Help! What am I doing wrong? :(

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Replies

  • billymaxmum
    billymaxmum Posts: 25
    If you've been working out for a month but only logging for a week (that's what I read this as, anyway) then you've probably been eating more than you think the past three weeks. If you're tracking honestly and accurately from here on out you'll be fine, I think.

    Cool thanks for that. Yes you did interpret correctly. I guess I need to be more patient too - it took me a bit longer than a month to gain the weight so probably shouldn't expect to lose it that fast! Ha ha
  • kgeyser
    kgeyser Posts: 22,505 Member
    Thank you everyone for your advice.

    I'm going to weigh things more accurately and consistently, and aim for 1200 calories a day THEN burn it all off through exercise!

    Cheers!!

    Oh no you don't! That will make it worse. Your calorie deficit to lose weight is already built into your calorie goal. Whatever you burn during exercise you are supposed to eat back.

    So for example:

    Daily calorie goal: 1200 (although it should be 1500 at least based on the other person's calculation of your BMR being 1495)

    Exercise calories: 300

    1200 daily calorie goal + 300 exercise calories = What you should be eating to still lose weight each week, or 1500 based on the example here

    Please read the links and calculate your goals based on the information in them. My calories are set at 1650 before exercise; sometimes I end up eating 2000-2200 calories after exercise. You don't need to be hungry to lose weight.
  • DanaHerro
    DanaHerro Posts: 186 Member
    Thank you everyone for your advice.

    I'm going to weigh things more accurately and consistently, and aim for 1200 calories a day THEN burn it all off through exercise!

    Cheers!!

    I hope you haven't got the wrong idea still billymax

    The 1200 figure is the Net figure, so anything you burn off should still result in a minimum of 1200 calories

    i.e If you burn off 600 calories a day doing exercise - you need to eat a MINIMUM of 1800 calories per day

    YES YES YES THIS!! You need to NET 1200, not eat 1200.
    And honestly, the heavier you are, the more you need to eat to start to lose. When I was 216 lbs, I had to eat 1950/day to lose weight. When I ate less, I lost nothing. I used the TDEE minus 20% method for every single pound lost. Now I'm 148 and can eat 1650 to lose or closer to 1900 to maintain :)

    www.fat2fitradio.com Use the BMR calculator but enter your CURRENT weight for your goal weight as well.
    Then look at the little chart. Use the SEDENTARY # minus 20% to start. It works. I promise!! I even used that when I was working out 6 days a week. I now use the lightly active # minus 20% and I run like 15-20 miles per week and lift heavy weights at least 4 days a week.

    Redo the little chart for every 5 lbs lost!
    Good luck!
  • Wonderob
    Wonderob Posts: 1,372 Member
    Thank you everyone for your advice.

    I'm going to weigh things more accurately and consistently, and aim for 1200 calories a day THEN burn it all off through exercise!

    Cheers!!

    I hope you haven't got the wrong idea still billymax

    The 1200 figure is the Net figure, so anything you burn off should still result in a minimum of 1200 calories

    i.e If you burn off 600 calories a day doing exercise - you need to eat a MINIMUM of 1800 calories per day

    YES YES YES THIS!! You need to NET 1200, not eat 1200.
    And honestly, the heavier you are, the more you need to eat to start to lose. When I was 216 lbs, I had to eat 1950/day to lose weight. When I ate less, I lost nothing. I used the TDEE minus 20% method for every single pound lost. Now I'm 148 and can eat 1650 to lose or closer to 1900 to maintain :)

    www.fat2fitradio.com Use the BMR calculator but enter your CURRENT weight for your goal weight as well.
    Then look at the little chart. Use the SEDENTARY # minus 20% to start. It works. I promise!! I even used that when I was working out 6 days a week. I now use the lightly active # minus 20% and I run like 15-20 miles per week and lift heavy weights at least 4 days a week.

    Redo the little chart for every 5 lbs lost!
    Good luck!

