doing everything but nothing is working

kbuckle86

Hi everyone,
I'm really frustrated today. I have been working out for the past 4 months and have only lost 5 pounds. I am going for a very brisk walk every morning at 6 AM. for 1 hour. The trail is flat yet has some hills as well. I then come home and do the ab ripper for 15 minutes. I go to work, I'm a physiotherapist assistant at a huge retirement home, that I walk all day long and do a fitness class. I then either go to the gym and run/walk on the treadmill or do jump rope. Or I will come home and go a 30 day ripped Jillian Michaels DVD. I am so tired after all of that. I do not know how I can fit anything else into my day. I'm looking to lose 15 lbs or just until I feel healthy and good about looking in the mirror. I eat whole grains, and I eat 4 meals a day, drink lots of water, and I don;t know what is wrong with me. Anyone have any ideas on what the heck is wrong with me or what I might be doing wrong or how to help me? I'm REALLLLLLLLLLLY FRUSTRATED.

Kate
25 yr
160lb goal 145lb

stephanie1133

Your food diary is private so it's hard to say what could be going on. I'd guess, from what info you did give, that you are either eating too little, or too much, since you are exercising a lot.

How tall are you btw?

jcperkns

Your food diary is private so it's hard to say what could be going on. I'd guess, from what info you did give, that you are either eating too little, or too much, since you are exercising a lot.

^This. If you opened your diary we might be able to give more advice

Shayztar

Unlock your diary. But my guess is that you are over doing it. If you are like most people on this site, you might be eating too little as well. Consider researching BMR and TDEE and do some math. Your plateau might be because your body is responding to your exercise and too little food.

des02_

Unlock your diary. But my guess is that you are over doing it. If you are like most people on this site, you might be eating too little as well. Consider researching BMR and TDEE and do some math. Your plateau might be because your body is responding to your exercise and too little food.

^ possibly this

BubbleGumKisses

Muscle growth maybe? are you taking measurements? or just judging by the scale?

sarahrbraun

Hi everyone,
I'm really frustrated today. I have been working out for the past 4 months and have only lost 5 pounds. I am going for a very brisk walk every morning at 6 AM. for 1 hour. The trail is flat yet has some hills as well. I then come home and do the ab ripper for 15 minutes. I go to work, I'm a physiotherapist assistant at a huge retirement home, that I walk all day long and do a fitness class. I then either go to the gym and run/walk on the treadmill or do jump rope. Or I will come home and go a 30 day ripped Jillian Michaels DVD. I am so tired after all of that. I do not know how I can fit anything else into my day. I'm looking to lose 15 lbs or just until I feel healthy and good about looking in the mirror. I eat whole grains, and I eat 4 meals a day, drink lots of water, and I don;t know what is wrong with me. Anyone have any ideas on what the heck is wrong with me or what I might be doing wrong or how to help me? I'm REALLLLLLLLLLLY FRUSTRATED.

Kate



5 yr
160lb goal 145lb

This is going to sound crazy, but cut your carbs! For 2 weeks, cut your carbs down to about 100 a day. You can subtract your fiber grams from your carbs ( so if you eat crackers that are 10 carbs, 2 grams of fiber, you only *count* 8 carbs). I had a similar problem with not being able to lose weight. I was on the treadmill at the gym for 3 hours a week, and only lost 7 pounds in 3 month. Almost 2 weeks ago I cut my carbs down, worked out the exact same, and lost 4.8 pounds the first week! For guidance on what to eat, research Atkins. You don't HAVE to do induction. After 11/12 days eating low carb, I find myself eating sometimes because I know I should, not because I am hungry.

Lozze

Another one for open your diary. What is usually the answer is not eating enough.

bluehenjen

Like everyone else has said, you're probably not eating enough and/or you're losing fat but gaining muscle. Here are some suggestions:

1. Properly log the calories that you burn during your workouts and during the day. I find the best way to properly determine your calorie burn is to wear a heart rate monitor. I've heard good things about the FitBit but I've never used it so I can't give an opinion. I use the Polar FT4 heart rate monitor and it made a HUGE difference. The calorie counters on the cardio machines at the gym overestimate calorie burn by at least 100 calories, for me.

2. Eat back the calories you burn during exercise. If MFP tells you to eat 1200 calories per day and you're burning 800 calories on exercise every day, you need to eat 2000 calories. If you eat less, your body will hang onto everything it can and you won't lose weight. Also, don't totally cut out everything you like to eat.

3. Drink Flat Belly Water. It's simply 2 liters of water, 1 teaspoon of freshly grated ginger, 1 medium cucumber peeled and thinly sliced, and 1 medium lemon thinly sliced. Put all the ingredients into a pitcher and let it steep in the fridge overnight. You can add fresh mint leaves, if you'd like. Drink a few glasses of this every day and see if it helps.

I was working out and doing everything "right" and only lost about 3 pounds in a month and a half. It was very disappointing. Then, suddenly, my weight loss took off and I met (and then exceeded) my goal. Sometimes it just takes some time.

kbuckle86

Thanks everyone for the ideas.

summaryzn

bump for flat belly water recipe