Stuck since Christmas.

Alexa11411
Alexa11411 Posts: 11 Member
edited November 19 in Health and Weight Loss
Hello,

I have been stuck at seven pounds over my usual weight since Christmas. I successfully used MFP after the birth of my children so have started again in the last few months.

The problem is I am able to lose two pounds but almost as soon as I do, within a couple of days, I put it back on again.

I realise there are some members who have more than this to lose and I am very respectful of that, I'm just so frustrated with gaining and losing and gaining and losing.

Any advice or ideas would be very gratefully received.

Thank you in advance as I'm feeling very demotivated.
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Replies

  • Alexa11411
    Alexa11411 Posts: 11 Member
    Hello - thank you very much for replying so quickly. I'll go into my settings and open it up.
  • Alexa11411
    Alexa11411 Posts: 11 Member
    Gosh I've just looked at it and it's awful - embarrassing and incomplete. But it's open.
  • spingirl605
    spingirl605 Posts: 181 Member
    I am in the EXACT same boat. Put on 7lbs at Christmas and have not been able to shake it...AT ALL!!! It's really hard and depressing. Same as you, I go down 2, then up 3, then down 1, then up 2...It's a never ending battle. I've lost 20lbs on MFP, so I know the logistics of how it works. Something I'm trying right now (I've only been doing it for about a week) is IF. It's helping with my "grazing" at night. I think that's my biggest problem. I've seen the scale moving in the right direction, or at least not moving in the wrong one...lol...Anyway, I'm going to keep this up for now, and hopefully it will help kick start something...

    Good luck...
  • sosteach
    sosteach Posts: 260 Member
    Eat less calories
  • gothchiq
    gothchiq Posts: 4,590 Member
    You don't log your weight very often. Me either. I hate getting on the scale. Stick with the program through the fluctuations and then after 30 days, if you really have logged correctly, worked out, etc and you have your activity level correctly set, and still nothing's changing, then I'd go to the doctor and make sure there's nothing funny going on in your bloodwork that would be making things extra difficult.
  • StaciMarie1974
    StaciMarie1974 Posts: 4,138 Member
    In general, accurate & honest food logging. If you've stayed the same more or less for 6 months, then you're averaging maintenance. Cut your calories slightly, and be consistent with your logging.
  • janejellyroll
    janejellyroll Posts: 25,763 Member
    Alexa11411 wrote: »
    Thank you very much for your replies I had no idea I would get such support - thank you very much.

    If I'm honest I haven't been totally honest AT ALL with my logging. Having opened my diary up has made me realise that. And thank you for suggesting I have to be much more accurate with logging as I have half a stone and not more to go.

    And thank you for letting me know I am in the same boat with the seven pounds since Christmas nightmare.

    I can see I need to be more consistent.

    Also could I ask - what is IF?

    Thank you again - thanks a million. Please stay with me if you think of anything else. x

    IF is "intermittent fasting," a way to control calories by limiting the hours in the day in which one eats. For example, someone might fast for 16 hours and then limit their eating to an 8 hour window. Some people find this makes it easier to hit a calorie goal, especially people who aren't very hungry in the morning.
  • toxikon
    toxikon Posts: 2,383 Member
    I agree with others, while it's not fun or glamorous, accurate logging WILL get you results. Guesstimating just doesn't cut it.

    It's simple but you need to keep yourself motivated! All you need to do is calculate your TDEE (total daily energy expenditure), eat less than that (a deficit of 500 calories per day will results in approx. 1 lbs lost per week) and log every bite that goes into your mouth. A digital kitchen scale is cheap and makes a world of difference.
  • spingirl605
    spingirl605 Posts: 181 Member


    Also could I ask - what is IF?

