Please Help...

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izzyissy
izzyissy Posts: 48 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
I am so upset with myself. I need to lose 40lbs. If one diet doesn't work, I bounce to another one. I've been on Myfitnesspal, but, because I'm short, I was only eating 1120 calories a day (to lose 1lb). It seemed hard. So I went back to Weight Watchers. You get all fruits and veggies free. So, to me that was easier. But the weight is not coming off. (probably because fruits/veggies have calories too). I am 4'7 and need to lose 40lbs. I really want to lose 1lb a week. What is better Myfitnesspal or Weight Waters. Has anyone tried both?? Myfitnesspal is so much easier to log. The bar scan is fantastic. But I don't get that much to eat. I did start to work out and burn 400-500 calores 5x a week. So maybe I can do the 1120 calories and eat the 400-500 work out calories back. I will still lose weight, right?? If someone has been on myfitnesspal for a while, please help me. Thanks Issy
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Replies

  • AleksD3
    AleksD3 Posts: 194 Member
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    The funny thing I discovered this week was that I was eating less 1100 calories on WW even though I was eating all my points.

    I also tracked both for a while but always MFP first so I when i would input all my points I was going way over my points.

    Right now I stand completely and hopelessly lost and confused and it's ticking me off.

    I hope you get some good ideas and maybe I'll get some from your thread myself!
  • maab_connor
    maab_connor Posts: 3,927 Member
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    firstly, i would say relax. stick with something long enough to see results. also, unless your doctor tells you to eat less than that, don't eat less than 1200/day. it's kind of the accepted number for not hurting your metabolism.

    drink your water and eat and move. and track it ALL.

    have fun here w/ the other peeps, there are some awesome ppl here. if something is FUN then you'll keep doing it. same with working out, find something you like to do. that will keep you motivated, and that is SO important.
  • DoOrDoNotThereIsNoTry1
    DoOrDoNotThereIsNoTry1 Posts: 149 Member
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    I think your body is going into starvation mode. With your low calorie intake and with the calories you are burning during workouts, you do not have enough calories needed for energy. You body thinks it is starving itself and any calories it does receive, it is storing it as fat to be used when needed. Try changing your weight loss goal on MFP. Rather than 40lbs goal...change to 10.
    Work on getting that first 10. Once you hit that, change your goal for another 10 pounds loss until you reach your target weight. Your calorie restriction won't be so great and you should hopefully see a change. Plus, you won't be STRESSED. This is a major factor in keeping weight on. Food is meant to be enjoyed...so enjoy it...just the right kind. And definitely drink your water. It helps keep your body hydrated, keeps your body alkaline, gives your metabolism a boost and it helps flush out fat and toxins...throw a little lemon in there while you are at it.
    Hope this helps.
    Good luck.
  • mallory3411
    mallory3411 Posts: 839 Member
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    I agree with giving it more time. I don't know how long you've been on here but sometimes it takes time. As much as we'd all like it to be weight loss isn't instant or quick (at least healthy weight loss anyways).

    Just keep plugging along and you will see results. Where did you get the 1120 calculation from? Seems far far too low even for someone of your height.
  • izzyissy
    izzyissy Posts: 48 Member
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    To Mallory3411,

    I went on a site to do my BMR. It was 1343.. (because I am so short) Then they said to times it by 1.2 and it was 1612. That's what I need to maintain my weight. If I want to lose 1lb a week. I was to submtract 500 calories from that. So I am to eat 1112 (sorry, not 1120) to lose. That's how I came up with these calories. Does this make sense to you guys??? If I eat 1343 calories, I won't lose.....
  • brunsda
    brunsda Posts: 78
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    BMR to my understanding is the MINIMUM amount of calories your body needs to survive if you were staying in bed all day and sleeping. Then you add to that for what you do working, eating, sitting, exercising and so on. I had a low daily calorie amount when i started too. I was not losing at all. Looked at my
    BMR and found out it was more than my daily calorie amount. I figured if I am not even eating enough to keep my body going, then it is going to try to holdon to everything I do eat. I changed the amount and I started losing. I am not a doctor and am just sharing what worked for me. I'm 4'11''.
  • psuLemon
    psuLemon Posts: 38,401 MFP Moderator
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    If I eat 1343 calories, I won't lose.....

    Wrong, you will still lose as it's less then your TDEE (amount of energy you expend throughout the day). Next, you have to include exercise into your TDEE. So that 1612 now becomes 2112. And then the deficit of 20% (much better as 500 is a catch all) is 1689.

