What am I doing wrong? - Tough Love JSABD-style - General Discussions

Another Diet Forum > General Discussions > Tough Love JSABD-style > What am I doing wrong?

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agoldenmom
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Joined:	4 Aug 2011
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Hello, I am a newbie who needs help. I know the right stuff but just cant seem to make it work. I am 46 Y/o female,
5' 1" tall, 140 lbs. I started on a diet and exercise regimen a couple of years ago. Started dieting and doing Insanity. I lost weight but not what I hoped for. Then had a couple of surgeries and gained some back. Now started again about 4 months ago. Eating about 1000 or less calories a day, Run/walking up to 8 miles a day now 4-5 days a week.( takes me 2 hours to walk 8 miles) I will lose a couple of pounds in one week but it seems to come right back before the week is done. Reading about weight loss. My BMR is about 1800 so I assume I am not taking in enough calories. Does it really make that much difference? Shouldn't I still be loosing weight since I am taking in less calories? I am eating what I think is good. Oatmeal for breakfast, 166 cal. Salad for lunch, 325 cal, rice and veggies for dinner, 270 cal. Water only to drink. Snack on fruits and veggies, total about 300 cal daily.
Please tell me what I am doing wrong!!!!! OR give some advice. I am really trying here!!!

JSABD
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Location:	Blimpville, USA
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agoldenmom wrote: Hello, I am a newbie who needs help. I know the right stuff but just cant seem to make it work. I am 46 Y/o female,
5' 1" tall, 140 lbs. I started on a diet and exercise regimen a couple of years ago. Started dieting and doing Insanity. I lost weight but not what I hoped for. Then had a couple of surgeries and gained some back. Now started again about 4 months ago. Eating about 1000 or less calories a day, Run/walking up to 8 miles a day now 4-5 days a week.( takes me 2 hours to walk 8 miles) I will lose a couple of pounds in one week but it seems to come right back before the week is done. Reading about weight loss. My BMR is about 1800 so I assume I am not taking in enough calories. Does it really make that much difference? Shouldn't I still be loosing weight since I am taking in less calories? I am eating what I think is good. Oatmeal for breakfast, 166 cal. Salad for lunch, 325 cal, rice and veggies for dinner, 270 cal. Water only to drink. Snack on fruits and veggies, total about 300 cal daily.
Please tell me what I am doing wrong!!!!! OR give some advice. I am really trying here!!!
What are you doing wrong? Quite simply you are not creating a calorie deficit.

8 miles a day is about 700 calories.

Here are your numbers.

Resting (basal) metabolic rate: 1311 calories per day
Typical daily activities: 655 calories per day
Calories burned from Running: 731 per day
Total calories burned: 2698 per day

There are 3500 calories in a pound of fat. For every 3500 calorie deficit you lose 1 pound.

You are not counting accurately or your body is defying the laws of physics. Since your body is not defying the laws of physics you are eating to much or your scales are out of kilter.

Run for 30 minutes 3 times a week and do some strength training.

Keep your calories at 1500 and run less. If you run more eat a little more.

You will lose close to 1.5 pounds a week. If you lose more than that eat a little more. Weigh in once a week or once every two weeks.

Nir
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Just briefly butting in to chime about the figures.

1) 1000 is too little for you - it will slow down your results

2) your unadjusted BMR is not 1800, it is about 1300 (as JSABD posts above)

3) your minimum calorie intake should therefore be 1300

So should you eat 1300 or 1500? it depends. 1300 might give you slightly faster results or it might not be enough to fuel your exercise. Or if your calorie counting figures are wrong you can count 1300 but actually be eating 1500 or more (again, as above)

My prediction, based on exercising 3-5 times a week and eating at 1300 is that you'll lose around 1lb a week. Brace yourself for slower results, do not be impatient. After all when you reach your destination you're not planning to regain all the weight so you'll be maintaining your weight for the long haul

JSABD
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About all I can add is to say don't make this about pounds. The weight will take care of itself.

Tankgirl
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That's a bit surprising, coming from you, since, according to you, it's a person's physical condition that shows their self respect, maturity, and intelligence level. Unless someone is above ideal weight purely because of muscle, it really is about weight.

