Help please. trying hard but no loss!!

Leo247

Looking for a bit of advice please. I'm 5'9" 38 year old female who weighs 185lbs and wants to get down to 155 (where I look healthiest).

I've been on MFP for 10 days, have cut my calorie intake down to 1300-1500 (including quite low fat and no gluten) and am doing 30 day shred daily plus walking briskly for 90 minutes compared to my previous excercise regime of 20 minutes dog walking per day.

So far I have lost 1lb :-(

What am I doing wrong?

whitneymws

I'm in the SAME boat. I just blogged about this actually on my site (http://www.mommieswithstyle.com/damn-you-37-year-old-body-or-why-is-it-so-hard-to-lose-one-stinking-pound/) But I think for me it has to do with age (I'm 37) and may unfortunately be a bit of the issue for you too. It's just not as easy when you're pushing 40 as it was at 25, I think!

That said, I know for me I have to have more patience. Slow and steady wins the race. Hang in there, if you keep it up, it'll come. But believe me, I understand how tough it is to wait when you are doing all the right things and not seeing results as quickly as you'd like!

Leo247

Thanks so much for your reply. I have lost weight by low carbing (and through ill health) in the past and it came off so quickly (then took about 4 years to go back on!) so I suppose I am just being impatient. I don't want to low carb again. I just feel like I have been so good, no cheating, no slips ups, NO CHOCOLATE!!!! and I wamted a wee reward from the scales this morning.

crownedangel

i joined in nov. 2011, only have lost 8 lbs but i feel my close a lot looser.....i think that counts for something! lol.....

mrau719

are you exercising too? and what foods are you eating? the quality of food will definitely make a difference in weightloss. For example "clean" vs processed.

jdublis

sometimes when you eat certain things matters ...try breaking up your calories into 6 small meals instead of 3 reg size.

also try to not have any starchy carbs after lunch

drink lots of water...drinking water keeps your metabolism going

ChRiStA_1983

From what it seems like, I'd say you're going to have to be patient. It's reasonable to expect about a 1 lb. loss every week or so....Since your statistics show that you're not morbidly obese, I doubt that you'll be able to drop 2 or more pounds per week. 1 lb. is just about right, I'd say....Just be patient, and keep up the calorie counting and exercise. Your weight WILL drop, but it will take time! Keep up the good work!

vadiane1

Hello,

I too, am in the same boat. I am 46 and the pounds just seem to think they have not received their walking papers, so they are still hanging around.
Its been almost a month and Ive dropped 6 pounds, most of that week 1.
So I am just pushing on and try to be patient!

rdeleon419

You aren't doing anything wrong. You've only been doing it for 10 days. Which is GREAT!

Like whitneymws said "slow and steady wins the race". Weight loss that is accomplished slowly and healthily is generally more sustainable than dramatically fast loss achieved by crash diets, pills etc.

Other things to keep in mind:

weigh yourself at the same time everyday (weekly, bi-weekly, or whichever frequency you prefer). For many people, weight fluctuates throughout the day. This makes an accurate measure of weight loss harder.

the 30 day shred involves strength training=muscles! I'm sure you've heard that a pound of muscle is smaller (in volume) than a pound of fat. Your scale doesn't know the difference. Use a tape measure to track size losses.

consistency. don't fret because the pounds are flying off (easier said than done). Just keep up with the calorie counting and the exercise. This is your health. You're in it for the long haul- because you deserve it!

NettyB62

I wish I could give you advice, but feel I am in the same boat. I am 49..been working out 6 days a week since the first of the year. I signed up for an adult fitness program at our local hospital, I have a trainer. I am doing cardio 3 days a week and weight training 3 days a week..and taking 1 day off. I am consuming between 1,300 & 1,400 calories a day.
I weighed myself this morning and actually gained 2 lbs! Talk about being discouraged! ARGGG!

Teresa527

You really have to give it time. It takes a while sometimes to start losing regularly.
Are you drinking plenty of water? There are so many reasons why the number on the scale won't budge but you are actually getting smaller.

My advice? Take measurements. Keep going. It will start falling off. I promise you that!
I had always wanted to lose weight and I always quit within the first couple of weeks because I didn't see the scale drop fast enough. This time I kept going. Now I am 3 months in and 27 pounds down.
You can do this!

