30 days of logging and only 3.2lbs gone to show for it

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Replies

  • lysistrataNix
    lysistrataNix Posts: 125 Member
    I currently weight 196.8 and I want to get down to 120, I'm 5'2" so that puts me right in the middle of healthy for BMI. I've been that weight before in high school.
  • Speedtrap
    Speedtrap Posts: 216
    I had a quick look at your diary and through the responses.
    The one think I spot that seems to be the biggest problem is no breakfast.

    IF you start with a well balanced breakfast with a good amount of fiber it will give you more energy and make is so you are not so hungry during the day. When I first stared I did not eat breakfast at all, my nutritionist and doctors asked me to try it for 2 weeks, so I reluctantly did, and guess what, the hunger dissipated and weight started to come off.

    Try adding 1/3 cup of bran buds mixed with a 0% yogurt with your breakfast and see if that helps.
  • lysistrataNix
    lysistrataNix Posts: 125 Member
    I'm not big into eating in the morning. I need to get back to drinking my protein shake when I wake up.
  • amccrazgrl
    amccrazgrl Posts: 315 Member
    I know you said your not a morning eater but thats how you break the fast from overnight.
    Try eating something small such as yogurt, oatmeal(not packaged), egg, toast. Something
    would be better than nothing.

    Don't give up. I have been on here since Oct 2010 and only down 15 pounds. I'm 5'2 1/2 and
    started on here at 169. I weigh 153-155 depending on what I ate the day before and if my
    muscles are sore from my good workout.


    I would try to NET 1500 calories for a week of healthier options. You know like 100 calorie cookie
    is worse than 100 calories of fruit/veggies.
  • daveelamp
    daveelamp Posts: 43
    Like many above have said it is important not to undereat as your body will go into starvation mode. As for not being able to find something to eat or find the time. I had the same problem... rushing for work in the morning and not having time to make anything and missing the most important meal of the day.

    I always have some protein bars and meal replacement shakes now. only takes 2mins to make a shake and very filling and full of goodness. hope this helps x
  • Speedtrap
    Speedtrap Posts: 216
    Protein shakes are just liquid calories, they do have there place and I have nothing against them, heck I have them too, but just try for a week or two of eating a good high fiber breakfast and see what happens.

    It helps a lot, I was in the same boat you, I did not like to eat in the mornings, but it is the first step to a healthy lifestyle.

    It helps to boos your metabolism and will aid in weight loss.
  • ironanimal
    ironanimal Posts: 5,922 Member
    You have massive defecits going on. If MFP has set you up with 2lbs a week, it has built in a 1000 Calorie a day defecit. You're leaving another 800 to 1000 from what I saw and this is quite frankly, ridiculous. The most you should ever have is 1000 - 500 is a better option. 2000 is not leaving your body enough energy to function with and perform the functions it needs for you to actually lose weight.

    You want to be as close to the Goal as possible, not 800-1000 below. Eat more, and give your body a fighting chance.
  • lysistrataNix
    lysistrataNix Posts: 125 Member
    right now it's set at a 1lb loss per week, if I set it to a 2lb loss it give me 1200 a day, which I eat that then I work out the only thing I don't do is eat back my workout calories.
  • dfildes1
    dfildes1 Posts: 1
    Have you tried the South Beach diet? I have tried every diet under the sun and decided to get a whole load of books and DVD's from my local library and research them. The South Beach diet made most sense and was developed by a Cardiac Physician. I have been on the diet for 6 days and lost 6lbs. The first two weeks are like a detox - no bread, rice, pasta or potatoes. The book is packed full of great and easy recipes that all the family can enjoy. Check it out, if it can work for me it can work for you.
  • ironanimal
    ironanimal Posts: 5,922 Member
    right now it's set at a 1lb loss per week, if I set it to a 2lb loss it give me 1200 a day, which I eat that then I work out the only thing I don't do is eat back my workout calories.

    Okay, in which case you have a built in defecit of 500. This is because a 500 defecit a day routine works out at 3500 a week - 1 pound. If you then add the extra 800-1000 I saw from your diary, you end up with 1300-1500, which is too much really. When you're working with such a small calorie budget to start with, you really need to use it all to make sure your body has enough energy to metabolise the fat and water.