    Skipping through this post I can see all sorts of good snippets

    TDEE - 20%
    Running for cardio
    Lift heavy weights

    That's a pretty good foundation for any weight loss plan right there
  • billymaxmum
    billymaxmum Posts: 25
    Oh my gosh I've been doing it so wrong! That might explain why I've been tired too.

    New plan: weigh everything and aim for 1200 calories after exercising!

    I must admit I'm scared to eat more as this seems to defy my natural instincts regarding weightloss but what do I know ha ha!

    Watch this space!! :D
  • clcorzine
    clcorzine Posts: 2
    Seems like your eating a lot of carbs, processed food and r u drinking soda???
  • billymaxmum
    billymaxmum Posts: 25
    Thank you everyone for your advice.

    I'm going to weigh things more accurately and consistently, and aim for 1200 calories a day THEN burn it all off through exercise!

    Cheers!!

    I hope you haven't got the wrong idea still billymax

    The 1200 figure is the Net figure, so anything you burn off should still result in a minimum of 1200 calories

    i.e If you burn off 600 calories a day doing exercise - you need to eat a MINIMUM of 1800 calories per day

    YES YES YES THIS!! You need to NET 1200, not eat 1200.
    And honestly, the heavier you are, the more you need to eat to start to lose. When I was 216 lbs, I had to eat 1950/day to lose weight. When I ate less, I lost nothing. I used the TDEE minus 20% method for every single pound lost. Now I'm 148 and can eat 1650 to lose or closer to 1900 to maintain :)

    www.fat2fitradio.com Use the BMR calculator but enter your CURRENT weight for your goal weight as well.
    Then look at the little chart. Use the SEDENTARY # minus 20% to start. It works. I promise!! I even used that when I was working out 6 days a week. I now use the lightly active # minus 20% and I run like 15-20 miles per week and lift heavy weights at least 4 days a week.

    Redo the little chart for every 5 lbs lost!
    Good luck!

    Awesome! Thanks, this looks really helpful!
  • Wonderob
    Wonderob Posts: 1,372 Member
    Oh my gosh I've been doing it so wrong! That might explain why I've been tired too.

    New plan: weigh everything and aim for 1200 calories after exercising!

    I must admit I'm scared to eat more as this seems to defy my natural instincts regarding weightloss but what do I know ha ha!

    Watch this space!! :D

    Brilliant, sounds like a good plan

    My wife was saying the exact same thing - a really hard concept to get your head around and totally against your natural instincts - she is often eating MORE than she actually wants to, whilst on a diet! It really is the right way to do it though

    Good luck
  • billymaxmum
    billymaxmum Posts: 25
    Seems like your eating a lot of carbs, processed food and r u drinking soda???

    Hi there. I don't really eat much processed foods and never drink soda.
  • billymaxmum
    billymaxmum Posts: 25
    Thank you everyone for your advice.

    I'm going to weigh things more accurately and consistently, and aim for 1200 calories a day THEN burn it all off through exercise!

    Cheers!!

    Oh no you don't! That will make it worse. Your calorie deficit to lose weight is already built into your calorie goal. Whatever you burn during exercise you are supposed to eat back.

    So for example:

    Daily calorie goal: 1200 (although it should be 1500 at least based on the other person's calculation of your BMR being 1495)

    Exercise calories: 300

    1200 daily calorie goal + 300 exercise calories = What you should be eating to still lose weight each week, or 1500 based on the example here

    Please read the links and calculate your goals based on the information in them. My calories are set at 1650 before exercise; sometimes I end up eating 2000-2200 calories after exercise. You don't need to be hungry to lose weight.

