Help! What am I doing wrong?

Pooks1n1Schmoops
Pooks1n1Schmoops Posts: 199 Member
in Motivation and Support
I have been on this program for about a month. The pounds were melting off the first few weeks. In the last week or so I have gained back 3 pounds! The only thing I am doing differently is I lowered my calories by 300 because I felt they were too high I was always coming in under by a couple of hundred anyway. I am still under my calories. Help me please! I can't be in "starvation mode" can I? I eat all the time!

Replies

  • tjk71
    tjk71 Posts: 167
    Open your diary so people can look at what your eating & give suggestions.
  • marie_cressman
    marie_cressman Posts: 980 Member
    How many calories are you eating daily? I would say the change may be temporary because you've shocked your body.

    BTW I thought you and I were friends on here, but it says we are not! Maybe I just see you post on the boards often.
  • mhoward685
    mhoward685 Posts: 129 Member
    Cant see your diary to help.
  • kbwallin1
    kbwallin1 Posts: 4
    I don't know about you, but I gain a ton of "water weight" when i eat foods high in sodium. I noticed that wasn't configured into this program. R u eating high sodium foods (frozen meals, prepared foods, canned foods, of course fast food)? I'm floating back and forth so far...i think cause of the sodium:tongue:
  • Lyssa62
    Lyssa62 Posts: 930 Member
    I'm going to guess you are just retaining water for some reason??? Without looking at your diary ..would be hard to say. I don't think it's uncommon to hit a period or two like that though. 2 years ago I dropped like 20 lbs in a couple of months and then just stopped and I was working out all the time and eating salad. I got discouraged but once it kicked in again another 20 dropped off in a couple of months. Don't get discouraged that is the main thing.
  • marie_cressman
    marie_cressman Posts: 980 Member
    I don't know about you, but I gain a ton of "water weight" when i eat foods high in sodium. I noticed that wasn't configured into this program. R u eating high sodium foods (frozen meals, prepared foods, canned foods, of course fast food)? I'm floating back and forth so far...i think cause of the sodium:tongue:

    You can edit what is monitored in your diary. :D Go to your settings if you want to keep track of it you can add it as a category.
  • skygoddess86
    skygoddess86 Posts: 487 Member
    If you were at 1200 and you dropped to 900 that could definitely be your problem. Go back up and see what happens.
  • JesterMFP
    JesterMFP Posts: 3,596 Member
    How come you dropped your calorie goal if what you were doing was working before? Anyway, if you're still way under your goal, then you won't have suddenly gained 3 lbs in fat. It's probably water retention for some reason.
  • Josette89
    Josette89 Posts: 244
    I would lower my calorie intake and gain weight all the time. You should just eat more healthy calories and keep up the exercise. :)
  • Pooks1n1Schmoops
    Pooks1n1Schmoops Posts: 199 Member
    Ok, I opened up my diary. I didn't know it wasn't lol. I started on 2130 calories because that's what it recommended. I dropped it to 1800 a week or so ago
  • Pooks1n1Schmoops
    Pooks1n1Schmoops Posts: 199 Member
    Apparently because I'm a moron. I just felt bad because mine was so much higher than others I saw :(
    How come you dropped your calorie goal if what you were doing was working before?
  • Bobby_Clerici
    Bobby_Clerici Posts: 1,828 Member
    If you were at 1200 and you dropped to 900 that could definitely be your problem. Go back up and see what happens.
    ^^^
    THIS
    Iif your calorie deficit is too great, you can easily suffer from
    loss of muscle mass (slows down your metabolism) and impaired general progress.
    You have to find what is right for you but you also need to remember that your body
    is a machine and without the right type and amount of fuel there could be problems
    either with loss of muscle, loss of energy, less weight loss/plateaus, etc.

    Check out this topic:
    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/238282-700-calories-a-day-and-not-losing-redux?hl=700+calories
  • CLSostarich
    CLSostarich Posts: 18
    Go back to your original calories, if it isn't broken don't fix it :D
  • bakerski
    bakerski Posts: 1 Member
    I love the fitness pal and use it all the time. Esp. when I have to eat out! But I have changed up my diet and started including ViSalus health shakes for breakfast and lunch only with my snacks in-between and a healthy dinner. It has done great things for me! I have lost 25 lbs. in 90 days with only a very few days of walking. You should try it, check it out at: www.brendabyvi.com
  • Pooks1n1Schmoops
    Pooks1n1Schmoops Posts: 199 Member
    Accckkkk! I was at 2130 and dropped to 1800 and still don't eat my calories. I was at 1300 last night
    If you were at 1200 and you dropped to 900 that could definitely be your problem. Go back up and see what happens.
    ^^^
    THIS
    Iif your calorie deficit is too great, you can easily suffer from
    loss of muscle mass (slows down your metabolism) and impaired general progress.
    You have to find what is right for you but you also need to remember that your body
    is a machine and without the right type and amount of fuel there could be problems
    either with loss of muscle, loss of energy, less weight loss/plateaus, etc.

    Check out this topic:
    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/238282-700-calories-a-day-and-not-losing-redux?hl=700+calories
  • Pooks1n1Schmoops
    Pooks1n1Schmoops Posts: 199 Member
    I think you're right !
    Go back to your original calories, if it isn't broken don't fix it :D
  • oandptech
    oandptech Posts: 12
    That is the joy of this program! Sometimes it tells you to eat and you get all these lovely extra calories! Though I've been there where it's getting late and I've got 300+ calories to consume. Once in a while will not do any harm but switching your diet to that plan is not good long term.
    When we are heavier we use more calories to carry around that weight. When we start loosing that weight the calories will adjust on MFP.
    Switch your calories back and keep up the awesome work! Woot for Pooks! :D
  • JesterMFP
    JesterMFP Posts: 3,596 Member
    Apparently because I'm a moron. I just felt bad because mine was so much higher than others I saw :(
    How come you dropped your calorie goal if what you were doing was working before?
    You're not a moron! Don't feel bad when you look at what other people are doing. How many calories you should eat to maintain depends on your age, height and weight. MFP calculates your calorie goal for weight loss based on that number. According to your ticker you have about 140 lbs to lose, so your TDEE (total daily energy expenditure aka "maintenance") will be higher than someone who only has 10 lbs to lose. Someone who is short, female and a healthy weight needs to eat less than someone who is tall, male and obese.
  • marie_cressman
    marie_cressman Posts: 980 Member
    Apparently because I'm a moron. I just felt bad because mine was so much higher than others I saw :(
    How come you dropped your calorie goal if what you were doing was working before?
    You're not a moron! Don't feel bad when you look at what other people are doing. How many calories you should eat to maintain depends on your age, height and weight. MFP calculates your calorie goal for weight loss based on that number. According to your ticker you have about 140 lbs to lose, so your TDEE (total daily energy expenditure aka "maintenance") will be higher than someone who only has 10 lbs to lose. Someone who is short, female and a healthy weight needs to eat less than someone who is tall, male and obese.

    ^^ this. :) every body's caloric needs are going to be different. sometimes i feel like a piggy when i read other diaries for meal/snack ideas, but i remind myself that i am me. my body's needs are different. :)

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