Calories & Weight Loss - not working
Options
Replies
-
Beware of any numbers that you're given by fitness trackers like Apple Watch and Fitbit; they can be very inaccurate.
If you're only trying to lose 10 lbs, then presumably you're looking at dropping 0.5 lb per week. Since weight loss isn't linear, in the short term that's likely to be invisible under water weight fluctuations.
You also keep restating that you eat very few calories, but repeatedly avoid answering people's questions about how you measure that and you haven't opened your diary. I'm going with 'you know your logging is loose, you just don't want to admit it' and calling it case closed. You don't have to tighten up and lose that 10 lb if you don't really want to.21 -
Now, for those of you who believe that eating less will automatically cause you to lose weight because the body "has no choice", that is ALSO a fallacy.
It looks like that's a reference to a post of two of mine on these forums. If not, disregard, but if so, let me address:
I didn't say 'eating less' will automatically cause you to lose weight. I did say that a being in a deficit would. Potentially two different things.
The body has no choice but to lose weight if you are in a deficit. You're going to have to explain the fallacy.
The law of energy conservation is universal. If you reduce energy input, while keeping output the same, over time, your body will use stored energy. What you are referring to is that some people have a corresponding energy output decrease. This may come in the form of folks subconsciously reducing movements and your brain regulating other functions (through stress hormones like cortisol) to conserve energy, meaning keeping output the same is a difficult process. In theory, however, hold output the same, reducing input causes a deficit.
Most of the stuff you bring up deals with your burn rate (metabolism) and/or just movement in general. The law of conservation of energy doesn't care which side of the balance or which component is varied. The balance is always true. There are many things that influence the 'energy out' side of the balance - more than what influences energy in. It is admittedly complex and very hard to measure. All we have that is even remotely useful are estimates of the general population.
But the law of energy conservation is not fallacy. It's one of the most basic laws of nature.
If you were not addressing my statements, then don't bother with this.
21 -
That’s odd that starvation mode isn’t a thing. Yet I’ve heard it from a number of trainers and nutritionists. Your body gets to a point were it’s difficult to lose weight.
All my calories are tracked via the MFP app, and all my activity it tracked with my Apple Watch. There definitely is a deficit of at least 500 calories daily. I was taking in 1800 calories, and working out daily burning another 500. Bring my caloric intake to 1300. But yet, no results. Which is extreme low if I’m basing it on my base metabolic rate. I should have been basing it on my caloric needs, which is 2800. But I feel if I’m not losing weight by cutting out 1700 calories, then how am I going to lose it by creating a deficit off the 2800? Even if my portion sizes were off, the miscalculated calories wouldn’t add up to 1700 pushing me back up to where I would gain weight or maintain it.
Today I tried to intake 2800 calories, and couldn’t come close. Was only able to eat 2100 worth of calories.
My wife is having the same issue. So it doesn’t seem to be a fluke.
You have overexplained a lot about your maths here. What you haven't done is answer the questions about how you are measuring and logging your food, and what exercise it is that you think is giving you such a high burn.
If your wife is having the same issue, that's a strong indication that there are flaws in whatever logging method you're both using.
I’m logging my food via the MFP app, scanning barcodes. I don’t weigh my food (is that even a thing?) I measure with a cup or eyeball a serving. The numbers might be off slightly but as with any method it’s just an estimate. I ate healthy.
My daily active calories that I burn according to my Apple Watch is over 600 calories, sometimes I get up to 1000 calories burned. My total calories burned for the day averages about 2600. So if I’m only eating 1800 worth, then I should be dropping weight easily just based on calorie intake.
I’m doing CrossFit style cardio boot camp about 1 hour day, when I play soccer I’m burning 500-600 calories and when I play hockey I’m burning 700 calories. Some days I’m working out twice a day.
In this case it is very likely you are eating more than you think you are. using a scale is pretty important for most of us. here is some info on why:
https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10634517/you-dont-use-a-food-scale/p1
So the first thing i'd do in your shoes is get a scale and get a more accurate image of calories eaten.