JSABD
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Location:	Blimpville, USA
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Tankgirl wrote: That's a bit surprising, coming from you, since, according to you, it's a person's physical condition that shows their self respect, maturity, and intelligence level. Unless someone is above ideal weight purely because of muscle, it really is about weight.
I am referring to the mindset during the process. Skinny people can be jerks too.

A fatling dieting is fighting a war against fat and until the focus on the reasons that are not mostly vanity it will be an unwinnable war.

Last edited on 6 Aug 2011 12:17 am by JSABD

agoldenmom
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OK, I have done this before and I am not fudging on the amount of calories or exercise I am getting. So, surely I am doing something wrong. Anyone have advice for a diet plan to go with my exercise? Right now I am not able to do weights so I am sticking with running/walking for the moment. I will soon (in a month or so) try to add Insanity and weights to running/walking. I am very determined.

JSABD
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Most people do well eating 6 meals a day and space it 2.5 hours apart.

Be vigilante and accurate about counting.

Also at your weight the scales are not going to move much. Let's say you weigh in on the 10th and you are empty and slightly dehydrated. and the scale says 140. A gallon of water is 8 pounds. You weigh in on the 20th and the scale says 140. You freak out and you think you have not lost weight when you may have lost more than a pound.

Here's a convincer. Find an elliptical machine and set it for your weight. Hydrate and weigh yourself before you get on it. Burn 3500 calories. If you are in shape it will take about 5 hours. I can do it in less than 2. When you are done weigh yourself. You will lose about 4 pounds. 3 will be water and one will be mostly fat. Don't do that very often.

Nir
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Can you confirm you have increased your calories from the original intake of "about 1000 or less calories a day" reported in the first post?

agoldenmom
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I just posted the first post a few days ago. I have mapped out a diet plan to include about 1300 calories a day.
I have a strict diet plan in place. I have premeasured everything I eat and I am keeping tract of every calorie and every day I exercise. I will let you know of my progress.
If you have any helpful pointers, please feel free to post them.

Thanks to all. This is what I needed.

JSABD
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agoldenmom wrote: I just posted the first post a few days ago. I have mapped out a diet plan to include about 1300 calories a day.
I have a strict diet plan in place. I have premeasured everything I eat and I am keeping tract of every calorie and every day I exercise. I will let you know of my progress.
If you have any helpful pointers, please feel free to post them.

Thanks to all. This is what I needed.
Sometime ago I was talking with a tech who repairs gym equipment. I asked him how accurate the calorie counting on the bikes, treadmills and ellipticals are. He assured me that they were all very accurate.

Don't do this but cranking out 1300 calories on an elleptical is easy. Your metabolic rate with out the elliptical is over 2000. If you eat 2000 calories a day and burn 1300 you will lose almost 1 pound of fat and muscle. There is no other way around it.

Bamagirly
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Where is your protein? Without it you are cannabalizing your own lean muscle to get the energy to do all of that running. I've been there. I thought three salads a day and marathon training would work for me. It didn't.

When I started packing in the protein and did moderate weight lifting and running LESS, it was magical! Focus on losing inches, not weight. Focus on adding lean muscle and the fat will melt off.

Best of luck to you!

agoldenmom
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I have since added protein.
I am not where I can do much but run at this point but I do plan on doing more than just running in the near future.
Thanks.

JSABD
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Bamagirly wrote: Where is your protein? Without it you are cannabalizing your own lean muscle to get the energy to do all of that running. I've been there. I thought three salads a day and marathon training would work for me. It didn't.

When I started packing in the protein and did moderate weight lifting and running LESS, it was magical! Focus on losing inches, not weight. Focus on adding lean muscle and the fat will melt off.

Best of luck to you!

Depending of what your routine is a person need .5 to 2 grams of protein per pound of body weight.

Ya gotta feed the muscle but the muscle won't grow without carbs and fat won't burn.

Your advice is right on.

crush sugar
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Read your post and all the answers to it and am wondering how you are doing?
I think its important that you understand that if you eat too few calories, your body locks down into starvation mode and will horde the calories (energy) that you give it cause it doesn't know you are trying to lose weight..it thinks there is a famine out there and its primary job is survival. So it hangs on to the fat for as long as it can.
An easy and healthy way to up your calories is to add a T. of olive oil to your salad or veggie everyday. Your body needs the lubrication and the fat will help you to stay satisfied longer.
Give your body time to adjust to this change. If you have been undereating for a while, it will take a week or so for your body to really believe that there will be enough food.

