Not seeing the scale move too much, whats wrong? (See my diary
beastmoves
Posts: 17 Member
If anyone can take a look at my diary and tell me what you think I'm doing wrong I would appreciate it. I started a sort of mostly plant based diet a little over a month ago, It was a Dr. Oz diet (I know) that was supposed to be about 21 days. I did not follow it completely, but i thought i was eating less and better than before when i would eat whatever I wanted. I definitely haven't been eating as much or drinking as much as I was before. I cut back a lot, and I have been being more active, tracking everything and drinking more water. I do weigh pretty much every thing as well, even condiments if i use them. I have been up a little down a little, but i keep hovering around my current weight and its really discouraging, because I'm really trying.
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Replies
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ur dairy is not set to public. u can add me as a friend if u like me to take a look2
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What are your stats? Age? Weight? Height? There are days in your diary where you are eating more than 2000 calories and foods that are not weighed. I'd say this is where you are going wrong. I'm not going to bring up Dr Oz
Eta: I see that you eat a lot if not all of your exercise calories, what kind of exercise are you doing and where are you getting these numbers from? Also you don't have a very varied diet, lots of alcohol (to each their own), but your body needs certain micro and macro nutrients in order to perform well especially when exercising. Another thing is your sodium can be quite high on some days, that can easy mask weight loss.4 -
Just took a quick glance at the past few weeks. What is your daily goal and what activities are you doing that give you such a high calorie burn? If you aren't losing you aren't in a deficit.1
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General tips having looked at your diary:
- Use a food scale to determine your portion size as often as possible, for all solid food: Packaged, fresh, everything.
- You are logging alot of takeaway/restaurant food. Understand that those calories are estimates. It's fine to eat out, and some people have success while doing so, but if you eat out a lot, it can be harder to figure out where you are going wrong.
- You went over your calories 3 days in the last week. That obviously will slow down your progress.
How long have you been logging and how much weight have you lost in that time?
How much weight are you trying to lose per week?1 -
I agree with the others, whats your height and weight??
Based on your diary it looks like the problem is... you are eating too many calories. Some days you are eating well over 2,000 calories and have food logs including generic entries.
It doesn't matter if you eat perceptibly "healthy" or "vegan" foods, you still have to control your overall calorie intake.2 -
General tips having looked at your diary:
- Use a food scale to determine your portion size as often as possible, for all solid food: Packaged, fresh, everything.
- You are logging alot of takeaway/restaurant food. Understand that those calories are estimates. It's fine to eat out, and some people have success while doing so, but if you eat out a lot, it can be harder to figure out where you are going wrong.
- You went over your calories 3 days in the last week. That obviously will slow down your progress.
How long have you been logging and how much weight have you lost in that time?
How much weight are you trying to lose per week?
i will add to this, make sure that you are using correct MFP database entries..I always cross check mine...3 -
I just set my diary to public before posting, maybe it takes a little while. I'm 31, 5'2. I have been as high as 163 before, and then I got down to 135. I don't really remember what I did that time, I wish I did.
I know i have some days like that, but I feel like i am under more often than over, and i'm not doing that all the time. Maybe I'm wrong. I definitely eating a lot eating less, drinking less and eating better than i was before, so i feel like i should be losing weight just based of that.0 -
beastmoves wrote: »I definitely eating a lot eating less, drinking less and eating better than i was before, so i feel like i should be losing weight just based of that.
You could eat less than before, but you won't lose unless you're in a deficit overall. You might be simply gaining weight more slowly than before, or only maintaining what you have.4 -
beastmoves wrote: »If anyone can take a look at my diary and tell me what you think I'm doing wrong I would appreciate it. I started a sort of mostly plant based diet a little over a month ago, It was a Dr. Oz diet (I know) that was supposed to be about 21 days. I did not follow it completely, but i thought i was eating less and better than before when i would eat whatever I wanted. I definitely haven't been eating as much or drinking as much as I was before. I cut back a lot, and I have been being more active, tracking everything and drinking more water. I do weigh pretty much every thing as well, even condiments if i use them. I have been up a little down a little, but i keep hovering around my current weight and its really discouraging, because I'm really trying.
