Trying with no success.

Vpirwannab
Vpirwannab Posts: 22
edited September 26 in Introduce Yourself
I have been trying to lose a few pounds for the last 3 weeks. I usually have a granola bar for breakfast (I am not a morning person nor a breakfast person), Lunch is usally grilled squash, onions and zucchini. Dinner is grilled veggies and typically shrimp or chicken. I have exercised at least 5 days a week doing aerobics, wii fit plus, yoga and stretching and toning. I am drinking at least 3 liters of water a day, most of the time it is more like 5. Thus far i have gained a pound. I know they say you may gain from exercise but I sure can't see a difference in my clothes either. Very discouraging. Any thoughts or ideas?

Replies

  • Honestly it sounds like you may not be eating enough calories.
  • BeckyKSmith
    BeckyKSmith Posts: 212 Member
    Eat 1200 calories + the calories you are burning from exercise and report back in a week - you are in starvation mode.
  • You may be right but I would guess my calorie intake would be less than most. I am only 5'1" and at 140 lbs.
  • kiisha_11
    kiisha_11 Posts: 55
    yeah, It looks like you may not be eating enough calories. You may need to make a bigger breakfast and a smaller lunch and dinner and snack in between.
  • AggieCass09
    AggieCass09 Posts: 1,867 Member
    1200 is pretty much the lowest anyone can go safely...regardless of how small you are. Try upping your calories...trust me it works (AND eat back all/most of your exercise calories) check out my blog in my signature about how this worked for me. If that doesnt work (im 99.9% positive it will assuming you dont eat junk calories) then try increasing the intensity of your work outs.
  • Any ideas on what to eat? I don't feel hungry at all. I sure haven't been trying to starve myself.
  • robin52077
    robin52077 Posts: 4,383 Member
    If you have less than 30 pounds to lose you should have your diary set for 1 lb per week loss, not 2, and you should eat everything it tells you to, not less. It already builds in a deficit for you, you don't need to create a larger one.
  • Crystal817
    Crystal817 Posts: 2,021 Member
    You may be right but I would guess my calorie intake would be less than most. I am only 5'1" and at 140 lbs.

    What is your activity level set at? I would say most people with your stats are still eating 1200+ calories a day.
  • DJmom44
    DJmom44 Posts: 91
    You may be right but I would guess my calorie intake would be less than most. I am only 5'1" and at 140 lbs.
    I believe she is right. How many calories are you eating? How many calories are you burning? How many calories does MFP say you should net?
  • robin52077
    robin52077 Posts: 4,383 Member
    Any ideas on what to eat? I don't feel hungry at all. I sure haven't been trying to starve myself.

    you could open your diary so we can see what you ARE eating, that's usually the first step to getting good advice tailored to YOUR needs. :)
  • JennaLee1486
    JennaLee1486 Posts: 101 Member
    If you aren't hungry that usually means your metabolism isn't working hard enough. Unfortunately the only way to fix that is to eat more often. I have a hard time eating lunch for some reason and I've been loving smoothies. I use 1 cup of low fat yogurt, 3/4 a cup of a frozen berry (strawberry, blueberry, whatever), 1 banana, and 2 tbsp. of flax seeds. It comes out to around 400 calories, but if you are exercising, you need it. Plus everything in it is healthy. It's easier for me to drink a smoothie than sit down and eat something.
  • I think my activity level is set at LOW. I work 3 jobs and i sit at all of them. Luckily I am able to do some aerobic activity on my hour breaks at my full time job and then things at home the other times. I also have an odd schedule. I usually get up around 11:30 or 12 due to working from 4pm until 2am with an hour drive home. Therefore my breakfast starts around 12:30 or 1pm.
  • Sure, how do I do that? I am new here and don't really have a clue.
  • Yum! That smoothie sounds good! Thanks
  • I agree, you are not eating enough. I would never have thought that you have to eat to lose but it is true. Eat alot of protein and fiber. It works I promise. Starving your body works opposite of what you want it to. It will show, I promise.
  • Christine1110
    Christine1110 Posts: 1,786 Member
    Oh....don't give in......Your doing a great job. Keep it up, give it some time. Make sure to eat the 1200 calories.
    Also make sure to have breakfast, lunch, dinner & 2 snacks. Keeping you body fueled is important. If your not hungry have nuts. High in calories & good for you.





