Friend lost hope.
EPortJake
Posts: 54 Member
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.
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Replies
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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.0
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Tell her to just stick with it for a few weeks and see if it starts working before making any changes. Also, if I stay about the same for a week the chances of a decent loss the next week increase I've noticed
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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?0 -
Yes she did, but the answer I gave her was not what she wanted to hear and she disagreed with it.0
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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.0 -
Yes she did, but the answer I gave her was not what she wanted to hear and she disagreed with it.
Oh haha. Whoopsie! Is she STILL on your friends list then? haha0 -
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.0 -
Disheartened after a week? I'd say go ahead and quit and come back when she means it to be honest.
One week is barely enough time to kickstart the metabolism. Expecting a dramatic result in such a small time is folly and asking to be disappointed.
When she's ready to set doable goals, then she can give it a shot.0 -
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.0
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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.
Wrong actually. You can lose weight by calorie counting alone. It doesn't matter how you do it, as long as you create a adequate deficit you will lose. Of course exercise will add to that deficit but it's not strictly needed to lose. Theres lots of people on here who lose just through counting with not much activity.0 -
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.
Re the part where you say "calorie counting/watching is not how you lose weight".
So if you take in less calories than you use (provided the difference isn't a huge margin and your body goes into starvation mode) you don't lose weight? I thought that is exactly how it works. I lost 75% of my weight doing no exercise.
Jesz beat me to it. Lol.0 -
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.
Wrong actually. You can lose weight by calorie counting alone. It doesn't matter how you do it, as long as you create a adequate deficit you will lose. Of course exercise will add to that deficit but it's not strictly needed to lose. Theres lots of people on here who lose just through counting with not much activity.
^^this is true.
OP: weight loss is not linear - she needs to give it more than a week.0 -
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.0 -
*sighs*
You're gonna be one of those guys that takes one comment, analyzes it, and ignores the rest. Cool.
I highly doubt that if she has no work out regimen, as you said she doesn't, that she is taking in less calories than she's using. If you lost 75% of your weight by not exercising, good for you. Many people can't do that due to genetics or body type or whatever reason. If she wants to complain about not losing weight, obviously something needs to change. And obviously her current diet and no real exercise plan isn't cutting it.0 -
*sighs*
You're gonna be one of those guys that takes one comment, analyzes it, and ignores the rest. Cool.
I highly doubt that if she has no work out regimen, as you said she doesn't, that she is taking in less calories than she's using. If you lost 75% of your weight by not exercising, good for you. Many people can't do that due to genetics or body type or whatever reason. If she wants to complain about not losing weight, obviously something needs to change. And obviously her current diet and no real exercise plan isn't cutting it.
Her BMR is 1531 calories, so if she stayed in bed all day she would still be taking in less calories than she uses. You say genetics or body type or whatever but I have not heard of these things being a problem (feel free to explain further). I agree she will lose weight faster if she exercises (provided she still maintains a calorie deficit) but at the moment she isn't and wants to know why the calorie deficit , after a week, is not showing on the scales.0 -
I would tell her to give it a month before becoming discouraged0
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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.0 -
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.
lots of people dont log their water intake.. because that is kind of a difficult task.. some people start.. and log the first few.. but geeze, that takes a lot of your day. I suggest you ASK her first if shes logging all of her water. If she says no, or she forgets. Tell her to get a half gallon jug an dfill it. (or get a gallon jug, which works better) fill it with 16 cups of water. remove 8 cups and draw a line and mark the number 8 on it. remove 2 more cups and write 10 on that line. remove 2 more.. write 12... remove 2 more.. write 14.. remove 2 more.. write 16.. when you remove 2 more, the jug will be empty and you will have a gallon of water, and 18 cups drank.
SO, every day, tell her to AT LEAST get her 8 cups in. she drinks NOTHING ELSE until those 8 cups are gone. once those are gone, she can ease up..
but after that.. she gos by two. at THE END of the day, she can look at her jug & log her water all at once.. which is helpful instead of getting on to log every single glass, which is a pain in the *kitten*.
Also, dont be so quick to judge. sometimes, lives get in the way.... its part of life and part of what we have to deal with, if we are going to take what we learn here, into "real life" and learn to make choices, when we CANT be here, with a computer to constantly check!! LIFE HAPPENS.. and she wont always have you or MFP to run to..
