Frustrated

gantzgirl87
gantzgirl87 Posts: 25 Member
edited November 21 in Health and Weight Loss
I have about 100lbs to lose. I set my goal for 2lb/wk loss, and that gives me 1340 calories. I exercise (cardio) anywhere from 3-6 days a week and burn 300-600 cals (using hrm) daily, and I aim for 2 days of strength. I eat from 1050-1700 cals and I weigh everything I eat, mostly staying around 1200. I rarely eat back calories, unless I'm hungry.

I actually gained 2lbs this week, so I'm just feeling discouraged. I changed my goal to 1.5lbs/wk, but I'm scared to up my calorie intake because my weightloss is already slow. I should note, I have PCOS, so that can be a factor.

Will I still lose weight eating 1500 calories?

Also, if anyone has similar goals, feel free to add me, please.

Replies

  • deannalfisher
    deannalfisher Posts: 5,600 Member
    1) weight loss isn't linear - if you have just increased workout or types, you may be seeing some kind of water retention (my weight can vary +/-5lbs in a week) - using an app like Libra or Happy Scale and weighing daily (or more frequently) will let you identify potential trends

    If MFP gave you 1340, don't eat under it, but eat back some (if not all){ of your exercise calories - that 1340 already has a deficit built in

    with 100lbs to lose, 2lbs a week isn't too aggressive of a goal, HOWEVER, maybe 1.5lbs will work better for you - 750cal, rather than 1000cal deficit a day)

    can you open up your food diary because that will help people be able to potentially identify issues with your logging?
  • JeromeBarry1
    JeromeBarry1 Posts: 10,179 Member
    Don't be discouraged. You're somewhat new to this and perhaps are learning that your cycle causes your weight to rise and fall sinusoidally throughout the month. For women, properly done weight loss looks like a wavy line tilting down at an angle. It's not going to be a straight line for any of us, but that TOM thing makes it especially annoying for women.
  • unigirl143
    unigirl143 Posts: 126 Member
    I second the TOM opinion. My weight fluctuates bad during TOM. bloating and I even retain water in my leg muscles sometimes if I try to work out too much that week. I usually go back down the next week to at least a plateau of where I was though.
  • fiddletime
    fiddletime Posts: 1,868 Member
    I would follow the calorie recommendation for MFP but only eat back half the exercise calories as it can be inflated on your HRM. Do that for 2 weeks and see how it goes. And, be patient. It takes awhile for many to get started losing. It'll happen, just keep tweaking things, allow for natural and unexpected fluctuations, and have patience.
  • GottaluvFood
    GottaluvFood Posts: 65 Member
    I wish you'd put how long you'd been eating 1050-1700 calories. It's totally a different thing if it's been 2 weeks or 4 months.

    I liken starting to lose weight to throwing a ball straight up in the air, against gravity. The ball appears to stall before it starts going down. First, you have to stop...gaining...weight. That makes you appear to stall. But you haven't "stalled", you are changing directions. That stop-gaining-weight phase could take a few weeks. Then add TOM and it just gets confusing.

    Be consistent. Your body can't hold onto fat forever at those calories.
  • gantzgirl87
    gantzgirl87 Posts: 25 Member
    I've been counting calories seriously for 3 months, and lost 12lbs the first month (with no exercise), 10lbs second month, and only 5 this month (would have been 7 if I hadn't gained this week). I just feel like I'm working hard and not losing enough to match what I'm putting forth. I'm happy that I am losing, but I guess I like to compare myself to others that lose way more and quickly.

    And it just might be that TOM that you all are suggesting for this gain. Thank you all for encouragement.
  • EatingAndKnitting
    EatingAndKnitting Posts: 531 Member
    My weight goes up two pounds the days prior to my period. The day it starts woosh back down and usually with a loss.

    Some women go up when they ovulate too, I don't, but the only way to know for both period and ovulation weight gain is to track your weight daily over several months and watch the trend line.
  • Poisonedpawn78
    Poisonedpawn78 Posts: 1,145 Member
    gantzgirl87 wrote: »
    I've been counting calories seriously for 3 months, and lost 12lbs the first month (with no exercise), 10lbs second month, and only 5 this month (would have been 7 if I hadn't gained this week). I just feel like I'm working hard and not losing enough to match what I'm putting forth. I'm happy that I am losing, but I guess I like to compare myself to others that lose way more and quickly.

    And it just might be that TOM that you all are suggesting for this gain. Thank you all for encouragement.

    Your expectations are the problem.
  • EatingAndKnitting
    EatingAndKnitting Posts: 531 Member
    Big losses at first are usually just water weight. And no two people, even ones who start at the same weight and height with the same calorie goal, will lose the same amount of weight at the same time.

    This is not a sprint. This is a marathon. And weight loss is not linear.

    7 pounds lost is a good amount. Multiply that by twelve and you get a big number. I'm too lazy to do the math, but it's not shabby.
  • janejellyroll
    janejellyroll Posts: 25,763 Member
    You need to adjust your expectations. You're averaging 9 pounds a week and that is really high. You aren't going to see big losses like that every week.
  • gantzgirl87
    gantzgirl87 Posts: 25 Member
    janejellyroll wrote: »
    You need to adjust your expectations. You're averaging 9 pounds a week and that is really high. You aren't going to see big losses like that every week.

    9lbs a month, you mean. Lol, thank you though. I realize I have high expectations for every aspect of my life, not just this. I do need to work on being satisfied with less.
  • janejellyroll
    janejellyroll Posts: 25,763 Member
    gantzgirl87 wrote: »
    janejellyroll wrote: »
    You need to adjust your expectations. You're averaging 9 pounds a week and that is really high. You aren't going to see big losses like that every week.

    9lbs a month, you mean. Lol, thank you though. I realize I have high expectations for every aspect of my life, not just this. I do need to work on being satisfied with less.

    Oops, you're right. That's still a bit more than 2 pounds a week and that's a really good rate of loss.
  • Mom2ACJC
    Mom2ACJC Posts: 36 Member
    You are doing great! The progress is evident. Shift how you are thinking about this. Maybe there is a better way of measuring your success instead of numbers on a scale, i.e.: measurements, eating more fruits and veggies, moving (exercise), drinking more water. Lifestyle choices changing for the better. Again, great progress!
  • gantzgirl87
    gantzgirl87 Posts: 25 Member
    Mom2ACJC wrote: »
    You are doing great! The progress is evident. Shift how you are thinking about this. Maybe there is a better way of measuring your success instead of numbers on a scale, i.e.: measurements, eating more fruits and veggies, moving (exercise), drinking more water. Lifestyle choices changing for the better. Again, great progress!

    Thank you, you are right. I've set some goals that have nothing to do with the scale, so I will focus on those.
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