This is not working

Are you looking at your macro goals too, not just calories? MFP isn't going to work if you eat WHATEVER you want all the time. Eating too much sugar, or too many carbs, too much sodium, not enough protein, too much fat, etc is going to hold you back.

What have you been eating lately? Are you eating packaged foods, or fresh produce? Steak or grilled chicken? White bread or wheat? Everything has an affect on your body, and can help or hinder your weight loss.

I've been where you're at, just stuck in a rut as far as the weight loss progress goes. Don't do what I did, and give up for a while and just go back to eating crap and not exercising multiple times a week. Needless to say, that didn't work out well for me. I've just started to get back into it (today, in fact), and am hoping to make better choices and better monitor what food and drinks I put into my body.

If I can, I'll try to help you get over this plateau

Hard to say where there is an issue without seeing your diary.

You might not be eating enough.

You might not be meeting your macros (protein and good fats especially)

You may be over estimating your TDEE and or under estimating your BMR.

Do you have any physical issues that my restrict certain activities? Underlying health issues?

To use a coined term I saw on here, you sound 'HANGRY". [Get it hungry and angry.]

Too many potential issues with not enough information on your part to make an educated stab at helping....


PLUS
Tooo many focus on "Weight" and it really should be about decreasing your Body Fat %, increasing your strength and lean body mass, improving cardiac fitness and improving general overall well-being. Some people will lose a lot initially (mostly water and some fat) after cleaning up their nutrition. But in the long term relative to your activity regime you may be gaining muscle loosing fat and not seeing a change to the scale.

If I understand your post, you've lost 24 pounds in about 6 weeks? That seems pretty awesome to me, that's about 4 pounds a week on average.

This... It seems like it's working beautifully... it's just your expectations that are out of whack.

Weight loss is never linear. There'll be times you lose more, times you lose less, times you don't lose at all, and times you gain. If you know you're doing everything right, if your clothes are fitting better and you're making improvements to your health and fitness, you have to ignore those little blips on the scale.

The .6 pounds you "gained" could be a 2 pound loss that's hiding behind a little fluid retention and a giant poop.

Sounds like we have about the same goals and start time. I started October 1st and have lost 42 pounds so far. There was a lull in there, but the key for me was to speed up my metabolism. I wrote a blog entry about what I am doing, and until it quits working, I will continue doing it. You can eat your exact calorie target every week and still gain, as I have learned in the past. It has more to do with metabolism than calories. What you eat will determine your insulin levels and affect your whole system. So, eating the right foods at your calorie goal will speed up your metabolism, and help you lose weight. And as I say in my blog, last 30 days, I have had TGI Fridays, Cold Stone Creamery, Wendy's, Pizza, Burgers and fries.
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/blog/Tompringle

Dude, I totally am in the same boat. I lost 20-25 lbs really quick and the rest is slowly coming off. But come on! your clothes are fitting better. Keep at it! Eventually our bodies will stop fighting us and lose weight.

Change your eating habits slowly. I am up to 6 meals a day with my calories. I eat eveyr 2-3 hours because of evening out my insulin levels. It's a playing of #'s game. You have to change up your cals or what you are eating every once in a while to keep your engine burning.

Have no idea why you are complaining..... You lost an average of four lbs a week, your clothes fit better and you are not hungry.....So what is the problem?

^^^ This

You've lost 24 pounds since October and you're upset? You will have weeks where you don't lose and you will have weeks where you gain or lose very little. This isn't magic. Think about how long it took you to put the weight on. Do you really think it's going to come off fast? Be patient and keep being consistent. It will pay off in the end.

If I understand your post, you've lost 24 pounds in about 6 weeks? That seems pretty awesome to me, that's about 4 pounds a week on average.

