Working hard with no results
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cwolfman13 wrote: »CalorieCountChocula wrote: »juggernaut1974 wrote: »You're just being impatient with yourself.
Give yourself 4-6 full weeks before you assess how things are going. Weight loss is measured in months, not days or weeks.
If you just started your gym routines, it's likely your body is holding on to some additional water to help with muscle recovery.
Then how to the people bulking/cutting seem to gain 10-15lbs and then proceed to lose 10-15lbs in a matter of weeks? They make it seem so automatic. But then you read things like you wrote where it's "months, years, etc."
For one thing, I'd say people who regularly go on bulking and cutting cycles have a much better grasp of what they require calorie wise to achieve those goals...they also tend to be anal retentive where accuracy is concerned, they don't "cheat", etc...they are very disciplined in what they are doing...they tend to have a lot of experience with the process of gaining a little weight and losing a little weight, much more so than a new MFP member who's never really done this before.
Also, it's going to be different for males vs females...females have a lot more going on from a hormonal standpoint and tend to have more and greater weight fluctuations...in my experience, while not linear, generally for men who are being disciplined and accurate, weight comes off a bit easier and in more of a linear fashion.
Also keep in mind that a lot of people who cut and bulk don't do so in a healthy manner...especially when they're getting ready for competition or show.
LOL well can someone please give me the unhealthy manor. I'm 227-230. Short term goal 210. 195-200 longer term. Been trying foreeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeever to lose the rest of the weight.-1 -
CalorieCountChocula wrote: »Carlos_421 wrote: »CalorieCountChocula wrote: »juggernaut1974 wrote: »You're just being impatient with yourself.
Give yourself 4-6 full weeks before you assess how things are going. Weight loss is measured in months, not days or weeks.
If you just started your gym routines, it's likely your body is holding on to some additional water to help with muscle recovery.
Then how to the people bulking/cutting seem to gain 10-15lbs and then proceed to lose 10-15lbs in a matter of weeks? They make it seem so automatic. But then you read things like you wrote where it's "months, years, etc."
You misunderstand the process of bulking/cutting cycles.
So in other words you're not going to explain why it's easier for them to lose weight and harder for me?
Point is, they don't lose it that fast. More realistically they're cutting for 2 to 3 months at a time.0 -
CalorieCountChocula wrote: »Anyone? Gears turning? Trying to hold yourselves back from shouting out "Six weeks. Hit it hard. Get beach ready. Abs abs abs!" I know that contradicts the regular human advice of "well you really should take 19 months to slowly lose the weight."
What is advertised on magazine covers and what actually happens in real life are two totally different things.
I've talked to guys who are already shredded working on getting even more shredded as much as 2-3 months out before a show.0 -
Carlos_421 wrote: »CalorieCountChocula wrote: »Anyone? Gears turning? Trying to hold yourselves back from shouting out "Six weeks. Hit it hard. Get beach ready. Abs abs abs!" I know that contradicts the regular human advice of "well you really should take 19 months to slowly lose the weight."
What is advertised on magazine covers and what actually happens in real life are two totally different things.
I've talked to guys who are already shredded working on getting even more shredded as much as 2-3 months out before a show.
2-3 months sounds good to me. And if a person is already heavier it should be even easier. I think this is my big issue with the "why don't you give it six weeks" advice. Six weeks for it to START working? Huh? When you have people losing 10-15lbs in 2-3 months who barely have any fat to begin with? I just like consistent logical advice.0 -
lilmisstata wrote: »I do use a food scale and weigh and measure all of my foods. In fact I have 3 of them. I keep one in the car. I also track calories labels because sometimes I eat frozen meals or put together my own meal combinations from pre packaged food, like Veggie Burgers. I don't eat meat and lean closer towards a Vegan food plan although I'm not 100% Vegan.
I have met with a dietician and have been specifically told to cut back on sugar and anything that causes an insulin dump. Like white flour, white rice, potatoes, pasta, and starchy veggies and fruits.
