About to give up...

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reisingmel
reisingmel Posts: 50 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
My name is Mel, and here is my problem. I've been working out and eating healthy (I swear) since late December 2009 and although I have lost a moderate amount of inches around my body I cannot lose a single pound. I understand that weight isn't everything, but I'm not talking about being 130 lbs and being worried, I'm talking 170 lbs. I do 3-4 hours of cardio every week and lift for at least 2 hours every week. I keep my diet as balanced as possible while maintaining my calories between 1200 and 1500 a day. Is there anyone out there with a similar problem? Or even better, does anyone have some advice for a girl who just can't lose weight to save her life?

On the edge,

reisingmel :frown:
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Replies

  • hiddensecant
    hiddensecant Posts: 2,446 Member
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    How tall are you and do you use a heart rate monitor?
  • twocats
    twocats Posts: 31
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    I'm not an expert or a physician - but a couple of things come to mind...

    1) muscle weighs more than fat - so the fact that you're losing inches means that the muscle is displacing the fat - making you smaller but perhaps not changing the numbers on the scale.

    2) I don't know how old you are - but you might want to get a physical - have your thyroid checked. I've known people who have thyroid trouble and as a result are unable to lose weight.

    Don't despair. You are getting healthier because of your workouts.

    The only other thing I can think of is that if you are not eating enough calories your body might go into "starvation mode" and slow your metablism down. Or perhaps you need to increase your cardio intensity?

    Just a few thoughts for what it's worth. Good luck to you!
  • kbirky73
    kbirky73 Posts: 110
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    Hey ... first DO NOT give up!! PLEASE. You are integrating toning with cardio .. so you are, by all accounts, REPLACING fat with muscle, which you know ... weighs more than fat.

    Here is what i did when that was my apparent problem .. there will be many out here who disagree with my method .. but this works for ME!

    I do not do weights and toning ... I do straight cardio 6-7 days a week ... about 30 - 40 minutes each session. My Mom was having the same problem .. i told her to stop the strength toning .. FOR NOW ..

    Try it for 2 weeks. JUST CARDIO. It may not work for you ... but it may. Sounds like you would be willing to try something a little "not by the book" ...
  • cyndeebee
    cyndeebee Posts: 249 Member
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    I agree about the theory that maybe you're not eating enough...If you're working out, that number seems pretty low.
    But the main thing I want to say is that you should never give up. Even if you only see a "snail's pace" of progress, it's still progress. Right?
    The other option is to give up, gain not only what you may have lost...but more.
    Option two is not worth it. If need be, take a mini break, eat your maintenance calories, and then start again. Maybe the break would kick start your metabolism.
  • andrbac04
    andrbac04 Posts: 11
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    How tall are you? I'm thinking maybe for your height 170 is as small as your body will allow you to become.

    Also, if you don't have a large amount of weight to lose it becomes harder to lose weight.

    By NO means an expert, but hope this helps :)

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  • Christin09
    Christin09 Posts: 143 Member
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    Are you making sure you changing up your cardio workouts enough and that your body isn't getting into a rut that way?
  • reisingmel
    reisingmel Posts: 50 Member
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    I'm 5'7" no giant, haha. I have monitored my heart rate on cardio machines more lately and my heart rate stay around 150.
  • ebkins7
    ebkins7 Posts: 427 Member
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    Hey Girlie... DON'T GIVE UP!!! Please!!! I know and completely understand the frustrations! I have to agree... I think you are losing inches but not weight because you are gaining more lean muscle mass! Which is GREAT!!!

    I know everyone has this ideal weight that they have in mind for themselves. But honestly, that weight may not be ideal for your body type.

