Can someone tell me where I'm going wrong? Food Diary concerns
Tialuna18
Posts: 9,591 Member
Hi there. So when I started MFP I was around 134 area and I tried to lose some weight. Managed to get down to 122 by staying under / around 1200 calories past summer thanks to work distracting me. I realized that at that weight was low enough and I just wanted to maintain that weight so I changed my recommended intake to 1650 calories which said that I would be able to maintain said weight. More often than not I would reach around 1450 give or take the odd dinner out or work day where I'd eat less. Somehow within maybe 3 months of changing I put a majority of the weight back on averaging around 130- 132 so an additional 10 pounds 
Could anyone take a look at my food diary and see if the food options I'm choosing are a result of this? I really try my best to eat healthy I just can't think of any other reason. Maybe the times of day I eat? Portions?
Any help is greatly appreciated.
Could anyone take a look at my food diary and see if the food options I'm choosing are a result of this? I really try my best to eat healthy I just can't think of any other reason. Maybe the times of day I eat? Portions?Any help is greatly appreciated.
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Replies
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your diary is still closed0
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I changed it recently? is it still closed?0
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Then you clearly ate more than you think. What you eat has nothing to do with weight loss, HOW MUCH you eat does. If you used to exercise and then stopped now then that could also contribute to weight gain.
You don't weigh your food, which increases logging error.0 -
Are you truly logging everything? I mean, it looks like you are because I see individual gumballs in such listed. But I also see 200 cal dinners on a regular basis.
Second are you weighing your food or guessing at serving sizes?
I'm just skeptical because it seems like you eat 600 cal for breakfast and then you just sort of nibble for the rest of the day. Is that accurate?0 -
Then you clearly ate more than you think. What you eat has nothing to do with weight loss, HOW MUCH you eat does. If you used to exercise and then stopped now then that could also contribute to weight gain.
You don't weigh your food, which increases logging error.
I measure my food with measuring cups.. I never lie on my food diary. It clearly says how much I eat by the amount of cups. I find if I were to weigh things like two slices of toast would be ridiculous when a package clearly tells me the calorie count for it. I havent stopped exercising either. I just ate far less due to work. Now that I'm back in school I tend to pay attention more to meal times but I do still try to keep a normal portion.0 -
Very accurate. I like to have a big breakfast and then go the rest of the day. I swear I log everything I consume.PeachyPlum wrote: »Are you truly logging everything? I mean, it looks like you are because I see individual gumballs in such listed. But I also see 200 cal dinners on a regular basis.
Second are you weighing your food or guessing at serving sizes?
I'm just skeptical because it seems like you eat 600 cal for breakfast and then you just sort of nibble for the rest of the day. Is that accurate?
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Measuring and weighing are two completely different things. A tablespoon of peanut butter isn't the same as an ounce of peanut butter. I'd get a food scale, and measure that way rather than measuring cups.3
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Tialuna, I have been seeing Internal Medicine docs and a nutritionist regularly for several years now. Not saying I'm an expert but I have learned what foods do what to me. Just an idea of what to try.....
1. Drop your sugar to 40g/day or less.
2. Instead of the health bars, have a light greek yogurt. I have to have one a day. I use Yoplait 100 Greek Yogurt because it is lowest in sugar and contains protein.
I can eat anything I want to eat and am able to maintain my weight at 125. My calories are set at 1500. I rarely reach it and am eating all day long.
One thing to consider is that muscle weighs more than fat. That is what I have to be careful of when I exercise.....too much walking and and I will burn too many calories. I absolutely can NOT lose weight. Catch 22. I need to build up my large muscles while not losing weight...have to keep sugar down to prevent it converting to fat.
I just glanced at your diary. The only thing I saw on a quick note was you are over on sugar...without the restriction. Not saying to do as I do, just something to consider.
Thank you for sharing this with us! I'm looking forward to following your progress.1 -
I eat that brand of bread. I weigh the slices. They are almost never the weight the package claims. If you want more precise results, you'll have to use more precise methods. Weigh all your foods using a food scale and save the cups for caloric liquids.3
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To clarify on weighing vs measuring:
Do you like to bake? You know how there's a difference between a cup of brown sugar and a cup of firmly packed brown sugar? That's what we are dealing with here.
Same goes for a bag of chips or box of cereal, which is why the packages always say "contents sold by weight and may have settled."
