Its not working...

Tara_Challenger
Tara_Challenger Posts: 3 Member
edited March 2015 in Motivation and Support
Hello, Ive been using MFP for 2weeks. I stick to a very strict healthy whole food plan between 1000-1200 calories a day. I also haven't eaten any sugar for almost nearly 40 days aside from natural occurring in some fruit. Ive also added back more running. I used to run ultra marathons but took 8 months off from training to add rest back into my life. The healthy food choices I make aren't a stretch for me. They are things I normally eat. But MFP taught me about portions and how to combine certain things to maintain calorie goals. In 2 weeks of trying to be dead on and weighing food, I got on the scale to find I only lost .6 of a pound. I do not know how it is possible. I want to weep. I don't understand how I gained in the first place and I don't understand why this isn't working for me. I even added a little more running in and I don't eat those calories. I also had comprehensive blood panel done of my thyroid and it is fine. I feel like a failure and Im so confused.

Replies

  • ernie6191
    ernie6191 Posts: 10
    Are your workout calories accurate? This has happened to me before where I was overestimatiing how much I am burning. Do you wear a heartrate monitor? That is one of the best ways to be accurate.

    Also, it could just be time. Our bodies fluctuate a lot and are so complicated that it might take a little more time for the results to come.

    Don't be discouraged! You are definitely on the right track! Keep your head high!
  • miss_rye_
    miss_rye_ Posts: 94 Member
    It can take up to a month to have your body adjust to new numbers. Not sure why you are eating so little, you can definitely eat more and still lose weight. Are you drinking water? Hugh factor in weight loss. Are you actually weighing the food and logging it to the serving size.
  • queenliz99
    queenliz99 Posts: 15,317 Member
    You need to stay the course. You are doing great!! Make sure you weigh all solids and get accurate calorie burns. Patience is key.
  • Lizzy622
    Lizzy622 Posts: 3,705 Member
    It is working. You lost .6 of a pound. Unfortunately since you don't have huge numbers to lose and have been eating relatively well all along, you will not see the immediate losses of someone much larger. Make sure you are fueling properly also. If you are at such low calorie levels make sure you eat back at least part of you running calories so you don't start burning muscle instead of fat.
  • Tara_Challenger
    Tara_Challenger Posts: 3 Member
    64oz of water, weighing everything, healthy whole food choices. Im 5,8" and despite being a healthy active runner, I gained weight for no reason. I only was trying for 1200 because I wanted to lose 2lbs a week. When i eat 1000 calories, its only because I truly am full and dont want for anything else. I lan careful protein options while at work to keep me full. I love cooking so I always look forward to playing with ingredients to make a nice dinner. I just need to see a result. I don't consider .6 progress. Weight can fluctuate depending on water weight and such. So to me I lost nothing.
  • queenliz99
    queenliz99 Posts: 15,317 Member
    You need to read this

    http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/113609/relatively-light-people-trying-to-get-leaner/p1

    Eating as much as possible and still be in a caloric deficit is the best way to do this. 2 pounds a week is too aggressive. Slow and steady wins the race.
  • miss_rye_
    miss_rye_ Posts: 94 Member
    ^^ Agree. We get stuck that we want to drop the weight fast, but really if you want to maintain it, you need to just go at it.

    I personally have only lost 13 pounds since last December, however my body comp has changed entirely.
  • jusenlijska
    jusenlijska Posts: 1
    There is such thing as not eating enough. When you are not providing your body with enough calories, the body goes into emergency mode and stores more than it burns, meaning you may have trouble losing weight. Weight training is usually my go to method when I plateau, the added muscles will help burn extra calories on ongoing basis. Definitely don't try to cut any more calories from your diet, 1000 cn already be very little depending on your size and build of course. Stay healthy and positive, treating your body right will pay off.
  • Lacey0903
    Lacey0903 Posts: 40 Member
    I would do some research to mathematically figure out what your maintaince calories are. Cut 500 from that, no more, & reset your calorie goals manually. & yes that will mean you might have to force yourself to eat some days. Look up "feeding fitness" on YouTube, he has a ton of really great no bs, fact based videos that could help guide you. Be patient & good luck!
  • wils5150
    wils5150 Posts: 149 Member
    .6 pounds a week is 31.2 pounds a year! that being said I am sure your will have weeks when you lose more. I have had months where the first 2 weeks I would lose .5 pounds then the next week I would lose 3 pounds. It averages out in the end
  • sgthaggard
    sgthaggard Posts: 581 Member
    edited March 2015
    jusenlijska wrote: »
    There is such thing as not eating enough. When you are not providing your body with enough calories, the body goes into emergency mode and stores more than it burns, meaning you may have trouble losing weight. Weight training is usually my go to method when I plateau, the added muscles will help burn extra calories on ongoing basis. Definitely don't try to cut any more calories from your diet, 1000 cn already be very little depending on your size and build of course. Stay healthy and positive, treating your body right will pay off.
    No. Our society didn't become obese by eating too little and working out too hard. Starvation mode is bull.

