BASIC MATH?
gypsyrose64
Posts: 271 Member
I've been at this a long time here at MFP, and to be honest - failing miserably at the moment. Holidays brought on depression. Lack of funds brought on some bad eating habits. Drinking too much, etc. Point is I KNOW I've gone off rails this month, but the numbers aren't making sense.
Started December at 203 pounds
1 lb = 3500 kcals
I gained 8+ lbs in DECEMBER (was previously losing about 2 lbs /mth and I weigh daily)
8 x 3500 = 28,000 kcals that I OVER-CONSUMED in 26 days in order to gain that weight.
yea yea, some might be water, so lets reduce this by 2 lbs for water.
6 x 3500 = 21,000 kcals of overconsumption
I logged approx 48,000 cals eaten in those 26 days. Let's say I underestimated by 15%
so now I'm up to 55,200 cals eaten in 26 days = 2,123/day AVG
My BMR = 1,583 (according to MFP)
If I take the over-consumed cals - eaten cals, I get my true MAINTENANCE?
total eaten - overage = maintenance
55,200 - 21,000 = 34,200
average it out and I get 1,315 /day maintenance
Wouldn't that be ridiculously low TDEE for someone my size??? (weighed 211 this morning)
I started this weight loss gig in Oct.2012 and barely hit -40 in November. Granted I don't exercise (you can beat me up about that later), but even weighing, counting and monitoring intake over that time - I struggled to lose even 1 lb.
I did good in October, but I was restricting down as low at 1200/day and avoiding all carbs. November I slacked and December I derailed completely.
It's depressing to think I have to restrict like that permanently to lose and keep it off. Gaining this much weight in 26 days tells me my metabolism is just dead and ANY indulgence will be met with heavy penalty.
I am just trying to wrap my head around the numbers. I wanted to believe my TDEE was hovering around 2000(day) but the numbers are telling me that is waaaay off base, or I wouldn't have ballooned so fast this month.
Anyone have an opinion about the above?
My stats are as follows:
Female, 49 --- 65 inches tall --- sw 240 -- cw 211 --- BF42%
Started December at 203 pounds
1 lb = 3500 kcals
I gained 8+ lbs in DECEMBER (was previously losing about 2 lbs /mth and I weigh daily)
8 x 3500 = 28,000 kcals that I OVER-CONSUMED in 26 days in order to gain that weight.
yea yea, some might be water, so lets reduce this by 2 lbs for water.
6 x 3500 = 21,000 kcals of overconsumption
I logged approx 48,000 cals eaten in those 26 days. Let's say I underestimated by 15%
so now I'm up to 55,200 cals eaten in 26 days = 2,123/day AVG
My BMR = 1,583 (according to MFP)
If I take the over-consumed cals - eaten cals, I get my true MAINTENANCE?
total eaten - overage = maintenance
55,200 - 21,000 = 34,200
average it out and I get 1,315 /day maintenance
Wouldn't that be ridiculously low TDEE for someone my size??? (weighed 211 this morning)
I started this weight loss gig in Oct.2012 and barely hit -40 in November. Granted I don't exercise (you can beat me up about that later), but even weighing, counting and monitoring intake over that time - I struggled to lose even 1 lb.
I did good in October, but I was restricting down as low at 1200/day and avoiding all carbs. November I slacked and December I derailed completely.
It's depressing to think I have to restrict like that permanently to lose and keep it off. Gaining this much weight in 26 days tells me my metabolism is just dead and ANY indulgence will be met with heavy penalty.
I am just trying to wrap my head around the numbers. I wanted to believe my TDEE was hovering around 2000(day) but the numbers are telling me that is waaaay off base, or I wouldn't have ballooned so fast this month.
Anyone have an opinion about the above?
My stats are as follows:
Female, 49 --- 65 inches tall --- sw 240 -- cw 211 --- BF42%
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BWAHAHAHAHA!!!!! :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: So true!!!
OP--Honestly, good luck figuring that out and finding the answer you are looking for!
