So I calculated my BMR and have been counting calories for three days now. I'm eating about 1500 calories a day. So far I feel STARVED! When will I start seeing a difference on the scale? Here is my typical menu:

*low calorie eggwhite and canadian bacon breakfast sandwich (from Aldi) 210 calories
*6 oz of raw carrots for a snack 70 calories
*lean cuisne meal for lunch 200-300 calories
*individual size of frozen veggies for lunch 80-100 calories
*lean cuisine meal for early supper 200-300 calories
*lean cuisine meal for late supper 200-300 calories
*spinach with low calorie salad dressing and parmasean cheese 100 calories


I am defiantly needing some motivation!

Before this I ate a horrible diet: lots of drive thru, carryout, condiments, red meat, candy, and pasta. I estimate that I was consuming about 3,000-4,000 calories per day. EKE!
Thanks in advance!

It takes more than 3 days that's for sure, I actually didn't weigh myself for the first 6 weeks and I lost around 17lbs (mainly water weight) I've been on this since march and I've lost almost 60 lbs it's quite a long process but it's worth it

Calculating your BMR then figuring your calories was a good start! It could be the Lean Cuisines are not a good idea, they have alot of sodium.

Thanks ladies. I'm hoping I see some sort of results by December (even if it's only a few pounds) to keep me motivated through the holidays! I will check out the sodium thing too. I never thought of that!

Are you sensitive to sodium by any chance? The frozen dinners and canadian bacon have a lot of salt in them and might be making you retain water.

Yes, the sodium in the Lean Cuisines might be masking some of your progress, but definitely 3 days is not that much time. Hang in there! It's SO worth it!

Lots of water too! At first lean quisines are very convienet but as you move
Forward in your journey you will learn the best way for you to get the most for your calories

So not to sound stupid, but I am confused. If sodium makes people retain water, will increasing the amount of water I drink make me retain MORE sodium?

The water will actually help you flush out some of that sodium.

Congrats on getting started! It's impossible to say when you will start seeing results as it differs for everyone but not likely in three days.

I also agree about trying to cut out the Lean Cuisines -- you can cook fresh veggies very quickly in the microwave. But it does take a bit of time to get our eating plan worked out, and you have just started; you will no doubt improve things as you go along.

It is work and it takes time but yes, it is sooooooooooooooooo worth it!!! You can do it!

It definitely takes more than three days. But I also think your diet can't be helping- Lean Cuisine leaves me famished!!! If you want frozen meals, try Amy's, which are more full of protein and fiber, and keep you fuller. Other filling snacks include wasa crackers (I like light and crisp type), veggies, greek yogurt, popcorn (without all that salt and butter- I air pop it).

The key is upping your fiber, protein, and water. And for me, it's also avoiding sugar and refined sugar, which make me much more hungry.

Even with the lean cuisines, 1500 cals a day will show some loss eventually. Just keep going. I've been going for a few months, stalled out and started to lose my motivation. A week of frozen meals has helped me get back on track.

It bears noting that sodium can't make you retain enough water to mask weight loss indefinitely. Let's say you weigh 200 pounds. If you eat a lot of sodium you'll retain more water and may go up to, say, 203 pounds. But you won't keep going up and up -- there's a ceiling. So if you lose 10 pounds of fat, the scale may show 190 pounds if you don't have much sodium in your system and 193 pounds if you do.

For me, the Lean Cuisine meals wouldn't be satisfying because they're tiny (low volume) and taste a bit artificial. I find it a lot more satisfying to eat a large bowl of tuna salad with mayonnaise and lots of veggies, large tortilla pizza, very large Asian soup bowl (all homemade), etc.

In your shoes I would be concentrating on finding the foods that are the most personally satisfying, rather than putting all the focus on convenience.

F.

For me each time I am on a plan the weight loss is different. Normally I lose five pounds just in the first two weeks. But this time the weight loss was so slow! I think I lost a pound every two weeks at some point. After 2.5 months I am down just under 10 pounds. Its never been this slow before! But eventually it is coming off, that's the important part.
I do personally think you should eat at least 2000 calories a day. 1500 is just not enough and you are going to feel hungry. Personally I set a goal of 1700 day and before I was eating up to 2500 but usually 2300 so for you from 1500 to 4000 there is a huge difference and your body will just feel starved and you won't be able to handle that for long. (I'm just trying to be helpful dont take it the wrong way).

Thanks everyone I think I am going to post another thread about good low-calorie meals.