Not sure what I am doing wrong....

eemott
eemott Posts: 46 Member
in Motivation and Support
Ugh. I'm feeling seriously discouraged. I started out pretty strong, but the past two weeks I have barely lost over a pound. According to MFP daily logins, I should be losing aroudn 3 lbs a week. What am I doing wrong?!? I'd understand if I was eating crap every week and not working out...but I log EVERYTHING and I'm at the gym at 6 am every morning. Any tips for me?
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Replies

  • jeme3
    jeme3 Posts: 355 Member
    Three pounds a week is unrealistic after the first few weeks. Two pounds is more realistic, but not guaranteed.

    Without more information it's hard to advise.
  • eemott
    eemott Posts: 46 Member
    Well my goal was 2 lbs a week and when I submit my entries at the end of the night, it says I should lose 16 lbs in 5 weeks, coming out to 3.2 lbs a week. High, and a little unrealistic I think, but I'd still like to know how it is so off... I lost 1.2 lbs in a week. My journal should be open, feel free to take a peek and let me know what you think.
  • JesterMFP
    JesterMFP Posts: 3,596 Member
    Well my goal was 2 lbs a week and when I submit my entries at the end of the night, it says I should lose 16 lbs in 5 weeks, coming out to 3.2 lbs a week. High, and a little unrealistic I think, but I'd still like to know how it is so off... I lost 1.2 lbs in a week. My journal should be open, feel free to take a peek and let me know what you think.
    Diary isn't open. It sounds, though, that you're eating less than MFP has recommended, if you're getting that message. Perhaps start with eating up to what it's recommending?
  • womersleyr687
    womersleyr687 Posts: 2
    if you are going to the gym you will be building muscle which is heavier than the fat you are loosing, so go on looks as well as the scales.
  • concordancia
    concordancia Posts: 5,320 Member
    Well my goal was 2 lbs a week and when I submit my entries at the end of the night, it says I should lose 16 lbs in 5 weeks, coming out to 3.2 lbs a week. High, and a little unrealistic I think, but I'd still like to know how it is so off... I lost 1.2 lbs in a week. My journal should be open, feel free to take a peek and let me know what you think.

    This tells me you aren't eating enough. Your body needs proper nutrition to function optimally.

    Are you eating back exercise calories?
  • imjenjen00
    imjenjen00 Posts: 75
    if you are going to the gym you will be building muscle which is heavier than the fat you are loosing, so go on looks as well as the scales.

    GAH!! Muscle is NOT heavier than fat. A pound of muscle weights exactly the same as a pound of fat. Muscle just takes up less space on your body.
    You are not building muscle because you're not eating enough. Figure out your BMR and your TDEE and eat between the two.
  • eemott
    eemott Posts: 46 Member
    I don't eat back exercise calories. I eat what it recommends before exercise.
  • Jem97
    Jem97 Posts: 53 Member
    Also, with the whole muscle thing, its pretty much physically impossible for a woman to gain more then 1/2 lb a week, without some kind of steroid.
  • bcattoes
    bcattoes Posts: 17,299 Member
    if you are going to the gym you will be building muscle which is heavier than the fat you are loosing, so go on looks as well as the scales.

    GAH!! Muscle is NOT heavier than fat. A pound of muscle weights exactly the same as a pound of fat. Muscle just takes up less space on your body.

    Don't be silly. How could 1 lb of muscle take up less space than 1 lb of fat, unless as a general statement (without knowing weight or volume) muscle was heavier?
  • bcattoes
    bcattoes Posts: 17,299 Member
    I don't eat back exercise calories. I eat what it recommends before exercise.

    You profile says you joined Jan 2012. If you've been eating that low for a year, you've likely lowered your resting metabolism which means you now need to eat even less to lose.
  • raeleek
    raeleek Posts: 414 Member
    if you are going to the gym you will be building muscle which is heavier than the fat you are loosing, so go on looks as well as the scales.

    GAH!! Muscle is NOT heavier than fat. A pound of muscle weights exactly the same as a pound of fat. Muscle just takes up less space on your body.

    Don't be silly. How could 1 lb of muscle take up less space than 1 lb of fat, unless as a general statement (without knowing weight or volume) muscle was heavier?

