Ever work out really hard and nothing happens?

tayter_tot7

I've been on MFP for a while didn't really use it much before. I did really well before losing 15-20lbs. And I'm a person that 15 lbs shows on so it felt good and was pretty noticeable. Well around Thanksgiving I got food poisoning...a severe case (learned it had gallbladder issues as well). I had IBS for a while after as my stomach was not ready for food for a while. One of the things the nurse gave me was a toradol shot that was administered in my right hip. A month after the shot I still felt some pain. So I went to my doctor and got prescribed Naprosyn. I took it here and there for the pain as I had a high security job I couldn't bring meds in without the prescription etc that seemed like alot to me so I took it before work and after ( as It was a 12hr pill). So I'm taking the Naprosyn sometimes not consistantly. Then around jan 18th...I have a car accident and I roll my car. Luckily I just sustained a broken nail and I was sore from being suspended upside down with my seatbelt holding me in place. Medical bills adding up I just got checked out by my co-worker (a paramedic at the scene) was determined that I was ok. So in order to make my back and hip feel better I started taking the Naprosyn faithfully 8am and 8pm. I felt I was ok to start working out again so I got back at it march 1st. I work out at least 7 times a week. If its a nice day I would add a walk to my workout.....Im eating right got healthy snacks at home and work as opposed to junk drinking tons more water. So I'm feeling pretty good about myself and the changes to a healthier lifestyle. Its been nearly a month and only 3lbs lost. WTH!!!! Normally I'd get discouraged and just go back to my old ways, this time I didn't feel the need to do that I kept at it. I'm not sure what prompted me to do it but I googled Naprosyn.....and guess what I found out ...it can cause weight gain...how ironic....So no more Naprosyn and well will see how things go? Anyone ever have this problem?

cerise_noir

Exercise does not really = weight loss... it's all about eating less calories than your body burns. Exercise is truly for aesthetics and health. Many will do cardio to gain extra calories to eat. For example, if your body burns say 2500 calories for example (which comes from just being alive, daily activities and exercise), then eating less than this (250 less to lose .5lbs per week, 500 less to lose 1lb per week, 750 less to lose 1.5lbs per week, 1000 less to lose 2lbs oer week) will equal weight loss. Eating exactly the mentioned amount (the example of 2500) will cause one to maintain their weight, and eating more will cause weight gain. So good news, losing weight is all about the food! "Eating right" doesn't matter if you don't track the calories, and by tracking calories I mean weighing all solid and semi solid foods on a digital food scale, choosing correct entries in the database and sticking to your calorie amount. I you need the meds, then take them. It is a surplus of calories that caused weight gain. I personally am on a bunch of meds that claim weight gain and am 80lbs down.

Don't worry about side effects of medications. You're obviously losing weight. The rate of loss may be right for you if you don't have much to lose- 3lbs in almost a month is almost 1lb per week....FANTASTIC loss! Realistically, you shouldn't aim to lose more than 1-2lbs per week. A 2lb per week loss applies to those who are 75+ overweight, so the less weight you have to lose, the less you should lose in a week, since weight loss slows down the closer one is to goal weight. You don't have to cut calories drastically to lose weight.

What is your age, height, weight, goal weight and activity level? Check out this calorie calculator:
http://scoobysworkshop.com/calorie-calculator/

It will give you a great idea on how much you should be eating with exercise. Or, set up myfitnesspal for sedentary and log your exercise and eat back 50%ish of those exercise calories back. You body needs to be fueled properly.

If you do work out, make sure to have a rest day or 2 a week. The body needs the rest to recover.

A useful flowchart by @lemonlionheart

Useful links:
http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10300319/most-helpful-posts-general-diet-and-weight-loss-help-must-reads#latest

tayter_tot7

cerise_noir wrote: »

Exercise does not really = weight loss... it's all about eating less calories than your body burns. Exercise is truly for aesthetics and health. Many will do cardio to gain extra calories to eat. For example, if your body burns say 2500 calories for example (which comes from just being alive, daily activities and exercise), then eating less than this (250 less to lose .5lbs per week, 500 less to lose 1lb per week, 750 less to lose 1.5lbs per week, 1000 less to lose 2lbs oer week) will equal weight loss. Eating exactly the mentioned amount (the example of 2500) will cause one to maintain their weight, and eating more will cause weight gain. So good news, losing weight is all about the food! "Eating right" doesn't matter if you don't track the calories, and by tracking calories I mean weighing all solid and semi solid foods on a digital food scale, choosing correct entries in the database and sticking to your calorie amount. I you need the meds, then take them. It is a surplus of calories that caused weight gain. I personally am on a bunch of meds that claim weight gain and am 80lbs down.

Don't worry about side effects of medications. You're obviously losing weight. The rate of loss may be right for you if you don't have much to lose- 3lbs in almost a month is almost 1lb per week....FANTASTIC loss! Realistically, you shouldn't aim to lose more than 1-2lbs per week. A 2lb per week loss applies to those who are 75+ overweight, so the less weight you have to lose, the less you should lose in a week, since weight loss slows down the closer one is to goal weight. You don't have to cut calories drastically to lose weight.

What is your age, height, weight, goal weight and activity level? Check out this calorie calculator:
http://scoobysworkshop.com/calorie-calculator/

It will give you a great idea on how much you should be eating with exercise. Or, set up myfitnesspal for sedentary and log your exercise and eat back 50%ish of those exercise calories back. You body needs to be fueled properly.

