OK; I've got to believe something's wrong somewhere....

oceanboy1
oceanboy1 Posts: 2 Member
edited November 2024 in Health and Weight Loss
Hi all;
I've got to ask for help, so this might be a lengthy post...

Along with my wife, I've started using MFP to lose some weight (about 15#). I'm allotted 1790 cal/day. (All figures are from MFP), and while I know about the "inaccuracies of measurement", we weigh, measure, and record EVERYTHING that goes into our mouth.

We use the lightly active category, are both over 60, and exercise 4+ times/week. Typically, I will be 200 to 600 calories under my daily allotment, so even a slight miss in recording shouldn't make a great difference. According to MFP I should be losing 2# a week.

The first two weeks we lost. The next three we've both either flatted out, or gained. There has been NO change in method, diet or exercise mode from the first weeks. Any suggestions from anyone? I'm about ready to forget this and go Atkins....

JP

Replies

  • healthy_life2015
    healthy_life2015 Posts: 215 Member
    Are you eating back your exercise calories?
  • AlciaMode
    AlciaMode Posts: 421 Member
    Do not rely on scale alone. Take pics and measurements
  • juggernaut1974
    juggernaut1974 Posts: 6,212 Member
    Patience.

    Weight loss isn't a straight downward arrow. Some weeks you go up, some weeks you stay the same, some weeks you go down.

    As long as the overall trend is down, keep going. If the overall trend after a couple of months isn't down, then it's time to re-evaluate.

    Also, expecting to lose 2 lbs per week with only 15 to lose is quite unrealistic. 1 lb per week would be aggressive; most would be happy with 1/2 lb per week with that little to lose.
  • yopeeps025
    yopeeps025 Posts: 8,680 Member
    What makes you think that Atkins is a sure way to have a calorie deficit?

    Weight loss is not linear.

    You lost weight in two weeks. How much? MFP usually does a recalculation of calories daily every five pounds.

    I think that lightly active might be the wrong category too. I workout five days a week and still use sedentary category.
  • dopeysmelly
    dopeysmelly Posts: 1,390 Member
    Patience! It can take some people a long time to see progress and weight loss is not linear in any case. 3 weeks is not a plateau. Give it a couple more weeks and then maybe reassess.

    When I had times that I was frustrated I would focus my attention elsewhere, maybe trying a different exercise or trying out a new recipe book (I like adapting recipes to fit the food I like to eat).

    Also, there's no reason why you can't "go Atkins" and switch around the balance of carbs/fats/proteins in what you eat. Every few months I try a different "style" of eating to mix things up and just to have a bit of fun. If you want to increase the amount of fat and reduce the amount of carbs, why not just give it a go, while balancing your calorie intake?
  • leggup
    leggup Posts: 2,942 Member
    What is your day job? Lightly Active is for jobs like teachers. You should be set to sedentary if you have a desk job.

    Also- you're not giving this enough time. Can you open your diary?
  • yarwell
    yarwell Posts: 10,477 Member
    1790 a day isn't low, so I'm wondering if you are as active as you told MFP. With closed diary and no stats to go on it's a bit difficult to say.

    To hit my "sedentary" calories my Fitbit wants to see me do about 4000 steps a day, which is about 40 minutes of walking.

    The logic says that what you are eating now is matching your energy expenditure if your weight is floating around a point. Do you log exercise and consume the extra calories ?
  • mulecanter
    mulecanter Posts: 1,822 Member
    Us older folks don't move as much as we used to, your calorie burning is probably lower than you think. Add a daily walk to your existing exercise routine. Atkins is stupid. Manage your net calories and forget about gimmicks. It's thermodynamics--period.
  • oceanboy1
    oceanboy1 Posts: 2 Member
    Thanks everyone for your replies. I've shifted my classification to sedentary. I'm retired, but still pretty active. Like I'd said, I typically have 200 to 600 "surplus" calories/day-so no, I don't usually eat back my exercise calories.

    I'd made the comment about Atkins since I'm familiar with two family members who've lost over 50# with that method. I'm sure it isn't the best way; but it does work.
  • Mr_Knight
    Mr_Knight Posts: 9,532 Member
    Open your diary.
  • Smallc10
    Smallc10 Posts: 704 Member
    Wait so mfp is saying eat 1790 and you're usually eating 1190 - 1590 per day? Is that what you're saying because that is REALLY low for an average male especially if you are exercising on top of that.
  • PeachyCarol
    PeachyCarol Posts: 8,029 Member
    Mr_Knight wrote: »
    Open your diary.

    ^This.

  • Smallc10
    Smallc10 Posts: 704 Member
    Also yes please open your diary it would help, along with your height and weight
  • Zedeff
    Zedeff Posts: 651 Member
    Smallc10 wrote: »
    Wait so mfp is saying eat 1790 and you're usually eating 1190 - 1590 per day? Is that what you're saying because that is REALLY low for an average male especially if you are exercising on top of that.

    Except that he's not losing weight, so he's obviously not under eating.
  • Smallc10
    Smallc10 Posts: 704 Member
    edited April 2015
    Zedeff wrote: »
    Smallc10 wrote: »
    Wait so mfp is saying eat 1790 and you're usually eating 1190 - 1590 per day? Is that what you're saying because that is REALLY low for an average male especially if you are exercising on top of that.

    Except that he's not losing weight, so he's obviously not under eating.

    No obviously, but understanding what he is saying is quite helpful. Especially as his diary isn't open
  • beemerphile1
    beemerphile1 Posts: 1,710 Member
    Patience. Look at my profile. MFP works but it isn't linear.
  • Machka9
    Machka9 Posts: 26,552 Member
    oceanboy1 wrote: »
    Hi all;
    I've got to ask for help, so this might be a lengthy post...

    Along with my wife, I've started using MFP to lose some weight (about 15#). I'm allotted 1790 cal/day. (All figures are from MFP), and while I know about the "inaccuracies of measurement", we weigh, measure, and record EVERYTHING that goes into our mouth.

    We use the lightly active category, are both over 60, and exercise 4+ times/week. Typically, I will be 200 to 600 calories under my daily allotment, so even a slight miss in recording shouldn't make a great difference. According to MFP I should be losing 2# a week.

    The first two weeks we lost. The next three we've both either flatted out, or gained. There has been NO change in method, diet or exercise mode from the first weeks. Any suggestions from anyone? I'm about ready to forget this and go Atkins....

    JP

    1. 1790 seems a bit high ... especially if you've got it set to lose 2 lb/week!
    2. Change your setting to sedentary. Then add your exercise as you do it.

This discussion has been closed.

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