At this for 5 weeks

Stump_Likker
Stump_Likker Posts: 2,059 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
Hi all. I am new to myfitnesspal but not to weight loss and exercise. I have a question but before that my background: I joined a gym about 5 weeks ago. In speaking to my trainer I found out that I wasn't eating enough food ( I have a physical job that involves lots of walking up and down hills). I upped my calorie intake to approximately 1800/day. In addition to my job I see my trainer twice a week and usually go to the gym an additional three days a week. I do a mix of strength training and cardio for a total of about 1 1/2 hours.

Here are my questions: In the past five weeks I have only lost about 5 lbs and no inches. I think that maybe I'm still not eating enough food and am exercisiing too much. But truthfully I find it very hard to eat 1800 calories a day as it is. Should I scale back the exercising? Am I ok the way I am doing things now? I just don't want to get frustrated with this all.

Thanks for any answers

Replies

  • shadow2soul
    shadow2soul Posts: 7,692 Member
    1) Slow weight loss is better. People who lose weight at a slower rate are more likely to keep it off. You have lost 1lb a week, that is a great pace in terms of weight loss. It is healthy to lose weight at this rate. Fast weight loss usually requires very unhealthy extremes and there is a high chance of re-gaining any weight lost.
    2) How fast weight comes off will have a lot to do with how much you need to lose.


    Over all, you're doing great. 5lbs in 5 weeks is great. Keep up the good work. :flowerforyou:
  • Stump_Likker
    Stump_Likker Posts: 2,059 Member
    Thanks for the answer. I really like exercising and I love actually eating healthy foods. I'm ok with the 5 lb weight loss. But I've been really gung ho with the exercising. Maybe a bit too much. I'm going to back off a little bit I think. Again, thanks for the response.:smile:
  • foleyshirley
    foleyshirley Posts: 1,043 Member
    First off, I think 5 pounds in 5 weeks is just fine. But I agree, with your job and workout schedule, you still may not be eating enough. I would back off the exercise a little and keep it at 1800. That is an awful lot of working out.
  • Stump_Likker
    Stump_Likker Posts: 2,059 Member
    Thanks. I'm going to.
  • BreeNJesse
    BreeNJesse Posts: 150 Member
    Doing great love! A pound a week is PERFECT!!! You could up your calories by a couple hundred even. Just be patient and have fun doing it. Don't lose faith, we didn't put the weight on overnite, it's not going to come off overnite! Xoxoxo
  • kevinxkung
    kevinxkung Posts: 4
    Hi,
    Is that 1 1/2 hours per session or total for 3 workouts. If it's the former than that seems a bit much. If it's the latter than that sounds fine, even with a physical job. But it's true that you may have to increase your calories. If you've been undereating all this time your metabolism may be slow and in need of some time to repair and get back to a normal or speedier pace. But I would suggest doing this gradually. It took me approx. 4 weeks of gradual increases before my body started reacting the way I wanted it to. So be patient and adjust strategically (I like to make observations after one full week has elapsed before making additional changes).

    Gd Luck
    Kevin
  • Stump_Likker
    Stump_Likker Posts: 2,059 Member
    It's per session. And you all have convinced my to ease up a little. I think it will be easier than trying to up my calories. My problem is that I'm hungry in the morning and afternoon when I'm more active, so that's when I eat. And while I'm not sedentary in the evening, I usually am not hungry. I force myself to eat dinner and usually add a few spoonfulls of peanut butter or something like that to get in the rest of my calories. I will definitely take it a little easier on the exercising. Thanks everybody.

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