Should I see a doctor?
Replies
-
Weigh the oatmeal and raisins.
Let's say you'd like to lose 4 lbs per month. That's about 500 calories per day that you need to eat lower than your TDEE. But you're only losing 2 lbs per month. So that means your true deficit on average is 250 calories per day. Every. Single. Person. Who's been giving advice on this forum can tell you that not measuring the weight of things like oatmeal and raisins can EASILY add up to 250 calories in a day. EASILY.0 -
A couple of other things I noticed:
1. Are you using the Recipe Builder tool for your recipes?
2. It's always more accurate to enter the individual components of a dish than it is to look for something in the database that describes the whole dish. For example, you have "Coffee with Milk and Sugar" listed every morning. I would suggest entering the coffee, milk and sugar as separate items, and weighing the sugar using the food scale. Same thing with the scrambled eggs (enter the eggs and then the butter/oil as separate entries).
I didn't use a food scale for a long time, but it really is easier than using measuring cups/spoons. It's a big time saver and there are so fewer dishes I have to wash!0 -
HI Green,
It looks like you've lost 25 pounds so far. Congratulations!
I read up to where you said your diary is open.
It looks like you don't weigh food, so I suggest getting a food scale if you don't have one. There is a big difference between weighing and measuring, as in 1/2 cup of oatmeal is usually more than 150 calories (something like 38-40 grams). In other words you are underestimating calories in.
I see you have burned well over 300 calories for a half hour on the recumbent bike, and then even more with "Crunch". What is Crunch? In any event, it looks to me like your exercise burns are overestimated. If you get your burn estimates from machines or MFP or other internet/phone app sources, you might want to eat only about 60% of those back.
Be sure to allow MFP to adjust you calorie settings for every ten pounds you lose because we need less calories as we get smaller.0 -
GreenValli wrote: »Weighing and measuring: I do weigh meats and most other solid foods. It seems more reasonable and accurate to me to use measuring spoons for small things like salad dressing and marmalade. I do level them off.
The only changes I can imagine implementing from what you are saying is to weigh oatmeal, which I do eat almost every morning. And eggs: I have not been weighing. With shell or after cooked?
Thanks for all the suggestions. It is hard for me to think that those few things would make that much of a difference, but I am willing to make changes. My diary might look very "full" to you, but I do cook and eat at home almost all of the time. So many of my meals have lots of ingredients that I combine to make items like salads, and such. I will leave my diary open for anyone to view, but will close it later today.
BTW, I do not eat back calories per se. I do allow myself to eat more towards 1400 on days I exercise, and closer to 1200 when I don't go to the gym.
I will look up symptoms of thyroid problems later today. Got to run for now. Thanks everyone! I so appreciate it. I have "doctor" phobia and really don't want to see one unless necessary. I am feeling great and healthy other than being frustrated about a slow weight loss.
Weigh eggs without the shell. In the diary, you can find foods in grams and compare them to the package.
Weigh the oatmeal and raisins prior to cooking.
It's important to weigh all solids because, really, the measuring cups can be deceitful.
0 -
midwesterner85 wrote: »You might be in a plateau. I have been in a plateau since Mar. The last plateau (the one that ended in Mar.) started in October.
If you are logging everything with precision and you are at a deficit, you still might not lose weight if you are in a plateau. I get serial plateaus. Eventually I have a big "whoosh" where I'll lose several lbs. in a few days.
I wonder if this is more natural fluctuations? I do this too, and I've been in maintenance for about a year and a half.0 -
midwesterner85 wrote: »You might be in a plateau. I have been in a plateau since Mar. The last plateau (the one that ended in Mar.) started in October.
If you are logging everything with precision and you are at a deficit, you still might not lose weight if you are in a plateau. I get serial plateaus. Eventually I have a big "whoosh" where I'll lose several lbs. in a few days.
I wonder if this is more natural fluctuations? I do this too, and I've been in maintenance for about a year and a half.
