A little...(maybe a lot) discouraged...

jammiemd
jammiemd Posts: 46 Member
in Success Stories
Ok, so I have been dieting for a month now and I do not feel any different. I have not eaten over 1000 calories a day in a month. I do not drink anything other than water and diet Dr. Pepper (and the diet dr. peppers are limited). I'm morbidly obese and feel like I should be losing weight quicker. I lost 6 pounds the first week and I was excited...but now I feel like I havent accomplished anything. Maybe its just one of those days....
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Replies

  • victoria4321
    victoria4321 Posts: 1,719 Member
    Well I could tell you you're not eating enough. Everyones gonna say to open your diary too
  • jcohio85
    jcohio85 Posts: 43
    You have to eat more. If MFP is telling you to eat 1250 calories you need to eat that much or close to that much. That will help you lose weight.
  • babyblooeyes
    babyblooeyes Posts: 67 Member
    You don't starve yourself to lose weight. All you lose is muscle, healthy muscle and no fat. I don't know your weight but I am 230 and I consume about 2300 calories with exercise on a daily basis to lose nearly 2 lbs a week.
  • sarahkittymeow
    sarahkittymeow Posts: 146
    Yes, unless otherwise told by your doctor or a trusted professional, I would try upping the calories a bit. Also, I don't want to go into it because I don't personally remember all of the reasons, but my biologist brother recently did a legit and thoroughly researched report on why diet soda is not only no better than regular soda, but may even be worse because the artificial sweeteners react badly somehow with your insulin receptors...worth looking into. But look, long story short, no matter WHAT you will see more results if you cut out soda COMPLETELY. Try flavored carbonated water instead! The mandarin orange one tastes just like Fanta to me :)
  • susansmoaks
    susansmoaks Posts: 77 Member
    Eat at least 1200 calories a day. I am using Nutrisystem and losing an average of 9 pounds a month. If you have over 100 pounds to lose you should eat around 1500 calories a day. Eat high fiber, high protein foods. Eat a lot of non starchy veggies and at least 2 fruits a day.
  • kenny_johnson
    kenny_johnson Posts: 108 Member
    I would agree that your calories are too low, but it seems like you should have lost weight.The only thing I can think of is that you have been a chronic yo-yo dieter, which can affect your metabolism.

    I'd say to increase your calories.. and after a few weeks add some activity (walking is a good start and can burn quite a lot of calories when you're heavy).
  • connollyda
    connollyda Posts: 23
    Everyone else has got it right. I know it seems a bit counter intuitive but eating more will help! I lost about 2 lbs the first two weeks going super low cal(like 800-900 a day, sometimes less if I could manage) and then bottomed out. I read through some of the forums and the all say to eat what mfp says. I started that and BAM, losing more weight with less exercise.
    Just follow the 'rules' and be patient. The weight didn't all show up in a week, its not gonna leave in a week either.
  • Blessedmommy_2x
    Blessedmommy_2x Posts: 419 Member
    The answer to your problem: You shouldn't be eating SO LITTLE. 1000 or less a day is not healthy and not enough cals. You need to increase it "at least" to 1200 minimum. But even that is a tad bit low for "starting" this weight loss journey. But just a guess, since I don't know your activity level... you should probably at minimum be taking in 1400-1500 a day this early in the journey.
  • pg3ibew
    pg3ibew Posts: 1,026 Member
    I have a thought or two.

    1. Your profile says you are 29 and weigh 400 pounds. I am assuming you were 400 pounds the week before that and the week before that.
    Which leads me to believe that you are not gonna get on the scale after a week and weigh 150 pounds.
    2. Do NOT get on the scale everyday. Try once a week or every other week.

    Bottom line here is: SLOW AND STEADY. If you are losing 1-2 pounds a week, that is 100 pounds in a year. I bet it took longer to gain the hundred than lose the hundred.

    SLOW AND STEADY.
  • sarahkittymeow
    sarahkittymeow Posts: 146
    I have a thought or two.