I didn't look too hard at entries etc...but
You are wiping out your deficit on the weekends...
You have your goal at 1200 which is the lowest you can go but don't always eat up to it...depriving yourself of foods you probably want.
I see you are exercising and eating back all your calories sometimes too...which isn't a bad thing....
My suggestion is this...
allow for more calories through the week...don't deprive yourself so you feel like have 3 days of 500+ over your limit...
find a sustainable eating habit to follow...not a diet....make sure you eat enough protein and fat to ensure you feel fuller longer.2 -
beastmoves wrote: »I just set my diary to public before posting, maybe it takes a little while. I'm 31, 5'2. I have been as high as 163 before, and then I got down to 135. I don't really remember what I did that time, I wish I did.
I know i have some days like that, but I feel like i am under more often than over, and i'm not doing that all the time. Maybe I'm wrong. I definitely eating a lot eating less, drinking less and eating better than i was before, so i feel like i should be losing weight just based of that.
Unfortunately, the scale generally reflects progress pretty accurately despite our feelings on the matter. I know the frustration you must be feeling, i went through something similar when i first started losing weight.
I was eating less volume of food, i was eating "healthier" food options, I was walking around more. Once i got frustrated i decided to join myfitnesspal, get a food scale, and prove to everyone who told me that i was overeating that they were wrong.
Turns out, i was underestimating my calories by about 1,000-1,500 calories a day. In other words... I was eating like 2,800 calories a day when i thought i was eating 1,200. It was a pretty humbling experience. As soon as i realized this and made the changes the weight starting falling off.12 -
You have a few days of pretty high alcohol consumption (not a judgement, my Fridays are like that almost 100% of the time) when that happens to me, I know I am counting off at some point, i.e. a bite of something my husband is eating, a handful of chips, an extra beer I thought I counted for but didn't. I bank a lot calories throughout the week to accommodate my Friday going out so that little extra doesn't matter as much.2
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For activity I do at least a 10 minute walk in the morning, a 20 to 30 minute walk outdoors after work, average speed, not slow not fast, i also walk on the treadmill about 20 to 30 minutes average about 3 miles per hour, cycle bike indoor for at least 20 to 30 minutes per day, i don't know the speed, Strength 2 to 3 times per week, and a 15 to 20 minute HIIT video once a week. I also have a desk job, but i get up and try to get my steps in all the time. I just really use my fit-bit, I don't really log the exercise, if i walk or go on the treadmill it auto detects it, and then it has a cycle mode on my fit bit and a workout mode as well that i put it on when i'm doing strength. On the weekends sometimes we are walking trails for between 2 and 3 hours which might be why it estimated so high on some days for calorie burn.0
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beastmoves wrote: »For activity I do at least a 10 minute walk in the morning, a 20 to 30 minute walk outdoors after work, average speed, not slow not fast, i also walk on the treadmill about 20 to 30 minutes average about 3 miles per hour, cycle bike indoor for at least 20 to 30 minutes per day, i don't know the speed, Strength 2 to 3 times per week, and a 15 to 20 minute HIIT video once a week. I also have a desk job, but i get up and try to get my steps in all the time. I just really use my fit-bit, I don't really log the exercise, if i walk or go on the treadmill it auto detects it, and then it has a cycle mode on my fit bit and a workout mode as well that i put it on when i'm doing strength. On the weekends sometimes we are walking trails for between 2 and 3 hours which might be why it estimated so high on some days for calorie burn.
