Confused

Maryleede
Maryleede Posts: 5 Member
edited December 2024 in Health and Weight Loss
I started out at 197 lbs 4 weeks ago after I went to the hospital for an Afib attack and they weighed me which made me realize how much weight I'd gained. Prior to this, I lost 141 lbs. and kept it off for about 6 years. Been here done this before I knew I'd gained, but hadn't weighed myself in quite some time. I started eating three meals per day with a total of 1100-1160 per day. I don't feel hungry at that calorie intake at all. I've been exercising on a treadmill at about 5.0 to 6.0 for 30 minutes and sometimes more burning 300+ calories almost everyday. I've allowed for skewed treadmill calculation. I weighed myself a week ago and was at 191 lbs. Today I am at 194 lbs? I've also been drinking more water. Should I eat more or exercise more? I realize I'm older and metabolism changes, but this doesn't make sense to me. When I lost the 141 lbs, I would eat more when I hit a plateau for a bit and then the weight started dropping again. I really can't eat more than I've been eating. Just not hungry enough for that. Perhaps, my scale is off compared to hospital scale, but even so, I don't think there would be this much difference. Maybe hypothyroidism? Don't really have all the symptoms of that, but I've been told that even if the thyroid is just a little off, it could cause problems.

Replies

  • cerise_noir
    cerise_noir Posts: 5,468 Member
    How are you determining that you're eating 1100 calories? Do you measure your food or use a food scale?

    Also, what are your stats, age/height/activity level other than exercise?

    Can you open your food diary, please?
  • Maryleede
    Maryleede Posts: 5 Member
    I don't know how to open my food diary to show you. I use fitnesspal database for the most part to assign calories, whatever it shows or what the label says and/or what I know from previous experience/knowledge. I may be too conservative in my "guestimates". I mean, I allow for error on the high side. I am 5' 3", 57 years old and in good health otherwise. I have a sedentary job.
  • Maryleede
    Maryleede Posts: 5 Member
    There's no way that I am eating more than 1200 calories per day. There have been a couple of days here and there over 1500, but make up the next day with exercise or less food.
  • Therealobi1
    Therealobi1 Posts: 3,262 Member
    Get the doctor to check you out if concerned
    The database is full of inaccurate entries
    Makes sure you weigh and scan items yourself
    Stick to one scale, weigh first thing in the morning after using the bathroom
  • RodaRose
    RodaRose Posts: 9,562 Member
    How to open the diary: :)
    My Home>Settings>Diary Settings>Diary Sharing: Public
  • bgd805
    bgd805 Posts: 1 Member
    Question about net carb count: I thought the carb count that shows in my diary after making an entry was net carbs. I had 1/2 an avocado. MFP said 6 g of carbs, 5 g of fiber. Isn't that 1 net carb? So the carbs posted in my diary are not net carbs until I do the math myself...is that correct?
  • jolive7
    jolive7 Posts: 283 Member
    bgd805 wrote: »
    Question about net carb count: I thought the carb count that shows in my diary after making an entry was net carbs. I had 1/2 an avocado. MFP said 6 g of carbs, 5 g of fiber. Isn't that 1 net carb? So the carbs posted in my diary are not net carbs until I do the math myself...is that correct?

    No it is more the other way around. If you want to get meticulous you would count 2 calories per gram of fiber. The fiber is not absorbed like carbs but it is digested so partially has a caloric value. But that is getting REALLY pedantic I mean the recommended fiber of say 25gram a day is going to be 50 calories that are partially digested
  • janetennet
    janetennet Posts: 143 Member
    I think youre forgetting the most important weight-loss rule... Weight-loss is not linear, you are not always going to show a loss, you are not always going to show a gain, sometimes you will stay the same.
    There are lots of factors that affect this, exercise, recovery time, hormones, sodium intake, TOM, water retention etc.
    Keep weighing your food, keep entering your food, keep exercising, keep your rest/recovery days and as long as the overall trend of your weight-loss plots a downward motion on a graph then you are moving in the right direction.
  • jolive7
    jolive7 Posts: 283 Member
    Oh and OP - I don't think you are eating enough
  • kommodevaran
    kommodevaran Posts: 17,890 Member
    Maryleede wrote: »
    I started out at 197 lbs 4 weeks ago after I went to the hospital for an Afib attack and they weighed me which made me realize how much weight I'd gained. Prior to this, I lost 141 lbs. and kept it off for about 6 years. Been here done this before I knew I'd gained, but hadn't weighed myself in quite some time. I started eating three meals per day with a total of 1100-1160 per day.

