Over Three Weeks & NO Progress...:(

What am I doing WRONG? I work out 5-6 days a week (kids' schedules sometimes throws me off, but not a lot) including Combat, running/walking and a weight lifting class. I calculate all my food properly, I take vitamins, I drink my water, laid off the heavy snacking, I mean I'm human, but nothing outrageous to keep me from losing not one single pound in over 3 weeks Ugh! This is why people get frustrated and give up!
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Replies

  • raichhype
    raichhype Posts: 74 Member
    working out 5-6 times a week is gonna build muscle, remember muscle is heavier than fat. Try measuring instead of weighing.
  • tlou5
    tlou5 Posts: 497 Member
    If you open your diary it would be easier to give you advice :smile:
  • SkinnyMel78
    SkinnyMel78 Posts: 434 Member
    ^^ This and are you eating enough calories to offset your workouts? It's hard to help if your diary is closed. Make sure you eat enough calories and drink lots of water!
  • MayaSPapaya
    MayaSPapaya Posts: 735 Member
    How much are you eating? Because if you're working out that much, it's possible you're not eating enough. If you're doing the MFP reccomended 1200 calories, don't. Also, sometimes it takes a while for you to actually start losing weight. It took me about 3-4 weeks before I saw a loss on the scale, and ever since then I have been losing, as you can see on my ticker. But I think the problem may be you're not eating enough.
  • Phoenix_Warrior
    Phoenix_Warrior Posts: 1,633 Member
    working out 5-6 times a week is gonna build muscle, remember muscle is heavier than fat. Try measuring instead of weighing.

    No.
  • yoovie
    yoovie Posts: 17,121 Member
    Guess what - it's going to take at least 49 more weeks.

    If you're ready to throw in the towel because you only wanted this enough to work for it for 3 weeks, then stop - gain your bearings and get back in there with the corrected mindset.

    Either you want this enough to do whatever it takes to get it.

    Or you only want it enough to work for it for three weeks.

    Who ever told you this would be super fast and smooth sailing was LYING TO YOU.
  • MRSpivey
    MRSpivey Posts: 270 Member
    I know exactly where you are coming from and the comment about muscle weight, well... it's a small part of it. When I began my journey I didn't see results on the scale (weight loss) for several months. I actually saw weight gain initially with working out! Stay the course! If you are watching and keeping proper caloric intake (a healthy deficit), proper nutritional macros, and a good exercise program consisting of resistive and cardio, you will eventually see results! Remember, this is a lifestyle change. The weight didn't go on overnight and it takes time and effort for it to come off. You also may be experiencing a period where your body is in process of "shifting gears," metabolically speaking. My metabolism was jacked up too and it took a while of being in a new healthy lifestyle before it began to come around. I started out by calling it a journey because that is what it is. It's not a "day trip." Hang in there and hang tough!!! :happy:

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  • RGv2
    RGv2 Posts: 5,789 Member
    working out 5-6 times a week is gonna build muscle, remember muscle is heavier than fat. Try measuring instead of weighing.

    workaholics-no.gif

    Did you just start this new workout regimen of 5-6 days per week within this 3 week period as well?

    If so, you're probably looking at water retention. Your muscles retain water for repair when ever you add the stress of, or change the intensity of a workout regimen until it adapts.

    What are your MFP calorie goals? Do you eat exercise calories back, if so, how do you estimate the burn?
  • Julzanne72
    Julzanne72 Posts: 468 Member
    working out 5-6 times a week is gonna build muscle, remember muscle is heavier than fat. Try measuring instead of weighing.

    Muscle does not weigh more that fat, a lb of fat is a lb of muscle, muscle takes up less space than fat. I would suggest making your diary public so people can help you, hard to say, when we have no idea what you are eating.
  • diannethegeek
    diannethegeek Posts: 14,776 Member
    working out 5-6 times a week is gonna build muscle, remember muscle is heavier than fat. Try measuring instead of weighing.

    Muscle does not weigh more that fat, a lb of fat is a lb of muscle, muscle takes up less space than fat. I would suggest making your diary public so people can help you, hard to say, when we have no idea what you are eating.

    Muscle does not take up less space than fat. A cubic inch of muscle = a cubic inch of fat.
  • InForBacon
    InForBacon Posts: 1,508 Member
    working out 5-6 times a week is gonna build muscle, remember muscle is heavier than fat. Try measuring instead of weighing.

    Muscle does not weigh more that fat, a lb of fat is a lb of muscle, muscle takes up less space than fat. I would suggest making your diary public so people can help you, hard to say, when we have no idea what you are eating.