Weighing is the only way to know how much you are actually eating.2 -
Yes I see how that can give miss matched results. Thank you for clarifications, everyone. I try to be as accurate as possible but I guess I'll just have to take it that step further.PeachyPlum wrote: »To clarify on weighing vs measuring:
Do you like to bake? You know how there's a difference between a cup of brown sugar and a cup of firmly packed brown sugar? That's what we are dealing with here.
Same goes for a bag of chips or box of cereal, which is why the packages always say "contents sold by weight and may have settled."
Weighing is the only way to know how much you are actually eating.
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It gets more nitpicky the less weight you have to lose. It's worse if you're small because our calorie burns each day aren't high (we don't have much mass to move around) so the margin of error is small.
I got tired of having to be really precise with my logging and eating so I switched from trying to maintain the shape I wanted by cutting calories to lifting weights. My weight is higher but I'm still the size I want to be. I can eat more and don't have to be nearly as diligent about logging and weighing everything to maintain my size.0 -
Then you clearly ate more than you think. What you eat has nothing to do with weight loss, HOW MUCH you eat does. If you used to exercise and then stopped now then that could also contribute to weight gain.
You don't weigh your food, which increases logging error.
I measure my food with measuring cups.. I never lie on my food diary. It clearly says how much I eat by the amount of cups. I find if I were to weigh things like two slices of toast would be ridiculous when a package clearly tells me the calorie count for it. I havent stopped exercising either. I just ate far less due to work. Now that I'm back in school I tend to pay attention more to meal times but I do still try to keep a normal portion.
Weighing food is significantly more accurate.
Also my package of muffins in my freezer right now lists a muffin as 250 calories for 85g. They are generally 80-81g only. The chocolate flavour, however, reads 85g on the package and is usually 90-92g.
And speaking of sugar, I just made some PB cookies. 1 cup is supposed to be 200grams.... came out to 208g, and that was with the cup not being 100% filled (a few mm of empty space on the top).0 -
Tialuna, I have been seeing Internal Medicine docs and a nutritionist regularly for several years now. Not saying I'm an expert but I have learned what foods do what to me. Just an idea of what to try.....
1. Drop your sugar to 40g/day or less.
2. Instead of the health bars, have a light greek yogurt. I have to have one a day. I use Yoplait 100 Greek Yogurt because it is lowest in sugar and contains protein.
I can eat anything I want to eat and am able to maintain my weight at 125. My calories are set at 1500. I rarely reach it and am eating all day long.
One thing to consider is that muscle weighs more than fat. That is what I have to be careful of when I exercise.....too much walking and and I will burn too many calories. I absolutely can NOT lose weight. Catch 22. I need to build up my large muscles while not losing weight...have to keep sugar down to prevent it converting to fat.
I just glanced at your diary. The only thing I saw on a quick note was you are over on sugar...without the restriction. Not saying to do as I do, just something to consider.
Thank you for sharing this with us! I'm looking forward to following your progress.
None of this matters for weight loss and will not help OP. Being under 40g of sugar doesn't magically prevent fat gain if one is still eating 3000 calories. And health bars, whatever those are, are FINE to consume.
You rarely reach 1500 because you are either ONLY eating very nutrient-dense food (in which case, boring, pass me some pizza!) or you are underestimating how much you are consuming.
If you want to build up muscle you need to be eating more than 1500 calories. You need to be eating ABOVE your maintenance needs. So probably upwards of 2000 calories.1 -
See I can understand this being an issue if I actually consumed things really deemed unhealthy. Yes I tend to be over or at the brim of my sugar intake but I try to make sure it's natural sugars found in fruit or if anything Yogurt. I don't eat baked goods maybe once in a blue moon.0
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See I can understand this being an issue if I actually consumed things really deemed unhealthy. Yes I tend to be over or at the brim of my sugar intake but I try to make sure it's natural sugars found in fruit or if anything Yogurt. I don't eat baked goods maybe once in a blue moon.
...... bread can be calorically dense. Fruit like grapes and bananas are calorically dense. Peanut butter is especially calorically dense, and chances are you're actually eating 1.5-2tbsp whenever you log 1tbsp because 1tbsp is really tiny when measured out with a measuring spoon.
Bread is a baked good.
