Why have I stopped...

taylor1404
taylor1404 Posts: 6 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
Why am I at a complete standstill with my weight? I started using Myfitnesspal a little over 10 weeks ago. At first I lost a few pounds but for the last 7 weeks I have been going back and forth between the same 3 pounds. I am a 5'2" female and I currently weight 140 pounds. Myfitnesspal recommends that I eat 1200 calories per day. At first I was netting close to 900 calories but after about a week of that I made sure I was netting close to 1200 everyday and have done that for weeks but have yet to see any progress. I do exercise, but it isn't on a regular schedule. When I exercise I make sure to eat at least half of the calories burned back if not the majority of them.

I have heard to decrease my calorie intake as well as to increase my calorie intake. I do not want to starve my body so I'm weary about decreasing my calories. Increasing my calories kind of scares me because I don't want to gain the weight I have lost right back. Any suggestions????

Replies

  • socajam
    socajam Posts: 2,530 Member
    Why is it when a question is asked about stalled weight loss, it is assumed that an honest assessment can be given with a closed diary. We have no idea what is being eaten on a daily basis without looking at diaries. In a nutshell, it is your word against the diary, open your dairy so that help that can be given to you.
  • taylor1404
    taylor1404 Posts: 6 Member
    I did not realize my diary could not be seen. I made it public. I know some days I don't have the best choice of foods, but I still pay attention to the calories. Some days are better than others. I have also allowed myself to have a cheat here and there but I make note of it. When I first started using Myfitnesspal it said for me to eat 1230 calories, then I lost some weight and it adjusted to 1200.
  • 2FatToRun
    2FatToRun Posts: 810 Member
    I did not realize my diary could not be seen. I made it public. I know some days I don't have the best choice of foods, but I still pay attention to the calories. Some days are better than others. I have also allowed myself to have a cheat here and there but I make note of it. When I first started using Myfitnesspal it said for me to eat 1230 calories, then I lost some weight and it adjusted to 1200.


    You were losing weight eating more....you lowered and stalled......You need to fix your RDI
  • 2FatToRun
    2FatToRun Posts: 810 Member
    Also what about fiber? More protein more fiber more exercise. You arent eating enough
  • ErinG6191
    ErinG6191 Posts: 33 Member
    I wouldn't recommend lowering your calories, eating 1200 calories seems tough enough as it is, I have to believe you would be miserable and starving with anything less. I totally feel your frustration though, I stalled out a few weeks ago eating 1200 calories and upped my calories to 1450-1500 (netted) and have started to lose more wight since doing that. Every body is different though, you just have to be willing to test out some options and see what works. Good luck and stick with it, the weight will come off, even if its slow.
  • taylor1404
    taylor1404 Posts: 6 Member
    At first I was eating less but stopped that because I didn't want to kill my metabolism altogeher. RDI??
  • Energizer06
    Energizer06 Posts: 311 Member
    Best to follow this method...Best I've seen. I would seriously consider using it....After 6-7 weeks if your not losing...I would be totally surprised.
    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/943139-weight-loss-cheat-sheet-ipoarm

    Make sure your set up correctly and the rest is as they say "easy as lasagna".
  • taylor1404
    taylor1404 Posts: 6 Member
    I have also heard to at least eat enough calories to meet my BMR recommendation but to not exceed my TDEE. Does anyone have experience with that? I am just hesitant about it because it seems like a lot more calories than I have been eating.
  • 2FatToRun
    2FatToRun Posts: 810 Member
    rec daily intake=what you should be consuming across the board as far as calories fat prot fiber etc sodium
  • charismanoodles
    charismanoodles Posts: 343 Member
    I'm currently on the TDEE method and loving it, I never feel hungry and I've been losing 1lb a week, which is nice and steady. I'd give it a go :)
  • meeper123
    meeper123 Posts: 3,347 Member
    I was having the same problem thenstarted working out more and eating more and the weight loss started again been sick last week so that probably isnt the best example just now trying to eat normally again
  • Francl27
    Francl27 Posts: 26,371 Member
    This app/page is called myfitnesspal. If you ask me, it's pretty much designed for people who try to lose weight while exercising. You're supposed to eat back exercise calories, so you end up eating closer to what other methods (like TDEE - 10%) recommend. If you don't exercise, you're probably better off with another program, IMO.
  • meeper123
    meeper123 Posts: 3,347 Member
    Also start tracking your sodium bet it will shock you
  • TigressPat
    TigressPat Posts: 722
    though you have removed the sodium counter from your diary, it seems to me the majority of your calories come from process/packaged and fast foods.
    I would think your sodium is very high and you could be retaining water.

