Juggling the same five pounds

nlp154
nlp154 Posts: 8 Member
edited November 25 in Health and Weight Loss
I've been using MFP for about a week now, and I'm already feeling discouraged. On the second or third day, I woke up and had lost three lbs! But since then, I've put those three back on and the scale just goes up and down those 3-4lbs. I know I cheated a lot this weekend, I'm still trying to get the hang of this fitness stuff. But why are these four lbs so pesky? How do I get them off and really start making progress!? Thanks.

Replies

  • DeguelloTex
    DeguelloTex Posts: 6,652 Member
    They're pesky because a week isn't very long and because you cheated a lot this weekend.

    Be more patient and stick to your goals.
  • queenliz99
    queenliz99 Posts: 15,317 Member
    nnnaq5rggu08.jpg


    One week is too soon to tell
  • msujack
    msujack Posts: 84 Member
    The first time you lost 3-4 pounds in a couple days, it was water weight, which you have gained and lost a few times. You cheated "a lot" for 2 of the 7 days you have been trying to use MFP and you are frustrated with the program??? Try it without cheating for a couple weeks, then evaluate the whole calorie in calorie out idea.
  • Machka9
    Machka9 Posts: 25,685 Member
    DeguelloTex wrote: »
    They're pesky because a week isn't very long and because you cheated a lot this weekend.

    Be more patient and stick to your goals.

    Yes this ^^

    Stick to it for at least 2 or 3 weeks, and then you might start noticing a change.

  • nlp154
    nlp154 Posts: 8 Member
    It's just frustrating, it's been the same few pounds for years now, this is just my first time with MFP. But okay, I trust you guys! Thanks for the help
  • queenliz99
    queenliz99 Posts: 15,317 Member
    Weight loss does not happen overnight.
  • Machka9
    Machka9 Posts: 25,685 Member
    nlp154 wrote: »
    It's just frustrating, it's been the same few pounds for years now, this is just my first time with MFP. But okay, I trust you guys! Thanks for the help

    Have you entered all your information into MFP ... selected sedentary as your activity level ... selected how much you want to lose each week (eg. 1 lb/week) ... and had a look at how many calories MFP gives you?

    Are you weighing and logging all your food?

    If so, just stick with it for at least 2 weeks. No cheating.

  • sunandmoons
    sunandmoons Posts: 415 Member
    edited October 2015
    One week is too soon too be worried. First two weeks I didnt lose a pound. 8 weeks in lost 14 pounds. Be consistent and dedicated to your logging it will happen.
  • Liftng4Lis
    Liftng4Lis Posts: 15,151 Member
    It is going to take longer than a week. Be patient.
  • rankinsect
    rankinsect Posts: 2,238 Member
    nlp154 wrote: »
    It's just frustrating, it's been the same few pounds for years now, this is just my first time with MFP. But okay, I trust you guys! Thanks for the help

    Even if you keep the exact same levels of fat and muscle, the average person's weight fluctuates by as much as ten pounds just from varying levels of water weight. You can minimize this by logging weight first thing in the morning after using the bathroom, but some fluctuations are always going to be there. You really care about long term trends, not random variance.
  • diannethegeek
    diannethegeek Posts: 14,776 Member
    http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10084670/it-is-unlikely-that-you-will-lose-weight-consistently-i-e-weight-loss-is-not-linear

    and

    http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10196160/scale-stress-syndrome/p1

    might be useful reads.

    Your weight is never going to be a static number, even when you reach your goals and transition into maintenance. The human body is just too complex for that to happen. Try not to let the fluctuations drive you crazy.

    You might check out a program like trendweight (I know there are others out there but can't name any of them off the top of my head) or consider weighing yourself less often if the fluctuations get to you.

  • juggernaut1974
    juggernaut1974 Posts: 6,212 Member
    diannethegeek wrote: »
    Your weight is never going to be a static number, even when you reach your goals and transition into maintenance. The human body is just too complex for that to happen. Try not to let the fluctuations drive you crazy.

    So very much this.

    People need to stop thinking of their "weight" as one specific, unchanging number. If you're bouncing up and down a few pounds all within about a 5 lb range, that's called maintenance.

  • segacs
    segacs Posts: 4,599 Member
    One week? That's it?

    Keep at it for a few months. Then come back and discuss.
  • nlp154
    nlp154 Posts: 8 Member
    Thanks for the help.

    I'm new to this, so to those who are helpful, thanks. I don't really know what I'm doing and I'm sure you're all trying to help but please don't be patronizing, I am doing all I know how to do right now and I don't know what I'm supposed to expect.
  • dinosaurparty
    dinosaurparty Posts: 185 Member
    If this is really 'the last 5lbs' you're working on (like you're a healthy weight for your height), then plan to loose the weight over a few months, so you aren't discouraged. It's pretty normal to loose a lot of weight quickly in the first few days of a new diet - this is just water weight, not fat. That's okay, though! Losing 3lbs of fat in a week when you're not overweight is pretty unhealthy, and not something you should expect or strive for.

    I'm in the same boat as you (5-10lbs to go) and it is really slow going. There's no changing that, you just don't burn as many calories by simply existing when you're on the smaller side. Aim to lose .5lbs a week. In a perfect work, that will have you at your goal around Christmas :)


    If you find yourself cheating a lot, a lower deficit over a longer time period will be easier to maintain. Slow and steady is your best bet.


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