Dear MFP So Frustrated

Ssocrrbabe
Ssocrrbabe Posts: 51
edited October 1 in Health and Weight Loss
Dear MFP,
I have been on this site for awhile now and have not lost anything!. I consistently stay at my NET goal calories, I eat my exercise calories, etc, drink TONS of water and yet I have lost and gained the same 3 pounds over and over. I have tried the "Upping" the calories but that makes me gain weight. I am a total loss and just feel like giving up. I have even considered going to the doctor to get my blood and thyroid checked as I can not understand how I can eat this amount and not lose weight. Just so done!
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Replies

  • JenniferFalasco
    JenniferFalasco Posts: 5
    Ug - how frustrating! Is it possible you're not measuring your portions correctly?
  • anthony438
    anthony438 Posts: 578 Member
    Are you using MFP's estimates for the calories you've burned for exercise? They could be overestimated
  • chris5432
    chris5432 Posts: 16 Member
    HI there..I am having the same frustrations as well. With me, I know i need to clean up my eating a bit and cut out the occasional junk. It can't hurt to have your thyroid checked....underactive thyroids run in my family and I've been screened already. Good luck :smile:
  • chevy88grl
    chevy88grl Posts: 3,937 Member
    If you've been very careful about what you're eating, working out, drinking water, etc and you aren't losing weight... then perhaps a visit to your doctor is in order. A lack of weight loss after adjusting different things (calories, exercises, etc) is a sign there may be something else going on.

    I say - go to your doctor and ask for a full blood work-up. If nothing is wrong, then you know you haven't hit on what makes YOUR body happy. It something shows up, you'll be able to treat it and move forward.


    Good Luck to you!
  • alise_lmx
    alise_lmx Posts: 292 Member
    taking just a quick look at your diary, it looks like there are a lot of days when you are over... not by a lot, but it adds up. You do seem to be eating pretty healthy though... maybe try to exercise a little more to even it out?
  • ajbeans
    ajbeans Posts: 2,857 Member
    I looked back through your diary, and it seems that there are quite a few days when you're far over your calorie goal, and those days are not balanced by an equal amount of days where you're under. When you eat your exercise calories, your balance at the bottom of your food diary still needs to come out close to 0.

    You might also want to throw in some strength training at least 3 days a week, if you're not already. Building muscle will help you burn more calories, as well as toning up your body.
  • tanyizzle
    tanyizzle Posts: 56 Member
    I would say watch your sodium. I looked at your diary and you go over by a lot most days.
  • Tweety379
    Tweety379 Posts: 78
    I have been having the same problem. I have only been on this site for about 3 weeks. Within the first week I lost 2 pounds and gained it back within 2 days. Then I have stayed the same for the last two weeks and finally this morning I am down 1.5. Before this, I participated in a Biggest Loser Challenge at work and was able to only drop 3 pounds. and used another site similar to this one. I have managed to keep that off. All I can say is to keep at it. You could be gaining muscle weight or eating the wrong types of foods. I have been working on that myself. Even though I stay within my calories, I am choosing the wrong types of snacks. Hope this helps!
  • Visser1971
    Visser1971 Posts: 131
    Hi there,

    I took a look at your diary and it looks like you are over most of the time. Plus (if I am to be frank, and I can be frank, right?) cheetos for or with dinner is not really a good idea as it will put you into a munchies mode (in my experience).

    Try to go back to the basics. Meat, veg, starch for dinner each night - the veg should be 1/2 the plate, meat 1/4 and starch the other 1/4. Try it for a week and keep drinking water and I bet it will work for you.

    Hope this helps. You are free to check out my diary if you want.

    Cheers, Christy
  • Qarol
    Qarol Posts: 6,171 Member
    It can never hurt to get checked out by a doctor.
  • Hellbent_Heidi
    Hellbent_Heidi Posts: 3,669 Member
    I would say watch your sodium. I looked at your diary and you go over by a lot most days.

