NET Calories

Your sodium yesterday was quite high. Likely between TOM and that, you have some water retention.

To gain 3 lbs of fat, you'd have to have eaten 11500 over maintenance cals. So no, you haven't gained 3 lbs of fat.

You have enough to lose that starvation mode isn't going to be an issue for you for a while. However, not eating enough can still cause your metabolism to slow. So netting between 1200-1400 is a good starting point.

Just remember that it takes the body time to adjust when you change your habits. Food and exercise alter hormone levels - and hormones are what influence weight loss. So you need to look at overall trends, not just day to day, or even week to week, changes.

The scale isn't all that reliable. Here's a great thread on why...

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/160943-why-the-scale-lies

So make sure you're using other tools as well, like taking measurements and how your clothes fit, etc.

Your sodium yesterday was quite high. Likely between TOM and that, you have some water retention.

To gain 3 lbs of fat, you'd have to have eaten 11500 over maintenance cals. So no, you haven't gained 3 lbs of fat.

You have enough to lose that starvation mode isn't going to be an issue for you for a while. However, not eating enough can still cause your metabolism to slow. So netting between 1200-1400 is a good starting point.

Just remember that it takes the body time to adjust when you change your habits. Food and exercise alter hormone levels - and hormones are what influence weight loss. So you need to look at overall trends, not just day to day, or even week to week, changes.

The scale isn't all that reliable. Here's a great thread on why...

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/160943-why-the-scale-lies

So make sure you're using other tools as well, like taking measurements and how your clothes fit, etc.

Thanks that makes me feel a little bit better. It was just a little discouraging this morning... I know yesterday was high on sodium.. I am trying to cut meat out of my diet and I am still trying to find alternative protien without all the sodium and I was bad and had taco bell yesterday. But I have been making sure to drink lots of water.

*Note: typo - 10500 extra, not 11500... Must be naptime

Have you tried Quinoa? It's a good grain with decent protein. Might check out some of the vegan threads to find good ideas for non-meat protein. (Can't help too much there, I love my meat lol) Keep working, you're making good progress. It's a learning process.

I don't think you're eating enough, chrystal. We weigh about the same and MFP gives me 1810 cals a day plus my exercise cals. No wonder your hungry! Listen to your body. Eat more. I know it's hard to fathom that eating more can help you lose, but if you don't fuel your body then your going to lose muscle mass instead of fat and feel crappy. I am losing slowly, but it's coming off and it's in a way that I can live with for the rest of my life, not something extreme. Here's a link for you that I thought was very informative. I was told it was posted by one of the founders of MFP. Check it out. :~) http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/3047-700-calories-a-day-and-not-losing

for me....i am less hungry on days when i balance food and exercise. thats just me. i am no exercise, but your body may have gained weight because its just accomodating to a different nutrition. and youre right...your net calories shouldnt be 200-400. i dont know enough about nutrition...but i think this is your body just trying ot hold onto any calories it can because it just got done thinking it was starving. you can probably get more accurate information online. this is just a theory i have. my brother and cousins have been doing alot of working out and nutritional researching and the best results always come from a balanced diet and adequate exercise. your body burns X amount of calories per day just to function. This "x" value is based upon your lifestyle and what you currently weigh. The MFP app calculates that data for you and based upon the kind of goal you want (in terms of weight loss) it will tell you how much calories you should consume based on weight, lifestyle, and goals. I am a sedentary person...thats my lifestyle. I spend most of my day at a desk with my only exercises typically being the walks I take on break and some exercise i get at home from videos. Now all that was just informational. tidbits i have obtained from different sources. Next tidbit, something i just found out...you know those paper plates that are sectioned on in 3? theres one big section and 2 small sections...check this out. the big section should be your fruit and vegetables, the 2 small sections should be protein and grain. thats your balanced meal. let me tell you...my whole life the big section has been protein and the other two small sections are starch. lol. in any case, you really need to balance the amount of calories youre consuming with the exercise you are doing. and the net...shouldnt be less than 1000. youre body still need enough calories to function.