Please tell me what I'm doing wrong here!!

I have posted this a couple times in other threads, but will say again: weight is a useless metric. Still don't understand why the mass majority uses this to base a fitness plan on.

Your weight is going to fluctuate sometimes as much as 5lbs in ONE DAY. Eat a big meal with a lot of salt, retain water for the next 3 hours and boom....instant 5lbs. Is it fat? No. Do you really need to get super upset about it? No.

If you really want to measure actual progress, you need to look at Body Mass Index (BMI). It is the measure of fat stored on your body. There are several ways that this can be measured, with varying degrees of accuracy and cost:

http://www.builtlean.com/2010/07/13/5-ways-to-measure-body-fat-percentage/

Also, here are what the BMI (body mass index) ranges are for men and women, and what they look like in general. Aim for what you want your body to look like, and shoot for that body fat %:

http://www.builtlean.com/2012/09/24/body-fat-percentage-men-women/

Other big thing I noticed is your carb intake is *SKY HIGH* compared to your protein intake. You are getting over 60% of your calories from carbohydrates almost every day and only about 15% of your calories from protein!!! You need to drastically shift your calorie sources. I would recommend keeping your carb intake to an absolute maximum of 40% of your daily calories, and bumping up your protein intake to at least 35%. Easiest way to do it is to cut the processed foods out and replace with lean meats.

:drinker:

I actually measure my food with a scale daily and use measuring cups/spoons ALWAYS. I never just guess what I'm eating. I read the labels and eat exactly what is said for the amount and what I log. I log EVERYTHING I eat. I don't even take bites of other peoples food because then I would have to add it. Seriously..I measure everything lol

Are you sure you are picking the right entries for your food. One example is the subway tomato slices, when I don't think the sandwich was a subway sandwich? Try to pick entries in the database without an asterisk next to them when possible.

There was recently a great post covering how to log accurately http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1234699-logging-accurately-step-by-step-guide

May I add my 2 cents worth? I, too, had to give up my sweet, creamy coffee when I started this and I still miss it sometimes. But I do allow myself a treat once a week and I make the most of that! I agree with the poster above that I too have way more energy now that I'm not depending on the caffeine for it. I do agree that you need more protein and less carbs and sugar. I also have a bigger breakfast than lunch now and it really helps to get me through the day. I use protein shakes to get the extra protein and love them. I am thinking, too, if you were to add a bit of a walk each day (or even a few times a week) that would help. Your sodium intake could definitely be making the scale report an increase today. Sometimes, I want to throw my scale out the window, but if I limit myself to weighing only a few time a week, it helps a lot! Other than all that, you are obviously making a sincere effort to lose your weight and just keep it up! Good luck!

Thank you all for your advice and imput! Yes I know the coffee I drink is ridiculous and I figured it could be playing a role in this whole thing..so I am fine with cutting back to 1 a day..about 270cal per the website. I enjoy them and don't want to cut it out completely..for some reason it gives me some type of happiness lol..and I would pick it over cookies or cake or whatever. As for the subway tomato thing..I picked that one cause I only eat like 2-3 slices on my sandwich so I figured it was about the same..but I can measure from now on.
I either back or grill my food, never add butter unless necessary in a recipe, use butter spray any other time, don't cook my meat in oils, don't add salt to my food either. I thought I was doing pretty good except the coffee situation but I guess I'm not?! Life would be so much easier if counting calories really meant counting calories!!

As a fellow coffee addict, here is my suggestion, try to cut down to one per day as you said for about a week, then start avoiding it altogether for one day out of the week: for example, try one a day all days but Sunday or something, then the next week, try to add another day without the sugary coffee from SB. Eventually you could still have coffee at home 6 days a week and SB as a once a week treat.

You could try a scale for your food. I actually just bought mine today so I'll be in the boat with you. See if that helps. You just have to find what works for you.

Starbucks sells SF syrups and there are other companies that have SF coffee syrups as well, much cheaper and just as delicious.

Unsweetened almond milk, ice, coffee (I buy the starbucks beans and grind/brew at home now), and SF flavored syrup of your choice - whiz it in a blender/bullet and tada... a low cal/fat, yummy beverage!

Also, if you're out and about... a trenta iced coffee with SF syrup and Nonfat milk has FAR less calories and fat than the foo foo drinks.

Good luck!

You have time to stop for coffee but not make some eggs? It takes me less than 10 min and I eat eggs almost daily. You can hard boil eggs on Sunday to use throughout the week.

I used to drink an insane amount of pop - and then when I cut it out and drank 3L of water a day I dropped about 5lbs in a week just from switching.

I still drink my coffee in the morning, I have one a day - maybe, maybe 2 if it's just one of those days, but almost always only one. I love my coffee and I wouldn't ever say to anyone to give it up but as someone else posted trying have a coffee-less day if you want to cut it out. I personally don't want to cut out my coffee, but it's not a starbucks coffee or sugary drink, it's a medium from Tim Hortons.

I would also suggest to seriously look at the quality you're eating rather than just staying under your goals. For example, I prepare my meals a week at a time and when I grocery shop there are very few processed foods I buy - most of the stuff I eat is fresh and whole foods. You would be amazed at the food you can eat when you switch to clean eating, rather than processed. I am not an advocate for giving up your whole routine because I know from experience that trying to switch to something you can't eat or really don't like just because it's heathly will make you miserable!!

My biggest success has been clean eating, and eating the things I like in moderation. I am not 100% clean, I still drink coffee with cream and sugar but if I cut out absolutely everything I will be so miserable and it's not even worth it in the end.

Eat whole, non-processed foods where possible. Not sure what those are? My biggest decision maker: if the food has a commercial for it, it's probably not whole or all that fresh

Also, I know you said you're out with an injury BUT when you're back into things, WEIGHT LIFT WEIGHT LIFT WEIGHT LIFT!! I cannot say this enough. You may not lift heavy, but by increasing your muscle mass you will burn more calories at rest and therefore have a high deficit daily. Your sodium intake seems kind of high and that can also make you retain water.

Weight loss is not linear. Meaning even when you do everything perfect the scale #s will not move in a perfect line. Some things have a temporary effect on your weight (such as sodium, stress, lack of sleep, hormones, TOM). Not to mention: what you do today may not automatically take effect over night.

Hang in there! Keep moving forward and trust that the scale will eventually catch on.

So after your coffee you only leave 800ish calories to nourish your body? I suggest cutting back on the cals from the coffee, there is no way you will be able to get enough fat, protein, vitamins and minerals on the remaining 800ish cals