Someone please explain, 30+ pounds to lose.

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Replies

  • trizzletrix
    trizzletrix Posts: 92 Member
    1.6lbs a week is great progress!

    If you want to keep the weight off when you do eventually lose it I wouldn't suggest trying to push it further than that.

    Also other posters have given some great advice. I'm at uni too so I understand the money situation but you've just got to look at your priorities. How much do you really want to lose weight? Because investing in a kitchen scale will help that immensely, even if it means sacrificing a night out.

    It IS hard to eat right as well when a lot of people around you aren't, but again PRIORITIES :D I personally like to eat a lot, so I choose less calorie dense foods (like veggies and fruits) so I can snack more often. I get teased sometimes but it's all good.

    I'm losing weight whilst still having a good time at uni and enjoying the occasional cheeky night out ;)
  • lindsey1979
    lindsey1979 Posts: 2,395 Member
    I also looked at your diary and one of the things I noticed is the foods that you are eating. I am in the same boat as you. We are at about the same weight. I know people will debate me till there blue in the face but just because your food is within your calories doesn't mean that it isn't affecting your body. Look at your sodium intake, your fat intake as well as your carb intake. For example, last night you had peach cobbler. Even though you were within your calories for the day, things like that will prolong your weight loss.

    I have noticed when I eat less carbs and more protein in the day, I loose. Just what I have noticed about myself.
    Hopefully this helps!

    I found the same for me. I tend to eat a low carb diet with good protein and high fat. Not low enough carb to be true keto, but I try to keep the carbs in the 50-80 range (total, not net).

    I now know why that works so well for me whereas calorie counting itself wasn't enough -- because I have insulin resistance. But, I didn't know this for years. Some people are just much more sensitive to carbs, so a low carb, high fat diet works particularly well. You can try this as well and see if you see a difference for yourself -- it will work for some ,but others won't notice a difference.
  • Alyssawinter1221
    Alyssawinter1221 Posts: 118
    Wow I did not realize people were going to tear into me and call me stupid and a liar.

    My parents pay for a lot of my food, and so does my boyfriend. They just do without my asking. Especially now since I'm home for spring break visiting my family.

    God, I'll get a scale just because I feel like I was brow beaten into it.

    How do I delete this post? I don't wanna take this beating anymore.
  • sally884
    sally884 Posts: 51
    You're doing great! We have about the same goals and are the same hight. Getting a scale was huge for me...I actually got to eat more than I said i was :) also, I suggest you be as accurate as what you are actually eating. This was when you look back go see how you can change you know for sure what you logged was what you ate. Otherwise keep up the great work. I'm impressed your doing so well being so busy at school :)
  • sally884
    sally884 Posts: 51
    Ignore those people. They aren't looking for your best interests :)
  • kmglennie
    kmglennie Posts: 40
    To the OP- A lot of us are recommending not to eyeball *because* we've done it ourselves and failed at it. You had asked for help with understanding where you were going wrong, and people are trying to give suggestions. It's true that people here don't take kindly to things that sound like excuses, and it's also true that you will often receive tough love, but I do feel it's out of the intention to help.
  • knra_grl
    knra_grl Posts: 1,566 Member
    Okay so splurge and spend the $10 on a scale (doesn't need to be fancy just need to weigh in grams and ounces).

    You need to log properly and learn to make some simple dishes. Omelettes are easy to make and good anytime of the day. Stir fry is simple and easy. There are plenty of good foods that don't require cooking yourself. On Sundays grab a pre-roasted chicken at the grocery store and a bunch of salad fixings or minute rice and you will have at least 6-8 meals. Sweet potatoes are awesome and baked sweet potatoe fries are so easy. No need to be complicated - keep your foods simple.

    Check your settings - what did you set your activity level at? I would set it at sedentary and log the exercise then eat your daily goal calories and about 1/2 of what is added for exercise. That way on days you exercise you can keep better track of your food and on days you don't exercise you will eat your calorie goal for the day.

    Not an expert but I think at this point you should try to be as accurate as possible. Within a couple weeks weighing and logging food and exercise will be easy. Congrats on your loss so far - you are doing great! :flowerforyou:
  • Alyssawinter1221
    Alyssawinter1221 Posts: 118
    To the OP- A lot of us are recommending not to eyeball *because* we've done it ourselves and failed at it. You had asked for help with understanding where you were going wrong, and people are trying to give suggestions. It's true that people here don't take kindly to things that sound like excuses, and it's also true that you will often receive tough love, but I do feel it's out of the intention to help.

    I don't eyeball... I use measuring cups. It's not like I'm totally off.
    I don't think people telling me I'm stupid and full of excuses is any kind of love, including tough.

    I thought this was a community that was open to questions, without degrading someone and name calling. I will not make that mistake again! Thank you for the legitimate suggestions and the kind words. I'll get a scale.
  • Jeannieclark84
    Jeannieclark84 Posts: 58 Member
    I peeked at your dairy. I feel that you just are not eating enough. You need to give your body nutrients and fuel so you need to eat. I get being a college student. I have spent the past 4 years in vet school and that does not leave much time for anything else. But I finally realized that I had to make time.
    When I started back in April of 2013 I weight 270ish. I am now 205 now. Everyone's body is different. struggled for years. I joined MFP in 2010 and bounced back and forth. I tried weight watchers and the weight started to come off but then it was just too difficult for me to keep up with.
    In April, I bought a fitbit one, a good scale to weigh myself on, and a food scale. I make my menu out for the entire week and grocery shop on Saturday and cook most of my meals on Sunday so I can grab and go. There have been times over the past year that I fail but I get back on and go again. I aim for three meals with three snacks throughout the day. I have a huge lunch box that goes everywhere with me. The money that I spent on the above items has been well worth it. I am feeling healthier and I have much more energy. If you want to lose it you will find a way.

    url=http://www.myfitnesspal.com/weight-loss-ticker]3153899.png[/url]
    Created by MyFitnessPal.com - Free Calorie Counter
  • lindsey1979
    lindsey1979 Posts: 2,395 Member
    Wow I did not realize people were going to tear into me and call me stupid and a liar.

