Myfitnesspal – where am I going wrong?

[RockinD]

I?ve been doing this for 12 days now.

It gives me a basic daily allowance of 1200 calories and then adds extra calories on for any exercise I do, so most days I actually have an allowance of around 1450 calories, but I usually come in ?under budget?.

When I complete the day it gives me a motivational message saying ? if every day were like today you will weigh x lbs in 5 weeks?

That was great in the beginning, but today x = 1.5lbs less than I weigh now, which is not motivational at all.

I lost 4lbs in the first week, but am now starting to put it back on, so my deepest fear is that this message is right.

Where am I going wrong? I am usually under on total calories, but I am way over on sugar and protein, under on carbs and way under on sodium. The majority of the sugar is coming from fruit and veg.

My basic diet has been approved by an NHS dietitian. I eat cereal for breakfast, salad and lean protein at lunch and have a proper meal in the evening. I get my five a day (and more) every day, I drink loads of water and when I snack it?s fruit or fat free yoghurt. I do not eat bread or potatoes.

I am desperate to lose the 3 stone I have put on in the last two years due to mismanagement of my hypothyroidism

[STIDW]

It helps to find out what works for you. I've actually doing WW online and for the last three months Myfitnesspal too. I'm on 1200 calories, but I don't eat the calories I've burned exercising and average a loss of 2lbs a week. That's 4st since 10th January. If there is more than a few pounds to lose I found there isn't much point in losing more than two pounds a week because at some point you reach a plateau. For example two years ago after Christmas I lost 8lbs in a week and then couldn't shift any more for 3 weeks.

Myfitnesspal is OK but because it is a database compiled by members you need to ensure the calorific values are accurate. The nutrient details give you some idea of the overall pattern but I don't read too much into them. IF you eat slightly more protein, a little less carbs and try to keep the sugar down you are on the right track.

I don't avoid any particular foods and eat bread and potatoes, but I keep the portions small and don't eat them everyday. Also I weigh everything and track fruit and veg very carefully because they can add significantly to the calorific and sugar values. I rarely have more than one piece of fruit and don't eat bananas very often.

What worked for me was starting off gradually and decreasing the calories until I was losing 2lbs a week. When my weight loss slowed down I decreased the calories and/or increased the intensity of my exercise. I wouldn't go below 1200 calories though.

[STIDW]

PS Watch yogurt for sugar. I was comparing them today and the fat free ones in the supermarket had more sugar than the low fat variety.

[Puffin123]

I've been doing mfp for 6 months now and have lost 6kg! I'm actually really proud of myself, look and feel better and keep getting " have you lost weight?" comments. So the slow approach has worked for me. I don't know what your goals were initially but maybe with your rapid weight loss initially this has been adjusted? All I can really say is if you continue to eat equal to or less than your calorie allowance you will lose weight, however gradually. Oh and that gradual weight loss tends to stay off.

[biryani]

I''ve been doing it for over a year, and I find that once you "stray"a bit any weight you've lost goes straight back on. I think it's ok for long team weight loss and maintenance, but 1200 calories plus exercise is too generous if you want to lose a large amount quickly.