    Muscle does not take up less space than fat. A cubic inch of muscle = a cubic inch of fat.
    I'm liking where this is going...
  • MB_Positif
    MB_Positif Posts: 8,897 Member
    You've just got to keep fighting the good fight and give it more time.

    How are you "calculating" your food? Does that mean weighing or measuring? Do you think the calorie burns you are logging for exercise are accurate?

    I would say give it a few more weeks and see if there are any changes. If not, change something up, either exercise or food intake.
  • yoovie
    yoovie Posts: 17,121 Member
    working out 5-6 times a week is gonna build muscle, remember muscle is heavier than fat. Try measuring instead of weighing.

    Muscle does not weigh more that fat, a lb of fat is a lb of muscle, muscle takes up less space than fat. I would suggest making your diary public so people can help you, hard to say, when we have no idea what you are eating.

    Muscle does not take up less space than fat. A cubic inch of muscle = a cubic inch of fat.

    I just laughed so hard. thank you.
  • FreyasRebirth
    FreyasRebirth Posts: 514 Member
    1 lb = 1 lb. 1 in = 1 in.

    I think what everyone is trying to say is that 1 lb of muscle takes up less space than 1 lb of fat. You may even get heavier as you get smaller.
  • Mr_Knight
    Mr_Knight Posts: 9,532 Member
    Without seeing your food and exercise diaries, it's virtually impossible to offer specific suggestions. We can, however, say with considerable confidence that you are not gaining muscle, as muscle is extremely difficult to add even without the complications of a caloric deficit.
  • Francl27
    Francl27 Posts: 26,371 Member
    You need to open your diary. How much are you eating? I'd give it some time anyway, if you just started working out it's normal for muscles to retain some water. But make sure you don't overestimate your exercise calories too.
  • MRSpivey
    MRSpivey Posts: 270 Member
    working out 5-6 times a week is gonna build muscle, remember muscle is heavier than fat. Try measuring instead of weighing.

    Muscle does not weigh more that fat, a lb of fat is a lb of muscle, muscle takes up less space than fat. I would suggest making your diary public so people can help you, hard to say, when we have no idea what you are eating.

    Correct... however muscle is more dense than fat so per a given unit volume it will weigh more.
  • Francl27
    Francl27 Posts: 26,371 Member
    working out 5-6 times a week is gonna build muscle, remember muscle is heavier than fat. Try measuring instead of weighing.

    Muscle does not weigh more that fat, a lb of fat is a lb of muscle, muscle takes up less space than fat. I would suggest making your diary public so people can help you, hard to say, when we have no idea what you are eating.

    Correct... however muscle is more dense than fat so per a given unit volume it will weigh more.

    This. It's like saying that lead doesn't weigh more than feathers - does nobody realize how crazy that sounds?
  • Deipneus
    Deipneus Posts: 1,854 Member
    Muscle does not take up less space than fat. A cubic inch of muscle = a cubic inch of fat.
    Aaanndd..... they're off!
  • sybrix
    sybrix Posts: 134 Member
    Stick to it. I "plateaued" for about 3 weeks as well, lost no scale weight and even gained some scale weight above my base weight at the time on and off. It was frustrating because I was weighing my food, exercising, and not seeing results. It could be many things:

    -Water retention
    -Normal fluctuations
    -Monthly cycle (for women obviously lol, goes with water retention)
    -Your body just giving you the finger for reasons unknown to you. (jk! or... am I? :laugh: )
    -You're not in a deficit.

    Just keep doing what you're doing, ride it out, and maybe even ignore the scale for the next week or two. It was annoying seeing my scale weight either stay the same or go up, but I knew it wasn't fat I was gaining because I obviously wasn't consuming 3500+ calories over my normal calorie intake.

    Make sure you're weighing your food and are actually in a deficit. Food scales are cheap and easy to use, never use measuring cups because even if you level them off at the top many companies use approximations for volume measuring. I learned this the hard way after I tested my measuring cups vs. the food scale.

    I assumed it was water retention, and after a few weeks I'm starting to lose again. Be patient.
  • Mr_Knight
    Mr_Knight Posts: 9,532 Member
    The OP is not gaining muscle - can we move the pedantic part of the discussion to another thread?
  • Julzanne72
    Julzanne72 Posts: 468 Member
    working out 5-6 times a week is gonna build muscle, remember muscle is heavier than fat. Try measuring instead of weighing.

    Muscle does not weigh more that fat, a lb of fat is a lb of muscle, muscle takes up less space than fat. I would suggest making your diary public so people can help you, hard to say, when we have no idea what you are eating.

