No Weight Loss

Hey all,
I'm new here but I had a question. In general I do not eat junk foods such as chips or chocolate (very rarely) and I usually eat pretty healthy but yet I gain weight, not lose it. Any ideas what else I can do? I usually go for a walk in nice weather for about an hour or so. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!
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Replies

  • albayin
    albayin Posts: 2,524 Member
    Hey all,
    I'm new here but I had a question. In general I do not eat junk foods such as chips or chocolate (very rarely) and I usually eat pretty healthy but yet I gain weight, not lose it. Any ideas what else I can do? I usually go for a walk in nice weather for about an hour or so. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

    Thanks!
    Write down everything you eat and count calories. Eating healthy doesn't mean eat less.
  • nixirain
    nixirain Posts: 448 Member
    I felt the same way but for some reason I never lost any weight. People would even comment about how health I eat all the time.

    I would encourage you to log what you eat for a week, not even trying to diet, just to really see how many calories you eat.

    I wish I did this before I started my journey!!

    Then if you are at a deficit even after not trying, I would recommend to see a dietician/physician with a nutrition background. There may be a bigger than you diet causing the problem.
  • In inputting today so far what I ate, I'm still well under my suggested calorie intake, and I've been eating this way for quite a long time now (1200 cals/day) but I'll give it a try for a week and hopefully see some improvement. Unfortunately I can't throw much exercise into the mix since I'm stuck in classes all day.
  • sweetilemon
    sweetilemon Posts: 122 Member
    Its not always what you eat but how much - portions and how often. Having a salad but adding dressings or full fat coleslaws can increase the calories to more than a big mac meal! Drinks can also add 'hiden' calories also. Either that or your not eating enough, you'll be able to use mfp to find the right balance.
  • Its not always what you eat but how much - portions and how often. Having a salad but adding dressings or full fat coleslaws can increase the calories to more than a big mac meal! Drinks can also add 'hiden' calories also. Either that or your not eating enough, you'll be able to use mfp to find the right balance.
    Usually I eat maybe once or twice a day. Lately my diet has been as follows:
    Breakfast (615am) - a small bowl of kellogs mini wheats - little bites - chocolate with no milk added. (thats usually about 95 cals or so)
    Lunch - none
    Dinner - usually a warm meal like a small bowl of pasta or something, or a sandwich.
    Snacks - usually none.

    And I usually have about 3 coffees a day (and I just add milk...which I know adds cals)
  • sweetilemon
    sweetilemon Posts: 122 Member
    In inputting today so far what I ate, I'm still well under my suggested calorie intake, and I've been eating this way for quite a long time now (1200 cals/day) but I'll give it a try for a week and hopefully see some improvement. Unfortunately I can't throw much exercise into the mix since I'm stuck in classes all day.
    It may be your not eating enough calories?
  • According to todays diary I still have like 543 calories left for intake and maybe 65 carbs. not too sure of the exact numbers, but it's around there. Would you suggest trying to get my daily calorie intake? or staying below it?
  • akgrl1020
    akgrl1020 Posts: 179
    I used to be the same way! I thought I ate healthy..then I bought Eat This, Not That and really learned about reading those pesky labels on the side of the food I purchased. Yes, I was making healthy choices, but eating double or triple servings, without realizing it. I now have a food scale, and measure everything! Good luck!
  • tasharenee80
    tasharenee80 Posts: 3 Member
    this may sound odd, but if you don't eat enough a day, it will mess with your metabolism. it really isn't a good idea to miss any meals. try to eat at least a light lunch if you aren't hungry...


