Weight is not coming off....Why??

Sued0nim

drawing a line under all this

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to get out of your plateau you need to

weigh and log your food accurately
track your exercise more appropriately - using an HRM would be good for steady-state cycling - or just map your distance and log on MFP but eat back 50 - 75%

you can do it - it's frustrating when you plateau - it just takes renewed effort and focus

SingRunTing

http://www.acaloriecounter.com/blog/why-am-i-not-losing-weight/

Extremely helpful article. It uses humor to make a point, but those points are valid. Go through them in order.

AnthonyThrashD

When I plateau, like most people that replied, I suspect my calories IN and calories OUT calculations are off. Sometimes, I will stop exercise for 7 days, so I have no calories OUT to track. This simplifies tracking, and if I begin losing, I know I've over estimating calories burned. If don't begin losing, the next step would be to lower calories IN by 100-200 per day and go another 7 days without exercise. Then gradually bring back exercise. The online calculators are nice, but you can sort this problem out by isolation and adjustments. I recommend using a HRM, even if they are only 80% accurate, that is far better than being off by 300%

best of luck!

DawnieB1977

Is the OP eating back exercise calories though? If not, the calories he burns/thinks he burns are irrelevant really. I don't ever eat back exercise calories.

jessiemjporter

colindp wrote: »

Hi,

Desperation is now setting in...the details....I am a 55 yr old male current weight is 114kg.

OK, so it's not all bad I started out at 124kg and a trip to the doctors to see what was the best way to ward off type 2 diabetes, I have been reasonably active for a while but due to a significant knee trauma a year ago mobility has been seriously affected hence the 124kg.
So my doctor undertook blood testing...nothing there....sent me to a dietitian got loads of good advice.

I have for a number of years commuted to work by bicycle but again due to knee injury this had to be put on hold...however I was finally able to get back seriously riding again and my commute each day totals 35km and burns around 2100 calories I often try to get a longer ride in at the weekend with the maximum distance covered so far being 64km and burned over 3,000 calories. However for the last two months I have failed to lose a single gram considering I am following dietitian advice and sticking to their programme, I guess my daily intake is around 1800.
So to recap burning approx 2100 per day, intake approx 1800 per day...weight loss per week 0???
Anyone out there got any ideas...please!!!

Thanks
Colin....

i know how it feels and i was stuck on a big plateau and this past week it has started to go down again, because im actually eating a bit more... i think it is all about changing things up a bit. i was so frustrated i wanted to lose just even 0.5lb to prove it to myself that things are still moving and now it is~~ just try something a bit new i actually did the 5:2 last week and i think it kick started me. current im back to doing what i was when i first started losing weight and its working again. stick to what you know and let your body tell you. it will budge~~ one think i notices is that dairy is quite bad for the weight side, perhaps if you have a large amount, recude it but never cut out something you love... you will always miss it. good luck!!~~

Spocky

If someone spent years riding a bike and does that everyday again the body can get used to it. I would advise strength training of course being gentle with your knee.

RoseyDgirl

could it be that you have low-grade allergies to some of the foods you're eating? inflamation could also prevent weightloss.

jgnatca

Now that you are active again, have you noticed any other body changes; are you trimming up?

concordancia

I would be very wary of anything that told me I burned that many calories bike riding, mostly downhill.

First, how does one go mostly downhill (11m ascent, with 63m descent)? Do you get a ride back up again?

Second, most people would be maxed out burning 1000kcal an hour, much less in just over half an hour! I biked a similar distance this weekend, on a crappy 3 speed, 20" wheel bike, and I still doubt that I burned even 500 calories.

sijomial

Spocky wrote: »

If someone spent years riding a bike and does that everyday again the body can get used to it. I would advise strength training of course being gentle with your knee.

Remember your body getting used to exercise doesn't mean you burn less calories. People often confuse perceived effort with energy expenditure - which is down to physics.
Certainly agree about strength training to support damaged knees though.

OP - those calorie burns for your cycling sound far, far too high to me.
1134 for your 18.5km - I seriously doubt that. As a comparison I estimated just over 3000cals for a 180km ride!

Think your estimates are badly exagerated. Maybe try some alternative free tracking apps as a no cost option? Strava or Runkeeper perhaps?

colindp

DawnieB1977 wrote: »

I'd say a bike ride like that would burn around 350-400 calories, max. I've used a HRM for spinning before. While I appreciate spinning is indoors, there are no hills, just resistance, and no wind or anything to worry about, but it's close enough. I burned about 350 calories in 45 mins of hardcore spinning.

Maybe vary your exercise a bit. If you cycle a lot your body is probably used to it. I second strength training.

I also agree with logging food and weighing to to be accurate, although some people do take it a bit far.

Thanks for the advice to be honest although I commute daily by bike i vary the route each day as much as i can to prevent becoming to used to the routine, I also undertake the odd spin class will look at the strength training element as well

colindp

concordancia wrote: »

I would be very wary of anything that told me I burned that many calories bike riding, mostly downhill.

First, how does one go mostly downhill (11m ascent, with 63m descent)? Do you get a ride back up again?

Second, most people would be maxed out burning 1000kcal an hour, much less in just over half an hour! I biked a similar distance this weekend, on a crappy 3 speed, 20" wheel bike, and I still doubt that I burned even 500 calories.

Yes I ride back again...this is my daily commute to and from the office

colindp

jgnatca wrote: »

Now that you are active again, have you noticed any other body changes; are you trimming up?

Yes....so that's a big bonus

colindp

For those that have suggested I use an app I was using Endomondo tracker but given the extreme overestimation of calories burned I have switched to Strava...the same 18km ride this morning Strava says 535 calories, which would still seem high based on some of the comments here. attached is an average day intake....http://www.myfitnesspal.com/food/diary?date=2014-11-20

colindp

DawnieB1977 wrote: »

Is the OP eating back exercise calories though? If not, the calories he burns/thinks he burns are irrelevant really. I don't ever eat back exercise calories.

Simple answer No I'm not....I am not one of those that believes if something contains half the fat then eating double the amount is OK!!!

colindp

Thanks again to everyone I take all your comments and advice on board, will stick with it and see how things progress.

Mr_Knight

colindp wrote: »

So to recap burning approx 2100 per day, intake approx 1800 per day...weight loss per week 0???

Obviously you're over-estimating your burn and under-estimating your intake.

Open your diary.

Kevalicious99

I see 2 things .. you are not burning those calories. I cycle and those numbers seem way out to lunch. And .. if I read this right, you are eating 1800 and burning 2100. Hmm .. that is -300 if my grade 2 math is right. So .. sorry OP, smells very fishy. I would agree with what has been said .. over estimating your burn, and under estimating your calories. The result .. maintenance. I would just assume you are not weighing your food as I cannot see your diary .. thus the real problem here.

acogg

Also keep in mind that you HAVE lost weight. As you lose weight, the weight loss rate will slow, sometimes becoming excruciatingly slow. If your goal weight requires 1800 calories per day to maintain and you are eating 1700 calories per day (a hypothetical example) it will take a month to lose one pound. Add in fluctuations from sodium, exercise, timing of stepping on the scale, etc., and you can think your aren't making progress, when you are! Keep at it, keep adjusting, mix in a few lower calorie days, burn a few more calories on other days. And yes, everyone is correct, a food scale is a must. Log faithfully and be patient. Remember, this is a new lifestyle, so take the time to learn everything you can about healthy eating and exercise so that you can continue in your new habits without having to give it a second thought. Good luck!

dbmata

I think the 500 or so for the ride is still high, but definitely closer to reality. Good change. I know a lot of bike folks that love strava.