Hard work, little results

Knw011
Knw011 Posts: 5 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
Hey All!

Sorry if this has been posted elsewhere....I'm new to the healthy lifestyle business! Starting at the end of January, I decided to make a lifestyle change :) I've been eating clean and working out consistently since then. (about 2 months) I eat around 1300 cals/day and I lift weights and do cardio (~20mins) 5X a week with 2X a week being heavy cardio (~1 hr) with no weights. So, I work out everyday. I have seen small results, losing a total of 15 lbs over the 2 months. I am 5'4" and am currently 193 lbs. I would like to lose weight and gain muscle. My goal is to be lean and healthy. Are these normal results, or should I be adapting something to see better results? I have been advised to up my calories to about 2100 / day. Seems like a lot to me, but this is coming from someone with experience. Suggestions?

Thanks in advance!

Replies

  • staceypunk
    staceypunk Posts: 924 Member
    I think 15 pounds over 2 months is awesome! Keep it up! It's working.
  • krysannboggs
    krysannboggs Posts: 48 Member
    15 lbs is a perfectly acceptable amount of weight to lose in just 2 months. You also may not be taking into consideration that you are gainng muscle.
  • bcattoes
    bcattoes Posts: 17,299 Member
    I think 15 pounds over 2 months is awesome! Keep it up! It's working.

    Yeah, I agree. That is a good weight loss rate.

    As to upping your calories, you probably could eat more with all that exericse, and it might be advisable if muscle is your goal. I wouldn't go from 1300 to 2100 overnight though. Add 200-300 and do that for a few weeks and see how you feel and if you are still losing. Then add more if you think you need to.
  • krysannboggs
    krysannboggs Posts: 48 Member
    And yes, the more you work out, the more food you should consume. I completely agree. You've got to feed those muscles!!!
  • lightmouse
    lightmouse Posts: 175 Member
    You need to eat more :smile: don't worry - it sounds crazy but it does work - fuel your body properly and it will reward you. Keep up the good work!
  • ElliottTN
    ElliottTN Posts: 1,614 Member
    I think you would really REALLY disappointed if you upped your cals that much.

    15 lbs over 2 months is really awesome and you should be proud. Why most people fail is the expect too much too soon.

    Go to google and type in "5 pounds of fat" and click on the images tab to put that in perspective. It will floor you.

    That weight didn't come on overnight and it is going to take some time to get it off. I would consider upping your cals just a tad if you find yourself struggling over the long run. It is worse to keep a low calorie diet and then go binge like crazy becasue you can't keep it there for your entire weight loss cycle. It is much better to add 100 cals now and completely avoid the binge and net lower cal intake over the long haul. BUT if you can keep it going at that intake level for now then why not.

    Anyways, congrats. It may not seem like a lot of weight but go google those images or go find something that weighs 15 pounds and pick it up...that used to be on your body. It is really very amazing to think about.
  • mschicagocubs
    mschicagocubs Posts: 774 Member
    That is a great job! Why change anything?
  • Mia_RagazzaTosta
    Mia_RagazzaTosta Posts: 4,885 Member
    I wouldn't change a thing
  • da_bears10089
    da_bears10089 Posts: 1,791 Member
    15 lbs is a perfectly acceptable amount of weight to lose in just 2 months. You also may not be taking into consideration that you are gainng muscle.

    aside from very minimal newbie gains, she isn't gaining muscle.
  • mailroomclerk
    mailroomclerk Posts: 70
    Listen to this.

    I stopped lifting and sat on my *kitten* for a week drinking beer eating nothing but pizza topped with cigarettes and still lost 15 lbs so in your face. Kidding, of course (I gained 5 or 8 lbs). I quit the smoking and drinking and hit the gym for about two weeks, lifting 5 days a week and doing 45 minutes of cardio every day. I've only lost like 2-5lbs, I mean hardly noticeable on the scale. But I feel great and if it's a lifestyle then 2 weeks or 2 months is nothing.

    If you want rapid weight loss you can try a keto diet and upping your cardio which is basically just keeping your carbs low and running on fumes. Carbs hold onto water though so when you add them back you're going to gain some weight again.