    you also seem to have very little volume of food and not so good quality of food.
  • Calliope610
    Calliope610 Posts: 3,783 Member
    I started out eating 1200 cals, per MFP. Upped it to 1300 b/c I didn't like going over my cals on a daily basis. Then I read IPOARM and fixed my cals at 1450. Then started walking 1-2 times a week, upped cals to 1550. Joined a gym, doing cardio 5-6 times a week, recalculated my TDEE based on increased activity level and upped cals to 1800. And still losing weight. And lab work last week revealed that my cholesterol and blood glucose levels are down.

    Eat good, exercise good and lose weight.
  • katrinajMiles
    katrinajMiles Posts: 71 Member
    Just from a quick glance at your food diary my advice is.

    Think about what you are putting into your body 1200 of sugar, sodium and saturated fats VS 1200 of fruit, vegetables, lean proteins and treats on the odd occasion which is going to be better in the long run?

    Also pay real close attention to portion sizes and make sure you are drinking 3L of water a day and exercising. Look at the time you are eating things as well i try to keep my carbs to the morning and biggest meal for breakfast eating protein snacks through out the day.
  • jenny3073
    jenny3073 Posts: 117 Member
    I have also heard to at least eat enough calories to meet my BMR recommendation but to not exceed my TDEE. Does anyone have experience with that? I am just hesitant about it because it seems like a lot more calories than I have been eating.

    I have just started to play around with that and the scale started moving down again finally. MFP put me at 1800 cals, I lost a little weight right away due to the decrease, but after 3 weeks I stalled out for over a month. I heard about TDEE and BMR from one of my buddies on here and found a calculation that said my BMR was around 2200. I started eating closer to 2200 a day and started losing again. Now I don't make the best choices and I need to get more excercise in so it's very slow but it's moving in the direction I need it to.

    I know increasing calories can be scary especially when you want to lose and think it might be counter productive, but maybe try to find your BMR and just try it out for a couple of weeks to see what happens. I'm waaaaayyyyy bigger than you and I thought I would have to eat like 1200 a day to lose weight. I really thought the 2200 was a lot, but when I look back at my first days on MFP, I was eating 3500+ calories a day and not gaining weight, so it makes sense to me now that 2200 would result in weight loss.

    Takes some adjusting to find out what works best, everyone's body is different. Best of luck to you!
  • taylor1404
    taylor1404 Posts: 6 Member
    Thanks for all of the replies! I do need to work on the amount of processed foods I consume. Fast food is just too convenient, especially when you are working two jobs and attending college full time, but I can't let that excuse stop me from making some better choices.

    I think I am going to try eating closer to 1450 calories since that is what the majority of BMR calculators have told me my BMR is. Since BMR is basically what your body needs to function, without including daily movements or exercise, I guess I would still eat back exercise calories?
  • taylor1404
    taylor1404 Posts: 6 Member
    Also, should I change my macros? They are currently set at the myfitnesspal standard of 55/15/30 (C/P/F).
  • blueyegirl0712
    blueyegirl0712 Posts: 135 Member
    I started out eating 1200 cals, per MFP. Upped it to 1300 b/c I didn't like going over my cals on a daily basis. Then I read IPOARM and fixed my cals at 1450. Then started walking 1-2 times a week, upped cals to 1550. Joined a gym, doing cardio 5-6 times a week, recalculated my TDEE based on increased activity level and upped cals to 1800. And still losing weight. And lab work last week revealed that my cholesterol and blood glucose levels are down.

    Eat good, exercise good and lose weight.

    Good job!

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