Weekend vs. Week Day

It was recommended to me by my doctor that I should reduce my calorie intake to 1,000 calories per day. Most of the time (as in Monday - Friday) this is no issue, and I eat great and feel full all for about 978 calories (give or take.) On the weekends, it gets a bit trickier. I hate to let food rule every social choice I make, so I do go out more and spend time doing things that involve eating / calorie intake. However, I don't eat excessively. I eat maybe 1300 - 1400 calories a day on Saturday and Sunday and those calories are a little less balanced. I don't feel guilty for how I eat and I think I do well.

Here's my issue. I weigh myself daily (and don't beat myself up over it, just trying to figure out the hold up - this was also recommended by my doctor) and record that weight. This was my weight recordings from last week:
Monday - 174.2
Tuesday - 173.2
Wednesday - 172.0
Thursday - 171.4
Friday - 170.8
Saturday - 170.0
Sunday - 172.0

I guarantee tomorrow that I will be up again. So this is a repeated cycle, and even though the overall number (from Friday to Friday) has decreased slightly, it's been moving at a snails pace. I'm getting frustrated and upset. My doctor has run all sorts of tests and not learned anything holding me back physically. Any thoughts? (My diary is for friends to view only, and that's how it will stay, but my percentages typically look like this: Carbs - 42%; Fats - 26%; Protein - 32%.
Recommended by MFP for my 1,000 calories/day are Carbs - 30%; Fat - 40%; and Protein - 30%. So obviously I am working to get my carbs down which I get from naturally occurring source such as vegetables.

Thank you for your thoughts.
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Replies

  • vespiquenn
    vespiquenn Posts: 1,455 Member
    First, is there a medical reason you are on 1000 calories a day? The average woman is supposed to consume about 1200. It literally could be that you are just depriving yourself nutrients that you should be receiving, which in turn is making weekends difficult.

    In regards to the jump in weight, it can be anything from sodium causing water retention, TOM, stress, or hormone levels in general. You only provide a week worth of weight, so how long has this been going on? Any less than a month is considered normal fluctuations because weightloss is not linear.

    Lastly, are you weighing your foods? Due to inaccuracies in measuring cups, it's always possible you are eating more than you think.
  • Unknown
    edited November 2015
    This content has been removed.
  • auddii
    auddii Posts: 15,357 Member
    I always eat more on the weekends. Realize that the fluctuations are mostly going to be water weight and extra food, and will drop off in a few days. I also weigh daily but have and "official weigh in" on Friday morning (if I'm out of town on the weekends I'll miss Saturdays). I look for overall trends downward from Friday to Friday realizing that I will have the weekend jumps.

    If you are accurately logging and tracking the weight should fall off. It is very easy to log inaccurately (unfortunately); there are a lot of incorrect entries in the database, and even packaged foods can be wrong. I just picked up some rolls that seemed to be pretty low calorie; a serving was listed as one roll (57g), but a roll actually weighed 85g. A food scale is one of the best investments I ever made.
  • arditarose
    arditarose Posts: 15,573 Member
    So you lost 2.2 lbs this week. What's the problem? Surely you don't want to lose faster than that. I assume there is a medical reason why you are on 1000 calories per week. Does your doctor really want you to lose more than 2 lbs per week? What's happening is you are creating a weekly deficit of something that averages about 1000 calories per day.
  • Kimberly_Sophianna
    Kimberly_Sophianna Posts: 22 Member
    edited November 2015
    I do use a food scale for everything, including the weekend foods. I have been doing this for over a year. This is why my doctor is involved. I generally eat chicken, veggies, and occasionally rice. I eat the same things a lot but that's b/c I enjoy what I eat. I don't mind going up a pound on the weekends, but I don't always get it back to where it was by Friday, or I JUST get it back to where it was. It's frustrating. I sometimes drink, but I log that and it was included in the calorie quotes in original post. I eat 1,000 calories a day b/c that's what my doctor recommended. Many people comment on that fact, but he is a real doctor with over 20 years in practice. He has looked at my food journal, etc. and even he is stumped.

    I may have lost 2.2 pound this week, and when I weigh tomorrow it will be back up two more pounds and I will spend all week trying to get it back to where it was on Friday.
  • Merkavar
    Merkavar Posts: 3,082 Member
    You sound less sure about your weekend calories. Could you be over eating more than you think?

    What's your maintenance calories? If you eat 1k during the week and 1.4k on the weekend that's just over 1.1k average.

    Depending on your maintenance you might only be expecting .5lb loss over a week.

