Have I been eating too little?
K2405
Posts: 56 Member
I've been following weight watchers for 7 months and have lost 34lb. However, my weight really started to slow down, with me sometimes not losing anything at all, or even putting on, when I'd been good and stuck to my points. I've just started using MFP so thought I'd put what I eat through my weight watchers app too and see how it compared. I've just added everything I am planning to eat for meals today and with weight watchers I have no points left at all but with MFP I still have 500 calories left for today - and that's before adding any exercise.
So, I'm assuming this means I've not been eating enough?? I know with weight watchers fruit is 'free' so doesn't use any of my points but takes up calories with MFP but I would probably have just had one piece for a snack this morning and another this afternoon, which isn't going to make up 500 calories?
Hope I'm understanding this right!
So, I'm assuming this means I've not been eating enough?? I know with weight watchers fruit is 'free' so doesn't use any of my points but takes up calories with MFP but I would probably have just had one piece for a snack this morning and another this afternoon, which isn't going to make up 500 calories?
Hope I'm understanding this right!
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Replies
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what is your calorie goal with MFP?0
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Its not always about points or calories more about good food choices and lifestyle changes Do what works best for you0
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just out of interest ww has free points (or do they not exist anymore?), are you logging them here?
Also are you weighing everything, measuring only the liquids, supplements, condiments, oil cooked with, itemised logging (i.e not a generic ham sandwich from the database, but your bread, your spread, your ham all weighed?)
The reason why I am asking is because usually people who stop losing eat more then they think. Oftentimes people get worried about 'starvation mode', but in reality they actually just didn't log everything.
I really liked this article, but the blunt tone makes some people not like him.
http://www.acaloriecounter.com/blog/why-am-i-not-losing-weight/
http://www.aworkoutroutine.com/starvation-mode0 -
It is really simple you need to eat less calories than what you expend through living and moving. This means that you must count all your calories and know what you are expending. Although fruit provides vitamins and fiber, fruit also has sugars so this must also be taken into account. I found that I lost max 10kgs through Weight Watchers then I would not budge I would always feel dissatisfied and even hungry and eventually I would loose motivation. This time around I am changing my lifestyle in a sustainable way!
Food is my friend.0 -
My calorie goal on here is 1370.
Yes WW has free points (mainly fruit and veg) but I do log them here, so after the fruit I would usually have I would have roughly 300 calories left with MFP.
Yes, I weigh everything. I don't tend to eat much bread but usually have things like soup etc for lunch and then tea we have anything from stew and potatoes to chicken stuffed with cheese wrapped in Parma ham. But yes, I weigh everything as my main thing has been portion control.0 -
It is really simple you need to eat less calories than what you expend through living and moving. This means that you must count all your calories and know what you are expending. Although fruit provides vitamins and fiber, fruit also has sugars so this must also be taken into account. I found that I lost max 10kgs through Weight Watchers then I would not budge I would always feel dissatisfied and even hungry and eventually I would loose motivation. This time around I am changing my lifestyle in a sustainable way!
Food is my friend.
Yes, I'm trying to stick to my calorie goal on MFP but have noticed I seem to be eating more than I was on WW to meet my calorie goal.0 -
It is really simple you need to eat less calories than what you expend through living and moving. This means that you must count all your calories and know what you are expending. Although fruit provides vitamins and fiber, fruit also has sugars so this must also be taken into account. I found that I lost max 10kgs through Weight Watchers then I would not budge I would always feel dissatisfied and even hungry and eventually I would loose motivation. This time around I am changing my lifestyle in a sustainable way!
Food is my friend.
Yes, I'm trying to stick to my calorie goal on MFP but have noticed I seem to be eating more than I was on WW to meet my calorie goal.
Well then you need to choose. Which is the better thing to follow? WW, which has you starving yourself and plateauing with weight loss? Or MFP's method, which allows you actually eat food and encourages HEALTHY weight loss?0 -
I used to watch Dr. Oz. Two years ago, he had a weight loss for America, of which I took part - not to win the money, but to lose the weight. He said start out losing 10% of your body weight. So I set my sights on losing that. I was on the program a good 3 months and lost a total of: only 12 lbs. Somehow that figure doesn't seem quite right. But I know I never got to 10% of my body weight. Now I cannot say that I did the program 100%. I read from an online source how many points I was to have and followed that. I later found out that was a little too high, but just the same I did lose some weight.
Back in May when I came here, I found it was incredibly encouraging. I remember reading a post where one girl said she was doing the WW points program. For whatever reason, she stopped doing it. When she came here she was "allowed" to eat twice as many calories than WW has advised. Not only that, she lost more weight.
I know from my own experience, having lost 34 pounds in just 4.5 months that I am doing far better than I was before with WW.
Food for thought
ETA: miscalculation. On WW I lost 22lbs and on MFP I have lost 34lbs so far. Either way, I choose MFP far above WW.
