Need advice

wallskailla8899

Hello,
I need some advice I have maintain a weight of 170 lbs for awhile. I am about 5'5. I weighed 130 about 4 years ago and i have slowly put on the weight over the last couple years. Obviously i know part of it is my metabolism slowing down. I also recognized that my eating habits and physical exercised needs some work. I'm now taking control. I am in the middle of my second week of eating a 1200 calorie diet using my fitness pal. I am doing about 90 mins of cardio and 30 mins of weights 5 times a day. When i weighed myself i am gaining weight. I started at 170lbs and not just weighed in at 174 lbs. I know muscle weighs more than fat, but it this normal when beginning a weight loss journey. How long should i give it before i should worry?

RuNaRoUnDaFiEld

wallskailla8899 wrote: »

Hello,
I need some advice I have maintain a weight of 170 lbs for awhile. I am about 5'5. I weighed 130 about 4 years ago and i have slowly put on the weight over the last couple years. Obviously i know part of it is my metabolism slowing down. I also recognized that my eating habits and physical exercised needs some work. I'm now taking control. I am in the middle of my second week of eating a 1200 calorie diet using my fitness pal. I am doing about 90 mins of cardio and 30 mins of weights 5 times a day. When i weighed myself i am gaining weight. I started at 170lbs and not just weighed in at 174 lbs. I know muscle weighs more than fat, but it this normal when beginning a weight loss journey. How long should i give it before i should worry?

What does this mean?

You are not creating muscle you are just retaining water to help repair your body.

jflongo

I wouldn't worry about it yet. What is your weight loss goal set at? You may want to give this 4+ weeks, then check in again. Patience is what is really needed, this is a journey not a race.

wallskailla8899

I would like to be in a weight 130-140lbs wherever i feel healthy in that.

jflongo

wallskailla8899 wrote: »

I would like to be in a weight 130-140lbs wherever i feel healthy in that.

I am asking what your weekly goal loss is set at in my fitness pal? 0.5, 1, 2 lbs / week? is 1200 what MFP is recommending?

wallskailla8899

2lb a week

kimny72

1. With a total goal of 40 lbs, you should be set to lose 1 lb per week. 2 lbs is very aggressive.
2. That is a lot of exercise, and when you start an aggressive exercise program, your body retains water to help with muscle repair. This can last a few weeks.
3. Exercise is great, but whether you lose weight or not will depend on how many calories you are eating. Get a food scale and use it for all solids, as often as possible, and double check that the entries you are using in the database are accurate (many were entered wrong by other users).
4. Once you tighten up your logging, give it 4-6 weeks to determine if your progress is where it needs to be.
5. It is very difficult for women to gain muscle, even more so when eating at a deficit. Your strength training will help you maintain and strengthen the muscle you already have, at most you might build a lb or so of muscle per month in the beginning.

Be patient and good luck!

Redordeadhead

RuNaRoUnDaFiEld wrote: »

wallskailla8899 wrote: »

Hello,
I need some advice I have maintain a weight of 170 lbs for awhile. I am about 5'5. I weighed 130 about 4 years ago and i have slowly put on the weight over the last couple years. Obviously i know part of it is my metabolism slowing down. I also recognized that my eating habits and physical exercised needs some work. I'm now taking control. I am in the middle of my second week of eating a 1200 calorie diet using my fitness pal. I am doing about 90 mins of cardio and 30 mins of weights 5 times a day. When i weighed myself i am gaining weight. I started at 170lbs and not just weighed in at 174 lbs. I know muscle weighs more than fat, but it this normal when beginning a weight loss journey. How long should i give it before i should worry?

What does this mean?

You are not creating muscle you are just retaining water to help repair your body.

Maybe it's meant to say five times a week?

LivingtheLeanDream

It's normal when you start a new workout routine that your body will hold on to water for repair which is why you are seeing a higher number on the scales - that is temporary, possibly will last anything from 4 days to 10 days (imo).

That is a LOT of exercise!! is that much sustainable? or even necessary! To lose weight it just takes having a calorie deficit.

ps muscle does not weigh more than fat, but it does take up less room.

LivingtheLeanDream

wallskailla8899 wrote: »

2lb a week

That's too aggressive a loss expectatioin when you have just 30lbs to lose. Aim for 1lb a week - the aim is to lose fat and retain as much muscle as possible, an aggressive loss will only serve to lose too much muscle.