HELP..i havent lost!! Serious encouragement needed!

claire30
claire30 Posts: 153
edited September 20 in Health and Weight Loss
I am so disappointed right now!
I have worked my butt off (literally i would hope) at the gym this week, everyday, and have also beenn REALLY strict with my diet, have been under my calorie allowance everyday..but i weighed myself this morning,and i havent even lost 1lb!??

Please help, i really need some major encouragement, as i am so frustrated!!
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Replies

  • jane9213
    jane9213 Posts: 2
    Don't give up you will be ok keep at it. The second week you will some times not loose anything but remember you haven't put on which is really good. Keep going
  • claire30
    claire30 Posts: 153
    thanks Jane, i am just so disappointed. apart from eating next to nothing (which i wont do), i dont see how i can improve, and lose weight!
  • supercool111
    supercool111 Posts: 87
    You've probably lost mass though! Don't be discouraged!
  • sineadmm
    sineadmm Posts: 190
    @supercool: Have you lost that 20lbs this month?!
  • claire30
    claire30 Posts: 153
    You've probably lost mass though! Don't be discouraged!

    Thanks. I could cry right now, i feel so disappointed!
  • jaycee76
    jaycee76 Posts: 325 Member
    Hi
    I am the same as you today! I am thinking because of the amount of working out that fat is turning into muscle (muscle weighs more than fat). I know my clothes are getting bigger so something is happening. I am sure you are the same
    Jayne x
  • wallena
    wallena Posts: 32
    OKAY, DON'T PANIC! LET'S STOP AND THINK ABOUT HOW YOUR DAY WAS GOING BEFORE YOU STEPPED ON THE BLASTED SCALE. FELT GOOD, DIDNT YOU? WORKING OUT, WATCHING YOUR DIET. IT CHANGES YOU. YOU WILL LOSE WEIGHT BUT DON'T FOCUS ON THAT SO MUCH RIGHT NOW.. HOW DOES YOUR BODY FEEL? YOU FEEL MORE TAUT, TONED? OF COURSE YOU DO. YOU'RE BUILDING LEAN MUSCLE. SOME PPL EVEN GAIN WEIGHT THE FIRST WEEK IF THEY ADD EXERCISE TO THEIR REGIMEN. MUSCLE IS MORE LEAN, LESS SPACE-OCCUPYING BUT IT IS HEAVIER. SO PLEASE STICK TO YOUR PLAN. YOU'RE GOING TO SEE MORE RESULTS THAN JUST THE NUMBERS ON THE SCALE. HOPE THIS HELPS YOU AND THANKS BECAUSE YOU'RE HELPING ME TOO.
  • angelmom1223
    angelmom1223 Posts: 4
    I have to agree with Wallena. The same thing happened to me. I didn't give up and now I'm seeing the weight come off. You will too if you don't give up. DON"T GIVE UP!!! KEEP UP THE HARD WORK!!! IT WILL PAY OFF!!!
  • claire30
    claire30 Posts: 153
    Phew, panic over!!
    Thanks so much you guys, you are all so helpful, and i cant tell you how much your encouragement means to me today!
    wallena, you are so right. Although i cant really see the difference (its only been a week), i can feel adifference, i already feel a little bit fitter, and i feel better about my body, knowing that i am doing something about it!
    A HUGE thanks to you all for your support during a terrible day.xxx.
  • indiankel
    indiankel Posts: 163 Member
    Thanks for posting this thread. I was feeling the same way this week! I feel lighter and feel better but haven't lost any weight. After reading this it makes sense. Everyone keep up the awesome job!
  • dgolden10
    dgolden10 Posts: 5
    I have been feeling the same way, I have been doing this for 3 weeks now and have been working out and under my calorie intake and have only lost 1 pound. Still don't know why I haven't lost more weight. any suggestions?
  • claire30
    claire30 Posts: 153
    I am glad that i am not the only one having this prob.. but not glad for the rest of you experianceing this (if that makes sense).

    I am not too worried, as i am just going to carry on doing what i am doing, and see what happens next friday when i weigh in!
  • stringsNlinks
    stringsNlinks Posts: 293 Member
    Try dropping salt/soduim for a week. It's hard to do if you don't make fresh everything but that might give you a jump start even if it is water weight you are loosing. I agree with the earlier post about muscle vs fat weight....if the clothes are feeling better, don't always rely on the numbers. Keep up the great workouts!
  • claire30
    claire30 Posts: 153
    Try dropping salt/soduim for a week. It's hard to do if you don't make fresh everything but that might give you a jump start even if it is water weight you are loosing. I agree with the earlier post about muscle vs fat weight....if the clothes are feeling better, don't always rely on the numbers. Keep up the great workouts!