    I've been exercising on a treadmill at about 5.0 to 6.0 for 30 minutes and sometimes more burning 300+ calories almost everyday. I've allowed for skewed treadmill calculation.
    Does this mean that you are eating back exercise calories?

    I weighed myself a week ago and was at 191 lbs. Today I am at 194 lbs? I've also been drinking more water.
    Weight fluctuates, and this is within normal ranges. Water has weight.

    Should I eat more or exercise more?
    If you aren't losing weight, you shouldn't eat more. Diet is the most important factor for weight loss. Too much exercise can make you exhausted and thus reduce everyday activity, which also burns calories.

    I realize I'm older and metabolism changes, but this doesn't make sense to me.
    Metabolism isn't reduced because of age, but because of less activity and less muscle mass. Older people tend to be less active, and muscles whither when they aren't used. That's all.

    When I lost the 141 lbs, I would eat more when I hit a plateau for a bit and then the weight started dropping again.
    Weight fluctuates. Coincidences occur.

    Maryleede wrote: »
    There's no way that I am eating more than 1200 calories per day. There have been a couple of days here and there over 1500, but make up the next day with exercise or less food.
    I don't feel hungry at that calorie intake at all.
    I really can't eat more than I've been eating. Just not hungry enough for that.
    So you ARE eating more than you think.

    Perhaps, my scale is off compared to hospital scale, but even so, I don't think there would be this much difference.
    Stick to one scale.

    Maybe hypothyroidism? Don't really have all the symptoms of that, but I've been told that even if the thyroid is just a little off, it could cause problems.
    Maybe lose some of the excuses.

    Maryleede wrote: »
    I don't know how to open my food diary to show you.
    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/account/diary_settings - Diary Sharing: - Public

    I use fitnesspal database for the most part to assign calories, whatever it shows or what the label says and/or what I know from previous experience/knowledge. I may be too conservative in my "guestimates". I mean, I allow for error on the high side.
    If you log correctly, there is no guesstimation. You need to pick correct entries, and weigh everything before you log.
  • Maryleede
    Maryleede Posts: 5 Member
    edited September 2016
    I am confident in my food intake. I think the difference in scales had something to do with this. I had just purchased the scale the day that I weighed myself last week and realistically, I don't think I'd lost 6 lbs in 3 weeks so something is off . . . I read it wrong last week or the scale wasn't flat. I don't know. I am going to hit the reset button and start from yesterday and observe from there. No matter what happened, I have lost 3 lbs between going to the hospital and yesterday :) Thanks, everyone.
  • ogtmama
    ogtmama Posts: 1,403 Member
    Yes, I agree that it's likely an issue with the new scale but just for future reference, weight loss is not linear. You can retain water at any time due to sodium intake, New workout, stress, tom, etc. I know I've often gone weeks with no (downward) movement on the scale only to suddenly lose 3 or 4 pounds over a couple of days.

    Best of luck.
  • Maryleede
    Maryleede Posts: 5 Member
    Yes, I experienced what you mentioned when I lost the 141 lbs. I'm re-learning all this stuff.

    "I know I've often gone weeks with no (downward) movement on the scale only to suddenly lose 3 or 4 pounds over a couple of days." -- That's why I wasn't too surprised that it looked like I lost 6 lbs in 3 weeks. But going by yesterday, I've lost roughly a pound a week which is more realistic based on my regimen and having just started the "process". I know I will hit a point where a few more pounds will kinda melt off and it will be easier for awhile until I hit a plateau. Last time I went through this, when I hit a plateau, I increased my food intake a little bit and then started losing again.

    I do need to get a food scale and a heart monitor. And, I also think my body is in the "adjustment" period. It's not used to proper eating and exercise anymore and doesn't know which way to go :)
  • Philtex
    Philtex Posts: 1,492 Member
    Should I eat more?

    No
This discussion has been closed.

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