I'm eating all the things you seem to think are bad for weight loss/management and yet I've lost over 31lbs. How much you eat matters, not what you eat, and weighing helps to ensure you are actually eating how much you think you are eating.1 -
I'm going to have to disagree with you. I think Letrell is bringing up a good counter argument and what works for her might work for myself. Same as what works for you. I do tend to choose nutrient dense foods because I actually LIKE the taste of them I don't enjoy most sopping with grease foods and I'd rather feel full/ satisfied from a meal than eating one measly slice of pizza for the caloric intake of a more satisfying salad/soup. Again. there is the possibility for slight margin of error given I don't weigh my food but I assure you I do not lie on the measurements I do use.Tialuna, I have been seeing Internal Medicine docs and a nutritionist regularly for several years now. Not saying I'm an expert but I have learned what foods do what to me. Just an idea of what to try.....
1. Drop your sugar to 40g/day or less.
2. Instead of the health bars, have a light greek yogurt. I have to have one a day. I use Yoplait 100 Greek Yogurt because it is lowest in sugar and contains protein.
I can eat anything I want to eat and am able to maintain my weight at 125. My calories are set at 1500. I rarely reach it and am eating all day long.
One thing to consider is that muscle weighs more than fat. That is what I have to be careful of when I exercise.....too much walking and and I will burn too many calories. I absolutely can NOT lose weight. Catch 22. I need to build up my large muscles while not losing weight...have to keep sugar down to prevent it converting to fat.
I just glanced at your diary. The only thing I saw on a quick note was you are over on sugar...without the restriction. Not saying to do as I do, just something to consider.
Thank you for sharing this with us! I'm looking forward to following your progress.
None of this matters for weight loss and will not help OP. Being under 40g of sugar doesn't magically prevent fat gain if one is still eating 3000 calories. And health bars, whatever those are, are FINE to consume.
You rarely reach 1500 because you are either ONLY eating very nutrient-dense food (in which case, boring, pass me some pizza!) or you are underestimating how much you are consuming.
If you want to build up muscle you need to be eating more than 1500 calories. You need to be eating ABOVE your maintenance needs. So probably upwards of 2000 calories.0 -
Yes and if you were to read further into my diary you'd see bread is very much an on occasion meal choice. What your current weight is also plays into it. From what your profile picture shows you're heavier than I and like another poster here has stated the lower your current weight is the harder it can be to continue to lose. I used to be much heavier (in the 200's) and just cutting out a few things at that time led to a high weight loss. Now Im guessing since my percentage of fat has decreased I now will find it more relying on physical activity for weight loss/ body sculpting than dieting.See I can understand this being an issue if I actually consumed things really deemed unhealthy. Yes I tend to be over or at the brim of my sugar intake but I try to make sure it's natural sugars found in fruit or if anything Yogurt. I don't eat baked goods maybe once in a blue moon.
...... bread can be calorically dense. Fruit like grapes and bananas are calorically dense. Peanut butter is especially calorically dense, and chances are you're actually eating 1.5-2tbsp whenever you log 1tbsp because 1tbsp is really tiny when measured out with a measuring spoon.
Bread is a baked good.
I'm eating all the things you seem to think are bad for weight loss/management and yet I've lost over 31lbs. How much you eat matters, not what you eat, and weighing helps to ensure you are actually eating how much you think you are eating.
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Underestimating isn't lying. It's just a matter of not having all the information. You asked what the problem might be, and not weighing your food is likely to be the main problem.
I love bagels. One of the brands of cinnamon raisin bagels I get is listed on the package as 150 calories. When I actually weigh it and compare that weight against the package, it's 2.5 times the serving size listed on the bag, so that 150 calorie bagel is actually 375 calories. I wouldn't know that if I hadn't weighed it, and I'd be eating an extra 225 calories every time I had one. If I had that every day, that's enough to gain about a half pound a week, if I was at maintenance.3 -
Then you clearly ate more than you think. What you eat has nothing to do with weight loss, HOW MUCH you eat does. If you used to exercise and then stopped now then that could also contribute to weight gain.
You don't weigh your food, which increases logging error.
I measure my food with measuring cups.. I never lie on my food diary. It clearly says how much I eat by the amount of cups. I find if I were to weigh things like two slices of toast would be ridiculous when a package clearly tells me the calorie count for it. I havent stopped exercising either. I just ate far less due to work. Now that I'm back in school I tend to pay attention more to meal times but I do still try to keep a normal portion.
