Confused - cant lose?

gilly88

i am 5'6, 128lb and only looking to lose around five/ten pounds as i have a small frame and have put this on over the last year or so.
i work out 5 days/wk, doing some interval training, body attack, spin, walking, pilates. also some strength training.
i do eat my exercise cals (although have to admit i am still skeptical this is a good idea :-S!) but havent lost any weight for three weeks i have been trying.
any ideas? some say its cos i am so close to goal weight....but i would expect to see some change! i am worried that i am going to convince myself to go lower and lower in cals (had this problem before) but i know this isnt healthy - help!

gilly88

i am 5'6, 128lb and only looking to lose around five/ten pounds as i have a small frame and have put this on over the last year or so.
i work out 5 days/wk, doing some interval training, body attack, spin, walking, pilates. also some strength training.
i do eat my exercise cals (although have to admit i am still skeptical this is a good idea :-S!) but havent lost any weight for three weeks i have been trying.
any ideas? some say its cos i am so close to goal weight....but i would expect to see some change! i am worried that i am going to convince myself to go lower and lower in cals (had this problem before) but i know this isnt healthy - help!

jackeh

did you take measurements you could be losing inches!!!!

lnwolfs

How many calories are you eating and what kind of strength training are you doing for how long?

gilly88

no, i didnt take measurements but my clothes seem to fit the same.
strength training i do legs twice a wk, upper body once a week then switch the ratio the week after.
approx 3 x 15 sets with progresive weights, but never really heavy for eg. i lift max 12.5kg on squats.
thanks for your posts!

lnwolfs

Sounds like you are doing enough strength exercises. How long have you been doing them? Again, how many calories do you eat a day average?

gilly88

thanks for your help! i've been strength training for about a year now i think. MFP puts me at 1200 per day (ie. i burn 1700 sedentary) so i generally burn around 200 or 300 with exercise.
thanks again!

shorerider

Ok, you're not eating enough-pure and simple. Please read my reply to the post linked below. It has all the answers and other posts linked that can help you. Bottom line--you're starving your body.

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/28785-i-need-help?page=1#posts-275419

songbyrdsweet

no, i didnt take measurements but my clothes seem to fit the same.
strength training i do legs twice a wk, upper body once a week then switch the ratio the week after.
approx 3 x 15 sets with progresive weights, but never really heavy for eg. i lift max 12.5kg on squats.
thanks for your posts!

So, is it even really challenging? How long have you been doing this same routine?

When I lift for endurance, the weight is lighter than when I'm lifting for power, but it still *feels heavy*. I never get through a set of squats thinking 'Hm, that was easy." You have to put your body under stress to promote change.

lnwolfs

I think if I were you I would try upping your calorie intake by about 300 calories per day and do that for at least a week and see if that will jump start you. 300 calories may not even be enough with how active you are and how long you have been doing it.

I got stuck in my weight loss being so close to my goal also. I had not been doing strength training, so I started that. I went out to dinner and had a cheeseburger with a half order of fries, and then upped my calories by 300 to 1500 daily. Voila!!! I lost 2 pounds the very next time I weighed in.

It works....I never would have had the courage to try it had it not been for this site and all of the wonderful advice given here.

gilly88

thanks so much for your posts.
i think i will try changing up my workout routine and also upping my cals. am really scared to do that but with the support here i'm hoping it will be ok. i had an eating disorder a few years back and think my mind tends to revert to that way of thinking whenever i get desperate.
just one question - if i am not eating enough, why does MFP put me at that level?
thanks!

shorerider

thanks so much for your posts.
i think i will try changing up my workout routine and also upping my cals. am really scared to do that but with the support here i'm hoping it will be ok. i had an eating disorder a few years back and think my mind tends to revert to that way of thinking whenever i get desperate.
just one question - if i am not eating enough, why does MFP put me at that level?
thanks!

It put you at that level because of what you choose as your weight loss goal. Go back in and change your goal to reflect a slower weight loss and it will change. MFP defaults to close to 1200 or so if someone selects more than a certain amount per week--it will also, if you note it, show "not recommended" or "recommended" weight loss when you're choosing.