Opinions please

emdeesea wrote: »

Well, first thing I would do is to get a food scale and weigh your food. Cups/measuring spoons are inaccurate. Weigh your food to the gram and log that.

Personally I don't usually watch macros like carbs and fats - I usually only watch protein and sodium - and that's mostly because I do strength training several times a week. No real reason for sodium other than I don't like to feel bloated lol.

This. Weigh all solids and semi solid food in grams on food scale, even pre-packaged and pre-weighed foods like eggs, crackers, bread...etc. Weigh everything except liquids such as juices, stocks..
Also, make sure you're getting to 1200 calories. Many days you were very under, but that could be due to underestimating your food intake by guessing and measuring.

Don't chose generic entries from the database. Make sure the database entries reflect the nutrition information on the packaging. For recipes, use the recipe builder.

Seems like you're a bit all over the place at the moment. I noticed a few days where you're only eating 900 calories or so. Now, considering that (as the posters above have mentioned) it doesn't appear that you've been measuring diligently or using accurate food entries, that 900 calories may very well be more. My opinion: Tighten up your logging -- calorie wise. I wouldn't worry about macros at all. If you want to continue a lower carb/higher fat intake, that's fine IF you feel it's working for you. If you're going hungry because of these restrictions or you're only doing it because you think that it is some "magical combination" for losing weight, stop. Calories in, calories out. Macros and micros are good for monitoring your nutrition, not so much for losing weight. Work on logging the calories accurately first.

Best of luck to you.

@ruthlahm. Please eat more.
I don't know your height, weight, or personal circumstances, but no one should eat at such a low calorie goal.

I am 62, 5'1 and have maintained a 30 lbs weight loss for 6 years. I have a weight range of 100-105 lbs.
I have never eaten bellow 1200 cals, always eaten at least 50% of my exercise back, and maintain my weight at somewhere between 1400-1500cals including 1 hr exercise 5 days a week.
(Just background info so you know where I am coming from)

As we get passed middle age it is important to keep up our protien levels. We have a tendency to slow down and use our muscles less. Keeping your protien levels higher, will help retain some of your muscle even if you are not doing any purposful exercise.

Treat your recommened amount of protein as your minimum. Add cottage cheese, yogurt, more lean meats, eggs, lentils etc. Heck, I keep protein bars and protien powder in the house. If I am low on protein on a particular day my after dinner snack (200 cals) is one or the other. I get a quick boost of 35g for 150 cals from the powder, or 20g for 190 cals bar, if I want a sweet snack with a coffee.

Fats are good for you. They help with cognitive function and the absorption of a number vital minerals. Don't eat low fat/ no fat dairy all the time. 2% and full fat are ok. Advocados and nuts have high fat content and are full of other healthy nutrients. As with protein treat the goal MFP has set you as a minimum, going over by 10g will not hurt you.

Carbs are the only thing left. You can be under the MFP goal on these. Eat the remainder of your calories through carbs. Fruit, veg, grain, rice, cookies, cake.

Do try to get a good amount of veg. It provides a whole lot of nutrients and minerals as well as providing bulk.

The stats you put in to MFP accounts for your loss so there is no reason on earth that you should eat so little.
If you are finding you are not losing on 1300 cals a day a trip to the doctors may be needed.

Women, post menopause, change the way they store fat because of a decrease in estrogen and increase in testosterone. This is shown as a decrease in subcutaneous fat and increase in visceral (belly) fat. The change in fat storage can for some women increase the risk of a number of illnesses including type 2 diabetes and others that could effect the way you lose weight if not treated/medicated.

Try eating to your goal, add in some exercise (that will benefit your cardio performance and your muscles and bones), making sure to eat back a portion of your calories burned, and take your weight loss slowly.
As others have said, a kitchen scale will help with accuracy.

Cheers, h.

I am not a good 'friend' but if you wish to PM me to talk more please do.

How's your poo? Any leg cramps? Weird taste or constant thirst?