Advice!!?!?

Reducing calories works for a week. I will lose 5 pounds of water weight, and then in week 2 I gain it back for absolutely no reason. Then I lose motivation because what is the point of depriving myself if I get no results from it. Exercising only makes me more hungry causing me to eat more. I don't know what else to do. Maybe I was just meant to be fat.

Replies

  • herblackwings39
    herblackwings39 Posts: 3,930 Member
    Have you calculated your BMR and TDEE? If not check out this thread. It's easy to understand and will give you some tips.

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/952996-level-obstacles-lose-weight-target-fat-easy
  • RieBerg
    RieBerg Posts: 261 Member
    Yup, i've done it all. I eat between 1200 and 1350 calories a day, sometimes, I screw up, but then i get back on it and not that often.
  • Ed98043
    Ed98043 Posts: 1,333 Member
    Do you weigh and log all your food? You might open your diary if you want feedback.
  • trumpkat80
    trumpkat80 Posts: 42 Member
    This may sound odd, but do you ear enough? Lack of cals will cause ur body to go into starvation mode, u'll burn muscle instead of fat & metabolism will slow to preserve the fat u've got. Don't give up.
  • JessHealthKick
    JessHealthKick Posts: 800 Member
    if you exercise, you have to eat more.

    Please look at my diary as an example.
  • RieBerg
    RieBerg Posts: 261 Member
    Thanks all, but my diary is open and I log every single calorie. I only exercise a couple times a week, and when I do, I make sure there is a net of at least 1200 calories. I don't think its underrating because of the fact that I mess up and eat 1500 calories at least once a week. I don't know what it can be.
  • MysticRealm
    MysticRealm Posts: 1,264 Member
    Thanks all, but my diary is open and I log every single calorie. I only exercise a couple times a week, and when I do, I make sure there is a net of at least 1200 calories. I don't think its underrating because of the fact that I mess up and eat 1500 calories at least once a week. I don't know what it can be.

    1500 is not a lot and should not be considered messing up. I eat between 1500 and 2200 net cals a day and am losing weight easily.
  • Ed98043
    Ed98043 Posts: 1,333 Member
    Your diary is set to:"friends only". What is your current height/weight? You look thin in your profile photo and your ticker says you want to lose 8 more lbs. That small of an amount at a low beginning weight is going to come off slowly - you might set your calorie goal at 1/2 lb per week so you don't feel deprived.
  • RieBerg
    RieBerg Posts: 261 Member
    I am 5'3 142 pounds.I am on the cusp of being overweight for my BMI, and trust me, it is not muscle. I really want to lose 20 pounds, but just set my goals small so I feel like I can meet them. If I want to lose 0.8 pounds per week, I need to eat 1200 calories. It won't let me go lower than that, and 1200 was making starve after 4 days, so I set them to 1350. I am just frustrated because I lost 7 pounds in the first week, which I think is normal for starting off. I was expecting the weight loss to slow down after that, but instead now I am gaining and I'm eating under my calorie goal.
  • Broejen
    Broejen Posts: 414 Member
    I am 5'2" and my BMR is almost 1500. You need to eat at LEAST your BMR every day. Just because you eat 1500 once a week doesn't make up for the fact that you are too low the rest of the time. You need to eat more!

    Also, don't listen to the calculations that MFP sets. It'll set you too low. Set it to lose no more than 1lb/wk as well. You really don't need to lose that much to get down to your ideal weight, which I would think would be around 130.
  • RieBerg
    RieBerg Posts: 261 Member
    My BMR is 1341. It varies with your weight. I am VERY sedentary, except for the 3 X a week maybe that I work out, so I don't see how eating your BMR would help you lose weight, but anyway, I eat 1350 calories several days.
  • MysticRealm
    MysticRealm Posts: 1,264 Member
    So you TDEE (I guessed your age and put 30) is about 1955 calories a day (working out 1-3 times a week), TDEE - 20% equals 1564 so you can easily eat this and still lose weight easily. Just give it time.
    MFP is very wrong on it's calorie guesses. I eat 1500-2200 cals a day (net) and am 5'4 and 140 and when I eat 1800 and above and hit Finish Logging for the Day it thinks I will GAIN Weight! And if I eat between 1500-1800 it thinks I will only lose like a pound in 5 weeks. When really I am losing a pound easily most weeks.
  • thisismeraw
    thisismeraw Posts: 1,264 Member
    It looks like most days you are netting under 1200 calories.. some days close to 1000.

