No results =(

gibnic

So I lost 14 lbs in about seven weeks, and then nothing. Over the last four weeks I have lost 1 lb. I increased my exercise (after about two weeks with no results) to an hour of pretty intense cardio every day, strength training with my personal trainer once a week, and again on my own once a week. I am eating about 1400-1600 calories a day, and burning off roughly 700, I am not eating fats, junk food, or lots of carbs, I am eating lot of lean protein, low fat dairy, and fruits and vegetables. What am I doing wrong? Why is this not working? I am doing everything that is suggested to loose weight, and I am not getting any results and I am getting so frustrated! Someone please help.

carlypreiss

Eat more! If you're eating 1400 and burning 700, that's a 700 net. Way too little.

raevynn

If you are eating 1400 calories and burning 700, you are getting a net of 700 calories per day.

Which is why you are not losing. Don't look at your goal calories, look at your net calories... get at least 1200 per day.

Aphreal

Say you are eating 1400 a day and burning off 700. You have a net calorie intake of 700calories. I wont get into how harmful it is to have a net intake so low because its a hot topic here but that is ridiculously low for anyone. Consider eating your workout calories back.

Aphreal

Oh great minds think alike lol

NatashaK29

Ditto!

gibnic

So I should be aiming for around 1800-1900 calories a day? When I work out of course...

Front_Runner

Totally agree... I had the same problem. I increased my caloric intake (ate back most of my exercise calories), and BAM!!! Dropped weight again nooo problem. I guess my metabolism got whacked out when I was under eating that much - my boody didn't want to let anything go. It was like, "Hell no, I need all the fat stores I can save - since you're not giving me enough energy on a daily basis!!" :oP

gibnic

Lol, who would have ever thought, eat more to loose weight! Ok, I will try it though. Thanks everyone!

SwimKitty

I was also undereating and losing very little weight. When I started eating more, I started losing a lot more consistently.
In case you wanted to learn a little more

http://shouldieatmyexercisecalories.com/index2.html

smsport71

Also be mindful, depending on how much time you spend in the gym, that you look at muscle weight. Muscle weighs more than fat. When I satrted lifting and working out I dropped weight very fast but then, like you, it considerably got slower. I was still loosing "fat" weight but I was gaining "Muscle" weight with my workout routine. But like the others are saying, increasing your calories will help.

noexcuses84

def eat more!! i wonder if u measure urself as well as weigh?? it could b that u may not have lost any weight over the last 4 weeks but u may have toned and lost inches???

TNoire

Everyones body is diff, my net for today is like 167
I burn between 500-1500+ per day
I can't eat my cals back cause im not hungry enough too
do whats best for you try diff things mix it up, make sure your not doing the same workouts everyday also

here is a full write up i did on plateaus

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/387166-questions-about-weight-loss-plateau-s-why-do-they-happen-w

LesleeAH

Also be mindful, depending on how much time you spend in the gym, that you look at muscle weight. Muscle weighs more than fat. When I satrted lifting and working out I dropped weight very fast but then, like you, it considerably got slower. I was still loosing "fat" weight but I was gaining "Muscle" weight with my workout routine. But like the others are saying, increasing your calories will help.

She would not be gaining muscle on a calorie deficit.

Vash41288

Also be mindful, depending on how much time you spend in the gym, that you look at muscle weight. Muscle weighs more than fat. When I satrted lifting and working out I dropped weight very fast but then, like you, it considerably got slower. I was still loosing "fat" weight but I was gaining "Muscle" weight with my workout routine. But like the others are saying, increasing your calories will help.

muscle does not weigh more then fat, they weigh the same just muscle takes up less space. It is a myth that muscle weighs more.

huntindawg1962

Also be mindful, depending on how much time you spend in the gym, that you look at muscle weight. Muscle weighs more than fat. When I satrted lifting and working out I dropped weight very fast but then, like you, it considerably got slower. I was still loosing "fat" weight but I was gaining "Muscle" weight with my workout routine. But like the others are saying, increasing your calories will help.

muscle does not weigh more then fat, they weigh the same just muscle takes up less space. It is a myth that muscle weighs more.

I think you just said the same thing "a pound is a pound" - Muscle has a higher density so the same volume of muscle as fat will weigh more. Said another way, if you put a pound of muscle and a pound of fat next to each other, the fat would be a bigger pile.

