More than "frustrated". I'm p*#@** off now!

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Corinne_Howland
Corinne_Howland Posts: 158 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
My diary is open. I really need someone who knows what they're going and talking about to help me figure out what I'm doing wrong. I've been up and down the same 3-4 pounds for 2 months.
I'm 49 years old. 5'6" tall and weigh 158. My goal is 140-145. Type 1 diabetic for 40 years with hypothyroidism. Diabetes is well controlled and thyroid is also in check.
The weight was coming off 1 or so pounds a week at first, than I hit a brick wall.
It's hard to believe that as hard as I'm working, this is all I'm going to accomplish. And that I'm going to have to continue this hard work, just to maintain.
Honestly, the thought of eating more scares the crap out of me. I eat most of my exercise calories back. Trying hard to not overcalculate calories burned. I figure if I'm off by a few, I'm making up for it by being at a 1200 calorie plan. HELP????
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Replies

  • kazsjourney
    kazsjourney Posts: 263 Member
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    As your so close to goal I would suspect you should be eating more....have a look at this thread http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/819055-setting-your-calorie-and-macro-targets :)
  • Corinne_Howland
    Corinne_Howland Posts: 158 Member
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    I'm following MFP's guidelines. I entered all my info and that's what it gave me.
  • snazzyjazzy21
    snazzyjazzy21 Posts: 1,298 Member
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    According to your information, your BMR alone is around 1400 calories, so I'd advise you up your intake to at least that, preferably more. Otherwise, you could look at calculating your TDEE. This will factor in your workouts, giving you a higher daily calorie goal, but means you don't eat back your exercise calories. This is great if you work out on a regular schedule. The website below will give you your TDEE, then all you need to do is subtract 10%-20% (1/2lb -1lb loss weekly)

    http://iifym.com/tdee-calculator/
  • Corinne_Howland
    Corinne_Howland Posts: 158 Member
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    Thanks. I went to that site and calculated by TDEE to be about 1700. meaning if I subtract 20% I'm at 1400. So, if I eat 1400, I don't eat back my exercise cals?
  • kazsjourney
    kazsjourney Posts: 263 Member
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    I'm following MFP's guidelines. I entered all my info and that's what it gave me.

    MFP guidelines also advise to eat your exercise calories which from what I saw at least on some days you didnt...you also seem to be missing some days of tracking and have one part day of tracking (i only looked back a week or so). You really need to track every day to see where things are at long term. The link I provided is a much easier way (IMO) it will give u a daily static goal to eat towards each day...it will be pretty close to what MFP gives you with eating your exercise calories (as that is how MFP is designed)
  • Railr0aderTony
    Railr0aderTony Posts: 6,804 Member
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    Thanks. I went to that site and calculated by TDEE to be about 1700. meaning if I subtract 20% I'm at 1400. So, if I eat 1400, I don't eat back my exercise cals?

    You do not have that much to lose so i would not do TDEE-20% I would do 10% max. And you are right if your calculations are right you would not eat back your exercise calories since they are figured into your TDEE.
  • Corinne_Howland
    Corinne_Howland Posts: 158 Member
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    I'm hopeful again!!! Thanks for the great information!
  • timdean808
    timdean808 Posts: 1
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    Hi
    Your quote 'I eat most of my exercise calories back' makes me think that your exercise has reached a plateau. At this point you can actually experience reverstability. This is when then the body starts to revert back to its pre training state.
    If it was me I would reveiw my exercise and do something that the body is not used to doing. Alternative do not rely on the figure for eating your calories back from exercise.
    FYI I am a Sports scientist, food specialist, spinning, aerobic, body pump and qualified fitness instuctor with 21 years experience.
    Regards
    Tim
  • 257_Lag
    257_Lag Posts: 1,249 Member
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    If it helps any my sister matches your stats almost exactly. She was eating @ 1200 under a doctors advice (after losing 30 pounds in a year on WW) and was stalled for 5 months @ 168. I convinced her to try and eat more and she has been losing a steady 1/2 pound a week for a couple of months now. She is eating 1500 and about half her exercise calories.

    Good luck finding something that works for you.
  • ILiftHeavyAcrylics
    ILiftHeavyAcrylics Posts: 27,732 Member
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    I suspect inaccurate logging. You've got a couple of days where you (hopefully) didn't log everything and a couple of days with no logging at all just in the past week.