    I would recommend adding sodium to your diary to track.. Might be the cause of the problem.

    Also, try setting your goal to 0.5lbs per week. Or change to lightly active as most people are not actually sedentary.
  • thisismeraw
    thisismeraw Posts: 1,264 Member
    My BMR is 1341. It varies with your weight. I am VERY sedentary, except for the 3 X a week maybe that I work out, so I don't see how eating your BMR would help you lose weight, but anyway, I eat 1350 calories several days.

    Keep in mind your BMR is what your body burns a day while at rest... rest meaning you not moving at all during that day (coma state pretty much). Every little thing you do when you wake up increases your calorie burns. Brushing your teeth, showering, making lunch, walking to the car, etc etc all burns more calories on top of your BMR.

    I net over my BMR everyday and still lose each and every week.
  • DalekBrittany
    DalekBrittany Posts: 1,748 Member
    Are you looking for a pity party? You already know what the problem is, you give up. You don't give it enough time (2 weeks? Really?) and then you decide it's just not working and you quit. Try eating healthy foods and moving a little more and you will lose the weight. Stop obsessing over the scale and start paying attention to how you feel. And give it more than two weeks...


    Hope you don't mind a bit of tough love. :flowerforyou:
  • RieBerg
    RieBerg Posts: 261 Member
    Yeah, I know. Its just my friend averaged 1278 calories every day and lost 15 pounds in 3 months. And we started out at the same weight. So, how come some people need to eat more calories and some less, I don't get it.
  • epie2098
    epie2098 Posts: 224 Member
    You have to exercise to see results. If you're living a sedentary lifestyle, that's the obvious fix right there. The gains to exercise go far beyond the number on the scale getting lower - everything from your bone density to lung capacity to stress hormone levels will improve. Get out and move.

    Every body is different. If I slack off moving for a week, I gain. I know it's temporary water weight gain, but it's a gain nonetheless.

    Yes, there will always be someone who loses weight more easily than you do. Then again, I know people who have lost and gained the same 30lbs over their entire adult lifetime. I don't want to be that person.

    It took me years to lose 80lbs, but I did it and haven't gained a pound back (permanently) because I find activities that I love, vary what I do between them, and plan to exercise 5 days a week (I would love to do every day, but there are days I cannot fit it in between special education, studying for a Masters degree, and still wanting some family and r'n'r time... that's a choice I make).
  • Textmessage
    Textmessage Posts: 387 Member
    Yeah, I know. Its just my friend averaged 1278 calories every day and lost 15 pounds in 3 months. And we started out at the same weight. So, how come some people need to eat more calories and some less, I don't get it.

    Did you know every person is different? You didn't? Well, now you know. ;)
  • TavistockToad
    TavistockToad Posts: 35,719 Member
    Yeah, I know. Its just my friend averaged 1278 calories every day and lost 15 pounds in 3 months. And we started out at the same weight. So, how come some people need to eat more calories and some less, I don't get it.

    Because everyone is different.... You need to figure out what works for you.....
  • juicemoogan
    juicemoogan Posts: 994 Member
    if your friend jumped off a bridge would you?

    Everyone is different, you cannot compare yourself to others.

    The real changes come with feeding yourself the proper amount of healthy and nutritious foods, getting enough protein, moving more especially if you consider yourself sedentary and overall BEING CONSISTANT... rome wasnt built in a day,...