    But ultimately look at your weightloss for more than a week. You gain and lose on a daily basis. Look at a month or 2 weight loss.
  • I'm not less sure, it just isn't the same every weekend. Some days it's 1,200; some it's 1,300... average is between 1,300 and 1,400 calories. I weigh everything that I eat. I am not hoping to lose massive amounts in one day or one week, this has been the consistent pattern for over a year.
  • arditarose
    arditarose Posts: 15,573 Member
    I'm not less sure, it just isn't the same every weekend. Some days it's 1,200; some it's 1,300... average is between 1,300 and 1,400 calories. I weigh everything that I eat. I am not hoping to lose massive amounts in one day or one week, this has been the consistent pattern for over a year.

    Ohhh. So you have been in the 170s for years you are saying? Sorry if I read wrong.
  • Merkavar
    Merkavar Posts: 3,082 Member
    How much did you weigh the previous 5 Friday's? Are they all around 172 give or take 2lb?
  • Merkavar wrote: »
    How much did you weigh the previous 5 Friday's? Are they all around 172 give or take 2lb?

    10/30 - 176.2
    10/23 - 175.6
    10/16 - 173.4
    10/09 - 175.6
    10/02 - 174.0

    So I guess we can still say it's going down... I guess I'm just feeling frustrated and maybe venting a bit.
  • arditarose
    arditarose Posts: 15,573 Member
    Merkavar wrote: »
    How much did you weigh the previous 5 Friday's? Are they all around 172 give or take 2lb?

    10/30 - 176.2
    10/23 - 175.6
    10/16 - 173.4
    10/09 - 175.6
    10/02 - 174.0

    So I guess we can still say it's going down... I guess I'm just feeling frustrated and maybe venting a bit.

    So you are eating at a deficit to lose .5 lbs per week.
  • Kimberly_Sophianna
    Kimberly_Sophianna Posts: 22 Member
    edited November 2015
    Just a sampling:

    September 14 - 175.6
    August 12 - 173.2
    July 11 - 173.0
    June 11 - 173.6
    March 25 - 173.4
    April 12 - 172.0
  • arditarose
    arditarose Posts: 15,573 Member
    Just a sampling:

    September 14 - 175.6
    August 12 - 173.2
    July 11 - 173.0
    June 11 - 173.6
    March 25 - 173.4
    April 12 - 172.0

    Did you have any tests done/do you have any medical conditions? If not, you're not in a deficit. Care to open your diary? Maybe there's something we can see that is off.
  • arditarose
    arditarose Posts: 15,573 Member
    Just a sampling:

    September 14 - 175.6
    August 12 - 173.2
    July 11 - 173.0
    June 11 - 173.6
    March 25 - 173.4
    April 12 - 172.0

    Did you have any tests done/do you have any medical conditions? If not, you're not in a deficit. Care to open your diary? Maybe there's something we can see that is off.
  • My doctor has run tests. I am switching doctor's b/c he left the practice and also b/c I've been with him so long that I kind of feel like he's just sick of trying to figure it out. So I am seeking a new (likely female) doctor. He told me after a year (2013-2014) at 1,200 calorie per most days that maybe 1,200 was maintenance for me and advised the 1,000 calorie plan. I've been doing that since May 2015. I also workout daily (run about 3 miles every morning and distance hike for fun.)

    I'm sorry, I am not comfortable opening my diary. I wasn't really comfortable posting b/c last time I did so there was a great deal of negative commentary, and I'd like to just supply the requested facts. But here is a sample day:

    Daily Chef (Sams Frozen) - Steamable Normandy Blend Frozen , Broccoli, Cauliflower,Carrots, 1 cup 30
    Royal - White Basmati Rice, 0.5 cup prepared 100
    Panda Express - Orange Sauce, 18.5 g 35
    Luna Protein - Chocolate Peanut Butter, 45 g (1 bar) 190
    Jolly Rancher - Cherry Stix Small, 1 piece 40
    Tyson - All Natural Chicken Breast Tenderloins 99% Fat Free Frozen, 4 oz 100
    Tyson - 100% All Natural Breaded Chicken Breast Tenderloin Uncooked, 8 oz (112g) 440

    I'm a teacher, so stuff like the Jolly Rancher is not intended, but happens. And I put it all in there...
  • arditarose
    arditarose Posts: 15,573 Member
    My doctor has run tests. I am switching doctor's b/c he left the practice and also b/c I've been with him so long that I kind of feel like he's just sick of trying to figure it out. So I am seeking a new (likely female) doctor. He told me after a year (2013-2014) at 1,200 calorie per most days that maybe 1,200 was maintenance for me and advised the 1,000 calorie plan. I've been doing that since May 2015. I also workout daily (run about 3 miles every morning and distance hike for fun.)