    It's intermittent fasting. It's not something I would normally condone, but it's really helping with my night time snacking. The theory behind it, is you fast for a certain amount of time, then you only eat during a specific window. I'm doing the 16:8. So I don't eat my first meal until 10am, and then I eat my last meal before 6. Nothing after that at all. But you have to get your calorie goal in that time frame. I'm aiming around 1400-1500 cals per day, but I'm not very tall at only 5'3". I'm actually liking it. The first day was tough, but I think my body is getting used to it now...

    Good luck!

  • Alexa11411
    Alexa11411 Posts: 11 Member
    Thank you very much that is all really interesting and has made me feel more motivated.

    I don't usually eat first thing as I can't really stomach it so I think IF might suit me.

    Also I have just googled calculate my TDEE and I have that now too and have reset my calorie goal.

    I am going also to log every single thing.

    Thank you all very much. Hopefully I can break out of this debilitating 6 month/2 pound cycle.

    Thank you all so much. I will let you know how I get on. Thank you again. x
  • Stucktastic
    Stucktastic Posts: 23 Member
    I love the frank yet friendly non-judgemental and kind discussion here. Yes, logging every bite helps. I see saw, too. I was on another quality program. When I stopped logging the weight came right back on. Best wishes!
  • Alexa11411
    Alexa11411 Posts: 11 Member
    Thank you it's really good to hear about a personal example of how important logging is. And also that I'm not the only one struggling with this!

    Thank you everyone I'm feeling more positive this morning with your support.

    Thank you for the good wishes. x
  • lilolilo920
    lilolilo920 Posts: 184 Member
    Stucktastic wrote: »
    I love the frank yet friendly non-judgemental and kind discussion here. Yes, logging every bite helps. I see saw, too. I was on another quality program. When I stopped logging the weight came right back on. Best wishes!

    Same here!! Kudos to you, OP, because most people who post here tend to get offended at the littlest thing. OP, I don't have any more advice for you other than stick with it and remember that progress isn't linear! Some weeks you may see a gain, but it may be because of water weight or TOM. What's important is to not get caught up on the little things but to watch the overall trend.
  • Alexa11411
    Alexa11411 Posts: 11 Member
    Hello thank you very much for your message and for so much good will and encouragement.

    I really took to heart the help and advice offered to me yesterday when I was a bit low. So today I have found out and changed my TDEE, managed to create a deficit of at least 500 calories by cycling the school run and dog walking, and I'm trying IF. I didn't eat until 10am this morning and I ate last at just after 6pm.

    The day wasn't perfect and the cynic in me thinks here we go again on the two pond gain/lose cycle, but all the help and encouragement I have been given has really propelled me forward and I feel as if I have had a much better day.

    Genuinely, thank you a billion for all the responses, I can't tell you how much I appreciate it. x
  • toxikon
    toxikon Posts: 2,383 Member
    Sounds like you're back on the right track OP, good luck!! Try not to focus on the daily weigh-ins - weight fluctuates quite a bit and it can be discouraging. Do follow the overall trend over months - not days or weeks - months! And then you will see how you're actually doing.

    I like using the Android app "Libra" to input my weight because it generates a trend-line that smooths out all the little daily fluctuations and shows you when you'll reach your goal weight. I believe the Apple equivalent is called "Happy Scale". :)
  • Alexa11411
    Alexa11411 Posts: 11 Member
    Thank you for such encouragement and for advising me to keep focused on the bigger picture.

    I have found and downloaded Happy Scale to help me to that. Thank you again for all these responses. I feel so much better with such encouragement, good will and wishes, and positivity around me. x
  • jennifer907
    jennifer907 Posts: 84 Member
    Just wanted to chime in that I know how you feel. I previously lost 30lbs and gained it all back. I've been aware of the fact that I need to lose weight for 2 years now. It's been so much tougher to stick with anything this time around, but consistency is key. I'm glad you're downloading happy scale. I love it! It really helps put daily weight fluctuations into perspective.
  • Alexa11411
    Alexa11411 Posts: 11 Member
    I have had a proper look at Happy Scale today and it looks great for keeping small changes in perspective. I'm a bit hyper-sensitive about those!

