I don't know where I'm going wrong - Advice?
SazFour
Posts: 20 Member
I haven't lost anything for 4 weeks now. My weight changes slightly then goes back up. I eat 1200 calories a day and weigh everything that goes into my mouth with a food scales. I don't eat out and cook everything myself. Sometimes I go up to 1300 but with mfp set at a 1lb loss per week (sedentary) it gives me 1340 so I should still be losing something. I don't follow the 1340 calories because I'm new to mfp and I've been eating 1200 for a year so I just stuck with it.
It's really frustrating. I'm pretty active during the week so I don't understand where I'm going wrong. I walk for an hour or more 3-4 times a week. I weigh myself on Monday morning at the same time every week but I've been weighing myself a bit more often now hoping I did it at a bad time or something. Also my measurements are the same. I think that's everything people usually ask. Sorry if this is repetitive.
Any ideas on what I could do to start losing again?
Other info:
Female
18
5'6
SW: 206
CW: 150
GW: 126
It's really frustrating. I'm pretty active during the week so I don't understand where I'm going wrong. I walk for an hour or more 3-4 times a week. I weigh myself on Monday morning at the same time every week but I've been weighing myself a bit more often now hoping I did it at a bad time or something. Also my measurements are the same. I think that's everything people usually ask. Sorry if this is repetitive.
Any ideas on what I could do to start losing again?
Other info:
Female
18
5'6
SW: 206
CW: 150
GW: 126
0
Replies
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Normally I don't jump to this conclusion, but if you are indeed weighing food on a scale and not eating exercise calories back, I would consult a doctor. Something could be up with your thyroid.1
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vespiquenn wrote: »Normally I don't jump to this conclusion, but if you are indeed weighing food on a scale and not eating exercise calories back, I would consult a doctor. Something could be up with your thyroid.
I guess I should at least check. My dad does have thyroid problems. Thanks for the advice!
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This happens to me, too.
Just to share my experience: I've lost 100 lbs, about 10 more to go. I'm F, 5' 1/2". Sometimes, everything is the same -- calories, activity -- and the scale just doesn't budge for 4-6 wks. Then, in a day, I'll be down 2 lbs, the next day another lb, and the following week another 2.
I keep pretty detailed records but cannot see a trend ... It just happens when it happens.
Another thing to keep in mind: are you taking your measurements? Once when I wasn't losing, I measured my neck of all things and it was down 1.5", my upper arms 1", etc.
If you monitor a lot of data points you will be able to see / appreciate some sort of progress. Hope this helps. I'm sure others can give you ideas / thoughts, too.2 -
As above our take photos front and side same place in your house same clothes say 4 weeks apart and see if any difference could be ur adding muscle if exercising more0
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youdoyou2016 wrote: »This happens to me, too.
Just to share my experience: I've lost 100 lbs, about 10 more to go. I'm F, 5' 1/2". Sometimes, everything is the same -- calories, activity -- and the scale just doesn't budge for 4-6 wks. Then, in a day, I'll be down 2 lbs, the next day another lb, and the following week another 2.
I keep pretty detailed records but cannot see a trend ... It just happens when it happens.
Another thing to keep in mind: are you taking your measurements? Once when I wasn't losing, I measured my neck of all things and it was down 1.5", my upper arms 1", etc.
If you monitor a lot of data points you will be able to see / appreciate some sort of progress. Hope this helps. I'm sure others can give you ideas / thoughts, too.
This gives me some bit of hope! It really kills my motivation to have no progress for weeks. Yes I do take measurements. Mostly just waist and hips though and those haven't changed a bit. I'll try measuring everywhere more regularly
Thank you!0 -
If you would be willing to open your diary we might be able to see something with fresh eyes that you aren't seeing, but I know not everyone is comfortable with that. Perhaps check the entries you are using, many are user entered and incorrect.
You are at the high end of the healthy weight range, so you will probably lose weight slowly, but still should be losing. If you are eating 1200 cals, weighing all your food, using correct entries, and you exercise, you should be losing weight. I'd second getting bloodwork if opening your diary isn't an option.2 -
As above our take photos front and side same place in your house same clothes say 4 weeks apart and see if any difference could be ur adding muscle if exercising more
As much as I'd like to think I am adding muscle the only thing I do is walk and I honestly don't get much protein in my diet. I'll still try taking more pics! I usually do it with every 7lb loss0 -
youdoyou2016 wrote: »This happens to me, too.