I totally agree with the post above. I hope you make the choice to join MFP. I have never looked back!0 -
Thanks guys! Yes, I'm going to stick with MFP, once I finally get my head around it! I just wanted to compare them both to see if what I was eating in a day on WW met my calorie goal on MFP. I'm not going to say no to extra food
I've actually decided to use my WW membership money to get a membership at the gym instead
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Thanks guys! Yes, I'm going to stick with MFP, once I finally get my head around it! I just wanted to compare them both to see if what I was eating in a day on WW met my calorie goal on MFP. I'm not going to say no to extra food
I've actually decided to use my WW membership money to get a membership at the gym instead
I think that sounds incredibly sensible! Good luck to you! =D0 -
One of the things that worries me is that you say that you can eat much more here then on WW after stalling on WW.
Usually people who log everything for the day and have a normal relationship with food don't come 500 calories short of a 1370 goal (without logging exercise and eating those calories).
Also WW with their free points of fruit and veggies is not particularly restrictive, at least not when I did it, maybe I did it wrong.
So in short, make absolutely sure that you are logging correctly so that you don't find yourself gaining weight in a couple of week. I wish you all the best :-)0 -
One of the things that worries me is that you say that you can eat much more here then on WW after stalling on WW.
Usually people who log everything for the day and have a normal relationship with food don't come 500 calories short of a 1370 goal (without logging exercise and eating those calories).
Also WW with their free points of fruit and veggies is not particularly restrictive, at least not when I did it, maybe I did it wrong.
So in short, make absolutely sure that you are logging correctly so that you don't find yourself gaining weight in a couple of week. I wish you all the best :-)
I'm not sure I understand what you mean by people who have a normal relationship with food don't come 500 calories short?0 -
I'm not sure I understand what you mean by people who have a normal relationship with food don't come 500 calories short?
You said that you were 500 calories short, so you had consumed 870 calories for the day. You said that this is before you have logged your exercise, I took this as meaning that you ate that and exercised. 870 calories is incredibly low, however people who have a disordered relationship with food i.e. people with eating disorders do frequently log this low or lower and do so over long periods of time and if they do it for long enough, their metabolism doesn't quite work like that of an average person. I am not suggesting that this is the case with you AT ALL, I was only worried that you are missing some food of your log.0 -
You said that you were 500 calories short, so you had consumed 870 calories for the day. You said that this is before you have logged your exercise, I took this as meaning that you ate that and exercised. 870 calories is incredibly low, however people who have a disordered relationship with food i.e. people with eating disorders do frequently log this low or lower and do so over long periods of time and if they do it for long enough, their metabolism doesn't quite work like that of an average person. I am not suggesting that this is the case with you AT ALL, I was only worried that you are missing some food of your log.
Ah, I understand now. I've logged my main meals for today - so breakfast, lunch and dinner - as I find planning ahead helps me stick to it and then I know how many I have left for snacks etc instead of eating something and then realising I've not got enough cals left for dinner. So I've got roughly 500 left for snacks etc. is this still low? Maybe I need to up my portion sizes? I'm starting to wonder whether I'm eating the right things now?0 -
Ah, I understand now. I've logged my main meals for today - so breakfast, lunch and dinner - as I find planning ahead helps me stick to it and then I know how many I have left for snacks etc instead of eating something and then realising I've not got enough cals left for dinner. So I've got roughly 500 left for snacks etc. is this still low? Maybe I need to up my portion sizes? I'm starting to wonder whether I'm eating the right things now?
your diary isnt open...?
just for comparrison, i eat around 800 calories for my evening meal....0 -
your diary isnt open...?
just for comparrison, i eat around 800 calories for my evening meal....
Sorry, I've only just started, literally on day 2 or something. How do I open my diary?
Really??? My dinner today is only 358 calories! Whoops...just noticed I've not logged my potatoes for evening meal! Takes my dinner calories up to 500 and still have 300 left.0 -
your diary isnt open...?
just for comparrison, i eat around 800 calories for my evening meal....
Sorry, I've only just started, literally on day 2 or something. How do I open my diary?
Really??? My dinner today is only 358 calories! Whoops...just noticed I've not logged my potatoes for evening meal! Takes my dinner calories up to 500 and still have 300 left.
you open your diary under My Home - Settings - Diary Settings on the bottom is diary sharing0 -
you open your diary under My Home - Settings - Diary Settings on the bottom is diary sharing
That should be it now....0 -
You may be not eating enough. I looked at your food diary and it shows that you are not consuming the calories you should be. Up them a bit and see what happens.0
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just something to note - try not to use the 'generic' food entrys in the database. the chicken wrapped in parma ham (sounds delicious by the way!) for example, says it has no carbs and no protein in...
if its shop bought, try searching by brand name, or if its home made, use the recipe builder to add each individual ingredient after you weigh it as a generic entry is likely to be inaccurate.0 -
just something to note - try not to use the 'generic' food entrys in the database. the chicken wrapped in parma ham (sounds delicious by the way!) for example, says it has no carbs and no protein in...
if its shop bought, try searching by brand name, or if its home made, use the recipe builder to add each individual ingredient after you weigh it as a generic entry is likely to be inaccurate.
