PLEASE explain what is wrong with me

Mandini31 · February 2013

I have been exercising since Jan. 1st. 3 days of strength training (40-50 lbs. on all exercises). at least 2 days of walking on a treadclimber...the other 2 days are just plain physical activity at home. I have a BodyMedia Fit band and have been keeping track religiously for the last two weeks, since Jan. 28th. The first couple of weeks I will chalk up to learning my diet and getting a routine. I weighed myself that day at 230.1 lbs. Have documented ALL my foods since then, every day, on MFP and it works with the BMF band. My calories have been low every day & Keeping my pie chart within 2-5% points of 50% carbs, 30% fat and 20% protein.

I have no lofty goals, but I have my deficit set at 750 calories per day. I'm not trying to lose weight fast....just correct, with my goal of 1.5 a week, but would be happy with 0.5-1lb a week. With the BMF band I set my calorie intake at 1650 and burn at 2400. I am always over 2400. Usually around 2700-3000 per day. NOW i have recorded everthing for 5 weeks with the last two at really watching my diet.(been watching it since Jan. 1st.) According to my calculations I have a deficit of 11057 calories in two weeks and that should be about 3.15 pounds. I stepped on the scale today and it read 230.5. That is up 0.4 from two tuesdays ago. Weighed same time, no clothes, same scale etc.

I think the frustrating thing is that LOGICALLY I should have lost weight. The calorie deficit is there and it is significant. Even if it would be just 1lb...I would be happy, but it's going up?!? WTF?? Figure in water weight, an error on the BMF calculations, etc....I still should be down SOMETHING...not up. I'm thinking of going to the doctor...been at this overall for over 5 weeks and haven't lost anything. I have been exercising, watching the diet, HAVE a calorie deficit. NOTHING. My calories are not too low, not starving.

Any ideas??? I'm at my wits end and ready to quit. Please help?!?

psuLemon · February 2013

Can you open your diary? Also, have you gotten blood work? And do you have anything like PCOS?

cmriverside · February 2013

Eat more. Seriously. If you were to eat more lie 2000, you'd probably start losing.

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/186814-some-mfp-basics

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/61706-guide-to-calorie-deficits

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/819055-setting-your-calorie-and-macro-targets

baxgilter · February 2013

I have been exercising since Jan. 1st. 3 days of strength training (40-50 lbs. on all exercises). at least 2 days of walking on a treadclimber...the other 2 days are just plain physical activity at home.

Why don't you increase the weight everytime? Also I would recommend taking measurements. I bet you lost inches! Sometimes the scale is a ***** and a poor indicator of progress.

mbgambill · February 2013

I have done the exact same thing! I have had an 850 average calorie deficit according to BMF for thirty days. I have lost one pound! Mathematically, it doesn't make sense! I am very frustrated. I have never been so good for so long and not seen any changes. I have logged every bite of food and exercised religiously. My clothes aren't fitting any differently. I just don't understand. I have about 30 pounds to lose. I really thought I could lose at least 5-8 the first month easily, and that is being conservative! Do you think BMF is giving us false readings? Any others out there with encouragement?

Goal_Line · February 2013

I think your estimate of cals burned is off.

Without knowing your height and age I have to take an educated guess at your BMR, is probably about 1,670. An estimate of burning 2,850 cals daily equates to a Harris Benedict factor of 1.6 which is fairly active. I'd be more conservative on the estimate of cals burned and recalculate food intake.

lisamarie2181 · February 2013

I have the same issues, I also have a BMF and yes mathematically it should be right, but there are other factors. You are weight training, water retention helps heal muscles, so that could be why.

I also have PCOS, so I try not to rely just on my numbers, but also the kinds of food I consume.

I also suggest checking out the Roap map or search IPOARM and it will help you figure out the right amount of cals for you. I follow this and eat about 2000 cals, just don't eat back exercise cals. Sorry I don't have the link easily available but if you search it will come up.

See if this may help you and good luck!! :flowerforyou:

pondmermaid · February 2013

You might have your thyroid checked- that helped me with this same problem. turned out I needed medication for a short time.