Good Luck

crush sugar

agoldenmom
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Thank you for your concern. I still have issues from the birth of a surrogate baby a couple of years ago that keep me from exercising at times. I have not been doing well with my diet and exercising due to work and these issues. My biggest problem is picking myself up and getting right back in there after this happens. Which is why I decided to join this forum. I am just now getting back into the swing of things so I will keep you posted.

Thanks Bunches,

crush sugar
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One thing I do to get me back into the healthy way of eating, is I just make sure that I have either a piece of fruit or a veggie at every meal.
The it doesn't matter where i am at, home or traveling.

Simple idea..but it does affect how you think. Cause even if on the road and at a fast food, you can have chili and a salad at wendy's or a small hamburg and salad at McD.

JSABD
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crush sugar wrote:
Read your post and all the answers to it and am wondering how you are doing?
I think its important that you understand that if you eat too few calories, your body locks down into starvation mode and will horde the calories (energy) that you give it cause it doesn't know you are trying to lose weight..it thinks there is a famine out there and its primary job is survival. So it hangs on to the fat for as long as it can.
An easy and healthy way to up your calories is to add a T. of olive oil to your salad or veggie everyday. Your body needs the lubrication and the fat will help you to stay satisfied longer.
Give your body time to adjust to this change. If you have been undereating for a while, it will take a week or so for your body to really believe that there will be enough food.

Good Luck

crush sugar

This is complete total and utter BS.

There is NO proof that fat stops hunger. Protein does.

Bodies don't "horde" calories.

Don't listen to this carb phobic BS. If what this carb phobic were true the people in concentration camps would not have lost weight and died of starvation. Calorie restriction is a good thing.

The carb phobics need something to blame and something retarded to defy the laws of physics so they invent laughable low carb theories based on fantasy.

crush sugar
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Wow JSABD: I can see that you are very passionate in your beliefs.

And I wouldn't try to change your mind or your view points for all the tea in China. You are certainly entitled to them.

With that said, I am also entitled to mine. And having worked 10 years in the weight loss industry I saw it happen many, many times. So I know that it does happen. My opinion is based on real experience with real people.

And I do also think that protein sustains you for longer periods of time. I never said that it didn't.

I had no idea there would be such mean nasty participants here on this board. I thought it was meant to be helpful.

JSABD
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crush sugar wrote: Wow JSABD: I can see that you are very passionate in your beliefs.

And I wouldn't try to change your mind or your view points for all the tea in China. You are certainly entitled to them.

With that said, I am also entitled to mine. And having worked 10 years in the weight loss industry I saw it happen many, many times. So I know that it does happen. My opinion is based on real experience with real people.

And I do also think that protein sustains you for longer periods of time. I never said that it didn't.

I had no idea there would be such mean nasty participants here on this board. I thought it was meant to be helpful.
Speaking of China, the rural Chinese get 70% of their calories from carbohydrates and they are the leanest and most disease free people in the world.

I don't make points or express opinions. I provide facts.

Humans and all other mammals require glucose. The only source of glucose is carbohydrates We require very little fat.

I clobber people who make fact free statements.

I think you need to do a little research. Tell me what a high glycemic number is and then tell me the glycemic index of fructose and table sugar.

Carb phobics are clueless. Atkins MD was a fraud and he was obese when he died. Arthur Agatston the author of South Beach Diet is a chubby fat boy who is on statin drugs. Barry Sears is also a fat boy.

You carb phobics need to stop blaming sugar and start blaming your gluttony.

Tankgirl
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JS
If someone is trying to cure their gluttony, wouldn't it just be smart to avoid sugar, if they know it's going to make them more prone to gluttony and offers no nutrition for the calories?

JSABD
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Tankgirl wrote: JS
If someone is trying to cure their gluttony, wouldn't it just be smart to avoid sugar, if they know it's going to make them more prone to gluttony and offers no nutrition for the calories?
It would be a good idea. My problem is with the carb phobics. There are many types of sugars. All sugars are carbohydrates. Things made with sugar like ice cream, cookies, pies ect are things gluttons like because they are sweet.

Anyone trying to lose weight needs to reeducate their palate. Gluttons eat for pleasure first and foremost so eliminating highly pleasurable foods is a must. If they want sweet they can have a plum, apple, some melon or an orange. If that is not enough for them they need a good hard slap in the mouth.