    1. Your profile says you are 29 and weigh 400 pounds. I am assuming you were 400 pounds the week before that and the week before that.
    Which leads me to believe that you are not gonna get on the scale after a week and weigh 150 pounds.
    2. Do NOT get on the scale everyday. Try once a week or every other week.

    Bottom line here is: SLOW AND STEADY. If you are losing 1-2 pounds a week, that is 100 pounds in a year. I bet it took longer to gain the hundred than lose the hundred.

    SLOW AND STEADY.

    While this is definitely true for the most part I did just want to add that the heavier you are, the faster you lose pounds of weight/fat. The "2 pounds a month, tops" rule is kind of for people who are average to overweight, not obese. So you have the potential to lose a lot more than 100 lbs in a year if you are trying and doing everything right! But it is most important that you please speak to a doctor about exactly what you should be doing...although MFP offers tons of support and good advice, it's better to be safe than sorry. And furthermore, a physician can most likely help you maximize your weight loss by providing specific nutrition and exercise plans, and possibly some supplements to help you along your journey. Good luck!

    ***I did mean WEEK, sorry! :)
  • jammiemd
    jammiemd Posts: 46 Member
    Thank all of you for responding. I know that it took a while for me to gain all of this weight, so I need to realize that it's not going to come off over night...although that would be awesome. I havent weighed since after the first week. Im weighing tomorrow. Maybe I have lost weight and I just feel like I haven't because i'm having a yucky day. My diary is open...or so I thought. I will go check it and make sure. So, end result-I think im going to increase to at least 1200 calories, more protein, and a lot more exercise. Thanks everyone! (and hopefully I will have some weight loss to post tomorrow!)
  • pg3ibew
    pg3ibew Posts: 1,026 Member
    I have a thought or two.

    1. Your profile says you are 29 and weigh 400 pounds. I am assuming you were 400 pounds the week before that and the week before that.
    Which leads me to believe that you are not gonna get on the scale after a week and weigh 150 pounds.
    2. Do NOT get on the scale everyday. Try once a week or every other week.

    Bottom line here is: SLOW AND STEADY. If you are losing 1-2 pounds a week, that is 100 pounds in a year. I bet it took longer to gain the hundred than lose the hundred.

    SLOW AND STEADY.

    While this is definitely true for the most part I did just want to add that the heavier you are, the faster you lose pounds of weight/fat. The "2 pounds a month, tops" rule is kind of for people who are average to overweight, not obese. So you have the potential to lose a lot more than 100 lbs in a year if you are trying and doing everything right! But it is most important that you please speak to a doctor about exactly what you should be doing...although MFP offers tons of support and good advice, it's better to be safe than sorry. And furthermore, a physician can most likely help you maximize your weight loss by providing specific nutrition and exercise plans, and possibly some supplements to help you along your journey. Good luck!