    I'm sorry, I am not comfortable opening my diary. I wasn't really comfortable posting b/c last time I did so there was a great deal of negative commentary, and I'd like to just supply the requested facts. But here is a sample day:

    Daily Chef (Sams Frozen) - Steamable Normandy Blend Frozen , Broccoli, Cauliflower,Carrots, 1 cup 30
    Royal - White Basmati Rice, 0.5 cup prepared 100
    Panda Express - Orange Sauce, 18.5 g 35
    Luna Protein - Chocolate Peanut Butter, 45 g (1 bar) 190
    Jolly Rancher - Cherry Stix Small, 1 piece 40
    Tyson - All Natural Chicken Breast Tenderloins 99% Fat Free Frozen, 4 oz 100
    Tyson - 100% All Natural Breaded Chicken Breast Tenderloin Uncooked, 8 oz (112g) 440

    I'm a teacher, so stuff like the Jolly Rancher is not intended, but happens. And I put it all in there...

    Well, unless you have a medical condition-you are either eating more than you think, or burning less calories than you think. And I doubt your maintenance calories are 1200.

    What about things like oil? I see you enter rice as cups, do you weigh first? (I know mine is entered that way but I technically weigh it out by gram).
  • I don't use oil. If I do, I put it in there. I cook the chicken on the grill and the rice in a rice cooker. I scrape the top of the cup so that nothing is overflowing, but sure... I obviously could be off a bit. But it doesn't seem like I could be off enough to cause such issues. I can only say what my medical professional has said... it all seems crazy to me. And honestly, even if I'm not working out at all, I would think I'm eating to such a degree that I'd lose weight. I teach early childhood, so I'm in constant movement throughout the day. Oh well. I'll just see what the next doctor says. Thanks for your input.
  • arditarose
    arditarose Posts: 15,573 Member
    I don't use oil. If I do, I put it in there. I cook the chicken on the grill and the rice in a rice cooker. I scrape the top of the cup so that nothing is overflowing, but sure... I obviously could be off a bit. But it doesn't seem like I could be off enough to cause such issues. I can only say what my medical professional has said... it all seems crazy to me. And honestly, even if I'm not working out at all, I would think I'm eating to such a degree that I'd lose weight. I teach early childhood, so I'm in constant movement throughout the day. Oh well. I'll just see what the next doctor says. Thanks for your input.

    If something is not working, then you have to try to log more accurately. You need to weigh that rice.

    I work early childhood too. I don't really burn that much from working with the little ones. I have quite a bit of logging and data to support that.
  • lisaipri
    lisaipri Posts: 9 Member
    There is no way that you shoukdnt be losing weight especially if you are running 3 miles a day. That would burn at least 300 calories which means you are now only consuming 700 calories a day. I honestly think u r taking in too few calories per day n your body is going into starvation mode and storing fat instead of releasing it. Maybe you should look into that.
  • arditarose
    arditarose Posts: 15,573 Member
    edited November 2015
    lisaipri wrote: »
    There is no way that you shoukdnt be losing weight especially if you are running 3 miles a day. That would burn at least 300 calories which means you are now only consuming 700 calories a day. I honestly think u r taking in too few calories per day n your body is going into starvation mode and storing fat instead of releasing it. Maybe you should look into that.

    No. Starvation mode does not exist in that sense. If OP were consuming 1000 calories she would be losing weight.

    ETA: No one should aim for less than 1200 calories unless supervised by a doctor, but clearly OP is eating more than 1200 which is why I haven't really addressed that.
  • What does OP mean?
  • cnbbnc
    cnbbnc Posts: 1,267 Member
    edited November 2015

    arditarose wrote: »
    I don't use oil. If I do, I put it in there. I cook the chicken on the grill and the rice in a rice cooker. I scrape the top of the cup so that nothing is overflowing, but sure... I obviously could be off a bit. But it doesn't seem like I could be off enough to cause such issues. I can only say what my medical professional has said... it all seems crazy to me. And honestly, even if I'm not working out at all, I would think I'm eating to such a degree that I'd lose weight. I teach early childhood, so I'm in constant movement throughout the day. Oh well. I'll just see what the next doctor says. Thanks for your input.

    If something is not working, then you have to try to log more accurately. You need to weigh that rice.

    I work early childhood too. I don't really burn that much from working with the little ones. I have quite a bit of logging and data to support that.

