Serious question here....

Crys32
Crys32 Posts: 99 Member
edited November 12 in Health and Weight Loss
I'm on week 3 of staying almost the same weight, I've lost 1 pound in the 3 weeks.

I'm not going over my calories; however before I exercise I have no calories left, and then when I exercise sometimes I have 300, sometimes I have 500 calories left. And then I eat some of my calories back, but not all of them. I exercise on my Tony Little Gazelle sometimes between 30 minutes to an hour , some days then I do a Jillian Michaels 30DS workout for 20 minutes, and burn 300 calories. Some days I just do the 30DS depending on time and energy.

So I'm never over my calories, and I workout almost everyday, on my rest day of 30 DS then I do my gazelle for 30 minutes at least.

What am I doing wrong? I feel like I've plateau and I'm no where close to my goal weight. I have 30+ pounds to lose. It's so frustrating because I've heard eat all your calories back and then I've heard you can't eat them all back or you wont lose weight.

Should I eat more, exercise more? I'm so lost.

Help me, please :(
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Replies

  • 714rah714
    714rah714 Posts: 759 Member
    You have to make your food diary public, if your looking for advice.
  • ZombieChaser
    ZombieChaser Posts: 1,555 Member
    Hi Crys,

    I think it would be helpful to us if you made your food diary public - that way we can see what's fuelling your body and if you need to intake more or less :)

    Cheers!
  • I have a similar problem....I would love a good answer as well. BTW-my diary is viewable
  • HI, I was having the same problem and I asked my personal trainer why I`m at a stand still he told me to up my clories intake and I did and lost 2 pounds, but I was at a stand still for about two weeks! Good luck:) And keep up the good work
  • SteveTries
    SteveTries Posts: 723 Member
    I have a similar problem....I would love a good answer as well. BTW-my diary is viewable

    No it isn't
  • Crys32
    Crys32 Posts: 99 Member
    I had no idea my diary wasn't viewable, how do I change this?

    Sorry I'm a complete newbie to this site..
  • hollyberry2012
    hollyberry2012 Posts: 239 Member
    Ask yourself,

    How many of my calories come from processed foods each day?

    How many of my calories come from sugars, simple carbs each day?

    Where am I in my monthly cycle?

    What meds am I taking and how are they related to weight loss/gain fluid retention?

    What am I craving on a daily basis?

    How much do I salt my whole foods, and do I really measure that?

    How do I measure all my foods?

    How often to I weigh myself?

    How precise is my set of scales and my use of them?

    How many exercises are strengthening versus cal burning cardio?
  • sorry, my diary is viewable to my friends. I will change my settings
  • hollyberry2012
    hollyberry2012 Posts: 239 Member
    go to "settings"
  • Geeky_Girl
    Geeky_Girl Posts: 239 Member
    I had no idea my diary wasn't viewable, how do I change this?

    Sorry I'm a complete newbie to this site..

    "Settings"
    "Diary Settings"
    At the bottom, select "Public"
  • bizco
    bizco Posts: 1,949 Member
    I have a similar problem....I would love a good answer as well. BTW-my diary is viewable
    It's impolite to highjack someone else's thread.
  • I have a similar problem....I would love a good answer as well. BTW-my diary is viewable
    It's impolite to highjack someone else's thread.

    It's impolite to say someone is impolite. BTW- I seriously do have the same question, why make two posts when I can learn from someone else's? do you hav nothing better to do than comment about something other than what the topic is about?
  • Chagama
    Chagama Posts: 543 Member
    There is a lot of estimation and guessing involved in this process. Your daily calorie goal is based on a generic lifestyle setting. We all have different variations and definitions of sedentary lifestyle. Some foods are easy to know the calories, others are tough (someone else cooks, restaurants, not having a food scale handy all the time, etc.). Same with exercise. Calories burned are all estimates. Try adjusting some things, either lower your daily calorie goal, or raise it if you aren't eating enough and don't have energy. Lower your estimate on calories burned during exercise. Drink more water. Just play around with things if you aren't having success, something is off in the estimation. Find the right balance that works for you.
  • TXPRN68
    TXPRN68 Posts: 2
    1. You have to eat enough of calories to allow your metabolism to charge your internal organs. If you are not eating enough of calories to successfully do this, your body will hold onto the extra fat. Eat what you burn, or at the very least, eat whatever minimum caloric value has been suggested.
    2. Drink your water!!
    3. Make sure that you are eating a variety of the food groups, and DO NOT eliminate one or another!! Your body needs a some from every group!! (Incuding good fats and carbs!!)

    If you can successfully incorporate the above suggestions, I would be astonished if you did not lose!!