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Have you discussed this with your doctor? Perhaps you need to have your thyroid checked.0
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Calories in / Calories out only works to a certain degree. I'm sure someone will come along and disagree shortly but a 3500 calorie deficit (or surplus) in MFP doesn't always mean your weight moves by a pound. All of these numbers are just estimates and you'll drive yourself mad trying to nail it all down.
If I understand your post, you lost about 40lbs - which is awesome. Just get back to eating the way you did when you lost 40lbs and you'll be fine. Forget about the 8 lbs in December.
Good luck!0 -
LMAO...me too! :laugh:0 -
Has it occured to you that you may not have gained 8 pounds of pure fat?
Although it would have taken almost a 1000 calorie surplus (from your maintenance calories) daily to achieve. That'd be impressive.0 -
I've been at this a long time here at MFP, and to be honest - failing miserably at the moment. Holidays brought on depression. Lack of funds brought on some bad eating habits. Drinking too much, etc. Point is I KNOW I've gone off rails this month, but the numbers aren't making sense.
Started December at 203 pounds
1 lb = 3500 kcals
I gained 8+ lbs in DECEMBER (was previously losing about 2 lbs /mth and I weigh daily)
8 x 3500 = 28,000 kcals that I OVER-CONSUMED in 26 days in order to gain that weight.
yea yea, some might be water, so lets reduce this by 2 lbs for water.
6 x 3500 = 21,000 kcals of overconsumption
I logged approx 48,000 cals eaten in those 26 days. Let's say I underestimated by 15%
so now I'm up to 55,200 cals eaten in 26 days = 2,123/day AVG
My BMR = 1,583 (according to MFP)
If I take the over-consumed cals - eaten cals, I get my true MAINTENANCE?
total eaten - overage = maintenance
55,200 - 21,000 = 34,200
average it out and I get 1,315 /day maintenance
Wouldn't that be ridiculously low TDEE for someone my size??? (weighed 211 this morning)
I started this weight loss gig in Oct.2012 and barely hit -40 in November. Granted I don't exercise (you can beat me up about that later), but even weighing, counting and monitoring intake over that time - I struggled to lose even 1 lb.
I did good in October, but I was restricting down as low at 1200/day and avoiding all carbs. November I slacked and December I derailed completely.
It's depressing to think I have to restrict like that permanently to lose and keep it off. Gaining this much weight in 26 days tells me my metabolism is just dead and ANY indulgence will be met with heavy penalty.
I am just trying to wrap my head around the numbers. I wanted to believe my TDEE was hovering around 2000(day) but the numbers are telling me that is waaaay off base, or I wouldn't have ballooned so fast this month.
Anyone have an opinion about the above?
My stats are as follows:
Female, 49 --- 65 inches tall --- sw 240 -- cw 211 --- BF42%
You're trying to be exact with numbers that are anything but exact.
First, you'd have to trust that your daily calorie expenditure is correct. It's also an estimate. Even if you wear a fitbit, or heart rate monitor, it's all estimates.
Then, you'd have to trust that your 15% overestimating for the calories you ate is accurate. It could be way off as well, especially when holiday eating comes into play. Whatever you eat, if it wasn't made by you and measured by you, it could be even more off than 15%.
Then, depending on what I'm eating, I could retain way more than 2 lbs of water so your estimate could be off by more than 2 lbs as well.. If I eat something heavy in carbs, I retain a lot of water.
That's my two cents. Don't sweat it on trying to figure it all out mathematically because there are too many variables that are being estimated.0 -
Oh my...I thought I was the all time over analyzer but you just beat me by a mile! We have very similar stats except I am one inch taller. I wear a fit bit that tells me I burn roughly 2100 doing daily movement. Tdee calculates a little higher but that is including workouts. Im in post menapause and find that I have to exercise more and harder to keep from gaining. The scale doesn't budge much. Yes, very frustrating. At our age, we are losing muscle. I would bet that if you start weight training (learning to increase muscle mass with progressive heavy lifting) you will notice a change. I have been guilty of being lazy lately but began weight training again yesterday and will continue. It is what worked several years ago for me and will work again. Feel free to add me as a friend. Good luck.0
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Honestly, I'd be willing to bet a significant number of pennies that a lot more of that 8 lbs is water than you think. Like, probably almost all of it.0
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Yes, I'm a bit OCD with numbers, and I realize "some" of this is water...but I can't fit in some 16's I was wearing last month, so things are not feeling too good at the moment.
