4 weeks in and Not lost a lb

sweetebonyprincess

Hi All,

Really trying to get dishearten but I’ve been changed my lifestyle in major ways for the past 4 weeks.

Going from no exercise to, exercising 5 times a week for on average 45 mins each session. The kind of activities I’m doing is Zumba, walk to run 5K challenge, Jillian Michaels DVD's and Kettlebells for strength training.

I have noticed that I am getting fitter, the works out are not seeming as tough, not so sore the day after, able to start trying to tackle some of the harder moves

I have changed my eating each week I set goals to improve. I'm eating about 1500 calories daily (6ft, 256lbs)
Week 1: was to cut down on the size of my potions and make smarter choices & drink loads of water
Week 2: Eat my 5 day
Week 3: Wholemeal (rice, pasta, bread) & drink 1 green tea daily before bed.
Week 4: plan meals, eat 5-6 small meals a day and perfect what I’ve learned weeks 1-3

By about 4pm I feel so bloated and my stomach gets huge.

Has anyone got any advice why this might be? Don’t want to give up.....I’m desperate for some advice thank you.

Mr_Cape219

Well, I am no nutritional guru, but whole meals like wheat and rice are very very filling. So if youre eating them 5 times a day, I can imagine your stomach feeling rather bloated. As far as all of the working out youre doing, you could be gaining muscle, thats why your loss in weight is less. What I suggest doing is taking measurments of your stomach area, thigh area, and other places so you see some physical numbers go down, if not just weight. As far as your rice, pasta, and bread you may feel better eating it for 3 meals of the day, rather than 5.

alt1268

I have to agree. You are eating way to much carbs (pasta, rice, etc.) cut back the carbs and increase your protien.

kellybean14

Muscle weighs more than fat!! Just keep it up and remember to not push yourself too hard - your body needs time to heal from all your working out.

sweetebonyprincess

Hi Anthonyu219,

Thank you for your reply. I will take my measurements tonight and then may be every 2 weeks to see if there are any differences.

I don't eat bread, rice or bread everyday have eaten it once this week (Sunday) so far am having pasta tonight for dinner with some salmon and steam veg.

I thought it could be because I was not eating enough calories the bloating???

sweetebonyprincess

Hi Atl268,

Thank you for your reply, sorry may be it's the way I’ve written it not eating pasta, rice or bread everyday may be 2-3 times a week. But I will add more protein to my diet. Thanks for the advice.

stephharris77

A few years ago I did WW and had the similar problem. It took my body about a month to catch on to what I was doing. After that first month I started losing about a pound or so a week:) I did notice though when I didn't drink enough water or didn't eat enough I would not lose weight. I think you body can go into starvation mode and hold on to what you give it. I think if you keep up doing what your doing you will see results soon, it just takes our bodies a little while to catch on to what we are doing to it.

Mr_Cape219

Hi Anthonyu219,

Thank you for your reply. I will take my measurements tonight and then may be every 2 weeks to see if there are any differences.

I don't eat bread, rice or bread everyday have eaten it once this week (Sunday) so far am having pasta tonight for dinner with some salmon and steam veg.

I thought it could be because I was not eating enough calories the bloating???

Good, taking measurements is another way to motivate you when you see no number go down on the scale. Pasta is one of the biggest contributers to feeling overly stuffed, and anything in the carb family. I know if I eat some kind of bread for breakfast or lunch, then go to pasta or rice for dinner, I am overly stuffed and my ring doesnt quite fit on my hand (that could be from water retention) Eating things like veggies and fruits more often (much like your steamed veggies and salmon) will contribute to feeling slimmer and full.

-Suggestion- rather than having pasta with your salmon and veggies, consider a serving of rice or a baked potato. The pasta will fill you up as well as the salmon and veggies; but salmon, veggies, and baked potato will fill you up just right.

If it is already planned for pasta, then have that option some other day. Either way, enjoy your DINNER!!

bighac2

While a good point has been made (that muscle will weigh more than fat), typically there is immediate weight loss associated with a program like yours, as it takes a while to put on noticeable muscle weight. One contributing factor could also be the addition of water to your diet.

