New to fitness pal ;) (not losing weight)

I general it is better if you share your diary so the others can see what you are eating and hopefully help.

Possibly eating too many cals/not enough...?

I am new too, so it is too soon for me to tell if it works or not. But I am unsure about the "eating your burned calories" thing. I'm going to give it a go for now, but that'll be the first thing I stop doing if I find I'm not losing.

I agree with bikerb422 about sharing your food diary... Diet and exercise have to go hand in hand. What works for one may not work for another, but it'll give you ideas if you look at other people's menus, too. It's sometimes hard to find that right balance for calories and nutrients, but it's a daily learning process. If you're logging your foods, staying within healthy guidelines and exercising, you should see results within a few weeks. For some people they see weight loss the first week, for others it may take longer, depending on the lifestyle changes you've made and the exercise you're getting in. For me I was very strict, staying within the calories and nutrients I had alloted for my weight. I walked 7 days a week back then until I reached goal. Sometimes you need to change your exercise routine after you've been doing the same things for awhile. Also, I would suggest not weighing more often than once a week, using the same scale at the same time of day in the same weight of clothing or naked. I weigh the firt thing in the morning, after my body is loosened up and I don't eat anything before I weigh.. Make sure your scale is in the same spot, too and not on carpeting as this makes the scale weigh inaccurately. Best wishes to you for much success!

How long have you been a member?

Hey!

Well, it sounds like your exercising habits are going well. How are you eating habits?
The main thing you must do when wanting to lose weight, is change your eating habits. Exercise is great too but you'll see the most overall results from diet.

I just recently signed up with fitness pal to keep track of my daily calories, fat, etc., to get back into shape after slacking for a year and half and eating whatever I wanted, when I wanted. I'm no pro, but my boyfriends brother is a body builder & trainer and my boyfriend is into working out & very health conscious, so I've been well versed in 'what not to eat if you're trying to lose' by just watching and listening to them.

The body builder/trainer actually eats nothing but egg whites, Muscle Milk protein shakes, water, lean turkey (when getting ready for a show). LOL, he's pretty hardcore! His number 1 advice is NEVER drink your calories! Beer will kill your diet, but if you want to drink every once in awhile, substitute whatever liquor & diet soda. Watch your sugar intake and focus on getting in plenty of lean protein.

My boyfriend (& me, again finally), typically eat every 3-4 hours. Whether it be a handful of almonds, fat free string cheese, fat free cottage cheese, fat free milk, healthy pizza (low carb tortilla, 1 tbsp spag sauce, lean meat, fat free shredded cheese...and don't eat more than 2 at one time), eggs, turkey bacon, turkey sausage, turkey burger patty...pretty much anything turkey. Grilled chicken breasts, Wheat bread sparingly (we actually never eat this but it's better for you than white, duh, I'm sure you know that). We buy low carb tortilla's and make everything out of that (sandwiches, wraps, pizza, turkey burgers, etc...get creative, just use lots of lean meats and no/low fat products with it.), Spinach, collard greens (We only eat these 2 veggies b/c the others have carbs we don't want when we're trying to lose & shape up). You don't have to be that hardcore. Coffee black or with splenda & fat free milk. water, We NEVER drink sports drinks (unnecessary sugars), but sometimes do have diet soda (diet root beer, diet Dr. B and Coke zero products taste the best, in my opinion.

You WILL have sugar cravings, so when that happens eat a piece of fruit (I hate fruit, gives me a stomach ache, so I don't eat that, but that's the better alternative to anything else). Also, sugar free candies (only 1 a day at most...too much sugar alcohol isn't great for you either!) I love the fat free chocolate turtles...delicious!
Since I'm just getting back in the swing of things, I've caved to a couple of chocolate chip cookies this week...don't do that! LOL, it wasn't worth it.

Also, pick 1 cheat day a week OR 2 cheat meals a week! We do Cheat Day Sunday, which means we can eat what we want and however much we want all day long!! BUT if you cheat during the week, you don't get to have cheat day Sunday...but you may have 1 cheat meal that day. It's not easy to make it through those cravings each week w/o wanting to splurge, but you just have to push through it and focus on how awesome Sunday (or whatever day you choose) will be! Some people don't recommend doing this kind of cheat day, but Several studies show that's it's actually a fine way to recharge your body after starving it from lots of the sugars and fats it is used to. Plus, this habit has never steered us wrong. It actually keeps us motivated, then keeps the cravings away for several days after...b/c if you do it right, you will make yourself sick, LOL!. The next day, you'll definitely feel bloated and the scales will be up 3-4 lbs, but don't worry...it's just water weight. Get right back to the normal hardcore/healthy diet & exercise and by the 2nd- 3rd day, you should be right back to where you were & ready to lose some more.

Anyway, these are just a few tips that have proven successful for my bf and me. I hope it helps. It's definitely hard in the beginning b/c it is a lifestyle change but YOU CAN DO IT!!! Good luck to ya!!