doing it all and not losing

tooth90
tooth90 Posts: 3
in Health and Weight Loss
I have been diligently following MFP for 4 weeks. I go to the gym 3-5 days a week depending on my schedule. I do 30 mns on the elliptical alternating intensity and hills and 30 mns on the treadmill walking at 4.0 for 5 mns and sprinting at 7.5 for 30 secs. I follow that with either an hour long body sculpt class or machines and free weights for my arms. My daily calories are 1200 which I stick to. Sometimes when I get the extra work out calories I will use a few but not many. My problem is my scale is barely budging. I have lost 3 pounds and that is all. I have friends that just do Weight watchers and have lost 15 in a month but I love working out. It feels good and I feel strong. Any suggestions? The upping calorie thing scares me.

Replies

  • peachfigs
    peachfigs Posts: 831 Member
    Are you netting at least 1 200 calories per day? Also, 4 weeks is not a lot of time, and you have only just got started :flowerforyou: Wait a little longer and as long as you are netting at least 1200 (the minimum amount of calories) per day, you will be fine.
  • SGSmallman
    SGSmallman Posts: 193 Member
    You're not eating enough to be working out read the following forum post, work out your TDEE and BMR and i guarantee without looking at your height and weight you'll be under your goals for intake just to live meaning you have slowed your metabolism down

    -Dont forget you've probably gained a little muscle
    -when working out you retain water so your weight can fluctuate by up to 6lbs
    -use measurements not weight to be healthy you want to lose body fat % not weight overall otherwise you could be losing muscle mass.

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/937709-in-place-of-a-road-map-ver-3-0
  • wvgirlnfl
    wvgirlnfl Posts: 30
    Can you tell if your clothes are fitting looser? Maybe you are gaining muscle and it weighs more than fat. I have a friend that is kind of going through the same thing and she is trying not to be discouraged. She has went down a couple of pants sizes over the past 6 months. She is only weighing herself once every 3 months now. I can't do that, I have to weigh myself several times a week.
  • smantha32
    smantha32 Posts: 6,990 Member
    I think you are working out way too hard to only be eating 1200 calories.
  • Rgtjax85
    Rgtjax85 Posts: 99 Member
    Almost a pound a week is not that bad. If your diary was public I could see how many calories you are burning. Eating at a deficit is good for losing the weight but if you are burning too much in comparison to what you eat your body may be telling you to hold on to everything it can to maintain your health. Do you know your average calories burned, TDEE, or BMR? Don't be afraid of upping calories if they help you maintain energy and drop weight. I am at my maintenance and ideal weight. Yesterday I ate 3000 calories because I burned 900 so I still was under my calorie goals. The workouts you do sound tough. When I was not eating enough I maintained a weight 5-8 pounds higher then my current weight.
  • Poods71
    Poods71 Posts: 502 Member
    You definitely are not eating enough. I know it sounds scary but I am a shortie and I eat 1400 (sometimes more) doing practically no exercise and I lose weight.

    I have seen a lot of posts from people who look amazing, have lost loads of inches and have gone down clothes sizes and are still the same weight. Have you tried measuring yourself. Sometimes the scale is not the best measurement of progress.

    I can't say it enough but definitely you need to up those cals if you want to lose. Good luck :smile:
  • SGSmallman
    SGSmallman Posts: 193 Member
    my TDEE - 20% has me eating at 1850 on non workout days and around 2200-2400 on workout days.

    I eat what i want so long as it's in my calories, carb and fat limits i've lost almost a stone in just over a month of fat body fat % is down and muscle mass and strength is up. soon i will recalculate and EAT MORE as i continue to lose fat
  • SGSmallman
    SGSmallman Posts: 193 Member
    Almost a pound a week is not that bad. If your diary was public I could see how many calories you are burning. Eating at a deficit is good for losing the weight but if you are burning too much in comparison to what you eat your body may be telling you to hold on to everything it can to maintain your health. Do you know your average calories burned, TDEE, or BMR? Don't be afraid of upping calories if they help you maintain energy and drop weight. I am at my maintenance and ideal weight. Yesterday I ate 3000 calories because I burned 900 so I still was under my calorie goals. The workouts you do sound tough. When I was not eating enough I maintained a weight 5-8 pounds higher then my current weight.

    AMEN!!! eat more to lose more when working hard!
  • babydiego87
    babydiego87 Posts: 905 Member
    3lbs in 4 weeks is great.
  • tooth90
    tooth90 Posts: 3
    Many thanks!!! I am going to work out my TDEE and BMR as advised. Since I am fairly new I have no idea how to make my food diary public but I am certain that I do not eat enough protein.
  • droberts3311
    droberts3311 Posts: 87
    I use to struggle with this also. My scales had not moved in 1-2 years! The best thing that I did was read the book Eat to Live. I do not track what I eat now but I do still enjoy FP. I just eat as clean as I can. It made the world of differance to me. One of my hobbies now is to search clean foods to try. Good luck and stay strong it will come.
    I do think our age has something to do with it too...:smile:
  • Railr0aderTony
    Railr0aderTony Posts: 6,803 Member
    You're not eating enough to be working out read the following forum post, work out your TDEE and BMR and i guarantee without looking at your height and weight you'll be under your goals for intake just to live meaning you have slowed your metabolism down

    -Dont forget you've probably gained a little muscle
    -when working out you retain water so your weight can fluctuate by up to 6lbs
    -use measurements not weight to be healthy you want to lose body fat % not weight overall otherwise you could be losing muscle mass.

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/937709-in-place-of-a-road-map-ver-3-0

    ^^^This
  • robnat13
    robnat13 Posts: 1
    Take heart, it will happen. I have been to weight watchers and have never seen anyone lose 15 in a month. You could have gained muscle weight. What are your measurements like.
  • pcastagner
    pcastagner Posts: 1,606 Member
    3 lbs in 4 weeks is great progress!

    If you are new to exercise your body puts on muscle at an amazingly fast pace.

    That said, unless you have really big body fat stores, you probably aren't eating enough to sustain your new lifestyle in the long run.

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