That being said, I would consult a physician just to be sure there aren't chemical or glandular causes for your lack of weight loss thus far. Your physician will possibly tell you to consult a dietitian and/or nutritionist to make sure that your calorie goals are optimal, and also to determine whether your new lifestyle is including a BALANCED diet, not just a reduced calorie diet.

I hope this helps! Keep going!!!!!!

- Hac

regina2063

HI. ive been doing jillian michaels dvd for 4weeks now...and the scale havent change...it look like it went up......OHHHH just hurt my feelings.....why dont ya...HA HA....but im toning down...with the cardio and weights from dvd....so just HANG IT THERE...IM IN THE SAME BOAT

Jezebel_Barbie

Take measurements too, while the scale might not be moving you might be dropping inches.

sweetebonyprincess

While a good point has been made (that muscle will weigh more than fat), typically there is immediate weight loss associated with a program like yours, as it takes a while to put on noticeable muscle weight. One contributing factor could also be the addition of water to your diet.

That being said, I would consult a physician just to be sure there aren't chemical or glandular causes for your lack of weight loss thus far. Your physician will possibly tell you to consult a dietitian and/or nutritionist to make sure that your calorie goals are optimal, and also to determine whether your new lifestyle is including a BALANCED diet, not just a reduced calorie diet.

I hope this helps! Keep going!!!!!!

- Hac

I was thinking of going to my doctors as I thouugh something should of dropped by now. I will take my food and activity diary to them to get there view. Thank you for the advice.

kdiamond

Eating 1500 calories and exercising that much is not enough for a 6 foot person.

Add another 300 calories in the forms of lean proteins.

Also, make sure you are actually eating 1800 calories, you said "around 1500 calories" - "around" isn't good enough.

marieautumn

Hi All,

Really trying to get dishearten but I’ve been changed my lifestyle in major ways for the past 4 weeks.

Going from no exercise to, exercising 5 times a week for on average 45 mins each session. The kind of activities I’m doing is Zumba, walk to run 5K challenge, Jillian Michaels DVD's and Kettlebells for strength training.

I have noticed that I am getting fitter, the works out are not seeming as tough, not so sore the day after, able to start trying to tackle some of the harder moves

I have changed my eating each week I set goals to improve. I'm eating about 1500 calories daily (6ft, 256lbs)
Week 1: was to cut down on the size of my potions and make smarter choices & drink loads of water
Week 2: Eat my 5 day
Week 3: Wholemeal (rice, pasta, bread) & drink 1 green tea daily before bed.
Week 4: plan meals, eat 5-6 small meals a day and perfect what I’ve learned weeks 1-3

By about 4pm I feel so bloated and my stomach gets huge.

Has anyone got any advice why this might be? Don’t want to give up.....I’m desperate for some advice thank you.

wholemeal and bread are not that great for you. try to stick to only lean meats and veggies and manage your portions. i always think of bread and grain as junk because it makes you bloat, has tons of calories and doesnt give much nutritional value.

vim_n_vigor

If you have just really started eating a lot more fiber in you diet, the bloating could be your body, um, adjusting? When you start a new, heavy workout routine, your body can hold water in the muscles for a while to repair and protect them until your body adjusts. This can take several weeks, but is in no way a sign that you shouldn't be doing the exercise. It will pay off in the end. Are you eating a total of 1500 calories a day or 1500 Net (including your exercise calories)

_GlaDOS_

I'm eating about 1500 calories daily (6ft, 256lbs)

Even as a 6' tall woman, 1500 calories per day total does not seem like enough food. I would set your MFP goals to lose 1 lb per week and eat most/all calories you "earn" from exercise.

Although the fact that you have not lost anything, especially at your height and weight, is a little strange. Most of the time people will at least lose some water weight the first week or two. Are you accurately tracking all of your food intake and how do you track how many calories you burn with exercise (HRM, MFP calculation, exercise machine calculation, etc.)?

bonnasaurusrex

Hey there! In regards to everyone's posts advising you to eat more, here is a really good article which outlines how your metabolism works and what happens if you do not eat enough. The article this person wrote is really insightful and may help you to begin losing!

