Just discovered the forums

nikki6_2002
nikki6_2002 Posts: 31 Member
edited February 2 in Introduce Yourself
Hi,
I have been using MFP for 4 weeks now and initially had some success but am feeling a little demotivated since the scales have actually shown a slight gain in the last 3 days. I have been really good, sticking to below 1200 calories and exercising. I used to have a couple of glasses of wine most nights of the week and have cut that out!!!

SO, in order to not let the scales get me down, I need some people to help and support me, so please, if you can benefit from some similar encouragement 'add me'

Thanks :)

Replies

  • itsscottwilder
    itsscottwilder Posts: 317
    are you eating back your exercise calories?
  • nikki6_2002
    nikki6_2002 Posts: 31 Member
    nope, my total food yesterday was 972 calories and I exercised 391. so nett was 581. I should be positively dropping the weight. I am not excessively overweight so I guess I need to repare for the long haul.
  • cstoney2013
    cstoney2013 Posts: 167 Member
    What kind of exercise?
  • snazzyjazzy21
    snazzyjazzy21 Posts: 1,298 Member
    nope, my total food yesterday was 972 calories and I exercised 391. so nett was 581. I should be positively dropping the weight. I am not excessively overweight so I guess I need to repare for the long haul.

    You're not eating enough. You should NEVER net that little. The minimum for women (net) is 1200, and that is the absolute minimum and most women will find their BMR (bare minimum amount of calories their bodies need to function) is above this. Not eating enough means your body can't fuel itself properly so it's not working efficiently, and doing this long term can lead to serious health issues. You'll also find it hard to lose weight and when you do, it may also be muscle you're losing, which you don't want.

    Can you provide your height, weight and age? We can get a better idea of what sort of calorie goal you should be looking at then.
  • ahavoc
    ahavoc Posts: 464 Member
    Yes, you have to eat more. Your "net" has to be 1200. Do a search on starvation mode here in the topic section, there's loads of info.
  • Unknown
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  • red_road
    red_road Posts: 761 Member
    1200 net minimum, possibly exceptions would be if you are extremely short. Or if your doctor has approved a very low calorie diet for you.
  • cstoney2013
    cstoney2013 Posts: 167 Member
    plus if you are lifting or doing anything that makes you sore you might be retaining some water that would keep you from showing a weight decrease.
  • susandonovane
    susandonovane Posts: 1 Member
    Hi I've just discovered the forums also. In addition I have stalled out also. (I've been the same weight for about a week but, have not exceeded my daily calorie limit of 1200) I do not put in any allowance for exercise as my work is pretty physical.
  • Ophidion
    Ophidion Posts: 2,065 Member
    OP read this and adjust your calorie intake and weight loss plan accordingly if you want to succeed...

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1080242-a-guide-to-get-you-started-on-your-path-to-sexypants

    this one will help you on the forums...

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1069278-acronyms-and-terms-for-new-mfp-members-v-6
  • TheSlorax
    TheSlorax Posts: 2,401 Member
    are you weighing and measuring everything? if not, do that for 2 weeks and come back to update us. if you are, eat more.
  • nikki6_2002
    nikki6_2002 Posts: 31 Member
    Thanks everyone, I am rather short. Not extremely as someone put it, 162cm current weight is 66kg. I have recently been diagnosed as Type II diabetic, until recently I was insulin resistant. Current goal of 1200 calories per day is as per doctors instruction. He has told me to exercise and keep to 1200 calories per day, averaged out over a week. So some days I can go over this and others under.

    He never suggested eating my exercised calories. I will ask him though.

    Yes, I do measure what I eat, I am beginning to be a bit more relaxed with this though as I get used to it.
  • nikki6_2002
    nikki6_2002 Posts: 31 Member
    I forgot to reply about type of exercise.

    I either run on the treadmill or use the crosstrainer 3 times a week for 30 minutes and have added pilates twice a week for strength.
  • nikki6_2002
    nikki6_2002 Posts: 31 Member
    I would also add that it is vitally important that the MFP community stop embracing the bad religion of weight loss bros, and start to think for themselves. The community as a whole suffers under the weight of so much misinformation, perpetuated by the uninformed.

    to quote a fellow MFP member: "starvation mode" is NOT A REAL THING, at least not the way people here refer to it. Adaptive thermogenesis *is* real, but it's not something that turns on or off from day to day, and it's not triggered in the same way or at the same point for everyone. Some people don't experience it much at all. For those that do, it doesn't just turn itself off when you start eating more. It's an adaptation that take a long time to happen and a long time to wear off.
  • _EndGame_
    _EndGame_ Posts: 770 Member
    OK,

    1200 calories is an absolute minimum that MFP can suggest to ANYONE, anything below that is just not healthy (unless under medical supervision) so if you aren't giving your body enough fuel, your metabolism is going to slow down, thus resulting in a stall in weight loss, because your body is holding onto fat.

