Help! Not losing & JUST started a month ago, with about 130 lbs to lose!

las148
las148 Posts: 30 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
Okay, so I started MFP in 2013 and lost about 30 pounds in three months, while going to university. I did some very intermittent exercising, during this time. I then moved back home with my family for a while and then moved to "the lake", where I work in the summers. There was no internet service and I used that excuse to stop tracking. Dun dun dun...

About three years later, I have gained back everything I lost and (I think) 20 more pounds. *ugh* I try not to dwell. However, my mom is starting this lifestyle change with me, which really helps with motivation, and she has been doing quite well!

Last year, sans MFP, I really got into doing cardio and some strength training very regularly; however, I'm now back home, living in the middle of nowhere, with no gym and it's winter (much snow and ice). My house is tiny and I just don't feel comfortable "working out" here. (excuses, excuses) I've read all over this site that exercise is NOT determinant of one losing weight, as it's all about calories in vs calories out. When Spring comes, I completely plan to start a walking/biking/stretching (and if hell freezes over: jogging) regime because I truly love working out!

Currently, I am super busy with my final semester of school and am more sedentary than sedentary (my FitBit takes away calories). The last few days, I've also committed to drinking at least two litres (64 oz) of water a day, not including other liquids. I'm hoping for this to get things going again. I also get plenty of sleep each night. Admittedly, I am stressed due to school work and other responsibilities, and other personal family issues, but not that stressed.

My Stats:
  • 24 year-old female
  • 5' 7"; large frame
  • Current Weight - 297.2
  • Starting Weight (this time) - 306-ish
  • Daily Calorie Goal (2 lb loss per week): 1670

I just started having my FitBit calculate a negative calorie adjustment a few days ago, but I've been pretty consistently eating below my calories, I believe. I had one day last week (Friday) where I didn't log the whole day, as I had a grad banquet and was exhausted by the time we made it home; although I don't think I ate over my "maintaining" calories.

I also try to weigh on mornings when I haven't eaten as much salt the day before because, from past experience, the retention is real.

I am weighing my food in grams and measuring liquids with measuring cups/spoons. When Mom and I cook meals, we also weigh our food out and then portion it. We struggled a little, at first, but we're getting the hang of it. That database sure is a dog's breakfast...

Point of Post: It's been, like, two weeks since I've lost ANY weight!!! That seems ridiculous given the amount of weight I need to lose! I KNOW I've been eating a large deficit... I mean, even a 1 or 1.5 loss each week would be better than a big, fat zero!

I hope I've included enough information to get some help from you guys! I am heading over to my settings to make my diary public. Don't judge too hard ;)

Replies

  • rankinsect
    rankinsect Posts: 2,238 Member
    If you've lost about 10 pounds in a month, that's about your 2 lb/week right there. You won't see changes all the time, particularly if you are only weighing intermittently - you really need a lot of data points to make a trend, because you can easily fluctuate by more than 3 lb in a day just based on living your life.
  • las148
    las148 Posts: 30 Member
    I was thinking, too, that I've technically lost 2 lb a week, if we go over the whole month. I've read so many contrasting opinions on when and how often to weigh. Would you suggest weight every day? Last time I was using MFP I found that I got a bit obsessive about my weight. It's just very frustrating to have had such a good go of it last time, consistently losing each week, to this time.

    I would also say that about 3/4 of the weight I've lost was within the first week, so I'm sure it was largely water weight.
  • rankinsect
    rankinsect Posts: 2,238 Member
    edited March 2016
    I do weight daily, but I've simply come to accept the fact that fluctuations happen, I know I'll see them, and I don't really get obsessed or discouraged by them. The nice thing about weighing daily is that fluctuations become obvious AS fluctuations - I know I didn't actually gain several pounds of fat in a day, so when the scale jumps, I know what's behind it.

    If that's a mindset you can't get yourself into, then I think you need to figure out the frequency that's right for you.

    Keep in mind this, too - if you actually are in a calorie deficit, weight loss isn't just the expected outcome, it's an inevitable outcome. As long as you're sure that you're consistently eating below your TDEE you can't help but lose weight.

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