Are you REALLY doing everything possible?
ninerbuff
Posts: 49,022 Member
Had an assessment yesterday with a member who has been at a standstill with weight loss for a year now. So the initial story sounded like she was doing everything right with intake, exercise, rest, physical check ups, etc..
While we chatted more, she opened up about her personal life more (not uncommon) and then I found out that the "cheats" she did on the weekends were more than just cheats. Drinking more than a bottle of wine, eating higher calories than she needed to (I added it up), not really exercising with the same intensity on the weekends, and staying out later with less rest, has obviously made an impact on why she isn't progressing as much anymore. Anyway, I start with her this week to "readjust" her program.
Be honest with yourself. If you aren't losing or aren't progressing, are you really doing what you need to do to get it done? One can whine about how good they are doing with no results, but in the end only one person really knows if the effort is true.
A.C.E. Certified Personal/Group FitnessTrainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
While we chatted more, she opened up about her personal life more (not uncommon) and then I found out that the "cheats" she did on the weekends were more than just cheats. Drinking more than a bottle of wine, eating higher calories than she needed to (I added it up), not really exercising with the same intensity on the weekends, and staying out later with less rest, has obviously made an impact on why she isn't progressing as much anymore. Anyway, I start with her this week to "readjust" her program.
Be honest with yourself. If you aren't losing or aren't progressing, are you really doing what you need to do to get it done? One can whine about how good they are doing with no results, but in the end only one person really knows if the effort is true.
A.C.E. Certified Personal/Group FitnessTrainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
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Replies
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absolutely...
that's why I log everything even if it means I am over maintenance.
This weekend was one of those weekends...I logged it all....didn't lose any today but that's okay.
I am honest with myself...and that's who matters.0 -
AMEN0
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This is a great post! I know I'm guilty of weekend binges or constant "tastes" of my kids food.0
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exactly why i log everything. every pig-outs, every bites if/when i finish my daughters meals, and every binges of mine. it might be ugly, but at end i can look back and see where did i stumble and can even analyse the reason behind each binge.0
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I'm not really doing all that i can do, but im doing what i want. i.e. Im not exercising till my knee gets healed, i ate a hot fudge sundae yesterday (but it didn't hurt me tee hee and I eat clean!). and so no im not doing "everything" because I dont want to.. but i do what i want and am accomplishing about a 2-3 pound weight loss per week so far.0
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I log everything, even when it makes me wince. I opted not to exercise much this weekend, and it showed in a reduced caloric deficit for the weekend. Ouch. But you know, I'd make the same decision again because I wasn't feeling well. In the end, that means accepting a smaller loss. I'm realistic about that.0
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Be honest with yourself. If you aren't losing or aren't progressing, are you really doing what you need to do to get it done? One can whine about how good they are doing with no results, but in the end only one person really knows if the effort is true.
Nope, I'm not. Your post could have been about me. Weekends and wine are my undoing. :drinker:
I'm counting on all the yard and garden work warmer weather brings to get the scale moving again.0 -
This is a great post! I know I'm guilty of weekend binges or constant "tastes" of my kids food.
OMG - If I don't watch it I can eat a second meal off my kids plates. It isn't even appetizing. It is like a compulsion and I have my mothers voice screeching in my mind not to throw food away because there are starving children somewhere! So I eat that last 1/4 of a pancake instead of scraping it in the garbage. I have four kids! Really! - my fat *kitten* hasn't saved one child a single hunger pang. :P If you see quick add calories in my diary - you know I've been snitching
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@ niner...