    I said 2 pounds per week, not month. Which would be 100 a year. And yes, I agree that someone so large could possibly lose more than that. BUT, by expecting more weight loss and not getting it, could cause one to get discouraged and revert back to eating out of depression. I would rather expect the 1-2 pounds and if I lost a pound or two more than that, be very excited.
  • JeSuisPrest
    JeSuisPrest Posts: 2,005 Member
    Lots of great info here...
    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/groups/home/3817-eat-more-to-weigh-less
  • Darlingir
    Darlingir Posts: 437
    more food and some exercise? you didn't mention anything about that...
  • sofaking6
    sofaking6 Posts: 4,589 Member
    I would say definitely get some exercise in there. If your metabolism is in a coma, you gotta wake it up. To wake it up, focus on burning more calories. Even going for a daily walk will send the message.
  • grubb1019
    grubb1019 Posts: 371 Member
    If you are going to start exercising you will need to up your calorie intake even more than 1200. I go by what MFP says, eat back my exercise calories and am loosing 1.5-2 pounds per week.
  • julk_1212
    julk_1212 Posts: 20 Member
    Yes! Eat 1200 a day and exercise. Try some fun classes... Maybe Zumba. Also I see you have lost 6 pounds according to your tracker. That's actually really good. You probably won't feel different for a while... It takes time. Trust me a few months from now you will start to feel it and it will feel good! Good luck! Just don't give up!!
  • ilitos
    ilitos Posts: 33 Member
    Thank all of you for responding. I know that it took a while for me to gain all of this weight, so I need to realize that it's not going to come off over night...although that would be awesome. I havent weighed since after the first week. Im weighing tomorrow. Maybe I have lost weight and I just feel like I haven't because i'm having a yucky day. My diary is open...or so I thought. I will go check it and make sure. So, end result-I think im going to increase to at least 1200 calories, more protein, and a lot more exercise. Thanks everyone! (and hopefully I will have some weight loss to post tomorrow!)
    On top of what everybody else just said, I would recommend a book called Eat your way to weight loss.
    In general what you need to do is on top of your 1200 calories have two full plates of vegetables or salad, with lemon/lime and olive oli. When I plateaued I started doing this, and even if my calories went up to 1500, I've started loosing weight again 2 punds a week average.
    Good luck... keep it up
  • ilitos
    ilitos Posts: 33 Member
    Thank all of you for responding. I know that it took a while for me to gain all of this weight, so I need to realize that it's not going to come off over night...although that would be awesome. I havent weighed since after the first week. Im weighing tomorrow. Maybe I have lost weight and I just feel like I haven't because i'm having a yucky day. My diary is open...or so I thought. I will go check it and make sure. So, end result-I think im going to increase to at least 1200 calories, more protein, and a lot more exercise. Thanks everyone! (and hopefully I will have some weight loss to post tomorrow!)
    On top of what everybody else just said, I would recommend a book called Eat your way to weight loss.
    In general what you need to do is on top of your 1200 calories have two full plates of vegetables or salad, with lemon/lime and olive oli. When I plateaued I started doing this, and even if my calories went up to 1500, I've started loosing weight again 2 punds a week average.
    Good luck... keep it up

    AND!!!!! beofre I forget, at least 12 almonds or walnuts... so follow whatever you are already doing and add the vegetables with the oliveoil/lime dressing and nuts, nuts are so important!
    UFF!
    I almost forget...
  • Jenn264
    Jenn264 Posts: 43
    I went over your diary ( hope you dont mind :)) I would say stop eating the fast food so much, I know it is difficult trust me! Make sure you are eating Breakfast Lunch and Dinner for sure and I always have a snack between meals. Usually a fruit or special k granola bar, depends on the day. It doesn't show me your sodium but it seems as though a lot of what you eat is high in sodium so I would watch that for sure. Now I'm no expert but this is just some advice I would give to you! Good luck on your weight loss, keep your head up, you WILL get there!! :) Don't give up!!!
  • CallejaFairey
    CallejaFairey Posts: 391 Member
    yeah...even 1200 calories wouldn't be enough. when I started on here, i had 130lbs to lose, so less than you, and with my activity level at sedentary, to lose 2lbs a week, MFP set my calorie level at around 1900, and that was before adding in any exercise. so with what your bar says you are trying to lose total, you should be eating wayyyy more than 1200 calories. the 2100+ that is recommended by MFP in your diary may seem like a lot, but unfortunetly, us big girls can eat a lot more and still lose weight.

    for now, since you just started and have such a high calorie limit to start, don't worry about any of the other numbers such as protien and fat, etc. just concentrate on hitting your calorie level, and as long as you are choosing better/healthier foods, all the rest will fall into place.

    good luck :)
  • michellekicks
    michellekicks Posts: 3,624 Member
    Read this article: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/3047-700-calories-a-day-and-not-losing