No, it's not natural fluctuations. I know the difference... I will have natural fluctuations during a plateau and still consider it a plateau (because it is). Last time, I had natural fluctuations in the upper 170's and lower 180's. Eventually, I dropped into the lower 170's in a week and have mostly stayed there (with the exception of getting up to 176 a few weeks ago before dropping back down to 172 and 173). When I say I stay the same weight during a plateau, I'm truly gaining and losing a few lbs. from day to day and week to week, but staying within the same range for several months before getting a "whoosh" and dropping into a new range.0 -
GreenValli wrote: »TheVirgoddess wrote: »I do not bother for things like lettuce, or smaller calories items.
Every-damned-thing, right?
Weigh everything, and your problem goes away.
Weigh. Not measure.
Everything.0 -
GreenValli wrote: »Weighing and measuring: I do weigh meats and most other solid foods. It seems more reasonable and accurate to me to use measuring spoons for small things like salad dressing and marmalade. I do level them off.
The only changes I can imagine implementing from what you are saying is to weigh oatmeal, which I do eat almost every morning. And eggs: I have not been weighing. With shell or after cooked?
Thanks for all the suggestions. It is hard for me to think that those few things would make that much of a difference, but I am willing to make changes. My diary might look very "full" to you, but I do cook and eat at home almost all of the time. So many of my meals have lots of ingredients that I combine to make items like salads, and such. I will leave my diary open for anyone to view, but will close it later today.
BTW, I do not eat back calories per se. I do allow myself to eat more towards 1400 on days I exercise, and closer to 1200 when I don't go to the gym.
I will look up symptoms of thyroid problems later today. Got to run for now. Thanks everyone! I so appreciate it. I have "doctor" phobia and really don't want to see one unless necessary. I am feeling great and healthy other than being frustrated about a slow weight loss.
This part might be another issue...Depending on what you're doing for exercise you might not be burning an average of 100 extra calories a day. It's harder to burn 100 than a lot of people think.0 -
midwesterner85 wrote: »midwesterner85 wrote: »You might be in a plateau. I have been in a plateau since Mar. The last plateau (the one that ended in Mar.) started in October.
If you are logging everything with precision and you are at a deficit, you still might not lose weight if you are in a plateau. I get serial plateaus. Eventually I have a big "whoosh" where I'll lose several lbs. in a few days.
I wonder if this is more natural fluctuations? I do this too, and I've been in maintenance for about a year and a half.
No, it's not natural fluctuations. I know the difference... I will have natural fluctuations during a plateau and still consider it a plateau (because it is). Last time, I had natural fluctuations in the upper 170's and lower 180's. Eventually, I dropped into the lower 170's in a week and have mostly stayed there (with the exception of getting up to 176 a few weeks ago before dropping back down to 172 and 173). When I say I stay the same weight during a plateau, I'm truly gaining and losing a few lbs. from day to day and week to week, but staying within the same range for several months before getting a "whoosh" and dropping into a new range.
Thanks for the clarification.0 -
midwesterner85 wrote: »midwesterner85 wrote: »You might be in a plateau. I have been in a plateau since Mar. The last plateau (the one that ended in Mar.) started in October.
If you are logging everything with precision and you are at a deficit, you still might not lose weight if you are in a plateau. I get serial plateaus. Eventually I have a big "whoosh" where I'll lose several lbs. in a few days.
I wonder if this is more natural fluctuations? I do this too, and I've been in maintenance for about a year and a half.
No, it's not natural fluctuations. I know the difference... I will have natural fluctuations during a plateau and still consider it a plateau (because it is). Last time, I had natural fluctuations in the upper 170's and lower 180's. Eventually, I dropped into the lower 170's in a week and have mostly stayed there (with the exception of getting up to 176 a few weeks ago before dropping back down to 172 and 173). When I say I stay the same weight during a plateau, I'm truly gaining and losing a few lbs. from day to day and week to week, but staying within the same range for several months before getting a "whoosh" and dropping into a new range.