Just to share my experience: I've lost 100 lbs, about 10 more to go. I'm F, 5' 1/2". Sometimes, everything is the same -- calories, activity -- and the scale just doesn't budge for 4-6 wks. Then, in a day, I'll be down 2 lbs, the next day another lb, and the following week another 2.
I keep pretty detailed records but cannot see a trend ... It just happens when it happens.
Another thing to keep in mind: are you taking your measurements? Once when I wasn't losing, I measured my neck of all things and it was down 1.5", my upper arms 1", etc.
If you monitor a lot of data points you will be able to see / appreciate some sort of progress. Hope this helps. I'm sure others can give you ideas / thoughts, too.
This gives me some bit of hope! It really kills my motivation to have no progress for weeks. Yes I do take measurements. Mostly just waist and hips though and those haven't changed a bit. I'll try measuring everywhere more regularly
Thank you!
You're welcome, and I get the frustration. I started measuring everywhere -- wrists, forearms, etc. I also started realizing that A LOT is going on when we do work out / work at losing weight. Who knows what's happening inside where we just can't see -- like losing fat around organs, or what it takes the body to recover from and prepare for more exercise ... and stuff like that? I mean, I don't know ... But I do know if you stick with it you will get results. They just aren't linear, predictable, or even ones we can see ...1 -
If you would be willing to open your diary we might be able to see something with fresh eyes that you aren't seeing, but I know not everyone is comfortable with that. Perhaps check the entries you are using, many are user entered and incorrect.
You are at the high end of the healthy weight range, so you will probably lose weight slowly, but still should be losing. If you are eating 1200 cals, weighing all your food, using correct entries, and you exercise, you should be losing weight. I'd second getting bloodwork if opening your diary isn't an option.
I don't exactly use my diary. (I have maybe 3 days in there?) If I do I just select something with the same calories that I calculated from using my scales and the info on the packet or for fruit and veg etc I google the calories which I know by heart at this point. Sometimes I click 1cup of something because the calories are the same but I measure in grams. Since I've been tracking for so long without mfp I'm still getting used to remembering to enter it on the app
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You've lost 56 pounds! That must feel great! Maybe take your focus off the scale for a few weeks and see what happens.1
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If you would be willing to open your diary we might be able to see something with fresh eyes that you aren't seeing, but I know not everyone is comfortable with that. Perhaps check the entries you are using, many are user entered and incorrect.
You are at the high end of the healthy weight range, so you will probably lose weight slowly, but still should be losing. If you are eating 1200 cals, weighing all your food, using correct entries, and you exercise, you should be losing weight. I'd second getting bloodwork if opening your diary isn't an option.
I don't exactly use my diary. (I have maybe 3 days in there?) If I do I just select something with the same calories that I calculated from using my scales and the info on the packet or for fruit and veg etc I google the calories which I know by heart at this point. Sometimes I click 1cup of something because the calories are the same but I measure in grams. Since I've been tracking for so long without mfp I'm still getting used to remembering to enter it on the app
Before anything, I would track using your diary here and choose correct entries for the food you're eating. See how that goes for a few weeks. Then if you still see no change, move forward with testing or new options.
5 -
vespiquenn wrote: »If you would be willing to open your diary we might be able to see something with fresh eyes that you aren't seeing, but I know not everyone is comfortable with that. Perhaps check the entries you are using, many are user entered and incorrect.
You are at the high end of the healthy weight range, so you will probably lose weight slowly, but still should be losing. If you are eating 1200 cals, weighing all your food, using correct entries, and you exercise, you should be losing weight. I'd second getting bloodwork if opening your diary isn't an option.
I don't exactly use my diary. (I have maybe 3 days in there?) If I do I just select something with the same calories that I calculated from using my scales and the info on the packet or for fruit and veg etc I google the calories which I know by heart at this point. Sometimes I click 1cup of something because the calories are the same but I measure in grams. Since I've been tracking for so long without mfp I'm still getting used to remembering to enter it on the app
Before anything, I would track using your diary here and choose correct entries for the food you're eating. See how that goes for a few weeks. Then if you still see no change, move forward with testing or new options.
This is the advice to follow. You really need to be using your food diary to be accurate about your intake. What you are looking up and what you think you're eating can be far off the mark. Unless you have a rare medical condition, with your stats you should have no issue dropping weight eating 1200 calories. Also, you said you've been eating 1200 calories a day for a year? Something isn't right.4 -
vespiquenn wrote: »If you would be willing to open your diary we might be able to see something with fresh eyes that you aren't seeing, but I know not everyone is comfortable with that. Perhaps check the entries you are using, many are user entered and incorrect.
