Frustrated, frustrated, frustrated

amoskies
amoskies Posts: 11
edited September 25 in Introduce Yourself
Hello....not a great way to introduce myself, but I feel like that should be my first name now a days! I started using this website back in November 2010 and lost 16 pounds before I got pregnant in January. I ended up having a miscarriage, but in those 2 months I gained back about 8 pounds. I started back counting calories and exercising around February 25 and also started some new birth control pills. I have really been dedicated about going to the gym 4-5 days a week and staying at or right under 1200 calories. I have not lost ONE pound or ONE inch in over a month. It is really not like me to hold on to every pound, especially while exercising. I don't want to blame the pills, since they are the lowest dosage of estrogen out there, but what else can it be? I have been so down today I went and got a butterfinger candy bar and a huge bag of white cheddar cheese popcorn and ate all of it! I don't want to give up, but it's so hard to face the fact that all my hard work is not paying off!! HELP!
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Replies

  • melissamauney
    melissamauney Posts: 25
    You need to up your calories.Sounds like your body is in starvation mode.
  • amoskies
    amoskies Posts: 11
    Even if 1200 is what MFP pal says to eat?
  • sarahs440
    sarahs440 Posts: 405
    I dont have much advice for you, as I am still learning. Forst off though, I am so sorry about your loss. Second, becareful with those low dose pills, i got pregnant while taking them religiously. lol. Third, I would just say hang in there. Try and fight the cravings. Are you eating back your excercise calories? Maybe you need to eat more? Healthy choices of course ;)

    Sorry for typos....
  • southa77
    southa77 Posts: 12
    I started out at 238 pounds and my doctor told me that for my weight and height which is 5`3 I should have 1700 calories a day for safe weight loss. Maybe you should contact your doctor to double check what you should be having. Hope this helps!
  • evanness
    evanness Posts: 25
    Do you spread your eating out, eating every two hours rather than just the three big meals? That has made a huge difference for me! Also, drinking lots and lots of water.
  • robertabushard
    robertabushard Posts: 2
    Try to change your work out at the gym. That works for me sometimes when I stop losing. The other thing that works is going to 600 calories for a day or two and It takes will power and a lot of water but it does work.
  • BakingGranny
    BakingGranny Posts: 112 Member
    Not only up your calories but don't get so discouraged. Stress weighs heavy. Did you know stress can put lbs on? Try to just relax and see what happens. If you would show your diary maybe some of us could help.
  • Akaratel
    Akaratel Posts: 137 Member
    yes i did not eat enough for ten years, martial arts 4-5 days a week and I never understood why i stayed the same... i didn't realize i was supposed to be eating the calories i burn :( Now I have lost 5 pounds in the one week I have been here.
  • crysmiss86
    crysmiss86 Posts: 67 Member
    Drink lots of water, if you aren't already. Helps the liver and kidney's flush out toxins faster. Not drinking enough water can make your body hold on to extra weight in water around your hips and stomach. Interesting fact I learned last week.
  • sarahs440
    sarahs440 Posts: 405
    Even if 1200 is what MFP pal says to eat?

    When you enter your excercise, it will give you those calories to eat back. Your NET should be 1200. It seems very important for some people to eat them back. I have read a lot of threads where people were not losing, then they starting eating more and the weight came off fast!
  • bjberry
    bjberry Posts: 665 Member
    Another plan is go 1200 calories for a few days, then go over 1200 one day, then back to 1200 for a couple of days, then very slightly less for a day. Keep your body guessing. Also park farther from the store or your job and get that extra # of steps into the mix--then eat about half of your exercise calories, so you do not go under 1200 calories too much. Think it might work? It did for me.
    :drinker: (drink lots of water)
  • Jessica_Lo
    Jessica_Lo Posts: 199 Member
    How tall are you?

    Don't be frustrated. What kind of working out do you do? Strength? Cardio?

    I started in Dec working out 7 days a week pretty hard core...lots of strength and it took me almost 2 months to lose anything. When you first start working out your muscles retain water which can offset the weight loss. I forget what the process is but it's your bodies way of saying...whoa...what is going on here and is this going to be long term or short term. Once you keep going and your body gets used to it then it releases the additional water and you start losing.