    12804567.png
    Created by MyFitnessPal.com - Free Weight Loss Tools
  • babybluefire
    babybluefire Posts: 100 Member
    I found before I logged my cals daily and tried to hit 1200 that most days I was extremely under, 1000 or less and then some days I was way over. Now I am eating 1200 consistently and I am losing again.
  • i'd say you are in starvation mode. i was eating 1200 cals a day and not losing, bumped it to 1600 and have dropped consistently since then. because you don't eat regularly your body is hanging on to what it gets. just my 2 cents. good luck! :)
  • H_Factor
    H_Factor Posts: 1,722 Member
    Its not always what you eat but how much - portions and how often. Having a salad but adding dressings or full fat coleslaws can increase the calories to more than a big mac meal! Drinks can also add 'hiden' calories also. Either that or your not eating enough, you'll be able to use mfp to find the right balance.
    Usually I eat maybe once or twice a day. Lately my diet has been as follows:
    Breakfast (615am) - a small bowl of kellogs mini wheats - little bites - chocolate with no milk added. (thats usually about 95 cals or so)
    Lunch - none
    Dinner - usually a warm meal like a small bowl of pasta or something, or a sandwich.
    Snacks - usually none.

    And I usually have about 3 coffees a day (and I just add milk...which I know adds cals)

    you are not eating enough. aim to eat all of your calories + those you burn through exercise. right now, your body is probably in survival mode and storing everything you do eat.
  • this may sound odd, but if you don't eat enough a day, it will mess with your metabolism. it really isn't a good idea to miss any meals. try to eat at least a light lunch if you aren't hungry...
    I think that's one big problem I have. If I'm not hungry I don't eat. What would you suggest eating in that scenario? There's a lot of days I find myself not really eating due to stress or what have you (bad habit I know)
  • sweetilemon
    sweetilemon Posts: 122 Member
    Its not always what you eat but how much - portions and how often. Having a salad but adding dressings or full fat coleslaws can increase the calories to more than a big mac meal! Drinks can also add 'hiden' calories also. Either that or your not eating enough, you'll be able to use mfp to find the right balance.
    Usually I eat maybe once or twice a day. Lately my diet has been as follows:
    Breakfast (615am) - a small bowl of kellogs mini wheats - little bites - chocolate with no milk added. (thats usually about 95 cals or so)
    Lunch - none
    Dinner - usually a warm meal like a small bowl of pasta or something, or a sandwich.
    Snacks - usually none.

    And I usually have about 3 coffees a day (and I just add milk...which I know adds cals)

    Your metabolism needs energy to burn calories. Cereal and pasta in a day doesnt sound like 1200 cals? Try eating a healthy lunch and maybe oatcakes and a banana or something as snacks throughout the day and your body should burn more throughout the day.
  • Its not always what you eat but how much - portions and how often. Having a salad but adding dressings or full fat coleslaws can increase the calories to more than a big mac meal! Drinks can also add 'hiden' calories also. Either that or your not eating enough, you'll be able to use mfp to find the right balance.
    Usually I eat maybe once or twice a day. Lately my diet has been as follows:
    Breakfast (615am) - a small bowl of kellogs mini wheats - little bites - chocolate with no milk added. (thats usually about 95 cals or so)
    Lunch - none
    Dinner - usually a warm meal like a small bowl of pasta or something, or a sandwich.
    Snacks - usually none.

    And I usually have about 3 coffees a day (and I just add milk...which I know adds cals)

    Your metabolism needs energy to burn calories. Cereal and pasta in a day doesnt sound like 1200 cals? Try eating a healthy lunch and maybe oatcakes and a banana or something as snacks throughout the day and your body should burn more throughout the day.
    Yeah I don't eat 1200 cals a day...like I said earlier, today I still have 563 to play with. I don't exercise much because unfortunately I'm stuck in class most of the day. So besides walking up and down stairs when changing classes or walking to the subway I don't get much exercise in.
  • sarah44254
    sarah44254 Posts: 3,078 Member
    I suggest clicking on TOOLS then BMR.

    Add your info, figure out your BMR, and eat that many calories.
  • alibaba77
    alibaba77 Posts: 17
    We're all stuck doing something whether it be school, work, watching kids etc... MAKE TIME! This is something we do for ourselves (a gift) and you will love the payoff!!!!
  • I suggest clicking on TOOLS then BMR.

    Add your info, figure out your BMR, and eat that many calories.
    That says 1,754 cals/day
    Wouldn't that be just increasing weight though?
  • Stazed
    Stazed Posts: 55 Member
    You need to eat more, you should not be surviving on approx 700 cals a day. Everyone is different but most need in excess of 1200cals a day and will still loose weight
  • adriadawn19
    adriadawn19 Posts: 174 Member
    I suggest clicking on TOOLS then BMR.

