Ideas about why I am not losing weight?
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There are a lot of cup entries and some recipe entries
Never use the cup entries or anything that says "homemade" unless it's a recipe you have created in the recipe builder weighing every ingredient and weighing the finished dish
Even if you think the grams you have equate to a cup it won't necessarily with the entry4 -
I would have to ask my doctor, I was told no thyroid problems. And no, pretty normal during the day, I am sometimes a hot sleeper though.[/quote]Did you have a thyroid panel, or just TSH tested? Does Your body temp run low?
It would be worth checking into, particularly if you have any other hypothyroidism symptoms. Most doctors will only test TSH without a lot of prodding, and that doesn't actually measure thyroid function. My TSH was good, but my free t3 & free t4 were borderline low (diagnosis of subclinical hypothyroidism). Getting those where they should be has made all the difference for me, but you'd have to be seeing a doctor who's relatively open-minded.
I'm shorter than you, older, same starting weight, and less active, and I'm now losing as I should, and eating 1800-1900 per day.
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When I gave my very brief answer last night, I thought of accounting for you not weighing your protein powder, inaccurate data base entries, things like sprays of Pam.
That still isn't enough to explain away why there's been no loss.
I do believe you should up your calories, schedule breaks to move more, switch your commute to a walk, and did think that there's possibly a big role that cortisol is playing, but I admit, I'm stumped.3 -
Either someone is trolling (notice the perfect answers to every single common MFP question in these cases?) Or not everything is being logged. Is there Ambien sleep-eating going on?
Unlike some, I do believe that its possible, if you are very small AND have been eating very little for a long time, to drop your TDEE below 1200. But that's not the case here.1 -
You might just have a significantly slower metabolism than most calorie formulas account for. I do -- when I was first losing weight I, too, weighed everything accurately, logged everything perfectly, worked out a lot, and failed to drop any weight. I had a breath test to find my true RMR and a fair approximation of my TDEE and, surprise, they're a lot lower than my stats would indicate. It sucks, but it happens (though very rarely, from what I understand).3
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crzycatlady1 wrote: »How are you weighing your food? You should be using a food scale, set to grams.
Ok.. just commenting here..I am learning some new things..what is the difference in weighing in grams as opposed to a tablespoon. Yesterday my daughter weighed her cereal in grams, and when we placed it in a measuring cup, it came to 1/4 cup which was the serving size. What am I missing? Thanks0 -
A cup (or tablespoon) is a measurement of volume. Food serving sizes, caloric content, nutrients, etc. are calculated based on weight. This is why nutrition labels list servings as "2Tbsp (28g)" or "3/4cup (86g)" -- they're telling you how much a serving actually is, because cups and spoons are variable depending on altitude, how much you pack in, which brand of cups/spoons you're using, etc.
You may find plenty of things for which the volume measurement and weight match. These are pleasant surprises! But for most things, a tablespoon and 14g (or whatever) will not often -- or ever -- match. Weight is the accurate measurement for logging calories and nutrients.
ETA: I forgot to mention that unless otherwise specified, the serving size on a food label is for the food in its uncooked state. For rice, the serving is 1/4cup (90g) dry rice; for chicken, a serving size is 4oz raw, etc.3 -
I'm curious to know how you were eating before you started trying to lose weight?2
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A cup (or tablespoon) is a measurement of volume. Food serving sizes, caloric content, nutrients, etc. are calculated based on weight. This is why nutrition labels list servings as "2Tbsp (28g)" or "3/4cup (86g)" -- they're telling you how much a serving actually is, because cups and spoons are variable depending on altitude, how much you pack in, which brand of cups/spoons you're using, etc.
You may find plenty of things for which the volume measurement and weight match. These are pleasant surprises! But for most things, a tablespoon and 14g (or whatever) will not often -- or ever -- match. Weight is the accurate measurement for logging calories and nutrients.
