Help

sarahjeanw82
sarahjeanw82 Posts: 13 Member
edited November 11 in Health and Weight Loss
I have been working out and keeping track of my calories for a year now I started at 180 after my 4th kid and now I'm down to 166 and I am stuck what can I do to change this?? I am at a loss? Any advice would be awesome.

Replies

  • Laurend224
    Laurend224 Posts: 1,748 Member
    Can you open your diary?
    Have you reevaluated your goals on MFP to account for your lower weight?
    Are you weighing your food with a scale and picking accurate data on the MFP database?
  • diannethegeek
    diannethegeek Posts: 14,776 Member
    The most common problems we see come from underestimating calories eaten and overestimating calories burned.

    Opening your diary might help to get you more specific advice if you're comfortable doing so.

    You're logging everything you eat? Including condiments, cooking oils, veggies, cheat days, etc? Are you using a food scale, measuring cups, or eyeballing your portion sizes? Most people can be off in their estimates by several hundred calories when they eyeball portions. Measuring cups are better, but a food scale is going to be the most accurate.

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1234699-logging-accurately-step-by-step-guide
    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1290491-how-and-why-to-use-a-digital-food-scale

    And make sure that you've calculated your calorie goals appropriately. Remember that these are just estimates. You may need to play around a little to find what works best for you.

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1080242-a-guide-to-get-you-started-on-your-path-to-sexypants
    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/819055-setting-your-calorie-and-macro-targets

    If you're exercising and eating back your earned exercise calories, be sure that you're using accurate estimates of your burn. MFP and gym machines have a tendency to overestimate certain activities, which can cause you to eat back more calories than you need to. Even a heart rate monitor isn't 100% accurate. If you're eating those extra earned calories it might be a good idea to eat only 50-75% of those.
  • terbusha
    terbusha Posts: 1,483 Member
    When you're in a plateau, something needs to change to shock your system. How much are you eating? I broke a plateau by eating more. I'd suggest that you zig zag your diet a bit to figure out what is the ideal place of you. Also, are you logging EVERYTHING you eat? If you relaxed on your logging, it's time to tighten it back up. Also, are you being consistent with your exercise? Exercising 5-6 days/week is ideal for efficient results.
  • sarahjeanw82
    sarahjeanw82 Posts: 13 Member
    I don't have a good scale, I am hoping to purchase one this weekend just wasn't sure it was worth it... I am just now getting back to logging everything. I will be honest I wasn't doing good about logging the food I had eaten. I want this to work so any suggestions or help would be great. I was also healing from a foot injury so that put me out for about 13 weeks. I'm ready to jump back on the band wagon.
  • Christine_72
    Christine_72 Posts: 16,049 Member
    Weigh measure and log everything you eat. It may be a bit overwhelming at first. But doing the above, meticulously, is what got me out of my weight loss stall. And don't overestimate your exercise burns.
  • Liftng4Lis
    Liftng4Lis Posts: 15,151 Member
    diannethegeek wrote: »
    The most common problems we see come from underestimating calories eaten and overestimating calories burned.

    Opening your diary might help to get you more specific advice

    ^This
  • sarahjeanw82
    sarahjeanw82 Posts: 13 Member
    I opened up my diary..
This discussion has been closed.

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