Eating "healthy" while beneficial for general health, in no way impacts weight loss (not directly)
17 -
In this case it is very likely you are eating more than you think you are. using a scale is pretty important for most of us. here is some info on why:
https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10634517/you-dont-use-a-food-scale/p1
So the first thing i'd do in your shoes is get a scale and get a more accurate image of calories eaten.
^^^ all of that
by just scanning your barcode you are assuming the contents - weigh it and you will be surprised at how often there is more than stated
by using cups and spoons you can be madly out - weigh it
10 -
That’s odd that starvation mode isn’t a thing. Yet I’ve heard it from a number of trainers and nutritionists. Your body gets to a point were it’s difficult to lose weight.
All my calories are tracked via the MFP app, and all my activity it tracked with my Apple Watch. There definitely is a deficit of at least 500 calories daily. I was taking in 1800 calories, and working out daily burning another 500. Bring my caloric intake to 1300. But yet, no results. Which is extreme low if I’m basing it on my base metabolic rate. I should have been basing it on my caloric needs, which is 2800. But I feel if I’m not losing weight by cutting out 1700 calories, then how am I going to lose it by creating a deficit off the 2800? Even if my portion sizes were off, the miscalculated calories wouldn’t add up to 1700 pushing me back up to where I would gain weight or maintain it.
Today I tried to intake 2800 calories, and couldn’t come close. Was only able to eat 2100 worth of calories.
My wife is having the same issue. So it doesn’t seem to be a fluke.
You have overexplained a lot about your maths here. What you haven't done is answer the questions about how you are measuring and logging your food, and what exercise it is that you think is giving you such a high burn.
If your wife is having the same issue, that's a strong indication that there are flaws in whatever logging method you're both using.
I’m logging my food via the MFP app, scanning barcodes. I don’t weigh my food (is that even a thing?) I measure with a cup or eyeball a serving. The numbers might be off slightly but as with any method it’s just an estimate. I ate healthy.
My daily active calories that I burn according to my Apple Watch is over 600 calories, sometimes I get up to 1000 calories burned. My total calories burned for the day averages about 2600. So if I’m only eating 1800 worth, then I should be dropping weight easily just based on calorie intake.
I’m doing CrossFit style cardio boot camp about 1 hour day, when I play soccer I’m burning 500-600 calories and when I play hockey I’m burning 700 calories. Some days I’m working out twice a day.
The bolded is most likely the problem. Sorry, I know that's not what you want to hear. But the good thing is it means you can fix this! The MFP food log can be a wonderful tool when used correctly, but using it correctly is not always immediately clear. I used it wrong for about a year before I came to the forums and learned! I found I was eating 300-400 cals more per day than I thought.
When you get a moment, check out these threads, and best of luck
https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10634517/you-dont-use-a-food-scale/p1
https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/1234699/logging-accurately-step-by-step-guide/p115 -
A prime example of why eyeballing doesn't work....
30 -
That’s odd that starvation mode isn’t a thing. Yet I’ve heard it from a number of trainers and nutritionists. Your body gets to a point were it’s difficult to lose weight.
All my calories are tracked via the MFP app, and all my activity it tracked with my Apple Watch. There definitely is a deficit of at least 500 calories daily. I was taking in 1800 calories, and working out daily burning another 500. Bring my caloric intake to 1300. But yet, no results. Which is extreme low if I’m basing it on my base metabolic rate. I should have been basing it on my caloric needs, which is 2800. But I feel if I’m not losing weight by cutting out 1700 calories, then how am I going to lose it by creating a deficit off the 2800? Even if my portion sizes were off, the miscalculated calories wouldn’t add up to 1700 pushing me back up to where I would gain weight or maintain it.
Today I tried to intake 2800 calories, and couldn’t come close. Was only able to eat 2100 worth of calories.
My wife is having the same issue. So it doesn’t seem to be a fluke.