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/279938-5-lbs-of-muscle-vs-5-lbs-of-fat-picture
  • mjenne74
    mjenne74 Posts: 40 Member
    Are you drinking your 8 glasses of water a day? If not, there could be water weight. Especially if you are over on your sodium allowances. And make sure you are eating as close to your calorie allowance as possible and they say to eat back half the calories from a work out. Lastly, is your exercise routine the same thing everyday? Changing up your routine on how you work out can help. Also if you eat a lot of the same meals everyday, your body may get used to it. So try changing it up to get that metabolism to kick in. Most importantly, don't give up! A loss is a loss. I know you are on a time crunch like I am with your upcoming wedding. Just keep pushing and try to make little improvements in any way you can. Water is huge as watching sodium is too in my opinion. Keep at it girl!
  • bcattoes
    bcattoes Posts: 17,299 Member
    if you are going to the gym you will be building muscle which is heavier than the fat you are loosing, so go on looks as well as the scales.

    GAH!! Muscle is NOT heavier than fat. A pound of muscle weights exactly the same as a pound of fat. Muscle just takes up less space on your body.

    Don't be silly. How could 1 lb of muscle take up less space than 1 lb of fat, unless as a general statement (without knowing weight or volume) muscle was heavier?

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/279938-5-lbs-of-muscle-vs-5-lbs-of-fat-picture

    Well now I'm really confused. Do we have 1 lb or 5 lbs?
  • literatelier
    literatelier Posts: 209 Member
    if you are going to the gym you will be building muscle which is heavier than the fat you are loosing, so go on looks as well as the scales.

    GAH!! Muscle is NOT heavier than fat. A pound of muscle weights exactly the same as a pound of fat. Muscle just takes up less space on your body.

    Don't be silly. How could 1 lb of muscle take up less space than 1 lb of fat, unless as a general statement (without knowing weight or volume) muscle was heavier?

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/279938-5-lbs-of-muscle-vs-5-lbs-of-fat-picture

    Well now I'm really confused. Do we have 1 lb or 5 lbs?

    Pretty sure the word you're looking for is "denser". 1lb of muscle is DENSER than 1lb of fat. Not heavier.
  • jennifermcornett
    jennifermcornett Posts: 159 Member
    I don't eat back exercise calories. I eat what it recommends before exercise.
    There's your trouble. Problem solved. :) Eat your exercise calories.
  • baotzu
    baotzu Posts: 28
    if you are going to the gym you will be building muscle which is heavier than the fat you are loosing, so go on looks as well as the scales.

    GAH!! Muscle is NOT heavier than fat. A pound of muscle weights exactly the same as a pound of fat. Muscle just takes up less space on your body.

    Don't be silly. How could 1 lb of muscle take up less space than 1 lb of fat, unless as a general statement (without knowing weight or volume) muscle was heavier?

    hahahahah, you're not serious are you? is this real life?
  • jennifermcornett
    jennifermcornett Posts: 159 Member
    if you are going to the gym you will be building muscle which is heavier than the fat you are loosing, so go on looks as well as the scales.

    GAH!! Muscle is NOT heavier than fat. A pound of muscle weights exactly the same as a pound of fat. Muscle just takes up less space on your body.

    Don't be silly. How could 1 lb of muscle take up less space than 1 lb of fat, unless as a general statement (without knowing weight or volume) muscle was heavier?

    As a teacher, I'm speechless.
  • 1Cor1510
    1Cor1510 Posts: 413 Member
    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/654536-in-place-of-a-road-map-2-0-revised-7-2-12

    It takes time to get through, but I didn't start losing till I read this and followed it, eating more calories than I thought I should be but following the formula. It works.
  • AmmyP
    AmmyP Posts: 33 Member
    Your journal isn't accessible to the public. If you want help you will have to change your settings.
  • Dawnhasajeep
    Dawnhasajeep Posts: 180 Member
    if you are going to the gym you will be building muscle which is heavier than the fat you are loosing, so go on looks as well as the scales.

    GAH!! Muscle is NOT heavier than fat. A pound of muscle weights exactly the same as a pound of fat. Muscle just takes up less space on your body.

