Why am I not losing weight??

wkrd
wkrd Posts: 45
in Health and Weight Loss
Well, I have been on faithfully logging in, eating less and exercising for the past 20 days. I do not see any significant loss though my clothes feel slightly looser and absolutely NO weight loss. I have decided to up my caloric intake to 1500 as on 1200 I was always hungry and didn't lose anything anyway. Anyone have any thoughts on this or am I expecting to much too soon?

I've opened up my dairy so feel free to let me know what I am doing wrong?

Replies

  • kenazfehu
    kenazfehu Posts: 1,188 Member
    What I have read is that it can take the body awhile to adjust to a new diet, and before it adjusts, it holds onto everything because there might be a food shortage. But over time, as your metabolism adjusts to the reduced volume of food, it will start releasing the fat.

    It is frustrating, though. I haven't been losing anything with MFP, either. The scales seem stuck. I don't know whether to blame the times I've gone off-plan or the adjustment period. All we can do is keep on keeping on, I guess. I know I won't lose any weight if I abandon the attempt; that much is for certain.
  • deb3129
    deb3129 Posts: 1,294 Member
    My recommendation would be to watch your sugar intake. While you are below on calories most day, your sugar is over on most days,a nd pretty significantly over on a lot of days. And the sugar seems to come from pumpkin pie, and candy apples, not from fruit and whole food sources
  • MissNations
    MissNations Posts: 513 Member
    You are frequently significantly low on protein (which would help you feel fuller longer) on a lot of days.
  • wahmx3
    wahmx3 Posts: 633 Member
    2 huge things jumped out at me.... you aren't eating enough almost every day and your sugar is crazy high. I am all for a daily treat but you are having 2-3 and several hundred calories of treats. Cut these back and add 3-5 more servings of fruit and veggies daily. Ditch the slimfast and you would be better off eating whole foods to get protein rather than the powder. You can do this, remember this is a lifestyle change, not simply a diet.
  • Heavyd2g
    Heavyd2g Posts: 61 Member
    You've done the right thing by increasing your intake. It sounds like your body has recongized a significant change in diet and energy burning, it's reaction is to hold onto the fat supplies and instead use every single calorie you give it as efficiently as possible. So even when you're feeling hungry and thinking this has got to end in weight loss, it's not the fat you're burning, you're body is getting rid of the calories consumed and keeping the current fat supplies, slowing your metabolism right down and making it harder to lose weight, clever isn't it? Increasing your intake and fuelling your body will trick it into thinking it can now start to let the fat go and be more relaxed with the calories you consume. Keep your body refuelled, efficient weight loss is achieved over a long period of time with small changes. You gotta tell your body what you want it to do by first knowing what it's gonna try and do.
  • karennh65
    karennh65 Posts: 27 Member
    Get your protien up!! Eggs, greek yogurt, cottage cheese, lean meats & fish. Watch the carbs, stay away from breads, pasta, rices. More fresh fruits & veggies. This is what my nutritionist has got me doing and it's working for me.
  • dogo187
    dogo187 Posts: 376
    everyone has given you great advice...you are eating way too much sugar and not near enough protein...

    you should be preparing most of your meal from whole foods, not eating so much processed foods...

    also, when you mix your EAS protein in the morning, make it with unsweetened soy milk rather than the chocolate milk...
  • lveh8lve
    lveh8lve Posts: 162 Member
    I would be starving if I ate what you ate too!! You need to eat a significant amount of veggies and fruits a day. I looked back a few days in your diary and I didn't see much. I have the majority of my diet as vegetables, and some protein. I know I should eat more fruit and protein, but I've been trying to find ways to increase those as well.

    I do agree with everyone else about focusing on whole foods and less processed foods. I generally wont eat anything unless I know what every ingredient on the label is (i.e. Flour, butter, salt, sugar, instead of monosomethingglutimate)

    And I do indulge myself once in a while with a treat, but generally thats after I've eaten all my veggies!
  • graemec2
    graemec2 Posts: 6 Member
    I have to totally disagree with the comments that you need to up your protien intake. People are making this comment because your are "below you target" of over 100g of protien. But I would have to question why you have picked this target as it certainly isn't one that would have be auto generated by MFP.

