO CLUE how many calories shes *truly* eating.

some have said .. it needs a month before she sees weight loss, and i disagree with that, if AYTHING she should see water weight loss at first.. but if shes seeing nothing, and shes not drinking water, not measuring food, not working out, not weighing food.. then she ISNT DIETING.. shes doing the same thing as she was before and fooling everyone else.

I wouldnt be surprised if shes gaining because she things she can eat more since shes "regulated" now.. ive seen that happen.

*smh*