Please offer advice...

Johlawrence

I am currently 163 lbs and 5'5". My goal is 135-140. I started trying to lose at the end of June with a starting weight of 170. I lost 5 lbs pretty quickly, then began working out 6 days a week with Jillian Michael's Body Revolution. At that point, I continued to gain and lose the same 2 lbs for about 5 weeks (super frustrating). About 2 weeks ago I decided to try to stick to 1200 cals a day with no exercise until I am closer to my goal (maybe around 145ish) and then start back incorporating exercise. I guess my question is: Have any of you tried to lose the weight first before starting an exercise regimine? Or did you do both simultaneously? I didn't seem to lose when I was exercising and I couldn't get my calorie intake balanced. I was either netting too little or too much. Since doing a strict 1200 cals a day and no exercise, I've lost 2-3 lbs over two weeks. Honestly, losing weight is NOT as simple as calories in vs. calories burned. I wish it were...:huh:

Acg67

I am currently 163 lbs and 5'5". My goal is 135-140. I started trying to lose at the end of June with a starting weight of 170. I lost 5 lbs pretty quickly, then began working out 6 days a week with Jillian Michael's Body Revolution. At that point, I continued to gain and lose the same 2 lbs for about 5 weeks (super frustrating). About 2 weeks ago I decided to try to stick to 1200 cals a day with no exercise until I am closer to my goal (maybe around 145ish) and then start back incorporating exercise. I guess my question is: Have any of you tried to lose the weight first before starting an exercise regimine? Or did you do both simultaneously? I didn't seem to lose when I was exercising and I couldn't get my calorie intake balanced. I was either netting too little or too much. Since doing a strict 1200 cals a day and no exercise, I've lost 2-3 lbs over two weeks. Honestly, losing weight is NOT as simple as calories in vs. calories burned. I wish it were...:huh:

Stop focusing on the scale. While you don't need to exercise at all to lose weight, there are other benefits to exercise besides weight loss

Hendrix7

i'm confused as to why you have stopped working out?

if you were struggling to lose while being fairly active I don't see how becoming sedentary is going to help.

Johlawrence

Stop focusing on the scale. While you don't need to exercise at all to lose weight, there are other benefits to exercise besides weight loss



How can I NOT focus on the scale? 163 is an unhealthy weight for me.

Johlawrence

i'm confused as to why you have stopped working out?

if you were struggling to lose while being fairly active I don't see how becoming sedentary is going to help.

I guess in my head I thought it would be better to lose the weight first, then tone and work on muscle. This is all so confusing to me...

tobnrn

Stop focusing on the scale. While you don't need to exercise at all to lose weight, there are other benefits to exercise besides weight loss



How can I NOT focus on the scale? 163 is an unhealthy weight for me.

I would have to agree with ACG. Stop focusing on the scale. Eat at a moderate deficit (approx. 500cal deficit), exercise. Use other things besides the scale to measure progress (ie, tape measure, BF%, how you feel, how your clothes fit).

Lesa_Sass

I think what they mean dear is just get some exercise, eat healthy and it will come off. When we focus on the scale it is demotivating and frustrating.

I, personally, saw an increase in weight loss and a decrease in body fat when I ate between 1500 and 1600 calories a day and as many of my exercise calories back.

After reviewing your food diary, I actually think you are not eating enough. I would like to recommend some fruit and vegetables as additional snacks during the day. But it is up to you to do what you want. I know for me, I look and feel a great deal better when I eat more of good whole foods.

I will be 44 next week, am 5 foot 3 and lost those last few lbs a woman my age wants to lose then some by eating more, but after saying that, they are whole foods and most of my carbs are low on the glycemic index, such as sweet potatoes, quinoa and oatmeal.

Stick with it and be happy. If you are eating healthy nutritious foods and exercising, it will come off, I promise it will. It may not come off at 2 to 3 lbs a week, but it will turn into a way of life and stay off.

Johlawrence

Thank you all for your advice...hope more comes. I am just so frustrated! I am trying so hard to do everything right and make this a lifestyle change...UGH!!! So, maybe 1200 cals is not enough? I swear I cannot find what works for me to lose consistently. Maybe I should try to slowly add in more cals?

Johlawrence

lesasass --- Your pics in your profile are unbelievable!!! Will you message me what all you do? I would love to look like that once again!!! Believe it or not, I used to!

tobnrn

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/654536-in-place-of-a-road-map-2-0-revised-7-2-12

There is some great advice here on calculating what you should eat a day.

Lesa_Sass

lesasass --- Your pics in your profile are unbelievable!!! Will you message me what all you do? I would love to look like that once again!!! Believe it or not, I used to!

I already sent you a message actually. My diary is open and I pretty much post what I eat on my facebook cooking page. https://www.facebook.com/TheSassyGourmet

Thanks for your kind words. It has been a long road but I am very happy. I actually look younger than I did 10 years ago believe it or not!

sandygaylegunn

I understand your frustration and confusion. I relate. I have been doing an hour on the bike at the gym for about 2.5 months. I tried eating back all my exercise calories above a minimum of 1200. I lost only an average of .5 pounds per week. You won't see very many 65 year obese women doing an hour on the bike. Since I am not losing much, I have decided not to eat back my calories from exercise to see if that will help.

I have always eaten healthfully, but portion control is my issue. Now that I have found this site and am entering my food as I eat it, it is much easier for me to stay within my calorie goals. I am hoping this next week shows at least a pound or two off. (I am 5' 1" and am at 180 pounds. I need to lose at least 50 pounds.)

I am looking forward to see the advice on this topic. Thanks for posting it.

JessicaT2007

When I lost weight a few years ago, I just lost weight without working out on WW. This time around, I am working out and eating healthy. It is taking a while to get there, but I feel better. I am also taking measurements because sometimes you can lose inches without losing a single pound! Keep that in mind. Also, take lots of pictures and you can see the difference even though you cannot see it on the scale.