Insanely frustrated...

SuzieQT

I started using MFP August 12, 2008. So I've been on here a little over a month and as you can see by my ticker, I've only lost 4 lbs (and those were all in the first week and a half). Its a very rare occasion that I go over my calories and I'm usually not that far under. I workout for at least 30 mins 5 to 6 days a week. I know I should've taken my measurements when I started, but I actually could not find a tape measure anywhere in my entire apartment (lame excuse, I know). I tried on clothes yesterday that I knew used to be a little too tight but they still seem to fit the same. I'm just so frustrated. I don't know what else to do. You would think I'd be making some progress at least? The scale hasn't moved in three or four weeks! Does anybody have any suggestions on what I'm doing wrong? I just feel like giving up. I've worked so hard and I'm not getting any reward. :sad:

SuzieQT

I started using MFP August 12, 2008. So I've been on here a little over a month and as you can see by my ticker, I've only lost 4 lbs (and those were all in the first week and a half). Its a very rare occasion that I go over my calories and I'm usually not that far under. I workout for at least 30 mins 5 to 6 days a week. I know I should've taken my measurements when I started, but I actually could not find a tape measure anywhere in my entire apartment (lame excuse, I know). I tried on clothes yesterday that I knew used to be a little too tight but they still seem to fit the same. I'm just so frustrated. I don't know what else to do. You would think I'd be making some progress at least? The scale hasn't moved in three or four weeks! Does anybody have any suggestions on what I'm doing wrong? I just feel like giving up. I've worked so hard and I'm not getting any reward. :sad:

kerrilucko

so....... you've been here a month and 4 pounds gone... that means you've lost about a pound a week. So what's the problem? You need to be patient, you're losing weight, slowly and surely the HEALTHY way. stick with it, keep it up. good job! :drinker:

SuzieQT

If I'm really just being impatient (that's definitely possible) how come three of the four pounds lost were gone in the first week?

pdxmomof2

Another thing you need to keep in mind is that you dont have alot to loose. It is going to come off slowly. You cant compare yourself to people who have 50, 60 or even 100 pounds to loose. If you loose it healthy and slowly then it is also more likely to stay off! Be patient! I have had to learn that myself and I have alot more to loose.

Amy

dothompson

It often comes off that way. Next week you may be down 3 again. I lost 115 pounds about 3 years ago, and you ultimately will lose what you should, but it goes in spurts. Keep an eye on your loss for the previous 4 weeks if that number stalls, you might want to try something new.

GoGetterMom

SuzieQT~ You are doing things right... Keep track of calories, don't get below and NO BEATING YOURSELF UP. You are doing what is exactly expected - you are losing weight at the 1-2 pound per week ratio. You have to just keep in mind, unlike me, you don't have much to drop. You have a fraction to drop in comparison to others, so your progress should not be as rapid. No frownin' QT!

Canelitas

I'm not a Trainer, so I'm not sure, but maybe it is because the last few pounds are harder to loose, Maybe you need to update your profile...or maybe it's the calorie intake, I'm not sure, Hopefully someone who is more experience can help in that area...Wish you the Best :flowerforyou:

kerrilucko

If I'm really just being impatient (that's definitely possible) how come three of the four pounds lost were gone in the first week?

Well the thing is when you are as small as you are (I mean you're not OBESE, you just want 20ish pounds off right?) 3 lbs of fat lost in a week really isn't going to happen. I'm guessing that was water weight, or mostly water weight. The fact that it has stayed gone probably means that you have lost 4 lbs of fat over time. So the weight balanced out... does that make sense? Also, if it makes you feel any better, it took me 2 weeks to lose my first pound..... and 2 more weeks to lose my next 2 pounds... And I started out a lot larger than you are so it should have come off faster. Now, some weeks I lose nothing, I had a stretch not long ago where I went 3 weeks with no change. Other weeks I have lost up to 4 pounds. You just have to stick with it. Try not to rush it, it'll come off! :flowerforyou:

SuzieQT

SuzieQT~ You are doing things right... Keep track of calories, don't get below and NO BEATING YOURSELF UP. You are doing what is exactly expected - you are losing weight at the 1-2 pound per week ratio. You have to just keep in mind, unlike me, you don't have much to drop. You have a fraction to drop in comparison to others, so your progress should not be as rapid. No frownin' QT!