    thanks for the reply,
    i dont add salt to anything at all, or do you mean cutting out the foods that contain salt?? and does anyone have any ideas what the high sodium foods are?
  • stringsNlinks
    stringsNlinks Posts: 293 Member
    its really hard to eat low sodium diet if you eat prepared foods. what I do is include sodium in my food diary and then look up things prior to eating them...actually while im planning a menu/meal. Canned anything are typically high sodium. I love beans, any kind but I now buy the dried version and soak them (without salt of course) and put in a bowl to use for the next few days. It takes longer but if you plan ahead it's doable. I just start back with this site after being gone for serveral months and it really helps to get the support. One of my fav quick meals is pinto bean, bell pepper or zuchinni and onion sauted in a dry pan (add a little water if you like the vegies a little softer) wrapped in a whole wheat tortilla. Filling & tasty. Throw a spoon of salsa on too if you like but watch the sodium in that too!

    Check out Dr. Oz website for more ideas about low salt & sugar meals
  • savvystephy
    savvystephy Posts: 4,151 Member
    Don't get discouraged! When I started, I actually gained 3 lbs (but lost inches - so it was an increase in muscle) before losing them. Just keep working at it - I know it is hard to keep motivated now, but once you see some movement in the scale and feel the difference in the way your clothes fit, you'll want to keep going.
  • kcbtcjla
    kcbtcjla Posts: 1
    There is this saying muscle weighs more than fat, I am working on the Wii and doing the stretching and the fat burning one and since I started yesterday I have lost already a pound then I will work up to more extensive workouts and I started walking as well. I am alway at a loss when it comes to weight but I am going to try harder now than I ever have, good luck.
  • Kizster
    Kizster Posts: 13
    Don't get discouraged! I'm on my third week, and I haven't lost a single pound the past two of those weeks. Just keep it up, it's gotta fall off eventually. :D
  • ktrichards87
    ktrichards87 Posts: 67
    Each week is different and just remember that muscle weighs more, so you could just be gaining more muscle.
  • twilight1542
    twilight1542 Posts: 403
    1. Add the sodium column to your food diary. If ur eating too much sodium you'll retain water.
    2. Drink water. At least 8 8-oz glasses. If you're exercising or exceeding daily sodium more.
    3. log everything that goes in your mouth including beverages.
    4. Weigh in at the same time of day & only 1x per week. Most people do before breakfast & after using the bathroom. I prefer early evening after working out. The most important thing is that your body is in a similar state every time.
    5. Check your scale. Many are inaccurate. If you weigh yourself 3 or more times in a row do you get the same #? I had to buy a new digital one b/c mine never gave the same #. You can also weigh something you know the weight of like a dumbbell. And make sure the scales on a hard (tile or wood floor) level surface. Digital scales are especially sensitive to this.
    6. Be patient. Don't think of this as a diet, but a lifestyle change. I'm proof that it can be done :))
  • tinasullens
    tinasullens Posts: 203 Member
    Claire,

    Hang tight! What type of exercises are you doing at the gym? If you're doing cardio only, then add in some strength training. Muscle burns fat, so work on building some lean muscle. Also, I read someone say "fat turning to muscle"....fat does not turn into muscle, nor does muscle turn into fat. They are two totally different things.

    You mentioned you were usually below your calories every day. Are most of your calories from whole foods or processed foods? Do you drink regular sodas? Are you drinking enough water? You may have already answered some of these questions, I'll have to read through the posts again.

    You may want to think of tossing your scale out into the trash. Sometimes, we will lose inches (body fat) but not lose weight; which discourages us. Go by how you feel in your clothes and stay off that dreaded scale for at least 30 days. Take your measurements at the beginning of the month and then retake them at the end of the month. I think you may be surprised!

    Oh, and by the way....5 lbs. of muscle weighs the same as 5 lbs. of fat....it's just that muscle is more compacted and lean and fat just floats around. :wink:
  • FireRox21
    FireRox21 Posts: 424 Member
    SavvyStefie had it right. I too lost weight the first week, then I actually gained weight the next two weeks which was perplexing because my jeans fell right off my butt!!! Before you throw the scale out the window, just remember you will most likely lose inches first then pounds. Watch sodium intake, drink water, and put the scale in the no-go-near zone the week of your period. That week will be uber depressing if you are a scale watcher. Stay on your plan and you should be fine.
  • claire30
    claire30 Posts: 153
    Claire,

    Hang tight! What type of exercises are you doing at the gym? If you're doing cardio only, then add in some strength training. Muscle burns fat, so work on building some lean muscle. Also, I read someone say "fat turning to muscle"....fat does not turn into muscle, nor does muscle turn into fat. They are two totally different things.

    You mentioned you were usually below your calories every day. Are most of your calories from whole foods or processed foods? Do you drink regular sodas? Are you drinking enough water? You may have already answered some of these questions, I'll have to read through the posts again.

