is what i'm doing proper for losing weight?

rpm2012

As of 2 weeks ago I have just started back at the gym after a 10 month hiatus and 40 lbs gained. I have been eating less than 1600 calories per day for the last two weeks with the exception of a 2200 calorie day about a week ago. As expected I dropped 10 pounds the first week, mostly being water weight due to significantly reduced sodium intake. Although I have lost 1 pound the last week. It may be too early to know if this is a legitimate plateau, I was thinking it is. So I have been increasing my cardio, with weights 1-2 days in a week but nothing too heavy as I am already a pretty big guy (222 lbs) I started off running for 30 minutes for 2 days in a row, took a day off, increased to 35 the next two days, took a day off, increased to 40 minutes the next two days, day off, increased to 45 minutes today, at the same time increasing speed from 5.5 mph, to 6.2 now.

My question is, why have I only lost 1 pound in the last week with all of this cardio as well as calorie restriction. I am not hungry, so I know my body does not need more. If it did, you would think I would be craving food.

Is it wise to restrict even more than a 1600 calorie per day intake? I do not subtract burned calories from the cardio, it is a true 1600 calorie intake or less. My goal is to drop to 190, and start lifting more once I reach that point. I am 6'2". my lightest after being 285 was 190 about 1 year ago. It seemed quite a bit easier the first time losing the weight, but as I said, it may be too early to call this a plateau.

Any advise is appreciated. Thanks

joeamendiola

You might be gaining muscle.

rpm2012

Its hard to believe with the amount of cardio I have been doing, and minimal weights

super_monty

I would say you need to wait and reevaluate in about 3 weeks.

1lb a week is a nice steady weight to lose but look at it on a monthly basis rather than weekly.

I would also do more than minimal weights and don't go under 1600.

eatrunstretch

take measurements, sometimes the scale isn't moving but you're getting leaner!!!

TavistockToad

You might be gaining muscle.

no!

anyway, it is not a legitimate plateau, you LOST WEIGHT!

you should probably be eating more than 1600, i lose netting 1600 and i am a 5ft5 126lb female...

'minimal weights' wont help... do a proper strength routine and eat your exercise cals!

Capt_Apollo

As of 2 weeks ago I have just started back at the gym after a 10 month hiatus and 40 lbs gained. I have been eating less than 1600 calories per day for the last two weeks with the exception of a 2200 calorie day about a week ago. As expected I dropped 10 pounds the first week, mostly being water weight due to significantly reduced sodium intake. Although I have lost 1 pound the last week. It may be too early to know if this is a legitimate plateau, I was thinking it is. So I have been increasing my cardio, with weights 1-2 days in a week but nothing too heavy as I am already a pretty big guy (222 lbs) I started off running for 30 minutes for 2 days in a row, took a day off, increased to 35 the next two days, took a day off, increased to 40 minutes the next two days, day off, increased to 45 minutes today, at the same time increasing speed from 5.5 mph, to 6.2 now.

My question is, why have I only lost 1 pound in the last week with all of this cardio as well as calorie restriction. I am not hungry, so I know my body does not need more. If it did, you would think I would be craving food.

Is it wise to restrict even more than a 1600 calorie per day intake? I do not subtract burned calories from the cardio, it is a true 1600 calorie intake or less. My goal is to drop to 190, and start lifting more once I reach that point. I am 6'2". my lightest after being 285 was 190 about 1 year ago. It seemed quite a bit easier the first time losing the weight, but as I said, it may be too early to call this a plateau.

Any advise is appreciated. Thanks

dude, at 6'2" you are eating too little. you shouldn't be eating less than 2200 calories. i understand your reasoning how you would crave food, but if you are doing that much cardio, you should be fueling the machine.

and why wait to drop to 190 to lift?? if you were to start lifting now, you would start seeing incredible gains and start composing your body into what you want. it'll make it much easier to drop weight.

JasonDetwiler

How about you cut the crap about "losing weight" and think about the only two things that matter: Building Muscle and Cutting Fat. There's no reason for you to get down to 190 (especially at 6'2) before starting to lift weights. The easiest time to build muscle and lose fat at the same time is when you've got some extra pudge going on. When you're lean, it's damn near impossible to build muscle and cut fat at the same time, that's why BB's do bulking and cutting phases.

Check out www.dangerouslyhardcore.com and see if Carb Backloading or Carb Nite Solution would work for you. You've got potential to be a big, strong, lean dude, but your beginnings are the long and unproductive road to skinnyfatness. Throw away your scale, get on a linear progression strength program (starting strength, Greyskull linear progression, stronglifts 5x5), and pick CBL or CNS. Come back in a year and tell us how 6'2 230 and BEAST feels.

robin52077

As of 2 weeks ago I have just started back at the gym after a 10 month hiatus and 40 lbs gained. I have been eating less than 1600 calories per day for the last two weeks with the exception of a 2200 calorie day about a week ago. As expected I dropped 10 pounds the first week, mostly being water weight due to significantly reduced sodium intake. Although I have lost 1 pound the last week. It may be too early to know if this is a legitimate plateau, I was thinking it is. So I have been increasing my cardio, with weights 1-2 days in a week but nothing too heavy as I am already a pretty big guy (222 lbs) I started off running for 30 minutes for 2 days in a row, took a day off, increased to 35 the next two days, took a day off, increased to 40 minutes the next two days, day off, increased to 45 minutes today, at the same time increasing speed from 5.5 mph, to 6.2 now.