What I have noticed for myself is that the weight seems to come off in 'chunks', where I will post a 3 pound loss, then no change for a week or two, then another 4 pounds is gone. There's a lot of factors that could impact the number on the scale including water retention from either sodium or sore muscles repairing themselves, as well as bathroom habits. I would not give up, it sounds like you are making great progress. :flowerforyou:

Exactly This^

Learning patience with the scale while staying on plan is the biggest part of this battle. If you get frustrated and quit, you won't be in a better position a few months from now, accept the weight loss even when it is slower than you want. Time flies and you will be at goal before you know it. It is probable that your weight loss will slow more. In my experience, you see the quickest results in the first few weeks. I have lost 93 pounds in 9 1/2 months (I lost over 20 the first month). My diet isn't perfect, but I would say that I've been focused on weight loss the entire 9 1/2 months.

And I agree with you, I wouldn't just eat to meet your calorie goal.

Good luck!

So you've lost 24lbs in a month and a half and you're complaining? Time to reassess your perspective. You lose weight fast in the beginning and then it slows down. That's just the way it is. For example, I'm 1.5 years in and I'm losing maybe 4lbs a month at best now. Weight loss doesn't tend to be linear either. I've gained several pounds in a week before, despite sticking to my goals. It will come back off the week after. Why? Who knows.

Long story short, you're doing fine. Not only fine, but amazing. Be prepared for the loss to slow way down the further you go. Set reasonable goals. You've got 140lbs to lose, budget 2-3 years at the very least. The first month and a half is just the very first step on a long trip.

You've lost a lot of weight in a short time, and you're complaining. Hm.

Weight loss doesn't go in a straight downward line. There are weeks you will lose nothing, weeks you will gain.

Keep at it. Maybe look at eating a bit more - sounds like you are a little low.

Hard to say where there is an issue without seeing your diary.

You might not be eating enough.

You might not be meeting your macros (protein and good fats especially)

You may be over estimating your TDEE and or under estimating your BMR.

Do you have any physical issues that my restrict certain activities? Underlying health issues?

To use a coined term I saw on here, you sound 'HANGRY". [Get it hungry and angry.]

Too many potential issues with not enough information on your part to make an educated stab at helping....


PLUS
Tooo many focus on "Weight" and it really should be about decreasing your Body Fat %, increasing your strength and lean body mass, improving cardiac fitness and improving general overall well-being. Some people will lose a lot initially (mostly water and some fat) after cleaning up their nutrition. But in the long term relative to your activity regime you may be gaining muscle loosing fat and not seeing a change to the scale.

This is very true information. I agree with everything except the fat. There really is no such thing as healthy fats. I would get a minimal amount only. Let's see the food log. That will help.

You wrote, "I lost more weight and a lot quicker on a low carb diet many years ago."...

...in the words of Dr Phil, "And how's that working out for you?"

Seriously, you're doing great--you just don't know it yet. Keep up the great work!

Yeah. You need to chillax. Water weight can cause false gains. So just breathe and relax cuz 24lbs in 6 weeks IS working dude. It's 24lbs closer to 200 than you were.

A big key to seeing consistent losses instead of very varied weigh ins you've been seeing is dietary consistency. Try to eat most foods that are less apt to cause water absorption - salt, extraneous grains, TAKE OUT. Even when you are under your calorie goals these can cause you to gain temporarily.

Working out is good, but note that when you work out, your muscles will often retain water to repair.

Mostly- focus on the big picture. Commit to 1 week for every lb you want to lose. Tell yourself you'll stick with it until then, off weeks be damned. Settle in though, it's going to be a long journey (it is for everyone).

It IS working. You are a big bloke and did not gain that weight in a month. You have lost a lot already - losing slowly and consistently is the way to go.

Make sure everything is correct in your stats - height / weight / activity level.

And the biggie - funnily enough - you do have to eat to your base target at least - some also advocate eating your exercise calories as well - whatever works - but do try & meet your base target. Plan your day out first and make sure you try & eat plenty in the morning, with snacks along the way - that way you won't feel like you "have" to eat big at night.

I manually reduce my carbs but I am an old sedentary woman :laugh: so don't need them - you could also try reducing your carbs allowance but being a big man in prime of life you probably need the carbs.

Also weights are very good for weight loss - not that I've done it, just read that it works for a lot of people.

Go read some success stories in the forum, see what they have achieved, how they did it.

Stick with it, this is a long train ride to the end of your days, not a holiday from your bad habits!

Remember that muscle weighs more than fat...

This is not true..