Not losing weight with diet and exercise?

toasterburn
toasterburn Posts: 8 Member
edited December 2024 in Health and Weight Loss
In high-school I was in great shape, but 13 years of extremely poor diet (3000-5000 calories daily.), absolutely zero exercise, and working a desk job has made me horribly out of shape. In high-school, I was 140. In college, I was 155. Now I'm 205 (I'm 5'6, male). This past year I've felt increasingly lethargic and perpetually sick. I haven't had enough energy to do anything but go straight to bed when I get off work, it's been pathetic. So I finally got off my but and decided I had to make some changes in my life.

For the past 1.5 months I've eaten only healthy low-cal meals (1500-2000 daily) and have traded mountain dew for water. For the past 1.5 months I've also been training in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu three times a week for a total of 5 hours of exercise a week (which should be over 4000 calories burned weekly).

I can tell that I have a lot more energy now, and I seem to be a down a belt hole (in fairness, I was right between two holes before I started dieting, so I'm really down half a belt hole). But the scale still reads the exact same weight, and my waist isn't shrinking as fast as I want it too. Could I be putting on muscle at the same rate that I'm losing fat? I guess I thought that such a drastic change in diet and exercise would have quicker recognizable results. Should I be cutting my calorie intake more? Should I be exercising more?

Replies

  • toasterburn
    toasterburn Posts: 8 Member
    Anybody have any suggestions? Thanks.
  • Heidi64
    Heidi64 Posts: 211 Member
    Honestly, 1.5 months is not very long. If you are already feeling a difference in your energy level then you're doing something right. By your profile pic, you don't look too much over weight, so you'll have a more difficult time losing those 10-20 unwanted pounds. Keep at this, you are only helping yourself by eating better and exercising. Give it some time and you'll see good results. Good luck!!
  • jfan175
    jfan175 Posts: 812 Member
    You'll get more help if you log all of your food and open up your diary. Something's amiss here....it sure sounds like you're doing the right things and should be seeing some results. And as I tell everyone....start lifting weights.
  • DPernet
    DPernet Posts: 481 Member
    Normally the food/drink being consumed isn't recorded acurately or the calories burnt via exercise is over-estimated. Do you weigh and measure everything? Is the calorie burn measured using a HRM?

    If that's not the case then I would suggest look at your sodium levels. High sodium = Water Retention = Weight

    If you're happy it's all good then start taking other measurements. Neck/waist/body fat etc etc. See if they are going down.
  • xXFireFlyyXx
    xXFireFlyyXx Posts: 16 Member
    The same thing happened to my boyfriend...he thought "work-out! work-out! work-out!" but you should be thinking more about cardio than weight lifting if you want the fat to "melt off" per say... my boyfriend was in the same condition as you.. in highschool he was a first string wrester and in college he became a full time student of 240lb. when he wanted to lose weight he started repping... unfortunently he was only gaining muscle and the fat came off slower than he was exspecting....

    focus on cardio... and dont do the mistake most men to when dieting. dont just cut back on fats.... cut back on meat intake and focus on getting your vegies and fruits in there as well... they can be one of your best allys... my boyfriend thought that if he just stoped drinking regular soda and watched his carbs and fats he would be okay... its all true but to an exstent.. well portioned EVERYTHING is what your looking for... not just cutting out the bads... you also have to add more good... this will also help you with your energy! and running is always a plus to health aswell.. i took a few phychology classes and running is a proven cure for depression... something being overweight can give you! run a little even if your not good at it! its good for you!


    you can do it! i know you can and good luck!

    ADDED:

    Dont cut your calorie intake... its there for a reason... it should cut its self when your have lost weight! the problem is, its not health to eat under 1,400 calories when you first start dieting... you need to eat around there or higher (depending on your weight) to even start your metabolism other wise you wont be loosing fats as fast as you would like.
  • jfan175
    jfan175 Posts: 812 Member
    He's already doing 5 hours of cardio a week. There are a lot of people here who've dropped most of their fat by lifting weights....and a lot who didn't until they started focusing on lifting vs. cardio.
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