what should i change in my diet?
tonya8457
Posts: 2
im currently on a 1200 calorie a day but can't seem to lose the weight.. my diary is open and would like to see what i should change to help me hit my goal weight..
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Replies
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Do you weigh your food? What you eat really shouldn't make a difference.0
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only my meats.. if it comes with a label i use go by that..0
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if you have 55 pounds to lose you might need to be eating more.0
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How long have you been consistently eating at that level of calories?
I'd definitely recommending weighing all your food on a digital scale, or as much as possible. "1 tablespoon of butter" for example could easily be more than you think.
Also, what are your stats (age/height/weight)? Are you exercising too? A bit more info might help people to give more advice.0 -
Your accounting. The actual foods you eat aren't important, but accurate calorie totals are crucial. You can eat really healthy foods, but if your calorie total is off, you won't lose weight. Or you could eat a steady diet of Wendy's, McDonald's and Taco Bell, and lose weight if you keep track of the calories properly.
What I'm saying is that you're either not eating 1200 calories a day, or your calorie limit should be less than 1200. It's unlikely that your calorie limit is off, 1200 is a deficit for most people. So, you need to make sure you're counting accurately and logging EVERYTHING. That means all the veggies, all the condiments, all the little splashes of milk in the coffee, etc. EVERY. THING.0 -
if you have 55 pounds to lose you might need to be eating more.
I wondered how long it would take for this old saw to be offered. To clarify: a symptom of "not eating enough" is LOSING WEIGHT. If a person isn't losing weight, well, it's pretty clear that "not eating enough" is NOT the culprit. :huh:0 -
I went back to the end of November in your journal. Are there days you really don't eat lunch or breakfast? Then, there's a day when all you had was lunch. How accurate are you truly being? That is the most important thing when it comes to weight loss. If you are guessing, missing entries even when they may seem trivial, it could offset your weekly deficit.0
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if you have 55 pounds to lose you might need to be eating more.
I wondered how long it would take for this old saw to be offered. To clarify: a symptom of "not eating enough" is LOSING WEIGHT. If a person isn't losing weight, well, it's pretty clear that "not eating enough" is NOT the culprit. :huh:
i see reading comprehension skills are on the low o did you really not see the inclusion of the word might? :huh:0 -
I went back to the end of November in your journal. Are there days you really don't eat lunch or breakfast? Then, there's a day when all you had was lunch. How accurate are you truly being? That is the most important thing when it comes to weight loss. If you are guessing, missing entries even when they may seem trivial, it could offset your weekly deficit.
^this. Reduce processed foods and take-out. They do a number on your sodium intake and can prohibit weight loss. You don't really eat many fruits or vegetables. I found that reducing carbs and increasing my protein helped in weight loss for me, plus it keeps me full longer. Good luck.0 -
How long have you been consistently eating at that level of calories?
I'd definitely recommending weighing all your food on a digital scale, or as much as possible. "1 tablespoon of butter" for example could easily be more than you think.
Also, what are your stats (age/height/weight)? Are you exercising too? A bit more info might help people to give more advice.
I agree with this advice. Get a digital scale and weigh your portions. We also bought dishers to help with things that can be served with a spoon such as rice, potatoes, gravy, breakfast cereal, etc. Dishers look like ice cream scoops and are a bit more convenient than measuring cups, which will also work. You may be surprised at how much you are actually eating. Measuring will help tremendously with portion control. Why are you limiting your tracking to proteins? You need to log every bite and swallow of everything you ingest. Good luck to you.
Log every bite and swallow, & move more.
(Edited for spelling and punctuation.)0 -
You are not eating the proper kind of calories, way to much processed food. No white bread, no rolls, no poptarts ect.. Eat clean the fewer ingredients the better. Complex carbs( quinoa, oatmeal, brown rice, sweet potatoes, healthy fats( avocado, olive oil, nuts) lean protein( ground chicken, chicken breast, 7% lean beef, 7% ground turkey) ton's of fresh veggies, limit fruits , they are still a form of sugar...0
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if you have 55 pounds to lose you might need to be eating more.