    Losing 30lbs is amazing you must have been very motivated - but I understand how hard it is to get back into the way of consistently keeping at it every day. That is what I am struggling with at the moment.

    I've only done IF once (last night) from around 6pm until just before 10am this morning and I found that having that purpose to work towards motivated me, and I think it is something I could stick with.

    Dinner times are my bad time. I can be good all day and then just lose my head in the evening.

    Thank you so much for all the help. Its keeping me grounded, positive and I hope on track.
  • xmichaelyx
    xmichaelyx Posts: 883 Member
    sosteach wrote: »
    Eat less fewer calories

    Fixed.

  • fitmom4lifemfp
    fitmom4lifemfp Posts: 1,572 Member
    Alexa11411 wrote: »
    Gosh I've just looked at it and it's awful - embarrassing and incomplete. But it's open.

    If that's the case, I would bet that you are not really eating what you planned to, as far as your calorie budget. It always comes down to, if you are not losing, you are not in a deficit. Get back to logging, consistently and accurately.
  • Stucktastic
    Stucktastic Posts: 23 Member
    @Alexa11411 How are you doing today? Rooting for you!
  • Alexa11411
    Alexa11411 Posts: 11 Member
    Hello thanks for your message I'm really glad you asked - thanks!

    am doing ok I think. I did the IF yesterday and the night before from 6pm unt 10am but I haven't quite managed it so well tonight, I think because I was a bit under prepared.

    Tomorrow will be the ultimate test for me though. Usually I get swept along on a wave of desperation or enthusiasm for two or three days of sensible eating and then I stupidly sabotage my progress.

    This is the pattern that has kept me in my lose 2lbs/gain 2lbs repetitive nightmare since Christmas!

    If I can get through tomorrow ok I will have made new progress and broken the pattern. It's the new progress I really want!

    I have been thinking hard about why I spoil my progress so I can avoid doing that this time and I think it's because I'm so pleased with myself that I get a bit too relaxed.

    How are you doing today?
  • DamieBird
    DamieBird Posts: 651 Member
    Once you start accurately logging for about a month, go back and manually configure your TDEE based on your real life data. You may get to eat even more than you think and still maintain your desired weight loss :D.

    You're off to an awesome start and have a wonderful attitude! Don't forget that when you do get to your goal weight that it's a range, not a number. So, you may still see that two pound swing in either direction.
    Alexa11411 wrote: »
    Tomorrow will be the ultimate test for me though. Usually I get swept along on a wave of desperation or enthusiasm for two or three days of sensible eating and then I stupidly sabotage my progress.

    If you struggle with keeping consistent from day to day, perhaps you should look at your kcals on a weekly basis, not a daily one. If you under eat by a few on one day, then over eat by a few on a different day, your weekly deficit stays that same. This approach has done wonders for me by putting higher calorie days in perspective. Even if I go way over, I can cut 50-100 kcals for the rest of the week if I need to and I don't have to feel guilty or like I sabotaged anything.

    Best of luck!
  • Stucktastic
    Stucktastic Posts: 23 Member
    You can do this, @Alexa11411 ! @DamieBird 's advice sounds good. I'm rooting for you.
  • Alexa11411
    Alexa11411 Posts: 11 Member
    Hello again - thank you @Daimebird and @Stucktastic (I hope I'm tagging correctly!) that is such positive and helpful advice.

    Yesterday wasn't one of my best days I must admit, but my weight didn't rocket as I didn't lose all control. So I feel as if I did fall on the third day as usual, but I did manage not to throw caution entirely to the wind so I'm hoping that's progress.

    I never, ever thought of my goal weight as a range. That has really calmed down the way I view tiny changes and fluctuations, and I think it is these that often trigger my self-sabotage. Thank you - that's so helpful.

    And having such support - I really am hoping with the good will and support I have been given in my first post will make July the month I'm not stuck anymore. x
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