Kissybiz

This is very common for people on here. I obsessed about the same thing. I've been on here for about a month. My scale kept going down then up, and it's very frustrating. Just pay attention to staying at or just under your recommended calories. Exercise. Drink plenty of water. Watch your salt and sugar. Eat nutrient dense foods. And it will happen. .

cgrout78

One pound in ten days is really good. Just drink a lot of water and keep doing what youre doing. Try eating a little more for a couple days and see what happens. People that lose ten pounds in ten days are the ones that gain it back PLUS. Slow and steady wins the race!

gsager

I'm sure that you aren't eating enough calories, you eat the net that MFP gives you and you add the calories that you burn in exercise, that is what you are supposed to be eating. This isn't an over night process. Good Luck.

Strobins05

Hang in there! I have been here since Nov 2011 and have lost over 7 inches and 13 pounds! Keep making progress and find what works for your body. Also KEEP that Heart rate up during your workouts by pushing hard! :flowerforyou:

janeitg

If you are exercising a lot you could be adding muscle which is heavier than fat. Measure youself. Don't be discouraged. When you do the right things you WILL be rewarded. Be patient with yourself.

I_get_fit

hang in there... it will happen!

jodiejohansen

One thing about the shred is that you don't really lose much weight doing it, but you do shed inches, lots of em'! And you're probably getting a little stronger too so it's not that you're not losing weight but gaining muscle. Give it a bit longer, stuff like water weight and bloat take a while to go away when starting out. Stay strong! And remember, losing inches is a GREAT thing! Focus more on how your clothes fit and how you feel! Good luck!

sarafil

Give it time. Try not to focus on the scale. Just keep doing what you are doing, focus on all the great things you are doing for your health....the weight will come off. I am the same age as you, and when I started I found it took a little while to see the weight start coming off. But don't worry, it will.

ninerbuff

Looking for a bit of advice please. I'm 5'9" 38 year old female who weighs 185lbs and wants to get down to 155 (where I look healthiest).

I've been on MFP for 10 days, have cut my calorie intake down to 1300-1500 (including quite low fat and no gluten) and am doing 30 day shred daily plus walking briskly for 90 minutes compared to my previous excercise regime of 20 minutes dog walking per day.

So far I have lost 1lb :-(

What am I doing wrong?

Well according to BMR calculator your BMR is 1605. If you're doing as much exercise as you say, I'm thinking you're burning about 1000 calories a day. So you are probably eating too little at 1300. I'd say bump it up to 1600. Also, water retention plays in here as it sounds like you just starting exercising. Give it a couple of more weeks and see what happens.

A.C.E. Certified Personal Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 28+ years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

Leo247

Thanks everyone. You are all so friendly on here :-)

My salt intake could be lower and I definitely need to up my water intake. I'm also on the last day of my totm so maybe am retaining water. I took measurements last week but don't want to update those incase there's no change and I end up reaching for a jar of chocolate spread and a bottle of gin :-)

Brittypop

What does your sodium intake look like on a day to day basis? Excess sodium really can pack on extra water weight and you won't see much of a change on the scale.

talysshade

I'm surprised.. I WISH I lost 1 pound per 10 days! I know it seems little now, but it will pick up. Give your body time to adjust. 10 days is really short to judge anything.

Jazzyjules71

I agree with the slow and steady thought, and that you're probably gaining muscle which weigh alot, but taking off inches.

I'm going to put a plug in for water.......if you're exercising a lot more you probably need more water. if you're dehydrated your body will hang on to water. If you're not drinking enough already, try upping your water intake- a trainer told me to drink half your body weight in ounces of water daily (example, 200 pounds =100 ounces water daily). I found that helped

Leo247

Thanks!! I will try to eat a bit more. Am sticking to unprocessed food as much as possible (apart from low fat yoghurts) I want to change the way I eat, not just lose weight. I am definitely doing as much excercise as I have said. My dog is loving all the walks!!

Looking for a bit of advice please. I'm 5'9" 38 year old female who weighs 185lbs and wants to get down to 155 (where I look healthiest).

I've been on MFP for 10 days, have cut my calorie intake down to 1300-1500 (including quite low fat and no gluten) and am doing 30 day shred daily plus walking briskly for 90 minutes compared to my previous excercise regime of 20 minutes dog walking per day.

