Strength/Cardio Training and pounds not leaving

OK, I have done reading and think I have figured out hat when you are strength training you lose inches and maybe not alot of pounds because you are building muscle and holding water for muscle recovery. My question is this.... When WILL it start showing up on the scale? I am 5 feet tall and weigh 188.... from my heaviest point I am down 36 pounds. I started with a trainer and lifting almost 6 weeks ago. I do that three days a week 30 minutes at a time, followed by 30 minutes of cardio with cardio 3 other days a week 45-60 minutes per session. I have lost only 3 pounds since starting with my trainer and 6 inches total (arms, thighs, waist, chest). I know that at some point POUNDS have to come off! Help! I am getting frustrated and discouraged.....

Replies

  • CynthiaT60
    CynthiaT60 Posts: 1,280 Member
    Does your trainer have one of those scales that measure body fat?
    I'd take 6 inches loss, by the way. :bigsmile:

    Just keep going. Everybody's different.

    Good luck!
  • HBRN2015
    HBRN2015 Posts: 10 Member
    Yes, and body fat is down some. I just know at some point the scale has to go down... I cant be a fit toned 5 foot tall person and weigh 188 LOL
  • CynthiaT60
    CynthiaT60 Posts: 1,280 Member
    I know the feeling. Just keep plugging away. :happy:
  • dt3312
    dt3312 Posts: 212 Member
    Are you logging your eating on MFP? You might want to log food for 2 weeks, then print it out and show it to your trainer. By logging, I found I was grazing a lot more than I thought I was. My friend found she was eating way too many fat calories. Are you making generally healthy food choices?
  • AHASRADA
    AHASRADA Posts: 88 Member
    How long have you been dieting? How big is your deficit? I'm asking because it sounds like you've lost 1/2 a pound a week over the last 6 weeks. That's nothing to sneeze at. I lost pretty steadily for the first 5-6 months, then it slowed down. Changing up my exercise helped (which it sounds like you are doing), and actually increasing my calories and bit and focusing on hitting my macros helped a lot. I had increased my exercise without increasing my intake, and it wasn't enough to sustain my workouts.

    If your body fat is reducing, you have lost inches, and have still lost 1/2 a pound a week while weight training, I wouldn't be too upset. You might just want to readjust your expectations. As long as the weight comes off, and you want that weight to be fat not losing muscle, then you want to do it right. It's not a race, you will get there eventually :)