Oftentimes people are bad at logging food, and bad at estimating how much they are eating even if they are. Restricting food choices, especially higher calorie options, causes people to unknowingly consume lower calories. I see you were eating vegan before, and now your dietician is recommending you reduce a lot of the high calorie carb-heavy options that would have been amongst your most popular food items as a vegan. If a doctor restricts a person to chicken breast and broccoli only and they lose weight, it's not because chicken breast and broccoli are miracle foods. It's because limiting food choices limits calories. Or mentally, those of us who suffer from binge eating, if we don't eat the things that cause the binge we are less likely to binge. Doesn't mean calories in / calories out doesn't hold true for 99% of people, even those with medical conditions. Just there are tools in our toolbox we can use to be better at CICO.
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lilmisstata wrote: »I do use a food scale and weigh and measure all of my foods. In fact I have 3 of them. I keep one in the car. I also track calories labels because sometimes I eat frozen meals or put together my own meal combinations from pre packaged food, like Veggie Burgers. I don't eat meat and lean closer towards a Vegan food plan although I'm not 100% Vegan.
I have met with a dietician and have been specifically told to cut back on sugar and anything that causes an insulin dump. Like white flour, white rice, potatoes, pasta, and starchy veggies and fruits. Trust me... I don't want to cut out those things. I have stood my ground trying to prove that I can eat those things and lose weight, but I have had to concede to my own personal experience.
I don't know what the OP has done or not done, I'm only suggesting that there are other factors out there. Not everyone knows if they are insulin resistant or not.
But clearly this must be a touchy subject because everyone is so quick to roll their eyes and jump on me for even suggesting that this might factor in.
I have pcos and various different medical problems and am mostly housebound, registered disabled. I eat sugar, I eat carbs and starches and have previously lost over 3 stones by keeping to a calorie limit. Sugar generally is not the reason for weight gain, eating too many calories is0 -
CalorieCountChocula wrote: »CalorieCountChocula wrote: »Carlos_421 wrote: »CalorieCountChocula wrote: »juggernaut1974 wrote: »You're just being impatient with yourself.
Give yourself 4-6 full weeks before you assess how things are going. Weight loss is measured in months, not days or weeks.
If you just started your gym routines, it's likely your body is holding on to some additional water to help with muscle recovery.
Then how to the people bulking/cutting seem to gain 10-15lbs and then proceed to lose 10-15lbs in a matter of weeks? They make it seem so automatic. But then you read things like you wrote where it's "months, years, etc."
You misunderstand the process of bulking/cutting cycles.
So in other words you're not going to explain why it's easier for them to lose weight and harder for me?
EDIT: Let me even phrase it in a cut and dry way. Guy/gal who was bulking got a little crazy. They now weigh 15lbs more than they'd like. How long should the person take to lose the 15lbs. Go.
I put on a good 8-10 Lbs every winter...it takes me about 3 months to cut that and requires that I'm very disciplined in both my diet and exercise because even at 10 Lbs heavier I'm still at a healthy BF% and don't have much margin for error. Even when I cut that, I'm not "shredded"...I get down to about 12% BF...anything lower than that is difficult for me to maintain without being super anal about everything and basically not having any fun.
You seem to be under the impression that a "beach body" happens in a matter of weeks, and that's not the case despite the marketing. It took me 9 months + to lose 40 Lbs and even then I didn't have the actual body I wanted...I've been bulking and cutting and re-comping for almost 3 years now and I'm not there yet and frankly will never be where I was when I was in my 20s and rocked the pool and beach...because I'm not in my 20s. A fitness body is derived from years of dedication to proper diet and exercise which is structured around those individual goals.0 -
CalorieCountChocula wrote: »Carlos_421 wrote: »CalorieCountChocula wrote: »Anyone? Gears turning? Trying to hold yourselves back from shouting out "Six weeks. Hit it hard. Get beach ready. Abs abs abs!" I know that contradicts the regular human advice of "well you really should take 19 months to slowly lose the weight."
What is advertised on magazine covers and what actually happens in real life are two totally different things.
I've talked to guys who are already shredded working on getting even more shredded as much as 2-3 months out before a show.
2-3 months sounds good to me. And if a person is already heavier it should be even easier. I think this is my big issue with the "why don't you give it six weeks" advice. Six weeks for it to START working? Huh? When you have people losing 10-15lbs in 2-3 months who barely have any fat to begin with? I just like consistent logical advice.