ETA: I forgot to mention that unless otherwise specified, the serving size on a food label is for the food in its uncooked state. For rice, the serving is 1/4cup (90g) dry rice; for chicken, a serving size is 4oz raw, etc.
Thank you for this insight. Guess I should change my mode of measuring. I2 -
+1 for aacademia-induced cortisol being a factor. How much sleep are you getting per night?
I didn't realize how sedentary I was until I got an activity tracker (Jawbone 3). I'' not saying that CICO doesn't work- it does! - but even with my settings at sedentary, I still gained weight at 1200 - 1300 calories (even weighing things out in grams) because I was ridiculously inactive. I use a Pomodoro app, especially when I'm writing, and make sure I move around during the 5m breaks. Might want to try that, too.3 -
I don't see water consumption being logged. Water is a critical component for fat metabolism, and insufficient water consumption will lead to water retention and reduced metabolic rate.
I have a friend (5'10", 210 lbs) who was averaging 1600 calories a day consumed and 1200 calories a day burned, but saw no movement of scale weight (though saw some modest reduction in waistline) for 5 solid weeks. When he realized water could be an issue, he started drinking 5 quarts a day (instead of the 1 quart per day he had been getting), and his weight started dropping regularly (he also had a couple of big calorie surplus days and reduced his exercise at the same time he increased his water intake).
Fasting (going without food or otherwise experiencing significant caloric restriction) has been shown to TEMPORARILY increase metabolism and fat burning (presumably a survival adaptation geared towards giving you the energy to go out and find food), but when sustained for more than 3 or 4 consecutive days, has been shown to drastically DECREASE metabolism (putting the body in the dreaded "starvation mode"). At 230 lbs and exercising regularly, 1100 calories a day is effectively fasting. You might need 2 or 3 days of big eating to kickstart your metabolism and at least one larger meal every 3 or 4 days to keep it up.
Cortisol is indeed a significant factor (for women) when it comes to weight loss. It sounds like you have a pretty good handle on how much you are consuming and have been pretty meticulous about weighing everything. I might be inclined to stop weighing everything (at least for a time) and obsessing less about keeping food intake down (obviously still being mindful of quantity). I know that being able to relax and getting rid of the stress that releases cortisol isn't like flipping a switch, but giving yourself a period of time (a couple weeks? a month?) where you aren't weighing yourself and don't care if you accidentally gain a little weight could be a good thing. I'm not suggesting that you should be trying to gain weight in that period, just being okay with having your weight loss efforts not necessarily be effective.
Another poster suggesting walking, which I will second. Walking is fantastic as it doesn't significantly increase appetite, it reduces stress (and thus cortisol levels), it tends not to cause the breakdown of lean muscle tissue even when you do lots of it, and it is simple (if not easy) to add to any daily routine. (Another friend of mine just earned his Pro bodybuilding card and swears by adding 2 hours a day of walking as his go to method of getting down to competition bodyfat levels without losing all the hard-earned muscle he spends most of the year trying to build)0 -
crzycatlady1 wrote: »How are you weighing your food? You should be using a food scale, set to grams.
Ok.. just commenting here..I am learning some new things..what is the difference in weighing in grams as opposed to a tablespoon. Yesterday my daughter weighed her cereal in grams, and when we placed it in a measuring cup, it came to 1/4 cup which was the serving size. What am I missing? Thanks
When you read a package, you will see the serving size as something like "1 tablespoon (28 grams)". Take your version of a tablespoon of that food and weigh it on the scale. It's almost always guaranteed a tablespoon (or a cup) of something will come out to more than the grams indicated on the package. What this means is you are eating more calories than you realize, and this adds up over time and can kill or lessen a deficit.
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This is literally the first time I have seen someone who's lack of weight loss is a complete mystery!0
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If you are accurate on clear medical tests, what you put in and on the exercise you do and your age and height... then you need new bathroom scales!0
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OP, what time do you stop logging, and what time do you stop eating?
