Gaining weight but eating less

I always start out in good faith but never stick to MFP. I find it good though, when I'm using it ;) Question, as I never managed to find out the answer, did anyone ever stick to it long enough to see the results that it promises in the message at the bottom i.e. if you stick to this for the next x amount of days, you will weigh x amount? Did it actually really work that way for any of you? Really curious.

Great post Beebers! If MFP is too complicated, even just keeping a diary of what you eat and drink - don't forget those pesky 200 calories coffees! This makes a huge difference. Seeing what you consume and when plays a massive part.

Polly: At first, I called it "my fitness pest" because I am not technically inclined and it aggravated me. Within a week, it was second nature. Now, I rarely use it. May not be worth it to you, but I highly recommend it to anyone wanting to lose weight. Calories are the name of the game, and like suzy said, many people forget half of what they eat, nor know the caloric content. Sakhifa: Yes, in a few cases it leads to a fixation that would be considered mentally unhealthy or even an eating disorder. What are they calling it these days, Orthorexia? Basically, the food police. It's not the norm though, and for people worried about becoming obsessed, it's unlikely. This is directed at no one in particular: If you have the time to piddle around on facebook, EW, or read celeb gossip, you have the 5-10 minutes to waste on myfitnesspal. Promise. What you [b'>don't[/b'> have time for is 1. Being unhappy with the way you look. 2. Complaining to your friends or family. 3. Spending an hour on the internet researching conditions (i.e. thyroid) you probably DON'T have. Ask someone who truly has one. Some people can barely get out of bed. 4. Researching detoxes. You have a liver, that's what it does. Detoxes have a placebo effect if any. 5.Researching the miracle supplement you can take to do work for you. It won't. <em>edited by Beebers on 16/10/2014</em>

Well before you even begin to use these apps, you need to know what your BMR is - the basic metabolic rate which YOU personally require just to survive and take it from there, because everyone is different. Then you work out the number of calories you need to consume, depending what your goal is.

Polly, it can only calculate if you measure/weigh ingredients you are putting into a dish. If you do this, and say your dish yields 3 portions, you just divide into 3. Am I not understanding you, maybe? Yep that is what I mean, that to me is not simple easy or worth doing, it's like WW point monitoring and that was a hassle - too time consuming IMHO I don't think counting calories, tools like myfitnesspal, and weighing food is effective - it can easily backfire as people become too obsessed with it and miss the bigger picture...it should be about living healthy...not just weight loss, scales, and food. I agree to a DEGREE, but you can eat healthily - which I do, but I still need to know how much "healthy" food I am eating - as you can then overeat. And that will in turn help with weight loss

Polly, it can only calculate if you measure/weigh ingredients you are putting into a dish. If you do this, and say your dish yields 3 portions, you just divide into 3. Am I not understanding you, maybe? Yep that is what I mean, that to me is not simple easy or worth doing, it's like WW point monitoring and that was a hassle - too time consuming IMHO I don't think counting calories, tools like myfitnesspal, and weighing food is effective - it can easily backfire as people become too obsessed with it and miss the bigger picture...it should be about living healthy...not just weight loss, scales, and food.

Polly, it can only calculate if you measure/weigh ingredients you are putting into a dish. If you do this, and say your dish yields 3 portions, you just divide into 3. Am I not understanding you, maybe? Yep that is what I mean, that to me is not simple easy or worth doing, it's like WW point monitoring and that was a hassle - too time consuming IMHO

I watched a program on tv once (cannot remember the name) where this family was trying to be healthy. They filled in food diaries and according to their diaries they were eating very little. They had cameras in the house and unbeknown to them the crew followed them around and filmed them. It was interesting to see that for most of them they had underestimated what they actually eat by about 50%. That really got me thinking. I decided for one week to take a photo of absolutely everything I eat and drink. It was a real eye opener, and like the folks on that program I was eating more than I thought I was. This has really helped me cut back. <em>edited by suzy on 16/10/2014</em>

Polly, it can only calculate if you measure/weigh ingredients you are putting into a dish. If you do this, and say your dish yields 3 portions, you just divide into 3. Am I not understanding you, maybe?

I really don't understand how this MyFinessPal thing works, as I make a lot of my own food and would have no clue about precise ingredients/nutrients etc ?!