Density of muscle is 1.1 and fat is .9

Fit_Canuck

Everyones body is diff, my net for today is like 167
I burn between 500-1500+ per day
I can't eat my cals back cause im not hungry enough too
do whats best for you try diff things mix it up, make sure your not doing the same workouts everyday also

here is a full write up i did on plateaus

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/387166-questions-about-weight-loss-plateau-s-why-do-they-happen-w

The mere fact that you believe that 167 net calories in a day is healthy renders anything else you say meaningless. I'm sorry to be so harsh but posts like this deserve it. No one's body is that different.

Lozze

I am not eating fats, junk food, or lots of carbs, I am eating lot of lean protein, low fat dairy, and fruits and vegetables.

OK your diet, from this description, is seriously unbalanced and very, very bad for you. Fats are NEEDED for your body to survive. As are carbs. You cannot exist on a protein diet and be healthy, it's not possible.

People can't offer advice on your diet without seeing what you eat though.

josiejo333

Also be mindful, depending on how much time you spend in the gym, that you look at muscle weight. Muscle weighs more than fat. When I satrted lifting and working out I dropped weight very fast but then, like you, it considerably got slower. I was still loosing "fat" weight but I was gaining "Muscle" weight with my workout routine. But like the others are saying, increasing your calories will help.

muscle doesnt weigh more than fat...1lb muscle takes up less space in the body than 1lb of fat...thats why you should check your measurements aswell as ur weight.

huntindawg1962

<<<[/quote]muscle doesnt weigh more than fat...1lb muscle takes up less space in the body than 1lb of fat...thats why you should check your measurements aswell as ur weight.
[/quote]<<<

What you are saying is somewhat of a contradiction. Muscle has a higher density than fat. Yes and pound of fat and a pound of muscle would both weigh a pound. But, the fat pile to make up the pound would in fact be bigger than the muscle pound pile.

It's why the water test works best for figuring out true body mass.

If you consider water has a density of 1, muscle has a density of 1.1, and fat has a density of .9, the fat floats, the muscle sinks. A 300 lb person with a lean body mass of 50 would weigh about 150 in the tank of water (the fat is floating). A 200# person with a lean body mass of say 10, would weigh 180 in the water (more muscle is sinking).

douglasmobbs

I am not eating fats, junk food, or lots of carbs, I am eating lot of lean protein, low fat dairy, and fruits and vegetables.

OK your diet, from this description, is seriously unbalanced and very, very bad for you. Fats are NEEDED for your body to survive. As are carbs. You cannot exist on a protein diet and be healthy, it's not possible.

People can't offer advice on your diet without seeing what you eat though.

Fats are needed, but that diet does have fat in it as nearly all diets do. It is fine to have a low fat diet with 15% of your calories coming from fat. That is just over 20g for 1400 calories. These will come easily from a well balanced mix of veg, lean protein and low (note not no) fat dairy.

Lozze

Fats are needed, but that diet does have fat in it as nearly all diets do. It is fine to have a low fat diet with 15% of your calories coming from fat. That is just over 20g for 1400 calories. These will come easily from a well balanced mix of veg, lean protein and low (note not no) fat dairy.

What diet? We don't know the OPs diet so I was talking in a generic sense.

elsinora

def eat more!! i wonder if u measure urself as well as weigh?? it could b that u may not have lost any weight over the last 4 weeks but u may have toned and lost inches???

This is the key part.... "lost inches".... Have you? I've plateaued for 3 weeks once but lost 2.5 inches round my waist and 1 round my thighs and 1 round my arms. The number on the scale isnt always the most important thing....

douglasmobbs

Fats are needed, but that diet does have fat in it as nearly all diets do. It is fine to have a low fat diet with 15% of your calories coming from fat. That is just over 20g for 1400 calories. These will come easily from a well balanced mix of veg, lean protein and low (note not no) fat dairy.

What diet? We don't know the OPs diet so I was talking in a generic sense.

Missed a word out. That diet type does have fat in it. That being a diet of well balanced mix of fruit/veg, lean protein and low (note not no) fat dairy.

josiejo333

i am going to stop posting things ppl dont read them properly.....lol

Danpellizzari

Bump

josiejo333

<<<

muscle doesnt weigh more than fat...1lb muscle takes up less space in the body than 1lb of fat...thats why you should check your measurements aswell as ur weight.
[/quote]<<<

What you are saying is somewhat of a contradiction. Muscle has a higher density than fat. Yes and pound of fat and a pound of muscle would both weigh a pound. But, the fat pile to make up the pound would in fact be bigger than the muscle pound pile.