    I noticed the same thing...try cutting back your sodium intake.
  • Hananiah
    Hananiah Posts: 128 Member
    I know there are people that will disagree, but according to the trainer at the boot camp I went to over the summer the calories burned shouldn't be eaten if you want weight loss.
  • Egger29
    Egger29 Posts: 14,741 Member
    I will go as far as to say that Food Quality is even More important than quanity, as it's not just about calories in vs calories out...the type and quality of the food you're eating plays a huge role in whether or not you're activating your fat burning systems.

    There are lots of process carbs in your diary....Ice cream bars, cheetos, snack bars, plain bagels...all of which are simple carbs that spike your blood sugar causing insulin release which hinders your fat burning.

    Where are the vegetable servings and whole grains (real whole grains...not processed)?

    As well, what you eat before and after your workouts and when plays a key role in your overall metabolism in how you store fat on your body.

    Educating yourself as to what makes you as an individual the healthiest is by far the best tool you can use in a long-term healthy lifestyle and body.
  • beccarockslife
    beccarockslife Posts: 816 Member
    Staying under or at your calorie goal every day would be a good start. Beyond that eating less processed food.
  • Mike523
    Mike523 Posts: 393 Member
    I know there are people that will disagree, but according to the trainer at the boot camp I went to over the summer the calories burned shouldn't be eaten if you want weight loss.

    That is *IF* the caloric level you're eating doesn't already have a weight loss deficit built in. The MFP program DOES have a deficit already built in, which is why the program calls for you to eat your exercise calories.
  • LoriannMM
    LoriannMM Posts: 6 Member
    I was having difficulties too. Talked with my personal trainer at the gym and we discovered the hidden sugars and hidden sodium was the issue. I added the sugar count to track, much easier. Made a HUGE difference. Something to think about! I also thought it was my thyroid acting up but it wasn't (and I am on medication for thyroid). It was the hidden sugar!
  • HeidiMightyRawr
    HeidiMightyRawr Posts: 3,343 Member
    Try cutting back on sodium, you seem to be over on that most days.
  • BigDaddyBRC
    BigDaddyBRC Posts: 2,395 Member
    Just looked through the past week of your diary. t looks like you are eating 3 times a day with a small snack somewhere in the mix. Additionally, Lunch is your heaviest calorie intake with dinner following. When you exercise, is it in the evening? Your body doesn't burn as much at rest that throughout your day (assuming you sleep at night, rather than work)

    If I may make a suggestion, try balancing out your intake on your meals AND increase the frequency you eat. Eat less, more often. Break your meals out proportionally to 20% / 15% / 20% / 15% / 20% / 10% (The last "snack" of the evning have it be something like a banana)

    Feel free to add me for more encouragement :)
  • LoriannMM
    LoriannMM Posts: 6 Member
    My trainer told me the same thing, Mike. I don't eat my extra calories either :)
  • sarahmaryfearnley
    sarahmaryfearnley Posts: 366 Member
    I agree that a trip to the doctor cannot hurt. Something that worked for me, especially at the beginning was planning the week out and eating the exact same thing every day. It totally gets boring but you are guarenteed not to go over your daily calories and it helps to cut out the junk and extra snacks.

    Hang in there. The only thing that will definately not work is not trying.
  • Ssocrrbabe
    Ssocrrbabe Posts: 51
    Yes I know the last couple of days on my diary are horrible as I have been emotionally eating after hearing my mother has cancer, however I am talking about the "Big Picture" Like 2 months worth of dieting. I will have to work on the sodium intake, which is soooo hard as everything "healthy" seems to have a crap load of salt in it. Thank you all for your feedback. I do know that Cheetos are not the best thing in the world, but that is only from a few days of stress eating. If I have to eat absilutely perfect 7 days a week, then there really is no way that I can do this, I always thought being healthy was eating in moderation. I will have to check out ways to lower my sodium intake. Any suggestions would be great!
  • myukniewicz
    myukniewicz Posts: 906 Member
    1. I looked at your food diary and your sodium intake is through the roof!!! I think you are eating way to much processed foods.
    2. Cut back on your processed food choices, and incorporate some fresh veggies, fruits, whole grains. Avoid the packaged stuff for awhile and see what happens.
    3. What kind of exercise are you doing? Maybe you should up your intensity or try other options. Are there any classes at your gym you would be interested it??
    4. Don't eat back all your exercise calories. I normally eat back half. You could be overestimating your calories burned.