    Basically, if you're eating REALLY low calorie, you have to make sure you NEVER binge... because it will be stored immediately as fat. I, personally, prefer a more balanced approach to weight loss... eat at the higher end and lose slower, because whatever I do I want to be able to do it forever. I have a hard time on days where I have to stick to my 1640 without any exercise calories to eat. I can't imagine eating 1000 or even 1200. I eat around 2100/day and I've lost over 7 lbs in the last 4 weeks.
  • bullet1
    bullet1 Posts: 61
    Have you calculated your BMR? If you weigh 400lbs, and are average height (I used 5'6") your BMR is 2500+ calories. So if you ate 2000 a day with some exercise you could probably easily lose 2lbs a week. So, as everyone has said, being as big as you are, you need to eat more to fuel your body. Make those 2000 calories count with healthy foods and you'll be full all day and lose weight. Good luck on your journey.
  • shannairl
    shannairl Posts: 65
    Oh honey you're not eating enough at all, had a quick look at your diary and some days you're not even hitting 1,000?

    I know you're feeling discouraged - try your best to up your net calories to 1200 a day, cut out the diet sodas (so bad for you) and drink lots of water, then do your weigh-in a week from today and see how you get on. You can do it, but not if you starve yourself. It takes a long time but it's worth it. Also fill yourself up on more fresh food if you can, not that it makes a whole pile of difference calories-wise but you'll feel so much better if you try and cut back on the processed stuff.

    Best of luck to you, YOU CAN DO IT x
  • sunshinedazed
    sunshinedazed Posts: 61
    Absolutely everyone is different, and it's a little disappointing to see people saying that just because you're considerably overweight you can eat 2000+ cals a day and lose weight. Not everyone can.

    I have well over a hundred pounds to lose. I am losing slowly but steadily at around 1200/day, which is what my doctor has ordered. Some days I can't hit that number because I just can't eat enough to get there.

    MY biggest suggestions have nothing to do with your diet; relax, and see a doctor. No one should ever attempt to lose THAT much weight without a physician's guidance, and we all wear our stress around our guts, our thighs, etc etc. Be brave and keep it up. <3
  • deadbeatsummer
    deadbeatsummer Posts: 537 Member
    Eating under 1200 calories will put your body into starvation mode. You are not eating enough and when you do eat - you are eating **** like KFC.
    You need to start cutting the crap, eating a reasonable amount of food i.e. 1400 calories - upping your protein and exercising.

    There is no way your body - especially if you are bigger - can sustain itself on less than 1000 calories a day. What is happening is that your body is taking every little tiny bit of food you give it and turning it into fat as it is panicing and trying to survive.
  • bonnie053
    bonnie053 Posts: 9 Member
    1000 calories? Are you eating enough? Won't too few slow down your matabulism?
  • Beth720
    Beth720 Posts: 661 Member
    If you are going to start exercising you will need to up your calorie intake even more than 1200. I go by what MFP says, eat back my exercise calories and am loosing 1.5-2 pounds per week.

    THIS!

    To up the calories to 1200 and add exercise without eating back at least most of those calories you're just in the same cycle. Aim for a net of AT LEAST 1200.
  • Venturin
    Venturin Posts: 244 Member
    Everyone is giving such great advice! Jammie you have so many wonderful people behind you here, how can you not succeed? :happy:
  • beckyinma
    beckyinma Posts: 1,433 Member
    Have you calculated your BMR? If you weigh 400lbs, and are average height (I used 5'6") your BMR is 2500+ calories. So if you ate 2000 a day with some exercise you could probably easily lose 2lbs a week. So, as everyone has said, being as big as you are, you need to eat more to fuel your body. Make those 2000 calories count with healthy foods and you'll be full all day and lose weight. Good luck on your journey.


    THIS THIS THIS!!!!!!!!! Plus some exercise, even if it's just a walk around the block right now. 1200 calories is not NEAR enough for you to maintain a loss. I started at 215 and was at 1500 calories WITH a deficit. You can't starve yourself thin, and 1200 a day will cause you to stop losing. That thing about making the 2000 calories count is spot on. veggies, fresh meats fish and dairy, low sugar, 2-3 fruits and you're good to go (and watch your sodium, and LOTS of water) I agree that you need to see a doctor for guidance, but take even what they have to say with a grain of salt. Even they can be misguided sometimes.

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