Not Happy With the Scale

newday332
newday332 Posts: 54 Member
edited December 16 in Health and Weight Loss
So I am about 6 weeks into my weight loss journey here on MFP. The first 3 weeks went .I lost about 7 pounds. Now i seem to be at a plateau. I was eating1200 cals. I have bumped that up to 1500cals hoping for the numbers to start going down on the scale. Well.....its going up!!!!!! What am I to do? Its been 2 weeks. Guidance please.
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Replies

  • rosie161
    rosie161 Posts: 1 Member
    Try cutting out any highly processed foods, cereal is usually the worst since its heated at such extreme temperatures, it actually becomes carcinogenic in your body, making it impossible to lose that last bit of weight. When you consume only whole, unadulterated foods your body sheds extra the extra water weight that's holding onto toxins. The more raw fruits and veggies you can eat the better. Also try adding a new activity into your routine...dancing, a class at the gym, sprint triathlon...anything fun to get moving more and to change things up a bit...boredom is a deal breaker!! Good luck...hope it helps :)
  • sondrapht
    sondrapht Posts: 1 Member
    this is my story too!! I don'tr eat cereal and am exercising quite a bit. I am quickly getting discouraged
  • cbn711
    cbn711 Posts: 9
    I haven't had much luck on here either, while my friends are all dropping weight like it's the easiest thing ever. I had never heard that about cereal in particular, and find it very interesting. I LOVE cereal! Whatever the hurdle is I hope we find a way past it soon. Good luck!:ohwell:
  • newday332
    newday332 Posts: 54 Member
    Try cutting out any highly processed foods, cereal is usually the worst since its heated at such extreme temperatures, it actually becomes carcinogenic in your body, making it impossible to lose that last bit of weight. When you consume only whole, unadulterated foods your body sheds extra the extra water weight that's holding onto toxins. The more raw fruits and veggies you can eat the better. Also try adding a new activity into your routine...dancing, a class at the gym, sprint triathlon...anything fun to get moving more and to change things up a bit...boredom is a deal breaker!! Good luck...hope it helps :)


    Even Special K? I thought that was considered healthy.
  • lupa01
    lupa01 Posts: 162 Member
    Try cutting out any highly processed foods, cereal is usually the worst since its heated at such extreme temperatures, it actually becomes carcinogenic in your body, making it impossible to lose that last bit of weight. When you consume only whole, unadulterated foods your body sheds extra the extra water weight that's holding onto toxins. The more raw fruits and veggies you can eat the better. Also try adding a new activity into your routine...dancing, a class at the gym, sprint triathlon...anything fun to get moving more and to change things up a bit...boredom is a deal breaker!! Good luck...hope it helps :)


    Even Special K? I thought that was considered healthy.

    Most cereals are not healthy, considering all the sugar and sodium that most of them have. I think rosie161 is right on with everything she said. The more natural foods you eat, like raw fruits and veggies, nuts and lean meats, the better off you will be in the long run, and in addition, you will eventually break your plateau. I am beginning to practice what I am preaching as well, I think most of us are learning as we go. Blessings to you, and hold on!!:happy: :happy: :happy:
  • stephanienicolee
    stephanienicolee Posts: 7 Member
    Increase your cardio!
  • 3audkids
    3audkids Posts: 74 Member
    Im in the same boat! I love cereal, going to be hard to give that up....not sure if I can do that.
  • newday332
    newday332 Posts: 54 Member
    Try cutting out any highly processed foods, cereal is usually the worst since its heated at such extreme temperatures, it actually becomes carcinogenic in your body, making it impossible to lose that last bit of weight. When you consume only whole, unadulterated foods your body sheds extra the extra water weight that's holding onto toxins. The more raw fruits and veggies you can eat the better. Also try adding a new activity into your routine...dancing, a class at the gym, sprint triathlon...anything fun to get moving more and to change things up a bit...boredom is a deal breaker!! Good luck...hope it helps :)


    Even Special K? I thought that was considered healthy.

    Most cereals are not healthy, considering all the sugar and sodium that most of them have. I think rosie161 is right on with everything she said. The more natural foods you eat, like raw fruits and veggies, nuts and lean meats, the better off you will be in the long run, and in addition, you will eventually break your plateau. I am beginning to practice what I am preaching as well, I think most of us are learning as we go. Blessings to you, and hold on!!:happy: :happy: :happy:
  • newday332
    newday332 Posts: 54 Member
    Thank u Lupa!
  • newday332
    newday332 Posts: 54 Member
    Will do
  • lmelangley
    lmelangley Posts: 1,039 Member
    Another piece of advice- if you don't have one, buy a food scale and as much as possible weigh everything you eat and use the weight to determine the calories. Portion control is my biggest issue.
  • newday332
    newday332 Posts: 54 Member
    Increase your cardio!

    I'll try that. Thanks
  • izzydino
    izzydino Posts: 254 Member
    are you eating back exercise calories? I found this helps me lose
  • mes1119
    mes1119 Posts: 1,082 Member
    Increase your cardio!

    no... increase your strength training routine, eat your exercise calories and be patient. try eating clean foods.
  • GetFitE
    GetFitE Posts: 247 Member
    I feel your pain! I have only seen the scale move between the same 5lbs... up and down, up and down...for the past year!!! I feel like I eat fairly healthy. I eat a lot of nuts, lean meats, veggies, eggs, fruits... I shop in the produce section WAY more than I ever did before. My processed/prepackaged foods are usually a protein bars, yogurts, and 100% whole wheat bread; every now and then I have cereal, popcorn, or special K cracker chips or crackers, but the stuff I eat on a regular basis have an expiration date. I even switched from regular 2% milk to almond milk.