    Good luck!
  • ZombieChaser
    ZombieChaser Posts: 1,555 Member
    I have a similar problem....I would love a good answer as well. BTW-my diary is viewable

    I took a look at your diary and have questions:

    Can you eat more "whole" and balanced meals? I've noticed that for dinner a few times you had cereal which amounted to 400 calories... You can have a much better and balanced meal for less calories wich would enable you to have more snacks in between meals.
    I've also noticed that sometimes you skip meals, I'm not sure if that's planned (if you're doing the fasting thing)...but if you're not fasting, you should eat regularly.

    What type of exercise are you doing? Is it cardio, or strength?
    Are you taking your measurements also? As you gain muscle, you might not notice a drop on the scale, but you'll see it if you measure yourself.
  • hollyberry2012
    hollyberry2012 Posts: 239 Member
    1. You have to eat enough of calories to allow your metabolism to charge your internal organs. If you are not eating enough of calories to successfully do this, your body will hold onto the extra fat. Eat what you burn, or at the very least, eat whatever minimum caloric value has been suggested.
    2. Drink your water!!
    3. Make sure that you are eating a variety of the food groups, and DO NOT eliminate one or another!! Your body needs a some from every group!! (Incuding good fats and carbs!!)

    If you can successfully incorporate the above suggestions, I would be astonished if you did not lose!!

    Good luck!

    I just want to say to that poster..good post and you have a beautiful pic...

    ~not highjacking the thread~ hehe....

    and btw...to the other poster about highjacking ...that lady was NOT highjacking the thread because she was on the exact same subject matter....~hmph~
  • WhittRak
    WhittRak Posts: 567 Member
    I have a similar problem....I would love a good answer as well. BTW-my diary is viewable
    It's impolite to highjack someone else's thread.

    Pretty rude. No one is hijacking anything.
  • AbiNichole
    AbiNichole Posts: 300 Member
    @butterfliespi

    It's a very brave step to make your diary private. Congrats on taking that step.

    I took a quick look at your food diary. I noticed 3 big things off the top.

    1.) You should start tracking your sugar. In my estimation you are over every single day.

    2.) Cut out the "diet foods" and limit the "processed foods."

    Looks like you're eating a fair amount of high fat foods w/ simple carbs. Those will slow down your weight loss. And diet foods are especially bad for you as they often compensate for taste by adding in bad stuff. I personally try to only eat 1 processed food a day so 1 bag of baked chips or 1 servings of processed meat (like your turkey bacon.)

    3.) Focus more on whole foods.

    Where are your veggies? Fruits? Whole grains? I like to give myself a quota. 3-4 veggies, 2-3 fruits, 1-2 complex carbs (like brown rice, oatmeal, whole wheat bread), and 2-3 lean protein. I find that if I focus on that quota then I don't feel deprived. I feel like I'm reaching health goals.

    Good luck! You can do it! :flowerforyou:
  • @butterfliespi

    It's a very brave step to make your diary private. Congrats on taking that step.

    I took a quick look at your food diary. I noticed 3 big things off the top.

    1.) You should start tracking your sugar. In my estimation you are over every single day.

    2.) Cut out the "diet foods" and limit the "processed foods."

    Looks like you're eating a fair amount of high fat foods w/ simple carbs. Those will slow down your weight loss. And diet foods are especially bad for you as they often compensate for taste by adding in bad stuff. I personally try to only eat 1 processed food a day so 1 bag of baked chips or 1 servings of processed meat (like your turkey bacon.)

    3.) Focus more on whole foods.

    Where are your veggies? Fruits? Whole grains? I like to give myself a quota. 3-4 veggies, 2-3 fruits, 1-2 complex carbs (like brown rice, oatmeal, whole wheat bread), and 2-3 lean protein. I find that if I focus on that quota then I don't feel deprived. I feel like I'm reaching health goals.

    Good luck! You can do it! :flowerforyou:

    Thanks for the advice!!
  • livinginwoods
    livinginwoods Posts: 562 Member
    Bump for later.
  • Becky_Boodle
    Becky_Boodle Posts: 253 Member
    I have a similar problem....I would love a good answer as well. BTW-my diary is viewable

    You're eating crappy processed foods...
    burgers and fries, pizza hut, mc donalds, ice cream, starbucks
    and that's all in the last few days...
    where are your veggies...and lean meats???
  • frogmama
    frogmama Posts: 404 Member
    There is a lot of estimation and guessing involved in this process. Your daily calorie goal is based on a generic lifestyle setting. We all have different variations and definitions of sedentary lifestyle. Some foods are easy to know the calories, others are tough (someone else cooks, restaurants, not having a food scale handy all the time, etc.). Same with exercise. Calories burned are all estimates. Try adjusting some things, either lower your daily calorie goal, or raise it if you aren't eating enough and don't have energy. Lower your estimate on calories burned during exercise. Drink more water. Just play around with things if you aren't having success, something is off in the estimation. Find the right balance that works for you.