    Are you using a food scale?
  • MyJourney1960
    MyJourney1960 Posts: 1,133 Member
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    i read a few days in your diary - two things
    1. you don't log everything/every day. so you may be over/underestimating. on the days you did log you were VERY close to/a little over your max cal goal. which means that if you miscalculated by a bit (either miscalculated on the food or on the exercise burn) then you were over - this could be a factor. are you weighing your foods? how are you calculating the exercise burn?

    2. this is a thought - something that helped with me and other friends who are, ahem, 'women of certain ages' - and that is to reduce your carbs, and at least have 1-2 meals without added carbs (as in no bread/crackers/cookies but you can have veg/hummus etc). now before all the "a calorie is a calorie" and "carbs aren't evil" guys jump in - i agree that a calorie is a calorie and i agree that carbs aren't evil. I am saying that this strategy works for me and for others. and i am not saying to cut out carbs completely - just cut down and don't have them at all meals. (there are some veg that are starchy like potatoes, carrots that should be considered as carbs in this regard).
  • texanintokyo
    texanintokyo Posts: 278 Member
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    bump
  • 3dogsrunning
    3dogsrunning Posts: 27,167 Member
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    I suspect inaccurate logging. You've got a couple of days where you (hopefully) didn't log everything and a couple of days with no logging at all just in the past week.

    Are you using a food scale?

    This this this ^^^
  • Corinne_Howland
    Corinne_Howland Posts: 158 Member
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    Alternative do not rely on the figure for eating your calories back from exercise.


    What do you mean by that? Don't eat back my exercise calories?
  • Corinne_Howland
    Corinne_Howland Posts: 158 Member
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    I don't use a scale. I tend to eyeball things. I will pay much closer attention my logging. Thanks all for the terrific advice. I really do feel new hope. I tend to not log well on weekends when I'm the busiest. So, I think I will pay much closer attention and weigh and measure more.
    Also, not that my husband is sabotaging me in anyway. He tends to feel that I've become obsessed with MFP. So, when he's home, I try to spend more time with him than on the computer.
  • 3dogsrunning
    3dogsrunning Posts: 27,167 Member
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    I don't use a scale. I tend to eyeball things. I will pay much closer attention my logging. Thanks all for the terrific advice. I really do feel new hope. I tend to not log well on weekends when I'm the busiest. So, I think I will pay much closer attention and weigh and measure more.
    Also, not that my husband is sabotaging me in anyway. He tends to feel that I've become obsessed with MFP. So, when he's home, I try to spend more time with him than on the computer.


    That is likely your issue. If you don't have a scale, use measuring cups but I'd definitely recommend investing in a scale. They are fairly cheap and it is surprising how much variation you'll get between weight and measurements.
  • johned63
    johned63 Posts: 306 Member
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    I found that i had to be very careful measuring whenever I was in a period of no loss. This video really helped drive that fact home for me.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JVjWPclrWVY
  • flynnem4
    flynnem4 Posts: 22 Member
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    If you feel like you're spending too much time on a computer logging, carry a little flip-open notebook and pen with you; you can jot down what you ate, and fill all the meals in later on. That'll give you a better idea of what you eat, which is always handy to have!
  • lois4468
    lois4468 Posts: 166 Member
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    I have similar background. I have been losing the same 5 pounds over and over for a year now. First 50 was easy but then seems like nothing worked. Reality is I tend to have a day with overeating more than I should, gain back what I worked to lose. Logging everything and not taking the lowest numbers I can find in database has now helped. I set my goal to 2 lbs a week so that MFP only gives me the 1200 cals per day. I walk off about 500 cals a day and do not eat it all back. I am netting a little less than 1000 a day now and the weight is finally moving down again. For me NO cheat days has to be my life. I want to get rid of another 10 lbs to reach my real goal. I also have had to give up the sugar. If I eat larger doses of sugar it just goes to fat for me. Stores really easy. One dounut or candy bar even though I stay under my numbers seems to just stay with me. Less carbs more protein are seeming to work for me. I am older too and take my pills for my thyroid. If you need a friend let me know. Good luck, it's tough.
  • jconnon
    jconnon Posts: 427 Member
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    Damn, I am eating even more peanut butter than I thought I was.
    I found that i had to be very careful measuring whenever I was in a period of no loss. This video really helped drive that fact home for me.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JVjWPclrWVY

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