loveshak22
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Dec 27, 2006
Gosh, I hate both you and loveshak22, LOL!!
I was motivated by reading this thread so decided to give MFP a try. I've NEVER counted calories before - have always counted carbs instead, but decided I'd give it a try.
Well, after my first week and my official first weigh-in, I went backwards! Meaning, I GAINED weight instead of losing! Talk about depressing! I'm going to keep at it for a 2nd week and see what happens, but if I continue to gain, I'm going to switch to Atkins, lol.
Like Christine, I don't have that much to lose which makes weight loss extremely tough. Plus, I really don't think I'm eating all that differently ... except I'm skipping that small bowl of ice cream I would usually have in the evening. If I had to guess, I normally eat around 1500-2000 calories. But for weight loss, MFP recommended I eat 1200. I've been in the 1000-1200 range consistently every day, but I just don't think that's enough deficit to cause weight loss for me ? But yet, it won't record if I go lower than 1000, grrrr...and I REALLY don't want to eat that little anyways, lol! So I'm stumped.
Like loveshak22, my weigh-in day is Friday. I am SO anxious to step on the scale. However, if it goes up again, I might just throw it out the window.
I saw your post on the blog and thanks for commenting!! I could not imagine trying to stick to 1,000 - 1,200 calories. That seems difficult and unreasonable (but this said from a woman who was probably eating 3,000+ calories a day before January). Do you have your weight loss goal set at 1 pound or 2 pounds a week? Maybe when it's that low the goal of MFP is to try to get you to exercise to earn back calories and then eat more?? That's one thing I don't love about MFP - it's a great nutrition tracker but it does not teach you anything about nutrition. I do believe that not all calories are equal and that at some point when you have less weight to lose it is about maybe a different balance of calories?? Of course, all that is guessing! Let me know how your weigh-in goes Friday - hopefully all of your windows are intact after
Out of curiosity, when I responded did you get an email let you know I responded? I'm trying to figure out how to set that up!
This is the ONLY way I can hold myself accountable. I have to plan out my day ahead of time what I will allow myself to eat for meals and a snack. Somehow that gets me - I'm OCD enough that it will bother me IMMENSELY if I eat something that was not on my "list" lol. It absolutely does not work for me if I eat first, then record it - food's already swallowed so it doesn't matter to me that I now have to write it down, lol.
I do better when I put my food into MFP before I eat as well. It helps me stick to a plan!
That is quite disheartening. I can't imagine how you are eating so little and not going crazy but if you're already used to 1500-2000 then maybe it's not so bad.
I normally do not lose anything for 3 weeks when I start watching what I eat. My body holds on like crazy but then lets go if I keep it up.
That is difficult. I've already written a lot of posts about the worst things about dieting (and as @ThreeBoyMom pointed out - it's all the worst!), but the worst of the worst is working hard and then not seeing it on the scale!
Yeah, if you are only getting a 300-500 calorie deficit - math says you won't see big movement on the scale -you will need some patience. My normal weight fluctuates at least 2 lbs just from salt, time of the month etc. And I tend to weigh a little more when I up my exercise enough to be sore and am drinking more water too. You may be burning fat, but not see the scale difference for a couple weeks. Taking measurements might be a better indicator if you need visual confirmation.
Good point about measurements!! And I really notice it when I have a lot of salt or less water on days as well. I could imagine if you have less weight to lose those two things could have an even bigger impact on weight.
@threeboysmom Mom - be careful you don't go too low in calories-short term you may lose but longterm extreme low calorie will just sabotage metabolism. It's also why a couple days of higher intake then back to normal intake won't generally result in weight gain, just like a couple days/week of lower intake won't result in immediate permanent loss (that immediate loss of more than 4# is usually water loss). Metabolism is a tricky and stubborn thing! It is why I highly highly recommend weight training along with light cardio as calories are burned in muscle!
Stupid metabolisms!! LOL! That's the one thing that I wish we all had the same of - and that they all were super, magical fat-burning metabolisms!!