I weigh daily, because I do realize there are fluctuations in water. I start to get nervous when the "trend" is consistently upwards and there are no down days. I had hoped to coast through the holidays in maintenance mode, and then hit it hard again in January. With that said, figuring out what "maintenance" means for me is like finding the holy grail.0 -
truth. when i was cutting some and doing fast days my weight would jump 3-6 lbs from ONE day to the next. no worries, it is good to have a diet break. of course i have no scientific evidence what so ever to back that statement upHonestly, I'd be willing to bet a significant number of pennies that a lot more of that 8 lbs is water than you think. Like, probably almost all of it.
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Honestly, I'd be willing to bet a significant number of pennies that a lot more of that 8 lbs is water than you think. Like, probably almost all of it.
This0 -
Honestly, I'd be willing to bet a significant number of pennies that a lot more of that 8 lbs is water than you think. Like, probably almost all of it.
Yep. Just to relate my little story... On Christmas day, I weighed myself at 183.4 lbs. The day after? 179.0. Today, 182.6. In short, my water weight/retention has been all over the place, including a shift of 4.4 lbs in one day.0 -
Well, 15% is easy to do. I was sleepy this morning and put cereal in a bowl, then started to wake up a bit and took it out and measured: it was actually 1.67 of a portion. Oops. I also just remembered I didn't log a chocolate I was fed by someone in my office yesterday. This is after doing this kind of tracking for over a year and the last 4 mo actually measuring. I commonly later remember something I forgot to add to my food list a day or so later. Who knows what I dont remember? (I dont remember it after all) So yes, 15% is easy. Just do the measuring and get stricter on logging, this reduces, but still happens unless you put in place a strict "process" of logging before or after you eat it (which I dont really feel like doing, so I will still have these "oopses" occasionally). Exercise will help you IMMENSELY in your health, and if done in moderation in your weight loss goals, just add walking 30min/day, its so easy to do, and has more impact on my weight loss than hiking 5hrs or weight lifting.0
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Well hopefully you are right about the water retention, and I'll just focus on breaking some bad habits I've incurred this month. Too many carbs, too much alcohol, and too little give-a-flip.0
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Yes, I'm a bit OCD with numbers, and I realize "some" of this is water...but I can't fit in some 16's I was wearing last month, so things are not feeling too good at the moment.
I weigh daily, because I do realize there are fluctuations in water. I start to get nervous when the "trend" is consistently upwards and there are no down days. I had hoped to coast through the holidays in maintenance mode, and then hit it hard again in January. With that said, figuring out what "maintenance" means for me is like finding the holy grail.
I think maintenance is trickier than losing. It's a strange mindset to go from "I have to eat less than ___ calories a day" to "I have to make sure I eat ____ calories, no more and no less". I don't know if that makes sense but it's where I struggle with maintenance.
I also weigh daily and I've noticed I can have a five-pound fluctuation within 2 days, which I know is water weight. When that happens, sometimes it can take a week for it to disappear (hormones, I'm guessing). Also holiday treats tend to have a lot of sodium in them, which also causes water retention.
Just remember, you can always move forward. Starting now, get back track to where you were when you were losing and keep on trucking! I have a friend who did the same thing (she gained 8 lbs over the holidays) and is feeling frustrated. She's in the same place you are, a bit angry as to how the gain was so high when she didn't feel like was overeating that much. It's starting to come off, a pound at a time. You'll do it too.