Fitbit and MFP are not very reliable for estimating calorie burns (typically they are overestimating). If you are not losing then only eat back 1/2 of your exercise calories.2 -
Thanks for all the replies everyone, I guess I really haven't been doing everything I'm supposed to be doing and need to pay better attention and work smarter and harder and make better choices.2
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beastmoves wrote: »For activity I do at least a 10 minute walk in the morning, a 20 to 30 minute walk outdoors after work, average speed, not slow not fast, i also walk on the treadmill about 20 to 30 minutes average about 3 miles per hour, cycle bike indoor for at least 20 to 30 minutes per day, i don't know the speed, Strength 2 to 3 times per week, and a 15 to 20 minute HIIT video once a week. I also have a desk job, but i get up and try to get my steps in all the time. I just really use my fit-bit, I don't really log the exercise, if i walk or go on the treadmill it auto detects it, and then it has a cycle mode on my fit bit and a workout mode as well that i put it on when i'm doing strength. On the weekends sometimes we are walking trails for between 2 and 3 hours which might be why it estimated so high on some days for calorie burn.
How much weight are you losing, and how much were you expecting to lose per week?0 -
beastmoves wrote: »For activity I do at least a 10 minute walk in the morning, a 20 to 30 minute walk outdoors after work, average speed, not slow not fast, i also walk on the treadmill about 20 to 30 minutes average about 3 miles per hour, cycle bike indoor for at least 20 to 30 minutes per day, i don't know the speed, Strength 2 to 3 times per week, and a 15 to 20 minute HIIT video once a week. I also have a desk job, but i get up and try to get my steps in all the time. I just really use my fit-bit, I don't really log the exercise, if i walk or go on the treadmill it auto detects it, and then it has a cycle mode on my fit bit and a workout mode as well that i put it on when i'm doing strength. On the weekends sometimes we are walking trails for between 2 and 3 hours which might be why it estimated so high on some days for calorie burn.
How much weight are you losing, and how much were you expecting to lose per week?
It goes up and down a little bit, I was hoping to lose at least 1 pound per week.
4/6/17: 153.4
4/10/17: 156.8
I was after eating kind of bad during the weekend/ drinking before starting Dr. Oz breakthrough diet on 4/10, just a few days before, my scale was like 3 pounds less on 4/6/17.
4/17: 152.4
5/1: (21 days after starting Dr. Oz Diet which i mostly followed)::::::: 150.8
5/9: No change from 5/1, Still 150.8
5/16: 1510 -
rainbowbow wrote: »I agree with the others, whats your height and weight??
Based on your diary it looks like the problem is... you are eating too many calories. Some days you are eating well over 2,000 calories and have food logs including generic entries.It doesn't matter if you eat perceptibly "healthy" or "vegan" foods, you still have to control your overall calorie intake.
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beastmoves wrote: »beastmoves wrote: »For activity I do at least a 10 minute walk in the morning, a 20 to 30 minute walk outdoors after work, average speed, not slow not fast, i also walk on the treadmill about 20 to 30 minutes average about 3 miles per hour, cycle bike indoor for at least 20 to 30 minutes per day, i don't know the speed, Strength 2 to 3 times per week, and a 15 to 20 minute HIIT video once a week. I also have a desk job, but i get up and try to get my steps in all the time. I just really use my fit-bit, I don't really log the exercise, if i walk or go on the treadmill it auto detects it, and then it has a cycle mode on my fit bit and a workout mode as well that i put it on when i'm doing strength. On the weekends sometimes we are walking trails for between 2 and 3 hours which might be why it estimated so high on some days for calorie burn.
How much weight are you losing, and how much were you expecting to lose per week?
It goes up and down a little bit, I was hoping to lose at least 1 pound per week.
4/6/17: 153.4
4/10/17: 156.8
I was after eating kind of bad during the weekend/ drinking before starting Dr. Oz breakthrough diet on 4/10, just a few days before, my scale was like 3 pounds less on 4/6/17.
4/17: 152.4
5/1: (21 days after starting Dr. Oz Diet which i mostly followed)::::::: 150.8
5/9: No change from 5/1, Still 150.8
5/16: 151
6 pounds in 21 days is pretty significant (even if it was 3 pounds considering 0.5-2 pounds a week is healthy weight loss). Improve your diet and logging and I'm sure you will start to lose again.1 -
rainbowbow wrote: »I agree with the others, whats your height and weight??