You are at the high end of the healthy weight range, so you will probably lose weight slowly, but still should be losing. If you are eating 1200 cals, weighing all your food, using correct entries, and you exercise, you should be losing weight. I'd second getting bloodwork if opening your diary isn't an option.
I don't exactly use my diary. (I have maybe 3 days in there?) If I do I just select something with the same calories that I calculated from using my scales and the info on the packet or for fruit and veg etc I google the calories which I know by heart at this point. Sometimes I click 1cup of something because the calories are the same but I measure in grams. Since I've been tracking for so long without mfp I'm still getting used to remembering to enter it on the app
Before anything, I would track using your diary here and choose correct entries for the food you're eating. See how that goes for a few weeks. Then if you still see no change, move forward with testing or new options.
I would also suggest doing this.
Honestly curious, though...how do you track if not on MFP? Do you write it all down somewhere? Do you keep a running tally each day in your head?1 -
If you would be willing to open your diary we might be able to see something with fresh eyes that you aren't seeing, but I know not everyone is comfortable with that. Perhaps check the entries you are using, many are user entered and incorrect.
You are at the high end of the healthy weight range, so you will probably lose weight slowly, but still should be losing. If you are eating 1200 cals, weighing all your food, using correct entries, and you exercise, you should be losing weight. I'd second getting bloodwork if opening your diary isn't an option.
I don't exactly use my diary. (I have maybe 3 days in there?) If I do I just select something with the same calories that I calculated from using my scales and the info on the packet or for fruit and veg etc I google the calories which I know by heart at this point. Sometimes I click 1cup of something because the calories are the same but I measure in grams. Since I've been tracking for so long without mfp I'm still getting used to remembering to enter it on the app
Sometimes when youve been dieting for awhile, you start to eyeball or add things wrong without realizing it. Maybe try logging consistently for a few weeks and see if it helps. It couldn't hurt, and maybe it will shine a light on a problem that will be easy to fix2 -
you should be eating at least 1400 calories especially if your are walking that much a week. Use IIFYM calculator and it will tell you how much to eat EVERY day. I am not a personal trainer but I truly believe you are starving yourself and thats exactly what your body is doing.0
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you should be eating at least 1400 calories especially if your are walking that much a week. Use IIFYM calculator and it will tell you how much to eat EVERY day. I am not a personal trainer but I truly believe you are starving yourself and thats exactly what your body is doing.
no. The answer to not losing weight is NEVER eat more. Like ...no...2 -
you should be eating at least 1400 calories especially if your are walking that much a week. Use IIFYM calculator and it will tell you how much to eat EVERY day. I am not a personal trainer but I truly believe you are starving yourself and thats exactly what your body is doing.
Since OP isn't tracking or logging and not losing weight we can probably assume OP is actually eating at least 1400 calorie a day. Probably more.4 -
Op being 18... are you still 5ft 6" ? Worth a check
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How many grams of carbohydrates are you eating? If you really want to try a difficult method, keep your carb intake around 20 grams or less. You basically eat paleo... your body goes into keytosis and burns off stored body fat and you don't lose much muscle if you're getting enough protein. Check out "ideal protein" and see if there's any near you. Worked well for me!0
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JaydedMiss wrote: »you should be eating at least 1400 calories especially if your are walking that much a week. Use IIFYM calculator and it will tell you how much to eat EVERY day. I am not a personal trainer but I truly believe you are starving yourself and thats exactly what your body is doing.
no. The answer to not losing weight is NEVER eat more. Like ...no...
That comment wasn't a suggestion to get the weight to drop; it was a comment for overall health (I think). Frankly, as a teenager who isn't very very short, the OP shouldn't be below 1500 cals/day IMO. And if she were accurately tracking that 1500 cal, she'd still lose weight (NOT because she raised the calories, but because she'd still be in a deficit).
And, actually, sometimes the answer to a plateau *is* to eat more - but just for a day or two. It's very common for a short "diet break" to lower cortisol levels, leading your body to release some water weight. Nothing metabolism-related. Just hormonal.