I ask this because a while ago, I encountered someone who couldn't lose weight just like you. Turns out, they stopped logging at midnight and went to sleep at 3am. The thing is, they were eating after midnight and believed they shouldn't have to log anything they ate from midnight until the time they went to bed. This put them over their maintenance.
No, it really isn't... All it does is keeps us hydrated.I don't see water consumption being logged. Water is a critical component for fat metabolism, and insufficient water consumption will lead to water retention and reduced metabolic rate.
Starvation mode....nope. It's not a thing. It if was, no one would die from starvation.Fasting (going without food or otherwise experiencing significant caloric restriction) has been shown to TEMPORARILY increase metabolism and fat burning (presumably a survival adaptation geared towards giving you the energy to go out and find food), but when sustained for more than 3 or 4 consecutive days, has been shown to drastically DECREASE metabolism (putting the body in the dreaded "starvation mode"). At 230 lbs and exercising regularly, 1100 calories a day is effectively fasting. You might need 2 or 3 days of big eating to kickstart your metabolism and at least one larger meal every 3 or 4 days to keep it up.
Scientific sources for your information regarding fasting, please?
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Water isn't as "critical" for fat metabolism as you state here. When I see people drinking a gallon of water at the gym, I have to laugh a little for the broscience behind it. Drinking that much water will fill one up more and reduce eating calories which is the main reason one loses fat weight. Yes one will lose weight by drinking water, but it's water weight and that's not what people are looking to lose since water weight isn't what makes you fat looking.I don't see water consumption being logged. Water is a critical component for fat metabolism, and insufficient water consumption will lead to water retention and reduced metabolic rate.
I have a friend (5'10", 210 lbs) who was averaging 1600 calories a day consumed and 1200 calories a day burned, but saw no movement of scale weight (though saw some modest reduction in waistline) for 5 solid weeks. When he realized water could be an issue, he started drinking 5 quarts a day (instead of the 1 quart per day he had been getting), and his weight started dropping regularly (he also had a couple of big calorie surplus days and reduced his exercise at the same time he increased his water intake).
Or she could just eat enough calories daily to support weight loss without the up and downs of calorie intake. Not saying that fasting is bad, but if it ain't gonna be a lifestyle, there's really no reason why she should up take it.Fasting (going without food or otherwise experiencing significant caloric restriction) has been shown to TEMPORARILY increase metabolism and fat burning (presumably a survival adaptation geared towards giving you the energy to go out and find food), but when sustained for more than 3 or 4 consecutive days, has been shown to drastically DECREASE metabolism (putting the body in the dreaded "starvation mode"). At 230 lbs and exercising regularly, 1100 calories a day is effectively fasting. You might need 2 or 3 days of big eating to kickstart your metabolism and at least one larger meal every 3 or 4 days to keep it up.
This we agree on.Cortisol is indeed a significant factor (for women) when it comes to weight loss. It sounds like you have a pretty good handle on how much you are consuming and have been pretty meticulous about weighing everything. I might be inclined to stop weighing everything (at least for a time) and obsessing less about keeping food intake down (obviously still being mindful of quantity). I know that being able to relax and getting rid of the stress that releases cortisol isn't like flipping a switch, but giving yourself a period of time (a couple weeks? a month?) where you aren't weighing yourself and don't care if you accidentally gain a little weight could be a good thing. I'm not suggesting that you should be trying to gain weight in that period, just being okay with having your weight loss efforts not necessarily be effective.
Another poster suggesting walking, which I will second. Walking is fantastic as it doesn't significantly increase appetite, it reduces stress (and thus cortisol levels), it tends not to cause the breakdown of lean muscle tissue even when you do lots of it, and it is simple (if not easy) to add to any daily routine. (Another friend of mine just earned his Pro bodybuilding card and swears by adding 2 hours a day of walking as his go to method of getting down to competition bodyfat levels without losing all the hard-earned muscle he spends most of the year trying to build)
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On re read I will say that while it still doesn't explain the lack of results, based on your descriptions you may actually be sedentary as opposed to lightly active assuming you sit or study at all times when you're not biking or doing your cardio.
