I've been counting calories now for 4 1/2 weeks. I know that is not a long time in the big picture of everything, but why is it that despite working hard to stay at 1,200 calories a day, I am often the same weight for many days or I don't lose anything? Is it possible that I really am eating too little?
Yesterday I did have one of those prepared dinners (sweet and sour chicken with rice), but it was within my calorie range at 378 calories. Today I woke up and weighed myself and I GAINED 3 pounds! Why? Is it because of sodium? What am I doing wrong?
That brings me to my last issue. If I weigh myself every single day, I find that it makes me too focused on what number will come up on the scale. If I don't lose weight or I even gain some, then I begin to have thoughts like, "Why am I bothering with counting calories? I should just forget it and eat whatever I want because this obviously isn't working!" It makes me angry and moody and I feel like quitting.
I know the point of weighing in every day is to stay on track and to keep yourself from going wild, but I am beginning to think that I might be the type of person who would do better with weekly weigh-ins and instead focus every day on my calorie count or exercise (which I am starting to add in this week). What do you think?
I could just really do with some advice about everything. What do you do if nothing budges on the scale or you gain weight despite sticking to your plan? Should I be trying something else, like eating more calories and seeing if that jump-starts things again? Should I change to weekly weigh-ins?
Thanks for reading me ramble on and on!