    Thank you so much for explaining this! It totally makes sense and I've had it so wrong for so long! Doh!
  • wilsoje74
    wilsoje74 Posts: 1,720 Member
    Is your salad really just lettuce? And 3 scoops protein powder are usually more than 100 something cals. Do you mix this with milk? I didn't see milk logged but maybe you do something else with it ?
  • rosnz
    rosnz Posts: 91 Member
    I still think you are under logging. Log everything - that's all your sauces, dressings,cooking oil etc. for example I see you record. 'Beef mince' I'm assuming you didn't have this raw so you probably added some sort of sauce or gravy with it. It takes time but all those extras add up - I love sweet chilli sauce just 1 teaspoon (5mls) has 63 kilojoules so I have to watch that! Good luck - it's worthwhile.
  • billymaxmum
    billymaxmum Posts: 25
    I still think you are under logging. Log everything - that's all your sauces, dressings,cooking oil etc. for example I see you record. 'Beef mince' I'm assuming you didn't have this raw so you probably added some sort of sauce or gravy with it. It takes time but all those extras add up - I love sweet chilli sauce just 1 teaspoon (5mls) has 63 kilojoules so I have to watch that! Good luck - it's worthwhile.

    Yes you are so right! Sometimes I can't be bothered but I see now how those little things can make a difference. Thanks
  • billymaxmum
    billymaxmum Posts: 25
    Is your salad really just lettuce? And 3 scoops protein powder are usually more than 100 something cals. Do you mix this with milk? I didn't see milk logged but maybe you do something else with it ?

    You are so right- I haven't listed everything but I don't have dressings or anything on my salads just usually tomato, capsicum, cucumber and sprouts. If I were to have a protein shake I'd mix with water but do have milk on my cereal. Guess I have to be much more specific than I have been. I do sometimes find it hard to find the exact things in the database and don't know how to work things out myself....?
  • 1princesswarrior
    1princesswarrior Posts: 1,242 Member
    Is your salad really just lettuce? And 3 scoops protein powder are usually more than 100 something cals. Do you mix this with milk? I didn't see milk logged but maybe you do something else with it ?

    You are so right- I haven't listed everything but I don't have dressings or anything on my salads just usually tomato, capsicum, cucumber and sprouts. If I were to have a protein shake I'd mix with water but do have milk on my cereal. Guess I have to be much more specific than I have been. I do sometimes find it hard to find the exact things in the database and don't know how to work things out myself....?

    This link should help you with finding the right database entries and logging:
    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1234699-logging-accurately-step-by-step-guide

    This is one of the keys to success on this site so maybe focus on that for a week or two.
  • wilsoje74
    wilsoje74 Posts: 1,720 Member
    Is your salad really just lettuce? And 3 scoops protein powder are usually more than 100 something cals. Do you mix this with milk? I didn't see milk logged but maybe you do something else with it ?

    You are so right- I haven't listed everything but I don't have dressings or anything on my salads just usually tomato, capsicum, cucumber and sprouts. If I were to have a protein shake I'd mix with water but do have milk on my cereal. Guess I have to be much more specific than I have been. I do sometimes find it hard to find the exact things in the database and don't know how to work things out myself....?
    many will say to eat more, but in reality if you really are eating less than 1200, you should be losing. Log everything for a couple weeks then weigh in. Milk, sauces, vegetables, dressings, oils, beverages.
  • billymaxmum
    billymaxmum Posts: 25
    Is your salad really just lettuce? And 3 scoops protein powder are usually more than 100 something cals. Do you mix this with milk? I didn't see milk logged but maybe you do something else with it ?

    You are so right- I haven't listed everything but I don't have dressings or anything on my salads just usually tomato, capsicum, cucumber and sprouts. If I were to have a protein shake I'd mix with water but do have milk on my cereal. Guess I have to be much more specific than I have been. I do sometimes find it hard to find the exact things in the database and don't know how to work things out myself....?

    This link should help you with finding the right database entries and logging:
    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1234699-logging-accurately-step-by-step-guide

    This is one of the keys to success on this site so maybe focus on that for a week or two.

    Great! Thank you! I'm loving all the support and advice, awesome!

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