So far I have lost 1lb :-(

What am I doing wrong?

Well according to BMR calculator your BMR is 1605. If you're doing as much exercise as you say, I'm thinking you're burning about 1000 calories a day. So you are probably eating too little at 1300. I'd say bump it up to 1600. Also, water retention plays in here as it sounds like you just starting exercising. Give it a couple of more weeks and see what happens.

A.C.E. Certified Personal Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 28+ years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

MaximalLife

Are you eating back your exercise calories?

knelson422

I am 38 too and STUCK!!! I ran a half marathon, 15 K, and 5 K last year, and lost 36 pounds (that I had gained from my last pregnancy.). I also made a deal with someone and did not eat chocolate for a year (That was over in Dec and I gained 6 pounds over Christmas. So, now I pay myself $1 for each day I don't eat chocolate. I only have about $7 in my envelope so far. I need to work on that one.) But now I remain 168-170, where I get stuck all of the time (I have been here since June, even through my 15K, didn't lose 1 pound). Sounds like you changed up what you are doing, that is great. Don't burn yourself out though. With these circuit workouts you are building more muscle which will weigh more. Another good JM video is "No more trouble zones" Maybe after 30 day shred step up to this one, and walk for 30 min so that you are building more muscle. I think hormones are in play too with us. I watched Rachael Ray and she had Dr. Oz on and he said the 3 MOST important things for weight loss - in order are:
1. Get enough sleep (bc there is a hormone that is released (I think cortisol) during sleep that you need to lose weight)
2. Eat right
3. Exercise

I thought it was interesting that exercise came last, but if you aren't sleeping and eating right, I guess it isn't going to work.

Keep working hard and eating right. Do you feel better? I just read a blog from someone I am friends with who has been doing MFP for 2 years. She has lost 16 pounds, 8 pounds a year. To me, that didn't sound like much, and I would have gotten frustrated. But she said just how much better she feels, and she wants to lose 8 more still. Slow and steady sounds like it is the key. We can do this. It is a forever change.

For me, I know that whatever I am doing needs to be a permanent change. I won't be able to do Bob Harper Inside Out method forever. I need to get control of my eating and just DO IT!!! Good luck!!

havingitall

Did you gain the weight faster than that??

rose0409

I also was discouraged with lbs. lost but I took measurements and have lost 4 inches in my stomach and 3 in my hips; so that being said, don't get discouraged because it may be that you are "shaping up" and as they say, muscle weights more than fat...

ViSabbi

Woah! Don't give up ladies! If the current strategy doesn't work, you have to adjust and try something else. First of all, you NEED to drink at least half your weight in ounces per day. In my case, I'm drinking 3L of water, never less than 2 and it helps a lot.

Then, you need to eat smaller meals, more regularly. In my case, I'm eating almost all day! My only real meal is for dinner (because the bf is there, otherwise I'd split my calories differently...I have to keep nearly half for dinner, or at least a third of what I'm allowed) Eventually I know I will have to switch that to morning, and keep low calories all day, or separate them equally during the day)

Just so you know, I rarely meet my sugars/carb goal. I get over it in fibers and proteins though. If you don't want to cut carbs (like me), just make smart choices and lower quantities. Whole grain (real one, not split with enriched white flour) bread or pasta, shouldn't be the main part of your meal, but a side dish, as for any carb.) It's not about cutting out everything you like, but making smart choices.

Another suggestion, eat within 30 mins of you waking up. It's essential to fireup your metabolism. Eating all day (healthy snacks) will keep it going.

It's indeed harder to lose weight when getting older but that doesn't mean it's impossible, it might take a bit more time, a bit more efforts, but it's absolutely doable. If you want, add me as a friend and I will help you as much as I can, answer any question you might have if I do know the answer. I've been studying nutrition on my own for quite some time, and it will be a pleasure to share with you if you want.

Hope it helps!

MrsLawsonNavyBrat2B

CHECK YOUR INCHES!! In the last month I have only lost 5 lbs BUT I have lost 10 INCHES and am now a size smaller in pants!! Because you are excersising you are replacing you fat with toned muscle, that is why the scale is not moving as much. GOOD LUCK && FEEL FREE TO ADD