I'm Jenn and Eighteen.

missgorg

Hi, i have been using MFP for 2 weeks now, I have been working out 6 times a week by running up and down stairs for 20 minutes and an hour spent on xbox since i have cd full of work outs and lunges. I weigh 65kg and I am only 5'1. My daily meal are in favor of MFP. I noticed changes in my body, my legs (BIGGEST PROBLEM) toned up a little, my tummy started to shed off some fats, but every time I take a look on my scale, I still remain at 65kg. It's weird since my family notice the small changes in me. I feel like giving up Why is this?

jwesterm

First a little disclaimer - I would always consult a medical physician before taking advice from a fitness board about your issue. Third party knowledge is acceptable but not to be taken as safe and/or medically proven. I offer you my advice but I am no doctor or nutrition specialist.

Someone might tell you that "Muscle weighs more than fat" and this is not entirely true. When I hear someone say it I am reminded of the riddle: "Which weighs more, a pound of feathers or a pound of bricks?” Initially when you work out as you described, you're burning water weight and removing fat/fatty tissue in return for lean muscle you gain from the diet.

This is a rudimentary explanation but it should help you understand the change your body is making,

Imagine steak in a zip-lock bag, the steak represents your muscle and the bag is your body. When you close it you have the air in the bag. The air represents fat tissue and as you work out you remove the air/fatty tissue from the bag. In doing so this makes the bag form around the steak, outlining the texture much like people create muscle tone. The problem you are having is the diet, while it is helping you burn fat, it is also replacing it with muscle i.e. you are putting more meat in your bag.

To reduce this effect you need to lower your carbohydrates to an amount where your body is using fat store as energy. I am on what they call the Keto diet where I have high fat and protein but very low to almost no carb diet. You have to stay away from breads, and high carb items and what this does in return is change your body from storing to using. You do not have to work out as much but the amount of weight loss from Keto is proven and very effective.

I highly suggest you read this article to better help you out - http://www.fitnessmagazine.com/workout/tips/expert-advice/oops-proof-your-workout/?page=1

missgorg

Thank you for your response. :-) Every morning I bring a banana and flakes with me to my summer job at my mom's office. Every lunch, mom prepares me 1/2 red rice with steamed Milk fish. Every dinner, I usually grab a banana and pair it with an oatmeal.

May I know what seems to be the problem?

jwesterm

Not sure what "flakes" are unless you are referring to the cereal. But that banana is nothing but carbs - See this site

http://nutritiondata.self.com/facts/fruits-and-fruit-juices/1846/2

Rice is also high in carbs. You want a lower carb rate

The science behind low carb dieting can be found below:

Carbohydrates in the diet cause an insulin (a "storage" hormone) output in the pancreas. It is used to store glycogen, amino acids into muscles, while causing excess calories to be stored as fat. So common sense asks me, "How can one try to break down fat, when your body is in a storage-type mode?" Difficult to do, indeed. That is why it makes perfect sense for step one to be cutting carbs.
The next thing that happens in your body is the rise in catecholamines (a "fat mobilizing" hormone), cortisol (a "breakdown" hormone), and growth hormone. Now your body realizes there’s no more carbs to burn for energy, so it must find another energy source: fat.
This usually happens during a metabolic condition called "ketosis." This is when your liver is out of glycogen and starts to produce ketones (by-products of fatty acids). You can check your status of whether or not you are in ketosis with urinalysis strips you can pick up at any local drug store called "Ketostix." Just urinate and see if it turns color. If so, you have ketones in the urine.
When the body is fed fat and protein, it will use dietary fat along with bodyfat for energy with protein going towards repair.
As a side note, there is another reason why this diet makes the most sense to use while keeping muscle. When one follows a high carbohydrate, low-fat, reduced-calorie diet, there’s a point when some bodyfat is burned, but when the body is still in a carbohydrate burning metabolism while trying to lose "weight," it will strip down precious body protein to convert to glucose for energy.
On the other hand, during fat metabolism, protein cannot be converted into free-fatty acids for energy. Although there is no scientific research done on this, there have been reports from followers that there truly is a "protein-sparing" effect. It makes sense doesn’t it? Where else would the body look for fat energy when all dietary fat is burned? Body-fat.


You need to lower your Carb intake so your body will burn fat inside your body more than what you ingest

missgorg

Not sure what "flakes" are unless you are referring to the cereal. But that banana is nothing but carbs - See this site

http://nutritiondata.self.com/facts/fruits-and-fruit-juices/1846/2

Rice is also high in carbs. You want a lower carb rate

The science behind low carb dieting can be found below:

Carbohydrates in the diet cause an insulin (a "storage" hormone) output in the pancreas. It is used to store glycogen, amino acids into muscles, while causing excess calories to be stored as fat. So common sense asks me, "How can one try to break down fat, when your body is in a storage-type mode?" Difficult to do, indeed. That is why it makes perfect sense for step one to be cutting carbs.
The next thing that happens in your body is the rise in catecholamines (a "fat mobilizing" hormone), cortisol (a "breakdown" hormone), and growth hormone. Now your body realizes there’s no more carbs to burn for energy, so it must find another energy source: fat.
This usually happens during a metabolic condition called "ketosis." This is when your liver is out of glycogen and starts to produce ketones (by-products of fatty acids). You can check your status of whether or not you are in ketosis with urinalysis strips you can pick up at any local drug store called "Ketostix." Just urinate and see if it turns color. If so, you have ketones in the urine.
When the body is fed fat and protein, it will use dietary fat along with bodyfat for energy with protein going towards repair.
As a side note, there is another reason why this diet makes the most sense to use while keeping muscle. When one follows a high carbohydrate, low-fat, reduced-calorie diet, there’s a point when some bodyfat is burned, but when the body is still in a carbohydrate burning metabolism while trying to lose "weight," it will strip down precious body protein to convert to glucose for energy.
On the other hand, during fat metabolism, protein cannot be converted into free-fatty acids for energy. Although there is no scientific research done on this, there have been reports from followers that there truly is a "protein-sparing" effect. It makes sense doesn’t it? Where else would the body look for fat energy when all dietary fat is burned? Body-fat.


You need to lower your Carb intake so your body will burn fat inside your body more than what you ingest

OMG EVERYTHING JUST MADE SENSE. It's all clear to me now. Good thing I've realized this as early as 2-week time, thank you so much. I'll let you know my progress. and for real, I will lower my carb intake. That's for sure.