Been working out and under my calorie goal for two weeks. No progress.

ccortesemusic

I workout out 3-4 times a week. I do cardio classes at my gym, and do weights on the other days. I have been under my calorie goal everyday for two weeks.

All I've lost is 1/2 a pound. I know I sound selfish, but why isn't it more?
Medical Info: I have to take a small steroid for a condition I have. I heard it makes you gain weight. I've been taking it for 6 years.

Any tips/suggestions? I'm really worried I'll never be able to lose this weight!

janejellyroll

If you open your diary, you may get some useful advice.

kimondo666

my guess is water retention in muscles if you did micro damaged muscle tissue. Muscle tissue hog water to repair itself.

jenncornelsen

what do u have your weight loss set at ? 2lb a week? are u eating back your exercise calories?

ccortesemusic

I never eat my exercise calories. I'm at 1 pound a week. I might hop it up to 2. Maybe then I'll get more progress.

_Waffle_

ccortesemusic wrote: »

Any tips/suggestions? I'm really worried I'll never be able to lose this weight!

Unpossible! If you're under calorie goal you lose weight because science. Take a closer look at your calorie intake and make sure you're not missing anything or adding anything incorrectly

ruggedshutter

There are a few things that can be going on.

1. The medication may be having an effect but only your doctor could tell you for sure.
2. Do you have a digital food scale and weigh all of the food that you eat?
3. Are you confirming the entries in the database with the packages that you have (some entries are wrong in the database)
4. Patience patience patience

Starting a new routine can shock our bodies and sometimes it may take a couple of weeks to show a difference on the scale. This is due to water retention to repair muscles. Try using a cloth tape and look for changes in your waist as well as the scale. There is an entry area for these measurements in MFP and you can track them just like weight.

If you don't have a food scale, you can purchase one on Amazon for under $20. Find one that is rated high and has the features that you want. You will probably want one that can measure in grams and ounces and that is accurate to 0.1 grams or thereabout.

Good luck

TimothyFish

If you've been taking the steroid for 6 years, I'm pretty sure that any weight it is going to cause you to gain you've already gained. Sometimes you won't see results for three weeks, but it could be that you are eating more than you realize.

kshadows

ruggedshutter wrote: »

There are a few things that can be going on.

1. The medication may be having an effect but only your doctor could tell you for sure.
2. Do you have a digital food scale and weigh all of the food that you eat?
3. Are you confirming the entries in the database with the packages that you have (some entries are wrong in the database)
4. Patience patience patience

Starting a new routine can shock our bodies and sometimes it may take a couple of weeks to show a difference on the scale. This is due to water retention to repair muscles. Try using a cloth tape and look for changes in your waist as well as the scale. There is an entry area for these measurements in MFP and you can track them just like weight.

If you don't have a food scale, you can purchase one on Amazon for under $20. Find one that is rated high and has the features that you want. You will probably want one that can measure in grams and ounces and that is accurate to 0.1 grams or thereabout.

Good luck

QFT

dawnna76

unless your weighing your food intake and calculating for it all it could be your over eating and not realizing it. and two weeks is nothing, it took time to gain the weight its going to take time to lose it. most people expect quick changes and unfortunatly it all takes time.

dgirllamius

Are you logging accurately? I mean, do you weigh everything you eat?

I had the same problem - I thought I was eating under my goal and "logging" things but I wasn't weighing things - I was seriously overestimating. Once I started weighing everything, and I mean everything, the weight started to come off.

It could also be water retention from your exercise. I've just started doing a kettlebell workout after months of nothing and I've gained "3lbs" in 2 days haha.

Get yourself some digital scales and start weighing. It could well be that you're all wrong in your logging.

plumppork

I am going through same thing. Lost one pound in last 3 weeks and have been working out 4 times a week. I would suggest to make sure you take all your measurements because that's where you might find results before you see them on the scale. Stay strong and keep going!

jemhh

Get a digital kitchen scale. Weigh all of your food and log it accurately. If you cannot weigh it for some reason, measure it with measuring cups/spoons and log it accurately. If you cannot weigh or measure it for some reason, do a good job of estimating it (google "food portion sizes" for a visual chart) and log it accurately.

leggup

Are you weighing and logging all of your food using a food scale? Clearly you are at a deficit, since you have lost some weight, but you might not be at as much of a deficit as you think. Open your diary.