Get a food scale, makes a huge difference.0 -
Yes and if you were to read further into my diary you'd see bread is very much an on occasion meal choice. What your current weight is also plays into it. From what your profile picture shows you're heavier than I and like another poster here has stated the lower your current weight is the harder it can be to continue to lose. I used to be much heavier (in the 200's) and just cutting out a few things at that time led to a high weight loss. Now Im guessing since my percentage of fat has decreased I now will find it more relying on physical activity for weight loss/ body sculpting than dieting.See I can understand this being an issue if I actually consumed things really deemed unhealthy. Yes I tend to be over or at the brim of my sugar intake but I try to make sure it's natural sugars found in fruit or if anything Yogurt. I don't eat baked goods maybe once in a blue moon.
...... bread can be calorically dense. Fruit like grapes and bananas are calorically dense. Peanut butter is especially calorically dense, and chances are you're actually eating 1.5-2tbsp whenever you log 1tbsp because 1tbsp is really tiny when measured out with a measuring spoon.
Bread is a baked good.
I'm eating all the things you seem to think are bad for weight loss/management and yet I've lost over 31lbs. How much you eat matters, not what you eat, and weighing helps to ensure you are actually eating how much you think you are eating.
Eh. I'm smaller than both of you and I regularly eat baked goods and sweets. I did, however, find that I had to be more and more accurate with my diary the smaller I got.
But items like that are calorie dense and since you're not weighing it would be easier to underestimate if you're eating ice cream than if you're eating berries, just because ice cream has a lot more calories by volume.0 -
ILiftHeavyAcrylics wrote: »
Yes and if you were to read further into my diary you'd see bread is very much an on occasion meal choice. What your current weight is also plays into it. From what your profile picture shows you're heavier than I and like another poster here has stated the lower your current weight is the harder it can be to continue to lose. I used to be much heavier (in the 200's) and just cutting out a few things at that time led to a high weight loss. Now Im guessing since my percentage of fat has decreased I now will find it more relying on physical activity for weight loss/ body sculpting than dieting.See I can understand this being an issue if I actually consumed things really deemed unhealthy. Yes I tend to be over or at the brim of my sugar intake but I try to make sure it's natural sugars found in fruit or if anything Yogurt. I don't eat baked goods maybe once in a blue moon.
...... bread can be calorically dense. Fruit like grapes and bananas are calorically dense. Peanut butter is especially calorically dense, and chances are you're actually eating 1.5-2tbsp whenever you log 1tbsp because 1tbsp is really tiny when measured out with a measuring spoon.
Bread is a baked good.
I'm eating all the things you seem to think are bad for weight loss/management and yet I've lost over 31lbs. How much you eat matters, not what you eat, and weighing helps to ensure you are actually eating how much you think you are eating.
Eh. I'm smaller than both of you and I regularly eat baked goods and sweets. I did, however, find that I had to be more and more accurate with my diary the smaller I got.
But items like that are calorie dense and since you're not weighing it would be easier to underestimate if you're eating ice cream than if you're eating berries, just because ice cream has a lot more calories by volume.
Exactly. I am not so careful when eating veggies as when it's steak, mayonnaise, peanut butter or blue cheese dressing.
OP, honestly, you asked for help and got a lot of "weigh your food" advice. It might not hurt to give it a try and see if you get better results. I'm betting you'll be a little surprised by how much variation there is in even packaged items. I know I was.0 -
See I can understand this being an issue if I actually consumed things really deemed unhealthy. Yes I tend to be over or at the brim of my sugar intake but I try to make sure it's natural sugars found in fruit or if anything Yogurt. I don't eat baked goods maybe once in a blue moon.
None of that matters (unless you are diabetic, then your carbs matter). It is all about how many calories you eat vs how many you burn. What you eat, as opposed to how much, only makes a difference in nutrients.
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I'm going to have to disagree with you. I think Letrell is bringing up a good counter argument and what works for her might work for myself. Same as what works for you. I do tend to choose nutrient dense foods because I actually LIKE the taste of them I don't enjoy most sopping with grease foods and I'd rather feel full/ satisfied from a meal than eating one measly slice of pizza for the caloric intake of a more satisfying salad/soup. Again. there is the possibility for slight margin of error given I don't weigh my food but I assure you I do not lie on the measurements I do use.Tialuna, I have been seeing Internal Medicine docs and a nutritionist regularly for several years now. Not saying I'm an expert but I have learned what foods do what to me. Just an idea of what to try.....
