Maybe i've got it all wrong?

Nascha333

Last spring I lost 17 pounds between feb-may. Though I had been watching what I was eating, I wasn’t strict, I often had days where I would eat healthy and then days where I would eat just junk food. I walked almost every day, 15-30 minutes (got the heart pumping but never really broke a sweat) and I lost weight weekly. In May I injured myself and needed surgery to repair a broken bone, this went on for 8 months and unfortunately I had gained back much of the weight I lost.

In December, I purchased a treadmill and apparently my motivation because the very next day I hopped on it and haven’t looked back. I work out 6 days a week and burn at least 400 calories each workout since I first bought the treadmill (3.5mph at 6% incline) and when I get off, I’m dripping sweat and I feel great. I’ve never been stricter with eating healthy though I do cheat too, but not like I had last spring. I’ve only joined MFP this month and I’ve only started logging about a week now.
The first 4 weeks since buying my treadmill I’d lost 10 inches. The scales on the other hand fluctuate, I could say I lost 5 pounds, but each day I’ve either gained or lost. Muscle or water retention? I don’t know... My muscles aren’t sore and I would think that after 5 weeks my muscles would be used of the workout.
The past two weeks i haven't lost anymore inches and the scales are still fluctuating.

So why isn’t the scale budging? Why no results when I’ve worked harder now than I did last spring? Am I working too hard? Pushing myself too soon? Should I have started off slower and worked my way up? I don’t feel like I’m working too hard but I’m getting really down and the past two days I just feel like giving up and I don’t want to!

What should I do? Should I take a few days off from exercising and allow my body to rest? How much exercise should I be doing? How much cardio, how much weights? Should I be 100% strict with my eating? No junk food, etc.
For me it’s a constant struggle living in a home where junk food is readily available. It’s tough, but I’ve been trying to slowly make better eating habits for myself.

Please help, I would appreciate anyone’s advice or personal experiences.

kelly_e_montana

Can you clarify real quick: Are you still losing inches? Are you clothes getting looser? Or, are those measures at a standstill too?

If you are getting smaller, but the scale isn't moving much, who cares?

Tracey1147

Why are you worried about the scales if you are losing inches??
You have asked why "no results" the inches are your results. Forget about what you weigh

Nascha333

sorry, i didn't think to add that in. The past 2 weeks nothing. Not losing any more inches and the scale is still fluctuating. I think that's why it's really getting be down because i keep telling myself to push through it, keep going but maybe i'm doing something wrong.

Arne_becomesxXx

Yes, you doing something wrong!

You don´t give patience to yourself.

How much time have you had to gain weight? Years!
So please give your body time to loose it.

You can´t push and push and push.....you need rest also!
Stop eating junk!
While you set yourself under pressure, why aren´t you support yourself like that?

Eat clean, give time.....love it!

Tracey1147

Also, are you eating enough?

TavistockToad

sorry, i didn't think to add that in. The past 2 weeks nothing. Not losing any more inches and the scale is still fluctuating. I think that's why it's really getting be down because i keep telling myself to push through it, keep going but maybe i'm doing something wrong.

i would add some strength/resistance workouts to your routine.

SezxyStef

weight loss comes from a deficet in your diet.

If you aren't losing weight you are not at a deficet.

Your diary isn't open so the following questions need asked:

Do you log everything? Do you weigh your food...not just measure with spoons and cups but food scale?

How do you calculate your burns? HRM with chest strap or the machine you are on?

Inches are good don't get me wrong..but you are not gaining muscle from walking on a treadmill....

as Tavistock said add in some strenght/resistence training, take a look at your intake and burns.

Nascha333

mfp has set my calorie goal at 1300 (for a weight loss of 1-2 pound per week) i workout approx. 400 which gives me extra, sometimes i don't eat all of them back because i'm just too full. I never go under 1300. And i have to say that since i started logging the last week those fluctuating pounds have dropped off, but it's too early to tell if its because of that or if it'll go back up again, not only that, that time of month is coming today or tomorrow and i can easily jump up 7 lbs because of it.

Nascha333

sorry, i didn't think to add that in. The past 2 weeks nothing. Not losing any more inches and the scale is still fluctuating. I think that's why it's really getting be down because i keep telling myself to push through it, keep going but maybe i'm doing something wrong.

i would add some strength/resistance workouts to your routine.

i wasn't able to before because of my arm, just with the one, but i've started adding it now that i've been cleared. Hopefully that'll help

BerryH

Weight loss isn't linear - stick at it and it'll start a downward trend again.

Also, if you always do the same workout, you won't burn 400 calories every time as your body has become more efficient. As well as a steady walk at the same gradient, add in interval sessions where you go as fast as you can but at a lower gradient for a minute, or really ramp up the gradient.

Nascha333

weight loss comes from a deficet in your diet.

If you aren't losing weight you are not at a deficet.

Your diary isn't open so the following questions need asked:

Do you log everything? Do you weigh your food...not just measure with spoons and cups but food scale?

How do you calculate your burns? HRM with chest strap or the machine you are on?

Inches are good don't get me wrong..but you are not gaining muscle from walking on a treadmill....

as Tavistock said add in some strenght/resistence training, take a look at your intake and burns.

I hadn't before, i just started the past week and i have seen a difference but its too early to tell if its just my weight fluctuating again. No, but if it will make all the difference i will start to weigh it.
It calculates it for me on my treadmill... are they known to be accurate?
I'm sorry if it sounds like i know nothing and that i'm a newbie when the truth is, i am. I'm determined to succeed, i need to know if i may be doing things wrong so that progress continues and doesn't remain at a halt.

Do you think the time spent on the treadmill is okay, that i should add strength/resistance training into it now as well, or alternate between?

BerryH

It calculates it for me on my treadmill... are they known to be accurate?

It depends - if it takes into account your age and weight, the reading shouldn't be too bad, and even better if you wear a heart rate monitor (HRM) it can read. But even if it uses your height and weight you will find the same workout easier - and burn fewer calories - each time you do it as you become fitter and more efficient. Mix it up a bit.

To go some way to checking your treadmill readings, compare the calorie MFP and other exercise calculators give your for similar exercise and time. Some people like to take off a chunk - say 30% - for inaccuracies and the calories you would have burned even if you just sat on the sofa during that time.

svenena

Your treadmill probably isn't completely accurate - it's very difficult to be accurate on calories burned. What 'distance' are you covering? A rule of thumb is that an average person burns approximately 100 calories per mile (walking or running) outside. It's less on a treadmill, as it moves beneath you so you're not having to propel yourself forward in the same way, but the incline you have should offset this. And of course it varies by individuals (eg overweight people probably burn more than 100 cals per mile). But this might help give an indication of whether your treadmill is approximately right.

It's often stated that weight loss is 80% what you eat, and 20% exercise. So it's really important that you watch what you're eating, as this will have a greater impact than exercise alone. Plus two weeks isn't much - give it time!