Progress?

amandadunwoody
amandadunwoody Posts: 204 Member
edited June 2015 in Health and Weight Loss
I've been using myfitnesspal for about 6 weeks and pretty consistently staying on track with calories. I started exercising 30 minutes almost everyday plus being more active in general at that time as well. I've been pushing myself in my workouts. I told myself when i started that i didn't care about losing weight, i just want to feel better and be healthier. I do feel stronger. I do have more focus and more energy. But myfitnesspal is set to lose 1 lb a week and so far I've lost maybe 3lbs. I got a fitbit last week and the numbers there agree with what I've had here. I can't help but feel somewhat discouraged. Any tips? I see people say they worked out for 8 weeks and lost 20lbs... what gives?

Replies

  • Sued0nim
    Sued0nim Posts: 17,456 Member
    How are you logging your food?
  • DemoraFairy
    DemoraFairy Posts: 1,806 Member
    Do you weigh everything you eat? Do you eat back your exercise calories? Can you open your diary?
  • malibu927
    malibu927 Posts: 17,565 Member
    Half a pound a week is still good!

    Are you using a food scale to weigh everything? If not, it's possible you're eating more than you think.
  • Forest91
    Forest91 Posts: 1,203 Member
    You have only been on myfitnesspal for 6 weeks. It takes time at one point I was stuck on a 13st for quite a few weeks and then this weekend I drop 3.4lbs. Don't let it get it down just carry on with what you have been doing and you should see the difference soon.
  • galgenstrick
    galgenstrick Posts: 2,086 Member
    You are simply eating more than you should to burn more than 0.5 lbs a week. Your personal progress data is now more valuable than the MFP calorie target, so you need to adjust your intake and exercise based on your data.
  • amandadunwoody
    amandadunwoody Posts: 204 Member
    edited June 2015
    I am not weighing portions but I scan in anything that i can and have measured with measuring cups to verify portions. Not always, but I feel like I err on the side of caution by overestimating if I'm not sure.
  • DeguelloTex
    DeguelloTex Posts: 6,658 Member
    If you're losing less than you expect, you're eating more than you think. There will be day to day fluctuations, but if the longer term trend isn't where it "should" be, your deficit is smaller than it "should" be.
  • DemoraFairy
    DemoraFairy Posts: 1,806 Member
    amandadunwoody wrote: »
    I am not weighing portions but I scan in anything that i can and have measured with measuring cups to verify portions. Not always, but I feel like I err on the side of caution by overestimating if I'm not sure.

    That's probably your problem. Get a food scale and weigh everything, you're probably eating more than you think. It only takes 200 or so calories to change 1lb/week to 0.5lb/week.
  • SezxyStef
    SezxyStef Posts: 15,268 Member
    amandadunwoody wrote: »
    I am not weighing portions but I scan in anything that i can and have measured with measuring cups to verify portions. Not always, but I feel like I err on the side of caution by overestimating if I'm not sure.

    cups/spoons and even scanning is not enough for accurate logging.

    If you are not losing at the speed you should be you are eating more than you think and under estimating in reality.

    Get a food scale...they aren't that expensive and help.
  • malibu927
    malibu927 Posts: 17,565 Member
    Measuring cups can often be highly inaccurate. Pick up a food scale and start weighing everything...it's one of the best tools I've used in this.
  • amandadunwoody
    amandadunwoody Posts: 204 Member
    DemoraFairy wrote: »
    It only takes 200 or so calories to change 1lb/week to 0.5lb/week.

    That puts it into perspective right there.
  • vegannlg
    vegannlg Posts: 170 Member
    It is a journey of adjustments. That's why you have a history here on MFP that you can look back at (Reports feature) and see what you have done and what happened because of that over a period of time.

    Also, accuracy in logging has been my number one help in getting the scale moving again when things slow down. I forget to be careful, forget that banana or coffee here and there. A handful of calories in a day can add up to over 1000 or more in a month.
  • juliet3455
    juliet3455 Posts: 3,015 Member
    edited June 2015
    As a newbie to MFP I offer up my standard suggestion to read the information at these MFP post. They have links to multiple very good reads. I was using MFP for about 6 months before I started digging around the Forums and wish I would have found this info on Week 1.

    The links below will take you to the top of each message board and you can pick which of the Stickied messages you want to read as they are a great source of information

    http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/categories/getting-started
    http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/categories/general-diet-and-weight-loss-help
    http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/categories/food-and-nutrition

    These are some of the Links that I have Permanently Bookmarked and refer back to for inspiration and guidance when I Stumble. We all Stumble

    http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/833026/important-posts-to-read/p1

    http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/1234699/logging-accurately-step-by-step-guide/p1

    http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/872212/youre-probably-eating-more-than-you-think/p1

    http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/1296011/calorie-counting-101/p1

    http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/group/10118-eat-train-progress

    http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/1069278/acronyms-and-terms-for-new-mfp-members-v-6/p1

    http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/comment/31633130#Comment_31633130

    My number one personal recommendation is to Slow Down ( Patience ) and you will get to your goal.
    Remember the weight Loss Process is not Linear.
  • editorgrrl
    editorgrrl Posts: 7,060 Member
    amandadunwoody wrote: »
    But myfitnesspal is set to lose 1 lb a week and so fat I've lost maybe 3lbs. I got a fitbit last week and the numbers there agree with what I've had here. I can't help but feel somewhat discouraged. Any tips? I see people say they worked out for 8 weeks and lost 20lbs... what gives?