::gives self a hug::
I guess what's really frustrating me is that I know when I did it the wrong way the pounds came off faster. Nobody ever said the right way would be easy though! Thanks for helping me turn my frown upside down lol.

shorerider

One, as all have said already, you don't have a lot to lose, so it will be very slow.

Two, have you considered toning and seeing how that works--maybe you need toning more than weight loss?

three, how much are you eating a day in calories? Are you eating your exercise calories?

SuzieQT

If I'm really just being impatient (that's definitely possible) how come three of the four pounds lost were gone in the first week?

Well the thing is when you are as small as you are (I mean you're not OBESE, you just want 20ish pounds off right?) 3 lbs of fat lost in a week really isn't going to happen. I'm guessing that was water weight, or mostly water weight. The fact that it has stayed gone probably means that you have lost 4 lbs of fat over time. So the weight balanced out... does that make sense? Also, if it makes you feel any better, it took me 2 weeks to lose my first pound..... and 2 more weeks to lose my next 2 pounds... And I started out a lot larger than you are so it should have come off faster. Now, some weeks I lose nothing, I had a stretch not long ago where I went 3 weeks with no change. Other weeks I have lost up to 4 pounds. You just have to stick with it. Try not to rush it, it'll come off! :flowerforyou:

That makes a lot of sense and makes me feel better too. I just need to be patient. That's probably gonna be harder for me than sticking with my new routine lol! :laugh:

SuzieQT

One, as all have said already, you don't have a lot to lose, so it will be very slow.

Two, have you considered toning and seeing how that works--maybe you need toning more than weight loss?

three, how much are you eating a day in calories? Are you eating your exercise calories?

MFP recommends I get 1300 calories a day and most days I burn at least 300 to 500 calories working out according to my heart rate monitor. I always make sure to eat at least my allotted 1300 and most days I'm closer to 1500. I usually do some weight lifting at the gym and an ab workout video three days a week after my 30 min blast on the elliptical.

kerrilucko

If I'm really just being impatient (that's definitely possible) how come three of the four pounds lost were gone in the first week?

Well the thing is when you are as small as you are (I mean you're not OBESE, you just want 20ish pounds off right?) 3 lbs of fat lost in a week really isn't going to happen. I'm guessing that was water weight, or mostly water weight. The fact that it has stayed gone probably means that you have lost 4 lbs of fat over time. So the weight balanced out... does that make sense? Also, if it makes you feel any better, it took me 2 weeks to lose my first pound..... and 2 more weeks to lose my next 2 pounds... And I started out a lot larger than you are so it should have come off faster. Now, some weeks I lose nothing, I had a stretch not long ago where I went 3 weeks with no change. Other weeks I have lost up to 4 pounds. You just have to stick with it. Try not to rush it, it'll come off! :flowerforyou:

That makes a lot of sense and makes me feel better too. I just need to be patient. That's probably gonna be harder for me than sticking with my new routine lol! :laugh:

Once you've been here a little longer you'll find that you're more patient and more knowledgable about how YOU lose weight. Of course everyone's different. SOme lose in spurts, nothing for a month and then wham! 3 lbs gone in a couple days. Others lose slowly but surely a half pound or so every single week. But either way you'll lose it just don't give up, and we are all here to help you! :drinker:

LAPETITERUSE

another thing you can do is increase the intensity of your workouts. YOur body only begins to burn stored fat after 20 minutes in your target cardio heartrate. So a 30 minute workout is really only burning stored fat for 5 minutes or so. The other 25 minutes you're burning the energy from the calories you've consumed that day. I would say try to increase your workouts to 45 minutes. And try interval training. For example, if you walk on the treadmill, add in a couple running spurts. Walk 5 minutes, run 1 minutes; walk 2.5 minutes, run 30 seconds... something to get your heatbeat up.