AnitaHeady · February 2013

I just think you need more food, my doctor told me that if your body senses your in starvation mode, it will cling on to every extra calorie and you will not loose. I have experinced this, please up your food intake with healthy carbs and protein. You will see a shift, I promise!!!!

alanlmarshall · February 2013

how are you measuring food? Do you use a food scale?

SunshineT83 · February 2013

Are you only using the scale? Some people lose inches way before the the scale ever budges. Try tracking you measurements in addition to your weight, you may notice your initial decreases there for the next few weeks and then after keeping with it you'll see the pounds drop also.

insertcoinshere · February 2013

It's possible that your calories are too low, your carb intake too high and your protein intake too low.

Mandini31 · February 2013

I have been exercising since Jan. 1st. 3 days of strength training (40-50 lbs. on all exercises). at least 2 days of walking on a treadclimber...the other 2 days are just plain physical activity at home.

Why don't you increase the weight everytime? Also I would recommend taking measurements. I bet you lost inches! Sometimes the scale is a ***** and a poor indicator of progress.

I did take measurements on Jan.15, 21, 28, Feb 4th and today...i have not lost an inch anywhere(hips, waist, chest)...gained 1.5 inches in my thigh muscles, 1" in my calves and 1.5" in my biceps(arms). I have been increasing weights each week...started out at 30, 35,40,45, and now 50. Tending to a tendonitis problem in my wrist for 2 years...don't want to push it too fast. 5 lbs a week is pretty good for me. So now what??

raegan1215 · February 2013

i'm in the exact same boat. i've been bouncing between only 1 and 2 lbs lost since i started this january 1st. haven't gone over my allotted calories once and exercise 3x a week. i was expecting WAY more progress by now but i have lost inches and my clothes fit better so SOMETHING Is happening, just not weight loss! i've read it might take some time for the scale to catch up but i have no idea how long that might take...i'm on six weeks and nothing so who knows?!? maybe we just have to be patient!

Muddy_Yogi · February 2013

Make sure you are accurate with your food measurements, Up your calories a little because if you are truly burning that many calories you should be eating more....and if after that and a month of honest tracking you still don't see a loss I would make an appointment to see if something else could be the issue.

rsbuckell · February 2013

Hi. I'm new to this so be kind to me. I had similar problems when I first started out, however I quickly figured out what was happening. You're shifting weights and increasing your cardio by doing a lot of walking. You are gaining muscle and burning fat through a combination of diet and exercise. Muscle is denser and heavier than fat. Have a look and feel of your large muscle groups, i.e., buttocks, thighs, calves, arms, chest. Have they tightened up, do they feel firmer? I'll bet they do and this is where the muscle gain is happening. As someone else suggested take some measurements. I would cut down on the weight training, in fact stop weight training completely for a month and just concentrate on cardio and try and increase it if you can. This will burn fat fast without increasing muscle mass. Then try weighing yourself and taking some measurements. You will notice a big difference.

Good luck

ladysentinelnumber7 · February 2013

It could be that, as you're getting in better shape, your body is simply trading fat for muscle (I've heard it's a myth that muscle weighs more). If that's the case, your weight on the scale would be about the same but you'll be far healthier than when you started.

lesita75 · February 2013

I have the same issues, I also have a BMF and yes mathematically it should be right, but there are other factors. You are weight training, water retention helps heal muscles, so that could be why.

I also have PCOS, so I try not to rely just on my numbers, but also the kinds of food I consume.

I also suggest checking out the Roap map or search IPOARM and it will help you figure out the right amount of cals for you. I follow this and eat about 2000 cals, just don't eat back exercise cals. Sorry I don't have the link easily available but if you search it will come up.

See if this may help you and good luck!! :flowerforyou:

Here is the road map referenced to above:

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/654536-in-place-of-a-road-map-2-0-revised-7-2-12

erickirb · February 2013

Water retention due to new workout regime.

Mandini31 · February 2013

It's possible that your calories are too low, your carb intake too high and your protein intake too low.

I have been adding protein to an herbalife shake in the morning(since 10th of January). That's the only way to get my protein up to the normal range of 20% or so. Taking tons of vitamins and herbalife pills. 50% is what carbs should be according to USDA....besides if I go too low I'm sooooo lathargic I don't want to do anything. Have done the cutting carbs diet in the past....NOT for me at all. I am eating 1650-1700 calories a day...I need more?? Maybe...I just think that's high when all my friends never go over 1200.