My question is, why have I only lost 1 pound in the last week with all of this cardio as well as calorie restriction. I am not hungry, so I know my body does not need more. If it did, you would think I would be craving food.

Is it wise to restrict even more than a 1600 calorie per day intake? I do not subtract burned calories from the cardio, it is a true 1600 calorie intake or less. My goal is to drop to 190, and start lifting more once I reach that point. I am 6'2". my lightest after being 285 was 190 about 1 year ago. It seemed quite a bit easier the first time losing the weight, but as I said, it may be too early to call this a plateau.

Any advise is appreciated. Thanks

dude, at 6'2" you are eating too little. you shouldn't be eating less than 2200 calories. i understand your reasoning how you would crave food, but if you are doing that much cardio, you should be fueling the machine.

and why wait to drop to 190 to lift?? if you were to start lifting now, you would start seeing incredible gains and start composing your body into what you want. it'll make it much easier to drop weight.

This.
Eat more and pick up really heavy things. The end.

LeggyAmericanGirl

Weight loss is a slow process usually the first 10-15 lbs are easy. When I first started I was losing 8-10lb a month for the first three months. I have only lost 28lbs in 5 months. Its a slow process if you do it healthy and dont go extreme with your diet or exercise.

Hang in there, it will get better. Some months I lose 5lbs or more some months I dont lose lbs but inches.

It all adds up, I have been here 8 months and so far 58lbs gone. My plan is to lose bout 4 lbs a month to do safely and I am right on schedule. 4lbs a month is recommended.

shinkalork

yep....Scale ain't helping much...Use a measuring tape and a mirror. Scale don't count the bone structure,muscles etc,,,
I'm doing intense cardio training (Insanity) and it took me some time to lose weight, but was losing inches of my waist etc...
Now,my system learned how to deal with all the modification and i'm losing weight but it needs some time.

Also, more muscles = more fat burning.
Cardio will give you muscles...Depending on the movements. Push-ups (pectoral), knee raise (abs), squat (legs) etc...
Cardio can bring a total body workout depending the type.

Also, This is the hardest part which i'm still struggling to understand but.... Food and calories intake plays a major role in this.
Eat not enough...you body will stop and burn muscles to fuel yourself and you will stay put or gain weight.
Eat too much...Well you will gain weight.
Eat right enough....Your body will use protein to fuel your muscles,carbs for energy etc..etc..etc... But this is where it's a bit harder cause you need to count everything lol...

Take care and good luck

bathsheba_c

Losing 1 lb in 1 week is NORMAL! It is not even anything resembling a plateau. A plateau is when you go a month without losing anything. Listen to what the muscle heads are telling you, please.

DavPul

How can losing a pound in a week's time be a plateau? A plateau is being the same weight for weeks or months. Have some patience and some reasonable expectations

acpgee

Although I am losing on average at my target of 1.5 pounds per week, my actual losses are far from linear. I often plateau for 2-3 weeks, followed by a period where I drop a kilo every 4-5 days. Just give it time.

Elle408

How about you cut the crap about "losing weight" and think about the only two things that matter: Building Muscle and Cutting Fat. There's no reason for you to get down to 190 (especially at 6'2) before starting to lift weights. The easiest time to build muscle and lose fat at the same time is when you've got some extra pudge going on. When you're lean, it's damn near impossible to build muscle and cut fat at the same time, that's why BB's do bulking and cutting phases.

Check out www.dangerouslyhardcore.com and see if Carb Backloading or Carb Nite Solution would work for you. You've got potential to be a big, strong, lean dude, but your beginnings are the long and unproductive road to skinnyfatness. Throw away your scale, get on a linear progression strength program (starting strength, Greyskull linear progression, stronglifts 5x5), and pick CBL or CNS. Come back in a year and tell us how 6'2 230 and BEAST feels.

Brilliant post!

lisab0864

Totally agreeing with those that are telling you to eat more...
I ate just over 1700 calories/day and consistently lost 1 pound a week but...............I am a woman, was 46 years old at the time, and weighed (at that time) 172 pounds on a 5'6" tall body. At that time, the ONLY exercise I did was making sure that I walked at least 1 1/2 miles most days of the week. Granted I do alot of physical labor daily (I'm a farmer/have cattle) but.............still burning calories on a smaller female body level.
Now at approx 140 lbs (18+ months at goal) and 48 years old, I eat approximately 2300 cals/day. In addition to my daily work (still farming), I do (now that it's almost winter - in summer race walk almost 30 miles week) 3 1/2 hours of intense cardio/week, work out w/weights (ChaLEAN Extreme), and take 2+ mile walks w/dog and goat most days of the week.