    Keep it up...you will see results. Good luck!!
  • ITSSODAMNHOT
    ITSSODAMNHOT Posts: 121 Member
    Well you can be depriving yourself of food. 1200 calories is pretty low. Was that suggested to you or is that what you want to eat a day? Also drink lots and lots of water. At minimum 80 oz a day. Keep it up! You'll see results soon
  • dababers
    dababers Posts: 135
    Your body needs time to adjust to not being pregnant...give it time and stick with it. So sorry for your loss.
  • Kera885
    Kera885 Posts: 59
    It could be that your calorie intake is too low, maybe you're not sleeping enough? Anyways, I know that you said you didn't want to blame the pills, but I just stopped taking mine (aviane, side effects just weren't worth it) and in the last couple of days I've dropped almost 2 pounds after 2 months of nada (the only 2 months that I was on the pill I might add) even though I've been going over my 1600 daily calories. Although it is worth mentioning that I've been getting a bit more sleep in the last couple days as well and sometimes that helps a lot if you haven't been losing lately. Hope this helps!
  • hpsnickers1
    hpsnickers1 Posts: 2,783 Member
    Yes. When exercising you need the extra fuel. And keep your NET calories above 1200. Look through some of the links in my signature.
  • vwbug86
    vwbug86 Posts: 283 Member
    Also you might want to get some blood work done. You might have some hormonal issues going on from losing your baby (my sympathies) and starting a new birth control.
  • mommynmotion
    mommynmotion Posts: 149 Member
    Okay...yes, it sound crazy I know. EAT YOUR EXERCISE CALORIES! I was completely stuck for almost a month actually gained 4 pounds in about a week when I started on here. I ate all of my calories in the begining...so I backed off and quit eating all of them, of course. Then stuck for 3 weeks...stuck and I burn 600-1000 calories per day exercising...so frustrated. I read all of the posts on here about eating your exercise calories but didn't listen. I wasted 3 weeks doing research on every website you can thin of...they all said teh same thing.

    MFP already has a deficit built in for you, so when it says eat 1200 calories NET...they mean it! Put in your food and your exercise and eat what it says to eat! I started doing this on Saturday and I have lost 2.5 pounds since then...my body is fianally letting go! If you eat 1200 calories and burn 400 exercising...your body thinks you only ate 800 calories! It really does make sense! Don't give up...try this and see what happens...what have you got to lose? I started writing my blog the other day...about eating those exercise calories. Search for the posts on here about it...it's a HUGE topic, probably the biggest on eon here. I wasted 3 weeks not eating!!!!!!

    TRY IT!!!!!
  • reese66
    reese66 Posts: 2,920 Member
    The 1200 calories gives you is not considering exercise. In my opinion you should eat your exercise or at least some of them. There are many posts on the boards that talk about the subject, you might want to read through some of them.

    Best wishes in your journey to a healthier you!!!
  • amoskies
    amoskies Posts: 11
    Wow, thanks everyone for the suggestions and ideas! I do cardio (elliptical, bike, raquetball) every day I go to the gym and then alternate upper and lower body on weights. I am 5'4" and weigh 180 trying to get down to 150. Someone said to open the my diary- I will see if I can figure out how to do that! I have been just doing the basic logging in foods and exercise til I decided to post here. I have made the decision to go off the pill and use other methods of birth control for now so I guess only time will tell if they were the culprit!
    And whoever said that about stress is probably right...I have stressed myself out so much by weighing and not seeing results, that I am probably counteracting everything I am doing!
    Thanks again for all your motivation! I am beginning to like this site more and more!
  • amoskies
    amoskies Posts: 11
    OH...and from now on I will eat my exercise calories. I didn't even think that I was doing that wrong- goes to show what I know! :smile:
  • mommynmotion
    mommynmotion Posts: 149 Member
    I saw somone has some links for you to look at...do it. One of the ones I read sais to look at http://www.shouldieatmyexercisecalories.com/ .

    When you put your exercise calories in...MFP does the math for you and gives you a new net calories.... Go by the calories remaining and make it pretty close to 0.

