incredibly frustrated with the scale

PeggyRanz · July 2019

Folks, I need your help....7 weeks ago I started intermittent fasting. I eat only 6 hours a day (noon to 6). At that time (embarrassed to say), I weighed in at 307. The 1st week I lost 10 pounds. However, in the following 6 weeks, I've lost only 6 additional pounds.
Based on myfitnesspal, I'm recording each and every thing that goes into my mouth and my caloric intake is 1200 calories or less EVERY DAY WITHOUT EXCEPTION.
I'm 58 years old.
What on earth am I doing wrong? Also, my gut inches are not decreasing since the 1st week.
Please help! I don't want to give up (again)!

sytchequeen · July 2019

You have lost over 2 1/4 pounds per week on average. Good work! The inches will catch up.

spiriteagle99 · July 2019

The first week you probably lost mostly water. The next several weeks was likely fat loss, but was covered by the water loss. I've had the same thing happen with low carb eating. As stated above, you've lost more than 2 lbs a week, so be happy and keep on logging.

At your weight, 1200 calories is too little though. Is it sustainable over the longer term? If not, you might want to increase it a bit per MFP's recommendation.

try2again · July 2019

It's not unusual to drop a lot of water weight the first week or so, and as that levels out, it can somewhat mask the ongoing fat loss for a few weeks. As the previous poster said, your average overall is just about perfect right now, and that is the number to watch. That being said, if the recent trend of 1 lb/week continues and you are aiming for more than that, you will likely want to give more attention to the accuracy of your logging, perhaps with a food scale.

corinasue1143 · July 2019

You are not eating enough. You are placing unnecessary stress on your body. Plug your stats in MFP and eat the number of calories it tells you to.
My opinion and not fact. Eat more than MFP tells you to for a few days before you start eating what MFP tells you. Your body needs food.

corinasue1143 · July 2019

Best of luck

PeggyRanz · July 2019

Thanks everyone! Hubby always said that you can't NOT lose weight eating very few calories...but, you'd think if he was right, the weight would be dripping off of me at those few calories and with so much storage. I'll keep plugging along.

try2again · July 2019

PeggyRanz wrote: »

Thanks everyone! Hubby always said that you can't NOT lose weight eating very few calories...but, you'd think if he was right, the weight would be dripping off of me at those few calories and with so much storage. I'll keep plugging along.

You certainly can lose weight eating very few calories, but that is neither healthy nor sustainable. And the weight is dropping off of you right now.

Do use the MFP set-up and use the calorie goal it gives you. This will make the process healthier and easier to adhere to long-term (and it is going to take a long time).

Panini911 · July 2019

16lbs in 7 weeks is nearly 2lb/week which is excellent progress. Look at the big picture, that's fanstastic. even if progress is not FAST, it's progress and you will eventually hit your goal. but weight loss is a slow game. a marathon.

If you don't already, consider using a food scale.

NovusDies · July 2019

PeggyRanz wrote: »

Thanks everyone! Hubby always said that you can't NOT lose weight eating very few calories...but, you'd think if he was right, the weight would be dripping off of me at those few calories and with so much storage. I'll keep plugging along.

Most weight loss efforts fail. Anyone can lose SOME weight. The question is how to lose ALL the weight you want to lose. Sustainability is the goal not the next pound. What can you do to make it easier for yourself and not rely on things like willpower?

Also here is a good article to read on the scale:

http://physiqonomics.com/the-weird-and-highly-annoying-world-of-scale-weight-and-fluctuations/

Here is a good article to read about 1200 calorie diets:

https://www.aworkoutroutine.com/1200-calorie-diet/

AlohaBeaches100 · July 2019

Buckle up, it's going to be a long ride! Stop trying to lose weight as quickly as possible and just focus on food and exercise goals each week. You'll be much happier. This should be a goal for THE REST OF YOUR LIFE, not just until you lose weight. If you do this, week after week, you'll soon see that the weight naturally comes off and your confidence goes up and you'll feel great about yourself. You'll feel more balanced. Sure we like to see the scale go down quickly, we all want that. But in reality it's painfully slow and you just have to come to peace with it.

Sharon_C · July 2019

You don't want the weight dropping off you fast. You want a slow, steady weight loss that won't result in loose skin and nutrition deficits.

PeggyRanz · July 2019

Thank you all for the encouraging words!

yirara · July 2019

Hi Peggy,

if you've not already done so I really urge you to get a food scale. Hardly anyone, and especially most people here cannot estimate portion sizes. And cups are only really meant for fluids. Think of it: one cup of grated cheese: you can put it in loosely, or stuff it in: that could easily be twice as much! How do you measure strawberries in a cup? They are big, there's lot of air around them.

Jackie9003 · July 2019

You haven't said how tall you are but having been a similar weight myself 1200 cals is really tough to stick to, let MFP give you a target based on losing 2lbs per week, or even 1.5lbs and as others have said take it a bit slower.
And definitely weigh everything as you're logging. Feel free to send a friend request, I'm now down over 56lb.
And very well done on your progress so far.

NewTnme · July 2019

Keep it up and throw out the scale. Use your clothing for weight lose indication. Please please please throw out the scale. Good luck

lgfrie · July 2019

Yeah, dump the scale for a while. The scale can be a great friend but can turn into an enemy. If you're finding yourself demoralized by your scale, then it's doing more harm than good. If you're eating the right # of calories and getting some exercise, you're doing it right and the results will follow. Easier said than done, but trusting the plan for a few weeks is better than getting frustrated at a number staring at you between your toes.

incredibly frustrated with the scale

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