I believe my question goes along with this post. Just out of curiosity. How does water intake affect losing weight? As you know I was at a stand still in weight loss. I upped my calories as you suggested, and even had my RMR measured which showed below normal. The doctor suggested that I should be eating between 1300 - 1400 calories a day to lose weight, and anything less would throw my body into starvation and cause me to stop losing. Which is exactly what you sugggested to me! Haha.. go figure.. wasted copay?? Maybe not. At least I know that your advice is sound and that you know what you are talking about. (So anyone else reading this post LISTEN TO THIS GUY. HE KNOWS WHAT HE IS TALKING ABOUT). Anyway, I have stagnated again. My boyfriend thinks that maybe due to the workout intensity of the program and how much I have been sweating while doing it that I may not be taking in enough water and that my body may be retaining water because of it. I do drink between 4 and 8 (8oz) glasses a day. Although I have not been logging it, which I plan on starting to do today as I'm wondering if maybe he is right and/or maybe I am not taking in as much water as I think. I measure my water intake by how many times a day I have to fill up my 32oz water bottle. How much water should a person trying to lose weight take in on rest days vs workout days? Just wanted to get your thoughts on the subject. As always, THANKS FOR THE GREAT ADVICE!0 -
OMG - If I don't watch it I can eat a second meal off my kids plates. It isn't even appetizing. It is like a compulsion and I have my mothers voice screeching in my mind not to throw food away because there are starving children somewhere! So I eat that last 1/4 of a pancake instead of scraping it in the garbage. I have four kids! Really! - my fat *kitten* hasn't saved one child a single hunger pang. :P If you see quick add calories in my diary - you know I've been snitching
^ me.0 -
If you're accomplishing what you want with the program you're doing, then the above doesn't apply to your situation. I'm speaking of people who insist they are stuck (again barring any medical/health issue) and are claiming they are doing "everything right". 95% of the time, they really aren't.I'm not really doing all that i can do, but im doing what i want. i.e. Im not exercising till my knee gets healed, i ate a hot fudge sundae yesterday (but it didn't hurt me tee hee and I eat clean!). and so no im not doing "everything" because I dont want to.. but i do what i want and am accomplishing about a 2-3 pound weight loss per week so far.
A.C.E. Certified Personal/Group FitnessTrainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition0 -
I still haven't found a credible source to water intake that has scientific backing to support it. Here's what I BELIEVE: take your body weight and divide it by 1/2 or 1/3. The quotient would be the amount of ounces of water you try to consume. IE. I'm 192lbs. So I'm drinking 64oz to 96oz of water a day.@ niner...
I believe my question goes along with this post. Just out of curiosity. How does water intake affect losing weight? As you know I was at a stand still in weight loss. I upped my calories as you suggested, and even had my RMR measured which showed below normal. The doctor suggested that I should be eating between 1300 - 1400 calories a day to lose weight, and anything less would throw my body into starvation and cause me to stop losing. Which is exactly what you sugggested to me! Haha.. go figure.. wasted copay?? Maybe not. At least I know that your advice is sound and that you know what you are talking about. (So anyone else reading this post LISTEN TO THIS GUY. HE KNOWS WHAT HE IS TALKING ABOUT). Anyway, I have stagnated again. My boyfriend thinks that maybe due to the workout intensity of the program and how much I have been sweating while doing it that I may not be taking in enough water and that my body may be retaining water because of it. I do drink between 4 and 8 (8oz) glasses a day. Although I have not been logging it, which I plan on starting to do today as I'm wondering if maybe he is right and/or maybe I am not taking in as much water as I think. I measure my water intake by how many times a day I have to fill up my 32oz water bottle. How much water should a person trying to lose weight take in on rest days vs workout days? Just wanted to get your thoughts on the subject. As always, THANKS FOR THE GREAT ADVICE!
Water is important for muscle repair (since 75% of muscle is water anyway), and lack of it impairs repair. You'll have to experiment a little to see lack of sufficient water is your issue.
A.C.E. Certified Personal/Group FitnessTrainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition0 -
I still haven't found a credible source to water intake that has scientific backing to support it. Here's what I BELIEVE: take your body weight and divide it by 1/2 or 1/3. The quotient would be the amount of ounces of water you try to consume. IE. I'm 192lbs. So I'm drinking 64oz to 96oz of water a day.
Water is important for muscle repair (since 75% of muscle is water anyway), and lack of it impairs repair. You'll have to experiment a little to see lack of sufficient water is your issue.
A.C.E. Certified Personal/Group FitnessTrainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
Well, if this is the case, based on my calculations, I know I am not taking in enough water! Definitely going to up it and see! Thanks!0 -
I'm not really doing all that i can do, but im doing what i want. i.e. Im not exercising till my knee gets healed, i ate a hot fudge sundae yesterday (but it didn't hurt me tee hee and I eat clean!). and so no im not doing "everything" because I dont want to.. but i do what i want and am accomplishing about a 2-3 pound weight loss per week so far.
Basically the same for me, except for the amount of weight lost.
I could do more intense exercises, do NROWL, eat more protein/fruits/veggies. I don't because I still have a lazy streak in me and bad memories from being teased and shamed as a kid. I'm not going to become an in-shape, very fit woman.0 -
I love this post! I am totally in a stall, and I completely know why. I haven't been doing what I need to do to lose the weight, and I know it! It is no one's fault but mine. But I own that and I am totally back doing what I need to.
