Why did I only lose 0.2lbs?!

There are a number of reasons. Water retention, eating too many calories (which isn't likely the case), etc. Weight loss isn't uniform. Some weeks you will lose more, some weeks you will lose less. Even though MFP says you should lose X amount of weight, it doesn't mean you will always lose that much and sometimes you may lose more. 0.2 lb loss is still a loss, keep being consistent and you will accomplish what you're wanting to accomplish.

http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10084670/it-is-unlikely-that-you-will-lose-weight-consistently-i-e-weight-loss-is-not-linear/p1

You're not going to lose X amount every week. There will be some weeks where you will go up, or stay exactly the same, and then overnight you may lose 1.4 pounds.

It's not linear. The human body just doesn't work that way. It's the overall trend that matters.

maplesyrup10 wrote: »

My first week using MFP, I lost 1.2lbs. My second week I lost 0.2lbs. Should I always expect my results to be so low? I'm 25, female, 156.4lbs and athletic. I workout regularly, at least 3xweek.

I started my calorie intake as 1,505 and lost the 1.2lbs. Half way through my second week I recalculated and it showed I needed to have 1,438 calories so I switched. I was able to stay under calorie and still be comfortable (not hungry all the time). How did I only lose 0.2lbs this week?

This is why I never am able to stick with weight loss. I get extremely discouraged by my results and nonexistent progress. Anyone in the same boat or have encouragement or advise?

Weight loss is not linear. One week a lot, the next little, the next maybe a lot or even a slight gain. Weight is not just a measure of fat, it is a measure of body fat, lean body mass, water weight, food in your digestive track. That means weight is far from the best measure of progress. Take body measurements and pictures, but realize they are only useful longer term say monthly. If it bothers you that weight loss is not linean, you may be better served by weighing yourself less often once every two week or once a month. Definitely don't be constantly changing your calorie goal, that is no help at all in determining anything. You really need to stick to a goal for 3-4 weeks to see how your body is responding to it.

maplesyrup10 wrote: »

Isabelle_1929 wrote: »

maplesyrup10 wrote: »

My first week using MFP, I lost 1.2lbs. My second week I lost 0.2lbs. Should I always expect my results to be so low? I'm 25, female, 156.4lbs and athletic. I workout regularly, at least 3xweek.

I started my calorie intake as 1,505 and lost the 1.2lbs. Half way through my second week I recalculated and it showed I needed to have 1,438 calories so I switched. I was able to stay under calorie and still be comfortable (not hungry all the time). How did I only lose 0.2lbs this week?

This is why I never am able to stick with weight loss. I get extremely discouraged by my results and nonexistent progress. Anyone in the same boat or have encouragement or advise?

Well that's an average of 0.7lbs per week. This is what you should expect, it's actually good, don't you think?
What would be a good result for you?

I was expecting no less than half a pound per week.A loss is a loss, so I'm glad I didn't gain at least

Well, this is what you got ! Even more !

You know, the "per week" thing has nothing to do with the human body. We are used to organize our lives per day, per week, per month, etc. This is why "one week" is a convenient unit used for measurements and tracking one's weight loss.

But you absolutely have to calculate the average of your losses, over a month. That will tell your the real story. And this is especially true for us women!

What is you calorie deficit? Maybe you should lower it 250 calories?

Isabelle_1929 wrote: »

maplesyrup10 wrote: »

Isabelle_1929 wrote: »

maplesyrup10 wrote: »

My first week using MFP, I lost 1.2lbs. My second week I lost 0.2lbs. Should I always expect my results to be so low? I'm 25, female, 156.4lbs and athletic. I workout regularly, at least 3xweek.

I started my calorie intake as 1,505 and lost the 1.2lbs. Half way through my second week I recalculated and it showed I needed to have 1,438 calories so I switched. I was able to stay under calorie and still be comfortable (not hungry all the time). How did I only lose 0.2lbs this week?

This is why I never am able to stick with weight loss. I get extremely discouraged by my results and nonexistent progress. Anyone in the same boat or have encouragement or advise?

Well that's an average of 0.7lbs per week. This is what you should expect, it's actually good, don't you think?
What would be a good result for you?

I was expecting no less than half a pound per week.A loss is a loss, so I'm glad I didn't gain at least

Well, this is what you got ! Even more !

You know, the "per week" thing has nothing to do with the human body. We are used to organize our lives per day, per week, per month, etc. This is why "one week" is a convenient unit used for measurements and tracking one's weight loss.

But you absolutely have to calculate the average of your losses, over a month. That will tell your the real story. And this is especially true for us women!

Absolutely, I see nothing wrong here at all. Great progress.

marty_smith wrote: »

What is you calorie deficit? Maybe you should lower it 250 calories?

For one week of slower loss there is NO REASON to reduce ones calories goal. Weight loss is never a straight line. That has been said repeatedly here. Stick to your calorie goal, measure food as accurately as you can (ideally a scale for solids), and look it making sure that the item you are using matches what you have eaten. If weight loss stops for 4 weeks (note, stops, not simply slows down a bit) and you are sure you are measuring your food as accurately as you can and not sneaking in anything else without logging, then consider lowering calories.

I wasn't able to copy the url, but the subject is something like "weight loss chart - it's an up and down thing."