owhynot
Cathlete
I lost 20 lbs in 2008 by logging everything I put in my mouth at https://www.livestrong.com/login/. I only want to lose 5 lbs and in 8 months I lost 20. I still log in every day.
How long did it take for you
- Thread starter runfree
- Start date
If you only lost 1/2 pound after 2 weeks you were eating too many calories. Because even a mild calorie deficit will get 2 pounds off (mostly water) quickly, then you would plateau. You are 40 years old, so you are not eating too few calories. Your metabolism is slowing at your age.
You said you are eating 1500 to 1800 cals per day. Are you really counting them or just guessing? May I ask if you are weighing your food on a scale? I found that what i thought was 2/3 cup granola when I weighed it on the scale to match the "grams" serving size turned out to measure at about 1/3 a cup. That granola is extremely calorie dense and packs down in the measuring cup. When I switched from cups to a food scale I discovered I was actually eating 200 calories more a day than I thought. I would also recommend weighing any food that is very calorie dense. Calorie density is measured by calories divided by grams per serving. Granola is about a 5, as are nuts. Anything over a 2 needs to be weighed or you can be way off on the calorie estimate just "eyeballing" your serving size.
What worked for me was to eat "normally", that is a healthy diet that seemed to maintain my current weight, then I measured everything and found it was about 1900 cals a day. So I aimed to to cut 300 cals a day to lose about 1/2 to 3/4 a pound a week. It worked like a charm. I have lost 23 pounds in 11 months. I think STS weights really helped with that. Cardio just wasn't having the desired effect anymore at age 52.
Beth
You said you are eating 1500 to 1800 cals per day. Are you really counting them or just guessing? May I ask if you are weighing your food on a scale? I found that what i thought was 2/3 cup granola when I weighed it on the scale to match the "grams" serving size turned out to measure at about 1/3 a cup. That granola is extremely calorie dense and packs down in the measuring cup. When I switched from cups to a food scale I discovered I was actually eating 200 calories more a day than I thought. I would also recommend weighing any food that is very calorie dense. Calorie density is measured by calories divided by grams per serving. Granola is about a 5, as are nuts. Anything over a 2 needs to be weighed or you can be way off on the calorie estimate just "eyeballing" your serving size.
What worked for me was to eat "normally", that is a healthy diet that seemed to maintain my current weight, then I measured everything and found it was about 1900 cals a day. So I aimed to to cut 300 cals a day to lose about 1/2 to 3/4 a pound a week. It worked like a charm. I have lost 23 pounds in 11 months. I think STS weights really helped with that. Cardio just wasn't having the desired effect anymore at age 52.
Beth
I weigh 134 right now. would like to be 125lbs. that is where I feel most comfy. I dont see how 1800 calories could be to much to lose because I was probably eating around 2500 before ,I currently workout 6 days a week between 1hr to 1 1/2 hrs a day. I went from 5 days a week to 6 days and decreased my calories and cut all the junk out. I was eating candy everyday. I havent had chips,cookies,candy etc.... no pop, hardly any bread ,potatoes. I am trying to eat veggies,fruits ,meat. traded ground hamburger for ground turkey etc..
pinkquinn
Cathlete
sometimes even when I clean up my diet, I over eat clean food. 
Peanut butter anyone? If you increased your activity that might explain some water retention. I say give it a month and then change things up.
I am in the exact same position as you weight wise. I want to wieght 125 too. I just had baby #3. If I remember correctly with the other babies eventually it came down to clean, low carb calories, for me to get to goal. My body plateaus at 134. I had to change it up all the time. Zig Zag calories Zig Zag macros.....blah blah blah. I dont know if I have it in me to go there again. Also I think I surmised that I could not lose fat while excersizing. I think my body percieves excersize as stress.
anywhoo...If you figure it out let me know....because I have to fit my butt in bikin in roughtly 3 weeks
Havent even attempted to buy one of those in yeeeeeeeeeeears
Peanut butter anyone? If you increased your activity that might explain some water retention. I say give it a month and then change things up.I am in the exact same position as you weight wise. I want to wieght 125 too. I just had baby #3. If I remember correctly with the other babies eventually it came down to clean, low carb calories, for me to get to goal. My body plateaus at 134. I had to change it up all the time. Zig Zag calories Zig Zag macros.....blah blah blah
. I dont know if I have it in me to go there again. Also I think I surmised that I could not lose fat while excersizing. I think my body percieves excersize as stress.anywhoo...If you figure it out let me know....because I have to fit my butt in bikin in roughtly 3 weeks
Havent even attempted to buy one of those in yeeeeeeeeeeears