what do I need to change?

perkymommy
perkymommy Posts: 1,642 Member
edited December 1 in Health and Weight Loss
I started out with weight watchers in early Feb this year and lost 25 lbs. Came to MFP about a month ago and lost 1 lb since coming here (while still doing WW also) and basically have just been maintaining at this point. :-/ The only thing I can figure is that WW was giving me less than 1200 calories because I lost steadily while doing WW for two months by itself. Then I came here and I lost that one pound and now basically just maintaining. I did start a second job so that may be part of it. But I need ideas on how to change things up and get back to losing mode. I weigh and measure my foods, have had more cheat days this past month for sure but not any gains from them. I work out 3-4x per week on the treadmill (walk/run) but no other exercise since I started back in Feb. I don't want to stop doing MFP but WW works better for me. I just think I'm getting too many calories at 1200 which is very hard to believe but that's the only thing I can figure that is hurting me is getting more calories.

Replies

  • seska422
    seska422 Posts: 3,217 Member
    Cheat days can easily negate your deficit.

    Are you weighing and logging on cheat days? Those calories count too.
  • LivingtheLeanDream
    LivingtheLeanDream Posts: 13,342 Member
    edited April 2016
    Unfortunately all it takes is a few 'cheat days' to totally wipe out any deficit which is why you are maintaining your weight.

    When you were at WW did you have any cheat days? my guess is that they were minimal hence your loss.

    Have you much to lose? The closer you are to goal the slower the pounds come off - there's less room for error.
  • perkymommy
    perkymommy Posts: 1,642 Member
    I do weigh and measure and log on cheat days usually, but not always. I have had about four cheat days in the last month because my new job I was getting off at 11pm and famished and would pick up fast food. So that may be what it is for sure. I didn't have a lot of cheat days while doing WW alone because I wasn't working the second job yet and was very strict about my meals and exercise. I've gotten more lax this past month.

    I have about 10 lbs more that I would like to lose but may try to go for 15 lbs.

    Thanks! I really do think it's the cheat days that are affecting me. I need to get back to how I was for the last two months.
  • elphie754
    elphie754 Posts: 7,574 Member
    You keep saying weigh and measure. Do you WEIGH all of your food? Measuring cups and spoons can be way off for solids and should only be used for liquids.
  • quiksylver296
    quiksylver296 Posts: 28,439 Member
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  • benzieboxx
    benzieboxx Posts: 253 Member
    Stop doing cheat days. I know that may seem difficult because you'll feel deprived, but indulging here and there is obviously not working for you. Try something different. Maybe try fitting in your favorite foods into your calorie goal so you can still enjoy things but stay on track.

    For me, I'm the type of person who cannot just indulge and then get back on track. It's too much and I'll keep going back for me. But if I allot myself some calories for a night out or my favorite dinner or snack I feel a lot better and I feel more in control.
  • LivingtheLeanDream
    LivingtheLeanDream Posts: 13,342 Member
    For sure cheat days do cheat you! I used to find that at weekends, I would blow my entire weeks deficit on Sat/Sun. What I did and still do even at maintenance is eat at a bigger deficit Mon-Fri so my weekend doesn't undo all my hard work.
    If you know you're going to be eating out either cut back the day before or for a few days after, that will really help.
  • try2again
    try2again Posts: 3,562 Member
    With 10 lbs to lose, it's going to go slow. You would probably be better off setting your weekly goal for 1/2 lb a week and then sticking to your calories like glue (but hopefully your allowance will be a little higher, thus reducing the urge to "cheat").
  • perkymommy
    perkymommy Posts: 1,642 Member
    edited May 2016
    Thanks everyone!
    benzieboxx wrote: »
    Stop doing cheat days. I know that may seem difficult because you'll feel deprived, but indulging here and there is obviously not working for you. Try something different. Maybe try fitting in your favorite foods into your calorie goal so you can still enjoy things but stay on track.

    For me, I'm the type of person who cannot just indulge and then get back on track. It's too much and I'll keep going back for me. But if I allot myself some calories for a night out or my favorite dinner or snack I feel a lot better and I feel more in control.