I wondered how long it would take for this old saw to be offered. To clarify: a symptom of "not eating enough" is LOSING WEIGHT. If a person isn't losing weight, well, it's pretty clear that "not eating enough" is NOT the culprit. :huh:
i see reading comprehension skills are on the low o did you really not see the inclusion of the word might? :huh:
Oh, my reading comprehension is quite good, thank you. You see, when one is not losing weight, one's problem might be a lot of things, but not eating enough is not one of them.0 -
You are not eating the proper kind of calories, way to much processed food. No white bread, no rolls, no poptarts ect.. Eat clean the fewer ingredients the better. Complex carbs( quinoa, oatmeal, brown rice, sweet potatoes, healthy fats( avocado, olive oil, nuts) lean protein( ground chicken, chicken breast, 7% lean beef, 7% ground turkey) ton's of fresh veggies, limit fruits , they are still a form of sugar...
That's odd, I've lost 15 pounds on a steady diet of Taco Bell, McDonald's and Wendy's. Your argument is invalid.0 -
only my meats.. if it comes with a label i use go by that..
But if it's multiple servings in a package, how do you know how many servings you are having? Weigh and/or measure everything.0 -
Simple...to many carbs! More protein, less carbs!
Zara.
84lbs down :-)0 -
Wow. Not even a full page in and we're full of all kinds of misinformation.
I think the OP needs to faithfully track calories for a week or two and see what happens. My kitchen scale changed my life.0 -
To anyone that says a calorie is just a calorie, get off MFP for a while and do some internet research. There are some really interesting studies in the last few years that indicate that's an over-simplification and simply not true. In recent years, there has been a lot of research coming out on the composition of calories and the effects on weight. For example, there was a 2012 article in the Journal of the American Medical Association on a study that compared low-fat, low glycemic, and low carb diets and found differences. There was a study at Pomona College in California that suggests whole foods are better for dieting than processed foods.
Some researchers and doctors feel that certain foods contribute to insulin resistance, which contributes to obesity. Here's an interesting video from a TED talk on one expert's opinion on why not all calories are created equal: http://kristinwartman.wordpress.com/2013/06/29/all-calories-are-not-the-same-watch-ted-talk/
I don't normally quote blogs, but the point is this one links to a TED talk, which I actually appreciate.0 -
first:
1. you've been doing it for a month and already lost 4 pounds. that's not losing nothing - that's averaging a pound a week which is not bad at all. keep doing what you're doing and you'll be at your goal by this time next year. a fit and proud woman setting an awesome example for your family.
however, I recognize you may want to go a tiny bit faster so:
2. you eat a lot of fast food. there have been some studies done where they compare the actually calories in restaurant meals versus what is stated on the website and there can be huge discrepancies. the teenager behind the counter at Wendy's doesn't care about your meal plan, he just smears a bunch of mayo on the hamburger without concern if he's putting twice as much on as he's supposed to. the counter person shoves as many French fries into the paper wrapper as they can fit, resulting in a "small" having as many fries as a "large"
3. you have a lot of "risky" condiments in your diary such as mayo and salad dressing. If you are eyeballing those instead of weighing them, you're likely getting a significant overage.
4. are you measuring your milk and juice? the glasses in most folks house are more like 12 ounces rather than 8. Eight ounces is drinking from a glass the size of your toddler's sippy cup.
5. are you sure you never getting extra mouthfuls anywhere? One of my friends who is a mommy is always forgetting and licking the spoon when she serves her kids. that can really add up.
finally:
6. my weight fluctuates at least a pound or two up in the week before TOM or after a salty meal. keep your focus on the trend and don't get distracted from your plan by any single weight in.0 -
You are not eating the proper kind of calories, way to much processed food. No white bread, no rolls, no poptarts ect.. Eat clean the fewer ingredients the better. Complex carbs( quinoa, oatmeal, brown rice, sweet potatoes, healthy fats( avocado, olive oil, nuts) lean protein( ground chicken, chicken breast, 7% lean beef, 7% ground turkey) ton's of fresh veggies, limit fruits , they are still a form of sugar...
