Will not eating enough really stop me from losing weight? Suggestions please!

strong_curves wrote: »

I used to think I didn't eat much until I started accurately logging everything I eat and drink here in MFP. You should watch this video, very eye opening:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=KA9AdlhB18o

Wow that's a eye opener

Kalikel wrote: »

shell1005 wrote: »

hamptontom wrote: »

justrollme wrote: »

I have noticed that occasionally, someone will post an apology for "being stubborn," after arguing over advice etc., which is great. But I'm suggesting that it has to be considered how many people jetpack.jpg out of here, discouraged. Everyone is quick to tell someone who apologizes how "classy" they are for doing so, but that really should be going both ways.

I've wondered quite a bit, even during the short time i've been here, if anyone else noticed that, or if the sometimes prevalent tough love/hardass thing was just an accepted behavior model here.

Nah, there are just as many enablers and coddlers as there are tough love/truth tellers. So, pick your poison.

You cannot have tough love without any love. Without actual love, it's just toughness.

You can tell the truth without name-calling. Truth doesn't have to be brutal truth. There are other kinds.

Who name-called? The comments got blunter as OP became more hostile in denying the undeniable truth, but there was no name calling.

I'd be interested in OPs hypothesis as to how she became 300 lbs. It's not because she eats to much and its not because she has a medical condition, so that leaves .......?

litnbug wrote: »

I don't have a very big appetite, ironic as that may be in a woman weighing 300 lbs. I know I don't eat correctly, but aren't calories calories, regardless of where they come from. As I've started this change today, I am going to make a conscious effort to eat better, but I still don't see me eating as many calories as is recommended. Suggestions please!!

You can get away with a steep deficit at this stage. It's good to know where you "should" be as in TDEE so that you can move up and down on that range and carry a deficit still. You will find that it can change as to how satisfied you are on the calories you give yourself. Be prepared to move that up if need be especially as the lighter you get, the more mobile you'll get and thus increased activity leading to increased hunger.

I see-sawed with my calories too. 1200 during the week and then more on weekends due to social activity. I was ok with (carefully not with abandon) increasing it because I knew I was still in a deficit over the course of the week.

Also, you mention not eating "correctly" which I'm assuming you mean, and I use the term colloquially, junk foods? Yes you can eat that and still lose. One of the problems with those foods, in the absence of never having calorie counted is that for the amount of calories they can contain they don't look substantial so we think more is ok and most people find them not very satiating either so they go back for seconds. We think we are eating very little when in fact, given how highly calorific those foods are, we are overeating - I'm saying this in the context of you not having counted calories prior. With calorie counting, you become very aware of when best to spend your calories on those foods.

It does help to add more protein, more fibre with just a little of what I call sometimes food - high calorie.

litnbug wrote: »

For instance, today is my first day of this, and as I said in my first blog, I wasn't prepared, I just jumped right in. So my eating today is more of a normal day and not an "I'm trying to lose weight day". I already know what I'm having for dinner so I have logged that. My allotted calories is 2390, and after logging everything I've eaten today and what I will eat for dinner, I am only at 1177. No where near what I should be.

As hard as anyone tries to be "unconscious" of how they eat, the very act of logging creates an awareness...of hunger signals but also of mindless eating (I learnt my biggest downfall was eating the kid's leftovers and not logging small bites of this n that and cooking oil). I didn't get to 260lbs by eating a tonne of food everyday although I definitely had days like that (still do). It was day after day of extra calories I didn't need but I also thought they were insignificant...a serving size of cheesecake was ridiculous...a little bit more won't hurt!

litnbug wrote: »

I made the mistake of going back on this thread, which I will not do after this post. I UNDERSTAND about weighing, I UNDERSTAND about the whole process. As for the man that said I'm not ready, he can bite me. I appreciate the constructive criticism and advice. Some of you people are a little overzealous and I realize now that I should not have posted this thread. My mistake. I will not make it again. I know a woman who lost almost 100 lbs and never weighed an ounce of food. I also know a woman who is obsessed with it. My question didn't have anything to do with weighing or not weighing or whether I actually knew what a teaspoon was.

You can lose without calorie counting (I lost initial weight that way). It still requires thought with a big reliance on structure based on knowing yourself really well. You choose sustainable behaviours and lean on those for the rest of your life. Some learn these behaviours via calorie counting, some simply transition to them as long as they are aware of what needs changing - choose lower calorie substitutes, less oil, lower highly processed foods, increase whole foods and simply move more. I used to think of my "future self"...how doe she eat, what's her activity like, how does she respond to stress? I created a person I wanted to be and went for it.

litnbug wrote: »

You know, this is really starting to aggravate me. I don't understand why you all would think I would lie about what I'm eating and then ask for advice. As far as medical problems, there are none that I know of, and I have had several different things checked including my thyroid, and was very let down when I found out it was normal.

There by the grace of God go you and I. I have seen enough women on here struggling with their thyroid medication and weight loss (and succeed after much trial and error) to think I'm glad that was never my issue.

The bottom line is, weight loss is CICO. The beauty of that is that it doesn't matter (within reason) how you choose to do it - just adhere to what you do enjoy. Any medical issue, physical issue can be factored into the equation.

Kalikel wrote: »

litnbug wrote: »

You know, this is really starting to aggravate me. I don't understand why you all would think I would lie about what I'm eating and then ask for advice. As far as medical problems, there are none that I know of, and I have had several different things checked including my thyroid, and was very let down when I found out it was normal.

