HELP!!! Why am I not losing weight???

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Replies

  • 3dogsrunning
    3dogsrunning Posts: 27,167 Member
    So, the theory here is that 1lb of muscle weighs the same as 1 lb of fat, but does not take up as much room?

    Yes, but if you are eating as little as that, you are not putting on muscle.

    I may have missed it, I know you are not weighing your food but do you measure it at all?
  • Lori0534
    Lori0534 Posts: 208 Member
    Yes, I measure it. I use measuring cups and when I make something I add all ingredients up.
  • DiamondRubyMom
    DiamondRubyMom Posts: 147 Member
    I just glanced at your food diary. Most days you aren't even eating 1000 calories. Your body is in starvation mode and desperately holding on to any calories you put it. I know it sounds crazy but eat more. The scale may go up for a week or two but it will then drop. When you don't get enough calories the brain stops working correctly and the body breaks down muscle not fat. Eat all your calories in a day plus your exercise calories. MFP already calculates a deficit to create weight loss.
  • RobynMWilson
    RobynMWilson Posts: 1,540 Member
    You're only eating 1200 cals and are wasting some of them on beer? Up your calories. You're trying to build muscle and not fueling that muscle properly. So instead of the muscle burning the fat, the muscle isn't able to fully develop for the workouts you're doing.
  • Lori0534
    Lori0534 Posts: 208 Member
    My legs are rock hard and my stinking biceps are too! Especially my right one... The only area of my
    Body that is not pretty solid is my stomach. It's not round or sticking out but flabby. Well, and then my huge boobs.
  • 3dogsrunning
    3dogsrunning Posts: 27,167 Member
    Just had a look at your diary -

    So my questions are -
    how do you measure the food?
    you eat a lot of salad, are you using dressing?
    I don't see any drinks logged, do you only drink water? (I do but I know a lot of people don't).
    There are several days where you only log one meal, is that all you ate, or did you not have a chance to log that day?
    There are at least 4 other days that you didn't log at all.

    My number one suggestion before making any changes to calorie intake is to make sure you are logging consistently and accurately. Everything.

    Yes, I measure it. I use measuring cups and when I make something I add all ingredients up.

    Ok, I was curious because you don't weight but some of your entries are by weight, like 3 oz of chicken.
  • Lori0534
    Lori0534 Posts: 208 Member
    You're only eating 1200 cals and are wasting some of them on beer? Up your calories. You're trying to build muscle and not fueling that muscle properly. So instead of the muscle burning the fat, the muscle isn't able to fully develop for the workouts you're doing.

    Ha I don't go drink a few beers everyday. I drink a few one night on the weekends and that is all.
  • Lori0534
    Lori0534 Posts: 208 Member
    Just had a look at your diary -

    So my questions are -
    how do you measure the food?
    you eat a lot of salad, are you using dressing?
    I don't see any drinks logged, do you only drink water? (I do but I know a lot of people don't).
    There are several days where you only log one meal, is that all you ate, or did you not have a chance to log that day?
    There are at least 4 other days that you didn't log at all.

    My number one suggestion before making any changes to calorie intake is to make sure you are logging consistently and accurately. Everything.

    Yes, I measure it. I use measuring cups and when I make something I add all ingredients up.

    Ok, I was curious because you don't weight but some of your entries are by weight, like 3 oz of chicken.

    The salads are prepackaged that you but at Wal Mart and have dressing included in the calories. The 3 oz of chicken is when I get grilled chicken at the BBQ place. Or if I am cooking a 6 oz chicken breast and cut it in half I put it as 3 oz. I I ly drink water, unsweetened tea, and diet coke once a day. The days I only have one meal logged that is all I ate. And yes, there have definitely been times I have not taken the time to log. However, when I do I put everything in. I am going to be more consistent with it! It's just frustrating because I never had to work( as in keep up with every single note I put in my mouth) to maintain or lose weight!
  • babyblooz
    babyblooz Posts: 220 Member
    Just checked out your diary to confirm what I suspected... you definitely need to eat more.
  • 3dogsrunning
    3dogsrunning Posts: 27,167 Member
    Just had a look at your diary -

    So my questions are -
    how do you measure the food?
    you eat a lot of salad, are you using dressing?
    I don't see any drinks logged, do you only drink water? (I do but I know a lot of people don't).
    There are several days where you only log one meal, is that all you ate, or did you not have a chance to log that day?
    There are at least 4 other days that you didn't log at all.