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  • mkennedym
    mkennedym Posts: 253 Member
    Honestly it sounds like you may not be eating enough calories.

    you can't gain weight without a calorie surplus. the OP must be eating more calories than they are expending in order to gain weight. either that or they are killing themselves with sodium and keeping water weight, but over the course of 3 weeks i doubt that.
  • Wow, thank you all for the advice. I am having a hard time keeping up so please don't think i am ignoring you.
  • I agree with everyone else, it doesn't seem like you are eating enough. I also think you are not getting enough protein, based on your original post you are only eating chicken or shrimp at dinner which isn't enough. You should try and have protein with every meal.

    I understand the not being a morning / breakfast person... I'm right there with you, but you should try and have a snack mid morning.

    I think if you start eating more calories you will notice a difference.
  • mkennedym
    mkennedym Posts: 253 Member
    try this for a few days. overvalue your consumed calories and undervalue your exercise calories. if you think you burnt 500 calories exercising, log 400. if you had a serving of wheat bran, log 1.5 servings, etc. do that for a few days and see if you are still not losing weight.

    also, don't consume too much sodium. it is possible your 1 lb gained is temporary water weight. if that is the case, you need to decrease sodium and increase the water you are drinking.
  • Hi, I agree with all the posts, not enought calories. But I just want to tell you not to give up and to press until you get your desired results. YOU CAN DO IT!!!
  • mkennedym
    mkennedym Posts: 253 Member
    how many calories are you eating and how many calories do you need to lose how much you are trying to lose?
  • FrancesGallagher
    FrancesGallagher Posts: 88 Member
    There has to be something you would rather have than a granola bar for breakfast, maybe a bowl of Honeynut Cheerios with milk and 1/2 banana. That dry granola bar isn't giving your body much fuel to run on. I certainly don't think you need all that water. Some water is fine but a well known columist doctor recently had a column in the newspaper stating forcing water beyond what your body really needs isn't a good idea. If you are thirsty drink water. If you are eating a balanced diet of good food you will get water from the water contained in the foods. Where is the fruit you should be eating? Eating the same thing all the time will probably make your appetite turn off. How about eating pasta. Some of the pasta dishes are rather high in calories but they are energy foods to, and you can include vegtables with them. Jello has a good pudding (sugar free) that can be cooked in the microwave and includes the milk you need for your calcium. A sandwich made with whole wheat bread, a light spread of mayo, a couple of slices of fresh tomatoes, a bit of lettuce, 2 ounces of turkey or ham is less than 300 calories for a great lunch.
    Good luck, don't get impatient, losing weight may take some changes, just check in with your food diary often. FG
  • Hi, I don't think you are eating enough food. Try this this week, Breakfast: scrambled egg beaters original (1/4 cup) with
    whatever veggies you like, a piece of wheat toast w/tsp butter and tea or coffee ( if you drink) with sugar free creamer ( i use coffee mate suger free hazelnut.

    Lunch: garden salad with 3 0z of turkey , chicken or tuna ( baked, canned with water or grilled) 2TBS of dressing
    lowfat yogurt ( i use dannen 80 calorie) and 5 crackers( whatever flavor you like) and lots of water.

    Dinner: 4 oz of meat or seafood (steak, chicken, fish, shrimp, turkey, lamb ect, JUST NO FRIED)
    salad or any veggie 1 - 2 cups ( green peas and corn have a lot of calories so try to stay away from those)
    diet beverage or lots of water and if you drink, have a glass of wine (4 oz)

    Try and go without dessert this week and see what happens. You can repeat this menu just change up the meats and
    veggies.

    Good Luck I know you will lose at least 1 -2 lbs with this food and your continued exercise routine, just make sure
    you are sweating when you work out.

    I eat like this and exercise less and I have lost 15 lbs since January 19, 2011

    PS if you are still hungry after dinner eat an apple but thats it.
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