3 weeks, only lost 1 lb, heart broken
lorenelia
Posts: 9 Member
I've been eating 1200 calories for 3 weeks, working out 4x per week...only lost 1 lb. About to completely quit my diet.... Any idea whu this could be happening?
1
Replies
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Congrats on your weight loss it sounds like you're losing at a good rate. Continue with what you're doing you probably didn't gain the weight super fast, so be patient in losing it.10
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What is "quitting" going to do.... Besides probably seeing you put the pound on, plus some?
If you're new to exercise you could be retaining fluid, you could be heavier due to hormonal changes, you could have weighed on a heavy day, you could need a good poo, you could be eating more than you think....there are many reasons why you may not be showing lighter on the scale. Don't give up!19 -
if your a newbie you could be adding muscle. you are also likely retaining extra water to recover from those workouts. stick with it. my bet is a whoosh is coming. weight loss is not linear. it's 1 this week, 4 that week, 2 here none there. be patient and stick with it.
3 months not 3 weeks is the proper duration to determine if what your doing is working or not.11 -
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It just seems like I'm making a lot of sacrifices for this, not going out with friends, not enjoying dinners at restaurants and all for nothing. But thanks for the encouraging words...maybe I need to give it time. I did increase my workout by a lot...4
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Wow! You have really been working at it, eh? Good for you! What kind of exercise have you been doing? It's possible you've been gaining muscle and losing fat, which would result in less weight loss but getting fitter. I've also read on these forums that water weight can be an issue when kicking off an exercise routine, but that it stabilizes eventually. I'm new here, so maybe some others have better insight to offer.2
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Wow! You have really been working at it, eh? Good for you! What kind of exercise have you been doing? It's possible you've been gaining muscle and losing fat, which would result in less weight loss but getting fitter. I've also read on these forums that water weight can be an issue when kicking off an exercise routine, but that it stabilizes eventually. I'm new here, so maybe some others have better insight to offer.
I'm doing vinyasa yoga 3x week and elliptical 1x week. The days when I'm doing yoga I'm only discounting 200 calories for the workout (it's a pretty tough class, not just stretching and meditation)0 -
if your a newbie you could be adding muscle. you are also likely retaining extra water to recover from those workouts. stick with it. my bet is a whoosh is coming. weight loss is not linear. it's 1 this week, 4 that week, 2 here none there. be patient and stick with it.
3 months not 3 weeks is the proper duration to determine if what your doing is working or not.
Whoa...3 months is a lot. But maybe you're right and maybe I'll see a big dip in the following weeks... thanks for your support and for commenting on this2 -
Make your meals at home?
Alternatively, you can make food at work, not weigh so you don't feel awkward but not get results.... Or get over what other people think and weigh your food because getting results is important to you, and what you want and think matters
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livingleanlivingclean wrote: »
Make your meals at home?
Alternatively, you can make food at work, not weigh so you don't feel awkward but not get results.... Or get over what other people think and weigh your food because getting results is important to you, and what you want and think matters
Lol...maybe...at least you made me laugh! Thanks!!0 -
Make your meals/ Snacks at home the night before. or even on a weekend and freeze them. I look forward to nightly meal prep of fresh fruits and veggies for work snacks. So colorful and pretty and then next day im excited to eat them, Keeps me away from junk5
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Take a breath and prepare for a long journey. 3 weeks is is not nearly enough time ... for many reasons already mentioned. Make sure you are weighing everything on a food scale and that you understand what reasonable, sustainable weight loss looks like for your height/weight. There are some great threads here!5
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The majority of people weigh and prep their food at home. A lot of us take it one step further and pre-log our day at the same time. It's sort of like having a roadmap to follow vs turning at random and hoping you arrive at your desired destination.8 -
If you bring your lunch, you can weigh it in your house beforehand. I think part of the problem may be eating back exercise calories. I think 200 calories is probably an overestimate for a yoga class even if it's intense, though maybe someone more knowledgeable about yoga than me can correct me. Elliptical trainers are also notoriously bad for overestimating calories, so if you're eating back the number on the machine, you are probably chipping away at your deficit.