Based on your diary it looks like the problem is... you are eating too many calories. Some days you are eating well over 2,000 calories and have food logs including generic entries.It doesn't matter if you eat perceptibly "healthy" or "vegan" foods, you still have to control your overall calorie intake.
I thought i had been doing a good job of logging everything, and was weighing everything except if it was like for example a "beyond burger" or "qrunch patty" or like 2 small tortillas that says the calories per piece on the back. I didn't realize i was eating a lot of pizza, cheese, especially cookies, since i'm not really a sweets person, especially lately, i feel like i have been eating more of those qrunch burger (quinoa patties) which i dont fry them in oil, i just kind of spray the pan with a little olive oil cooking spray. I need to pay better attention and make better choices, thanks.0 -
beastmoves wrote: »beastmoves wrote: »For activity I do at least a 10 minute walk in the morning, a 20 to 30 minute walk outdoors after work, average speed, not slow not fast, i also walk on the treadmill about 20 to 30 minutes average about 3 miles per hour, cycle bike indoor for at least 20 to 30 minutes per day, i don't know the speed, Strength 2 to 3 times per week, and a 15 to 20 minute HIIT video once a week. I also have a desk job, but i get up and try to get my steps in all the time. I just really use my fit-bit, I don't really log the exercise, if i walk or go on the treadmill it auto detects it, and then it has a cycle mode on my fit bit and a workout mode as well that i put it on when i'm doing strength. On the weekends sometimes we are walking trails for between 2 and 3 hours which might be why it estimated so high on some days for calorie burn.
How much weight are you losing, and how much were you expecting to lose per week?
It goes up and down a little bit, I was hoping to lose at least 1 pound per week.
4/6/17: 153.4
4/10/17: 156.8
I was after eating kind of bad during the weekend/ drinking before starting Dr. Oz breakthrough diet on 4/10, just a few days before, my scale was like 3 pounds less on 4/6/17.
4/17: 152.4
5/1: (21 days after starting Dr. Oz Diet which i mostly followed)::::::: 150.8
5/9: No change from 5/1, Still 150.8
5/16: 151
So you lost 2 lbs in a little over a month. Considering water weight fluctuations, which can be amplified by takeout/restaurant food, you've probably been losing @ half-a-lb per week. So tighten up your logging and you should be able to get on pace easily!2 -
beastmoves wrote: »rainbowbow wrote: »I agree with the others, whats your height and weight??
Based on your diary it looks like the problem is... you are eating too many calories. Some days you are eating well over 2,000 calories and have food logs including generic entries.It doesn't matter if you eat perceptibly "healthy" or "vegan" foods, you still have to control your overall calorie intake.
I thought i had been doing a good job of logging everything, and was weighing everything except if it was like for example a "beyond burger" or "qrunch patty" or like 2 small tortillas that says the calories per piece on the back. I didn't realize i was eating a lot of pizza, cheese, especially cookies, since i'm not really a sweets person, especially lately, i feel like i have been eating more of those qrunch burger (quinoa patties) which i dont fry them in oil, i just kind of spray the pan with a little olive oil cooking spray. I need to pay better attention and make better choices, thanks.