    Try eating back 50-60% of your exercise calories to start with if you're not comfortable eating them all. Best of luck :)
  • JennyAnn35
    JennyAnn35 Posts: 45
    First thing I noticed was that you are skipping breakfast, or only having milk with a little whey. You need food/protein/fuel through out your day, and you should always start out with a strong breakfast, and try to make it within an hour of getting up.
  • KristalDawnO
    KristalDawnO Posts: 154 Member
    Just keep up with it. I've been logging a loooong time. Like a year. I even log when I'm not so motivated, and eat terribly. It's a good habit to get into. Applaud yourself for making the commitment!
  • thankyou4thevenom
    thankyou4thevenom Posts: 1,581 Member
    You're not eating enough. I switched off eating about 1200 cals onto maintenance. I'm losing more at maintenance then I was at 1200 cals. Clearly I've underestimated my maintenance calories otherwise I wouldn't be losing.

    The whole starvation mode is a bit of an urban legend. What it really means if you eat too little for a long period of time your body slows down and you need to eat less to maintain (the slowing of your metabolism).

    The closer you eat to your maintenance the less likely that is to happen. Try and work out what you need to maintain your weight and then only knock 300 cals a day at the most off that. I would definitely suggest this if you do not want to eat your exercise calories.You'll lose weight and still be able to eat loads of food.

    I would also suggest searching the boards for the Olivia method as an alternative.
  • anacsitham5
    anacsitham5 Posts: 810 Member
    As with everyone else here, this is just an opinion, but I agree with everyone ....your diary isn't good. Eat breakfast. Monitor your daily fat intake. Drink enough water and eat back your exercise calories. I stalled out for awhile and had to up my calories by 300/day to start to lose weight again.

    Remember if you are working out that 1 lb of muscle takes up less space than 1 lb of fat. You are building muscle when you exercise so although you are losing fat you are gaining muscle. Have you measured your body fat? My scales measures it and it was only 1% off from what my doctor measured it at so I think it's pretty accurate. You might not see your body weight going down, but you will see your body fat going down and that makes all the difference in your size and how your clothes fit.
  • NicolioRussell
    NicolioRussell Posts: 273
    Some advice:

    Work on reducing your sodium.
    Drink LOTS of water.
    Eat more protein.
    Measure yourself!
    Stay with it! :-)
  • VictorianJade
    VictorianJade Posts: 705 Member
    I'm confused. You say you are truly sedentary, but then you say you go to the gym and you are working out and burning 800 calories? That is not sedentary.

    ^^ this.

    And looking after kids all day is not sedentary either- you're up on your feet after them all the time.
  • Lesa_Sass
    Lesa_Sass Posts: 2,213 Member
    I just viewed your diary, I am in agreement with most everyone else, you are eating too much processed food. The frozen foods to be exact.

    You say you do not have time to cook, well if you have a few hours on the weekend, you could be what I like to call a weekend warrior, cook a bunch of stuff all at once to have during the week.

    For example, you can bake, boil or grill several chicken breasts up at once. You can use them for salads (it comes in a bag now) wraps, sandwiches or just reheat and eat. You can also bake up several sweet potatoes too, they are better for you than white potatoes. Pasta, if coated with a small amount of oil, can keep in the frig as well.

    The frozen burritos and pizza have to go for now dear, but I promise it will be totally worth it when you step on those scales and see what a difference it makes, and I promise, you will feel much better too.

    Good luck, it is worth it, and so are you!
  • lysistrataNix
    lysistrataNix Posts: 125 Member
    Then if I'm not sedentary am I lightly active then? I really don't know how to classify my activity level.
  • Lesa_Sass
    Lesa_Sass Posts: 2,213 Member
    Then if I'm not sedentary am I lightly active then? I really don't know how to classify my activity level.

    Yes, you are lightly active.

    I also want to add you are super model beautiful! Your eyes are incredible.
  • nicki_1004
    nicki_1004 Posts: 36
    If you are set to lose 1 pound per week and you are losing .75 pounds you are only off a little bit from what you wanted to do. So you are doing well. As others have said make sure you are watching your sodium, eating as healthy as possible, drinking water, and eating breakfast.I was never a breakfast eater before I started this and I have been "forcing" myself to have something for breakfast even if it isn't much. Now if I don't eat breakfast by 9 I am starving.
  • lysistrataNix
    lysistrataNix Posts: 125 Member
    Then if I'm not sedentary am I lightly active then? I really don't know how to classify my activity level.

    Yes, you are lightly active.

    I also want to add you are super model beautiful! Your eyes are incredible.

    Ok, I'll change my activity level, and thanks, I don't think I'm all that pretty, but I'll take the compliment :happy:
  • gregpack
    gregpack Posts: 426 Member
    Get a scale. Measure everything. Record anything that has any calories, even a tic-tac. The scale is not as important when you eat packaged food, but guesstimating can shoot people in the foot real quick. If you're off on your count 120 calories daily, that's a pound a month in missed weight loss.
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