The other issue though is that no matter how perfect you are at logging and sticking to it, weight loss is going to be slow. You have to want it. If it doesn't feel worth it to you, how are you going to stick with it for the months it will take to reach your goals? I think you need to find ways to make the process less miserable for yourself. Work in foods you enjoy that still fit with your calorie goals. You can still go out with your friends, just maybe skip the alcohol and pick a water. You can eat at restaurants but find the lowest calorie options, etc. Dieting shouldn't be miserable. It's hard, but the reward of getting healthier or liking what you see in the mirror is supposed to outweigh the hardship.12 -
Please read the flow chart posted above. You will not be gaining muscle if you are truly eating at a deficit, although water gain can happen. Losing a pound is a good start. Posting your stats and goals and opening your diary will help people give better advice to help you. Also, you do not have to give up your life to lose weight. Just be conscientious about what you are eating and drinking.6
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livingleanlivingclean wrote: »
Make your meals at home?
Alternatively, you can make food at work, not weigh so you don't feel awkward but not get results.... Or get over what other people think and weigh your food because getting results is important to you, and what you want and think matters
Lol...maybe...at least you made me laugh! Thanks!!
The more you are set on achieving your goals, the easier it becomes to realise that:
saying "no" is ok (to food that doesn't fit your goals even if it's been brought in by a workmate who's mother made it, who would be deeply upset if you didn't eat your bodyweight of it),
asking for food in restaurants to be made more calorie friendly is ok and not putting anyone out (so you can eat out and socialise)
Doing things for you is ok. Don't worry about other people thinking you're weird, or have funny habits, especially if it's something you are doing to help yourself.4 -
beginners can gain muscle in a calorie deficit. it's a for very short time but it's possible. however she's not lifting weights anyways which is to bad. so it's probably just water retention3
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It just seems like I'm making a lot of sacrifices for this, not going out with friends, not enjoying dinners at restaurants and all for nothing. But thanks for the encouraging words...maybe I need to give it time. I did increase my workout by a lot...
You need to learn how to lose lbs AND have your friends. You should feel like you are scaling back, but it shouldn't be torture. If it's torture then you are going to fail when you hit maintenance.
As others have said, bring your lunch to work or get over being shy about using a scale. You don't need it for ever, just to build some awareness on portions at the office.15 -
if your a newbie you could be adding muscle. you are also likely retaining extra water to recover from those workouts. stick with it. my bet is a whoosh is coming. weight loss is not linear. it's 1 this week, 4 that week, 2 here none there. be patient and stick with it.
3 months not 3 weeks is the proper duration to determine if what your doing is working or not.
Whoa...3 months is a lot. But maybe you're right and maybe I'll see a big dip in the following weeks... thanks for your support and for commenting on this
3 months is a tiny blip of time on this journey. it's a rest of your life journey..good luck. you'll get there5 -
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It might also have to do with how much you need to lose. Is it 10 lbs or a 100lbs? 1200 calories a day usually for those that aim for 2 lbs a week, something the very overweight/obese can accomplish (maybe a a bit more for a short period of time). For some, they can lose 1lb in half a week, for others a month. It depends on your goals, weight you need to lose to be healthy, eating habits, and intensity of your workouts (an aid). If you have less weight to lose, perhaps take a look at what you're eating more closely as well as your exercises. Yoga is a great for strengthening your core and mindfulness, but it isn't very know for a huge calorie burner (to be able to eat more food). Maybe throw in a dance or weight class in your routine and see if you like it.
I would also suggest that you take measurements of your body and keep record of it over time. It gives you a better idea of where you are instead of a scale.3 -
Don't forget it's a lifestyle change, not just a few months. Don't give up- it will be worth fighting for! I had the same thing happen to me last summer and I gave up for a while. I totally regret giving up and am kicking myself for letting myself get to this point.