I like most everything you said, CrepeSuzette :) Only things I would add is that the number of meals and meal frequency are not directly linked to metabolism the way the fitness industry would like us to believe. A lot of that was hyperbolized in order to mass market protein shakes and promote books, and specific programs. Conversely, intermittent fasting is not superior either, as some proponents of IT have also tried to claim their method is superior for boosting metabolism. Eating boosts metabolism, full stop. The longer you go between meals, the lower the "dip" in between, and the higher the metabolic boost when you do eat. It all comes down to which method is convenient and can be turned into [b'>regimentation and consistency.[/b'> I personally do 5 like you. My meals increase in size/calories/carbs as the day goes on, because I feel higher energy and more mental clarity "pecking" throughout the day, and after I train in the evening, I love a big plate of meat and potatoes :) Meal frequency should be tailored for the individual regarding sustainability long terms and reasons mentioned above. Those who should be most concerned with this factor are those with insulin resistance, diabetes, hyper/hypoglycemia, and so on. One more thing....100 squats in a row is about all I can handle, and I consider myself advanced in fitness with decent knees. The OP might croak if she tries that, good knees or not. You must be the Squatenator if that's a breeze ;)

OK, to lose weight you need to burn more calories than you consume. Like others have said, MyFitnessPal is an excellent tool for tracking your calories. It really helped me to lose weight. I lost 12kg over a 2 year time frame (dropped 2 dress sizes - from UK size 12 to 8). Yes, I lost the weight gradually, but I've kept it off, which is good quality weight loss. Half the battle of losing weight, is maintenance. Once you've reached your goal weight or dress size, don't slack off, you need to work at it. 4 years later, I still train at the gym 6 days a week and I watch what I eat. (I don't need to use MyFitnessPal anymore as I'm now educated in how many calories are contained in different types of foods). I do love my food though! Don't think of food as the enemy, think of food as your friend, your fuel to get you through each day. Now, I'm 6 months pregnant, and naturally, I'm slowly gaining weight each month. It does freak me out a little as I know how much work it will be to lose the baby weight, but I know I'll be able to do it! What matters more than anything right now is being healthy and giving my baby all the nutrients he needs to grow. For you, you have time constraints to exercise because you work long hours. For me, my obstacle will soon be functioning on lack of sleep, and thinking of ways of incorporating my baby into my workouts. What I was previously doing wrong was a) eating too much b) not exercising regularly enough. I agree that you should consume 5 small meals a day. You should never feel stuffed after a meal, or starving shortly after. Have some healthy snacks on hand, like almonds or a banana to keep those hunger pangs at bay. This keeps your metabolism kicking along nicely. It sounds like you feel too tired to work out when you arrive home from work. Well, how 'bout you jump out of bed early and do a morning workout? How long is your lunch break? Is it possible to fit in a workout during lunch? Is it possible for you to walk to work? When I was training really hard to lose weight, I'd do 2 workouts a day. I'd go for a 30 minute jog before breakfast to get my metabolism kick started. Then my reward was a delicious, nutritious breakfast. I'd already felt like I had accomplished something for the day! Then, after breakfast I'd do a weights workout... Or if I was having a rest day from weights, I'd go for another 45 minute run in the afternoon (before dinner) - more rigorous than the gentle run in the morning. Cardiovascular exercise is great for burning calories, and lifting weights is necessary for toning the muscles. Body weight exercises, like squats and lunges, are good for toning also. I believe running to be a very efficient way to burn calories - especially high intensity interval training - so I hope once your knee heals you'll be able to take up running again. My Doctor has advised me not to run during pregnancy, so I walk everywhere. The thing to keep in mind is, if you're walking instead of running, you'll have to spend twice as long exercising as you're burning calories at a slower rate. To get your heart pumping in the cardio zone try putting your treadmill on an incline. Take the stairs wherever you can, this is an excellent exercise for your butt and thighs. Do 100 squats in a row, then take a short rest and do another 100. Have someone check that your technique is correct though, otherwise if you're not squatting deep enough, you may be working your quads instead of your glutes. You do have to work around injuries. For example, I used to really like doing chest press, but it's too uncomfortable to be lying on my back right now. So what I do instead is, use equipment where I can train my chest whilst sitting or standing upright. Also, I find group exercise classes or having a gym buddy very motivating, rather than working out on my own. Choose an exercise that's fun to do. Hang around health conscious people so their healthy habits rub off on you. Take before and after photos of yourself so you can see the progress you've made. This is one of the best things I ever did to keep me motivated to lose weight. Also, record your measurements once a week - around your tummy, hips, butt and thighs. I plotted this on a graph and could clearly see my weight loss progress. Consistency is key - it's what you do most of the time that matters. Exercise most days, and make sure most of your meals are healthy. Rest days are important too, and reward yourself every so often with a 'cheat meal'. Hope this helps x