If you are *truly concerned in her health* and not in her as a "im crushin on this chick* then you need to confront her and not throw all her problems out there for the world.. look stuff up, give her some links and straight out ASK HER. because at this point, you are "assuming" and trust me dude, you dont wanna assume with a woman!
Good luck..0 -
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*0 -
BY THE WAY...............
You have THREE friends on your friends list...... two are male.. that leaves ONE you are talking about.. she is eating 600 caloreis PER DAY
sooooooooooo THAT could be why she isnt losing weight........
so she isnt eating.
TELL HER TO FLIPPING EAT & SHE MIGHT LOSE WEIGHT!!
geeze.. *smh*0 -
BY THE WAY...............
You have THREE friends on your friends list...... two are male.. that leaves ONE you are talking about.. she is eating 600 caloreis PER DAY
sooooooooooo THAT could be why she isnt losing weight........
so she isnt eating.
TELL HER TO FLIPPING EAT & SHE MIGHT LOSE WEIGHT!!
geeze.. *smh*
Which day did she eat 600 calories on then because I can't find the day you are fefering to?0 -
Is she tracking her sodium, sugar, and protein? What kinds of foods is she eating? If many are processed or there isn't enought real food ( fruits, green veggies, lean meats, low fat dairy), she could be doing more harm than good. She needs at least 64-80 oz of pure water daily. And, cardio is a must.0
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Time of month is also relevant to weight, water retention etc.
At the risk of TMI: I often weigh less right before I get my period, then bounce back to mid-month weight a few days later. Dunno why. It took me a few months of weighing and keeping track to figure it out.
Also, is she weighing dressed or undressed? Different clothes have different weights - jeans and a t-shirt compared to a light cotton dress for example. Try to eliminate as many variables as possible.0 -
She needs to keep motivated for more than a week, and make sure she isn't weighing herself more than once a week. She needs to pick a day and time and stick to it. Weight varies greatly not only throughout the week but also throughout the day so it's hard to tell whats going on if she weighs too often. Also, you say she isn't getting enough water, but water also comes from all foods and drinks. It's perfectly normal to get enough water from just eating fruit and veg, and meat, being muscle is mostly water as well. If she doesn't like drinking plain water suggest she adds a few slices or lemon, or even a sugar-free squash/cordial, but fruit juices work just as well, they just have a more calories. It is actually bad for you to drink too much water because while an excess of water will be flushed out by your system, if you're overdoing it you'll be taking in more liquid than your kidneys can process at once and in the meantime all your other systems will become overly dilute which will make you feel lethargic. Also, ask if she's getting enough sleep. Getting enough sleep will really help kick your body out of survival mode and get it back into action.0
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At 190 lbs if she isn't losing weight on under 1500 a day I would consult a doctor or assume she isn't logging accurately.
Your metabolism can't slow that quickly in one week, her new intake should show up on the scale.0 -
*sighs*
You're gonna be one of those guys that takes one comment, analyzes it, and ignores the rest. Cool.
I highly doubt that if she has no work out regimen, as you said she doesn't, that she is taking in less calories than she's using. If you lost 75% of your weight by not exercising, good for you. Many people can't do that due to genetics or body type or whatever reason. If she wants to complain about not losing weight, obviously something needs to change. And obviously her current diet and no real exercise plan isn't cutting it.
Her BMR is 1531 calories, so if she stayed in bed all day she would still be taking in less calories than she uses. You say genetics or body type or whatever but I have not heard of these things being a problem (feel free to explain further). I agree she will lose weight faster if she exercises (provided she still maintains a calorie deficit) but at the moment she isn't and wants to know why the calorie deficit , after a week, is not showing on the scales.
BMR is still only an estimate and should be taken as such. You can certainly loose weight from counting calories alone; I know several people who have lost 30+ with just an approach. Some activity should boost her metabolism enough to make her BMR more accurate.
As others have said she could be 'cheating' as well. I know I'll don't count certain things into my calories; fish oil pill, random 4-5 sliced pickles, claiming I had a vodka soda when it was really a vodka tonic. These are things I'm OK with because I don't feel like adding an entry or a new item to account for it at the time and place it happened. It's just as easy to neglect 'cheats' that are substantial calories.0
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