I'm not sure if you or anyone else mentioned above, but you could check your macros and make sure you are balanced and not eating too much of one thing or another. Also, pound that water!
Best of luck to you! Stick with it!3 -
You may be eating too little....so your body is trying to protect you from starving. I am obese and working out an hour a day....on a 1,650 diet per day. I am losing 2 lbs per week for the last 3 weeks...but I plan to lose my weight over the next year. I think you need to be eating more calories. You could also be building muscle too. Hang in there.1
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eskimodeb2 wrote: »You may be eating too little....so your body is trying to protect you from starving. I am obese and working out an hour a day....on a 1,650 diet per day. I am losing 2 lbs per week for the last 3 weeks...but I plan to lose my weight over the next year. I think you need to be eating more calories. You could also be building muscle too. Hang in there.
no ignore all of this listen to others the cause of not losing weight is NEVER eating to little (but you are losing)
And for the record hate to say it but your not building muscle on that defecit either. Listen to the water weight/to little time to know people11 -
livingleanlivingclean wrote: »What is "quitting" going to do.... Besides probably seeing you put the pound on, plus some?
If you're new to exercise you could be retaining fluid, you could be heavier due to hormonal changes, you could have weighed on a heavy day, you could need a good poo, you could be eating more than you think....there are many reasons why you may not be showing lighter on the scale. Don't give up!
Never underestimate the power of a "good poo".15 -
It just seems like I'm making a lot of sacrifices for this, not going out with friends, not enjoying dinners at restaurants and all for nothing. But thanks for the encouraging words...maybe I need to give it time. I did increase my workout by a lot...
This really upsets me honestly. I think that perhaps you're going about things a bit wrong if you sacrificing all that. I eat 1240, and I still go out with friends and enjoy my meals. I still enjoy eating, but I'm learning a new way to do it. It's not a sacrifice. It's a change for the better.
Don't give up, but you might want to tweak your focus. Don't approach it as a sacrifice but rather as a way to treat yourself better. You can do this.10 -
If you bring your lunch, you can weigh it in your house beforehand. I think part of the problem may be eating back exercise calories. I think 200 calories is probably an overestimate for a yoga class even if it's intense, though maybe someone more knowledgeable about yoga than me can correct me. Elliptical trainers are also notoriously bad for overestimating calories, so if you're eating back the number on the machine, you are probably chipping away at your deficit.
The other issue though is that no matter how perfect you are at logging and sticking to it, weight loss is going to be slow. You have to want it. If it doesn't feel worth it to you, how are you going to stick with it for the months it will take to reach your goals? I think you need to find ways to make the process less miserable for yourself. Work in foods you enjoy that still fit with your calorie goals. You can still go out with your friends, just maybe skip the alcohol and pick a water. You can eat at restaurants but find the lowest calorie options, etc. Dieting shouldn't be miserable. It's hard, but the reward of getting healthier or liking what you see in the mirror is supposed to outweigh the hardship.
Yes, great advise, thanks!!1 -
OnthatStuff wrote: »livingleanlivingclean wrote: »What is "quitting" going to do.... Besides probably seeing you put the pound on, plus some?
If you're new to exercise you could be retaining fluid, you could be heavier due to hormonal changes, you could have weighed on a heavy day, you could need a good poo, you could be eating more than you think....there are many reasons why you may not be showing lighter on the scale. Don't give up!
Never underestimate the power of a "good poo".
Hahaha, true that!1 -
JaydedMiss wrote: »eskimodeb2 wrote: »You may be eating too little....so your body is trying to protect you from starving. I am obese and working out an hour a day....on a 1,650 diet per day. I am losing 2 lbs per week for the last 3 weeks...but I plan to lose my weight over the next year. I think you need to be eating more calories. You could also be building muscle too. Hang in there.
no ignore all of this listen to others the cause of not losing weight is NEVER eating to little (but you are losing)
And for the record hate to say it but your not building muscle on that defecit either. Listen to the water weight/to little time to know people
Alright! Thanks!0
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