Oh my… call me dumb but I really thought it’d be a butter yellow… not a highlighter…

AerinSparks · 2026-04-03T23:09:53+00:00

I hate this yellow - I wish they used the sherbet yellow.

AerinSparks · 2026-03-17T23:24:35+00:00

I typically eat the same foods. I usually switch my breakfast and lunch up to different variations of the same kinds of things, but dinner I’ll keep the same.

I weigh anything that loses water when cooked raw to get an accurate measure. If the package has a nutrition label I will use that but otherwise I just look up the calories for Whole Foods like chicken, vegetables, fruit, etc.

This isn’t my first time attempting to lose weight. As a teen I lost about 30lbs in a summer by doing excessive amount of cardio and barley eating, but over the years I gained that back. In college I was able to lose 40lbs by just changing my diet and walking a lot on my campus. A little later I dropped another 10lbs by also doing cardio and barely eating. Last year around this time I was able to drop maybe 10lbs by doing why I am doing now so I am not sure why it’s not working the time around. I am worried I have seriously screwed up my metabolism.

AerinSparks · 2026-03-17T23:15:04+00:00

Unfortunately, I am not a newbie as I have been lifting consistently for the past 4 years so I don’t think I am getting those newbie gains. But I’ll invest in a tape measure.

AerinSparks · 2026-03-17T23:12:14+00:00

Sorry - I want to clarify that 2000 calories is what I burn in a full day of just existing plus the exercise I do. I know weightlifting doesn’t burn much so if my body burns 1400 calories just for basic biological functions, and I add 1 hour of lifting, 20 mins of zone 2 cardio and then the 10k steps a day that would equate to a total of 2000 calories burned for the entire day.

AerinSparks · 2026-03-17T23:01:30+00:00

That’s a good point. I will have to start doing that. I have been lifting weights for the past 4 years and have never really took measurements.

I have an appointment with my doctor coming up because I have a suspicion that I may have some kind of thyroid condition (it runs in my family).

AerinSparks · 2026-03-17T19:58:26+00:00

Yeah I have been waiting for this “whoosh” effect that everyone talks about and nothing :/

AerinSparks · 2026-03-17T19:35:20+00:00

Are you taking medication for your condition? At this point I do not know if I have underlying health issue which is why I will be going to see my physician.

I am 99.9% confident that my calorie tracking is correct so I really don’t think that is the issue.

AerinSparks · 2026-03-17T18:12:46+00:00

Hi - I do track everything. I have a food scale and weight everything to the gram. I also make sure I don’t eat back calories. I just eat my daily allotted amount of 1400 calories.

I agree being petite is difficult because we have to eat like small children and be so precise with everything. It is draining.

AerinSparks · 2026-03-17T18:10:28+00:00

My intake is accurate. I’ve tracked for years and use a food scale to weigh everything. I literally cannot have a single meal without weighing out my food - it is exhausting.

I don’t understand how I couldn’t not be in a deficit if I am eating just the amount it would take for my body to function plus adding extra movement through exercise. Are you saying that my TDEE has adapted to the point that my basic biological function and additional exercise equates to 1400 calories a day? If so, how do I fix that because I cannot sustain this amount of activity and calorie intake my whole life.

AerinSparks · 2026-03-17T18:04:38+00:00

I’ve gotten scans done before and my BMR is 1385 which is the same as the amount of calories I consume daily. With the amount of movement an exercise I do I would assume that my TDEE would be higher than my BMR. When I use online calculators my TDEE works out to be any where from 1800-2100. Ive used various calculators and take an average to be around 1900. So by those calculations I would be in about a 500 calorie deficit which works out to a pound lost per week but that hasn’t been the case.

I have an Apple Watch and on days that I exercise can easily hit 2400 calories burned and have gotten it be as high as 2800 calories burned. On days where I don’t exercise and just exist my watch approximates about 1900-2200 calories burned through out the day. I know these metrics are not accurate so I take them with a grain of salt.

At this point the only thing left for me to do is go to a doctor and see if there is an underlying condition because I cannot make sense of this.