It honestly takes seconds, to open up an app on your phone, find a food with similar properties and add it to your calorie counter for the day. I'm sorry, but in your posts I just see excuses and a lack of motivation and will to actually do anything at all. Sitting on an exercise bike a 'few' times a week will do NOTHING! It has to be a complete lifestyle change. Having a ropey knee is no excuse either! Doesn't stop you doing things with hand weights, planks, resistance exercises at all. If YOU want to make a difference, then YOU have to want it badly enough. Thank you, Fairy Dust!! No one wants to hear the truth.

It honestly takes seconds, to open up an app on your phone, find a food with similar properties and add it to your calorie counter for the day. I'm sorry, but in your posts I just see excuses and a lack of motivation and will to actually do anything at all. Sitting on an exercise bike a 'few' times a week will do NOTHING! It has to be a complete lifestyle change. Having a ropey knee is no excuse either! Doesn't stop you doing things with hand weights, planks, resistance exercises at all. If YOU want to make a difference, then YOU have to want it badly enough. Cutting out all fats is also a bad move, your body NEEDS good fats to function properly. Your daily intake should consist of protein, carbs and fats! Protein and good carbs should make up the majority, with about 25% fats. It really sounds like you need to sit down with a trainer and a nutritionist and get some motivation in there. The majority of people fail in their weightloss/fitness goals because they expect change to happen instantly - it doesn't! It takes weeks and months to make real change. And you have to put in effort. Being fit and healthy and keeping a good weight takes a lot of hard work. Also don't get hung up on the scales, they can be deceiving! I've actually put on weight, yet managed to shrink nearly 2 inches on all my measurements! How? Because I train - HARD. I've replaced the fat with muscle. A pound of muscle weighs exactly the same as a pound of fat, but muscle is dense, lean tissue and takes up less space = you get slimmer. I threw my scales away a long time ago and go by how my clothes fit. <em>edited by FairyDust on 15/10/2014</em>

have you had your thyroid checked?

I understand where you are coming from Schnuppi. I spend 2 hours on a Saturday afternoon preparing my food for the Sunday, Mon and Tues & then on the Tues afternoon I prepare my food for the Wed & Thurs. I take it to work with me in containers from Spinney's which are sectioned lunch boxes. The lunch box is sectioned in half with one box and the other half is split into 2, so I put my main lunch in the half and my 2 snacks in the quarters. I too can't think of anything worse than cooking when I come home from work every night but for me, cooking on a Sat & Tues is the only way that will work for me to keep my body fat down. Regarding exercise - have you thought about doing things like swim lessons? Low impact sports are great for knee injuries. Hope you can find something that works for you x

May I just chime in and say thank you to Beebers for continuing to give us valuable advice on health and fitness :) I really benefit from them Beebers!

There is just no way to tell how much the OP weighs, or how much she is eating, so recommendations for meals, calorie counts etc are useless. According to Lean Bodies Consulting (and others), who are a good example of sound nutritional experts that coach hundreds of women on how to lose weight in a healthy and non restrictive manner, here is a general formula for you. I've used it as a base, along with many others I know, and it works. Multiply your weight in pounds X 14 or 15 for maintenance daily calorie intake. Eat that number of calories to maintain what body fat you have. *if you do not exercise, use 13.5-14. Multiply your weight in pounds X 10, 11, or 12 for a number of daily calories that should put you in a deficit. This means you should be losing fat eating this number. *Begin with multiplying by 12. If that caloric intake does not work after staying true to it, and giving it time, multiply by 11 and try that, and so on. Let's say the OP eats just what she said and calculate on the higher end 1. Caramel Macchiato (venti size 20 oz) is [b'>300 calories[/b'> 2. Chinese Chicken salad (full portion Cheesecake Factory--about as big a salad as you can get on planet earth) [b'> 962 calories[/b'> 3. Lite dinner--let's go with 6 oz chicken breast, 1 cup veggies, 15g butter, and a dinner roll. [b'>436 calories[/b'> That's roughly 1700 calories. If this accurately reflects the daily diet of the OP, at least in caloric intake, and she weighs 80kgs, she is undereating. If she weighs 60kgs, she is overeating. It's all math. Anyone who wants to can take personal responsibility and figure it out. But, adding exercise to your life changes everything. You may begin exercising and find you need to change [b'>nothing[/b'> about your diet! Hope this helps edited by Beebers on 14/10/2014 edited by Beebers on 14/10/2014 <em>edited by Beebers on 14/10/2014</em>