    Its a marathon... not a sprint.


    p.s.
    Im losing at 2000 calories a day.
  • slkehl
    slkehl Posts: 3,801 Member
    I think the key for you might be NOT depriving yourself. This means weight loss may take longer, but it's more sustainable in the long run and you'll feel better. Eat at a SMALL deficit, and you will eventually lose the weight.
  • RieBerg
    RieBerg Posts: 261 Member
    How much do you way and how much do you exercise though and how fast are you losing?
  • XXXMinnieXXX
    XXXMinnieXXX Posts: 3,459 Member
    Very few people are actually sedentary. I have a Ki fit / body media and to burn my sedentary setting on here, I just need to sit on my *kitten* and not even cook for mmyself. Just watch TV. (I know this because this is what I did post surgery and when I had pnuemonia)

    Second weeks are notoriously tough. The body drops water weight in the first week, then second weeks seems to kind of go into shock! Give it a good 4-6 weeks of being consistent before you decide if it's working or not.

    If something isn't working after 4-6 weeks then you change it.

    For me I have to keep my carbs sensible. 100-120g per day. I do 30% carbs, 35% fat, 35% protein. (home goals change goals, manual) whatever you do though stick with it like I said for 4-6 weeks.

    Have to grit through weeks 2-3...its a typical pattern of what happens to many and the reason lots of people quit early on. As hard as it is have to not let it play with your head and give it more time.

    Also with the amount you have to lose I wouldn't be expecting big losses.

    Zara
  • MB_Positif
    MB_Positif Posts: 8,897 Member
    Hmmmm....maybe you might be a better candidate for just eating at maintenance and using your calorie deficit from exercise for your weight loss.
  • RieBerg
    RieBerg Posts: 261 Member
    Okay, thank you! I think that is the best advice. I guess I am very goal orientated and schedule oriented, so having that time frame of 4 weeks certainly helps. I will just keep in going for 4 weeks. Thanks!
  • ParkerH47
    ParkerH47 Posts: 463 Member
    Many people - women especially fluctuate weight naturally quite a lot in a month. I think you need to eat enough calories that you dont feel deprived and uphappy - but exercise a little more and be patient!!

    Wait ATLEAST one month before you start getting frustrated - the body is very complex and our metabolism is very dynamic. Sure your friend lost 15 lbs but she may start to plateux - maybe ask her what she actually eating - maybe you need to increase your fruit and vegetable intake.

    Try not to focus SO much on losing weight and just live your life - you are at a reasonably healthy weight even for your height - a lot of people have that as their goal weight - so stop being so hard on your self and dont let it consume you.
  • RieBerg
    RieBerg Posts: 261 Member
    Thanks Minnie! That is the best advice yet. I am very time/goal oriented, so giving me a time frame really helps. If nothing happens after 4 weeks, I will try something else. I am too scared to up the calorie, but if after 4 weeks, I still don't lose i will give it a shot.
  • CoderGal
    CoderGal Posts: 6,800 Member
    Yup, i've done it all. I eat between 1200 and 1350 calories a day, sometimes, I screw up, but then i get back on it and not that often.
    If you are saying you've done the TDEE method and eat between here you are doing it completely wrong. Have you tried doing it right? Right works gloriously.
  • CoderGal
    CoderGal Posts: 6,800 Member
    My BMR is 1341. It varies with your weight. I am VERY sedentary, except for the 3 X a week maybe that I work out, so I don't see how eating your BMR would help you lose weight, but anyway, I eat 1350 calories several days.
    That's interesting. My BMR was 1350. I was very sedentary, did not work out 3X a week, and got to 120lb eating 1700 calories.

    It's a long explanation as to why it would help. I'm just going to give one example of a short version of a particular reason since I have the link open in another window:
    http://www.bodyrecomposition.com/fat-loss/why-big-caloric-deficits-and-lots-of-activity-can-hurt-fat-loss.html
    But there are many more reasons.

    Also since it seems like you hate glycogen: http://www.justinowings.com/understanding-bodyweight-and-glycogen-de/