here's something cool- https://www.reddit.com/r/1200isplenty/
^ it will give you an idea about what your calorie goal actually looks like. There's also plenty of photos, specific products, etc.3 -
just check ur dairy n i have say that u r not really treating the 1200 as ur upper limit 40+% of the time n when u go over it, u GO OVER it. u do hit 1200 on some days so u feel that u r "doing it" but if u go to nutrition page n look at ur weekly (not daily) average calories intake n i m sure that u will see many weeks that u r actually over on an average basis. plus, i think u r mis-using the fitbit concept if u r wearing it the whole day n entering the calories burned for the whole day (because i see entries of 800 to 1000 cal for exercises n nothing u did can burn that)into MFP where u ONLY should log the calories burned from ur exercises (correct me if i m wrong on this). my suggestion,
1. reset MFP at 1400 to 1600 calories a day n learn to eat accordingly n only set to 1200 when u have success for a few weeks
2. check ur WEEKLY average calorie intake to see if u r still under for the week regularly
3. only input the calories u burned from exercises (not from ur daily routine) n only eat back half at the max
its great that u r making the right decision to do something for ur health. GOOD LUCK!1 -
Also OP, weigh packaged food! I had a pack of pitas that said a serving was half a pita, or 39 grams. A weighed one pita and it weighed 99 grams, so half was ... 49 grams, not 39. This happens with all sorts of foods. Weigh the burger, weigh the tortilla4
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just check ur dairy n i have say that u r not really treating the 1200 as ur upper limit 50+% of the time n when u go over it, u GO OVER it. u do hit 1200 on some days so u feel that u r "doing it" but if u go to nutrition page n look at ur weekly (not daily) average caloried intake n i m sure that u will see many weeks u r actually over on an average basis. plus, i think u r misusing the fitbit concept if u r wearing the whole day n entering the calories burned for the whole day (because i see entries of 800 to 1000 cal for exercises n nothing u did can burn that)into MFP where u ONLY should log the calories burned from ur exercises. my suggestion,
1. reset MFP at 1400 to 1600 calories a day n learn to eat accordingly n only set to 1200 when u have success for a few weeks
2. check ur WEEKLY average calorie intake to see if u r still under for the week regularly
3. only input the calories u burned from actual exercises (not from ur daily routine) n only eat back half at the max
its great that u r making the right decision to do something for ur health. GOOD LUCK!
Can you clarify what you mean by "nothing you did can burn that"? When I'm set to sedentary, I frequently have Fitbit adjustments that are on the larger side. This isn't misusing the Fitbit, it's how the Fitbit is designed to work. Yes, there is one day with a larger adjustment -- but the other days are close to what I'd expect to see for many women who have a Fitbit sync -- 300-400 calorie adjustments.
If you have a device that is synced, you won't just see the calories from intentional exercise. You will see all activity adjustments for all movement that gives you a higher calorie burn estimate than your activity level would have predicted.6 -
Thanks again for all the input and suggestions everyone, I'm going to sit down once i get home from work and read all of these comments and take some notes.2
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Just fyi, the qrunch burgers are mostly grains and starches, with added fat and a few vegetables and seasonings for flavor. They're not a great source of protein or any of the nutrients usually found in vegetables.
You really can't thrive on the kind of menu you are eating. Last Saturday, for example, your food consisted of ten servings of grain/bread and one serving of cheese, plus whatever the 100 calories of "quick add" were. In addition, you drank over 1300 calories of alcohol.
Now that I've thought about this a little more, I think it would probably be a good idea for you to talk with your doctor about what you are eating and drinking. You could either print out or export your daily menus to show him/her. I think your doctor could give you some insights that we here on the internet couldn't.1 -
janejellyroll wrote: »just check ur dairy n i have say that u r not really treating the 1200 as ur upper limit 50+% of the time n when u go over it, u GO OVER it. u do hit 1200 on some days so u feel that u r "doing it" but if u go to nutrition page n look at ur weekly (not daily) average caloried intake n i m sure that u will see many weeks u r actually over on an average basis. plus, i think u r misusing the fitbit concept if u r wearing the whole day n entering the calories burned for the whole day (because i see entries of 800 to 1000 cal for exercises n nothing u did can burn that)into MFP where u ONLY should log the calories burned from ur exercises. my suggestion,
1. reset MFP at 1400 to 1600 calories a day n learn to eat accordingly n only set to 1200 when u have success for a few weeks
2. check ur WEEKLY average calorie intake to see if u r still under for the week regularly
3. only input the calories u burned from actual exercises (not from ur daily routine) n only eat back half at the max
its great that u r making the right decision to do something for ur health. GOOD LUCK!
Can you clarify what you mean by "nothing you did can burn that"? When I'm set to sedentary, I frequently have Fitbit adjustments that are on the larger side. This isn't misusing the Fitbit, it's how the Fitbit is designed to work. Yes, there is one day with a larger adjustment -- but the other days are close to what I'd expect to see for many women who have a Fitbit sync -- 300-400 calorie adjustments.
