Why am I not losing weight?!

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Replies

  • editorgrrl
    editorgrrl Posts: 7,060 Member
    So what people really mean is, figure out a good, sustainable goal, and then meet that goal by logging accurately.
    ^^^This.

    Weight loss takes a whole lot of trial & error to find what works for you. (And our advice will change as you share more information.)
  • That's your problem. Go buy a scale at home. Every time you weigh yourself, your goal should always to try to be as consistent as possible. You want to do your best to eliminate external factors like clothes, food, water weight etc. Also, I don't know how often you go to the gym but that extra weight might be from the lean muscle you're gaining.

    I go to the gym 6 days per week, cardio and strength training.
  • I just need a 24/7 coach that tells me what to do and eat all day every day.
  • knra_grl
    knra_grl Posts: 1,566 Member
    OP you do realize that your daily goal is already set at a deficit? By not meeting your calorie goals and not eating back any of your exercise calories you are creating a bigger deficit? Over estimating your foods and under estimating your exercise will again create an even bigger deficit? You have stated that you had an ED in your teens. The only thing I can say here is that you are not eating enough and you need to address that issue. How did you address your ED in your teens? Perhaps you need to revisit that and get back on track. I am not trying to be judgemental and I can honestly say that I can't relate to your issues with food but I think you need to seek some help to get this in check.

    Maybe I don't understand fully how MFP works. So the 1200 calorie goal is already a deficit? Should I be eating back all of the calories I burn at the gym?

    I never sought out help when I had an ED as a teen, I realized what I was doing was unhealthy and would cause serious health problems if I continued, so I was able to stop. However, by doing so, I obviously gained back weight. And since then it's been a serious challenge for me to keep the weight off.

    Yes your goal is already at a deficit so eat at least your calorie goal on non exercise days, when you exercise enter the exercise and eat back at least 1/3 to 3/4 of your exercise calories. By undereating you are slowing your metabolism down. Hope this helps! Good luck :flowerforyou:
  • The only thing I would say is that fat turns to muscle and by the sounds of it you are keeping fit and eating healthy so ideally you should be losing weight, but the fact that you are probably toning up and building up muscle you're staying the same weight. You may have lost inches or your body may have changed shape slightly. Perhaps try not to exercise so much one week but stick to your daily calorie allowance strictly and see if there helps.
  • editorgrrl
    editorgrrl Posts: 7,060 Member
    I just need a 24/7 coach that tells me what to do and eat all day every day.
    You have to be your own coach. Your biggest takeaway from this thread so far should be to be patient. Educate yourself, read the Sexypants link, and just work on meeting your calorie goal.

    Eat back all your calories for two weeks. A healthy weight loss for someone with 40 lb. to go is .5 to 1 lb. per week. So if you lose a pound or two by Friday, April 11, you're doing great! If not, eat back half your exercise calories for another two weeks. That's April 25.
  • kpchefai
    kpchefai Posts: 54 Member
    Weigh your food!!!! Everything changed for me when I started weighing. I have been losing successfully and steadily since then. If you are really in it to win it the cost for a food scale(which isn't much anyway) is totally worth it!
  • Super_Amy
    Super_Amy Posts: 97 Member
    I don't know if cutting down on the cigs does this, but I do know that when I finally quit smoking I underwent a huge metabolism shift that took me a couple of months to sort out.
  • alpine1994
    alpine1994 Posts: 1,915 Member
    I just need a 24/7 coach that tells me what to do and eat all day every day.
    You have to be your own coach. Your biggest takeaway from this thread so far should be to be patient. Educate yourself, read the Sexypants link, and just work on meeting your calorie goal.

    Eat back all your calories for two weeks. A healthy weight loss for someone with 40 lb. to go is .5 to 1 lb. per week. So if you lose a pound or two by Friday, April 11, you're doing great! If not, eat back half your exercise calories for another two weeks. That's April 25.

    I was going to say this same exact thing. You have been at this for 3 weeks. It takes a long time to learn about nutrition, fitness, weight loss, how everything is connected, what works for you, etc. It took me 9 months to lose 30 lbs, and keeping it off for a year now (holy crap just realized it's been a year!) hasn't been butterflies and rainbows either. I'm constantly learning and tweaking. The #1 piece of advice I can give you is that moderation is KEY. Don't cut anything out, just make it work into your day if you REALLY want it. Sometimes you'll go over your cals (holidays, vacations, etc.) and that's ok. Sometimes you won't be able to work out due to work/family obligaitons or sickness/injury. That's okay too. Life happens, but just keep on doing the best you can. Change will come, but what doesn't challenge you doesn't change you. :)
  • gsager
    gsager Posts: 977 Member
    Are you using a HRM?
  • siouxsie3278
    siouxsie3278 Posts: 17 Member
    Keep in mind every body is different and what works for some, doesn't work for others. It can get confusing and add to the frustration. If you are able to, make an appointment with your doctor, a nutritionist, personal trainer or other professional so they can focus on you as an individual!
  • Are you using a HRM?