No...
A calorie is a calorie. The difference between a 'good' and a 'bad' calorie, if it even exists, is minimal, and at 1200 calories a day, I can tell you it's definitely not the problem here.
The problem is that OP probably eats too much because she's not weighing her food properly.0 -
To anyone that says a calorie is just a calorie, get off MFP for a while and do some internet research. There are some really interesting studies in the last few years that indicate that's an over-simplification and simply not true. In recent years, there has been a lot of research coming out on the composition of calories and the effects on weight. For example, there was a 2012 article in the Journal of the American Medical Association on a study that compared low-fat, low glycemic, and low carb diets and found differences. There was a study at Pomona College in California that suggests whole foods are better for dieting than processed foods.
Some researchers and doctors feel that certain foods contribute to insulin resistance, which contributes to obesity. Here's an interesting video from a TED talk on one expert's opinion on why not all calories are created equal: http://kristinwartman.wordpress.com/2013/06/29/all-calories-are-not-the-same-watch-ted-talk/
I don't normally quote blogs, but the point is this one links to a TED talk, which I actually appreciate.
No thanks. I'll take my success and those who've lost much more than me and maintained eating"bad" food and counting then an internet search, any day. I'm not promoting "eat anything you want" because nutrition is important to me, too. But unless there's an underlying medical condition, it is calories in vs out.0 -
ok i looked at your past week..
despite what some other people have said, WHAT you eat definitely does matter, a LOT. a lot of people say, a calorie is just a calorie, but this is totally wrong. you're body processes different things different ways. i noticed you're eating a lot of processed foods/white bread, which is fine, but i would try replacing these items with whole grains. what you eat doesnt only affect your weight, but your health overall. the body has a very hard time breaking down processed food and fast food, which has a lot of trans fat which is super bad for your body. also, white bread has been processed and has removed all the nutrients from the wheat, so it really does nothing for you.
Of course, these things are totally fine in moderation, but not great for you as an everyday thing.
Also, i would definitely eat more, especially in the protein department. with 1200 calories when you want lose quite a bit, your metabolism will slow down and store the food (as fat!)
feel free to message me if you have any questions
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I found this article helpful when I got frustrated with no loss for a while and went back to weighing everything.:sad: :sad: :sad: :sad:
http://www.acaloriecounter.com/blog/why-am-i-not-losing-weight/0 -
The type of cals you eat only matters for reasons other than amount of cals, basically the way they affect blood sugar and how the cal is utilized. Cause at the end of the day a cal is just a unit of energy. But it's how the body uses that energy. White and PROCESSED CARBS like bread make your sugar skyrocket and then you crash, because it's HIGH GLYCEMIC, that's stuff that makes you so hungry later once you crash that you literally wanna eat everything in sight. Protein is IMPORTANT because it fights hunger, rebuilds muscle and helps keep you satisfied longer. PROCESSED HIGH FATTY FOODS matter because they generally aren't great for you in high doses because the trans fat etc can wreak havoc in your body. MY problem with the latter is that generally speaking a meal at any fast food joint (mcds, Wendy's etc) is gonna cost you your entire allowance of cals (most of the time). Is it really worth going hungry for the rest of the day? Not logical. Take from all this as you will, but bottom line is you're gonna get half of us saying yes, we did it all clean and the other half saying if it fit in my macros I ate it. And both types have been successful on here. Here's all I can offer:
- ALWAYS use your scale, measuring cups etc. (it's so easy to eat 200 cals in mayo etc.)
- Try to always sneak in a veg or fruit, do your best to always incorporate clean foods.
- If there's a better alternative use it. Like kick that white bread and get some good sprouted grains breads etc.
