Day 15 only lost .5 pounds

Hang in there, it takes time. I admit, it seems you might be a little behind the curve. BUT, there are a few possibilities:

1. Are you properly recording what you're eating?

2. What your target caloric intake for a day?

3. Is your caloric deficit appropriate? If you eat 500 calories per day less than your body needs, you should lose one pound per week. Based on the results you report, I would estimate your caloric deficit to be 125 calores per day (if your body needs 2,000 calories per day, for example, to maintain your weight, then I would estimate you would be eating 1,875 calories per day over these fourteen days..all other things being equal, of course. If your body requires 2,000 calories a day, and you reduce your intake to 1,500 calories per day, you should lose 1lb per week. Again, all other things being equal.

4. It is possible you aren't losing because you aren't eating ENOUGH, too. If your body needs 2,000 calories per day, and you are only eating, let's say 800, you have a 1,200 calorie per day deficit, first thought would be you should be losing 2.5 pounds per week, but, that's not necessarily how it works. If you don't eat ENOUGH, your body doesn't have all the nutrition it needs to do the day-to-day work, and so it holds onto everything. It's commonly called "starvation mode", though I'm not sure that's such a great name.

I had this problem myself. I was eating a 1,600/day diet, and not losing anything, for months. I would occasionally drop a pound or two, but it would go right back on. A few December's ago, I had an appointment with my nutritionist (who I see 1 or 2x a year), and she did an "indirect calorimetry" test on me, using a Korr Reevue indirect calorimetry. That machine basically analyzes the gas you exhale into it through a tube for ten minutes, and determines based on that how many calories per day your body burns. Mine came back at just under 2,500. 2,483. But I was eating 1,600 calories per day, AND, I was burning 500-1,000 in addition to that, when I went to the gym 4x a week. (another 2,000-4,000 calories per week in total, just in exercise.) So each week, I was under-nourishing my body by 900 calories per day (6,300/wk), PLUS 2,000-4,000 calories in exercise, so the equivalent of 8,300 - 10,300 calories per week. One would think that would mean I'd lose 3+ pounds per week, every week. But, as I mentioned earlier, it doesn't work that way.

My nutritionist made a few recommendations. That I ADD 800 calories per day to my diet, getting me to 2,300-ish calories per day. And that I consume (with GOOD foods), about 75% of my estimated calories from my workouts, on the day I worked out. If my estimated calories burned for my workout was 500, I ate 2,300 calories that day, plus 400 more for my workout, for a total of 2,700 calories on that workout day.

It sounds crazy, but once you understand the science and math of it, it makes sense.

I can tell you, that worked for me. Once I made that change, within a week the losses started again, and I then lost my last 70 pounds over the course of the coming six to nine months.

So that's one suggestion I would have for you...But knowing what your daily calorie needs really are, and keeping an accurate food log, are very vital components of those changes.

Feel free to give me a shout-out if you like, of FRIEND me, etc...

-David / BootJockey
-257 pounds

I agree, post your dairy. I did not believe it could make a difference, but just knowing that others can see it, kind of makes you more accountable. I am a very active 48 year old, and I had not lost one pound in years, then my trainer convinced me to let her see my post, and I have started losing weight. Good Luck. Also, if you have not gotten your self measured, you really don't know jf you are losing fat and gaining muscle...Good luck- I know it is hard

Hang in there! It will happen. I have been doing this over a month and only 6 lbs but I am determined to do it. You have to stay focused to reach your goal. You didn't gain the weight overnight and it wont come off overnight. Good Luck!

That's what I was thinking too...(see my post earlier, above.)

-David / BootJockey
-257lbs

I didn't see the thread from yesterday, but what this poster says about eating good food and in proper proportions is absolutely true. If you aren't eating clean (simply meaning, eating good foods that are good for you in proper proportions), your results, if any, will be much reduced.

-David / BootJockey
-257lbs

You will find the support you need from the correct people. I have found many on MFP are very judgmental and assume instead of support and help direct and guide you and help you on your journey. I keep my diary private. It is my diary. I know what I eat and drink and I know why things are happening or not. I am here to help you in any way I can. I think you just posted your thread for some reassurance and support. Good luck...be patient...be vigilant and it will come off. You will find the best journey for you. Not all of us will walk the same trail but we will arrive at the same destination.

Hey Guys,

I need some help on this topic because I'm this close to losing my mind over this. I started myfitnesspal over a month ago, it set my calorie intake to 1200 (losing 2lbs a week), I am 138 5'3. I used to be 115 but over years I've slowly gained alot of weight. Before I started this diet, I was easily eating over 2000 calories a day with no exercise (office job so my activity level was zero). Now, I've been eating 1200 and actually alot of times under 1200 and exercising around 4 times a week for atleast an hour. I have literally lost NO weight at all. I dont understand this, I have been working so hard and I see no results I am so frustrated and I just want need advice. I don't have enough time in the day to the whole 4-5 meals a day, I eat breakfast, lunch, snack and dinner. I have totally cut out sodas besides casual happy hour drinks. I dont always eat back exercise calories. My calorie intake varies everyday, I just feel so upset because I'm working so hard and havent seen any results. Please please help me!!!