    Muscle does not take up less space than fat. A cubic inch of muscle = a cubic inch of fat.

    Pardon me, a lb of muscle takes up less space in your body than a lb of fat.
  • Kittyvicious1
    Kittyvicious1 Posts: 190 Member
    The same here, but I lost inches not pounds. I worked out 5-6 days a week rotating cardio and weights. Iried everything adjusting my calories/meals, intense exercise etc... I stopped doing weights and did just cardio, the pounds starting dropping. Stop weightlifting for a week or two maybe a month and see the difference. After the week or two maybe month go back to rotating weights and cardio.
  • jeffpettis
    jeffpettis Posts: 865 Member
    First I would say give it some more time. You said you haven't lost any weight in three weeks does that mean you gained weight or just maintained your weight? It could be a few different things. Most likely a little water retention due to a new routine. One thing it is not is new muscle. Not in three weeks. And especially not in a deficit. If you go another week without losing anything then I would say you are not in a deficit. Either you are eating more than you think or are burning less than you think if you eat back exercise calories. A calorie deficit is the only thing that is absolutely "required" for weight loss.
  • RGv2
    RGv2 Posts: 5,789 Member
    The same here, but I lost inches not pounds. I worked out 5-6 days a week rotating cardio and weights. Iried everything adjusting my calories/meals, intense exercise etc... I stopped doing weights and did just cardio, the pounds starting dropping. Stop weightlifting for a week or two maybe a month and see the difference. After the week or two maybe month go back to rotating weights and cardio.

    The reason the lbs started dropping off when you switched from doing weight was water weight and loss of LBM. The scale number goes down slower when you weightlift because you're maintaining muscle mass, so all the weight you are losing is fat. If you don't weightlift of some sort, yes the scale will move faster, but you will be losing muscle with your fat.
  • jeffpettis
    jeffpettis Posts: 865 Member
    The same here, but I lost inches not pounds. I worked out 5-6 days a week rotating cardio and weights. Iried everything adjusting my calories/meals, intense exercise etc... I stopped doing weights and did just cardio, the pounds starting dropping. Stop weightlifting for a week or two maybe a month and see the difference. After the week or two maybe month go back to rotating weights and cardio.

    The reason the lbs started dropping off when you switched from doing weight was water weight and loss of LBM. The scale number goes down slower when you weightlift because you're maintaining muscle mass, so all the weight you are losing is fat. If you don't weightlift of some sort, yes the scale will move faster, but you will be losing muscle with your fat.

    ^^^^ This too ^^^^

    That is the very last thing you want to do is lose lean muscle tissue while losing weight. Your goal should be fat loss not weight loss.
  • LiftAllThePizzas
    LiftAllThePizzas Posts: 17,857 Member
    working out 5-6 times a week is gonna build muscle, remember muscle is heavier than fat. Try measuring instead of weighing.

    Muscle does not weigh more that fat, a lb of fat is a lb of muscle, muscle takes up less space than fat. I would suggest making your diary public so people can help you, hard to say, when we have no idea what you are eating.

    Muscle does not take up less space than fat. A cubic inch of muscle = a cubic inch of fat.

    I just laughed so hard. thank you.
    Same here. My favorite part was a lb of fat is a lb of muscle because it's always awesome when someone tries to get all pedantic and ends up making a bigger mistake than the one they think they're correcting.
  • socajam
    socajam Posts: 2,530 Member
    What am I doing WRONG? I work out 5-6 days a week (kids' schedules sometimes throws me off, but not a lot) including Combat, running/walking and a weight lifting class. I calculate all my food properly, I take vitamins, I drink my water, laid off the heavy snacking, I mean I'm human, but nothing outrageous to keep me from losing not one single pound in over 3 weeks Ugh! This is why people get frustrated and give up!

    If you are going to ask a question like this, open your diary so that people can give you an honest answer, regardless of how the answer makes you feel.
  • DavPul
    DavPul Posts: 61,406 Member
    working out 5-6 times a week is gonna build muscle, remember muscle is heavier than fat. Try measuring instead of weighing.

    Muscle does not weigh more that fat, a lb of fat is a lb of muscle, muscle takes up less space than fat. I would suggest making your diary public so people can help you, hard to say, when we have no idea what you are eating.

    Muscle does not take up less space than fat. A cubic inch of muscle = a cubic inch of fat.

    2 years on this site and I never thought to use this line. My hat is off too you
  • I was shocked at how the snacking can really add up. Can't believe 1 chocolate chip cookie is 200 calories, that really changed what I would eat as snacks!