Speaking of hormones, my first theory on the OP's situation is exactly that. Is TOM approaching? If so, don't worry about it until a few days after it's passed. If not, my second theory is that something is being miscounted and she should start using the app properly.0 -
SusanMFindlay wrote: »JaydedMiss wrote: »you should be eating at least 1400 calories especially if your are walking that much a week. Use IIFYM calculator and it will tell you how much to eat EVERY day. I am not a personal trainer but I truly believe you are starving yourself and thats exactly what your body is doing.
no. The answer to not losing weight is NEVER eat more. Like ...no...
That comment wasn't a suggestion to get the weight to drop; it was a comment for overall health (I think). Frankly, as a teenager who isn't very very short, the OP shouldn't be below 1500 cals/day IMO. And if she were accurately tracking that 1500 cal, she'd still lose weight (NOT because she raised the calories, but because she'd still be in a deficit).
And, actually, sometimes the answer to a plateau *is* to eat more - but just for a day or two. It's very common for a short "diet break" to lower cortisol levels, leading your body to release some water weight. Nothing metabolism-related. Just hormonal.
Speaking of hormones, my first theory on the OP's situation is exactly that. Is TOM approaching? If so, don't worry about it until a few days after it's passed. If not, my second theory is that something is being miscounted and she should start using the app properly.
Nah they keep posting on threads saying youl starve to death and need whatever exact nutrients to lose weight, Was definatly meant as a "starvation mode" comment0 -
Maybe it's time for a diet break? Take your calories back to maintenance for a couple of weeks and let your body adjust to them. Then create a deficit again.1
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I would also suggest doing this.
Honestly curious, though...how do you track if not on MFP? Do you write it all down somewhere? Do you keep a running tally each day in your head?[/quote]
Notes on my phone! I never eyeball things and I do go above target but it's not by much 50-100 calories once or twice a week and the occasional birthday or event every 3 months or soOp being 18... are you still 5ft 6" ? Worth a check
Yes I've been the same since I was 16SusanMFindlay wrote: »JaydedMiss wrote: »you should be eating at least 1400 calories especially if your are walking that much a week. Use IIFYM calculator and it will tell you how much to eat EVERY day. I am not a personal trainer but I truly believe you are starving yourself and thats exactly what your body is doing.
no. The answer to not losing weight is NEVER eat more. Like ...no...
That comment wasn't a suggestion to get the weight to drop; it was a comment for overall health (I think). Frankly, as a teenager who isn't very very short, the OP shouldn't be below 1500 cals/day IMO. And if she were accurately tracking that 1500 cal, she'd still lose weight (NOT because she raised the calories, but because she'd still be in a deficit).
And, actually, sometimes the answer to a plateau *is* to eat more - but just for a day or two. It's very common for a short "diet break" to lower cortisol levels, leading your body to release some water weight. Nothing metabolism-related. Just hormonal.
Speaking of hormones, my first theory on the OP's situation is exactly that. <b> Is TOM approaching? </b> If so, don't worry about it until a few days after it's passed. If not, my second theory is that something is being miscounted and she should start using the app properly.
Actually it is but it has never had a noticeable effect on the scales so I didn't think about that. I've been really meticulous with counting especially in the last two weeks but I'll try to spot anything I might be counting wrong0 -
Maxematics wrote: »vespiquenn wrote: »If you would be willing to open your diary we might be able to see something with fresh eyes that you aren't seeing, but I know not everyone is comfortable with that. Perhaps check the entries you are using, many are user entered and incorrect.
You are at the high end of the healthy weight range, so you will probably lose weight slowly, but still should be losing. If you are eating 1200 cals, weighing all your food, using correct entries, and you exercise, you should be losing weight. I'd second getting bloodwork if opening your diary isn't an option.
I don't exactly use my diary. (I have maybe 3 days in there?) If I do I just select something with the same calories that I calculated from using my scales and the info on the packet or for fruit and veg etc I google the calories which I know by heart at this point. Sometimes I click 1cup of something because the calories are the same but I measure in grams. Since I've been tracking for so long without mfp I'm still getting used to remembering to enter it on the app
Before anything, I would track using your diary here and choose correct entries for the food you're eating. See how that goes for a few weeks. Then if you still see no change, move forward with testing or new options.
This is the advice to follow. You really need to be using your food diary to be accurate about your intake. What you are looking up and what you think you're eating can be far off the mark. Unless you have a rare medical condition, with your stats you should have no issue dropping weight eating 1200 calories. Also, you said you've been eating 1200 calories a day for a year? Something isn't right.
It was probably a very bad choice was I was 200lb but yeah I started with that last year after a few weeks thinking it was the best way to lose fast just because the internet said so. From reading things on here I'm sure I was very wrong0
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