My diary is open too!!

You will find the support you need from the correct people. I have found many on MFP are very judgmental and assume instead of support and help direct and guide you and help you on your journey. I keep my diary private. It is my diary. I know what I eat and drink and I know why things are happening or not. I am here to help you in any way I can. I think you just posted your thread for some reassurance and support. Good luck...be patient...be vigilant and it will come off. You will find the best journey for you. Not all of us will walk the same trail but we will arrive at the same destination.

Yesterday the OP was told by several people ( including myself ) that she should stop eating so many processed carbs among other things. This was done mostly in respectful ways. She asked for advise and that is what she got.
I personally am often surprised that so many people here view the lack of agreement in regard to their food log as negative feedback.
I wonder what a person expects to hear when the diet just is not right to bring weight loss and a high energy level about. " Atta girl " or " " WTG " are just not appropriate in this case.
I keep my diary open, because I think I have nothing to hide and it is the only way for others to possibly see my errors in regard to my food intake. I am of course aware that mileage varies for many people and accept it.

Hey Guys,

I need some help on this topic because I'm this close to losing my mind over this. I started myfitnesspal over a month ago, it set my calorie intake to 1200 (losing 2lbs a week), I am 138 5'3. I used to be 115 but over years I've slowly gained alot of weight. Before I started this diet, I was easily eating over 2000 calories a day with no exercise (office job so my activity level was zero). Now, I've been eating 1200 and actually alot of times under 1200 and exercising around 4 times a week for atleast an hour. I have literally lost NO weight at all. I dont understand this, I have been working so hard and I see no results I am so frustrated and I just want need advice. I don't have enough time in the day to the whole 4-5 meals a day, I eat breakfast, lunch, snack and dinner. I have totally cut out sodas besides casual happy hour drinks. I dont always eat back exercise calories. My calorie intake varies everyday, I just feel so upset because I'm working so hard and havent seen any results. Please please help me!!!

My diary is open too!!

Maybe some consistency would help you. Firstly, try to eat back your exercise calories! Your daily calorie goal is calculated to help you lose weight just based on your calorie intake, without exercise - so if you're exercising, you'll need more calories. So eat them back!

You could get the calories with protein. In fact, something that I saw a few times on the message boards is that there's no such thing as too much protein if you're working out. I wouldn't strictly say that's true but if you're exercising your muscles will need the protein to build back up, so try to get more protein in. For example, I saw on one of the days that your lunch was just cous-cous - make sure you have protein at every meal, carbs are negotiable, it's the protein and vegetables that you need to make sure you get. For some people, counting calories can get them down and I can see why, it can seem like you're doing everything within the limits and nothing is happening. I'd say focus instead on eating just clean, natural, wholesome food. Nothing processed, just good quality food like lean meats and vegetables. And do more weight lifting than cardio!!!

xxx

Are you using a food scale to measure your portions? If not go get one. It's possible that you are eating more than you think.

Good luck!

I wish you (everyone here) the best. Most here probably do too. I was recently in a training addressing social media and there had been a study done which showed that people typically receive txt/email/etc with the worst possible meaning...what they were saying was that because the email had no smiling face, supportive tone of voice, etc., that something meant to be constructive could easily be misconstrued.

Just an FYI

Hi D!

If you aren't doing this, as she suggests (using a food scale), I would recommend that, if you can do it. They can be found very inexpensively at places such as Target or Ocean State Job Lots. I will show a link to the least expensive one I found on Target's site, for a tad over $5:

http://www.target.com/p/taylor-mechanical-food-scale-white/-/A-13560443#prodSlot=medium_1_1&term=food+scale

What I recommend is a "tare" scale, which just means that you can put your plate on the scale, and then press a button and the scale changes to "zero", so THEN you can put your food on the plate and measure JUST the food. Say you put the plate on, press the TARE button, the scale goes to zero. Then you put your meat on, and you can see it's 3.4 ounces. Then you can push the TARE button again, it zeros out again, and you can put your rice on and see you put on 4.0 ounces of rice, etc.

Those scales DO cost more, but, if you look in the right place, they aren't bad. I bought mine at Ocean State Job Lots for $9.95, and it works great. If you buy it at Target or someplace like that, you'll pay $30 or more, but you can find them in places like Ocean State Job Lots, Marshalls, and other discount stores. Wal*Mart too.

Here is an example of what a tare scale looks like:

http://www.target.com/p/taylor-stainless-food-scale/-/A-14012995#prodSlot=medium_1_2&term=food+scale

They are generally flat, so you can set your own plate or bowl on it, rather than having a plastic "bin" like the one in the first example. Look for the word "tare" on the scale, if you decide to go this route. I find it very helpful myself.

-David / BootJockey
-257lbs