But you really shouldn't beat yourself up. You are on the right track.

shorerider

MFP recommends I get 1300 calories a day and most days I burn at least 300 to 500 calories working out according to my heart rate monitor. I always make sure to eat at least my allotted 1300 and most days I'm closer to 1500. I usually do some weight lifting at the gym and an ab workout video three days a week after my 30 min blast on the elliptical.

Are you eating your exercise calories? Because if not, you're not eating as much as you think.

And, 1300 is probably too low for you. HOw much did you select to lose per week? Because at your current weight, you should probably be looking at losing no more than 1/2 to 1 pound per week.

given the small amount you wish to lose, and your age, you might want to bump up your calories. I know it seems to make no sense to do that but many on here can testify that they were eating too little and once they bumped up, they begin to lose more.

You might benefit from reading the 2 posts linked below:

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/12250-1000-calorie-deficit-not-for-people-with-healthy-bmi


http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/20035-just-because-you-can-have-a-2-pound-per-week-goal

SuzieQT

MFP recommends I get 1300 calories a day and most days I burn at least 300 to 500 calories working out according to my heart rate monitor. I always make sure to eat at least my allotted 1300 and most days I'm closer to 1500. I usually do some weight lifting at the gym and an ab workout video three days a week after my 30 min blast on the elliptical.

Are you eating your exercise calories? Because if not, you're not eating as much as you think.

And, 1300 is probably too low for you. HOw much did you select to lose per week? Because at your current weight, you should probably be looking at losing no more than 1/2 to 1 pound per week.

given the small amount you wish to lose, and your age, you might want to bump up your calories. I know it seems to make no sense to do that but many on here can testify that they were eating too little and once they bumped up, they begin to lose more.

You might benefit from reading the 2 posts linked below:

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/12250-1000-calorie-deficit-not-for-people-with-healthy-bmi


http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/20035-just-because-you-can-have-a-2-pound-per-week-goal

I read both those posts and yes I am eating my exercise calories (almost all of them usually). I set my goal at 1.5 lbs per week, which might be too high as you suggested. I also checked out my BMI as the posts suggested and I'm right in the middle of the high category. I set my goal at 25 lbs to lose which should get me right in the edge of the healthy BMI. I didn't want to set my goal too high because I was afraid I'd fail. When I was in high school I saw a nutritionist because I weighed 220 lbs and she said that my ideal weight should be around 150 lbs (which would put me right in the middle of healthy BMI range). I currently weigh 181 lbs and I set my goal for 160 lbs. So should I eat more? Change my per week goal? Or change my overall goal?
Thanks for your help! :flowerforyou:

shorerider

I would really suggest setting your goal for 1/2 pound or 1 pound week--1 pound is the recommended per week rate by doctors (even mine told me that and I've got ALOT to lose yet!). Your body may be holding onto stuff in trying to simply function.

As for how much to weigh--that depends upon your height, sex, and body frame really. And, if a professional has already given you an amount, then it's probably a good one to shoot for. How tall are you? Do you have a small frame, large, medium??

Also, have you tried doing some toning? I mean, by just looking at the photos you've got on your profile, you look great already. Some toning might be a big help, like I said earlier, more than losing a set number of pounds.

Oh, and btw, you're doing great! 4 pounds in a month is wonderful-might not seem like it but I went a month and lost 8/10 of a pound :explode: so rejoice!

And, I'm not a doctor or professional, just so you know, but someone who in the past has tried most of it and now am trying it the old fashioned way.