Are you sure you're using the correct entries for everything? Open your diary.

How is your sodium level? Open your diary.

Even when I eat at a deficit I don't lose the same amount of weight each week. I was set to lose 2 lbs each week and I would lose .5 then lose 5 lbs then gain 2 and so on. Weight loss isn't linear. Assuming you're being accurate, it takes about two months of data to determine your avg weight loss.

rosebette

How much weight do you need to lose? If you are within 10 lbs. of your goal weight, you might lose only .5 a lb a week or so. Typically, those who are more seriously overweight lose more quickly because they have more to lose and the changes to their diet and exercise level are more dramatic.

californiagirl2012

Many of us don't see a change in two weeks or even up to four weeks. Fat loss is very random and drops off in "chunks" which can be water. The body weight scale is only good as a trend tool over time. You have to be consistent and patient for weeks on end and the results are delayed. You just gotta keep going is all. For real. And like others have said this slows down as you get leaner. Also it's slower for shorter people because one pound of fat is a bigger percentage of overall body weight.

Set your sights on the process rather than the results. The results come later.

maxit

If you are a female with a menstrual cycle, your weight will cycle each month due to hormonal influences that affect water retention. You may well have lost weight (i.e., body mass) which is being masked. Give it another couple of weeks.

just_a_jessi

1. make sure you dont underestimate how much youre eating (weigh/measure everything)
2. make sure you're not overestimating how much you burn in your workout

juggernaut1974

What's your current weight/how close are you to your goal? If you don't have much to lose 1/2 lb in two weeks is going to be a fairly common occurrence.

jemhh

Her profile says she wants to lose 124 pounds. My guess is that the problem is not weighing or measuring food accurately.

juggernaut1974

jemhh wrote: »

Her profile says she wants to lose 124 pounds. My guess is that the problem is not weighing or measuring food accurately.

I guess that counts my advice out too.

Who thinks of actually looking at people's profiles before offering advice??? Sheesh...

-1 gold star for me today.

jessicapk

Weight fluctuates pretty dramatically on a day to day basis. Either swap to weighing daily and watch trends or weigh once a week with the knowledge that you may have been 3 lbs lighter the previous day. Could have eaten way too much sodium or approaching that time of the month. Believe it or not, people on restricted calorie diets typically drop pounds the day after eating a huge meal. In turn, you can go for an hour long bike ride and eat 1000 calories under your goal for that day and weigh 3 lbs heavier the next day. It's all natural fluctuations and mostly water related. Remember that water is approximately 8lbs / gallon. It adds up. Weight loss does not go in a straight line because it is much more complicated than that. The attached image is my weight loss of 30 lbs over the past few months. The jagged lines are daily weigh in's and the straighter line is my "trending" weight, which basically smooths and averages out the daily weigh in's. See how insane it is? But see what direction it's going in? Don't freak out over your first two weeks. The body is so much more complicated than we give it credit for.

drkuhl2017

I went through something similar recently. I've been on my weight loss journey for a few years now and recently gained back all the weight I lost because I wasn't tracking. A few weeks back, I started eating healthier and exercising regularly again. My weigh-in this past week said that I gained a pound even though I didn't eat 3500 extra calories. I'm not going to worry about this "gain" because it isn't real. Our bodies need to get used to eating right and exercising.

As another poster said, our muscles retain water to help them repair after a workout. This is a possibility of why you're not seeing results on the scale. Also, as a woman, our hormones affect our weight a great deal. Are you taking measurements? If not, I recommend it because often I see results in my measurements before I see them on the scale. Make sure you're measuring your food accurately, that's key. Finally, just be patient! It takes some time to really see results. Don't give up. Keep working hard and you will see some results.

RockstarWilson

Medication won't make you gain weight unless it has calories. Medication only influences your decision-making when it comes to food, such as sending your brain hunger signals when you are not actually hungry, etc. Weight gain over long term (T>1 week) is due to over-consumption of food as it relates to energy expenditure. If you haven't lost weight, it is because you are eating more than you need still, and need to come down in calories. Regardless of whether you track properly or work out, that is the only case it can be in a timespan of two weeks, assuming you track every day and regulate water consumption.

this, of course, is just my opinion. I am no medical doctor, and definitely not a woman, so I could be completely wrong in this, but I follow the Laws of Conservation.