    This is definitely what I need to do. :( Makes total sense.
  • perkymommy
    perkymommy Posts: 1,642 Member
    elphie754 wrote: »
    You keep saying weigh and measure. Do you WEIGH all of your food? Measuring cups and spoons can be way off for solids and should only be used for liquids.

    Yep, I use my food scale more than measuring cups/spoons. When I eat out fast food or something not at the house though it's not getting weighed or measured and that's a big reason I've gotten off track I think.
  • AnnPT77
    AnnPT77 Posts: 34,542 Member
    I differ slightly from other advice: You may need to stop the cheat days. If you log them (estimate from the database on the high side, if you need to), you'll have a better idea.

    If you think in terms of a weekly calorie goal, or eating at maintenance an occasional day instead of deficit, a cheat meal rather than a whole day, or something like that, you may find you can put a little variety in the process & still lose, if you prefer.

    The key thing, in my mind, is to have a solid estimate of where you are calorically, then you can adjust in the way that's most satisfying to you. If that includes eating higher some days and compensatingly lower other days, that can be OK, too - and needn't be considered cheating; it's just a different strategy.
  • SezxyStef
    SezxyStef Posts: 15,267 Member
    WW is a bit different due to the "free" foods like veggies and fruit (or that is the way they used to be)

    That can result in a difference in calories you see.

    Are you logging all your food? veggies and fruits etc?

    I am not one for "cheat" days or meals. I work treats into my daily log as I feel, want or crave....

    I don't want to view it as a bad thing if I want a few chips etc...it's just verbage I know but it has always irked me.

  • Machka9
    Machka9 Posts: 25,681 Member
    edited May 2016
    perkymommy wrote: »
    I weigh and measure my foods, have had more cheat days this past month for sure but not any gains from them.

    When I was on a mission to lose weight, I took NO cheat days. I stuck to my 1250 cal like glue. That worked for me. :)



  • kirstinethornburg
    kirstinethornburg Posts: 300 Member
    It may be time to add strength training to your workout routine or change your workout some how. Watch tyour carbs instead of calories and drink lots of water daily
  • misskarne
    misskarne Posts: 1,765 Member
    kirstinethornburg wrote: »
    It may be time to add strength training to your workout routine or change your workout some how. Watch tyour carbs instead of calories and drink lots of water daily

    Not necessary to watch carbs unless for a medical reason.
  • dlkfox
    dlkfox Posts: 463 Member
    It is amazing how many calories (or WW points) fast food contains. A few trips through the drive-thru probably stalled you.
  • MissusMoon
    MissusMoon Posts: 1,900 Member
    I do believe you've found your issue. I am going to agree that ending cheat days is the ticket. I do "treat" days where I incorporate something I love into my daily calorie goals. We have to make this work for life, right? That means making room for things you love but keeping everything in balance. Cheat days throw that out the window and it makes it seem like some days you're on a diet, some days you're not. If you want to lose the weight and keep it off, this has to be training for how you eat the rest of your life.
  • Machka9
    Machka9 Posts: 25,681 Member
    perkymommy wrote: »
    elphie754 wrote: »
    You keep saying weigh and measure. Do you WEIGH all of your food? Measuring cups and spoons can be way off for solids and should only be used for liquids.

    Yep, I use my food scale more than measuring cups/spoons. When I eat out fast food or something not at the house though it's not getting weighed or measured and that's a big reason I've gotten off track I think.

    Most fast food places have a nutrition page on their websites so you can track it to a reasonable degree.

    I calculated this in another thread:

    Before I started here, we'd stop at Hungry Jacks (aka Burger King in North America) and get the $5 meal about once a week ....

    Whopper Junior: 1550 kj (370 cal)
    Small Fries: 1120 kj (268 cal)
    Small Chocolate Sundae: 1200 kj (287 cal)

    Total: 925 cal
    https://www.hungryjacks.com.au/media/20888/nutrition-guide-2016.pdf

    If you're only meant to be on 1200 or 1300 or 1400 cal/day, one small meal of 925 cal is quite a significant percentage of that.


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