    So there are two options here. On days you work out, you can eat 1689 calories and 1289 calories on days you don't or just eat 1600 calories every day.
  • bricktowngal
    bricktowngal Posts: 206
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    I'm pretty short myself 4'11" so I know it's hard to lose weight. I did both, but I feel more comfortable with this site. I eat 1200 cal a day and track it all. You can still follow WW and track it on MF and probably get better results. Just stick it to, and you will get results sooner or later.
  • mallory3411
    mallory3411 Posts: 839 Member
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    How active are you during the day? Did you multiply the BMR number correctly? Depending on what site you used some take into account your daily exercise, some don't.

    1lb a week may be too much for you since you are smaller and have such a low BMR. Maybe try aiming for 0.5lb? Just because you have your calories set to lose a certain amount doesn't always mean you will... weight loss is weird like that.

    Your calories usually decrease as you lose weight so you might find it a bit harder down the road since you started off eating too little.
  • medaglia_06
    medaglia_06 Posts: 282 Member
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    I agree with many of the above, you are not eating enough. I know it sounds funny (but I was doing the same thing). Your body is holding on to the fat you have because it is in starvation mode, it is not getting enough energy (calories). I would up your calories to a MINIMUM of 1200 calories per day and eat back your exercise calories on days you work out.
  • SueInAz
    SueInAz Posts: 6,592 Member
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    How active are you during the day? Did you multiply the BMR number correctly? Depending on what site you used some take into account your daily exercise, some don't.

    1lb a week may be too much for you since you are smaller and have such a low BMR. Maybe try aiming for 0.5lb? Just because you have your calories set to lose a certain amount doesn't always mean you will... weight loss is weird like that.

    Your calories usually decrease as you lose weight so you might find it a bit harder down the road since you started off eating too little.
    I have to go along with this. Being short makes losing weight a lot harder. For me, add that to being in my mid-40s to make it even tougher. I ate at 1250 plus my exercise calories to lose the weight I lost. I can't lose eating much more than that, but my BMR is under 1200 AND I sit at a desk all day. It also took me cutting out most carbs on a daily basis to see real results, but that's just me.

    Give the calorie intake at .5 pound loss per week a try for a few weeks. You really need to give one approach a try for longer than a week or two to see if you're going to get results. Weight loss doesn't happen overnight but then, we didn't put it all on overnight, either.
  • alliecat40
    alliecat40 Posts: 31 Member
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    Watch a video called "Forks over Knives". You can get it from Netflix.
  • My1985Freckles
    My1985Freckles Posts: 1,039 Member
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    To Mallory3411,

    I went on a site to do my BMR. It was 1343.. (because I am so short) Then they said to times it by 1.2 and it was 1612. That's what I need to maintain my weight. If I want to lose 1lb a week. I was to submtract 500 calories from that. So I am to eat 1112 (sorry, not 1120) to lose. That's how I came up with these calories. Does this make sense to you guys??? If I eat 1343 calories, I won't lose.....

    It isn't generally a good idea to eat below your BMR for an extended period of time. Your BMR is the minimum calories your body needs to just exist lying in bed all day not moving. For you to safely lose a pound a week, you should set your calories to 1343ish and exercise to burn 231 (1343-1112) calories a day. And don't eat those back ;-). If you burn say, 500 calories you can eat the extra 269 back and still be on track to lose a pound a week.
  • teripendleton
    teripendleton Posts: 26
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    I think you should count the calories. Stick to 1200 a day and try to do at least 45 minutes of exercise three times a week. That will get you started and you will lose weight. Otherwise, like the poster above said, your body will think you are starving it and your metabolism will slow way down. Also, take a look at the kinds of calories you are eating. Protein is easier for your body to break down and burn than carbs. Try to stay away from anything white, ie: bread, potatoes and rice and instead eat vegetables. You can get the kind you steam in the microwave. They are fast, easy and good for you. Stick to it for at least 28 days before you tweak it, sometimes your body just has to adjust. I know it's really frustrating when you want the weight gone right now but you didn't gain it overnight and you won't lose it overnight either. Hang in there, you'll do great with MFP. Plus there is lots of support on here too. Good luck.
  • gbelltx
    gbelltx Posts: 142
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    I have not been on WW bit I can tell you MFP if you ask for support you will get it! So here are some suggestions for you take them as you wish. If you are COMMITTED then go all out by completing About me, Why I want to get in Shape and what are your inspirations. These topics help others provide you support and have some idea of what you might need to get there. The other thing is Even if you eat 1100 calories, 1200 calories or 1300 calories show your diary let people know you want constructive feedback that will support your efforts in losing weight. It sounds as if your ready to make the changes to support your efforts it makes it easier to know what your about to provide you support. No doubt you are in the right and if your emotionally ready then let’s do this!! Losing weight is a marathon and not a sprint it’s not about how fast you get out of the blocks but how consistent you are over the long haul..
  • izzyissy
    izzyissy Posts: 48 Member
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    To Psulemon.

