To think rapid weightloss in the morbidly obese isn't an accurate representation of weightloss for most people?

[Halfadamnlb]

I'm currently 10st 7 and want to get down to 9.5st, I'm overweight but not obese.

I've been making changes to my diet and lifestyle for a little over two weeks and giving it my all.

Daily walks for at least an hour, sometimes two hours.

No sugar in my hot drinks and I've switched from whole milk to skimmed.

I have cut out all unhealthy snacks like chocolate and crisps which I was eating most days.

I'm eating smaller portions at dinner time.

Drinking alot more water.

Doing some light cardio at home in addition to the long walks.

I have lost a measly 0.5lb, if that.

Meanwhile on a weight loss group on Facebook there are women bragging about having lost 12lbs in a bloody week.

The people who are posting this type of loss are, in their own admission, morbidly obese.

Therefore, in my opinion, such losses aren't representative of the reality of dieting for most people.

It's demotivating to work so hard on something and see such a miniscule loss then to read somebody has lost 12lb and done so well by "just cutting out takeaways"

AIBU?

@Halfadamnlb ankle weights and wrist weights are only good when you are already fit and strong, if you use them too soon they can damage the joint. Certainly not for beginners. If you feel you are strong enough then go for it, but be mindful you could cause injury if you are not sufficiently toned already

Remember, 'you can't out-train a bad diet'

Calories matter as do the macros.

Be careful as many of those who now have a lot to lose were once just trying to lose a stone. The amount of my female friends who dieted their way to obesity is a familiar story. Exercise and better choices is much better in the long run. Even at .5 of a lb.

Don't stress about the exercise either - weight loss is 95% down to diet and only 5% down to exercise (according to Dr Jason Fung, who wrote 'The Obesity Code'). While exercise is very good for you, it's not a very effective weight loss tool unless you're doing a lot of it very regularly.

In addition, more exercise serves to make you more hungry! It's your body trying to achieve homeostasis - a balance. You've expended a lot of energy so you body wants to refuel.

You’re right - that the more you have to lose the quicker it will drop off at first. But if you’re looking to make a sensible lifestyle shift I’m a bit mystified that you aren’t eating any vegetables?

MFP massively over estimates calories burnt. I was using it and then my personal trainer worked out I was burning around 1/3 of what it was telling me. 😂

Don’t eat back what you burn just stick to the 1200 calories.

Every time you weigh yourself and you havent dropped a pound, kick his head in. Wont help you lose weight but it will help relieve the frustration

That made me laugh

I'm not able to turn off the exercise calories on MFP as I haven't upgraded to pro, I'll just ignore that part from now on.

I've gone over the past week and checked the food calories only and whilst I'm under 1,200 on the majority of days there has been 2/3 days where I have gone over by 50-100cals because I was focusing on the exercise loss.

PyongyangKipperbang I'm really sorry to hear what you've been through. I can relate to a degree because I developed an unintentional E.D when I was 18 after going through trauma. It wasn't that I didn't want to it, I was just so stressed for an extended period that I just couldn't. After a couple of months of barely eating at all I realised I then couldn't eat properly as my body wasn't used to it. I went from a size 10 to a 4 and looked awful for a good 12-18 months. This all happened as a result of DV and when I got away from the situation I got better and now I've come full circle and actually need to lose weight now. I really hope you're able to get a handle of your situation and become healthier

I’m really fat and despite a calorie controlled diet (the type where the food is delivered and that’s all you eat) I don’t lose anything like that. I did a low calorie diet for around 12 weeks and lost no weight at all. Try not to compare yourself to others and just work on finding your own balance that works for you

@BIWI carbs for today is 185 out of 236

I'm surprised it's not higher actually because I had pasta bake with cheese.

I'm starting to think this My fitness pal is full of it.

A goal/limit of 71g of sugar per day? That seems awfully high?

@ifyoulikepinacolada

You’re right - that the more you have to lose the quicker it will drop off at first. But if you’re looking to make a sensible lifestyle shift I’m a bit mystified that you aren’t eating any vegetables?

Honestly, I'm a bit of a vegetable dodger. I have plenty on a Sunday roast but that's it.

I try to compensate for that by eating lots of fruit.

I could definitely try harder there.

www.iifym.com is a good one for numbers planning g

OK that may be your issue.

You are avoiding high fiber, slow digesting and filling veg for high calories fast digesting sugar.

I’m a similar weight and walked 0.8 miles further than you today: 324 calories according to my Apple Watch. I think MFP may overestimate (I walk fast too!)