    I know it seems silly to work that hard and then eat them but it works. Think of it like this...if you didn't exercise today, how many calories would you eat? 1200 right? and that has a deficit built in...if you do exercise and burn 400, would you still eat 1200? That would be like not exercising today and eating 800, you know that's not healthy right?

    Request to be friends with a bunch of us so we can help you!!!!
  • lisaking869
    lisaking869 Posts: 43 Member
    Firstly, sorry for your loss! I suffreed 3 miscarraiges-so I can empathize. Part of your issues could be related to the stress and emotions of what you have been through! Also- 1200 calories is too low, especially if you are working out! Like so many have said- eat back the calories your burn during excercise! Also- change things up with your workouts- try new stuff. Find something you LOVE to do! Mostly- be patient and kind to yourself! You have been through a lot!
  • amoskies
    amoskies Posts: 11
    Firstly, sorry for your loss! I suffreed 3 miscarraiges-so I can empathize. Part of your issues could be related to the stress and emotions of what you have been through! Also- 1200 calories is too low, especially if you are working out! Like so many have said- eat back the calories your burn during excercise! Also- change things up with your workouts- try new stuff. Find something you LOVE to do! Mostly- be patient and kind to yourself! You have been through a lot!

    Sorry about your losses too :( This was my 7th miscarriage so we have decided to wait a while before trying again. I am no spring chicken so I don't have all the time in the world, but my mind and body needs some rest I believe.

    Mommy- thanks so much for the link. I am going to read it right now.
  • Akaratel
    Akaratel Posts: 137 Member
    Wow, thanks everyone for the suggestions and ideas! I do cardio (elliptical, bike, raquetball) every day I go to the gym and then alternate upper and lower body on weights. I am 5'4" and weigh 180 trying to get down to 150. Someone said to open the my diary- I will see if I can figure out how to do that! I have been just doing the basic logging in foods and exercise til I decided to post here. I have made the decision to go off the pill and use other methods of birth control for now so I guess only time will tell if they were the culprit!
    And whoever said that about stress is probably right...I have stressed myself out so much by weighing and not seeing results, that I am probably counteracting everything I am doing!
    Thanks again for all your motivation! I am beginning to like this site more and more!

    You should try some yoga classes, awesome workout while relaxing ;)
  • ladyhawk00
    ladyhawk00 Posts: 2,457 Member
    Even if 1200 is what MFP pal says to eat?

    Remember that MFP's calculator is a "dumb tool." Meaning that even if you should NOT be aiming for a particular goal due to your specific stats, it will still try to help you get there (within the 1200 cal lower limit.)

    You may have your goals/settings incorrect. Just because 2 lbs per week is an option, it doesn't mean it's the right setting for YOU (many people make this mistake.) It may help to read these threads that can help you determine healthy, realistic goals/deficits. Good luck to you.

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/61706-guide-to-calorie-deficits

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/186814-some-mfp-basics
  • amoskies
    amoskies Posts: 11
    I have wanted to try yoga but I was scared I was too big and not limber enough for it!
  • amoskies
    amoskies Posts: 11
    Even if 1200 is what MFP pal says to eat?

    Remember that MFP's calculator is a "dumb tool." Meaning that even if you should NOT be aiming for a particular goal due to your specific stats, it will still try to help you get there (within the 1200 cal lower limit.)

    You may have your goals/settings incorrect. Just because 2 lbs per week is an option, it doesn't mean it's the right setting for YOU (many people make this mistake.) It may help to read these threads that can help you determine healthy, realistic goals/deficits. Good luck to you.

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/61706-guide-to-calorie-deficits

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/186814-some-mfp-basics

    Thanks Ladyhawk!
  • Liatush
    Liatush Posts: 627 Member
    I would add to also watch your sodium (try for 1500, but not over 2500) and your fiber (I set mine to 30g). It seems to help!
  • amoskies
    amoskies Posts: 11
    I am going back in to adjust my goals and try to curb some of those frozen dinners- I know they are bad for me but I don't cook so I almost feel lost as to what to eat for lunch at work.
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