  • piggysmalls333
    piggysmalls333 Posts: 450 Member
    Try cutting out dairy for a week, it might make a big difference.
  • NaomiJFoster
    NaomiJFoster Posts: 1,450 Member
    A half pound in 2 weeks sounds wonderful to me. I'd be thrilled. Results aren't going to be instant. And you will never see a steady clocklike march down the scale. You'll lose a pound, hold steady, gain a pound, lose two, gain one, lose two, hold steady, gain two, lose two, gain one, hold steady, lose two, gain one....but over the course of a year or two you'll start to see a downward trend. Try not to get discouraged so quickly. Good things are happening in your body even if you can't see the results documented on the scale.
  • rjmudlax13
    rjmudlax13 Posts: 900 Member
    First of all try to relax. It's only been 2 weeks. Also, you have to understand that weight can fluctuate as much as 5 lbs in either direction because of water retention and other factors.

    Most importantly is that you need to view this as a marathon. I think the analogy is good for you since you are a runner. You just need to be persistent and patient. It takes time and weight loss in not linear. I sometimes go a full month without losing anything but then lose a bunch the next week. If you ask anyone who's done this for a while they will tell you the same thing.
  • rjmudlax13
    rjmudlax13 Posts: 900 Member
    edited March 2015
    .
  • ndj1979
    ndj1979 Posts: 29,136 Member
    jusenlijska wrote: »
    There is such thing as not eating enough. When you are not providing your body with enough calories, the body goes into emergency mode and stores more than it burns, meaning you may have trouble losing weight. Weight training is usually my go to method when I plateau, the added muscles will help burn extra calories on ongoing basis. Definitely don't try to cut any more calories from your diet, 1000 cn already be very little depending on your size and build of course. Stay healthy and positive, treating your body right will pay off.

    no, that is a myth.

    if starvation mode was true then there would be no starving people in Africa, and they would all be obese…

  • ndj1979
    ndj1979 Posts: 29,136 Member
    OP - i would suggest reading this link:
    https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/1080242/a-guide-to-get-you-started-on-your-path-to-sexypants#latest

    also, weight loss is not going to be linear. You are going to have weeks where you lose a pound, and then nothing, and then a half pound, etc.

    do you use a food scale to weigh all solids and as many liquids as possible?
    do you eat back 100% of exercise calories?
  • snowflakesav
    snowflakesav Posts: 649 Member
    You are making progress.
    I am a runner and it isn't my go to for weight loss. I get better results from interval training and walking.

    If you suspect hormone issues ( cortisol, thyroid etc...).you might want to look at your sleep habits
  • Tara_Challenger
    Tara_Challenger Posts: 3 Member
    Since this isn't a fb page, I don't know how to thank each o you individually. So I am lumping it together. njd1979, I will take a look at your link. Thank you. Bloodwork was checked for hormones and all came back fine. I do weigh everything to the gram or ounce on a food scale. I only drink water with lemon or Trader Joes unsweetened Green tea or a rare cup of coffee. As for my exercise, Im an ultra runner but Im not running any crazy miles right now . I took time off because I was burnt out. I concentrated on my sleep and all wellness. I had been gaining weight though, before I took off and I suspected things were all out of whack back then. But now, I feel very healthy except for a lot of weight that seemed to creep up from nowhere. When it was brought to my attention that even healthy foods came make you fat, I decided the only way to concentrate on how much I was consuming was to do this and have a record. It is true that this forum has helped me to monitor my portions and to be more controlled, but even without it, it seems impossible that I would be eating more calories than Im burning. And to answer the other question- no, Im not eating back all the calories Im running. Granted, when I ran a half marathon 2 weeks ago, I allowed myself more to replenish but not nearly close to what extra I burned. And because i carefully plan my protein, I find it hard to believe Im going into "starvation mode". If i consume a great dinner and feel full and Im at 1050 calories, I don't see why I would have to force myself to eat 200 more calories just to match a number on a website. On that same note, if I felt I needed more, I would eat more. I never weighed myself before I stopped eating any sugar and sweets. But Im sure that eliminated extra calories right off the bat. However, my pant were not getting any looser. I had my difficult moment this morning. I then went and ran with my friends and I think Im back focused to let it go and stay they course. When I dedicate myself to something, Im all in. Having finished running a couple 100 mile ultras has taught me that. Bless you all for taking the time to respond to me. Have a beautiful weekend.
  • bernalgirl
    bernalgirl Posts: 10 Member
    Hi Tara, You might be interested in a book called The Metabolic Storm by Dr. Emily Cooper. She specializes in sports medicine and works with a lot of elite athletes. She says it is not uncommon for athletes like yourself to have their metabolism slow down (making it harder to lose weight) even when eating light and exercising. She's partnered with a local TV station here in the Seattle area to foster a Get Fit program and she routinely touts the importance of adequately fueling your workouts, getting enough rest, etc. Just a suggestion. Best of luck to you.

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