You have overexplained a lot about your maths here. What you haven't done is answer the questions about how you are measuring and logging your food, and what exercise it is that you think is giving you such a high burn.
If your wife is having the same issue, that's a strong indication that there are flaws in whatever logging method you're both using.
I’m logging my food via the MFP app, scanning barcodes. I don’t weigh my food (is that even a thing?) I measure with a cup or eyeball a serving. The numbers might be off slightly but as with any method it’s just an estimate. I ate healthy.
My daily active calories that I burn according to my Apple Watch is over 600 calories, sometimes I get up to 1000 calories burned. My total calories burned for the day averages about 2600. So if I’m only eating 1800 worth, then I should be dropping weight easily just based on calorie intake.
I’m doing CrossFit style cardio boot camp about 1 hour day, when I play soccer I’m burning 500-600 calories and when I play hockey I’m burning 700 calories. Some days I’m working out twice a day.
You most likely just answered your own question as to why you're not losing weight.
Get a food scale and start weighing out your portion sizes.
(I'm almost 6 years into maintenance and I still use my food scale every day. It's one of the most helpful tools in my weight management plan).14 -
Another vote for a food scale. The juxtaposition of using one and not is often jarring; it was for me at least.
MFP's method is all well and good (referring to NEAT + exercise) but in my judgement there's too much uncertainty with setting an activity level, attempting to measure actual exercise burn reliably, etc. I prefer and have found far more success managing my weight by using TDEE; which is more of a black-box approach which reduces the number of variables (Calories consumed - Calories Expended = Change in Weight). I weigh myself daily, monitor my rolling average, and I'm borderline obsessive about weighing and logging my food. If my weight is trending up, I know I'm averaging more calories than my TDEE, if my weight is dropping I know I'm averaging less. No guessing if my activity level is right, or I'm consuming the correct percentage of my workout calories.0 -
That’s odd that starvation mode isn’t a thing. Yet I’ve heard it from a number of trainers and nutritionists. Your body gets to a point were it’s difficult to lose weight.
All my calories are tracked via the MFP app, and all my activity it tracked with my Apple Watch. There definitely is a deficit of at least 500 calories daily. I was taking in 1800 calories, and working out daily burning another 500. Bring my caloric intake to 1300. But yet, no results. Which is extreme low if I’m basing it on my base metabolic rate. I should have been basing it on my caloric needs, which is 2800. But I feel if I’m not losing weight by cutting out 1700 calories, then how am I going to lose it by creating a deficit off the 2800? Even if my portion sizes were off, the miscalculated calories wouldn’t add up to 1700 pushing me back up to where I would gain weight or maintain it.
Today I tried to intake 2800 calories, and couldn’t come close. Was only able to eat 2100 worth of calories.
My wife is having the same issue. So it doesn’t seem to be a fluke.
You have overexplained a lot about your maths here. What you haven't done is answer the questions about how you are measuring and logging your food, and what exercise it is that you think is giving you such a high burn.
If your wife is having the same issue, that's a strong indication that there are flaws in whatever logging method you're both using.
I’m logging my food via the MFP app, scanning barcodes. I don’t weigh my food (is that even a thing?) I measure with a cup or eyeball a serving. The numbers might be off slightly but as with any method it’s just an estimate. I ate healthy.
My daily active calories that I burn according to my Apple Watch is over 600 calories, sometimes I get up to 1000 calories burned. My total calories burned for the day averages about 2600. So if I’m only eating 1800 worth, then I should be dropping weight easily just based on calorie intake.
I’m doing CrossFit style cardio boot camp about 1 hour day, when I play soccer I’m burning 500-600 calories and when I play hockey I’m burning 700 calories. Some days I’m working out twice a day.
You're eating more than you think. Portion creep is a thing, as is weighing food. Doing the latter prevents the former.
Start weighing your food.7 -
I’m logging my food via the MFP app, scanning barcodes. I don’t weigh my food (is that even a thing?) I measure with a cup or eyeball a serving. The numbers might be off slightly but as with any method it’s just an estimate. I ate healthy.