I'm a farm girl...grew up on a farm...worked on a farm. I'm 5'-10 tall and large boned, I can build muscle like a guy. I don't tone...i get muscles. Which doesn't bother me... I like being strong. That's why I think my intake is probably about right vs. some of my friends(1200 cal).

CaffeinatedConfectionist · February 2013

You are gaining muscle and burning fat through a combination of diet and exercise. Muscle is denser and heavier than fat. Have a look and feel of your large muscle groups, i.e., buttocks, thighs, calves, arms, chest. Have they tightened up, do they feel firmer? I'll bet they do and this is where the muscle gain is happening. As someone else suggested take some measurements. I would cut down on the weight training, in fact stop weight training completely for a month and just concentrate on cardio and try and increase it if you can. This will burn fat fast without increasing muscle mass. Then try weighing yourself and taking some measurements. You will notice a big difference.

I am certainly not an expert, but I would really not recommend stopping weight training. Weight training is an excellent way of retaining muscle mass while losing, and is just generally good for health. If you are, indeed, eating at deficit, you are not gaining significant amounts of muscle. It is possible that you are retaining water in your muscles, which happens when you start doing more strenuous activity. I'd try giving it some additional time and seeing what happens, if after re-running your numbers you feel that you are eating the correct amount and that your calorie burns are accurate.

MrsK20141004 · February 2013

Are you only using the scale? Some people lose inches way before the the scale ever budges. Try tracking you measurements in addition to your weight, you may notice your initial decreases there for the next few weeks and then after keeping with it you'll see the pounds drop also.

I agree with this 100%. I have lost 6 pounds since the beginning of January but in that time I have lost 4 inches from my waist, 1" from my chest and 2.5 from my hips. Don't make yourself crazy with the scale - use your clothes and measurements as a measurement of success.

ssyrus · February 2013

Nothing is wrong with you! If you are starting to work out - you are gaining muscle - which by the way - weighs more than fat. So you have probably gained muscle at this point. DO NOT GIVE UP! Think about it as a journey not a quick sprint. If you belong to a gym - or have a trainer - have them take your measurements and calculate your body fat %. Then have your measurements taken again in 90 days. I am a 40 year old woman - very active......but just have some bad genes. I go to boot camp classes 5 times a week.....3 days of HIIT and 2 days of cardio. I sweat like a football player. I am very strong - but I too get very frustrated that I seem to lose weight at a dead snail's pace. I have been working out like this since 11/1/12 - and have only lost about 12-15 lbs. Very frustrating when I have about 75 to lose. I had my trainer take my measurements today and I found that my body fat % is actually 26% - and that is in the FIT category for women my age. I find that very encouraging. However, I note that my results are weird - because my arms and legs are very muscular.....very little fat on them. I carry it all in my mid-section.....

I have learned that the calorie counts/goals on MFP are not at all in line with what my actual numbers show. For example MFP says I should eat 1200 calories a day....where my BMR shows for just basic body functions I need about 1900. For weight loss (accellerated) - it says I should have about 2100 calories a day - and of that use a 40% carb/30%protein/30%fat ratio - eat 6 small meals a day - and aim for 180 grams of protein a day. I usually average only about 60 g of protein a day. So to triple that seems counter-intuitive....but i am trying. My way wasn't working - so maybe his way will.

DON'T GIVE UP on yourself........don't worry abot what a scale says....get strong, feel better - the rest will fall into place.

nashsheri33 · February 2013

get the advice of some experts. go to the dr for a checkup, and see a nutritionist. these last few weeks have not been wasted - you are stronger than you were, and you can use the information you have (food log, exercise history) as clues so that you and your health professionals can solve the mystery.

Apazman · February 2013

Try Fasting, eat one large meal every day for dinner. I have used this method for a long time and it still continues to help people break though those plateaus.

Mandini31 · February 2013

I think your estimate of cals burned is off.

Without knowing your height and age I have to take an educated guess at your BMR, is probably about 1,670. An estimate of burning 2,850 cals daily equates to a Harris Benedict factor of 1.6 which is fairly active. I'd be more conservative on the estimate of cals burned and recalculate food intake.