    I agree with this whole heartedly. So much of what we log is an estimation. My HRM, MFP, and my exercise machine give me way different amounts for exercise calories. I need to eat 1200 calories a day to lose .5 pounds a week. If I estimate incorrectly on the calories in a food I did not prepare myself, or do not log every tiny bite, or heap my measuring cup, I am going to be over my calories. If I estimate calories burned incorrectly, that could make a significant difference. I know that I will eventually lose, but it may be at a much slower rate-- I am also pretty old, lol, and have a thyroid issue.

    Just try different things and see what works. Don't expect miracles, and most importantly, don't give up!
  • Michele7091
    Michele7091 Posts: 256 Member
    I have a similar problem....I would love a good answer as well. BTW-my diary is viewable

    I took a look at your diary and have questions:

    Can you eat more "whole" and balanced meals? I've noticed that for dinner a few times you had cereal which amounted to 400 calories... You can have a much better and balanced meal for less calories wich would enable you to have more snacks in between meals.
    I've also noticed that sometimes you skip meals, I'm not sure if that's planned (if you're doing the fasting thing)...but if you're not fasting, you should eat regularly.

    What type of exercise are you doing? Is it cardio, or strength?
    Are you taking your measurements also? As you gain muscle, you might not notice a drop on the scale, but you'll see it if you measure yourself.

    ^^^^This^^^^
    For that same 400 calories you can have a much more filling meal. I usually have a salad with some grilled chicken on top for dinner and lunch at least once a week. I do add cheese, bacon pieces, and croutons but my entire meal is 439 calories and it is a BIG salad. Or make a chicken and veggie stir fry. Just watch the sauces because they're usually loaded with sodium.

    Good luck!
  • andrearaquel48
    andrearaquel48 Posts: 102 Member
    I think the problem is that the foods you are eating are mostly processed foods. If you cut out all trips to fast food restaurants and start preparing meals at home with, using whole foods, you will find you will not be as hungry and will eat healthier, lower sodium and fat foods.
  • akietur30
    akietur30 Posts: 2 Member
    I am having the same problem, I do feel like my body is in better condition, but I am not loosing any weight. Also: I am not loosing fat according to my fat/water analyzing scale. I am sitting at 41% fat.
  • emily2975
    emily2975 Posts: 45 Member
    There is a lot of estimation and guessing involved in this process. Your daily calorie goal is based on a generic lifestyle setting. We all have different variations and definitions of sedentary lifestyle. Some foods are easy to know the calories, others are tough (someone else cooks, restaurants, not having a food scale handy all the time, etc.). Same with exercise. Calories burned are all estimates. Try adjusting some things, either lower your daily calorie goal, or raise it if you aren't eating enough and don't have energy. Lower your estimate on calories burned during exercise. Drink more water. Just play around with things if you aren't having success, something is off in the estimation. Find the right balance that works for you.

    Agree! Everything is an estimate - you can easily find a dozen different calorie measurements on here for something as simple as a piece of cheese and when working out at home it is hard to determine if you burned 400 calories doing something one day and only 200 doing the same thing a few days later. Jiggle your measurements around a bit and remember that 1 pound lost is still 1 pound closer to your goal! :)
  • brendaj39
    brendaj39 Posts: 375 Member
    i did the pretty much the same thing, stayed the same for about 3 weeks, then i had a 3lb drop, but i don't eat my calories back from working out, i just make that a bonus! I think they calculate high on this site on what you burn, so I don't want to over eat...
    but keep it up and good luck, the scale does eventually catch up!
  • Crys32
    Crys32 Posts: 99 Member
    Okay, I just made my diary public... I think.

    I also calculate my calories by my HRM. And normally they are always higher than what MFP has calculated. I've wondered which to use, but I thought a HRM was accurate.
  • andrearaquel48
    andrearaquel48 Posts: 102 Member
    Ok, I took a look, and in my opinion, while you are under your daily calorie goal, your diet is not very healthy. I see a lot of meats, processed foods, and eating out. I know this is easier said than done but in the long run you will be a lot healthier if you can try to change your eating habits entirely and not just limit your calorie intake. Can you dedicate more time to preparing healthy meals at home, meals that consist of a lot of vegetables, lean proteins, and healthy whole grains, and that are made from whole foods (ie, not packaged or processed foods)? Treats are fine in moderation, but overall I think you need to focus on changing your diet to healthier foods overall.
  • Crys32
    Crys32 Posts: 99 Member
    I've never been one, at all, to make healthy meals. Normally if it pops in the microwave or open from a can that was my meal.

    Now however I'm trying different things, like making turkey burgers, and making turkey meatloaf.. all of this, is new to me.
This discussion has been closed.