Not losing any weight.

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atdeal94
atdeal94 Posts: 13
in Health and Weight Loss
My new dilemma is that I'm not losing any weight. I am not eating overly healthy but I am doing MUCH better considering I used to eat 2-3 fast food meals a day as well as anywhere between 3-5 sodas a day. Now I eat maybe 1 meal fast food every couple days and drink only 1 soda a day the rest water. My problem area is my stomach. Any help?

Replies

  • psuLemon
    psuLemon Posts: 38,395 MFP Moderator
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    It's all about accuracy, consistency and time. Are you logging all of your food? Do you use a food scale? And what is your workout routine? Can you open your food diary?
  • atdeal94
    atdeal94 Posts: 13
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    I am logging all of my food even the little snacks. I have not seen where a food scale has come a necessity because I mostly use measuring cups to measure my food. I haven't found a workout routine that is available to my schedule. I work 12 hour days then come home and do college homework. Not sure how to open my food diary.
  • malibu927
    malibu927 Posts: 17,565 Member
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    I have not seen where a food scale has come a necessity because I mostly use measuring cups to measure my food.

    A food scale is much more accurate than measuring cups

    (whoops, power went out and I was too distracted to proofread my post)
  • adamitri
    adamitri Posts: 614 Member
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    I have not seen where a food scale has come a necessity because I mostly use measuring cups to measure my food.

    A food scale is much more accurate than measuring cups

    This is very true. I was over eating without even knowing it when I was just using measuring cups.
  • kar219
    kar219 Posts: 1
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    I use a food scale and exercise almost every day and my scale hasn't budged either. I don't know what else to do but wait it out and just keep up with my diet and exercise.:ohwell:
  • royaldrea
    royaldrea Posts: 259 Member
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    Get a food scale - if you're logging it makes a huge difference. Measuring cups are to measure liquids, not solids. They can be really off.

    Make sure you're being consistent with your logging. A lot of times we underestimate or leave some stuff out because we want our diary to look the way it should, instead of how it actually is - it means nothing to have a great diary if the reality is that you're overeating. You're here for results.

    Give it some time. Don't get discouraged, just keep going and work on modifying your regime if necessary. Don't do anything drastic (very low calorie, insane exercise plans) to start your weight loss - primary reason being that it's not sustainable and you may end up binging and get upset and give up.

    Hope all goes well, remember this is a marathon (but not a competition) so there's no need to rush.
  • emdeesea
    emdeesea Posts: 1,823 Member
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    Yeah you can't rely on measuring cups, that only gives you an estimate. I discovered this. You have to go by weight. You'll be surprised at how much that food is off when you start weighing it on a scale.
  • atdeal94
    atdeal94 Posts: 13
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    Can anyone give me the basics on using a food scale? I know that in my fitness pal a lot of the items are logged by amount ie 1/3 cup, 1/2 oz, etc. so how do you log with a food scale?
  • Liftng4Lis
    Liftng4Lis Posts: 15,150 Member
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    Oh definitely get a scale, Walmart 15$. Measure in ounces, almost everything has ounces.
  • malibu927
    malibu927 Posts: 17,565 Member
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    Can anyone give me the basics on using a food scale? I know that in my fitness pal a lot of the items are logged by amount ie 1/3 cup, 1/2 oz, etc. so how do you log with a food scale?

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1234699-logging-accurately-step-by-step-guide

    It's all listed, very detailed, here
  • Redheadllena
    Redheadllena Posts: 353 Member
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    Try tracking your body measurements more than your weight - you might be changing more than you think.

    Also....imo, quit soda entirely, especially if you hold your weight in your tummy area (like me). 1 a month is one thing, 1 a day could be holding you back from your goals.
  • lemonsnowdrop
    lemonsnowdrop Posts: 1,298 Member
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    Can you tolerate zero calorie soda? I used to drink 3 Cokes a day. Now I drink one Vanilla Coke Zero a day and the rest is water. Water sucks at first, but you really begin to love it if you drink it enough.
  • MKEgal
    MKEgal Posts: 3,250 Member
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    My new dilemma is that I'm not losing any weight. I am not eating overly healthy but I am doing MUCH better considering I used to eat 2-3 fast food meals a day as well as anywhere between 3-5 sodas a day. Now I eat maybe 1 meal fast food every couple days and drink only 1 soda a day the rest water. My problem area is my stomach. Any help?
    If you're not losing weight, you're eating as much as or more than your body needs.
    And there's no way to spot-reduce. To lose fat in your stomach area, you have to lose fat everywhere.

    The most obvious thing to cut is the soda. Drinking calories somehow doesn't register with our "full sensor" the same way eating calories does. I don't understand it.
    Try iced tea, water with lemon, the zero-calorie flavorings (mio, crystal light, etc.).

    And you'll get more, healthier food for less money if you don't eat fast food. Eat at home, pack a lunch.


    This calculator will tell you not only your BMI, but how many servings of various foods to eat to maintain that weight.
    If you enter your healthy goal weight, this will help you plan your food intake.
    https://www.bcm.edu/research/centers/childrens-nutrition-research-center/healthyeatingcalculator/eatingCal.html


    Helpful posts:

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/819925-the-basics-don-t-complicate-it

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1080242-a-guide-to-get-you-started-on-your-path-to-sexypants

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/872212-you-re-probably-eating-more-than-you-think

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/833026-important-posts-to-read


    Sleep enough.
    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/blog/MKEgal/view/2014-08-27-sleep-weight-control-690492


    As for how to log food, search for (or use) listings which have ounces or grams.






    .
  • StaciMarie1974
    StaciMarie1974 Posts: 4,138 Member
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    Food packing gives info on servings in grams and cups. The problem is grams is finite (by weight) but you don't know how much of the 'cup' will be filled w/ 1 serving. Most of the time, 1 cup is not a full cup. So if you fill it to the top you're probably over by 10-20%. More if you over-fill the cup. Part of what fits depends on how it settles, or how its packed in. You can fill a measuring cup 10 different times and probably have 10 different weights. Yet you assume they're all the same calorie count because each one is a cup.
    Can anyone give me the basics on using a food scale? I know that in my fitness pal a lot of the items are logged by amount ie 1/3 cup, 1/2 oz, etc. so how do you log with a food scale?
  • atdeal94
    atdeal94 Posts: 13
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    I will try drinking a zero calorie soda. I know soda is terrible for you and I am slowly trying to get it out of my diet. I actually get headaches if I don't drink one. So my next steps is to drink one every two days. Then every three days etc. I don't want to take it out too quick that I punish myself and I go back to my old habits.
  • DvlDwnInGA
    DvlDwnInGA Posts: 368 Member
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    Counting calories is much more than just winging it. If you are not weighing your food, you are sabotaging you success.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JVjWPclrWVY&feature=youtu.be

    Watch this video, simple, informative, with terrible music.

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