Hi Schnuppi I feel your frustration - I use to be like this, thought the less I ate the more it would keep my weight down but infact it didn't. I couldn't understand why I was gaining weight until I saw a PT 2 years ago. She told me that I had to eat triple what I was currently eating if I wanted to even see a slight difference in weight ... I now eat 6 times a day and the weight is dropping off me. I came across a great girl over summer break called Ciara who is a qualified nutritionist and she tweaked my diet slightly. Give her a ring, 056 352 6920. She will be able to advise you properly, she also did my body fat percentage, inserted my food diary into a software which she has that breaks down all my nutrients - I have found this so helpful. I hope the above helps but my main advise to you is EAT MORE!!

I am soooo frustrated. I am eating really not much. morning usually lite cappuchino, lunch salad and small lite dinner....I avoid many things and still I am not loosing weight. I can't go jogging because I have a knee injury for few months. I have changed the pill last November...now taking Cerazette which is actually heaven. I did not have my periode anymore. Not sure if the pill could be the problem! i feel uncomfortable, I am worried that I get a tummy...and my biggest problem are my hip and tighs. It feels they are getting bigger. Not matching the rest of my body ....the area between knees an waist is the problem the rest I feel well. How can I loose wait at hips and tighs?[b'> I don't have much time for sport as I always come late from office.[/b'> i am getting so frustrated...with small waist more hips shopping is getting frustrating..... Few have time...you will make it a priority if you want to lose fat badly enough Two things kickstart your metabolism: eating and training. There's the problem. You are either eating just as you say in which case your metabolism is stagnant...but you should not be gaining. Or, you are eating way more than you list here on most days. 99.9% of people do not gain weight by accident. Exercise in whatever way you can. There are no downsides unless you are exacerbating an existing injury. The exercise will tell your body what to do with whatever food you are eating. That is far more important for someone in your shoes to focus on than dieting, trust me :)

I agree that the diet is a bad start if you are trying to lose weight. Doesn't sound like you are taking in enough calories, and exercise also helps (but again you need to eat more in order to have the energy to burn). Maybe find some form of exercise you can do that doesn't hurt your knee. Also I would maybe look into the pill you are on, people can react differently to pills. The previous pill I had been on for years got recalled and the one I switched to made me gain weight (even on a diet), the one I am on now I have no issues with.

Down the "My Fitness Pal App' to your phone or laptop This will help record the calories needed. You should be aiming for 1200-1400 per day Breakfast should consist of eggs/porridge Lunch lean meat/fish salad of veggies 2 snacks either fruit/handful of nuts/carrot sticks etc Dinner can be meat, veg etc You are putting your body into starvation mode which doesn't help at all As the OP said 5 meals a day and lay off too much coffee

Fairydust is right, your diet is dreadful. Start the day with a small meal to kickstart your digestive system and metabolism, even if it is just a yoghurt and banana your body needs fuel. What is your salad made of? I cant eat lettuce or leaves as it upsets my stomach and makes me bloated, you may have a similar problem. Introduce other raw vegetables and increase your lean protein, the protein will help your body turn fat into fuel. Exercise is a NECESSITY, even if it is a 20 minute walk or a swim you need to increase your heart rate to help burn more calories, as the weather gets better it should be easier to get outside and get moving. You don't need to jog or run but you do need to do something.

It looks like your diet is missing a lot of protein, need more eggs and meat It's missing food!

The Cerazette shouldn't make you put on weight, I've been on it or years and it hasn't had that effect. It looks like your diet is missing a lot of protein, need more eggs and meat

I am going to be brutally honest and tell you flat out that your diet is terrible! You need to eat MORE! Your body is in starvation mode as you're eating so little, it's literally clinging onto everything. Eat a proper breakfast - a good smoothie, porridge, egg whites etc. Snack on baby carrots, nuts etc. You should be eating 5 small meals a day. Plus you HAVE to exercise. Don't use the excuse of 'I don't have time' - MAKE time. You need to put aside 30 mins a day. Go for a fast walk, start lifting some weights etc. Losing weight and getting fit is hard work! It takes time and effort.