Joined a week ago and I want to cry

Please don't be so upset over the results of a week. Stick with the plan, and I would bet that you'll see a drop on the scale next week. Some people drop big numbers the first week, some people don't.

You may be losing fat and gaining muscle. Take a few measurements and keep track that way too. I am lucky enough to have a trainer and he shows me the amout of fat lost vs. muscle gained. So even though the scale doesn't necessarily go down as quickly as I want it to, I know I am still making progress. Muscle is much more compact than fat, so if this is the case for you , you will still be losing inches and transforming your body! Hang in there!

Don't feel frustrated. It's common to not lose weight the first week. There are so many factors that can influence the scale: gaining muscle from exercise, sodium intake, TOM/PMS, etc. You should use something other than the scale as a measure of success. How do you feel? Do your clothes fit a little looser? Do you have more energy and less tired? Are feeling less hungry all the time? (You shouldn't be feeling hungry.) Are you happier?

Also, check how often you are eating everyday. You'll lose weight easier if you keep you blood sugar levels stable throughout the day by not going more than 3 hours without eating something. Eat 6 small meals a day, or eat 3 meals and 3 snacks. Never skip breakfast or other meals. And make sure that you eat protein at every meal and snack.

Hope that helps! Keep it up and you'll see results soon!

Patience is a virtue. You didn't gain the weight over night & it's not gonna come off over night. It is a slow process for most people (including myself) . Stick with it and it WILL work. Good luck!

Hey, try not to worry about this, it takes time to lose weight. You have not even had enough time to really get your eating patterns changed yet. You will be firming up over the weeks more than the scale shows in pounds loss.

You are at the beginning of a very exciting, enjoyable adventure! Getting fit and healthy for a longer, happier life. Rejoice in the opportunity, glorify in the struggle, and always remember...your friends at MFP are always here to help you!

Way to go, you did a week and have proved to yourself that you can do it, you have exercised, quit drinking and watched what you ate . .YOU ROCK . . that is a huge lifestyle change. Even if you dont lose weight you should be PROUD of yourself because you are healthier than you were a week ago and THAT is what is important. Keep it up.

Thanks, I didn't think about the water retention. That may be it. I drink too much water. I have to watch it. (16 to 20 cups a day) I only post up to 12 on my food diary.

Drinking too much water is not the problem. Drinking a lot of water is great for your body. Too much Sodium is going to make you retain water. Water is great, too much sodium is bad. You can track Sodium on your food diary.

I think you are realizing, as we all do, that this is a longterm commitment, not a quick fix. I started Jan. 1 of this year and lost only 5 pounds in the first six weeks. I was really frustrated. I had doubled my exercise, lowered my food intake (had already cut out alcohol and sugary sodas a couple years ago) and nothing much was happening. Then suddenly I shed another 2 pounds in the last 2 days! Stick with it and it will happen.

Hang in there... it took a while for my body to start losing weight when I started too... but when it starts to come off its so worth it in the end... just hang in there and keep at it...
Keep Smiling...

How much fiber are you getting a day? I would check that too and make sure you are getting enough. IMO the fiber setting on here is on the low side. I have my goal up around 30-35 a day and that has helped me a ton.

What worked for me is to do this process in baby steps. First I got to my calorie goal. Then I started adding exercise. Then I started switching out snacks for healthier snacks - cut the granola bars and the sugary yogurt. Now I do plain fat free yogurt with some agave nectar and fruits instead of granola bars. After I got that pretty well under control I figured out my carb/fat/protein ratio that should work best for me. I just did that recently so I'm still in the preliminary stages of getting my food diary balanced with those. I feel SO much better and am already seeing results from that.

So, my advice is not to worry about it! Watch your sodium, keep drinking lots of water, up your fiber if you are not getting enough and start working on balancing your carbs/protein/fat while you are still meeting your calorie and exercise goals. It's a process and you will be most successful by sticking in there for the long haul and taking it slowly. It's not super satisfying each week but in the long run you will see amazing results.

One more thing - take some pictures and do some measurements and keep track of those as well. I was down 4 pounds - *just* four pounds and didn't notice any difference. I redid my measurements and took a picture to compare and the difference was pretty substantial considering I only lost 4 pounds. That really helped me stay motivated. Good luck! You can do this!

Your welcome. I know if I go way over on my sodium, the next day my scale can jump 3-4 lbs. higher & can stay for a couple days. 16-20 cups of water a day may be a little excessive. But water is great for flushing out sodium & other unwanted stuff out of the body. I have heard on this website that a general rule of thumb is when your urine is very light to clear in color, you are drinking enough. Measurements are a more accurate way to tell changes in your body. Get a cloth tape measure & start measuring. There is a section on MFP to keep track of your measurements.

Thanks jzbaby626 I just went back and looked at my sodium, and it was off the charts yesterday. not bad the rest of the week but bad yesterday. I will weigh in tomorrow and see if it gets better

Sodium is a killer. In general, I don't think people pay enough attention to it. I eat 1450 calories before exercise and am religious about keeping my sodium under 1800 mg per day. The scale will likely jump up a few pounds if you have too much sodium.