Help! So confused

firefightingwoman2455
firefightingwoman2455 Posts: 23
in Health and Weight Loss
I have been doing MFP for 48 days now and I am confused. I have lost 17 pounds so far and am fluctuating some now. Up a pound or two then in another couple days, I am back down. I didn't have a good week for exercise last week so I am thinking that may be part of the problem but I have been reading threads and I see a lot of posts about TDEE. etc and I am confused. MFP says I should be eating 1320 calories per day. I used http://scoobysworkshop.com/calorie-calculator/ and the results from it said my BMR was 1917. What should I be doing? I started out at 255 lbs and want to drop to 150. I am 5'5" and 24 years old (female). I have been working on getting down a size before I go to the beach in a month and the last couple weeks I haven't lost as much as I would like... maybe I am just spoiled to losing so much weight in such a short time. I haven't been doing anything I shouldn't, just cutting calories and exercising. Someone help!

Replies

  • diannethegeek
    diannethegeek Posts: 14,776 Member
    Over what period of time have you been fluctuating by a couple of pounds?

    Weight loss isn't linear and it's perfectly normal to have a couple of weeks without a loss. Sometimes, even if you're doing everything right, other factors (like water weight, esp) will mask any fat loss that's happening.

    If you use the MFP method, it expects you to log your exercise and eat back the burned calories. Taking this into consideration usually brings it in line with the other methods. Pick one (either MFP or BMR/TDEE) and stick with it accurately for a while. If you continue to see no drop on the scale then you can reassess.
  • firefightingwoman2455
    firefightingwoman2455 Posts: 23
    It has only been about two weeks but I'm a results NOW kind of person. LOL I readjusted my activity level on MFP to lightly active and that added some calories. I have become more active since I started MFP but haven't adjusted my activity level. I really LOVE MFP so I think I'll stick with that. Besides, 1870 calories sounds like a lot... I don't usually eat back all my calories that I burn with exercise but I do sometimes. Is that bad? Should I always eat back those calories?
  • tricksee
    tricksee Posts: 835 Member
    It has only been about two weeks but I'm a results NOW kind of person. LOL

    This is why most people fail at losing weight. Not lack of willpower or determination. It's patience.
  • Bekahmardis
    Bekahmardis Posts: 602 Member
    It has only been about two weeks but I'm a results NOW kind of person. LOL I readjusted my activity level on MFP to lightly active and that added some calories. I have become more active since I started MFP but haven't adjusted my activity level. I really LOVE MFP so I think I'll stick with that. Besides, 1870 calories sounds like a lot... I don't usually eat back all my calories that I burn with exercise but I do sometimes. Is that bad? Should I always eat back those calories?
    I'd say stick with this for a few more weeks - a month perhaps? - and then re-evaluate. Do NOT weigh yourself every day because it'll just drive you absolutely nuts. Start measurement logs. Then each week at the same time of the day (usually morning, right after potty), ONCE per week, weigh yourself and measure yourself. Write it down in the log and/or mark it off here on MFP. Check it against the previous week.

    This will all take time. This is a lifestyle change, not a diet fad. Patience, young Padawan. Patience.
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    It has only been about two weeks but I'm a results NOW kind of person. LOL I readjusted my activity level on MFP to lightly active and that added some calories. I have become more active since I started MFP but haven't adjusted my activity level. I really LOVE MFP so I think I'll stick with that. Besides, 1870 calories sounds like a lot... I don't usually eat back all my calories that I burn with exercise but I do sometimes. Is that bad? Should I always eat back those calories?

    With MFP you're supposed to eat back your exercise calories; you don't with the TDEE method as those calorie estimates are already accounted for (that's why the calorie goal is bigger using the scooby calculator...also, TDEE - 20% equates to roughly 1 Lb per week...I would imagine you selected 2 Lbs per week with MFP).

    I always at back about 70% of what my HRM said I burned to account for estimation error. I use the TDEE method now as it's just easier to plan my day. I did MFP until I was really consistent in my exercise regimen and then made the switch. It's really 6 of 1 between the two methods. With MFP my net goal was 1850...with exercise I was grossing around 2100-2200 to lose 1 Lb per week. With TDEE - 20% I gross around 2150....6 of 1, half dozen of the other.
  • Ready2Rock206
    Ready2Rock206 Posts: 9,487 Member
    It has only been about two weeks but I'm a results NOW kind of person.

    Unfortunately you don't have a NOW kind of body. Patience will serve you well.
  • nyrina4life
    nyrina4life Posts: 196 Member
    It has only been about two weeks but I'm a results NOW kind of person. LOL

    This is why most people fail at losing weight. Not lack of willpower or determination. It's patience.

    So true! I went to Anytime fitness religiously for 2 months. Didn't see much change, but then... I threw in the towel and when I look back at the photos, I can see the change, just my scale didn't reflect it number wise (and I mean more than 5 - 6lb loss...to me that was too little of a result for my effort. Didn't consider that stress would play a huge part in the scheme of things.). Haha... >.<

    Edit - To the original poster, please don't throw in the towel. Stick with it. Maybe change one thing, exercise wise to give a variance. Or add in a simple 10 minute stretch / yoga dvd. Sounds silly, but that helped nudge me out of my funk. Get someone to take photos and follow your progress. Good luck, you can do it!
  • firefightingwoman2455
    firefightingwoman2455 Posts: 23
    Thanks for your input everyone. That's what makes this site so awesome!

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