Weight loss help??

TylerJessilynn
TylerJessilynn Posts: 13 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
I'm a 5'7" female, and I weigh about 157. Over the last year and half I've lost about 120 lbs. I took a break and maintained 157 for a few months. Now I've joined here and am trying very hard to lose the last 10-15 lbs! I eat between 1200 - 1500 a day, and I workout 5 - 6 times a week. Burning like 250 on the elliptical, then doing barbell squats, and various machines. I've been at it hard for two weeks and I haven't lost a pound! I know I'm gain muscle and such because everything is getting lose on me and everyone is complimenting me, but I really wanna shed a few lbs at least as well. My sister told me to stop working out for a week, but wouldn't that just canablism the muscle? Please help! Thanks :)

Replies

  • AmyRhubarb
    AmyRhubarb Posts: 6,890 Member
    Weight loss for those last few pounds often goes really slow, and your progress might not even show on the scale. Like you said, your clothes are getting lose, so you are making progress! Take measurements - over a six month period I lost fat and inches and dropped a pants size without the scale moving at ALL. Keep doing what you're doing, you will lose inches, and then maybe all of a sudden lose a few pounds - it's not linear.

    If you stop working out for a week, you probably will show a loss on the scale because your muscles will be all healed and you will retain less water. But personally, I think you're better off sticking to what you're doing - exercise, eat well to fuel your body, get good sleep, and take one or two rest days per week. And grab that measuring tape, and a camera - before and after shots will show more progress than the scale as well.
  • now_or_never13
    now_or_never13 Posts: 1,575 Member
    I would imagine you aren't seeing a loss due to either water retention or your monthly cycle.

    Eating between 1200 and 1500 calories a day will not allow you to build any noticable amount of muscle. In order to build muscle you need a lot of protein, lifting heavy weights and eating at a surplus.

    When you diet and try to lose weight you actually lose muscle in the process... more of it if you have too high of a deficit.

    If you only have 10 -15 lbs left to lose set your goal to 0.5lbs per week and nothing higher. The smaller you are the smaller of a deficit you need. Also ensure you are switching up your exercise routine as your body can become accustomed to what you are doing. So, change what you do... change how long you exercise.. change the intensity, etc.

Categories