SuzieQT

Well thanks! :smooched: I'm 5'8" naturally curvy and I've got a pretty average frame I think. My boyfriend always tells me I wouldn't be overweight if I didn't wear a D cup and have baby making hips lol. I think I'm going to try decreasing my per week goal and see if it helps any. Thanks for the suggestion!

blink14

it took me almost 2 months to lose anything, so hang in there! one thing that I found for me that really worked was to stick to an eating schedule. I would bring X amount of food to work, and I would eat every 2 hours, saving calories for dinner and a snack.

its important to eat consistently. sometimes I would skip eating a snack in the afternoon, and found myself overeating way too much at dinner. its all about routine, sticking to your calories, and just sticking with your goal. if you are honest about what you are eating and the exercise you do, the weight will definitely come off, just give it time.

michlingle

another thing to consider is that when it's that time of the month, you weigh in heavier than usual...I would wait a week and a half after you are due to weigh in...that will be more accurate. I am finding that I have been losing a pound a week and I have about the same to lose as you...slow and steady wins the race....but I do understand how frustrating this can be...

heartshapdworld

Relax. It isn't likely you gained weight overnight, so it isn't likely that you will lose it overnight.

shorerider

Well thanks! :smooched: I'm 5'8" naturally curvy and I've got a pretty average frame I think. My boyfriend always tells me I wouldn't be overweight if I didn't wear a D cup and have baby making hips lol. I think I'm going to try decreasing my per week goal and see if it helps any. Thanks for the suggestion!

Check out this site--it's got a "ideal body weight" calculator that uses body frame size. It seems to agree with many others I've used. It also tells you how to measure your body frame and it's simple!


http://www.healthcentral.com/diet-exercise/ideal-body-weight-3146-143.html

mlillie

I am with you girl- I just posted about this to someone else's post- you are not alone but I just try to stay focused on health and healthy choices.
I have lost before in an unhealthy way and gave up a lot of muscle and energy. I want the muscle and I want to do it correctly now so it make take us a little while.

I have been on here for months!

jamerz3294

Heya beautiful... just keep on keeping on! :flowerforyou: In another thread (plz don't ask me for the link *giggle*) our resident expert Banks said that the last 20 pounds could take SEVERAL months to come off! So, yeah, I totally understand about being impatient, but even a big ol obese guy like me hasta lose it right... which means slowly (even if I want it all off right now dammit *giggle*). But what we're doing ISN'T a diet, or a pill, or a magic wand. We didn't get into this particular place overnight, and we're not gonna get into that fit condition we all crave so badly overnight either. Luvya and hugz!

mamakitty

I also have 20 pounds to lose. I know that it will take me a while because of that. But I have found that if I really up my weight lifting I don't lose weight right a way, but I can see the difference in tone. I can see the definition of my muscles. My clothes start to fit better. Then eventually the weight starts to drop. The more muscle mass you build burns more calories at rest.
I have found that increasing my weight lifting doesn't necessarily mean increasing the time as much as increasing the intensity and changing the type of exercise. I try to lift three sets at a weight that I can not do more that 10 reps for each set. Make sure you are lifting enough weight and that it feels like you really have to work to finish your reps.
Good luck and don't give up.

jenn10

Honestly I did not read all of the posts to you but I did read some of them and hear is what I was told -- Even when you are walking on the treadmill or useing a machine of any kind for that matter - but especailly when weight training you r are still going to gain muscle weight! and guess what they are not joking when they say it weighs more than fat -- when I started working out with my husband I put on 5 pounds!!!! in one week and I was sooo sad about it -- but my trainer decided to take a measurment or my body fat even though it was only a week and guess what ---YEP down 2.5%!!! in one week -- and my clothing did not fit any different! I think you may just be gaining muscle and after you gain the muscle you need for the work out you are doing , it will start burning more cals and you we see a huge difference!

songbyrdsweet

Okay, I'm going to burst some bubbles here for the sake of science and the truth.

