What is going on with me?!

kar_yne08 · September 2015

I am so discouraged! 15 days of consistent circuit training and walk/running (5-6days weekly) and MFP tracking with ONE single day over my calories and ZERO lbs lost. What the H?! Please help

kathrynjean_ · September 2015

Do you use a food scale to weigh your food? If not, you're most likely unknowingly logging inaccurately. Cups and tbsp just aren't precise enough measurements for solid food.

As well, if this is a new workout routine, your muscles could be retaining extra water.

You'll get there! Give it time!

mbaker566 · September 2015

kathrynjean_ wrote: »

Do you use a food scale to weigh your food? If not, you're most likely unknowingly logging inaccurately. Cups and tbsp just aren't precise enough measurements for solid food.

As well, if this is a new workout routine, your muscles could be retaining extra water.

You'll get there! Give it time!

what she said

kar_yne08 · September 2015

Hey Kathryn, yeah I have a food scale and have weighed everything that goes into my mouth! It is a new exercise routine and has been pretty intense. My water Intake has gone up tenfold.

IsaackGMOON · September 2015

Open your diary so we can see your logging... I know you're saying "I weigh everything", but you can never be too careful.

kathrynjean_ · September 2015

It could be the water retention them. And even though it feels like it, 15 days isn't that long in the big scheme of things ... Although trust me, I know when you're working really hard and making good choices, it feels like an eternity for "no" results. I'm pretty sure everyone on here has been or will be where you are at some point.

Have you been measuring yourself? Maybe you've lost some inches? Do you feel stronger? Those are all important as well

If you're really doing everything right, you just gotta stick with it.

I_Will_End_You · September 2015

kar_yne08 wrote: »

Hey Kathryn, yeah I have a food scale and have weighed everything that goes into my mouth! It is a new exercise routine and has been pretty intense. My water Intake has gone up tenfold.

It's probably due to the new workout & water retention. If you're sure you're logging correctly, keep it up and you should start seeing the scale move soon.

brew99 · September 2015

I'd say maybe water retention too. I've heard it does take a few weeks to actually see weight loss though if you are small already and only need to lose 20 or less pounds. (Not sure of your specific goals) Maybe you need to switch up your macros to better fit your personal body needs. Sometimes you have to play around with them to work for you in the long run.

tincanonastring · September 2015

I'm guessing if you've just added the circuit training and running, it's water retention. You've probably burned a decent amount of fat in that time period, too, considering you maintained. Most people who post about this are surprised to see an increase on the scale after starting a new routine.

ETA: Keep at it with the deficit and training for another 15-30 days and see where you end up.

kar_yne08 · September 2015

Thanks everyone! I will stay strong and keep at it. I do have a question about the macros though. How do I change those goals?

IsaackGMOON · September 2015

kar_yne08 wrote: »

Thanks everyone! I will stay strong and keep at it. I do have a question about the macros though. How do I change those goals?

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/account/my_goals

ChiliPepperLifter · September 2015

Give it time! It's taken me since January 2015 to lose around 33 pounds. Last August I only lost two, and I weigh everything and work out at least 3 times a week. It takes a long time to see the changes, and 15 days is really not nearly enough time. Just keep at it!

kshama2001 · September 2015

How many of your exercise calories are you eating? Because burns tend to be inflated, many here suggest not eating more than 50% of the calories you earn from exercise.

kar_yne08 · September 2015

I'm eating on average 50% or less of my exercise calories.

barryplumber · September 2015

Cloth or soft Measuring tape i bet you will see a difference

aledba · September 2015

I think you're overestimating the calories you burn doing exercise. 40 mins of walking isn't burning 330+cals. If you were running, maybe... 40 mins of circuit training isn't burning 430 cals either. Don't use what MFP tells you exercise is worth.

adamcourt · September 2015

working on program to burn fat, build muscle, boost strength, and get absolutely shredded in only six weeks

CSARdiver · September 2015

Just stick with your plan - don't eat back your exercise calories and check out the following:

http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10177907/most-helpful-posts-getting-started-must-reads#latest

Pay particular attention to this one - quite possibly the best on MFP:
http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/1080242/a-guide-to-get-you-started-on-your-path-to-sexypants/p1

Water retention will go away in ~5-7 days. Increased water intake is not going to help you lose weight faster, but it is good for several other reasons. If you aren't losing, you are not in a caloric deficit, so look to your logging carefully and figure out what you are missing. Most of all be patient and don't get discouraged. Weight loss is not linear. Focus on the other positive aspects of your new routine - increased endurance, strength, body composition, etc.

bwogilvie · September 2015

I second the two pages linked above. This one is also well worth a read:
http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10012907/logging-accuracy-consistency-and-youre-probably-eating-more-than-you-think/p1

When I started out I was missing over 200 calories a day, on average.

SLLRunner · September 2015

kar_yne08 wrote: »

I am so discouraged! 15 days of consistent circuit training and walk/running (5-6days weekly) and MFP tracking with ONE single day over my calories and ZERO lbs lost. What the H?! Please help

I suggest giving it more than 15 days. Patience is a virtue.

Ensure that you are indeed not underestimating calorie in and overestimating caloires burned (weigh you food, log everything you consume, and eat only about 75% of your exercise calorie back) and then come back in a month and report back in four weeks.

Cynthiamr2015 · September 2015

Could you maybe use your scales to check and see if your measuring cups and spoons are accurate ? I was thinking of doing that to see if mine are right or not. I am losing weight but still I want to know.

SLLRunner · September 2015

adamcourt wrote: »

working on program to burn fat, build muscle, boost strength, and get absolutely shredded in only six weeks

Nope. It does't happen that fast. Building muscle and strength takes more than just six weeks.

tincanonastring · September 2015

Cynthiamr2015 wrote: »

Could you maybe use your scales to check and see if your measuring cups and spoons are accurate ? I was thinking of doing that to see if mine are right or not. I am losing weight but still I want to know.

Using cups is always a crapshoot because it depends how dense you cram the contents.

williamdolce · September 2015

Its either water retention or I have experienced myself where you reach a plateau and you have to mess around with the macro units and also hit cardio harder instead of the circuit.

maryann9wood · September 2015

Recently I really upped my work-outs, my calories are set the same for every day, based on BMR and TDEE. For 10 days I lost NOTHING, then in the last week I have lost 5 pounds! Be patient - you are retaining water from your new routine!