My daily active calories that I burn according to my Apple Watch is over 600 calories, sometimes I get up to 1000 calories burned. My total calories burned for the day averages about 2600. So if I’m only eating 1800 worth, then I should be dropping weight easily just based on calorie intake.
I’m doing CrossFit style cardio boot camp about 1 hour day, when I play soccer I’m burning 500-600 calories and when I play hockey I’m burning 700 calories. Some days I’m working out twice a day.
Whoops, my bad, I missed this part of your response.
There's your problem, then. Volume measurements are notoriously inaccurate, and 'eyeballing' even more so; you will be surprised to find how much more you've been eating than you think you have!
And yes, weighing your food is not only 'a thing', it is a thing that most MFPers who have successfully lost weight have been doing habitually for months or years. I have a digital scale beside my chopping board; weighing out my breakfast cereal, for example, only takes a few seconds.9 -
My father was eyeballing his food portions and just sort of keeping track in his head but wasn't losing. For one day I made him use the recipe builder and portion out everything with my food scale, including tracking the butter & oils he cooks with (because he hadn't been). When we laid it all out, the number of calories he thought he was eating was off by about 40%. Humans tend to suck at eyeballing portion sizes.29
-
diannethegeek wrote: »My father was eyeballing his food portions and just sort of keeping track in his head but wasn't losing. For one day I made him use the recipe builder and portion out everything with my food scale, including tracking the butter & oils he cooks with (because he hadn't been). When we laid it all out, the number of calories he thought he was eating was off by about 40%. Humans tend to suck at eyeballing portion sizes.
This is true. I get pretty good after a long stretch of weighing things. Then portion creep starts and I have to pull out the scale to remind my brain what a serving of rice looks like.9 -
"I lost 1lb a week on average eating 1800 cals per day. In order to achieve the above I weighed and logged EVERY single thing I ate and drank."
Yes - weighing IS a thing. That's how I knew I was eating 1800 cals. When I eyeballed portions I was out sometimes by 1/3 - I'm looking at you pasta!
Choose your hard.
19 -
tinkerbellang83 wrote: »A prime example of why eyeballing doesn't work....
I want to add some reinforcement to this. 2 tbsp is not a whole lot, easy to get it wrong. 2 tbsp x 7 days a week = a whopping 1330 calories. There are so many other calorie dense foods out there - it's not hard to get it way wrong when guessing
6 -
tinkerbellang83 wrote: »A prime example of why eyeballing doesn't work....
I want to add some reinforcement to this. 2 tbsp is not a whole lot, easy to get it wrong. 2 tbsp x 7 days a week = a whopping 1330 calories. There are so many other calorie dense foods out there - it's not hard to get it way wrong when guessing
Not to mention the fact that a tbsp generally means a level tablespoon, not what most people dig out with a tablespoon lol
23 -
tinkerbellang83 wrote: »tinkerbellang83 wrote: »A prime example of why eyeballing doesn't work....
I want to add some reinforcement to this. 2 tbsp is not a whole lot, easy to get it wrong. 2 tbsp x 7 days a week = a whopping 1330 calories. There are so many other calorie dense foods out there - it's not hard to get it way wrong when guessing
Not to mention the fact that a tbsp generally means a level tablespoon, not what most people dig out with a tablespoon lol
Oh man...that is me in the pic
7 -
tinkerbellang83 wrote: »tinkerbellang83 wrote: »A prime example of why eyeballing doesn't work....
I want to add some reinforcement to this. 2 tbsp is not a whole lot, easy to get it wrong. 2 tbsp x 7 days a week = a whopping 1330 calories. There are so many other calorie dense foods out there - it's not hard to get it way wrong when guessing
Not to mention the fact that a tbsp generally means a level tablespoon, not what most people dig out with a tablespoon lol
I only had one glass of wine!