    Add your info, figure out your BMR, and eat that many calories.
    That says 1,754 cals/day
    Wouldn't that be just increasing weight though?

    you would want to eat slightly less than that to create a deficit
  • I suggest clicking on TOOLS then BMR.

    Add your info, figure out your BMR, and eat that many calories.
    That says 1,754 cals/day
    Wouldn't that be just increasing weight though?

    you would want to eat slightly less than that to create a deficit
    So basically eating anywhere between 1200 (MFP diary suggestion thing) and 1754 (BMR) cals?

    Also...on the days or times I don't feel hungry, I know I should eat but I don't. Anyone have any suggestions on what I could eat or how I should deal with that?
  • tialynn1
    tialynn1 Posts: 884 Member
    No, it means that you aren't eating enough food in a day. You need to eat more, your body thinks it is starving itself. It is in survival mode.
  • salxtai
    salxtai Posts: 341 Member
    ^ as all of above


    + can I suggest a blood check up / general medical? Never a bad idea - I for one found out I have insanely low iron, which might have explained slow weight loss and tiredness. Just a thought.
  • Rainforst
    Rainforst Posts: 40 Member
    Hi you would be surprise how much you are eating of the good stuff. Check and see what a serving size is. Get a good set of scales and measuring cup. I thought I only eat good stuff also and after being on MFP I found out that I was eating way to much of the good stuff.
    Good luck and keep measuring the pounds will come off. I have lose 41 Lbs. just from measuring my food.
  • No one seemed to be answering one of my major questions:

    This is a huge concern for me because I've been like this as long as I can remember:
    When I'm not hungry I don't eat. I know it's not good but any suggestions on what I could eat just to make sure my body gets the calories it needs?

    Also, thanks everyone for the advice so far!
  • chelsey202
    chelsey202 Posts: 24 Member
    I think that's one big problem I have. If I'm not hungry I don't eat. What would you suggest eating in that scenario? There's a lot of days I find myself not really eating due to stress or what have you (bad habit I know)

    Well here's an issue in itself. If you're stressed and it's causing you loss of appetite, you're going too have to manage the stress before you can think about upping your calories (for example, if I try to eat when stressed I end up with terrible stomach cramps). On the bright side, a great way to deal with stress is exercise.
  • I think that's one big problem I have. If I'm not hungry I don't eat. What would you suggest eating in that scenario? There's a lot of days I find myself not really eating due to stress or what have you (bad habit I know)

    Well here's an issue in itself. If you're stressed and it's causing you loss of appetite, you're going too have to manage the stress before you can think about upping your calories (for example, if I try to eat when stressed I end up with terrible stomach cramps). On the bright side, a great way to deal with stress is exercise.
    Even when I'm not stressed there are a lot of times I find myself not hungry.
  • nixirain
    nixirain Posts: 448 Member
    Please read this:

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/6832-eating-all-of-your-calories-bmr

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/3047-700-calories-a-day-and-not-losing

    If you are serious about eating healthy and making a lifestyle change, these will help you alot.
  • MrsLong1980
    MrsLong1980 Posts: 181 Member
    No one seemed to be answering one of my major questions:

    This is a huge concern for me because I've been like this as long as I can remember:
    When I'm not hungry I don't eat. I know it's not good but any suggestions on what I could eat just to make sure my body gets the calories it needs?

    Also, thanks everyone for the advice so far!

    Sounds like you need to schedule meals and MAKE yourself eat - 500 / 600 cals a day is not good, and your walking IS exercise. You need to have high protein, low fat meats (turkey, chicken) and up good fats like nuts and seeds, omega 3 fish oils. If you're on a 1200 calorie on MFP you've probably logged to lose 2lbs a week since that's the max and the min the web site allows you to eat is 1200. You should follow this, that's how this will work for you.
  • sarah44254
    sarah44254 Posts: 3,078 Member
    you want to eat more than your bmr but less than your tdee each day. just eating at your b m r will give you enough calories to sustain life for the day. your bmr is how many calories you burn while doing nothing. not walking, not jumping, as if you were in a Coma.