Onesnap

Often if you are falling under your goals your body will not let go of any extra weight. I would try to log the exercise and meet the goals not fall under them. You have to fuel your machine.

keithandsteph2012

ccortesemusic wrote: »

I workout out 3-4 times a week. I do cardio classes at my gym, and do weights on the other days. I have been under my calorie goal everyday for two weeks.

All I've lost is 1/2 a pound. I know I sound selfish, but why isn't it more?
Medical Info: I have to take a small steroid for a condition I have. I heard it makes you gain weight. I've been taking it for 6 years.

Any tips/suggestions? I'm really worried I'll never be able to lose this weight!

keithandsteph2012

Some of the most popular questions being asked about the 3 day military diet continue to be about food substitutes. Dieters want to know what they can eat in place of certain food items on the original menu? The 3 day military diet menu calls for certain foods because many sources explain, it is a chemical reaction between these foods that causes the weight loss. Some agree with this and some don’t. Some say it is just a lower calorie intake diet and that’s why the weight comes off. Either way, since the 3 day military diet is only three days, you can easily experiment and see which foods work for you. If you don’t succeed the first time around, just try again.

Remember, it is always best to stay as close as you can to the original 3 day military diet food list and menu. Make sure you eat the same amount of calories if you use an of these substitute. Only use these substitutes if absolutely necessary, don't re-do the entire menu with all kinds of substitutes and alternate foods just because you like one over the other.

Here are some food substitution ideas that may work for each day's food items.

DAY 1 Breakfast Alternatives
Grapefruit Substitutions:
Orange, Mandarin Oranges

Toast Substitutions:
Whole Grain Cereal, Rice Cake, Tortilla
Saltine Crackers

Peanut Butter Substitutions:
Soy Butter, Almond Butter, Hummus
Most any nut or seed butter would be ok.

Coffee or Tea Substitutions:
Green Tea
Sugar Free Hot Coco (Made with water)

DAY 1 Lunch Alternatives
Tuna Substitutions:
Cottage Cheese, Chicken, Tofu
Pumpkin Seeds or Almonds

Toast Substitutions:
Whole Grain Cereal
Rice Cake
Tortilla, Saltine Crackers

Coffee or Tea Substitutions:
Green Tea
Sugar Free Hot Coco (Made with water)

DAY 1 Dinner Alternatives
Meat Substitutions:
Tofu, Portobello Mushrooms, Beans

Green Bean Substitutions:
Spinach, Lettuce, Tomato
Any other green vegetables are ok

Banana Substitutions:
Apricots, Grapes, Kiwis

Apple Substitutions:
Zucchini, Peaches or Apricots, Grapes
Nectarine, Pears or Plums

Ice Cream Substitutions:
Frozen Yogurt, Fruit Yogurt, Apple Sauce

DAY 2 Breakfast Alternatives

Hard Boiled Egg Substitutions:
Scrambled Egg
Chicken, Nuts or Seeds
Bacon (2 Slices)

Toast Substitutions:
Whole Grain Cereal
Rice Cake
Tortilla
Saltine Crackers

Banana Substitutions:
Apricots
Grapes
Kiwis

DAY 2 Lunch Alternatives

Cottage Cheese Substitutes:
Cheddar Cheese, Ricotta Cheese
Plain Greek Yogurt, Egg
Slice of Ham

Hard Boiled Egg Substitutions:
Scrambled egg
Chicken
Nuts or Seeds
Bacon (2 Slices)

Saltine Cracker Substitutions:
Rice Cake
Plain Toast
Whole Grain Cereal

DAY 2 Dinner Alternatives

Hot Dog Substitutes:
Bratwurst, Baloney (Similar deli meat)
Beans, Turkey, Soy, Veggie or Tofu Dogs

Banana Substitutions:
Apricots, Grapes, Kiwis

Broccoli Substitutions:
Cauliflower, Brussel Sprouts, Asparagus
Beet Root, Cabbage