    A healthy, sustainable loss is .5 lb. per week for every 25 lbs. you're overweight. And weight loss is not linear. Some weeks you do everything right but maintain—or even gain. Others you lose a whole lot in a "whoosh." So be patient!

    Your Fitbit burn is TDEE—the calories necessary to maintain your current weight. If you eat at a reasonable deficit from that, you will lose weight.

    Connect your accounts at http://www.myfitnesspal.com/fitbit

    Enable negative calorie adjustments in your diary settings, and set your goal to .5 lb. per week for every 25 lbs. you're overweight.

    Ignore your Fitbit calorie goal and follow MFP's, eating back your Fitbit adjustments.

    You can learn more in the Fitbit Users group: http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/group/1290-fitbit-users
  • amandadunwoody
    amandadunwoody Posts: 204 Member
    Thanks for the feedback everyone! I was expecting to hear "get a scale and weight your food" lol.

    I have been delving into all the vast resources of myfitnesspal and will check out the links shared above.
  • Sued0nim
    Sued0nim Posts: 17,456 Member
    amandadunwoody wrote: »
    Thanks for the feedback everyone! I was expecting to hear "get a scale and weight your food" lol.

    I have been delving into all the vast resources of myfitnesspal and will check out the links shared above.

    You did, didn't you?

    I mean that's where your errors lie...in cups and guesswork rather than measuring

    Where's that youtube vid ...anyone?
  • jkal1979
    jkal1979 Posts: 1,896 Member
    rabbitjb wrote: »
    amandadunwoody wrote: »
    Thanks for the feedback everyone! I was expecting to hear "get a scale and weight your food" lol.

    I have been delving into all the vast resources of myfitnesspal and will check out the links shared above.

    You did, didn't you?

    I mean that's where your errors lie...in cups and guesswork rather than measuring

    Where's that youtube vid ...anyone?

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JVjWPclrWVY
  • bambione
    bambione Posts: 30 Member
    I've been doing this for about 2 months now. And it is really frustrating in the beginning because I just felt those pounds should be falling off. I've lost 8 lbs so far but it hasn't always been consistent. I got a scale about a week ago and it's been really helpful for a lot of things. I don't weigh things like peanut butter but use a tablespoon for that type of thing. I have to say this community here has been really helpful and motivating. I have also been eating a lot better than I used to. I've really been paying attention to my nutrients and watching my sodium intake. I feel in the beginning we are picking up new habits of eating that will take us far in the weight loss journey. Two days ago I got a Jawbone Up Move and that's going to make a big difference in motivation, just like your Fitbit will for you. So just keep with it, it's a learning process. Keep reading these forums for motivation as well.
  • DeguelloTex
    DeguelloTex Posts: 6,658 Member
    bambione wrote: »
    I've been doing this for about 2 months now. And it is really frustrating in the beginning because I just felt those pounds should be falling off. I've lost 8 lbs so far but it hasn't always been consistent. I got a scale about a week ago and it's been really helpful for a lot of things. I don't weigh things like peanut butter but use a tablespoon for that type of thing. I have to say this community here has been really helpful and motivating. I have also been eating a lot better than I used to. I've really been paying attention to my nutrients and watching my sodium intake. I feel in the beginning we are picking up new habits of eating that will take us far in the weight loss journey. Two days ago I got a Jawbone Up Move and that's going to make a big difference in motivation, just like your Fitbit will for you. So just keep with it, it's a learning process. Keep reading these forums for motivation as well.
    Peanut butter is the textbook example of something you should weigh.

  • jkal1979
    jkal1979 Posts: 1,896 Member
    bambione wrote: »
    I've been doing this for about 2 months now. And it is really frustrating in the beginning because I just felt those pounds should be falling off. I've lost 8 lbs so far but it hasn't always been consistent. I got a scale about a week ago and it's been really helpful for a lot of things. I don't weigh things like peanut butter but use a tablespoon for that type of thing. I have to say this community here has been really helpful and motivating. I have also been eating a lot better than I used to. I've really been paying attention to my nutrients and watching my sodium intake. I feel in the beginning we are picking up new habits of eating that will take us far in the weight loss journey. Two days ago I got a Jawbone Up Move and that's going to make a big difference in motivation, just like your Fitbit will for you. So just keep with it, it's a learning process. Keep reading these forums for motivation as well.

    If you don't weigh peanut butter, then I suggest that you watch the video that I posted. That is one of the foods that they use to show why you should not use measuring spoons/cups.

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