I'm 36 years old and 5'-10", large framed woman. (german).

According to the HB factor I have a BMR of 1815. I will even go with lightly active(I am exercising)... that would get me to 2496 per day. Even at sedentary its 2178...so I'm still at least 500 below.

sobriquet84 · February 2013

It's possible that your calories are too low, your carb intake too high and your protein intake too low.

this, and also-- are you eating a crap load of sodium? and, are you certain your calories in / calories out measurements are correct?

lastly, be sure you're getting enough micronutrients. i am on a pre-natal and it makes a world of a difference.

aminabuzua · February 2013

Man... that really sucks to be trying so hard and yet see nothing! The only thing I have to offer is based on my experience. I am no fitness expert or anything and I am sure there are others here who are wiser than me. But for me, I worked out with a personal trainer for 7 months, 3 times a week. We focused a lot on strengthening, and I did probably 20 minutes of cardio. I also rode my bike to work and back every day (another 40 minute total of aerobic exercise) and watched what I ate. And I didn't lose much weight or even inches. At first my personal trainer said that the body doesn't lose weight on a consistent decline. Some people shed weight in spurts and to be patient. After months, he said I should check my hormones and I did and they were fine. He was so completely puzzled by this and had no idea what else I could be doing.

So I quit my personal trainer and all the weight lifting. I joined hockey instead (because I didn't have the time/money for both). I had hockey 2 times per week and continued riding my bike-- did nothing else fitness wise. I stopped watching what I ate (what's a hockey game without a couple of beers after?) and I lost 10 pounds in the first 6 weeks. It was crazy. Turns out, my body responds a lot better to intensive interval training-- where you get your heart rate up with intensive cardio, then back down, then back up. In a hockey game, we're only on the ice for 45 seconds to a minute a time, but its an intense minute full of sprinting (well, my version of "sprinting" which is what other people call "jogging" lol). Then we sit and rest for another minute, then get back out there.

I am not saying go play hockey, but perhaps step up your cardio a bit and do intensive interval training where you are sprinting (or going really hard and getting very out of breath) for a minute, then taking it easy for a minute, etc. on the treadmill or bike or something.

Good luck and don't give up!! You can do this!!!

Mandini31 · February 2013

I have the same issues, I also have a BMF and yes mathematically it should be right, but there are other factors. You are weight training, water retention helps heal muscles, so that could be why.

I also have PCOS, so I try not to rely just on my numbers, but also the kinds of food I consume.

I also suggest checking out the Roap map or search IPOARM and it will help you figure out the right amount of cals for you. I follow this and eat about 2000 cals, just don't eat back exercise cals. Sorry I don't have the link easily available but if you search it will come up.

See if this may help you and good luck!! :flowerforyou:

Yeah, looked up PCOS and don't have that. None of the symptoms fit....Good, but darn. Even follow Harris formula and should be at 2500 cal a day for my activity. I'm lost

emigroby · February 2013

Try lowering your weights and upping your cardio. Make sure that when you are walking on the treadmil you are giving your self a work out meaning that you are aware of your breathing and it is "comfortly hard". Cardio is going to be a great aid to your weight loss adventure. Also make sure that you are weighing yourself at the same time, the morning works best, right after you wake up and use the bathroom. As women, we are not supposed to weigh ourselves everyday since our weight can flux 5 lbs +/- a day depending on our food and work out. Hope that helps!

Mandini31 · February 2013

It's possible that your calories are too low, your carb intake too high and your protein intake too low.

this, and also-- are you eating a crap load of sodium? and, are you certain your calories in / calories out measurements are correct?

lastly, be sure you're getting enough micronutrients. i am on a pre-natal and it makes a world of a difference.

My sodium is higher, I'm working on that. I know water retention could be a factor....just hard to believe it can be that much of a factor. I'm taking 15 different suppliments and vitamins a day from Herbalife. My calorie in are spot on....calories out I'm relying on the BM Fit band. I really do believe it's pretty accurate. Even at a 10% error rate....I still should have taken off 9000-10000 calories in those two weeks.

PLEASE explain what is wrong with me

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