Counting Calories not working

[alam89]

I have had my fitbit for a few months now but just realized a few weeks ago that I could log food with the app. I have started seriously counting calories and I log everything that I eat with the app. I have been eating around 1500 calories a day, down from who knows how many before. And I have been walking every day and usually end up with around 800 to 1000 more calories output than in. I haven't seen any results. I am not expecting 10 pounds to be gone but in 2 weeks I have lost maybe one. I haven't exercised up until this point really so I'm easing myself into it and have just downloaded the couch to 5k app to help me get into running. I currently weigh 270 pounds. Any advice, am I just expecting results too soon or should I be doing something different?

[kathga]

Hi alam89!  Counting calories can be a bit of a hampster wheel, in my opinion.  Sure, calories count, but our metobolic health also counts. If our machine isn't fed right and rested right, then it's not in the metobolic position to lose.  We need to eat good nutrition, have good rest, and  to make our bodies fat burning machines. Stay away from refined foods and eat whole foods.  (I follow a Paleo-style diet as my basis.  I didn't even weigh myself in the first 30 days, just concentrated on taking care of myself and giving my body a rest from all the junk I'd been feeding it.  I did end up losing 8 pounds in the first month and another 40 over the next 6 months.) Another thing to keep in mind is when you start a new exercise plan with gusto, your muscles can hold some water for a couple of weeks--seen that happen with a lot of my friends. You may see a drop real soon!   If you don't, maybe take a look at your nutrition, carb level, and amount of rest.  You've got a great start!  

[Heybales]

You weigh 270, and your daily burn is only 2300-2500 ? (eat 1500, burn 800-1000 more).

Or, do you mean your eating goal is 800-1000 more while you eat 1500?

Because your eating goal is going to already have a deficit in it from your burn goal.

I merely ask because you are not using the exact terms the tiles use, so I'm wondering if you are reading the right thing.

Because you should be able to support a 1000 cal day deficit with that much to lose - unless you were eating a whole lot less than that previously and had already slowed your system down - meaning the calorie burn for the day Fitbit is giving you is inflated.

Walking may be enough of a workout to you that merely doing more of it indeed causes water retention, endema in your case possibly in joints. Anything seem swelled up?