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/3047-700-calories-a-day-and-not-losing

Best of luck and let us know how your journey continues

sweet110

As to the carbs...people have different opinions, certainly. But listen to your own body. And if you're bloated everyday? Your body isn't happy with *something*. That's not normal. Maybe your doctor can help...but dont' get your hopes up...they're good at what they do, but nutrition isn't their strong suit. But you can experiment with what you're eating to see if it makes a difference. I tried various low carbs diets and *felt* tons better, and lost weight much easier, but also found it completely unsustainable. Then through experimentation, I found out that it wasn't carbs, it was wheat that was my main problem...(although too much of any kind of flour makes me feel sub-par, but i relish gluten free bread from time to time.) I now enjoy rice and potatoes and am much happier...and still losing weight [Edit: not suggesting wheat is *your* problem, but just to point out that food can effect how you feel, and it may be worth figuring it out]

But again, the doctor may be able to help you in the ways that they are most good at. Which is to rule out any true medical problems that may be getting in your way. I was having problems and found out I was severely vitamin D deficient...major symptoms are fatigue and *trouble losing weight*. Supplementation (as the doc ordered) has done *wonders*. Although I hated going, on this point I can say...Yay western medical establishment!

Finally...calories. I echo the folks who think you're probably not eating enough. Of course...you still should have lost something...so that's only part of the problem.

sweetebonyprincess

If you have just really started eating a lot more fiber in you diet, the bloating could be your body, um, adjusting? When you start a new, heavy workout routine, your body can hold water in the muscles for a while to repair and protect them until your body adjusts. This can take several weeks, but is in no way a sign that you shouldn't be doing the exercise. It will pay off in the end. Are you eating a total of 1500 calories a day or 1500 Net (including your exercise calories)

I'm just eating a total of 1500 calories not eat any of my exercise calories.

sweetebonyprincess

Hi All,

Really trying to get dishearten but I’ve been changed my lifestyle in major ways for the past 4 weeks.

Going from no exercise to, exercising 5 times a week for on average 45 mins each session. The kind of activities I’m doing is Zumba, walk to run 5K challenge, Jillian Michaels DVD's and Kettlebells for strength training.

I have noticed that I am getting fitter, the works out are not seeming as tough, not so sore the day after, able to start trying to tackle some of the harder moves

I have changed my eating each week I set goals to improve. I'm eating about 1500 calories daily (6ft, 256lbs)
Week 1: was to cut down on the size of my potions and make smarter choices & drink loads of water
Week 2: Eat my 5 day
Week 3: Wholemeal (rice, pasta, bread) & drink 1 green tea daily before bed.
Week 4: plan meals, eat 5-6 small meals a day and perfect what I’ve learned weeks 1-3

By about 4pm I feel so bloated and my stomach gets huge.

Has anyone got any advice why this might be? Don’t want to give up.....I’m desperate for some advice thank you.

wholemeal and bread are not that great for you. try to stick to only lean meats and veggies and manage your portions. i always think of bread and grain as junk because it makes you bloat, has tons of calories and doesnt give much nutritional value.

I like that thinking said like that I see what your saying I will cut down on my carbs.

sweetebonyprincess

I'm eating about 1500 calories daily (6ft, 256lbs)

Even as a 6' tall woman, 1500 calories per day total does not seem like enough food. I would set your MFP goals to lose 1 lb per week and eat most/all calories you "earn" from exercise.

Although the fact that you have not lost anything, especially at your height and weight, is a little strange. Most of the time people will at least lose some water weight the first week or two. Are you accurately tracking all of your food intake and how do you track how many calories you burn with exercise (HRM, MFP calculation, exercise machine calculation, etc.)?

I did wonder if I was eatting enough. I'm finding it strange as well I've dieted in the past AMD always lost in the 1st two weeks. To track calories burned I use MFP.

sweetebonyprincess

Eating 1500 calories and exercising that much is not enough for a 6 foot person.

Add another 300 calories in the forms of lean proteins.

Also, make sure you are actually eating 1800 calories, you said "around 1500 calories" - "around" isn't good enough.

Thanks for being so direct and the telling off. Your right along with everyone who has commented

RLeighP

If you have just really started eating a lot more fiber in you diet, the bloating could be your body, um, adjusting? When you start a new, heavy workout routine, your body can hold water in the muscles for a while to repair and protect them until your body adjusts. This can take several weeks, but is in no way a sign that you shouldn't be doing the exercise. It will pay off in the end. Are you eating a total of 1500 calories a day or 1500 Net (including your exercise calories)

I'm just eating a total of 1500 calories not eat any of my exercise calories.