May I also say, you have a very pretty face in your profile pic!0 -
Although it would have taken almost a 1000 calorie surplus (from your maintenance calories) daily to achieve. That'd be impressive.
That is very easy to do.0 -
You're obsessing too much. Kick your own *kitten* at the gym, eat right and don't sweat the small stuff.0
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LMAO0 -
Our bodies don't work like simple math. They work like BIOLOGY. There is a lot more to the weight loss puzzle than simple calories-in/calories-out. Our bodies have a weight set-point that is determined by hormones. The primary value of diet and exercise choices is how they affect our fat burning/storing hormones. What you eat is more important that how much you eat.
I'm not a scientist or an expert, so I'm sure I'm not doing this topic justice. Smarter people have explained this much better than me (books by Jonathan Bailor, Dr. Hyman, etc.) This helps explain:
http://youtu.be/W4NbZypW0scI've been at this a long time here at MFP, and to be honest - failing miserably at the moment. Holidays brought on depression. Lack of funds brought on some bad eating habits. Drinking too much, etc. Point is I KNOW I've gone off rails this month, but the numbers aren't making sense.
Started December at 203 pounds
1 lb = 3500 kcals
I gained 8+ lbs in DECEMBER (was previously losing about 2 lbs /mth and I weigh daily)
8 x 3500 = 28,000 kcals that I OVER-CONSUMED in 26 days in order to gain that weight.
yea yea, some might be water, so lets reduce this by 2 lbs for water.
6 x 3500 = 21,000 kcals of overconsumption
I logged approx 48,000 cals eaten in those 26 days. Let's say I underestimated by 15%
so now I'm up to 55,200 cals eaten in 26 days = 2,123/day AVG
My BMR = 1,583 (according to MFP)
If I take the over-consumed cals - eaten cals, I get my true MAINTENANCE?
total eaten - overage = maintenance
55,200 - 21,000 = 34,200
average it out and I get 1,315 /day maintenance
Wouldn't that be ridiculously low TDEE for someone my size??? (weighed 211 this morning)
I started this weight loss gig in Oct.2012 and barely hit -40 in November. Granted I don't exercise (you can beat me up about that later), but even weighing, counting and monitoring intake over that time - I struggled to lose even 1 lb.
I did good in October, but I was restricting down as low at 1200/day and avoiding all carbs. November I slacked and December I derailed completely.
It's depressing to think I have to restrict like that permanently to lose and keep it off. Gaining this much weight in 26 days tells me my metabolism is just dead and ANY indulgence will be met with heavy penalty.
I am just trying to wrap my head around the numbers. I wanted to believe my TDEE was hovering around 2000(day) but the numbers are telling me that is waaaay off base, or I wouldn't have ballooned so fast this month.
Anyone have an opinion about the above?
My stats are as follows:
Female, 49 --- 65 inches tall --- sw 240 -- cw 211 --- BF42%0 -
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I know you've heard this before, but the best way to increase your metabolisem is to exercise. It's easier than you think, good luck.
By the way, What is "TDEE"?0 -
I know you've heard this before, but the best way to increase your metabolisem is to exercise. It's easier than you think, good luck.
By the way, What is "TDEE"?
TDEE = Total Daily Energy Expenditure0 -
Water;
0.5 US gallons = 4.17lbs = 115.5 cubic inches
Bet you've been getting lots of salt lately.0 -
Thank you Cindy for the compliment! It was taken last month when I hit the -40 mark and one-derland... was a happy day for me. Then I fell off the wagon face first and landed in a pile of pumpkin pie! hahaha
As for kicking my own *kitten* in the gym, it'll have to be at home for now. No $ for memberships. I do have an HRM so I'll just have to find stuff to do at home and get off my backside.
As for obsessing... yea, I guess I tend to do that. I've been trying to nail down the whole TDEE -20% for like a YEAR! Every time I think I have an ballpark of where that sweet spot it is, I start creeping up.