1. Drop your sugar to 40g/day or less.
2. Instead of the health bars, have a light greek yogurt. I have to have one a day. I use Yoplait 100 Greek Yogurt because it is lowest in sugar and contains protein.
I can eat anything I want to eat and am able to maintain my weight at 125. My calories are set at 1500. I rarely reach it and am eating all day long.
One thing to consider is that muscle weighs more than fat. That is what I have to be careful of when I exercise.....too much walking and and I will burn too many calories. I absolutely can NOT lose weight. Catch 22. I need to build up my large muscles while not losing weight...have to keep sugar down to prevent it converting to fat.
I just glanced at your diary. The only thing I saw on a quick note was you are over on sugar...without the restriction. Not saying to do as I do, just something to consider.
Thank you for sharing this with us! I'm looking forward to following your progress.
None of this matters for weight loss and will not help OP. Being under 40g of sugar doesn't magically prevent fat gain if one is still eating 3000 calories. And health bars, whatever those are, are FINE to consume.
You rarely reach 1500 because you are either ONLY eating very nutrient-dense food (in which case, boring, pass me some pizza!) or you are underestimating how much you are consuming.
If you want to build up muscle you need to be eating more than 1500 calories. You need to be eating ABOVE your maintenance needs. So probably upwards of 2000 calories.
You seem to be failing to understand that what she is saying is that low sugar intake and replacing a health bar with yogurt will mean you can lose weight. That's not how it works. It's about calories, not the specific food items you eat. I eat plenty of nutrient dense food, but that doesn't make up my entire diet because I enjoy things like peanut butter, other fat sources, meat, pasta, and low-nutrient foods.
I can eat 2 slices of pizza for less than 400 calories, which is less than a typical meal's worth of calories for me. Since it also has fat and can have extra protein if adding chicken (and the pizza usually isn't that greasy), it can be quite filling. Add a side salad for extra volume and that's even more filling.
And fwiw, I only find soup filling because I add a butt-ton of protein to it. If I just have normal soup, that's not very filling.1 -
Add more vegetables to your diet, as a start. People will go on and on about low calorie being low calorie but you aren't doing your body and its functioning any favours without sufficient nutrient support. Happy to discuss further via pm if you want.1
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Losing weight is different for everyone. Try lowering your sugar as suggested and see if that works. Weight loss is not one size fits all as some insinuate. For some, lowering sugar/carbs may be more effective. Low carb/high fat works for me (keto). Keep researching and find what works for you - Good luck!1
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FabulousFifty wrote: »Losing weight is different for everyone. Try lowering your sugar as suggested and see if that works. Weight loss is not one size fits all as some insinuate. For some, lowering sugar/carbs may be more effective. Low carb/high fat works for me (keto). Keep researching and find what works for you - Good luck!
The only way it's different is people's personal preferences. It absolutely is one size fits all. Calories in must be fewer than calories out. Some people prefer to achieve this in different ways, but a reduction in overall calories, however you get there, is the only way weight loss is achieved.
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I do see that I am getting the reoccurring response of weighing food which I'll definitely consider doing now. Thank you for those who are trying to help.2
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The thing about doctors: My boyfriend's doctor recently told him that he needed to lose 100 lbs in 3 months by not eating bread. Case closed.0
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Tialuna, I have been seeing Internal Medicine docs and a nutritionist regularly for several years now. Not saying I'm an expert but I have learned what foods do what to me. Just an idea of what to try.....
1. Drop your sugar to 40g/day or less.
2. Instead of the health bars, have a light greek yogurt. I have to have one a day. I use Yoplait 100 Greek Yogurt because it is lowest in sugar and contains protein.
I can eat anything I want to eat and am able to maintain my weight at 125. My calories are set at 1500. I rarely reach it and am eating all day long.
One thing to consider is that muscle weighs more than fat. That is what I have to be careful of when I exercise.....too much walking and and I will burn too many calories. I absolutely can NOT lose weight. Catch 22. I need to build up my large muscles while not losing weight...have to keep sugar down to prevent it converting to fat.
I just glanced at your diary. The only thing I saw on a quick note was you are over on sugar...without the restriction. Not saying to do as I do, just something to consider.
Thank you for sharing this with us! I'm looking forward to following your progress.
Are you saying that walking burns so many calories that it renders you unable to lose weight? And that your muscles will convert into fat if you eat too much sugar?0
This discussion has been closed.
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