I've been counting calories for only 2 weeks now but haven't lost but 1 pound...I stay within my calories as much as possible. I log everything I eat on My Fitness Pal on my cell...what am I doing wrong??
I weigh 224...but need to lose about 50lbs...I try not to eat packaged foods unless its an odd snack. Its veggies or a sandwich for lunch..breakfast cheerios, banana,skim milk...dinner might be chicken baked with veggies & a small portion of a starch. I haven't even wanted to snack at night which is a good thing. But if I do its maybe a rice cake or light popcorn. I have always drank alot of water so I have no problem in that area. I do have a treadmill & get on when I can after work.
Indeed it is important to know how many calories you have been eating and if you are measuring or weighing your foods. Estimating often times does not work (for me certainly not, I'm horrible at estimating), being a couple hundred calories off can be the difference between a deficit and no deficit at all, or an excess.
I wasn't losing on my first several tries at weightloss this time after my fourth baby and what it came down to is my metabolism just stinks. It's not what it used to be so the 1500-1600 cals I used to be able to lose on is now a very strict 1200-1300. Hopefully as I increase my activity the metabolism will improve but it is what it is in the meantime.
Are you weighing/measuring everything? A food scale helps! I learned that not all measuring cups are created equal.
I'm not as obsessive at weighing as once was but certain foods I always weigh (nuts for one). I also weigh everything in a recipe to make sure I get a calorie count as accurate as possible.
this was my problem before as well. same as you ate as clean as possible. But I couldnt lose anythin. Now I have started countin and calorie cycling. I have lost almost 4 pounds in two weeks. Plus exercising of course. Its an idea. If you're interested do some reasearch or PM me. It is supposed to help boost ur metabolism.
Good Luck. I know how frustrating it can be.
I noticed when I first started almost 2 months ago. My eating habits were within calorie range that my fitness pal gave me BUT I wasn't drinking my 8 glasses of water I lost nothing until I got my water intake on track! If your looking for some mfp encouragement feel free to add me as a friend on there !