    Good luck!
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  • jpaden
    jpaden Posts: 21
    I agree with much of the other advice here but you might ALSO want to look into a low GI (glycemic index) / low carb type lifestyle.
    If you have undiscovered sensitivities to carbs they could cause the pounds to stay on, while your body spikes its insulin levels busy processing sugars instead of burning off the fat. Just something you might want to look into.
  • Hellbent_Heidi
    Hellbent_Heidi Posts: 3,669 Member
    Yes I know the last couple of days on my diary are horrible as I have been emotionally eating after hearing my mother has cancer, however I am talking about the "Big Picture" Like 2 months worth of dieting. I will have to work on the sodium intake, which is soooo hard as everything "healthy" seems to have a crap load of salt in it. Thank you all for your feedback. I do know that Cheetos are not the best thing in the world, but that is only from a few days of stress eating. If I have to eat absilutely perfect 7 days a week, then there really is no way that I can do this, I always thought being healthy was eating in moderation. I will have to check out ways to lower my sodium intake. Any suggestions would be great!

    So sorry about your mother. If her being sick, or worrying about her health is something that's been going on for a while you should remember that high levels of stress can play hell with weight loss for a lot of people. Keep working at it and try not to get discouraged or give up.
  • hyde1977
    hyde1977 Posts: 476 Member
    I assume since you posted this you might also be looking for some tips! I took a quick look at your diary- its great to stay in the calorie goal but you are signifiantly over in fat and sodium a lot of the time.

    Since you are not tracking the water intake it is hard to see if you are drinking enough

    Take your weight and divide by 2, that equals total ozs your body needs. Take that number and divide by 8 that is how many ozs your body needs. In addition, if you are working out you need 8 additional ozs for every 30 minutes.

    Looking at the sodium in take, and I apologize I only looked at about 10 days. You need even more water!!!!

    Don't get discouraged! You can do this!!!!
  • hyde1977
    hyde1977 Posts: 476 Member
    I assume since you posted this you might also be looking for some tips! I took a quick look at your diary- its great to stay in the calorie goal but you are signifiantly over in fat and sodium a lot of the time.

    Since you are not tracking the water intake it is hard to see if you are drinking enough

    Take your weight and divide by 2, that equals total ozs your body needs. Take that number and divide by 8 that is how many ozs your body needs. In addition, if you are working out you need 8 additional ozs for every 30 minutes.

    Looking at the sodium in take, and I apologize I only looked at about 10 days. You need even more water!!!!

    Don't get discouraged! You can do this!!!!



    and I didn't see your other post while writing this! Sorry to hear about your Mom!!! My thoughts are with you and your family!
  • chelekaz
    chelekaz Posts: 847 Member
    The first thing that jumps right out at me is the fact that the last few days you have been over on sodium by well over 1000. Sodium is a big sabotage in weight loss.
  • Ssocrrbabe
    Ssocrrbabe Posts: 51
    bynsky : Thanks for the criticism. Perhaps you could open your diary so I could see an example of what to eat and what not to eat so that I can get some helpful ideas and suggestions. Since you have hit your weightloss goal, perhaps you would be kind enough to do this so I can get an idea of what a good diary looks like. Thanks!
  • srp2011
    srp2011 Posts: 1,829 Member
    Are you using MFP's estimates for the calories you've burned for exercise? They could be overestimated

    Ditto this - I think a lot of times people overestimate their calories burned, and then feel compelled by others on MFP to eat back every one of their exercise calories, and then they don't lose... Try experimenting and eating back different percentages of your exercise calories. Also, make sure your diet is primarily lean protein, veggies, fruit, and whole grains, and cut out processed foods as much as possible. I didn't check your food diary, but a lot of times when people complain they aren't losing, they aren't eating right - they may be technically within the calorie limits, but they are eating a lot of starchy or sugary foods, or processed foods.
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