    My parents pay for a lot of my food, and so does my boyfriend. They just do without my asking. Especially now since I'm home for spring break visiting my family.

    God, I'll get a scale just because I feel like I was brow beaten into it.

    How do I delete this post? I don't wanna take this beating anymore.

    I'm so sorry for this. Unfortunately, I've found this to be far too typical. I had the same experience when I first got here -- got called a liar, crazy, in denial, etc. I don't know why some people here like to do that -- this is the first fitness board where this is so prevalent.

    Forget them; they're not worth it. Just friend people that have similar comments -- there are quite a few good ones out there. You just have to ignore the bad and rude.
  • knra_grl
    knra_grl Posts: 1,566 Member
    Wow I did not realize people were going to tear into me and call me stupid and a liar.

    My parents pay for a lot of my food, and so does my boyfriend. They just do without my asking. Especially now since I'm home for spring break visiting my family.

    God, I'll get a scale just because I feel like I was brow beaten into it.

    How do I delete this post? I don't wanna take this beating anymore.

    Don't worry about the "beating" read between the lines and figure out what is actually being said. The truth is you have lost 18 lbs doing what you have done so far but you won't be able to continue in that manner if you really want to lose the weight. It is plain and simple calorie deficit that will help you lose the weight and "eyeballing" is inaccurate. Don't take it personally - just take the good advice and leave the rest :wink:
  • ehensarling17
    ehensarling17 Posts: 95 Member
    To the OP- A lot of us are recommending not to eyeball *because* we've done it ourselves and failed at it. You had asked for help with understanding where you were going wrong, and people are trying to give suggestions. It's true that people here don't take kindly to things that sound like excuses, and it's also true that you will often receive tough love, but I do feel it's out of the intention to help.

    I don't eyeball... I use measuring cups. It's not like I'm totally off.
    I don't think people telling me I'm stupid and full of excuses is any kind of love, including tough.

    I thought this was a community that was open to questions, without degrading someone and name calling. I will not make that mistake again! Thank you for the legitimate suggestions and the kind words. I'll get a scale.

    Hi Alyssa! Hang in there! Everyone wants to see you succeed and that's why you're getting the advice you've been getting. Some have called it tough love. I, too, cannot emphasize how helpful the kitchen scale has been *for me*. To each their own.

    Check out this video and you'll see how the calories really add up when you look at eyeballing versus weighing your food: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JVjWPclrWVY

    Congrats on the weight you've lost thus far!
  • kmglennie
    kmglennie Posts: 40
    I don't eyeball... I use measuring cups. It's not like I'm totally off.

    I was using measuring cups, and even though I was using them, I was still way off. Seriously, I recommend watching this video on this topic: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JVjWPclrWVY

    AHA! I see the person above me shared the same link- sorry for the duplicate post!
  • smn76237
    smn76237 Posts: 318 Member
    You asked someone to please explain. Lots of people explained, you just didn't like the answers.

    Nobody likes being told they are wrong and it's natural to get defensive. Take this as a learning opportunity on how to process criticism--especially when here, it was pretty much all valid.
  • lindsey1979
    lindsey1979 Posts: 2,395 Member
    There is a difference between explaining and doing so in an insulting, disrespectful way. Unfortunately, some people on this site don't understand that. They appear to think that so long as they're honest, they can be as cruel, disrespectful and insulting as they choose.

    Just ignore them. They lack very basic people skills or are just looking for opportunities to be cruel and bullies. They likely have very sad lives to act like that.

    Try to just ignore them to the extent you can and take in all the other people who are interested in trying to help you -- with information, what worked for them, etc. Best of luck!
  • FMUP
    FMUP Posts: 34 Member
    Loosing 1.6 pounds a week is great! Do try to eat less junk food though--- it is loaded with salt and salt will keep you retaining water which may mess with what you are seeing on the scale. Great job!!!!
  • SugaryLynx
    SugaryLynx Posts: 2,640 Member
    1.5 lbs with 30-40 left to lose is pretty fast. I wouldn't want to lose any quicker. That's about what I lost at 150 lbs (started at 170 back in June), I'm now 115 lbs at 5'3.5". If you're losing that much I don't see the point in getting a scale. If you hit a long lasting plateau (like 3+ weeks) with no scale movement, that's when I'd consider it. Just keep swimming
  • dreawest
    dreawest Posts: 208 Member
    I too am a scale avoider right now. I think its a major accomplishment that I track and the scale still feels too controlly/anal for myself personally although in the future it may work.

    For the time being I think I do as solid a job estimating as I can.

    My only point to the OP is that while I too like a buffer and don't eat back all of my calories I do try and be as accurate as possible and so while I leave wiggle room I try and do it with some extra calories at the end of the day and by rounding up my nubers by no more than 10% when I'm serving myself foods just to ensure my cup wasn't more densely full or whatever. I think we can increase our accuracy and awareness of what we are doing but only by being as honest as we can. Over estimating food and under estimating exercise the way you do seems like a path to problems in the future where you'd stall out your loss.

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