How accurate is the calorie count?

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pdjones2010
pdjones2010 Posts: 6
edited September 2024 in Introduce Yourself
I'm fairly new to MFP and I have been pretty good about hitting my goals. I eat healthy and exercise daily. But overall I am gaining weight. I just seem to get it. It boils down to calories in and caloried burned. If I'm eating less than I'm burning...why am I not losing weight???

Replies

  • bethrs
    bethrs Posts: 664 Member
    We need more info. How long have you been at this? What are your goals? have you reccently been exercising more? have you been going over in sodium? Is it potentially a water weight/hormonal/constipation issue? etc. etc. there are lots of factors.
  • wenders123
    wenders123 Posts: 338 Member
    Personally I think the exercise cals are way out. I use an HRM and adjust accordingly .....
  • EDesq
    EDesq Posts: 1,527 Member
    I'm fairly new to MFP and I have been pretty good about hitting my goals. I eat healthy and exercise daily. But overall I am gaining weight. I just seem to get it. It boils down to calories in and caloried burned. If I'm eating less than I'm burning...why am I not losing weight???

    Because Human Beings are NOT the Computer that spouts out all of these Statistics! Experiment and FIND what WORKS for YOU. TWEAK until you get it Right...Be Patient with yourself, this is a corrective measure for LIFE and Quality of Life.
  • dls06
    dls06 Posts: 6,774 Member
    Also if you open your diary we could see what you are eating.
  • epj78
    epj78 Posts: 643 Member
    It's as accurate as you make it. In other words, the calorie counts are generally accurate (since most are member submitted look for ones with high confirmations). However, we (as humans) tend to guesstimate wrong. You have to weigh and measure everything. And log everything for it to really be accurate. So, 1 cup of cereal w/ 1/2 cup of skim milk --- you have to get out the measuring cups. Fruit or pasta, get out the food scale. Do you have BLTs (Bites, licks or tastes) throughout the day you don't log? Those can easily add up to 200 calories plus.

    Are you overestimating your exercise? Do you have an heart rate monitor? It's easy (trust me because I did it!) to think you are working out harder than you are. If you are just using the MFP database or the machines count and not losing, I suggest you take it down to about 75% of what the system says you burned. Sometimes it's accurate for people, sometimes its not.

    Other than that, all I can tell you is it literally took me 3 weeks to drop the first pound. Adding exercise makes your muscles retain water. It takes awhile for things to even out. Give it time. If you work the MFP program, you will lose weight.
  • pdjones2010
    pdjones2010 Posts: 6
    I've been at it for awhile...my starting weight was 187..had some progress to 179.0 then went right back up. I jhave been exercising for over 2 years 6-7 days a week. usually for 1.5 hours a day. 1 hour cardio and then .5 weights/strength. I feel great. I had been down to as low as 167..before I moved. I dealt with alot...ALOT of GI issues gained 20 pounds. I just can't seem to budge from the 180's! I don't feel good. And I refuse to go back. I used to weigh over 350pounds. and 20# weight gain is unacceptable...for me lol
  • InStabilityKills
    InStabilityKills Posts: 97
    There could be a lot of factors. Like how long have you been at it? Are you gaining muscle? Are you only doing Cardio? What is your calorie goal? Are you eating appropriately to reach your calorie goal? One step is if you feel comfortable open your diary to the public so we can see if it's the food your eating.
  • InStabilityKills
    InStabilityKills Posts: 97
    Oh and are you getting enough water. Try making sure you get in your 8 cups before dinner.
  • LauraMarie37
    LauraMarie37 Posts: 283 Member
    Agree with people who are saying be patient with yourself and experiment to see what works.

    Also, are you really logging absolutely everything (and accurately, when it comes to guessing sizes/amount, as someone said above)? Like if you add parmesan cheese to your spaghetti, do you add that? If you use oil to stirfry something, do you add that? (You may be, I'm just saying common things people sometimes overlook).

    If you are doing all of the things people have mentioned so far and it's been over three weeks with no change, maybe go to your physician and make sure you don't have a thyroid problem?
  • pdjones2010
    pdjones2010 Posts: 6
    I opened the diary..I don't eat unhealthy for the most part..some days are better than others. And yes Ido track everything..even got me a scale.. I measure all cups..because I was becoming so frustrated before. So this is my drastic..
  • pdjones2010
    pdjones2010 Posts: 6
    I rarely cook with oils..I use alternatives..sprays and such. I do measure everything so iget the idea of how much. Surprised me at first how dissillusioned we are to portion size as far as water goes..I rarely drink anything else but...I drink at least 4- 32oz smart waters a day. the bottles I refill.
  • MinnieInMaine
    MinnieInMaine Posts: 6,400 Member
    I think the problem may be that you're going by the calorie burned number that MFP gives you (or maybe the number the machine you're using gives you) . Unfortunately, that number tends to run a bit high. If you can afford it, I would suggest getting a good heart rate monitor with a chest strap (I have a Polar FT4 and love it). If you can't or would rather not go that route, cut the number that MFP gives you in half, or at least lower it by 1/3rd.

    Also, I'm not sure what you have your goal set at for loss per week but I ended up bumping mine up to give a bit more of a cushion so if I do go over it doesn't impact my weight loss as much. I went from 1 pound per week (the suggested setting) to 1.5 pounds per week.

    Edited to add:
    P.S. I saw your comment about Smart Waters - do those have sodium in them? If so, you may want to be careful of that. And maybe add sodium to your tracker to make sure you're not going over in that category - as women, water retention can really throw things off.
  • pdjones2010
    pdjones2010 Posts: 6
    LOL.. I really just re-use the bottle. and no there is no sodium in there its the reg water...tap water. Not those Sobe life waters
  • dls06
    dls06 Posts: 6,774 Member
    It looks like you are not eating enough. If you lower your calorie intake too much you will never be able to do it long term. Also check you sodium intake. You could be eating foods that are high in sodium and holding a lot of water weight. You have only been doing this a short time so be patient. You will learn what works and what doesn't.
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