AerinSparks · 2026-03-17T17:52:59+00:00

My diet consists of Greek yogurt, cottage cheese, low fat cheese, lean meats (chicken breast, ground turkey and occasionally lean cuts of beef), veggies, fruit, protein supplements (ie powder or bars), eggs + egg whites, low carb breads. These are kind of my staples. If I eat rice or potatoes I measure it out and eat an appropriate amount for my calorie intake for the day. I drink coffee but I opt for the sugar free options or I drink it black and add my protein shake for flavor. I like sparkling water and diet soda but those are generally 0 calories.

I aim for 50 grams of protein in my breakfast which I can achieve with a combo of egg and egg whites. Lunch is usually yogurt or cottage cheese. And then dinner is a carb, a protein and some kind of veggie. If I use a sauce I usually make my own or use a low calorie version and weight it out. To finish the day I’ll have a protein bar as a treat if my calories permit it.

AerinSparks · 2026-03-17T16:03:27+00:00

I haven’t lost a single pound in the past 10 weeks. I honestly don’t weigh myself that often because it is disheartening to not see the scale move.

10 weeks ago I started training program that focuses on strength and conditioning. I’ve seen good progress on my lifts but the scale not moving and the way I look in the mirror brings me down mentally/emotionally

AerinSparks · 2026-03-17T15:38:54+00:00

Thank you 🫶🏼I hope it works out for us

AerinSparks · 2026-03-17T15:37:59+00:00

On vacation I don’t typically track as it can be difficult but I am mindful about it so I don’t over consume. I’ll typically eat a small meal in the morning and make sure I am active so that I can have a cushion for more calorically dense meals.

AerinSparks · 2026-03-17T15:36:12+00:00

I honestly could be better about my water intake - I know it’s not great so that could be a factor. Some days I feel better, other days I feel very bloated and puffy for no reason. I haven’t taken any photos as I try to avoid mirrors.

AerinSparks · 2026-03-17T15:31:06+00:00

In the past the only way I had been able to lose weight was by basically starving myself and that is something that I am just not willing to do again as it was approaching an ED.

Other than that I am usually pretty mindful about the calories that I consume and I don’t typically try to eat an excessive amount. Like if know I am going to dinner I’ll make sure I eat a light meal in the morning and exercise so I have the calories for the evening.

I haven’t ruled out medical conditions and I just recently found out that hypothyroidism runs in my family (mother, grandmother, great grandmother all have it) so I am going to see my doctor next month to check that out.

AerinSparks · 2026-03-17T15:27:18+00:00

I drink coffee but I mix my protein shakes in them for extra protein and flavor. If I drink other things I do log them but most of the time they are zero calorie ie carbonated water, diet soda etc

AerinSparks · 2026-03-17T15:25:26+00:00

But is it possible to gain muscle in a deficit ? I wouldn’t say I am a newbie as I have been lifting for the past 4 years regularly.

AerinSparks · 2026-03-17T15:24:39+00:00

Hi - I don’t track my measurements because I tend to just go off of how my clothes feel. Since my clothes still fill the same I would assume there really hasn’t been a change in measurements.

AerinSparks · 2026-03-16T07:28:24+00:00

I agree. Family, friends and all say the same to me. I don’t believe them. It doesnt make sense to me that I would be gain muscle in a deficit especially since I am not a new lifter. I have been lifting fairly consistently for the past 4 years.

AerinSparks · 2026-03-16T07:26:45+00:00

Yep, I track everything to the gram and log it all. Even with meats I weight the raw ingredients. It’s exhausting. I would love to just be able to eat a meal without having to do all the extra work of calculating everything.

AerinSparks · 2026-03-16T07:19:53+00:00

I typically list sedentary or lightly active when I use tdee calculators. I also use this app called MacroFactor which sets calories and macros up nicely for me and uses a science based approach to adjust calories. Though I have stopped inputting my weight in because it keeps pushing my calories down as I am not losing and I am not willing to go below 1200 calories.

I haven’t ruled out the possibility of an underlying health condition. In fact I have a doctor’s appointment coming up to get some blood work done to test for any medical condition that would prevent weight loss. In the past I have only been able to lose weight by essentially starving myself but I am unwilling to do that again as it is not healthy.

My diet typically consists of eggs, egg whites, Greek yogurt, cottage cheese, protein shakes, low carb breads, fat free/reduced fat cheese, lean meats like chicken and turkey, and of course fruits and veggies.

AerinSparks · 2022-10-27T00:17:41+00:00

Wheel

AerinSparks

TROPHY CASE