Unless it's "be patient, give it time and focus on trends instead of immediate results."0 -
cwolfman13 wrote: »I get down to about 12% BF...anything lower than that is difficult for me to maintain without being super anal about everything and basically not having any fun.
Wait, so why do I have to be super anal and basically not have any fun to barely, and I mean barrrrrrely make any progress? And that's at 27% body fat (assuming the Bod Pod is at least reasonably accurate). Shouldn't I get the same results in the same time frame and honestly shouldn't they be easier since my % is higher?
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CalorieCountChocula wrote: »Carlos_421 wrote: »CalorieCountChocula wrote: »Anyone? Gears turning? Trying to hold yourselves back from shouting out "Six weeks. Hit it hard. Get beach ready. Abs abs abs!" I know that contradicts the regular human advice of "well you really should take 19 months to slowly lose the weight."
What is advertised on magazine covers and what actually happens in real life are two totally different things.
I've talked to guys who are already shredded working on getting even more shredded as much as 2-3 months out before a show.
2-3 months sounds good to me. And if a person is already heavier it should be even easier. I think this is my big issue with the "why don't you give it six weeks" advice. Six weeks for it to START working? Huh? When you have people losing 10-15lbs in 2-3 months who barely have any fat to begin with? I just like consistent logical advice.
I think it can take some time to figure out what is really going on...but usually what is going on is people are eating more than they think they are. There are numerous ways this can happen...eyeballing servings, eating out a lot, using generic database entries, using inflated calorie burns from exercise, etc.
I think people say to be patient and give it time because sometimes time is what is necessary to figure out what's going on and get into the actual process. I had a *kitten* of a time losing early on because I basically didn't know what I was doing...now I can drop weight without much problem.0 -
cwolfman13 wrote: »CalorieCountChocula wrote: »Carlos_421 wrote: »CalorieCountChocula wrote: »Anyone? Gears turning? Trying to hold yourselves back from shouting out "Six weeks. Hit it hard. Get beach ready. Abs abs abs!" I know that contradicts the regular human advice of "well you really should take 19 months to slowly lose the weight."
What is advertised on magazine covers and what actually happens in real life are two totally different things.
I've talked to guys who are already shredded working on getting even more shredded as much as 2-3 months out before a show.
2-3 months sounds good to me. And if a person is already heavier it should be even easier. I think this is my big issue with the "why don't you give it six weeks" advice. Six weeks for it to START working? Huh? When you have people losing 10-15lbs in 2-3 months who barely have any fat to begin with? I just like consistent logical advice.
I think it can take some time to figure out what is really going on...but usually what is going on is people are eating more than they think they are. There are numerous ways this can happen...eyeballing servings, eating out a lot, using generic database entries, using inflated calorie burns from exercise, etc.
I think people say to be patient and give it time because sometimes time is what is necessary to figure out what's going on and get into the actual process. I had a *kitten* of a time losing early on because I basically didn't know what I was doing...now I can drop weight without much problem.
I know what I'm doing and my results are still slow and crappy. And forget fun. I had a couple beers this weekend. Boom. Literally 10lbs heavier in two days. Yeah yeah. Water. But still. Now it will take that 2 weeks to come off. Just to be 227 again. Then the slow crawl to 226 begins. One day it will be 226.2. Then maybe 227.8. Then up again randomly for no reason. Then back down. Randomly.0 -
And yes, people make the beach body look easy. "Lift weights and eat at a slight deficit." This is literally the advice people give for getting a nice stomach. There's a thread on it. Hasn't worked for me yet.0
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being anal is required to drop body fat at 12% or at 27%. Regardless of percentages if you are not in a calorie deficit you will not lose. Having fun usually means eating without knowing or caring the amount(calories) which then can put you over calories and not allow you to lose.0
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CalorieCountChocula wrote: »And yes, people make the beach body look easy. "Lift weights and eat at a slight deficit." This is literally the advice people give for getting a nice stomach. There's a thread on it. Hasn't worked for me yet.