    I'm sorry if I sound stupid, but the site I was on (Mayo clinic) Its says to maintain eat 1612 calories. I don't want to maintain. I want to lose 1lb. So I have to eat 500 calores less to lose 1lb = 1112. They said my BMR is 1343. And because I am sedentary, (I don't always work out) they said to times it by 1.2 . That's where I came up with 1612. So to lose eat 1112. I am so confused. That's why I need help. I'm scared that (because I am so short) if I eat 1200 calories, I will only lose .04 a week. On myfitnesspal, they said I am to short to lose 1lb a week because they do not suggest going under 1200 calories. I know I am not making sense.... I am trying to work out and burn 400-500 calories Mon-Friday. Maybe if I start out with 1200 calories and on those days eat back the 400-500 calories back. On the days I don't work out, just eat 1200???? I just don't want to lose 2-3 lbs a month. I would like, at least 5lbs a month. Any other 40lbs over weight short people (4'7) here????? Thanks everyone for giving me good advice. I am so tired of failing........Sorry for talking so much.....
  • SueInAz
    SueInAz Posts: 6,592 Member
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    I am trying to work out and burn 400-500 calories Mon-Friday. Maybe if I start out with 1200 calories and on those days eat back the 400-500 calories back. On the days I don't work out, just eat 1200???? I just don't want to lose 2-3 lbs a month. I would like, at least 5lbs a month. Any other 40lbs over weight short people (4'7) here????? Thanks everyone for giving me good advice. I am so tired of failing........Sorry for talking so much.....
    This sounds like a good plan with one caveat. Don't set yourself up to try to lose a certain amount of weight in a certain amount of time. You will most likely be disappointed. Keep in mind that you're going to lose weight more slowly the closer you get to a "normal" weight for your height. Weight loss is not a linear line on a graph. You might be able to lose a pound a week now but when you have 10 pounds to go, it'll be measured in ounces, not pounds. You didn't gain 5 pounds a month when you put the weight on, it's really not realistic to think you're going to take it off in even amounts, either, especially not that much each month.

    The goal here is to lose the weight you need to lose and keep it off, right? That's for life, not the short term. Use that mindset and you'll be happier in the long run.
  • TeaBea
    TeaBea Posts: 14,517 Member
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    I agree with other posters ... give it more time. Weight loss is not linear. You might not lose anything the first week, and then lose 2 pounds the next week.

    Yes , you are a very petite person, that will change the stats a bit. Look in the groups section (under the "Community" bar). There is at least one group for ladies under 5'1" .... they may be able to help you out more.
  • antoniosmooth
    antoniosmooth Posts: 299 Member
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    I agree with the people who mentioned you are NOT eating enough food per day.

    First of all I suggest you FIRST see your doctor and a nutritionist if you are on a health plan. Your doctor if he/she is good is going to take into account many different factors for your weight loss based on your current health and health concerns you may not be aware of (vitamins you can/CAN'T take, Supplements you should take/SHOULDN'T take).

    Second I can personally recommend Weight Watcher to START you on your journey. In 2001 I ballooned to nearly 300lbs from 225lbs because I was laid off and felt depressed. I'd always been an athlete so I decided to see my doctor before I began working out again. She prescribed something for hypertension (high blood pressure which I incidently didn't know I had) and put me on more calories than I'm on currently. It was a Weight Watchers program based on my desired weight and my workout commitments. For me it was specific, my Weight Watchers caloric count was 2500 calories with ONLY 400 of those 2500 calories being fat. On this weight watchers program I lost 40lbs in 3 months.

    My workouts on that Weight Watchers program was intense nearly 2 hours every day, no rest day with a balance of Whey Protein, Creatine, and other supplements.

    Realize this however... Weight Watchers is a good program, but very hard to LIVE on it.
  • Loislaine61
    Loislaine61 Posts: 49
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    Hi,

    I am doing WW and also logging my foods here on MFP. I count points, weigh and measure my food the WW way and then log them in on MFP. I enjoy the motivation and support I get here, but when all is said and done it's WW that wins out because it works for me.

    I agree with some here that say pick a program and COMMIT to it. If you change programs too often I don't think that's very good for your body.

    Relax, it appears you're making this too hard. Losing weight takes commitment and it takes time.

    That's my 2 cents :happy:

    Lois

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