Frustrated

llover10
llover10 Posts: 2
in Health and Weight Loss
Hello all!

I realize there are probably countless threads on this subject, so please feel free to point me in the right direction if you think my question can be answered elsewhere. I have read a number of different posts in the forum over the past few weeks, but thought I would reach out for opinions specific to my journal/journey.

3 years ago I used MFP to lose about 20 pounds over ~7 months, which was fantastic. Unfortunately, life got crazy last year, and I gained 15 pounds, putting me at 150 lbs. My goal weight is 130, but I tend to maintain around 133-134. I am 5'6" and female, early 20's.

I have been back on MFP counting since June 1, and have only seen my weight drop from 150 to 144ish. 6 pounds in 4 months is not exactly what I was hoping for. (And no, tragically, I did not take measurements in the beginning.) I purchased and began using a FitBit in mid-August, about 1.5 months ago, and believe it is helping me be more realistic about my calorie burn, but the weight is still refusing to come off.

I have a HRM which I use to estimate my calories burned on the elliptical, I try to eat as clean as I can (sugar is my biggest issue, especially over the summer when I was consuming a lot of fresh fruit in addition to chocolate), and I try to give myself a deficit of more than 500 calories per day.

What am I doing wrong? Many thanks in advance!

Replies

  • SamLD88
    SamLD88 Posts: 111 Member
    Do you use a food scale? We can underestimate the amount of calories we eat a day. You say you've been having 500+ cal defiicit a day, that'd be 16 lbs at an ideal 1 lb/wk pace. Your current pace seems to only be ~ 200 cal deficit a day.
  • Liftng4Lis
    Liftng4Lis Posts: 15,151 Member
    Same question as above, are you weighing an measuring? I only looked back a couple of weeks at your diary and with the exception of going over a couple of days, it looked okay. There is nothing wrong with losing at a slower pace, you don't have that much to lose.
  • jfmorrison
    jfmorrison Posts: 70 Member
    calculate your TDEE. weigh everything. eat 500 calories less than your TDEE
  • SherryTeach
    SherryTeach Posts: 2,836 Member
    You are most likely overestimating food consumption. It is very easy to do.
  • llover10
    llover10 Posts: 2
    Thank you, everyone! I just bought a food scale so hopefully that will help me be more accurate (although I do measure already), but I know patience is important. Best wishes to everyone :)
  • psuLemon
    psuLemon Posts: 38,431 MFP Moderator
    That is good you got a food scale. And believe us, we would all think we are accurate with calorie counting, but the studies suggest even the best people generally under report by as much as 400 calories.

    Having said that, I would recommend that you don't use quick adds (I see it quite often in your logging). Second, not that this is a huge issue, I would recommend getting some additional protein and decreasing the amount of carbs.

    Out of curiosity, what kind of exercise do you do?

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