It's why the water test works best for figuring out true body mass.

If you consider water has a density of 1, muscle has a density of 1.1, and fat has a density of .9, the fat floats, the muscle sinks. A 300 lb person with a lean body mass of 50 would weigh about 150 in the tank of water (the fat is floating). A 200# person with a lean body mass of say 10, would weigh 180 in the water (more muscle is sinking).
[/quote]
i did say muscle takes up less space in the body...which is another way of phrasing muscle has a higher density than fat...........dohh

Fit_Canuck

<<<muscle doesnt weigh more than fat...1lb muscle takes up less space in the body than 1lb of fat...thats why you should check your measurements aswell as ur weight.


What you are saying is somewhat of a contradiction. Muscle has a higher density than fat. Yes and pound of fat and a pound of muscle would both weigh a pound. But, the fat pile to make up the pound would in fact be bigger than the muscle pound pile.

It's why the water test works best for figuring out true body mass.

If you consider water has a density of 1, muscle has a density of 1.1, and fat has a density of .9, the fat floats, the muscle sinks. A 300 lb person with a lean body mass of 50 would weigh about 150 in the tank of water (the fat is floating). A 200# person with a lean body mass of say 10, would weigh 180 in the water (more muscle is sinking).

i did say muscle takes up less space in the body...which is another way of phrasing muscle has a higher density than fat...........dohh

Please everyone, let's not hijack this thread to debate the density of muscle and fat.

elsinora

<<<muscle doesnt weigh more than fat...1lb muscle takes up less space in the body than 1lb of fat...thats why you should check your measurements aswell as ur weight.


What you are saying is somewhat of a contradiction. Muscle has a higher density than fat. Yes and pound of fat and a pound of muscle would both weigh a pound. But, the fat pile to make up the pound would in fact be bigger than the muscle pound pile.

It's why the water test works best for figuring out true body mass.

If you consider water has a density of 1, muscle has a density of 1.1, and fat has a density of .9, the fat floats, the muscle sinks. A 300 lb person with a lean body mass of 50 would weigh about 150 in the tank of water (the fat is floating). A 200# person with a lean body mass of say 10, would weigh 180 in the water (more muscle is sinking).

i did say muscle takes up less space in the body...which is another way of phrasing muscle has a higher density than fat...........dohh

Please everyone, let's not hijack this thread to debate the density of muscle and fat.

I don't think anyone is "hijacking" by bringing in this "debate". It's stating a fact and I think it's an important one. Plateaus are irritating and frustrating but it's always worth factoring in inches lost and not just focusing on the number on the scales. I have plateaued once for 3 weeks and did everything like the OP - BUT I lost nearly 5 inches in those 3 weeks because obviously with the amount of exercise i slimmed down as muscle is more dense and takes up less space.

I'm a big advocate of always looking at inches lost in tandem of scales to et perspective of the work you've done and sometimes people get very disheartened, demotivated and depressed by just looking at numbers on a scale rather than overall slimness and health! So it's an important point to make. The OP sounds very active and this is an important point for them to think about!

olong

Also be mindful, depending on how much time you spend in the gym, that you look at muscle weight. Muscle weighs more than fat. When I satrted lifting and working out I dropped weight very fast but then, like you, it considerably got slower. I was still loosing "fat" weight but I was gaining "Muscle" weight with my workout routine. But like the others are saying, increasing your calories will help.

muscle does not weigh more then fat, they weigh the same just muscle takes up less space. It is a myth that muscle weighs more.

Truth be told, muscle has a larger specific gravity than fat (adipose tissue). A pound of fat and a pound of muscle both weigh a pound and, indeed, that pound of muscle will take up less volume than that pound of fat. But, muscle's specific gravity is 1.06 g/ml, while fat's specific gravity is 0.92g/ml. For the same volume of fat and muscle, the muscle will weigh more. It is NOT a myth that muscle weighs more than fat.

therealangd

Eat more or exercise less.

You are not providing your body enough fuel for the level that you are working out.