So frustrated!

2»

Replies

  • walk2120
    walk2120 Posts: 47 Member

    you dont necessarily need to eat any calories you burn off especially if your cardio work out is less than an hour a day. If i were to eat those calories back for an hours worth of cardio, i'd never drop the weight correctly or at all really.
    If you arent busting your *kitten* for 3 hours a day, i'd say stick to your goal calories each day and leave your 'burned/earned calories' alone. those are a bonus and save them for the weekend in case you need to splurge. its all about balance!!!

    And i do agree with inches. sometimes we lose inches and not weight. check your measurements!

    I totally agree with you, meredith1123. I am in exact same position as woodwardtm. I have been working out every single day (3 mile walks) starting 31st Dec. For the first 4 days, I did not eat my work out calories back and I dropped 1 lb. Then from the other posts, I realised that I am supposed to eat the workout calories back. So I did for last 5 days and I am back at where I have started!

    I think I will stick to your idea of not eating back the calories and saving it just in case for weekend parties. Thanks!
  • CashthePRO
    CashthePRO Posts: 6 Member
    If you're going for long-term weight loss (meaning you're trying to lose 20+ over 4 or 5 months), DON'T WEIGHT YOURSELF FOR TWO WEEKS.

    If you just started working, the first part of the process is muscle building and that is what will cause the plateau. After two or three weeks, then the added muscle will start speeding up your metabolism and you'll see the results.

    Just stay with it, watch the alcohol intake and snacking and you'll be fine.
  • lesita75
    lesita75 Posts: 379 Member
    The scale isn't the best indicator of progress. You should start taking before and during pictures as well as take your measurements. I realize it is frustrating not to see the scale move, but you can not soley rely on it. In the last six weeks I have not lost any weight. None. Zilch. Zero. Nothing. Nada. I have, however, lost over five inches and I've dropped one pant size during tha ttime. Weight loss is not linear and patience will be your best friend.
  • ILiftHeavyAcrylics
    ILiftHeavyAcrylics Posts: 27,732 Member
    People get frustrated because of unrealistic expectations. It's only been a week. Be patient. When you first start working out your body retains water to repair itself and that can mask weight loss. Also remember that weight loss is something like 80% diet and only 20% exercise so make sure your calorie goal is right. And be patient.
  • ILiftHeavyAcrylics
    ILiftHeavyAcrylics Posts: 27,732 Member

    you dont necessarily need to eat any calories you burn off especially if your cardio work out is less than an hour a day. If i were to eat those calories back for an hours worth of cardio, i'd never drop the weight correctly or at all really.
    If you arent busting your *kitten* for 3 hours a day, i'd say stick to your goal calories each day and leave your 'burned/earned calories' alone. those are a bonus and save them for the weekend in case you need to splurge. its all about balance!!!

    And i do agree with inches. sometimes we lose inches and not weight. check your measurements!


    I totally agree with you, meredith1123. I am in exact same position as woodwardtm. I have been working out every single day (3 mile walks) starting 31st Dec. For the first 4 days, I did not eat my work out calories back and I dropped 1 lb. Then from the other posts, I realised that I am supposed to eat the workout calories back. So I did for last 5 days and I am back at where I have started!

    I think I will stick to your idea of not eating back the calories and saving it just in case for weekend parties. Thanks!

    If you gain weight from eating back your calories then your calculations are wrong. You're either underestimating how much you're eating or overestimating your calories burned, or both.

    MFP has already figured your deficit. If you don't eat back your exercise calories you create too much deficit, which will hurt you in the long run.
  • sherilisready
    sherilisready Posts: 10
    Eventhough the scale doesnt budge.your body is going thru changes. i find it imperative to measure my bust, hips and thigh area when i begin my lifestyle change,


    For times like this; to measure, and see the amount of inches lost........... is the best boost you can give yourself to push on.

    good Luck.
  • sherilisready
    sherilisready Posts: 10
    Honey a pound of muscle and a pound of fat weigh the same. the difference is muscle takes up less space. :noway:
  • walk2120
    walk2120 Posts: 47 Member

    you dont necessarily need to eat any calories you burn off especially if your cardio work out is less than an hour a day. If i were to eat those calories back for an hours worth of cardio, i'd never drop the weight correctly or at all really.
    If you arent busting your *kitten* for 3 hours a day, i'd say stick to your goal calories each day and leave your 'burned/earned calories' alone. those are a bonus and save them for the weekend in case you need to splurge. its all about balance!!!

    And i do agree with inches. sometimes we lose inches and not weight. check your measurements!


    I totally agree with you, meredith1123. I am in exact same position as woodwardtm. I have been working out every single day (3 mile walks) starting 31st Dec. For the first 4 days, I did not eat my work out calories back and I dropped 1 lb. Then from the other posts, I realised that I am supposed to eat the workout calories back. So I did for last 5 days and I am back at where I have started!