That distance on a bike at a leisurely speed is less than 15 minutes each way.
So my suggestion, other than eating a good deal more.... pack an apple with you.... is that your health is important and moving is a big part of being healthy.
Even if it means temporarily ditching your cardio to gain back that amount of time, I would seriously suggest as @Sued0nim and others said...it is time to ditch the bike and walk to class instead.
And institute a no less that 2.5 minutes walking around the block rule, every hour on the hour (or half hour, or 11, or whatever you want that turns it into habit)
You will be able to eat more, lose weight, and feel better!1 -
I see a lot of generic entries, as well as one I know is wrong and others I suspect are wrong.
Please be specific if you see an obviously wrong entry. I wouldn't want to use that one in the future.You have salmon as 47 calories per 28 grams, when it's actually more like 58-60
I used a verified entry in the MFP database, not sure what else I could do other than cross referencing via the USDA.Eyeballs, tablespoons and measuring cups are not great for solid foods
I mentioned in an earlier reply, the two main solid foods I hadn't been weighing were bulgur and protein powder. I will be weighing these in the future. Although many things, such as the powdered peanut butter and sugar, are listed in measurement(s), this is because the serving in the database is listed so. I do weigh these things and will have a half or whole serving and list it as such.
I doMake sure you log every single thing you eat[...]
Regarding exercise, I realize the numbers are overestimated, which is one of the main reasons I have not been eating back any calories.
There is now doubt for me, either I am starving myself and my body is eating itself or I am so far off in my measurements of food that I am eating at maintenance level.
I would have to ask my doctor, I was told no thyroid problems. And no, pretty normal during the day, I am sometimes a hot sleeper though.Did you have a thyroid panel, or just TSH tested? Does Your body temp run low?
I am stumped, then. Something feels off that I can't put my finger on.
I am confused: you say you don't eat your exercise calories back but your diary indicates otherwise. Those numbers are overestimated too.1 -
Either someone is trolling (notice the perfect answers to every single common MFP question in these cases?) Or not everything is being logged. Is there Ambien sleep-eating going on?
First time I've ever been called a troll or a liar on here. Really not helpful. Not to mention both are untrue.n re read I will say that while it still doesn't explain the lack of results, based on your descriptions you may actually be sedentary as opposed to lightly active assuming you sit or study at all times when you're not biking or doing your cardio.[..]as @Sued0nim and others said...it is time to ditch the bike and walk to class instead.
I'll try walking more for sure. I hadn't really thought of it that way.
Stop logging when I am done eating and usually stop eating maybe two hours before bed. If I do eat something after I've logged I just edit the entry.OP, what time do you stop logging, and what time do you stop eating?
A couple people asked about my sleep, I sleep around 5 hours each night. I have insomnia, but don't take anything for it. I was having to take really high doses of every sleeping med, they improved quantity of sleep but not quality. I am positive I don't sleep walk/eat. I have a roommate and sleep on a bunk bed. Further, it has never been observed from other roommates.
Someone asked about my diet before MFP and trying to lose weight. It was a typical student diet, that is.. crap. Fast foods a couple times a week, pizza, instant noodle, pastas. I ate whatever I wanted.
I appreciate all of the really helpful responses, SLL, Sue, Pav, Cerise, Niner. Thank you
So it seems like I should: walk more as I am likely sedentary from school, weigh/double check foods more carefully (looking at you protein powder), the one part I am unsure of is raising calorie limit. I still have some confusion about weather I am starving myself (and thus not losing) or or grossly misrepresenting what I am weighing/recording. Should I try walking more and being more accurate at this calorie level for a week or two first?
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