Time to Get Serious!

Posted on August 13, 2014

Woke up today, and the first thing I did (the first thing I always do) is step on the scale. Today, just like yesterday and the day before, the number was the same. I had a cheat day to try to shake the plateau funk, and I gained 3 pounds. Something is wrong.

I've been logging my meals and running every other day. I've been noticing inches lost but that number on the scale is standing pat worse than it ever has in my 15 years of yo-yo dieting. I've done my best to be patient; this must just be a product of being older now. Or, perhaps I'm building muscle with my runs. Or maybe I'm not eating enough and my body is holding onto the weight. Or maybe I'm drinking too much water. Not enough water???

I was sick of guessing. I used to own a bodybug that told me my sleep habits, logged my food and kept track of my calories burned. I lost it sometime between diets and now I'm lost. Time to get a fitbit. So I went to the store and probably without enough research chose one and set it up. I have more than one myfitnesspal app and I couldn't remember which one I've been using, so I synced it up with the other one by accident. In doing so, I think I've found the problem.

The myfitnesspal account that I had been using had somehow been set to "lightly active" when I am very much sedentary at work. The difference is like 310 calories a day. A DAY?!? That's almost a 20 percent difference. Shame on me for not being more careful.

So, now I am hopeful. I'm going to do the Atkins thing for a few weeks in the hopes of making up some lost time, but this new fitbit and new myfitnesspal and a new approach combined with the increased cardio health I've gotten the past month. Let's see what the scale has to say about it the next week!

Comment Now!

Lynda H.

08/14/2014 3:49AM

Great job! You'll love your fitbit! As far as water goes, think 1/2 body weight in oz or 1 gal/day. It's hard to drink too much--though I've heard it can be done. My scale has gotten into a pattern that I try to remember. It goes up on Sundays (due to medicine I'm taking) then basically stays there or creeps down slightly until I see the real loss start to show up on thurs. Sat is lowest of week, then cycle starts again. Frustrating, but now that I know what to expect, it's easier. Your body also has a rhythm. Once you learn it, it will be easier for you. Todd luck!

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Kat

08/13/2014 11:13PM

It really helps me to log everything I eat. Most women who eat less than 1200 calories a day and men who eat less than 1500 calories a day go into starvation mode and have a very difficult time losing weight. I know it sounds crazy, but when I increased my caloric intake, my weight loss went from about 0.1-0.2 pounds per week to about 1-1.5 pound per week -- and I was eating more.
Hope the tape measure keeps telling you what you want to hear. Losing 2 inches off my waist is more important to me than winning the Diet Bet scale contest.

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Susie D.

08/13/2014 8:25PM

Go get 'em! Hope that was the issue and the scale will move for you now. Good luck!

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leah h.

08/13/2014 6:41PM

At least you found out why you're stuck. 310 calories a day adds up. Next week you will see results on the scale. That being said, I only weigh myself once a week so as not to get discouraged by the numbers! Try it, you may surprise yourself! :)

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