- Play around with cals. I lost JUST FINE on 1600-1700 NET a day, (35 pds in 5 months, fine with me)
Good Luck!0 -
I found this article helpful when I got frustrated with no loss for a while and went back to weighing everything.:sad: :sad: :sad: :sad:
http://www.acaloriecounter.com/blog/why-am-i-not-losing-weight/
fogot the link Duuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuhhhhhhhh:ohwell: :ohwell: :ohwell: :ohwell:
http://www.acaloriecounter.com/blog/why-am-i-not-losing-weight/0 -
From what I saw I think you should add more fruits and vegetables to your diet. As well, try to limit processed foods like pop tarts or granola bars. Good luck!0
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To our "calorie is a calorie" and fast food-loving friends in this thread... Sure, you can definitely lose weight eating crap if you're careful about counting calories. Hell, you can lose weight by starving yourself or throwing up your food after you eat. But it doesn't mean that you're going to be healthy or keep the weight off after your "diet plan" doesn't provide enough nutrients to sustain you.
The inarguable truth is that if you eat healthy foods, your body will be better nourished. A better nourished body hungers for less. Plain and simple.
Enjoy your processed excuse-for-food weight loss plan if you truly believe it's working for you, but don't push your unhealthy mentality on someone who is legitimately asking for help.0 -
To our "calorie is a calorie" and fast food-loving friends in this thread... Sure, you can definitely lose weight eating crap if you're careful about counting calories. Hell, you can lose weight by starving yourself or throwing up your food after you eat. But it doesn't mean that you're going to be healthy or keep the weight off after your "diet plan" doesn't provide enough nutrients to sustain you.
The inarguable truth is that if you eat healthy foods, your body will be better nourished. A better nourished body hungers for less. Plain and simple.
Enjoy your processed excuse-for-food weight loss plan if you truly believe it's working for you, but don't push your unhealthy mentality on someone who is legitimately asking for help.
I don't know what in the world you're talking about. I hit my macros every single day. Those are the nutrients my body needs. Those are the things that matter to me. That is healthy... You eat how you want and I'll eat how I want. OP can decide for themselves how THEY choose to live but don't sit here saying we're all unhealthy because you don't want to eat that way and you perceive certain foods as "processed excuses for food". You can be unhealthy eating "clean" if you don't get enough of certain macronutrients.... fyi.0 -
To our "calorie is a calorie" and fast food-loving friends in this thread... Sure, you can definitely lose weight eating crap if you're careful about counting calories. Hell, you can lose weight by starving yourself or throwing up your food after you eat. But it doesn't mean that you're going to be healthy or keep the weight off after your "diet plan" doesn't provide enough nutrients to sustain you.
The inarguable truth is that if you eat healthy foods, your body will be better nourished. A better nourished body hungers for less. Plain and simple.
Enjoy your processed excuse-for-food weight loss plan if you truly believe it's working for you, but don't push your unhealthy mentality on someone who is legitimately asking for help.
Blah blah blah. :drinker:0 -
To our "calorie is a calorie" and fast food-loving friends in this thread... Sure, you can definitely lose weight eating crap if you're careful about counting calories. Hell, you can lose weight by starving yourself or throwing up your food after you eat. But it doesn't mean that you're going to be healthy or keep the weight off after your "diet plan" doesn't provide enough nutrients to sustain you.
The inarguable truth is that if you eat healthy foods, your body will be better nourished. A better nourished body hungers for less. Plain and simple.
Enjoy your processed excuse-for-food weight loss plan if you truly believe it's working for you, but don't push your unhealthy mentality on someone who is legitimately asking for help.
Blah blah blah. :drinker:
I bet she'd be in a better mood if she just ate a little bit of ice cream...0 -
if you have 55 pounds to lose you might need to be eating more.
I wondered how long it would take for this old saw to be offered. To clarify: a symptom of "not eating enough" is LOSING WEIGHT. If a person isn't losing weight, well, it's pretty clear that "not eating enough" is NOT the culprit. :huh:
i see reading comprehension skills are on the low o did you really not see the inclusion of the word might? :huh:
There is no "might". What you suggest is impossible.0
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