That much exercise on such a calorie deficit for your height, you need to be eating back at least a few hundred of your exercise calories. Say you burn 300 calories in an average day and you eat 1500. You'll only net 1200 and that's the minimum you should be consuming. You have to feed your body to be healthy!

wahmx3

You are starving yourself , that is why you haven't lost any weight. Your body is holding onto every single calorie it gets. 1500 calories is NOT enough for someone of your size, I am 5'4", weigh 145 and eat around 1400-1500 calories and don't exercise nearly what you do and i am losing about .5 pounds a week currently. I didn't look to see if we can view your diary but you definitely need to eat closer to 2000 calories a day AND east back your exercise calories or at least most of them. Are you drinking enough water, meaning about half your weight in ounces daily? Add some protein as others have suggested and maybe some higher calorie snacks such as nuts and peanut butter if you need help eating more.

If you have just really started eating a lot more fiber in you diet, the bloating could be your body, um, adjusting? When you start a new, heavy workout routine, your body can hold water in the muscles for a while to repair and protect them until your body adjusts. This can take several weeks, but is in no way a sign that you shouldn't be doing the exercise. It will pay off in the end. Are you eating a total of 1500 calories a day or 1500 Net (including your exercise calories)

I'm just eating a total of 1500 calories not eat any of my exercise calories.

wowens1

Well, my reply will not be approved by anyone but thought I would share. I was in the same boat. After 5 years I finally relented to drugs. One year I joined gym working out 3 hours a day, drinking only water, no food after 6pm and after one solid month hadn't lost any weight. True, I felt more 'fit' but still fat. Without SOME results it is so discouraging. I did not want to resort to a pill because I had done Metabolife when it was popular and still had ephedrine and I feel I have lasting results from it. I did my research and phentermine seems to be what others could get to easily. HCG is really popular now but too expensive and I don't think a 500 calorie diet is the key. After loads of research and comparison of phentermine to other drugs I decided to try it knowing my body and I would not take it if I had bad side effects. I was expecting not to be able to take it. Fortunately it has worked for me in a way I did not expect. It allowed me to be in better control of my emotional eating and boosted me into actually losing weight. It has allowed me to feel better physically and mentally so I can spend more time adjusting my lifestyle to better living. I even take days off from it and am coming to the end of needing it. I hope I don't gain back but hopefully with it giving me the boost I needed for MY body I can stay where I want to be.

marieautumn

Well, my reply will not be approved by anyone but thought I would share. I was in the same boat. After 5 years I finally relented to drugs. One year I joined gym working out 3 hours a day, drinking only water, no food after 6pm and after one solid month hadn't lost any weight. True, I felt more 'fit' but still fat. Without SOME results it is so discouraging. I did not want to resort to a pill because I had done Metabolife when it was popular and still had ephedrine and I feel I have lasting results from it. I did my research and phentermine seems to be what others could get to easily. HCG is really popular now but too expensive and I don't think a 500 calorie diet is the key. After loads of research and comparison of phentermine to other drugs I decided to try it knowing my body and I would not take it if I had bad side effects. I was expecting not to be able to take it. Fortunately it has worked for me in a way I did not expect. It allowed me to be in better control of my emotional eating and boosted me into actually losing weight. It has allowed me to feel better physically and mentally so I can spend more time adjusting my lifestyle to better living. I even take days off from it and am coming to the end of needing it. I hope I don't gain back but hopefully with it giving me the boost I needed for MY body I can stay where I want to be.

i tried phentermine as well after i had my baby and had great results, BUT if you dont change your eating habits and continue to work out after finishing the pill you will gain it back. once you are off the pill your body releases a chemical in your brain that tells you to eat, so you must use willpower.

sweetebonyprincess

Hi all,

Thank you all so much for your advice. i was eating 1500 calories as that was was MFP advised i should eat. I have used another website to calculate my calories based upon my current stats and level of exercise and it states i should 2eat 048. So as of tomorrow that's what I shall be eating.

wish me luck