    You are on average getting between 40-60g which is generally regarded as a healthy daily amount. This often equates to around 0.7g-0.8 per kg of body weight.

    As an aside, very high protien diets sustained over a long period can cause kidney damage.
  • Sarah_Wins
    Sarah_Wins Posts: 936 Member
    MORE protein, more fruits and veges, and personally I would get off the bars. They always stall me.

    More natural food overall.
  • wkrd
    wkrd Posts: 45
    Thank you all for responding with great advice. Thank you for pointing out my sugar highs causing my weight woes. I knew the candy was bad but didn't really ever look at my overall sugar intake. Thank you for pointing out things I just couldn't see. I will up my protein intake and though I know it looks like not many veggies listed, it is still more than I used to eat. Thank you all for your support. I will post again in another 2 weeks of so and anticipate a big change. Please feel free to add me as a friend as I can use all the help/motivation/ and those willing to call me out when I'm not sticking to healthy living.

    I am happy there are people like you who really care about helping others on the journey to a new healthy way of life. Good luck to all of you on your journey's too.

    God bless
  • wkrd
    wkrd Posts: 45
    Thank you graemec2 - I will go back to accepting MFP's recommendations for the next two weeks also and try to stick within their prescribed amounts and see if that makes a difference.
  • Fozzi43
    Fozzi43 Posts: 2,984 Member
    I have to totally disagree with the comments that you need to up your protien intake. People are making this comment because your are "below you target" of over 100g of protien. But I would have to question why you have picked this target as it certainly isn't one that would have be auto generated by MFP.

    You are on average getting between 40-60g which is generally regarded as a healthy daily amount. This often equates to around 0.7g-0.8 per kg of body weight.

    As an aside, very high protien diets sustained over a long period can cause kidney damage.


    You are in a minority to be thinking that. Protein is really good for keeping you fuller for longer.
    You would have to be eating an obscene amount of protein to damage kidneys. I've been going over on protein by around 50% nearly every day and its not caused any problem for me.
  • _lizzie_
    _lizzie_ Posts: 130
    You dont eat enough real food. I saw a lot of processed stuff, like slimfast, protein shakes as meals, and nutrisystem. Eat more meals like your rotisserie chicken and veggies. Also, you dont seem to be making your calorie goals. You are often under by 300 calories, you should try to eat those. If you are too full, make your food more dense, like eating the thigh rather than the breast of the chicken, adding olive oil to salads etc...Also, protein powder is good but I wouldn't use it as a meal replacement, use it as a supplement if you dont have enough protein for the day.

    What are your workouts like? Are you doing a lot of cardio? I recommend lifting instead, cardio has not be scientifically shown to help people lose weight. Its just an anecdote but I never lost weight doing cardio, I started lifting and BAM! Two months in- the best results I've ever seen on any work out routine. More info if you want it about why lots of cardio is unnecessary for weight loss; http://www.marksdailyapple.com/case-against-cardio/#axzz2AhzQJGTY
  • deb3129
    deb3129 Posts: 1,294 Member
    I have to totally disagree with the comments that you need to up your protien intake. People are making this comment because your are "below you target" of over 100g of protien. But I would have to question why you have picked this target as it certainly isn't one that would have be auto generated by MFP.

    You are on average getting between 40-60g which is generally regarded as a healthy daily amount. This often equates to around 0.7g-0.8 per kg of body weight.

    As an aside, very high protien diets sustained over a long period can cause kidney damage.


    You are in a minority to be thinking that. Protein is really good for keeping you fuller for longer.
    You would have to be eating an obscene amount of protein to damage kidneys. I've been going over on protein by around 50% nearly every day and its not caused any problem for me.


    He may be in the minority here, but he is right. MFP set my protein requirement WAY higher than what is recommended for me. Most people here are OBSESSED with protein, but it is really not the solution to everything, and you really CAN get too much, especially from animal protein based sources.
  • lewcompton
    lewcompton Posts: 881 Member
    Are you actually measuring and weighing your food or using estimation? If you're using estimation you could be eating alot more calories than you think...
  • Fozzi43
    Fozzi43 Posts: 2,984 Member
    I have to totally disagree with the comments that you need to up your protien intake. People are making this comment because your are "below you target" of over 100g of protien. But I would have to question why you have picked this target as it certainly isn't one that would have be auto generated by MFP.