First, no one can gain 5 lbs of muscle in a week, or even a month, without the use of steroids. No one can gain even a lb of muscle in a week, and a lb of muscle in a month is an astounding achievement for a young male full of testosterone eating 300 extra calories a day to gain muscle without gaining body fat. It just doesn't happen that fast, because the hormones associated with muscle growth don't act that quickly. This is especially true in females who have extremely low levels of testosterone and GH in comparison to men. Obviously, if you're restricting calories, you won't gain any muscle mass. You'll lose it, and no amount of lifting will prevent that. Your strength may increase due to neurological factors, but anywhere from 10-50% of your weight loss will come from muscle mass. It's about the caloric restriction, not the lifting.

Second, exercise does piddly squat for fat loss. In fact, when you compare a plan with diet and exercise versus just the diet (meaning a restricted calorie plan), diet and exercise results in a whopping .6 lb loss more than diet alone. You can't expect exercise to do anything for you in terms of fat loss unless you're training for about 90 minutes a day at the highest intensity you can withstand for that duration (or you train for marathons). It will improve other aspects of your health, but once again, it's about calories, not exercise.

This is a discouraging conclusion I have come to at this point in my educational career, and though I certainly didn't want to admit it, the evidence supporting it is astounding.

So, your weight loss is totally normal. We aren't made to drop pounds like crazy, we are made to hold onto them for dear life. Play with your calories, because that's the only thing that'll make a difference.

arewethereyet

I remember when i was in early 30s and needed to lose 20 lbs. it took me around 16 wks and a LOT of cardio. Give it time.

shorerider

Second, exercise does piddly squat for fat loss. In fact, when you compare a plan with diet and exercise versus just the diet (meaning a restricted calorie plan), diet and exercise results in a whopping .6 lb loss more than diet alone. You can't expect exercise to do anything for you in terms of fat loss unless you're training for about 90 minutes a day at the highest intensity you can withstand for that duration (or you train for marathons). It will improve other aspects of your health, but once again, it's about calories, not exercise.

Yes, from what I've read too, unless you exercise a lot (which I do), it won't help your weight loss all that much. It will tone you and develop muscle, which will give an increase in metabolism, too, which in turn aids weight loss.

HOWEVER, please don't anyone be discouraged from exercising!

It is part of the overall journey to health!

Because that it what this should be about, not just "weight loss" but becoming a "healthy you"--otherwise, we all might as well give up, sign up for "Biggest Loser--Team Edition" as the MFP Gang, and go for it

But then again, who wants to spend 10 days eating no solid foods and urinating blood, right??

songbyrdsweet

Second, exercise does piddly squat for fat loss. In fact, when you compare a plan with diet and exercise versus just the diet (meaning a restricted calorie plan), diet and exercise results in a whopping .6 lb loss more than diet alone. You can't expect exercise to do anything for you in terms of fat loss unless you're training for about 90 minutes a day at the highest intensity you can withstand for that duration (or you train for marathons). It will improve other aspects of your health, but once again, it's about calories, not exercise.

Yes, from what I've read too, unless you exercise a lot (which I do), it won't help your weight loss all that much. It will tone you and develop muscle, which will give an increase in metabolism, too, which in turn aids weight loss.

HOWEVER, please don't anyone be discouraged from exercising!

It is part of the overall journey to health!

Because that it what this should be about, not just "weight loss" but becoming a "healthy you"--otherwise, we all might as well give up, sign up for "Biggest Loser--Team Edition" as the MFP Gang, and go for it

But then again, who wants to spend 10 days eating no solid foods and urinating blood, right??

Oh of course, I didn't mean NOT to exercise. I meant we can't think "I work out so much, why aren't I losing?"

As far as an increase in muscle...it just doesn't happen with a caloric deficit. We can prevent a big loss of LBM by eating enough, but exercise alone doesn't actually prevent the loss of LBM (which is why it's SO important to eat enough).