    My number one suggestion before making any changes to calorie intake is to make sure you are logging consistently and accurately. Everything.

    Yes, I measure it. I use measuring cups and when I make something I add all ingredients up.

    Ok, I was curious because you don't weight but some of your entries are by weight, like 3 oz of chicken.

    The salads are prepackaged that you but at Wal Mart and have dressing included in the calories. The 3 oz of chicken is when I get grilled chicken at the BBQ place. Or if I am cooking a 6 oz chicken breast and cut it in half I put it as 3 oz. I I ly drink water, unsweetened tea, and diet coke once a day. The days I only have one meal logged that is all I ate. And yes, there have definitely been times I have not taken the time to log. However, when I do I put everything in. I am going to be more consistent with it! It's just frustrating because I never had to work( as in keep up with every single note I put in my mouth) to maintain or lose weight!

    In that case, I suggest logging consistently and eating more. You need to eat. Consistently under eating will affect your metabolism.
  • Cassea7
    Cassea7 Posts: 181 Member
    What is eaten is just as important as how much and how many calories. Also adding weight training 3x a week on top of cardio is crucial. Muscle burns fat! Women are always so afraid to lift heavy weights because they think they'll bulk up and look like a dude, but that is so not the case. The more muscle gained, the more fat burned, the leaner the body gets. Changing up workouts every 4-6 weeks is another tip that not too many people understand. Doing the same thing every day, over and over won't get the body to burn fat and calories. Keep the body guessing, so it'll keep burning. HIIT (high intensity interval training) workouts are the best, along with doing other fun things, like Zumba, hiking, biking, playing sports. The trick is to keep moving and keep the body guessing. But proper fuel for the body is key. No processed, out of a box, 'diet' foods are going to help. Clean, fresh, natural, whole vegetables, fruits, nuts, seeds & lean meat is key, and limit dairy and grains. There are so many misconceptions about food, but coming from experience, the cleaner the diet, the more efficiently the body will burn fat and the better the body will feel. Lastly, quite obsessing with the scale! In fact, throw it away! Take your measurements, go by the way your clothes fit, how much energy you have, how clear your skin is, how clear your thinking is. Those are more important guides to how healthy one is, over what number the scale says.

    I TOTALLY agree with you!!!!
  • Lori0534
    Lori0534 Posts: 208 Member
    Thanks! I just went and looked back at my diary and didn't realize how inconsistent I have been.
  • What is eaten is just as important as how much and how many calories. Also adding weight training 3x a week on top of cardio is crucial. Muscle burns fat! Women are always so afraid to lift heavy weights because they think they'll bulk up and look like a dude, but that is so not the case. The more muscle gained, the more fat burned, the leaner the body gets. Changing up workouts every 4-6 weeks is another tip that not too many people understand. Doing the same thing every day, over and over won't get the body to burn fat and calories. Keep the body guessing, so it'll keep burning. HIIT (high intensity interval training) workouts are the best, along with doing other fun things, like Zumba, hiking, biking, playing sports. The trick is to keep moving and keep the body guessing. But proper fuel for the body is key. No processed, out of a box, 'diet' foods are going to help. Clean, fresh, natural, whole vegetables, fruits, nuts, seeds & lean meat is key, and limit dairy and grains. There are so many misconceptions about food, but coming from experience, the cleaner the diet, the more efficiently the body will burn fat and the better the body will feel. Lastly, quite obsessing with the scale! In fact, throw it away! Take your measurements, go by the way your clothes fit, how much energy you have, how clear your skin is, how clear your thinking is. Those are more important guides to how healthy one is, over what number the scale says.

    I TOTALLY agree with you!!!!

    THANK YOU! :)