    I'm not sure where I'm missing the mark, but I feel like I'm struggling. I'm pretty solid on my cardio, so I started weight training this year, and got SOME minor results, but not what I wanted... I just started Turbo Fire this week. I average about 4 days a week of exercise (I have a heavy work load working 40-50 hours a week), but I'm DETERMINED and am going to sacrifice some stuff in order to stick to this Turbo Fire program...

    If I don't get what I want--I'm getting a doctor/nutritionist... or lipo....
  • fatcellsuck
    fatcellsuck Posts: 184
    I know what you mean!
  • JaimeBrown5
    JaimeBrown5 Posts: 324
    cereal is usually the worst since its heated at such extreme temperatures

    Wow.

    I'll just step back and wait this one out. It's going to be good....I can tell.
  • rlv2680
    rlv2680 Posts: 289 Member
    i just ate some bran flakes...am i suppose to feel bad now?
  • 970Mikaela1
    970Mikaela1 Posts: 2,013 Member
    Get a food scale and use it , measure everything that can be measured. See if that helps too
  • daisyverma
    daisyverma Posts: 234 Member
    all cereal is bad for you? omg I am like Jerry Seinfeld - have a collection of ("healthier") cereals and sometimes eat it for dinner..well I used to..not anymore


    Well I am not sure if this technique works but I have heard about it alot - calorie shifting.

    Basically you eat different amount of calories every day to keep your metabolism going

    For ex if your calorie limit is 1500

    Monday: 1500
    Tuesday: 1700-1800
    Wed: 1500
    Thirs:1800 and so forth

    the above is a simple example...again I dont know the long term effects, but you can speak with your Dr. or medical professional or a trainer and see if its good for you
  • baycat107
    baycat107 Posts: 165 Member
    So my Frosted mini wheats are bad for me?
  • ronitabur
    ronitabur Posts: 178 Member
    3 weeks is pretty early to hit a plateau so it's probably not a true plateau. I dieted for 3 months before I hit my plateau. But, let's say it is a plateau... Change your exercise. Don't every do the same thing twice - at least not within a few weeks time. Every day should be different. Second, do weight training AND cardio. I use the book series "Weight Training Workouts that Work". I take classes at my gym as well as walk/run on the treadmill and elliptical.

    I don't know about the cereal thing, but sugar can be a defeater - more than fat in my opinion. I eat Fiber One Honey squares (I can't bring myself to eat Original Fiber One, but I know people who love it.) The Honey squares have only about 3 or 4 grams of sugar and lots of fiber, which will help keep things moving along through your stomach and intestinal tract.

    Lastly, try using a heart rate monitor with a calorie counter when exercising so you can have a little more accurate count on your calorie burns besides what MFP has in their database. Remember to subtract your base calories burned.
  • jadedone
    jadedone Posts: 2,446 Member
    Up the intensity of your workouts. Are you doing intervals? Try it instead of doing steady state cardio. also try circuit training. It burns more calories in less time.

    I do intervals almost every workout (I do about 3 days in the gym for an hour and 1 hour outside of the gym).

    I agree about the food scale.

    I also eat a more calories than you do, even at your increased rate. But remember it takes your body about 3 weeks to figure out what is going on when you do something new, so be patient.
  • newday332
    newday332 Posts: 54 Member
    are you eating back exercise calories? I found this helps me lose

    I wasn't but will have to start doing that.
  • coconutbuNZ
    coconutbuNZ Posts: 578 Member
    Honestly, I really REALLY hate the scales sometimes or should I say I HATE what it does to people.
  • newday332
    newday332 Posts: 54 Member
    Up the intensity of your workouts. Are you doing intervals? Try it instead of doing steady state cardio. also try circuit training. It burns more calories in less time.

    I do intervals almost every workout (I do about 3 days in the gym for an hour and 1 hour outside of the gym).

    I agree about the food scale.

    I also eat a more calories than you do, even at your increased rate. But remember it takes your body about 3 weeks to figure out what is going on when you do something new, so be patient.

    I wasn't doing intervals but I've started to incorporate it now on at least 2 days.
  • minadeathclutch
    minadeathclutch Posts: 375 Member
    oatmeal
    chicken
    tuna
    salads
    eggs
    whole wheat bread.

    cut out ketchup... dressings.. sugar!!!!
    and try some sprints and weights.

    water water water
  • chunkimama43
    chunkimama43 Posts: 2
    hi, stay encouraged, just think soon you will be happy, throwing yourself a party!!!! it will be just fine
  • MattGetsMad
    MattGetsMad Posts: 429 Member
    The scale is an inanimate tool. It can only tell you how much you weigh at any particular moment in time. It cannot tell that you've been exercising or eating right. It doesn't know that you weigh 4lbs less in the morning, or if you are bloated. It has no idea how much your sanity may hinge upon its reading.

    My point? Do not waste any more time being mad at something that has nothing to do with your solution.

    There are other tools to measure weight loss and some of them my help you more. You can measure, take pictures, and record your progress in your exercise routine.

    Don't search the boards for the magic answer, because there isn't one. There are a lot of Monday morning QBs and lots and lots of myths being propagated here.. A lot of us suffer from bias seeing our particular diets as the only ones that will work. People come up with all types of things that no one can eat, or times that you eat. It's all BS.

    There is only one piece of advice that I have found in these boards that consistently remains true: Burn more calories than you eat and you will lose weight.

    My personal advice to you is, DON'T QUIT.

    Good luck.
  • SlimSammy2012
    SlimSammy2012 Posts: 893
    <~~~No scales in my home! for me it is like a Mirror to Dracula!
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