Did they run the whole panel? Unless you're plucking them, you've got the hypothyroid eyebrows. That's the only reason I ask. I'm kind of picky on the thyroid thing because my doctor said he ran the panel, but all he ran was TSH. I spent many years insisting I couldn't lose and being told that if those numbers were right, I should be losing. I was like, "Duh! I know that! That's why I came!"

When I complained that I couldn't exercise because I was out of breath way too easily, he suggested more exercise. I was like, "How can more help?! I can't even swim anymore!" he suggested trying.

Try.

There were MANY comments carrying the moronic insinuation that I was lying and/or lazy. I really didn't appreciate that doctor or dietitian, lol.

Then I got a good doctor. And everything changed. They whiz zed me through the endo, the surgeon, the cardiologist and into surgery. It wasn't even two weeks and that's with me having other important things to do.

My dang thyroid was so ginormous that it had grown down and through my chest and was smooshing my lungs. It was also cutting off my windpipe. And that guy insisted it wasn't thyroid.

You should've seen the surgeon's face when he said I'd let it go too long and I briefly told him my story. He asked questions. Then he asked for that guy's name and office location, lol. I hope he gave him hell.

So, I'm very pro on getting the whole panel run. By an endocrinologist, if you can get the referral.

I don't think you're lying and I KNOW that sometimes, there really is more to it than not logging properly.

Check out my brows. They're hypothyroid brows. The OP's brows are fine.

I do agree advice on having a full panel run is always good, but I also think adding advice on optimum numbers vs. just being in range is helpful too.

However, that being said... even if a thyroid problem is present, if someone consistently had a habit of that low a caloric intake as the OP has logged, her weight would not be where it is, even with a thyroid problem.

Big picture, here.

OP, no one is saying you don't know things, but people who have experienced frustrations with doing this with and without results are trying to help you. A food scale really made a world of difference for a lot of us. That's why you see so many of us recommending it. Yes, loads of people lose weight without them. I'm happier losing weight with one, though.

I'm in your age bracket, and it's harder losing weight when you get to be a certain age. Every little bit helps.

Serah87 wrote: »

litnbug wrote: »

For instance, today is my first day of this, and as I said in my first blog, I wasn't prepared, I just jumped right in. So my eating today is more of a normal day and not an "I'm trying to lose weight day". I already know what I'm having for dinner so I have logged that. My allotted calories is 2390, and after logging everything I've eaten today and what I will eat for dinner, I am only at 1177. No where near what I should be.

So are you saying this is what you ate before you decided to lose weight?? If so, how did you get to 300 pounds eating so little?? Just wondering...

I think that is exactly what everyone is wondering...

Barring some insane medical condition. It is absolutely, utterly, totally, impossible!!

PeachyCarol wrote: »

Kalikel wrote: »

litnbug wrote: »

You know, this is really starting to aggravate me. I don't understand why you all would think I would lie about what I'm eating and then ask for advice. As far as medical problems, there are none that I know of, and I have had several different things checked including my thyroid, and was very let down when I found out it was normal.

Did they run the whole panel? Unless you're plucking them, you've got the hypothyroid eyebrows. That's the only reason I ask. I'm kind of picky on the thyroid thing because my doctor said he ran the panel, but all he ran was TSH. I spent many years insisting I couldn't lose and being told that if those numbers were right, I should be losing. I was like, "Duh! I know that! That's why I came!"

When I complained that I couldn't exercise because I was out of breath way too easily, he suggested more exercise. I was like, "How can more help?! I can't even swim anymore!" he suggested trying.

Try.

There were MANY comments carrying the moronic insinuation that I was lying and/or lazy. I really didn't appreciate that doctor or dietitian, lol.

Then I got a good doctor. And everything changed. They whiz zed me through the endo, the surgeon, the cardiologist and into surgery. It wasn't even two weeks and that's with me having other important things to do.

My dang thyroid was so ginormous that it had grown down and through my chest and was smooshing my lungs. It was also cutting off my windpipe. And that guy insisted it wasn't thyroid.

You should've seen the surgeon's face when he said I'd let it go too long and I briefly told him my story. He asked questions. Then he asked for that guy's name and office location, lol. I hope he gave him hell.

So, I'm very pro on getting the whole panel run. By an endocrinologist, if you can get the referral.

I don't think you're lying and I KNOW that sometimes, there really is more to it than not logging properly.

Check out my brows. They're hypothyroid brows. The OP's brows are fine.

I do agree advice on having a full panel run is always good, but I also think adding advice on optimum numbers vs. just being in range is helpful too.

However, that being said... even if a thyroid problem is present, if someone consistently had a habit of that low a caloric intake as the OP has logged, her weight would not be where it is, even with a thyroid problem.

Big picture, here.

OP, no one is saying you don't know things, but people who have experienced frustrations with doing this with and without results are trying to help you. A food scale really made a world of difference for a lot of us. That's why you see so many of us recommending it. Yes, loads of people lose weight without them. I'm happier losing weight with one, though.

I'm in your age bracket, and it's harder losing weight when you get to be a certain age. Every little bit helps.

I have no interest in your eyebrows, thank you, anyway.

If you do not like my posts, you are free to give your own advice.

UltimateEscape wrote: »

When the "Diet Bullies" smell blood in the water they have a feeding frenzy.

The forum piranha aka the "Diet Bullies?" Seriously? LMAO.