So what do you do achieve your goals
Walk us through it..what's your day intake like, how are you measuring it, how active are you0 -
So you're telling me someone can't lose weight having a few beers every 6-7 weeks? LOL I call BS.0
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CalorieCountChocula wrote: »So you're telling me someone can't lose weight having a few beers every 6-7 weeks? LOL I call BS.
of course they can but if your saying your not losing its because your not being accurate or honest with your calorie counting.0 -
CalorieCountChocula wrote: »And yes, people make the beach body look easy. "Lift weights and eat at a slight deficit." This is literally the advice people give for getting a nice stomach. There's a thread on it. Hasn't worked for me yet.
and time....like i said before, a fitness body is derived from living that lifestyle...for years.
this all seems vaguely familiar to me...did you have an account before? have you been to the doctor to see if you have any vitamin deficiencies or other medical issues which could be making it more difficult to lose weight?
beyond that, have you considered that possibly your calorie targets are incorrect? these calculators make for good starting points...but personally, i'd adjust per my real world results.0 -
CalorieCountChocula wrote: »And yes, people make the beach body look easy. "Lift weights and eat at a slight deficit." This is literally the advice people give for getting a nice stomach. There's a thread on it. Hasn't worked for me yet.
So what do you do achieve your goals
Walk us through it..what's your day intake like, how are you measuring it, how active are you
Food scale. Diary's open. I don't eat many package things but I don't weigh packaged thing. I'm not dumping my yogurt into a separate cup to see if it's 3gs too heavy. If that's torpedoing my progress then so friggin be it. This last weekend was the first time since Christmas I've eaten/drank without attempting to log as close to 100% as possible. I had 3 slices of pizza, a couple beers, and ate at a German restaurant a couple times. Not exactly eating gallons of ice cream.0 -
So when did you stop posting as BFDeal and why?
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So when did you stop posting as BFDeal and why?
Because my weight will stall out. I'll get annoyed and I'll take a break and try it again. Basically. I consistently have trouble getting below 225-230. I give that as a range because I can literally be 225 one day and randomly 230 the next.0 -
Everybody's weight fluctuates
Because you don't commit and you spend your time thinking it's not fair and you're doing everything right rather than fixing what's going wrong.
If you're not losing eating what you're eating, eat less
If you're not honestly weighing and logging every single thing you imbibe and consume start doing that
TBH I rarely interacted with your old persona
I think it's a shame you haven't found your solution yet
I'll tell you where it isn't though, it isn't in acting like everybody who has succeeded through CICO has done it to spite you and we've all got some secret we aren't sharing0 -
If you're not honestly weighing and logging every single thing you imbibe and consume start doing that
I find it reallllllllllly hard to believe everyone having success never goes to a restaurant where they're unable to weigh and measure the items they're eating and that they never take one single day off. Some of the blogs I read even recommending taking a week off from logging every so many weeks.0 -
CalorieCountChocula wrote: »If you're not honestly weighing and logging every single thing you imbibe and consume start doing that
I find it reallllllllllly hard to believe everyone having success never goes to a restaurant where they're unable to weigh and measure the items they're eating and that they never take one single day off. Some of the blogs I read even recommending taking a week off from logging every so many weeks.
I've gone on cruises where I don't log or weigh my food, come back gained some weight. Start back to what i was doing before I left, weighing and counting calories, boom, few days later weight is off and sometimes more.
If you are not losing you are not in a deficit, as everyone pointed out, be more accurate with your diary.0 -
And there has to be a secret. Wolfman doesn't even count calories apparently. What's the secret there? I can't ask for a secret without getting flack for not weighing my package yogurt but he doesn't even count. What's the difference maker there? What can I do to lose weight in spite of not weighing my yogurt?0
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CalorieCountChocula wrote: »If you're not honestly weighing and logging every single thing you imbibe and consume start doing that
I find it reallllllllllly hard to believe everyone having success never goes to a restaurant where they're unable to weigh and measure the items they're eating and that they never take one single day off. Some of the blogs I read even recommending taking a week off from logging every so many weeks.
Oh I did and I do eat at restaurants
Have never taken a day off though ...always log even when I'm 2000 over TDEE
You know the difference ...my calorie counting was and is working and I lost the weight I wanted to and am in maintenance
Your isn't ...fix that then treat yourself
I spent 30 years yo yoing ...I get it ..it gets too hard and you can't be bothered
But at least I realised I didn't commit properly and when I was ready to I did and it worked
When you're ready to do the same thing you will
you've lost a lot you're probably feeling like you've earned it ...but then you get hacked off cos it's not enough and it's hard
You're right
It's hard
Do or do not0 -
What are your:
I wasn't the OP - but I was hoping you may be able to help me out any way as I'm in the same boat.