    Don't be silly. How could 1 lb of muscle take up less space than 1 lb of fat, unless as a general statement (without knowing weight or volume) muscle was heavier?

    muscle-and-fat.jpg
  • imjenjen00
    imjenjen00 Posts: 75
    if you are going to the gym you will be building muscle which is heavier than the fat you are loosing, so go on looks as well as the scales.

    GAH!! Muscle is NOT heavier than fat. A pound of muscle weights exactly the same as a pound of fat. Muscle just takes up less space on your body.

    Don't be silly. How could 1 lb of muscle take up less space than 1 lb of fat, unless as a general statement (without knowing weight or volume) muscle was heavier?

    hahahahah, you're not serious are you? is this real life?

    My thoughts exactly.
    **facepalm**
  • Ready2Rock206
    Ready2Rock206 Posts: 9,487 Member
    Well my goal was 2 lbs a week and when I submit my entries at the end of the night, it says I should lose 16 lbs in 5 weeks, coming out to 3.2 lbs a week. High, and a little unrealistic I think, but I'd still like to know how it is so off... I lost 1.2 lbs in a week. My journal should be open, feel free to take a peek and let me know what you think.

    Oh mercy - if I went by that stupid what you'll weigh in 5 weeks thing I would have lost at least 100 lbs by now. That thing is just plain mean.

    1.2 lbs in a week is fantastic. Also - don't look at your loss EACH week. Take the average of a longer period. Some weeks you'll lose less, some more, some not at all, but as long as you're losing on average you're okay.
  • mikejholmes
    mikejholmes Posts: 291 Member
    Which is heavier, a pound of bricks, or a pound of feathers......
    ;)
  • cayadear
    cayadear Posts: 79 Member
    images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSrW3FJpqX7hAEstTghRQZAWRopzqn623STu5QDymduTxgDPfif
  • Dawnhasajeep
    Dawnhasajeep Posts: 180 Member
    You did not gain your weight over night you cannot expect to lose it over night. Stick with eating healthy and working out and it will come off.
  • cmriverside
    cmriverside Posts: 34,422 Member
    OP, you are undereating, eat more ©.
  • LoonyR
    LoonyR Posts: 13 Member
    wow, lol...a pound is a pound but muscle is heavier PER VOLUME then fat!! look it up peeps
  • glistug
    glistug Posts: 5 Member
    Well you shouldn't get discouraged over losing a little over a pound a week. I'm no expert, dietician, fitness trainer, or anything like that, but I do think a persons weight can fluctuate up and down from day to day for may reasons, water retention for one. And I don't know about yours, but my scale can also vary by a pound or two wither way.

    Be encouraged that you are moving in the right direction, losing rather than gaining. In time, those single pound losses add up too.
  • bcattoes
    bcattoes Posts: 17,299 Member
    if you are going to the gym you will be building muscle which is heavier than the fat you are loosing, so go on looks as well as the scales.

    GAH!! Muscle is NOT heavier than fat. A pound of muscle weights exactly the same as a pound of fat. Muscle just takes up less space on your body.

    Don't be silly. How could 1 lb of muscle take up less space than 1 lb of fat, unless as a general statement (without knowing weight or volume) muscle was heavier?

    muscle-and-fat.jpg

    Exactly.
  • bcattoes
    bcattoes Posts: 17,299 Member
    if you are going to the gym you will be building muscle which is heavier than the fat you are loosing, so go on looks as well as the scales.

    GAH!! Muscle is NOT heavier than fat. A pound of muscle weights exactly the same as a pound of fat. Muscle just takes up less space on your body.

    Don't be silly. How could 1 lb of muscle take up less space than 1 lb of fat, unless as a general statement (without knowing weight or volume) muscle was heavier?

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/279938-5-lbs-of-muscle-vs-5-lbs-of-fat-picture

    Well now I'm really confused. Do we have 1 lb or 5 lbs?

    Pretty sure the word you're looking for is "denser". 1lb of muscle is DENSER than 1lb of fat. Not heavier.

    So, nothing is heavier than something else. Hmm, it's odd that word heavier even exists.

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