@sassa8

A goal/limit of 71g of sugar per day? That seems awfully high?

As per the other goals it was generated automatically, on the basis I want to lose 2lb per week.

If I upgrade to premium I get alot more autonomy over editing goals and tweaking settings. I'm using the basic free version atm

I'm really sorry to hear what you've been through. I can relate to a degree because I developed an unintentional E.D when I was 18 after going through trauma. It wasn't that I didn't want to it, I was just so stressed for an extended period that I just couldn't. After a couple of months of barely eating at all I realised I then couldn't eat properly as my body wasn't used to it. I went from a size 10 to a 4 and looked awful for a good 12-18 months. This all happened as a result of DV and when I got away from the situation I got better and now I've come full circle and actually need to lose weight now. I really hope you're able to get a handle of your situation and become healthier

Wow.

That is almost word for word what happened to me. DV, not able to eat, not knowing how to eat...... the only difference is the age, I was 45. My ex attempted to kill me and was removed by the police and.....you know. Then I spent a year trying to get my career back on track which led to 15 hour days 25,000 steps a day usually (hospitality, food led so running around almost constantly) and the weight just dropped off. Now I dont consider myself needing food until I would bite the balls off a low flying duck!

I need to relearn how eat. But because I am now slim and my self confidence is back I have kind of confused my size as being the causal effect of my confidence. Deep down I know that the re-emerging of my self esteem is because I am no longer with my abuse but part of me thinks "If I eat more, I will get fat again. If I get fat again I will have no confidence. If I have no confidence I will get abused".

Thank you for helping me realise I am not the only one who has ended up this way for the same reason.

@Howmanysleepsnow

I’m a similar weight and walked 0.8 miles further than you today: 324 calories according to my Apple Watch. I think MFP may overestimate (I walk fast too!)

Ugh I'm about ready to delete this poxy app

YANBU but this is really common knowledge isn’t it?

Try MyFitnessPal

I have to say that IME My Fitness Pal is very inconsistent and unreliable.

No idea why your goal for carbs is 238 either! But then MFP is set up to reflect current guidance, which is that we should eat a high carb/medium protein/low fat diet.

But as you're finding, high carbs do not work for you!

Looking at your day, these are the changes I'd suggest:

3 wheat bixies (like weetabix) for breakfast in skimmed milk with a cup of ovaltine, no sugar

This is a huge amount of carbohydrate. You'd be far better off having something like 2 poached eggs on a slice of wholemeal toast, with a cup of tea/coffee.

For lunch either a slimfast milkshake (250 calories) or and a banana with a few crackers. Sometimes i have a fibre one bar (90cals)

Again, really carby - especially the banana! Why not something like tuna mayo with a salad, with a vinaigrette dressing?

Dinner is usually things like spaghetti Bolognese with a pinch of cheese, jerk chicken with rice, pasta bake, tomato soup and a ciabatta roll. It varies day to day. I don't have large portions of any of the above though. I've almost halved my portion size

All carb-based options again. Cut out the pasta/rice/bread - so something like jerk chicken with roasted vegetables and a salad, or the Bolognese sauce on a bed of finely sliced/boiled cabbage, or courgetti, or salmon fillet with stir-fried vegetables?

I have another ovaltine drink before bed then that's me done for the day

More carbs - do you really need this before bed? How much plain water are you drinking?

YANBU. At this weight differential, you basically have to earn to eat (and exercise) like the slimmer person you want to be and accept that the loss will be gradual, unless you're prepared to constantly yoyo.

If you are not filling up with vegetables then chances are you are eating more calories than you think. Weigh your food for a week or so and add up the calories. Stick to 1200 a day. I think a Fitbit is more accurate than MFP for calculating calories used.

Yeah it's the basic version I use set to a 2lb loss but the limits aren't nearly as high. I also agree the exercise calorie counter is useless.

PyongyangKipperbang

Oh love I'm so sorry, you are definitely not alone

Infact his ex after me ended up in exactly the same situation, she went from a healthy size to being dangerously thin. It's awful how those types of people are able to affect us, not just mentally but physically too.

Deep down I know that the re-emerging of my self esteem is because I am no longer with my abuser

Spot on. That is exactly it.

In my case, I'm fairly confident now I'm rid of that man despite being a bit podgy

You can do this x

Just keep going- half a pound a week is great and sustainable.

Yes, MyFitnessPal overestimates exercise calories, but even without the exercise at around 1500 calories you should still be in a deficit. And it's only been a couple of weeks - just think where you'll be in a couple of months if you keep doing exactly what you're doing!