Need Some Help Here...

MelonJMusic
MelonJMusic Posts: 121 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
Ok, I'm at my wit's end. I had been losing steadily using MFP for the better of 4 months. I am currently on my 6th going into my 7th month without so much as a lb lost! I weigh all my food, watch my sodium, hit my macros, monitor my micros, and exercise to burn when I go over. I'm so annoyed! I've done everything from adjust my calories up and down to exercising less and resting more. Not a thing happening aside from gaining or losing a few ounces, but still staying within a lb of my current weight. I don't want to have to go down to 1200 out of desperation because I know I can't maintain it without binging. I'm assuming changing my diet for the healthier will be my only hope? I've always heard it doesn't really matter and you can eat what foods you want as long as you watch how much you eat, but now I'm second guessing that. I was supposed to be at goal by now and it's really disheartening bordering on depressing to think I may not get there even by my birthday (Nov. 21) at this rate. Any insight?

Replies

  • tulips_and_tea
    tulips_and_tea Posts: 5,751 Member
    It's hard to say because there are so many variables, but for me personally, yes, changing the types of food I ate made a difference. Again, for me personally, the quality of my calories matter. Also, change up your workout routine. Find a new activity or try HIIT. Sorry, that's all I've got!
  • StaciMarie1974
    StaciMarie1974 Posts: 4,138 Member
    What is your height, current weight, goal weight? How are you determining exercise calories?
  • xcalygrl
    xcalygrl Posts: 1,897 Member
    Without seeing your diary, we can't say for sure. Here are some of the generic suggestions:

    -Are you measuring all liquids and weighing all solids? All of them, not just here and there but everything.

    -Are you using accurate diary entries? For instance, if you have 4 ounces of COOKED chicken are you using the cooked chicken entry or the raw? There is a difference between the two different entries. Also, double check what you log with either the product label or the USDA's food database. Some user-generated MFP entries are wrong. If you are using these, your actual calorie consumption may be higher than you are logging resulting in you actually eating through your deficit unknowingly.

    -Are you weighing yourself at the same time of day in the same conditions (right after waking up, after using the restroom, before consuming anything)?

    -When was the last time you recalcuated your calorie needs? As you lose weight, your body uses less calories overall. If you've lost more than 5-10 pounds, you need to reevaluate your calorie needs and adjust them.
  • MelonJMusic
    MelonJMusic Posts: 121 Member
    edited October 2014
    Height 5'6
    Weight 142
    Goal 125

    Yes, I am weighing and measuring everything that goes into my mouth (except when I eat out which is very rarely)

    Yes, I am measuring before I cook any meat. The only things I use the database generic entries for are spices (which are normally 0 calories anyway) and eat-out foods (which doesn't happen often).

    I am weighing every morning without fail the same way. Nude, after a bathroom run, no food or drink in me, after breast feeding. (I am not consuming extra calories for breast feeding as I am in the process of weening the little chunker. But I never really ate more than 100 calories more for breast feeding in the first place.)

    I've adjusted my calories every three weeks since my first plateau. I tried going down, and nada. I've tried going up and I lost a few ounces, then nada. When I ate more than that, I gained. I know it's simple math, and I'm not just a magical caloric anomaly lol, so I know I'm missing something. User error, if you will.

    As for exercise I switch between cardio and calisthenics and weight lifting every few days. I use a calculator that comes with my cardio game and MFP for the calorie burning. I know they are not the most reliable so I like to underestimate as best I can, but it's the same way I've done it this entire weightloss journey.

    My preference would be to change something in a way that I can maintain. I can't fit the time in to exercise more with a little baby without losing sleep, which I know is just as important as the exercise. And I don't want to have to eat significantly less calories when my BMR is about 1350. But if I must, I will.


    *edited for typos

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