Carrot Substitutions:
Celery, Bell Pepper, Beets, Squash
Small Salad (No Dressing)

Ice Cream Substitutions:
Frozen Yogurt, Fruit Yogurt, Apple Sauce

keithandsteph2012

This diet works great

ruggedshutter

keithandsteph2012 wrote: »

Some of the most popular questions being asked about the 3 day military diet continue to be about food substitutes. Dieters want to know what they can eat in place of certain food items on the original menu? The 3 day military diet menu calls for certain foods because many sources explain, it is a chemical reaction between these foods that causes the weight loss. Some agree with this and some don’t. Some say it is just a lower calorie intake diet and that’s why the weight comes off. Either way, since the 3 day military diet is only three days, you can easily experiment and see which foods work for you. If you don’t succeed the first time around, just try again.

Remember, it is always best to stay as close as you can to the original 3 day military diet food list and menu. Make sure you eat the same amount of calories if you use an of these substitute. Only use these substitutes if absolutely necessary, don't re-do the entire menu with all kinds of substitutes and alternate foods just because you like one over the other.

Here are some food substitution ideas that may work for each day's food items.

DAY 1 Breakfast Alternatives
Grapefruit Substitutions:
Orange, Mandarin Oranges

Toast Substitutions:
Whole Grain Cereal, Rice Cake, Tortilla
Saltine Crackers

Peanut Butter Substitutions:
Soy Butter, Almond Butter, Hummus
Most any nut or seed butter would be ok.

Coffee or Tea Substitutions:
Green Tea
Sugar Free Hot Coco (Made with water)

DAY 1 Lunch Alternatives
Tuna Substitutions:
Cottage Cheese, Chicken, Tofu
Pumpkin Seeds or Almonds

Toast Substitutions:
Whole Grain Cereal
Rice Cake
Tortilla, Saltine Crackers

Coffee or Tea Substitutions:
Green Tea
Sugar Free Hot Coco (Made with water)

DAY 1 Dinner Alternatives
Meat Substitutions:
Tofu, Portobello Mushrooms, Beans

Green Bean Substitutions:
Spinach, Lettuce, Tomato
Any other green vegetables are ok

Banana Substitutions:
Apricots, Grapes, Kiwis

Apple Substitutions:
Zucchini, Peaches or Apricots, Grapes
Nectarine, Pears or Plums

Ice Cream Substitutions:
Frozen Yogurt, Fruit Yogurt, Apple Sauce

DAY 2 Breakfast Alternatives

Hard Boiled Egg Substitutions:
Scrambled Egg
Chicken, Nuts or Seeds
Bacon (2 Slices)

Toast Substitutions:
Whole Grain Cereal
Rice Cake
Tortilla
Saltine Crackers

Banana Substitutions:
Apricots
Grapes
Kiwis

DAY 2 Lunch Alternatives

Cottage Cheese Substitutes:
Cheddar Cheese, Ricotta Cheese
Plain Greek Yogurt, Egg
Slice of Ham

Hard Boiled Egg Substitutions:
Scrambled egg
Chicken
Nuts or Seeds
Bacon (2 Slices)

Saltine Cracker Substitutions:
Rice Cake
Plain Toast
Whole Grain Cereal

DAY 2 Dinner Alternatives

Hot Dog Substitutes:
Bratwurst, Baloney (Similar deli meat)
Beans, Turkey, Soy, Veggie or Tofu Dogs

Banana Substitutions:
Apricots, Grapes, Kiwis

Broccoli Substitutions:
Cauliflower, Brussel Sprouts, Asparagus
Beet Root, Cabbage

Carrot Substitutions:
Celery, Bell Pepper, Beets, Squash
Small Salad (No Dressing)

Ice Cream Substitutions:
Frozen Yogurt, Fruit Yogurt, Apple Sauce

I think you are in the wrong thread...

brianpperkins

keithandsteph2012 wrote: »

This diet works great

It's a fad diet that isn't sustainable. The fact it has to lie about an association with the military is telling. If you think it is a great plan, you are wrong and your advice isn't worth taking.

kiwikara

Make sure you are eating enough! Eating too-little will restrict weight loss as your body will hold on to all the fat it can, thinking it may be being starved!