5'10
195
195 (8 lbs gained since Thanksgiving)
183 (weight last summer. I had dropped from 208 to 181 in 2014 by changing/monitoring calorie intake)
1650
1700
sedentary
6 days a week (3 days running 3-5 miles, 3 days 60 minute boot camp)
I got back to eating clean and exercising Jan 1. No weight loss, no inches lost - despite MUCH more exercise when I originally lost the weight. I was knocking off a 1.5/week back then.
If anything, I'm probably not eating quite enough calories for as much as I'm working out. But it's hard to find healthy calories to add when I'm just not hungry....and hard mentally to eat more when you feel like your stuck.
Really hoping it's just a case where it takes a few weeks to get the scale moving, but it's very discouraging.
I am 5'9", and you are basically starting right where I stalled for 2 weeks. With that being said - eat more. If I were you, I'd jump those calories between 1700 - 2k (I do mine between 1700 and 1900 and I do not exercise.) And binge one day. Just to jumpstart things. Really just eat everything one day . . then go to 17-2k.0 -
cwolfman13 wrote: »CalorieCountChocula wrote: »juggernaut1974 wrote: »You're just being impatient with yourself.
Give yourself 4-6 full weeks before you assess how things are going. Weight loss is measured in months, not days or weeks.
If you just started your gym routines, it's likely your body is holding on to some additional water to help with muscle recovery.
Then how to the people bulking/cutting seem to gain 10-15lbs and then proceed to lose 10-15lbs in a matter of weeks? They make it seem so automatic. But then you read things like you wrote where it's "months, years, etc."
For one thing, I'd say people who regularly go on bulking and cutting cycles have a much better grasp of what they require calorie wise to achieve those goals...they also tend to be anal retentive where accuracy is concerned, they don't "cheat", etc...they are very disciplined in what they are doing...they tend to have a lot of experience with the process of gaining a little weight and losing a little weight, much more so than a new MFP member who's never really done this before.
Also, it's going to be different for males vs females...females have a lot more going on from a hormonal standpoint and tend to have more and greater weight fluctuations...in my experience, while not linear, generally for men who are being disciplined and accurate, weight comes off a bit easier and in more of a linear fashion.
Also keep in mind that a lot of people who cut and bulk don't do so in a healthy manner...especially when they're getting ready for competition or show.
i have a good friend who competes and she puts my logging to SHAME ..... she has it down to a fine science.is it EASY? nope. but she knows what she has to do for both cycles, and works her *kitten* off to get it done.0 -
shadowconn wrote: »What are your:
I wasn't the OP - but I was hoping you may be able to help me out any way as I'm in the same boat.
5'10
195
195 (8 lbs gained since Thanksgiving)
183 (weight last summer. I had dropped from 208 to 181 in 2014 by changing/monitoring calorie intake)
1650
1700
sedentary
6 days a week (3 days running 3-5 miles, 3 days 60 minute boot camp)
I got back to eating clean and exercising Jan 1. No weight loss, no inches lost - despite MUCH more exercise when I originally lost the weight. I was knocking off a 1.5/week back then.
If anything, I'm probably not eating quite enough calories for as much as I'm working out. But it's hard to find healthy calories to add when I'm just not hungry....and hard mentally to eat more when you feel like your stuck.
Really hoping it's just a case where it takes a few weeks to get the scale moving, but it's very discouraging.
I am 5'9", and you are basically starting right where I stalled for 2 weeks. With that being said - eat more. If I were you, I'd jump those calories between 1700 - 2k (I do mine between 1700 and 1900 and I do not exercise.) And binge one day. Just to jumpstart things. Really just eat everything one day . . then go to 17-2k.
Sorry, no such thing as not eating enough calories as the reason for not losing. Its actually the opposite. Your eating too many calories. Either you dont know it or are in denial about what and how much your eating. Healthy does not mean losing. I can eat 1500 calories in donuts and lose weight. Innacutate counting or denial is the problem.0 -
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