    Just keep working at it. You'll find what works. Just please don't give up!!!
  • lindseyk
    lindseyk Posts: 8
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    Your probably not eating enough..your body will hold weight if it thinks your starving it. You may need to adjust your diet. Good luck and don't give up!
  • Dave198lbs
    Dave198lbs Posts: 8,810 Member
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    kick up the cardio

    everyday except Sunday but do Sunday if you feel ok

    gotta burn burn burn that crap off your body

    takes alot of cardio

    gotta eat.....set your loss at 1 pound a week and eat what it says to eat

    quit eating crap (if you do)
    no white bread...no pasta,,,,bo chips...no cookies...no added sugar....you know what crap is....gotta quit eatin it

    get busy
    sweat alot

    it will come off
  • gc2052
    gc2052 Posts: 183
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    My guess is that you are not eating enough calories. A tough concept for most of us to grasp. You also need to be doing more cardio.
  • kbirky73
    kbirky73 Posts: 110
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    Glad to see that CARDIO IS KEY!!!!!
    (and way fun if you mix it up)
  • becca1978
    becca1978 Posts: 12
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    Hey there...Don't give up you are making progress with the inches lost. Alot of times people eat the right amount of calories but not the right foods. There are a lot of dieters that go for those 100 cal snacks because they are 100 cals. A really good book to read is the Eat Clean Diet by Tosca Reno. It is very informative. Trust me I have been there. I joined this site when I had the last 20 lbs to lose. Prior to Joining I had pretty much stayed the same for a year just losing inches and lowering bodyfat. So the rest did not come off until I really payed close attention to the diet and started to avoid processed foods and focused on eating real foods like fresh fruits and vegetables and lean cuts of meats. I have lost over 60lbs in the past 2 years. Hang in there it will happen for you.:wink:
  • mommywoods
    mommywoods Posts: 5
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    Don't give up, drink lots and lots of water 10-12 cups per day!! You will see results!! Shake up your workout as well!! Hang in there!!
  • reisingmel
    reisingmel Posts: 50 Member
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    You've all been extremely encouraging and I can't wait to try your ideas!! Thanks again and cross your fingers for me!
  • jtrabucco
    jtrabucco Posts: 1
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    Ive been in the exact same boat. I had my thyroid checked and my dose is good. I work out about 30-60 min 3x a week. I wiegh and measure everything, count every darn calorie. The only thing I can possibly think it could be is Menopause. And I have thought about giving up every day but if I do it will be worse. We WILL gain more weight. Maybe take a week off of exercise and just take a few nice walks, or just diet during the week and take the weekend off (but dont go totally crazy) . I know if feels like*@## when you wake up EVERY morning and get on the scale and it hasnt budged it really sucks.. but if you give up you will feel worse about yourself . Hang in there and I will too, that darn scale has to move sometime even if I have to shake the @#$! out of it.
  • annhjk
    annhjk Posts: 794 Member
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    I'm 5'7" no giant, haha. I have monitored my heart rate on cardio machines more lately and my heart rate stay around 150.

    I would suggest upping the intensity. My heart rate is usually around 165/170 and I'm 8 years older than you so maybe that would help. Also switch up your routine as much as you can. If you do the same machines, same strength routine and eat pretty much the same foods, you body will adapt and get used to it.

    You could try to eat more protein too. That helped me drop about 5 as soon as I did that. You can go into home, goals, custom settings and change the % on macro nutrients (I'm set at 40% protein, 30% fat, 30% carbs).

    I am by no means an expert though - I'm been stuck at 135/140 (I'm 5'6") forever.
  • reisingmel
    reisingmel Posts: 50 Member
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    I had no idea you could change those settings!! I'm so doing that one. I can stop trying to do the math in my head every day on how I want to eat more protein I want then what they say. Thanks a bunch!

    Increasing my intensity has been the toughest part about working out for me personally because I have sports induced asthma and I'm very stubborn about trying not to use my emergency inhaler. But I have been kicking it up a notch or two this week. My gym pal refuses to let me walk (even if it's uphill at 3.5 mph), haha, and I'll make sure to thank her when I'm less sore.

    Thanks for info and advice!
  • JDHINAZ
    JDHINAZ Posts: 641 Member
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    Regarding asthma, if you need to use your rescue inhaler, use it. But if you need to use it before every workout in order to get up your intensity level, then your preventative meds are probably not where they should be. I have acute/chronic asthma that is also exercised induced. Thanks to my preventative meds (Advair and Singulair) I haven't used my rescue inhaler for exercise in over 2 years. Talk to your doctor and tell him if you have to use it before every workout and see if there are better preventative meds for you to take. It's well worth it!!!

    Hope all goes well!!!! :smile:
  • kaassiia
    kaassiia Posts: 51 Member
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    same issue here =/ could be pretty discouraging but no way ill give up.. i enjoy working out too much. look forward to it everyday

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