Great post OP!0 -
Such a good post!!!!0
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I know that my stalls have always stretched out because of me. If I am not losing weight for a couple of weeks or so, it is because I am not truly at a deficit. I could be having little bites here and there or slacking on my workout intensity (usually both).0
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Word to the OP.
I even log "store d'oeuvres."
If you're not keeping yourself honest, why go through the charade?0 -
bump for evening crowd0
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Word to the OP.
I even log "store d'oeuvres."
If you're not keeping yourself honest, why go through the charade?
"Store d'oeuvres" I like that a lot LOL!! Sounds like you must be familiar with the Costco Weekend :laugh:0 -
I did Costco this weekend. Ended up tasting TRI TIP and some Crab cakes. Bought the crab cakes!!!!Word to the OP.
I even log "store d'oeuvres."
If you're not keeping yourself honest, why go through the charade?
"Store d'oeuvres" I like that a lot LOL!! Sounds like you must be familiar with the Costco Weekend :laugh:
A.C.E. Certified Personal/Group FitnessTrainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition0 -
Word to the OP.
I even log "store d'oeuvres."
If you're not keeping yourself honest, why go through the charade?
Oh god, 'store d'oeuvres' made me crack up so hard. I'm so glad there isn't a Sam's Club or Costco closer! I have to drive an hour to get those.
This post is brilliant and exactly what a lot of people need to hear.
I am doing this program for me. If I lie about how much I eat, how much I exercise, etc, I'm hurting no one but myself. But being COMPLETELY honest with myself has let me see problem areas, so I log it all.
And if I don't work out for a week, oh well. That's on me. No one here is judging me, and if they are, screw them. This is about me, my health, and my weight loss.0 -
I don't log calories, but the OP is DEAD ON.
I have grown to loathe all the excuses and scapegoating.
The overwhelming majority of people who are stalled, or not losing, are in that boat completely from overindulging. And so many of those people chose to be ignorant and delusional about their actions.0 -
I posted this to a discussion earlier ..but you to know more so I'm gonna copy it to here ..
"so before this I have already lost almost 100lbs but I've been stuck in the same general weight for a year .. And then in sept I decided to go back to school and gained about 15 lbs over 6 months. Anywho I noticed I was back to old habits and nipped it in the bud and got back on track. Then got this app to continue to help to be aware of my calorie intake (tracking helps me big time). And it says around 1500 should be my daily intake. I sometimes have trouble eating that much but I don't go under 1200. I've also now incorporated 15-25 mins of high intensity cardio and some arm strengthening exercise. As well I go to the pool once a week. I've been tracking for 27 days and am down four lbs. I'm very big on loosing slowly because It's better for keeping it off. And although loosing weight makes me happy and I wanna be smaller my main goal is to have a healthy lifestyle and for it to become more less like work. So far am I doing this right?"0 -
I have been consistently losing about 1 pound a week since I started MFP last May. The weeks I lose 1/2 or none... I can definitely pinpoint why. I don't make excuses --- I just keep on trucking and bust it out the next week.
I know that if I really cut down on my eating... I would definitely lose more but I'd also probably be miserable and this whole process would feel more like a diet. I'm happy with my slow and steady loss though.
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Well said, OP.0
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It makes absolute zero sense for people to ask for help, and then lie.0
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There are a lot of excuses for sure. Lot's of 'third party' reasons why people cant lose weight, for example, a 'plateau' - the magic imaginary wall which physically prevents people from losing weight, metabolism - so unfair that there are people that can scoff massive pizzas every day and not put on weight (just not true).
Weight loss is just one tough reality check and the only way to do it is to eat at a calorie deficit. Most people hide behind plateaus so they dont have to blame themselves for lack of weight loss.
There wasnt a plateau preventing you from putting on weight in the first place and so it shoudnt be news that there isnt one preventing you from losing it. It really is that simple.0 -
Word.0
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OMG - If I don't watch it I can eat a second meal off my kids plates. It isn't even appetizing. It is like a compulsion and I have my mothers voice screeching in my mind not to throw food away because there are starving children somewhere! So I eat that last 1/4 of a pancake instead of scraping it in the garbage. I have four kids! Really! - my fat *kitten* hasn't saved one child a single hunger pang. :P If you see quick add calories in my diary - you know I've been snitching
^ me.
^^^Me too. Fortunately only one kid...or who knows how much bigger I would be.0
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