Oh ok, thanks I'll look into that now. Sorted it now I think! That's taken me to 200 calories left so enough for some fruit for snack? 0 -
two little things on your diary:
Didn't you say earlier that you had some fruit as well?
Your generic chicken breast might not be accurate unless it is an entry you created. It is more accurate if you weigh your chicken, your specific cheese and your parma ham. The entry itself has no protein (which is clearly wrong since chicken, cheese and parma ham all contain protein) and 2mg of sodium which is also wrong, since both the cheese and the ham will contain more.
Did you create the soup? Otherwise it may also be incorrect.0 -
two little things on your diary:
Didn't you say earlier that you had some fruit as well?
Your generic chicken breast might not be accurate unless it is an entry you created. It is more accurate if you weigh your chicken, your specific cheese and your parma ham. The entry itself has no protein (which is clearly wrong since chicken, cheese and parma ham all contain protein) and 2mg of sodium which is also wrong, since both the cheese and the ham will contain more.
Did you create the soup? Otherwise it may also be incorrect.
I've not had fruit yet - this is today's diary I was on about. I had the tomatoes a little earlier and will have fruit this afternoon.
I've changed the chicken and logged everything separately. Yes, the soup is homemade so I created the recipe myself.0 -
just something to note - try not to use the 'generic' food entrys in the database. the chicken wrapped in parma ham (sounds delicious by the way!) for example, says it has no carbs and no protein in...
if its shop bought, try searching by brand name, or if its home made, use the recipe builder to add each individual ingredient after you weigh it as a generic entry is likely to be inaccurate.
Oh ok, thanks I'll look into that now. Sorted it now I think! That's taken me to 200 calories left so enough for some fruit for snack?
is starting to lookless like you're under eating and more like it was just logging errors?
I would log for a couple of weeks at 1370 plus exercise cals and then tweek if necessary if you're not getting the expected results.0 -
just something to note - try not to use the 'generic' food entrys in the database. the chicken wrapped in parma ham (sounds delicious by the way!) for example, says it has no carbs and no protein in...
if its shop bought, try searching by brand name, or if its home made, use the recipe builder to add each individual ingredient after you weigh it as a generic entry is likely to be inaccurate.
Oh ok, thanks I'll look into that now. Sorted it now I think! That's taken me to 200 calories left so enough for some fruit for snack?
is starting to lookless like you're under eating and more like it was just logging errors?
I would log for a couple of weeks at 1370 plus exercise cals and then tweek if necessary if you're not getting the expected results.
Yeah thanks, it's looking much better now will add my fruit later when/if I have it. Today is one of my less active days as don't go to gym so will just be a walk with the dogs later - do I eat back those calories? I've never eaten back points I've gained on WW through exercise but I forget my body needs extra fuel to exercise! 0 -
Yeah thanks, it's looking much better now will add my fruit later when/if I have it. Today is one of my less active days as don't go to gym so will just be a walk with the dogs later - do I eat back those calories? I've never eaten back points I've gained on WW through exercise but I forget my body needs extra fuel to exercise!
if you are set to sedentary on MFP, then yes, eat back exercise cals.0 -
Try eating what mfp suggests. We are all different. I needed to increase my calories as was losing to fast.0
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your diary isnt open...?
just for comparrison, i eat around 800 calories for my evening meal....
Sorry, I've only just started, literally on day 2 or something. How do I open my diary?
Really??? My dinner today is only 358 calories! Whoops...just noticed I've not logged my potatoes for evening meal! Takes my dinner calories up to 500 and still have 300 left.
No worries. I usually eat around 700 calories in the morning, whereas my dinner is often 400 calories or less. It doesn't matter when a person decides to consume their calories or in what ratio. As long as you are eating within your goal, it honestly doesn't matter how you balance the calories.0 -
It is really simple you need to eat less calories than what you expend through living and moving. This means that you must count all your calories and know what you are expending. Although fruit provides vitamins and fiber, fruit also has sugars so this must also be taken into account. I found that I lost max 10kgs through Weight Watchers then I would not budge I would always feel dissatisfied and even hungry and eventually I would loose motivation. This time around I am changing my lifestyle in a sustainable way!
Food is my friend.
Yes, I'm trying to stick to my calorie goal on MFP but have noticed I seem to be eating more than I was on WW to meet my calorie goal.
Well then you need to choose. Which is the better thing to follow? WW, which has you starving yourself and plateauing with weight loss? Or MFP's method, which allows you actually eat food and encourages HEALTHY weight loss?
The ****? Don't be patronising!
MFP's method is NOT a be all diet for everyone. You need to find the lifestyle you like. I'm on a low carb high fat diet, some people choose low carb high protein, others like to have a pure balance.
What matters is if you're eating enough to be full. If you aren't, increase the fat and veg. Make sure you're counting everything and as always, drink more water! C:
You CAN do it! Its just about finding the lifestyle you like and enjoy the most. This isn't a sprint!0
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