    You are on average getting between 40-60g which is generally regarded as a healthy daily amount. This often equates to around 0.7g-0.8 per kg of body weight.

    As an aside, very high protien diets sustained over a long period can cause kidney damage.


    You are in a minority to be thinking that. Protein is really good for keeping you fuller for longer.
    You would have to be eating an obscene amount of protein to damage kidneys. I've been going over on protein by around 50% nearly every day and its not caused any problem for me.


    He may be in the minority here, but he is right. MFP set my protein requirement WAY higher than what is recommended for me. Most people here are OBSESSED with protein, but it is really not the solution to everything, and you really CAN get too much, especially from animal protein based sources.


    It set my protein intake too low.....
  • kaseysospacey
    kaseysospacey Posts: 499 Member
    If you eat lean protein and fruits and veggies, you'll lose weight. Sugar is not great, unless its naturally occurring. I don't worry that the whole fruits I eat have sugar, it doesn't affect the body the same as a candy bar. Fiber and protein make you feel satisfied.
  • neverstray
    neverstray Posts: 3,845 Member
    I have to totally disagree with the comments that you need to up your protien intake. People are making this comment because your are "below you target" of over 100g of protien. But I would have to question why you have picked this target as it certainly isn't one that would have be auto generated by MFP.

    You are on average getting between 40-60g which is generally regarded as a healthy daily amount. This often equates to around 0.7g-0.8 per kg of body weight.

    As an aside, very high protien diets sustained over a long period can cause kidney damage.


    You are in a minority to be thinking that. Protein is really good for keeping you fuller for longer.
    You would have to be eating an obscene amount of protein to damage kidneys. I've been going over on protein by around 50% nearly every day and its not caused any problem for me.

    It's long term damage, like smoking. You're not going to eat too much protein and immediately have a problem. It's down the road many years from now after a prolonged life of over-proteining your body. I don't know what the limits are, but I have read articles that explain this. Most people here eat too much protein and focus on it way too much and over eat it. The body can only take about 9 grams per hour, so any more than that just goes to waste. So, when you eat to much, you over work your organs for no good reason.
  • JennKie1
    JennKie1 Posts: 200 Member
    Personally, I think that MFP's calories are a little low. I lost 9# before I started, and 3 weeks later, I'm only at 10.3 total. I won't pretend like I've been perfect, but I've worked out consistently 6 days a week and stayed within my calories all but 1 day. I was concerned about stalling out at 10 pounds (1200 calories a day), and my doctor suggested that I bump my minimum calories to between 1500 & 1800 a day (total, not net). Basically, he said forget about "dieting" , and focus on eating at least 90 g of lean protein a day, and to fill in the rest with whole foods, fruits, veggies, and to stay away from the "empty" calories like candy, etc......Which, is much easier said than done and I still let myself have at least one (small) treat a day (and sometimes way more than I should - I'm certainly not perfect). But, we're all different, so the protein intake, etc. probably really varies by individual. I also had a hard time meeting the 1200 because I was worried about going over, so I'd end up under-eating. I just upped my calories to 1630 a couple of days ago, and it's actually easier to meet my calorie minimum and still eat (relatively) healthy foods. I'm still working on the 90g a day of protein, though because I'm not a big meat-eater. I thought I'd give that a try for 10 days or so, and if it doesn't work, I'll be hunting for a different solution.
  • wkrd
    wkrd Posts: 45
    I am measuring and weighing everything so I know that is being logged accurately. Going to try eating the 1500 calories, good clean calories, daily with maybe one cheat day each week. Then if I am really craving something, I can just put if off till the cheat day and enjoy a reasonable portion then. Will try using MFP percentages and continue my workouts which include cardio 3 days a week and weight lifting 2 days. Just starting the C25K today. Will let you know the success. Thank you again for all your input and suggestions

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