Benefits of accurate tracking CICO?

daniwilford · June 2015

I am a numbers gal. My career was spent collecting quality data. I know that numbers are only meaningful if their collection is controlled for variables. Accurate measurement and recording is essential for quality data. Quality data is essential for accurate prediction. I have collected enough quality data, on myself, with the help of MFP to see trends in my personal weight loss. MFP is set for 2 pounds a week loss so my base calorie limit is 1200. I am post menopausal so I don’t have hormonal variables. I rarely eat out and adhere to a low sodium, low carb, and high fiber diet to treat medical conditions.
I walk for fitness purposes 6 out of 7 days and count that in my calories out. My rest day is Sunday. I measure solid food in grams using a scale, and liquids in a cup and record them prior to eating of immediately after. I weigh myself every day on the same set of scales, in the morning before eating and in the same state of dress. Monday-Wednesday I consistently lose a total of 2 or more pounds. On Thursday-Sunday I can have small gains or the scale stays the same. Week after week I have four days where I gain or stay the same followed by 3 days of losing any weekly gain plus 2 pounds. I know there will come a time where my expected total weekly loss will need to be decreased to maintain my good health. But in general is this too good to be true? Is this an “enjoy it while it lasts” moment that will randomly come to an end?

bpetrosky · June 2015

It sounds like you have a good handle on the concepts and the methods to manage your weight loss plan. It's not too good to be true, it's just a way of putting solid quantifiable data behind the old "eat less, move more" advice. You have an analytical background, so this should be right up your alley.

You've already noticed that your weight loss isn't linear, so you can prepare yourself for the inevitable stall. Just keep at it, and if you stall for a longer time than you expect, you can review your methods and data and adjust.

futuremanda · June 2015

Rate of loss should slow gradually on its own as you get smaller. You can offset it for awhile by also gradually becoming more active, but at some point it will slow regardless. (And if you bump activity too much, you might find you need to bump calories also.)

You may find your results show less regularly at some point(s), but they should still work out to what you're expecting when you average them over time. If they don't, then there's something amiss in the estimations.

SueInAz · June 2015

It sounds like you really have a great system going! Congrats!

It won't randomly end, but it will end. Over time, as you lose more and more, things will eventually slow down and your pattern of loss might change. Not only would you need to eat less calories to maintain the same rate of loss but eventually you won't be able to maintain it at all because you simply won't be able to create the necessary deficit. Less weight being moved around means less calories are being burned.

You may not be that far off from needing to adjust your weekly goal at this point because 1200 calories is as low as MFP will go. There's simply no lower goal to move to so that you could maintain that 2 pound per week rate. So, when you start to notice that you're not losing as much each week, you'll know you've reached the point that it will be necessary to lower that goal.

BWBTrish · June 2015

My weight loss slowed down of course
But i have the same as you...2 days to 3 days a week i lose. Mostly Monday to Wednesday.... the rest i go up and down a bit ( few ounces) Was funny to discover that. But i do the same

professionalHobbyist · June 2015

It is kinda close. In time you figure out how to swag it

Benefits of accurate tracking CICO?

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