    No, I just take the average calories burned (comparing the actual cardio machine at the gym to what MFP says) and then I take a number a little lower than that.
  • jkowula
    jkowula Posts: 447
    Sorry to beat a dead horse here but it is so true. Time time and time. Patience. It has taken me 5 months to see substantial progress. I still have a ways to go and I have a mindset that it will take another 7 months. Seems like an eternity , but you need to make changes for life, there is no quick fix, well unless you want to ride a stationary bike wearing garbage bags in a sauna. You can cut weight that way, but uh no. So just keep sticking with what you are doing. Make sure you know exactly how many calories are going into your body and it will work, just keep doing it. Time will pass anyways so why not keep hard at it. You will see results and I am living proof of that. If a fat lazy old guy like me can do it, anyone can....
  • cruiseking
    cruiseking Posts: 338 Member
    It's not always how many calories, but what your body decides to burn and store. If you eat carbs (including fruit) prior to exercise your body reacts with insulin, which tells your body to store fat . I was a fruit a holic, and my Dr. suggested more lean protein and vegetables, and to cut the fruits and carbs to lower insulin response. Best bet HIIT on an empty stomach, and fruit only immediately after working out. It worked for me. I understand result may vary, but based on your diary, it is a place you may try to make changes. I know it's a little more scientifically complicated than my explanation, but listening to my Dr. explain it made perfect sense, and it worked.
  • 1princesswarrior
    1princesswarrior Posts: 1,242 Member
    I looked at your diary and I saw a couple of things. You seem to have a lot of sodium which can cause water retention. I can't really tell if you are eating at a deficit because you are not using a food scale. I completely understand your fears but I highly encourage you to get one and weigh all of your solid food. Most of your days it does not look like you are eating enough but it's really hard to tell to give you objective feedback. For example, a medium apple can range anywhere from 80-160 grams in weight, I don't know the calorie difference right off the top of my head but it adds up quickly.

    For as much exercise as you are doing you need to eat enough to fuel your body. You can to in and set your macros manually by going to goals and choose custom instead of guided.

    You eat a lot of fruit which is where I think most of your carbs are coming from. This IMO is not bad as I don't think of any food as good or bad. But may try adding some more veggies and lean protein. I did just quickly skim your diary though so I could have missed things (you can correct me).

    And let me reiterate what several others have said, read the guide to sexy pants and all it's links, and you're probably eating more than your think. Here's another good link: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/912920-in-place-of-a-road-map-3-2013

    It's really hard to give you specific advice until you know exactly what you are eating.

    Congratulations on reducing the smoking!!!!! :flowerforyou: :flowerforyou:
  • Its a slow process,But dont give up,I have a tip!If you are strength training and eating well and also cardio,You need to measure not weigh,Because as you build muscle and loose fat,Your weight could stay the same,But you are toning,And thats what you want!And Muscle does weigh more than fat!
  • Joji_Bean
    Joji_Bean Posts: 18 Member
    Hey there! I don't think you are eating enough! 1200 calories per day is not enough, especially with working out 6 days per week and if you aren't eating any of those burned calories back. Try for 1500 calories per day and weigh yourself once per week. Good luck!
  • I looked at your diary and I saw a couple of things. You seem to have a lot of sodium which can cause water retention. I can't really tell if you are eating at a deficit because you are not using a food scale. I completely understand your fears but I highly encourage you to get one and weigh all of your solid food. Most of your days it does not look like you are eating enough but it's really hard to tell to give you objective feedback. For example, a medium apple can range anywhere from 80-160 grams in weight, I don't know the calorie difference right off the top of my head but it adds up quickly.

    For as much exercise as you are doing you need to eat enough to fuel your body. You can to in and set your macros manually by going to goals and choose custom instead of guided.

    You eat a lot of fruit which is where I think most of your carbs are coming from. This IMO is not bad as I don't think of any food as good or bad. But may try adding some more veggies and lean protein. I did just quickly skim your diary though so I could have missed things (you can correct me).

    And let me reiterate what several others have said, read the guide to sexy pants and all it's links, and you're probably eating more than your think. Here's another good link: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/912920-in-place-of-a-road-map-3-2013

    It's really hard to give you specific advice until you know exactly what you are eating.

    Congratulations on reducing the smoking!!!!! :flowerforyou: :flowerforyou:

    I don't eat breakfast until after my work out, I'm never hungry in the morning, so my breakfast is after my workout. Usually a fruit smoothie (I add spinach and carrots sometimes depending on what else I'm putting in my shake) and I include a protein powder meal replacing mix. I do eat a lot of fruit, after reading your response I do realize I should be eating more veggies. It's hard to grocery shop for one person with fruits and vegetables because they go bad so fast! My boyfriend does not eat many fruits and veggies.
  • I appreciate all the feedback! Thanks to everyone! I hope I can find the right "diet" plan that works for me. I guess patience is a virtue!