    You may want to think of tossing your scale out into the trash. Sometimes, we will lose inches (body fat) but not lose weight; which discourages us. Go by how you feel in your clothes and stay off that dreaded scale for at least 30 days. Take your measurements at the beginning of the month and then retake them at the end of the month. I think you may be surprised!

    Oh, and by the way....5 lbs. of muscle weighs the same as 5 lbs. of fat....it's just that muscle is more compacted and lean and fat just floats around. :wink:

    Thanks so much for the advice!
    OK, i'm going to go through your answer, and reply as best i can:

    My workouts consists of:
    30mins brisk walk on the tredmill
    20 mins on the air walker (i think its caled the air walker..its similar to a cross trainer)
    3000 meters on the bikes at a'half way' level (takes about 10 mins)
    2 sets of 15 thigh weights
    2 sets of 15 leg weights
    1500 meters on the rowing machine.
    I do this workout mon-thurs, apart from every other week where its mon-fri.

    My diet is (i think) quite healthy. i dont have processed foods as a matter of habit (apart from on Saturdays, where i allow myself 2 slices of pizza or some jaffa cakes, and a glass of red wine, which is all calculated in my calories allowance on here). I dont fry and food, i eat lots of fruit and veg, and most of my meals are based on soup, salad, turkey, chicken, veg. Any pasta/rice i have is wholemeal, i dont drink fizzy drinks, although i do have a few milky coffees a week.

    i just dont understand what i am doing wrong!!
    I am just carrying on as normal, and hopeing that i will see a change next weigh day (Friday)!
  • FireRox21
    FireRox21 Posts: 424 Member
    You are doing quite a bit of cardio. Have you thought of getting a heart rate monitor? It could be that you are doing too short of lengths of cario. For weight loss, it is a good idea to maintain a certain heart rate for a certain amount of time; the times and lengths differ for each person.

    There are a lot of good threads on MFP that list heart rate monitors. You could also try swimming. You can stay at a constant pace as far as heart rate and it works all of your muscles without the bulking up i.e. adding weight due to muscle gain.
  • claire30
    claire30 Posts: 153
    Thanks Firefox. I will have a look at some HRMs now, thanks for the tip!
  • wallena
    wallena Posts: 32
    i do have a suggestion. avoid the scale for a little while. it is VERY discouraging and misleading. it's useful but i'd say in the beginning, leave that part of it out. concentrate on how healthy you feel. you're doing something about your eating and exercise. changing bad habits is hard enough without dragging the scale behind you. i keep thinking of the oatmeal commercial. these ppl have scales chained to their ankles and the song "you were always on my mind" is playing. hilarious but accurate. just don't weigh for a few days, limit to once weekly and remember if you build muscle, you may even gain. so don't panic. bet you feel better and your clothes fit. the scale will come around in time. :)
  • bethrs
    bethrs Posts: 664 Member
    One thing no one has mentioned is how many calories you are eating- that can make a difference. Be sure to go above 1200 and don't dip too low below what MFP has suggested you hit.

    There are some great posts about exercise calories and why you need to eat them- Everyone's given great advice, but I wanted to throw that out there too. Some times eating too LITTLE can have a negative impact.

    Good luck! You'll get there, I know it.

    (edited for typo)
  • claire30
    claire30 Posts: 153
    Thanks again for all support you guys, it means so much to me!!
    I am trying not re-weigh myself again today..so have been keeping busy doing all the housework today (and i am sure that burns some cals)!!
  • makeitallsue
    makeitallsue Posts: 3,086 Member
    http://www.dailyspark.com/blog.asp?post=why_the_scale_goes_up_when_you_start_a_new_workout_plan

    This was an article I came across last night, it is very interesting and does make sense, just copy and paste it in your browser and I hope it helps some.....I can understand your frustration...Hang in there!:flowerforyou: :bigsmile:
  • ange_mechant
    ange_mechant Posts: 25
    I was about to post today a very similar post. I, too, have been pretty good on my calories, and been doing the JM 30 day Shred and doing about 1 hour of cardio 5 days a week at the gym. Yet, I am not losing anything. I started at 186 about 3 weeks ago, and I absolutely cannot get below 181. It's so frustrating! I am drinking about 9 glasses of water a day, taking vitamins, taking weight loss supplements (also by Jillian Michaels) and doing anything that remotely resembles exercise with my kids. But nothing. I'm going crazy. On top of it all, I'm a scale addict. I literally cannot NOT look at the scale. I weigh myself each morning when I wake up and then again at the gym because I know my scale sucks and I just haven't gotten a new one yet. Anyway, I'm feeling a little better since reading everyone's posts, but still. It sucks.
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