If you have a device that is synced, you won't just see the calories from intentional exercise. You will see all activity adjustments for all movement that gives you a higher calorie burn estimate than your activity level would have predicted.
i dont wear a fitbit so i dont know how accurate it is but i m a certified instructor n i know that one hour intense high impact cadio will only burn 500to 600 cal on an average n lifting weight for an hour for an average male will only burn 200 to 300. what i was making sure is that u only enter the calories u burned for the intentional exercises like walking for 20-30 min on a treatmill (around 50 to 80 cal) or lifting for an hour (150 to 250 for a female). use what u feel is suitable from what i wrote. #p
GOOD LUCK!
PS if ur 400 to 600 cal entry is from multiple sessions in one day then it should be correct but try to only eat back half of those calories
PS2. i thought u were the OP but i hope the above clea up my meaming amyway#D0 -
Just fyi, the qrunch burgers are mostly grains and starches, with added fat and a few vegetables and seasonings for flavor. They're not a great source of protein or any of the nutrients usually found in vegetables.
You really can't thrive on the kind of menu you are eating. Last Saturday, for example, your food consisted of ten servings of grain/bread and one serving of cheese, plus whatever the 100 calories of "quick add" were. In addition, you drank over 1300 calories of alcohol.
Now that I've thought about this a little more, I think it would probably be a good idea for you to talk with your doctor about what you are eating and drinking. You could either print out or export your daily menus to show him/her. I think your doctor could give you some insights that we here on the internet couldn't.
Oh no this is bad news, those are my favorite. Agreed, and i know that was bad even for a cheat day, but i dont eat drink like that everyday, though, i know i shouldn't do it at all.0 -
Weekends are harder for me to stay on track but its obviously a big problem.0
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janejellyroll wrote: »just check ur dairy n i have say that u r not really treating the 1200 as ur upper limit 50+% of the time n when u go over it, u GO OVER it. u do hit 1200 on some days so u feel that u r "doing it" but if u go to nutrition page n look at ur weekly (not daily) average caloried intake n i m sure that u will see many weeks u r actually over on an average basis. plus, i think u r misusing the fitbit concept if u r wearing the whole day n entering the calories burned for the whole day (because i see entries of 800 to 1000 cal for exercises n nothing u did can burn that)into MFP where u ONLY should log the calories burned from ur exercises. my suggestion,
1. reset MFP at 1400 to 1600 calories a day n learn to eat accordingly n only set to 1200 when u have success for a few weeks
2. check ur WEEKLY average calorie intake to see if u r still under for the week regularly
3. only input the calories u burned from actual exercises (not from ur daily routine) n only eat back half at the max
its great that u r making the right decision to do something for ur health. GOOD LUCK!
Can you clarify what you mean by "nothing you did can burn that"? When I'm set to sedentary, I frequently have Fitbit adjustments that are on the larger side. This isn't misusing the Fitbit, it's how the Fitbit is designed to work. Yes, there is one day with a larger adjustment -- but the other days are close to what I'd expect to see for many women who have a Fitbit sync -- 300-400 calorie adjustments.
If you have a device that is synced, you won't just see the calories from intentional exercise. You will see all activity adjustments for all movement that gives you a higher calorie burn estimate than your activity level would have predicted.
i dont wear a fitbit so i dont know how accurate it is but i m a certified instructor n i know that one hour intense high impact cadio will only burn 500to 600 cal on an average n lifting weight for an hour for an average male will only burn 200 to 300. what i was making sure is that u only enter the calories u burned for the intentional exercises like walking for 20-30 min on a treatmill (around 50 to 80 cal) or lifting for an hour (150 to 250 for a female). use what u feel is suitable from what i wrote. #p
GOOD LUCK!
I mean, i really think between 200 and 300 calories every 30 minutes of INTENSE exercise is average. i personally only burn 400-425 calories instructing (non-stop, hr 160+) an hour long cardio class.
That being said, i've found my fitbit and garmin to be pretty accurate for non-exercise walking and activity.
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