I know it's hard to believe, but I've logged here for like 430 days!!! Obviously that shows I've been around long enough to learn a few things, but it also shows how epic this fail is on a grander scale. I should have met my -100 goals by now, and here I am slipping backwards.
Oh well, I guess my NY resolution will be to stop whining and start walking, lol :ohwell:0 -
It's not just water, but could easily also be 'food weight' I believe.
After eating quite a bit, when I stopped on 1st December I dropped something like 7lb in the first week and 7lb in the second week. I can maintain on around 3000 calories while do weights and such like, I certainly wouldn't expect I had THAT much of a deficit - I suspect a good bit would be 'water weight', along with less food sloshing about and so on.
Calories in vs calories out ALWAYS applies.
HOWEVER, I wouldn't try and work out your maintenance calories from a period with excess calories - best bet is to work it out from a period when you are trying to 'maintain'.
As a female of your age, your calorie intake is certainly lower than a 20 year old bloke of the same weight - especially if a fairly sedentary lifestyle.
You can get your BMR tested if you want to find it out a bit more scientifically - but it's not cheap (at a guess, around $100 or a bit less; I'm in the UK so not sure what people charge over there.)0 -
Geeb, you have a point. I need to tighten up the logging (I'm so sick of logging) and diet. Start shaving off the calories a little each week and see how long before the deficit manifest in loss.
One thing that I experienced in October when I was attempting a low carb approach, was a major watershed. It seems too many carbs for me equals water bloat x10! So I'm going to assume my holiday indulging has reaped me a couple of gallon's worth!
The nerd in me cannot help but want to see the in/out numbers reflect the reality. I don't think I'll get that satisfaction.
Thanks for the input.0 -
Gypsy, I feel for you. I SO want the math to work out for me, too. I used to have a BodyMedia and I was precise in logging everything. The math showing calorie deficits should have worked out to X pounds per week. It NEVER did. If I was supposed to lose 1.5 lbs that week based on calorie deficit, it was only a third of a pound. Etc. Also, consider when I had a sinus infection and was on antibiotics for a week. I hardly ate anything but sugar-free jello and some soup. I stepped on the scale at the end of the week, assuming I'd dropped AT LEAST a few pounds. Instead, I was UP 5 pounds!!! How can you be sick all week, not eat much, and gain 5 pounds? Defies math/logic. I don't know what to tell you, but I agree with the poster who said to start doing what you did when you lost 40 lbs and add some walking in. Do it for a week or two and see what happens. I think being consistent is really important for weight loss (though some calorie cyclers might disagree). Whenever I was pretty consistently eating 1200-1400 calories a day, and exercising moderately, I managed to lose weight consistently too. Once I started having a few higher calorie days in there, it all stopped -- even if the math showed me I still had a net deficit for the week.0
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I log my info daily in a spreadsheet. (weight, body fat, muscle mass, bmi, exercise etc) .. and well I never have managed to be even close to make the numbers make sense. I just do my program, eating sensibly within my calorie / macro limits as best I can and getting some exercise. Seems to work just fine.
I don't believe in the whole .. 3500 cal thing = lb. Never seems to work out that way. I am ok with it, I just hope to see the trends going the right directions. I think that is the most important thing .. and keeps me motivated.0 -
I'd have a look at body weight work outs for weights-style training.
For me, weights training significantly increases my metabolism - I'd say a good chunk more than the effort I put in when compared to other ways to burn the same amount of calories.
You can get an actual weights setup for not much - I'd guess from about $50 if you get a good deal for a bench, bar and some weights.
The good thing with doing it at home, also, is that you can do it around other stuff - so can be cooking the food, do a set, carry on cutting potatoes or whatever, another set and so on.
These days I try and cycle most places. I'm actually pretty close to the centre of town, but even the little rides help. When I was working a couple of miles away from my home base (working in another part of the country), while it wasn't much effort, it seemed to make a decent difference cycling.
Walking of course requires pretty much no kit and running not much - a local running club should be able to accommodate you whatever level you are at.0
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