I had that happen. But it was because I had gotten sloppy in my logging. Once I was able to take a step back and honestly evaluate what I was doing, the "plateau" stopped and I went on to meet my goal.0 -
TheVirgoddess wrote: »midwesterner85 wrote: »midwesterner85 wrote: »You might be in a plateau. I have been in a plateau since Mar. The last plateau (the one that ended in Mar.) started in October.
If you are logging everything with precision and you are at a deficit, you still might not lose weight if you are in a plateau. I get serial plateaus. Eventually I have a big "whoosh" where I'll lose several lbs. in a few days.
I wonder if this is more natural fluctuations? I do this too, and I've been in maintenance for about a year and a half.
No, it's not natural fluctuations. I know the difference... I will have natural fluctuations during a plateau and still consider it a plateau (because it is). Last time, I had natural fluctuations in the upper 170's and lower 180's. Eventually, I dropped into the lower 170's in a week and have mostly stayed there (with the exception of getting up to 176 a few weeks ago before dropping back down to 172 and 173). When I say I stay the same weight during a plateau, I'm truly gaining and losing a few lbs. from day to day and week to week, but staying within the same range for several months before getting a "whoosh" and dropping into a new range.
I had that happen. But it was because I had gotten sloppy in my logging. Once I was able to take a step back and honestly evaluate what I was doing, the "plateau" stopped and I went on to meet my goal.
Did you lose 7 lbs. in a few days at that point? If not, then your experience is not like mine. My point is that plateaus and "whooshes" exist. I lost weight semi-normally for the first 8 months... then started getting longer and longer plateaus and bigger whooshes. My point was that if the OP has not lost weight in a month, she may be experiencing the beginning of a plateau. I'm not discounting the suggestion that she use a food scale. We all know how important that is. Just don't ignore that people can log accurately and eat at a deficit, yet be in a plateau and not lose.0 -
midwesterner85 wrote: »TheVirgoddess wrote: »midwesterner85 wrote: »midwesterner85 wrote: »You might be in a plateau. I have been in a plateau since Mar. The last plateau (the one that ended in Mar.) started in October.
If you are logging everything with precision and you are at a deficit, you still might not lose weight if you are in a plateau. I get serial plateaus. Eventually I have a big "whoosh" where I'll lose several lbs. in a few days.
I wonder if this is more natural fluctuations? I do this too, and I've been in maintenance for about a year and a half.
No, it's not natural fluctuations. I know the difference... I will have natural fluctuations during a plateau and still consider it a plateau (because it is). Last time, I had natural fluctuations in the upper 170's and lower 180's. Eventually, I dropped into the lower 170's in a week and have mostly stayed there (with the exception of getting up to 176 a few weeks ago before dropping back down to 172 and 173). When I say I stay the same weight during a plateau, I'm truly gaining and losing a few lbs. from day to day and week to week, but staying within the same range for several months before getting a "whoosh" and dropping into a new range.
I had that happen. But it was because I had gotten sloppy in my logging. Once I was able to take a step back and honestly evaluate what I was doing, the "plateau" stopped and I went on to meet my goal.
Did you lose 7 lbs. in a few days at that point? If not, then your experience is not like mine. My point is that plateaus and "whooshes" exist. I lost weight semi-normally for the first 8 months... then started getting longer and longer plateaus and bigger whooshes. My point was that if the OP has not lost weight in a month, she may be experiencing the beginning of a plateau. I'm not discounting the suggestion that she use a food scale. We all know how important that is. Just don't ignore that people can log accurately and eat at a deficit, yet be in a plateau and not lose.
I often go a few weeks without losing then suddently I will drop 4-7lbs in 3 or 4 days. In June I went w weeks without the scale changing yet still somehow managed to lose over 7lbs this month.