    I think I will stick to your idea of not eating back the calories and saving it just in case for weekend parties. Thanks!

    If you gain weight from eating back your calories then your calculations are wrong. You're either underestimating how much you're eating or overestimating your calories burned, or both.

    MFP has already figured your deficit. If you don't eat back your exercise calories you create too much deficit, which will hurt you in the long run.

    My diet (and water intake) has not changed much between those 4 days when I did drop a pound and the last 5 days where I have gained it back. Since I don't have HRM, I am relaying on MFP calculations for calories burn in work outs. May be you are right that it is overestimating the burned calories?
  • JulieSmiles2
    JulieSmiles2 Posts: 6
    i feel the same way! its just mind-blowing that my scale isn't budging after 3 days! Just keep going!!!
  • akaMrsmojo
    akaMrsmojo Posts: 762 Member

    you dont necessarily need to eat any calories you burn off especially if your cardio work out is less than an hour a day. If i were to eat those calories back for an hours worth of cardio, i'd never drop the weight correctly or at all really.
    If you arent busting your *kitten* for 3 hours a day, i'd say stick to your goal calories each day and leave your 'burned/earned calories' alone. those are a bonus and save them for the weekend in case you need to splurge. its all about balance!!!

    And i do agree with inches. sometimes we lose inches and not weight. check your measurements!

    I totally agree with you, meredith1123. I am in exact same position as woodwardtm. I have been working out every single day (3 mile walks) starting 31st Dec. For the first 4 days, I did not eat my work out calories back and I dropped 1 lb. Then from the other posts, I realised that I am supposed to eat the workout calories back. So I did for last 5 days and I am back at where I have started!

    I think I will stick to your idea of not eating back the calories and saving it just in case for weekend parties. Thanks!

    I have done this for three years, it is not a sprint, it is marathon. I ALWAYS eat back my calories and lose easily. You will screw up your metabolism. Your body NEEDS fuel especially if you are doing cardio. Ask people who have done it longer and know how to keep the weight off long term. THERE is nothing wrong with eating your calories back, gaining back a couple pounds could be water weight or muscle. Unless you ate 3500 over, as the person said above. It is not fat. I promise.
  • VanessaGS
    VanessaGS Posts: 514 Member
    Watch your sodium levels on foods. They could be causing you to retain water weight. Keep going...eventually the plateau will break. Also, are you taking your measurements. Sometimes you might not lose on scale but you could be losing inches. Keep going. Good luck on your journey.
  • ILiftHeavyAcrylics
    ILiftHeavyAcrylics Posts: 27,732 Member

    you dont necessarily need to eat any calories you burn off especially if your cardio work out is less than an hour a day. If i were to eat those calories back for an hours worth of cardio, i'd never drop the weight correctly or at all really.
    If you arent busting your *kitten* for 3 hours a day, i'd say stick to your goal calories each day and leave your 'burned/earned calories' alone. those are a bonus and save them for the weekend in case you need to splurge. its all about balance!!!

    And i do agree with inches. sometimes we lose inches and not weight. check your measurements!


    I totally agree with you, meredith1123. I am in exact same position as woodwardtm. I have been working out every single day (3 mile walks) starting 31st Dec. For the first 4 days, I did not eat my work out calories back and I dropped 1 lb. Then from the other posts, I realised that I am supposed to eat the workout calories back. So I did for last 5 days and I am back at where I have started!

    I think I will stick to your idea of not eating back the calories and saving it just in case for weekend parties. Thanks!

    If you gain weight from eating back your calories then your calculations are wrong. You're either underestimating how much you're eating or overestimating your calories burned, or both.

    MFP has already figured your deficit. If you don't eat back your exercise calories you create too much deficit, which will hurt you in the long run.

    My diet (and water intake) has not changed much between those 4 days when I did drop a pound and the last 5 days where I have gained it back. Since I don't have HRM, I am relaying on MFP calculations for calories burn in work outs. May be you are right that it is overestimating the burned calories?

    MFP has been said to overestimate calories for some people. Try eating back 3/4 of them for awhile. Give it some time though because water retention from exercise can make people think they're gaining when they really aren't.
  • nightengale7
    nightengale7 Posts: 563 Member
    Don't give up. I have just started and I'm determined to not go on the scales. I have been doing hardcore exercise the last week and I am aching and tired but I am determined. Your body will take time to adjust but stick with it. Maybe give yourself a longer time to weigh yourself? It might mentally make you work harder. I am weighing myself in 5 weeks, will also give me time to get into eating the right foods and portions.
    Good luck :)

    Me too! I know from prior experience that my weight takes a very long time to move because my body is extremely good at building muscle mass (my calves have always looked like dancer's calves and I have never been a dancer). It is so hard to not step on the scale because I want so badly to see results. But I have to be patient. I am having my hubby take before pics this weekend as well as measurements so I can keep track that way for now :)
  • joycelreed
    joycelreed Posts: 17 Member
    I'll trade you scales! lol

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