23 -
I’m logging my food via the MFP app, scanning barcodes. I don’t weigh my food (is that even a thing?) I measure with a cup or eyeball a serving. The numbers might be off slightly but as with any method it’s just an estimate. I ate healthy.
My daily active calories that I burn according to my Apple Watch is over 600 calories, sometimes I get up to 1000 calories burned...
It sounds like you're too obsessed about the numbers your watch is telling you, and not about what your body is telling you. Maybe you're not actually burning as much as you think you are.
And like a lot of other people said, use a weight, you need to be pretty accurate with your calorie measurements to lose weight.
I hope you figure it out.
11 -
Aside from what other people have mentioned, I suggest talking to your doctor. Not a trainer, and not a nutritionist. A physician. They can rule out any possible medical conditions that might be contributing to your lack of progress.
Though my very unscientific opinion is that "eyeballing a serving" is where you're going wrong. YES weighing is a thing.9 -
That’s odd that starvation mode isn’t a thing. Yet I’ve heard it from a number of trainers and nutritionists. Your body gets to a point were it’s difficult to lose weight.
All my calories are tracked via the MFP app, and all my activity it tracked with my Apple Watch. There definitely is a deficit of at least 500 calories daily. I was taking in 1800 calories, and working out daily burning another 500. Bring my caloric intake to 1300. But yet, no results. Which is extreme low if I’m basing it on my base metabolic rate. I should have been basing it on my caloric needs, which is 2800. But I feel if I’m not losing weight by cutting out 1700 calories, then how am I going to lose it by creating a deficit off the 2800? Even if my portion sizes were off, the miscalculated calories wouldn’t add up to 1700 pushing me back up to where I would gain weight or maintain it.
Today I tried to intake 2800 calories, and couldn’t come close. Was only able to eat 2100 worth of calories.
My wife is having the same issue. So it doesn’t seem to be a fluke.
You have overexplained a lot about your maths here. What you haven't done is answer the questions about how you are measuring and logging your food, and what exercise it is that you think is giving you such a high burn.
If your wife is having the same issue, that's a strong indication that there are flaws in whatever logging method you're both using.
I’m logging my food via the MFP app, scanning barcodes. I don’t weigh my food (is that even a thing?) I measure with a cup or eyeball a serving. The numbers might be off slightly but as with any method it’s just an estimate. I ate healthy.
My daily active calories that I burn according to my Apple Watch is over 600 calories, sometimes I get up to 1000 calories burned. My total calories burned for the day averages about 2600. So if I’m only eating 1800 worth, then I should be dropping weight easily just based on calorie intake.
I’m doing CrossFit style cardio boot camp about 1 hour day, when I play soccer I’m burning 500-600 calories and when I play hockey I’m burning 700 calories. Some days I’m working out twice a day.
To the bolded, yeah, that is THE thing. You have to weigh every solid or semi solid food you put in your mouth. Eyball what you think is 2 Tbsp of peanut butter, then put it on a scale and see how many grams it is. Look at the label - I guarantee you you will have twice the amount in grams that you should have for the calories given. Eyeballing and cups are terrible to use when you only have 10 lbs to lose. You have to be extremely precise with your calories. You just are eating a lot more than you think, and you are probably not burning as many calories as you think either.12
Categories
- All Categories
- 1.4M Health, Wellness and Goals
- 391.4K Introduce Yourself
- 43.5K Getting Started
- 259.7K Health and Weight Loss
- 175.6K Food and Nutrition
- 47.3K Recipes
- 232.3K Fitness and Exercise
- 390 Sleep, Mindfulness and Overall Wellness
- 6.4K Goal: Maintaining Weight
- 8.5K Goal: Gaining Weight and Body Building
- 152.7K Motivation and Support
- 7.8K Challenges
- 1.3K Debate Club
- 96.3K Chit-Chat
- 2.5K Fun and Games
- 3.2K MyFitnessPal Information
- 22 News and Announcements
- 922 Feature Suggestions and Ideas
- 2.3K MyFitnessPal Tech Support Questions