If I increase exercise slightly...maybe reduce sodium...drink more water...double check my accuracy in tracking...it always causes my weight to start dropping.
Last week I alone I lost almost 5lbs...it will slow down any day now and I might not lose anything else for a couple of weeks.
I don't call them plateaus though...it is just the way my body reacts to being in a deficit.
0 -
midwesterner85 wrote: »TheVirgoddess wrote: »midwesterner85 wrote: »midwesterner85 wrote: »You might be in a plateau. I have been in a plateau since Mar. The last plateau (the one that ended in Mar.) started in October.
If you are logging everything with precision and you are at a deficit, you still might not lose weight if you are in a plateau. I get serial plateaus. Eventually I have a big "whoosh" where I'll lose several lbs. in a few days.
I wonder if this is more natural fluctuations? I do this too, and I've been in maintenance for about a year and a half.
No, it's not natural fluctuations. I know the difference... I will have natural fluctuations during a plateau and still consider it a plateau (because it is). Last time, I had natural fluctuations in the upper 170's and lower 180's. Eventually, I dropped into the lower 170's in a week and have mostly stayed there (with the exception of getting up to 176 a few weeks ago before dropping back down to 172 and 173). When I say I stay the same weight during a plateau, I'm truly gaining and losing a few lbs. from day to day and week to week, but staying within the same range for several months before getting a "whoosh" and dropping into a new range.
I had that happen. But it was because I had gotten sloppy in my logging. Once I was able to take a step back and honestly evaluate what I was doing, the "plateau" stopped and I went on to meet my goal.
Did you lose 7 lbs. in a few days at that point? If not, then your experience is not like mine. My point is that plateaus and "whooshes" exist. I lost weight semi-normally for the first 8 months... then started getting longer and longer plateaus and bigger whooshes. My point was that if the OP has not lost weight in a month, she may be experiencing the beginning of a plateau. I'm not discounting the suggestion that she use a food scale. We all know how important that is. Just don't ignore that people can log accurately and eat at a deficit, yet be in a plateau and not lose.
I often go a few weeks without losing then suddently I will drop 4-7lbs in 3 or 4 days. In June I went w weeks without the scale changing yet still somehow managed to lose over 7lbs this month.
If I increase exercise slightly...maybe reduce sodium...drink more water...double check my accuracy in tracking...it always causes my weight to start dropping.
Last week I alone I lost almost 5lbs...it will slow down any day now and I might not lose anything else for a couple of weeks.
I don't call them plateaus though...it is just the way my body reacts to being in a deficit.
No, it isn't a plateau when it only lasts a few weeks. When it starts lasting months, it is a plateau.0 -
GreenValli wrote: »
I will look up symptoms of thyroid problems later today. Got to run for now. Thanks everyone! I so appreciate it. I have "doctor" phobia and really don't want to see one unless necessary. I am feeling great and healthy other than being frustrated about a slow weight loss.
Then honestly, the answer isn't your thyroid. Weight gain/stagnation is only one of many symptoms of hypothyroidism, and you certainly don't feel otherwise great and healthy.0
This discussion has been closed.
Categories
- All Categories
- 1.4M Health, Wellness and Goals
- 393.4K Introduce Yourself
- 43.8K Getting Started
- 260.2K Health and Weight Loss
- 175.9K Food and Nutrition
- 47.4K Recipes
- 232.5K Fitness and Exercise
- 427 Sleep, Mindfulness and Overall Wellness
- 6.5K Goal: Maintaining Weight
- 8.5K Goal: Gaining Weight and Body Building
- 153K Motivation and Support
- 8K Challenges
- 1.3K Debate Club
- 96.3K Chit-Chat
- 2.5K Fun and Games
- 3.7K MyFitnessPal Information
- 24 News and Announcements
- 1.1K Feature Suggestions and Ideas
- 2.6K MyFitnessPal Tech Support Questions