    Work out what your TDEE is, then eat at TDEE - 20%, then eat back at least half of your exercise calories.
  • TamaraKat
    TamaraKat Posts: 533 Member
    AwwwwNO! Don't feel demotivated - that's just a mental plateau!
    If it helps, kinda disregard the scales and take their readings with a pinch of salt. It doesn't differentiate against muscle gained and fat loss and it even shows slight fluctuations of water weight which, face it, varies day to day.
    Do NOT be put off exercise as I'm sure you are making PLENTY of changes deep inside :)
  • nikki6_2002
    nikki6_2002 Posts: 31 Member
    AwwwwNO! Don't feel demotivated - that's just a mental plateau!
    If it helps, kinda disregard the scales and take their readings with a pinch of salt. It doesn't differentiate against muscle gained and fat loss and it even shows slight fluctuations of water weight which, face it, varies day to day.
    Do NOT be put off exercise as I'm sure you are making PLENTY of changes deep inside :)

    Thanks, I did my Pilates tonight. Ate my entire 1200 calorie allowance. Feeling better tonight :)
  • TheSlorax
    TheSlorax Posts: 2,401 Member
    I would also add that it is vitally important that the MFP community stop embracing the bad religion of weight loss bros, and start to think for themselves. The community as a whole suffers under the weight of so much misinformation, perpetuated by the uninformed.

    to quote a fellow MFP member: "starvation mode" is NOT A REAL THING, at least not the way people here refer to it. Adaptive thermogenesis *is* real, but it's not something that turns on or off from day to day, and it's not triggered in the same way or at the same point for everyone. Some people don't experience it much at all. For those that do, it doesn't just turn itself off when you start eating more. It's an adaptation that take a long time to happen and a long time to wear off.

    Absolutely, I completely agree with you. If that is what your doctor recommends then stick with it, just make sure you get every calorie possible out of that 1200. You mentioned that you are "below" 1200 calories in your original post which is just not enough, regardless of height. If you are afraid of going over your daily allowance and it makes you feel better, try to set your calorie goal to 1299 so that you have a little more leeway.

    I am also under doctor supervision for other reasons and stick to a 1200 calorie diet, however I do eat as much of my exercise calories back as I can. Lately I have been eating ice cream after my workouts that burn over 700 calories to make sure this happens as I am unable to eat large volumes of food. Before I did that I was tired, my workouts were suffering, and when I started having serious hair thinning I knew that I needed to do something about it. MFP has been a great resource and now that I make sure to NET 1200 (so, including my exercise calories) I have seen a world of difference. Best of luck to you and let us know how it goes!
  • nikki6_2002
    nikki6_2002 Posts: 31 Member
    Thanks, I appreciate that advice. Most days I go very close to my 1200, I know when I havent eaten enough, I feel tired and get headaches so I am careful to avoid feeling that way.

    Lately though I have had much more energy than when I was consuming much more calories (nutrient empty calories mind you). I am now making better choices with more nutrients.

    Still no movement on the scales but I have decided to start taking measurements because I know I am losing, my bras are now too big :( and my thighs are a lot more tight and toned. less belly flab too, I am sure I am heading the right way even though the scales disagree.
  • cstoney2013
    cstoney2013 Posts: 167 Member
    I wonder if your blood sugar was low causing the headaches? Well keep up the good work and I know sometimes type 2 diabetes can be controled with diet and exercise, so that is a great motivator for you. You really have to watch out not to have hyp-glycemia during an intense workout...

    Your clothes never lie! LOL that is soooo true. I have a work belt that is adjusted by velcro, sometimes I wonder if my teenagers have tightened it to piss me off :laugh:
  • nikki6_2002
    nikki6_2002 Posts: 31 Member
    Your clothes never lie! LOL that is soooo true. I have a work belt that is adjusted by velcro, sometimes I wonder if my teenagers have tightened it to piss me off :laugh:

    Hahaha, one of my co workers just asked me if I needed new work pants because the *kitten* in mine has stretched... It hasnt, my butt has shrunk!
  • Sabine_Stroehm
    Sabine_Stroehm Posts: 19,251 Member
    nope, my total food yesterday was 972 calories and I exercised 391. so nett was 581. I should be positively dropping the weight. I am not excessively overweight so I guess I need to repare for the long haul.
    OUCH is that a norm for you?
    I've not yet read the thread but: EAT MORE.


    Then, regarding your "gain": pms? ovulation? sushi? MANY possible reasons you saw a tick up on the scale.

    But back to my first point: EAT MORE
  • Sabine_Stroehm
    Sabine_Stroehm Posts: 19,251 Member
    I would also add that it is vitally important that the MFP community stop embracing the bad religion of weight loss bros, and start to think for themselves. The community as a whole suffers under the weight of so much misinformation, perpetuated by the uninformed.

    to quote a fellow MFP member: "starvation mode" is NOT A REAL THING, at least not the way people here refer to it. Adaptive thermogenesis *is* real, but it's not something that turns on or off from day to day, and it's not triggered in the same way or at the same point for everyone. Some people don't experience it much at all. For those that do, it doesn't just turn itself off when you start eating more. It's an adaptation that take a long time to happen and a long time to wear off.

    Absolutely, I completely agree with you. If that is what your doctor recommends then stick with it, just make sure you get every calorie possible out of that 1200. You mentioned that you are "below" 1200 calories in your original post which is just not enough, regardless of height. If you are afraid of going over your daily allowance and it makes you feel better, try to set your calorie goal to 1299 so that you have a little more leeway.

    I am also under doctor supervision for other reasons and stick to a 1200 calorie diet, however I do eat as much of my exercise calories back as I can. Lately I have been eating ice cream after my workouts that burn over 700 calories to make sure this happens as I am unable to eat large volumes of food. Before I did that I was tired, my workouts were suffering, and when I started having serious hair thinning I knew that I needed to do something about it. MFP has been a great resource and now that I make sure to NET 1200 (so, including my exercise calories) I have seen a world of difference. Best of luck to you and let us know how it goes!
    Best of luck to you both.
  • LuckyFur
    LuckyFur Posts: 96
    Don't EVER cut out wine!

    :angry:
  • nikki6_2002
    nikki6_2002 Posts: 31 Member
    Don't EVER cut out wine!

    :angry:

    I will still imbibe on weekends.....just restricting myself :)
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