    I would really consider trying this. When my weight loss stalled, she told me to start weighing in grams (I had been using cups) and right away I started losing again. The measurements were off just enough that it was hindering my progress. I never would've thought, but...there you go. Scales can be bought cheap enough. It's worth a try!
  • Thank you - I do weigh, but I will start weighing rice from now on as well. Cheers.
  • arditarose
    arditarose Posts: 15,573 Member
    What does OP mean?

    Original Poster...you
  • arditarose
    arditarose Posts: 15,573 Member
    cnbbnc wrote: »
    arditarose wrote: »
    I don't use oil. If I do, I put it in there. I cook the chicken on the grill and the rice in a rice cooker. I scrape the top of the cup so that nothing is overflowing, but sure... I obviously could be off a bit. But it doesn't seem like I could be off enough to cause such issues. I can only say what my medical professional has said... it all seems crazy to me. And honestly, even if I'm not working out at all, I would think I'm eating to such a degree that I'd lose weight. I teach early childhood, so I'm in constant movement throughout the day. Oh well. I'll just see what the next doctor says. Thanks for your input.

    If something is not working, then you have to try to log more accurately. You need to weigh that rice.

    I work early childhood too. I don't really burn that much from working with the little ones. I have quite a bit of logging and data to support that.

    I would really consider trying this. When my weight loss stalled, she told me to start weighing in grams (I had been using cups) and right away I started losing again. The measurements were off just enough that it was hindering my progress. I never would've thought, but...there you go. Scales can be bought cheap enough. It's worth a try!

    Who told you? Me?

    Honestly, I have to get real with myself sometimes. I weigh everything...except for my extra licks. lol. We all need a reality check once in awhile. Tightening up your logging is the easier way to get back on track.
  • arditarose
    arditarose Posts: 15,573 Member
    Thank you - I do weigh, but I will start weighing rice from now on as well. Cheers.

    Weigh EVERYTHING. I weigh everything from my spinach/leafy greens to my ketchup and condiments. Take my word, those things can throw you off. A few grams here or there, and boom-if you have a low TDEE, you can wipe out a 250 calorie deficit easily.

    Are you eating exercise calories back?
  • Kimberly_Sophianna
    Kimberly_Sophianna Posts: 22 Member
    edited November 2015
    I'm here for support. I am not lying about anything I've said.
  • cnbbnc
    cnbbnc Posts: 1,267 Member
    arditarose wrote: »
    cnbbnc wrote: »
    arditarose wrote: »
    I don't use oil. If I do, I put it in there. I cook the chicken on the grill and the rice in a rice cooker. I scrape the top of the cup so that nothing is overflowing, but sure... I obviously could be off a bit. But it doesn't seem like I could be off enough to cause such issues. I can only say what my medical professional has said... it all seems crazy to me. And honestly, even if I'm not working out at all, I would think I'm eating to such a degree that I'd lose weight. I teach early childhood, so I'm in constant movement throughout the day. Oh well. I'll just see what the next doctor says. Thanks for your input.

    If something is not working, then you have to try to log more accurately. You need to weigh that rice.

    I work early childhood too. I don't really burn that much from working with the little ones. I have quite a bit of logging and data to support that.

    I would really consider trying this. When my weight loss stalled, she told me to start weighing in grams (I had been using cups) and right away I started losing again. The measurements were off just enough that it was hindering my progress. I never would've thought, but...there you go. Scales can be bought cheap enough. It's worth a try!

    Who told you? Me?

    Honestly, I have to get real with myself sometimes. I weigh everything...except for my extra licks. lol. We all need a reality check once in awhile. Tightening up your logging is the easier way to get back on track.

    Yes, it was you. LOL! It was a while ago now. :)

  • brownels
    brownels Posts: 29 Member
    This sounds all very familiar to me! I feel your pain. A few years ago I had my doctor refer me to a metabolism expert--Dr. Jenkins, the doctor who invented/discovered the glycemic index. I spent a few months with him. He took a look at my bloodwork and other material (food diaries etc) and said 'let's put it this way: if we were living in the Ice Age, you would be one of the survivors." He also told me that the 1200 calories was a somewhat arbitrary number that was designed to make sure that we get enough vitamins and minerals--not calories. I was a bit relieved in a weird way--It confirmed I wasn't crazy. Unfortunately, in my experience, some bodies (mine is one of them) really like to hold on to them there food stuffs. I have always been a slow loser. I can see why your doctor suggested 1000 calories. Yes it's calories in, calories out, but for some of us the calorie floor is lower. I would keep experimenting as you have been and see what works. Maybe 950 a day average is what your body needs to lose? Regardless, losing an average of .5 per week seems like you could reasonably expect. Don't despair!
  • No. Not eating exercise calories back.