If you do work out, make sure to have a rest day or 2 a week. The body needs the rest to recover.

A useful flowchart by @lemonlionheart

Useful links:
http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10300319/most-helpful-posts-general-diet-and-weight-loss-help-must-reads#latest

Thanks for the advice but the above explains all that hence the weight loss prior to accident and medical situation.....

2snakeswoman

I know it's disappointing not to lose more, but 3 pounds per month sounds pretty awesome when you consider that will mean 36 pounds lost in a year. Not too shabby! I think you can keep doing what you've been doing.

tayter_tot7

Update im off the meds and I've lost 1.8 lbs this week so im back on track.

Afura

The chart was meant more as a guideline to it, because we can only advise so far. If you're on track and you're weighing your food, and making sure you have an appropriate caloric deficit, it can take some time, there are tons of people on MFP who have gone through the same thing.
Glad to hear you're off the meds, and better yet registering a loss! Congratulations and may your success continue.

ninerbuff

Losing 3lbs means something happened. With returning to exercise and possibly issues with some hormonal fluctuations, consistency should get you losing more. Just keep it up.

A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

puffbrat

Your profile suggests you are only trying to lose 8lbs total. In that case, 3lbs in one month is perfectly reasonable.

tayter_tot7

Yes youre right something happened but the rate that it was happening seemed off to me I have the weight to lose I was eating enough and working out like crazy but little to no progress....But now I'm back on track to numbers are looking better. Thanks for the encouraging words everyone.

acorsaut89

tayter_tot7 wrote: »

Update im off the meds and I've lost 1.8 lbs this week so im back on track.

That's great to hear, but unfortunately a pill - no matter what the pill - does not in and of itself cause weight gain. Sorry, but it just doesn't.

When a medication states it can cause weight gain usually that means it can slow down metabolism or increase appetite. So perhaps it all coincided BUT a pill on its own simply just does not cause weight gain.

tayter_tot7

acorsaut89 wrote: »

tayter_tot7 wrote: »

Update im off the meds and I've lost 1.8 lbs this week so im back on track.

That's great to hear, but unfortunately a pill - no matter what the pill - does not in and of itself cause weight gain. Sorry, but it just doesn't.

When a medication states it can cause weight gain usually that means it can slow down metabolism or increase appetite. So perhaps it all coincided BUT a pill on its own simply just does not cause weight gain.

Correct, but as I stated it causes you to retain...I worked out like crazy for a while but nothing. I no longer take the pill and in total I lost 5lbs. I've been eating the same so it wasnt making me eat more or change my appetite. Most people say of its not healthy to not take it because you cant lose weight while using it. I think my hip will be just fine soon..at least I hope so its been a while. A lot of people dont know what its like to straight murder 3 weeks worth of workouts and only lose nearly nothing. Thats what I meant if it was not clear.

not_a_runner

I was going to the gym faithfully for two years, I never missed a workout. I challenged myself, tried harder every day, I was almost always sore. And.. I gained 30 lbs during that time.
Look at your logging. Are you weighing everything you eat? Are you eating back too many exercise calories?
It wasn't until I got my diet in check that I started to see results. Workouts with too many calories don't equal weight loss.

On another note, 3 lbs in 3 weeks is a reasonable amount to lose for most people. If you find you have to push extremely hard in the gym to see these results and you don't like that, maybe you can adjust your calories and back off on the workouts a bit. Either way, be patient!

Nachise

The generic name of the drug is sodium naproxen. The active ingredient is derived from a salt. How much sodium do you have in your current diet? Some folks, like me, are sodium-sensitive, and have to monitor sodium intake. Naprosyn was not an appropriate medication for me due to the sodium sensitivity issues. What you need to do is monitor your sodium intake during those times you gain, and make sure you a drinking enough water.

tayter_tot7

Nachise wrote: »

The generic name of the drug is sodium naproxen. The active ingredient is derived from a salt. How much sodium do you have in your current diet? Some folks, like me, are sodium-sensitive, and have to monitor sodium intake. Naprosyn was not an appropriate medication for me due to the sodium sensitivity issues. What you need to do is monitor your sodium intake during those times you gain, and make sure you a drinking enough water.

I do not take the naprosyn anymore. I am not gaining weight anymore. My weight-loss has been pretty decent since then. As far as water intake I drink about a gallon a day.

zyxst

Considering all the injuries that have happened, I'll throw out your body's been keeping calories for healing rather than dumping them for weight loss.

Off-topic - I wouldn't discontinue a prescribed pain medication because it might cause weight gain.

tayter_tot7

zyxst wrote: »

Considering all the injuries that have happened, I'll throw out your body's been keeping calories for healing rather than dumping them for weight loss.

Off-topic - I wouldn't discontinue a prescribed pain medication because it might cause weight gain.

To address the off topic question: It doesn't seem to help much since November I'm still stiff when I get up in the morning. If I sit down for a period of time it still hurts and if I workout and run it hurts after on and off the medication. Only thing for now is I try to avoid wearing heels makes it hurt a bit worse..I didn't follow my own rule today I wore heels lol

vivmom2014

Thank God you were able to walk away from rolling your car!

You're losing weight, so that's what counts. But your body has been through a lot - ease up on your expectations. Your body is still trying to heal.