What am I doing wrong?

2»

Replies

  • Beata375
    Beata375 Posts: 68 Member
    Thanks so much everyone... I have changed the settings on my diary ~ hopefully someone can help me break this cycle.

    As for some of the questions ~ I weight myself once a week ~ typically Sat/Sun morning. It seems like I've been gaining and losing the same lb for ages.

    I've cut out dairy out of my diet, I actually gave up bread for Lent so that's definetly not an issue. Typically don't eat pasta/potatoes.

    Thyroid has been tested ~ all was fine.

    The Blizzard in my pic is an old picture. Its a goofy one of me and my little guy.

    Oh and when I weigh in it is the same way every week ~ 1st thing in the morning before I eat/drink anything ~ after emptyin bladder, in just undergarments.

    And I don't drink soda ... only water and one coffee a day (and 1 starbucks drink a week).

    Have taken measurements. No pants don't fit looser :( Sadly. Actually feel the same, and perhaps in thigh area pants seem tighter?!

    I measure all my food. Use a scale. Log religiously and am honest. I am 5'4 134.6 lbs and put Lightly Active with a 1200 calorie "start" ~ I eat those and most of my exercise calories.

    Thank you for any help. I truly feel so unbelievable defeated... and not sure what my next step should be.
  • missorinda
    missorinda Posts: 2 Member
    I could be off on this (correct me if I'm wrong) but "lightly active" in your setting could be the problem. I had that too and barely lost any weight through all of January, despite painstakingly counting every tiny calorie. I was so annoyed.
    Then I read on these boards that a woman with a desk job who does the Insanity workout three times a week is considered "sedentary." That's a lot more exercise than I do! So I realized I had my setting too high. I set mine to sedentary and it automatically lowered my calories from 1380 per day to 1210, and now I'm starting to lose some pounds.
  • simplynaturalfarm
    simplynaturalfarm Posts: 73 Member
    134lbs at 5:4 is not shabby - maybe you are closer to maint than you think?
  • gpstrucker
    gpstrucker Posts: 930 Member
    I use the sedentary setting and then add in activities. I use a FitBit to automatically add in my normal daily activity and add in whatever exercise activities I do. It seems to work for me.
  • carla8270
    carla8270 Posts: 15 Member
    I have no advice as I am in the same boat. I lost 20 pounds with diet only (at 2 pounds a week). As soon as I have introduced exercise (First Leslie Sansone walking and the last 3 weeks Chalean Extreme), I have lost and gained the same 2 pounds for 6 weeks. I haven't yet checked my measurements because I know if I didn't lose inches I will give up. I eat around 1500 calories and exercise 5 days a week. I am so, so frustrated. Just sending hugs :)

    Edited to add: I increased from 1380 to 1500 as I quit losing. Increasing hasn't helped, either.
  • purple_furry_aubergine
    purple_furry_aubergine Posts: 22
    I'm not an expert, I'm still learning about all this myself, but if I understand correctly, with a 1200 goal, you possibly need to make sure you eat back ALL your exercise calories. I try and aim to be at the most double digits away from the goal displayed for that day. If your daily intake is 1400, but you burn 500 of them in exercise, then your body is only getting 900 calories fuel excluding exercise. It's something I think is a little confusing about the way it's set out, I understand why it adds exercise calories on to your totals, but I think it can be a little misleading when you look and say "I've eaten 1500 calories today, that's above my calorie goal so I don't need more" when if you've burnt some serious calories, you likely do need more.

    As I said, not an expert. That's just my take on it, and regardless how informed / ill-informed, it might not work for you, but if you're feeling defeated at the moment, it has to be worth a try? Good luck!
  • psuLemon
    psuLemon Posts: 38,428 MFP Moderator
    Thanks so much everyone... I have changed the settings on my diary ~ hopefully someone can help me break this cycle.

    As for some of the questions ~ I weight myself once a week ~ typically Sat/Sun morning. It seems like I've been gaining and losing the same lb for ages.

    I've cut out dairy out of my diet, I actually gave up bread for Lent so that's definetly not an issue. Typically don't eat pasta/potatoes.

    Thyroid has been tested ~ all was fine.

    The Blizzard in my pic is an old picture. Its a goofy one of me and my little guy.

    Oh and when I weigh in it is the same way every week ~ 1st thing in the morning before I eat/drink anything ~ after emptyin bladder, in just undergarments.

    And I don't drink soda ... only water and one coffee a day (and 1 starbucks drink a week).

    Have taken measurements. No pants don't fit looser :( Sadly. Actually feel the same, and perhaps in thigh area pants seem tighter?!

    I measure all my food. Use a scale. Log religiously and am honest. I am 5'4 134.6 lbs and put Lightly Active with a 1200 calorie "start" ~ I eat those and most of my exercise calories.

    Thank you for any help. I truly feel so unbelievable defeated... and not sure what my next step should be.

    I honestly think you are under eating. .I see it all the time with people doing beachbody programs. At a minimum, you should follow the equation in the CLX book for your base calories. Any exercise on top of that would be more calories. Based on the beachbody calculator, your base calories would be 1500 calories. So if you exercise on top of that you would need more calories. Also, you really do not need to cut out blizzards or any other type of food unless you have an intolerance. Many of us still lose fat while eating pasta, sushi, ice cream, etc... There is no requirement to eat clean when it comes to fat loss. And considering your calories are averaging 1300, I would try to up your calories to around 1600.
  • psuLemon
    psuLemon Posts: 38,428 MFP Moderator
    I have no advice as I am in the same boat. I lost 20 pounds with diet only (at 2 pounds a week). As soon as I have introduced exercise (First Leslie Sansone walking and the last 3 weeks Chalean Extreme), I have lost and gained the same 2 pounds for 6 weeks. I haven't yet checked my measurements because I know if I didn't lose inches I will give up. I eat around 1500 calories and exercise 5 days a week. I am so, so frustrated. Just sending hugs :)

    Edited to add: I increased from 1380 to 1500 as I quit losing. Increasing hasn't helped, either.

    You added exercise and barely increase calories. Also, as you lose weight, you will need to reduce your calorie deficit. I would try to set your calories around 1700 to see if that helps pending you are tracking your calories properly.

Categories