    You're losing almost 2 lbs a week, that is VERY healthy and nearly optimal. I was 230lbs at one point and lost like 15-20lbs the first month. I was taking Medifast and doing an hour of cardio at the gym then. I wouldn't recommend it though. I thought for sure I was going to look absolutely jacked when I got to 170 after coming from such a high weight and being somewhat muscular. Wrong, weight loss that fast wasn't just taking fat away but muscle too. I was skinny afterwards and it was time to rebuild and learn from my mistakes. You're on at a good pace, trust me.
  • Knw011
    Knw011 Posts: 5 Member
    Wow! Thanks everyone for the quick responses :) I feel perfectly fine with 1300 cal/day. I don't feel depleted or exhausted. I think I will try upping to just 1500 and see if I continue to see a change. If not, I'll got back down to 1300. Thanks for all of the advice and great support :D I'm definitely feeling healthier and I notice a big difference in the way my clothes fit. I will keep at it :) Friend me for updates!
  • Knw011
    Knw011 Posts: 5 Member
    Hahahahahaha very funny!
  • Knw011
    Knw011 Posts: 5 Member
    I think you would really REALLY disappointed if you upped your cals that much.

    15 lbs over 2 months is really awesome and you should be proud. Why most people fail is the expect too much too soon.

    Go to google and type in "5 pounds of fat" and click on the images tab to put that in perspective. It will floor you.

    That weight didn't come on overnight and it is going to take some time to get it off. I would consider upping your cals just a tad if you find yourself struggling over the long run. It is worse to keep a low calorie diet and then go binge like crazy becasue you can't keep it there for your entire weight loss cycle. It is much better to add 100 cals now and completely avoid the binge and net lower cal intake over the long haul. BUT if you can keep it going at that intake level for now then why not.

    Anyways, congrats. It may not seem like a lot of weight but go google those images or go find something that weighs 15 pounds and pick it up...that used to be on your body. It is really very amazing to think about.


    Thanks! I've seen those images before and I always try to keep that in mind. When I get discouraged, I go pick up a plate at the gym of 15 lbs and think "Wow, this is how much I'm NOT carrying around anymore." Definitely a good reminder :)
  • Knw011
    Knw011 Posts: 5 Member
    15 lbs is a perfectly acceptable amount of weight to lose in just 2 months. You also may not be taking into consideration that you are gainng muscle.

    aside from very minimal newbie gains, she isn't gaining muscle.

    This may be slightly true, but I'm definitely seeing more definition in my legs. Either losing the fat and finally seeing those muscles again, or gaining muscle and losing fat :D
  • ironanimal
    ironanimal Posts: 5,922 Member
    15 lbs is a perfectly acceptable amount of weight to lose in just 2 months. You also may not be taking into consideration that you are gainng muscle.

    aside from very minimal newbie gains, she isn't gaining muscle.

    This may be slightly true, but I'm definitely seeing more definition in my legs. Either losing the fat and finally seeing those muscles again, or gaining muscle and losing fat :D
    More likely the former, but you're doing extremely well nonetheless :)
  • AliceDark
    AliceDark Posts: 3,886 Member
    This may be slightly true, but I'm definitely seeing more definition in my legs. Either losing the fat and finally seeing those muscles again, or gaining muscle and losing fat :D
    You're seeing the muscle underneath, which is excellent! When people say that you're not adding new muscle while you're losing weight, it's not a criticism. (People sometimes think it's a negative, but it really isn't. It's just biology, and the better you understand how your body works, the more efficiently you can get to your goal). You want to hold on to every ounce of muscle you can while you're losing, and if you're starting to see the muscles come through, it means you're on the right track.

    Like everyone else has said, 15 pounds in 2 months is amazing! Take an hour and click through a bunch of the posts with people complaining that they've lost maybe a pound or 2 in the same amount of time (and pay attention to their excuses). You should be really proud of your results so far.
  • cindym29
    cindym29 Posts: 60 Member
    First of all, Congrats on the incredible progress!! IMO I think you're fine at the amount you're eating, but if you want to up to even 1700ish a day for a week or two and see how you feel and whatnot, I think you'll be great regardless!

    I think that you probably have put on a little bit of muscle in those 2 months, and muscle burns a lot more calories than fat does, so upping a little bit shouldn't harm you! but to go from 1300 to 2100 is definitely a huge jump and not one I'd personally do.

    Keep up the hard work!!!!

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