Cant Lose WEIGHT!!! GRRRRRRRRR

Were you exercising at all before you started your 5 nights at the gym?

You are probably building muscle which weighs more than fat

Try measuring your vital areas, I bet you will see in a difference if you measure often

Well done on your gym commitment too! Keep at it, you'll see results even if they're not on the scales

might be in your diet. Sometimes it doesnt matter that ur under the 1200 calories, it matters WHAT kind of calories they are (I'm slowly learning this as i go thru the posts today )

Maybe if you open up your diary, there might be something there that ur not seeing and someone else is.

Good luck on your journey!

Were you exercising at all before you started your 5 nights at the gym?

You are probably building muscle which weighs more than fat

Try measuring your vital areas, I bet you will see in a difference if you measure often

Well done on your gym commitment too! Keep at it, you'll see results even if they're not on the scales

It is very difficult to build a significant amount of muscle on a calorie deficit. Water retention due to an increase in exercise is more likely.

OP, you mention your exercise routine, but you don't talk about how much you're eating. Weight loss is 80% diet and 20% exercise (or 70-30, 90-10, whichever way you prefer). How much you're eating is far more important than how much you're exercising.

I started MFP on March 15th so practically a month ago and have only lost a pound. I am also in the process of trying to figure out how this all works. I can certainly provide some tips though and ways to get motivated:

1) Choose your method. MFP will put you at a certain calorie amount depending on your information and lifestyle. Sometimes that amount of really low. To others it isn't. If it feels very low to you, there is another calculation that can be done instead. Just a different method. Both have shown success. Regardless, keep logging and make sure you are measuring (weighing if you can) everything.

2) Eat back your exercise calories. When the site suggests you eat 1300 calories for example and you burn 300 calories from your workout and don't re-eat those 300 calories, you'll be at 1000 calories which is NOT healthy. Although it sounds like this suffering will get you weight loss (and it probably will), you're starving your body. It doesn't think it'll get food and energy for the exercise so it will essentially "cling" on to everything you consume

3) The site has a tendency with some exercise to overestimate your calories burned. If you can get an HMR (heart rate monitor) calorie counter (preferably with a chest strap), you can get an accurate amount of calories burned from your exercises.

4) Although the scale hasn't moved for me, I feel a lot better. I am drinking 8 glasses of water when I used to just drink Diet Pepsi day after day. I feel my face is slimmer. So perhaps look into getting a soft measuring tape and measure yourself each week. Weighing less doesn't equal being healthy or physically fit.

5) Get involved. I currently just started the Jillian Michaels 30 day shred (it's a program you can view on youtube or buy online as a dvd). There are SEVERAL forums of people starting programs all the time who want motivation from other members on here. It's a great way to stay accountable.

Feel free to ask other questions. Good luck!

It's been 2 weeks. Give it 6 to see results.

might be in your diet. Sometimes it doesnt matter that ur under the 1200 calories, it matters WHAT kind of calories they are (I'm slowly learning this as i go thru the posts today )

Maybe if you open up your diary, there might be something there that ur not seeing and someone else is.

Good luck on your journey!

Actually, in regards to weight loss, this is false. Calories are calories are calories.

What she said :happy:

Feel free to add me!!
I agree with some others, It does matter what types of food you're eating!! There are some other issues to take into consideration as well! You can do it!

I know how you are feeling! I work out daily with only one rest day a week, watch what I eat- I just lowered my calories to 1,600 I tried eating at 1,900 (TDEE) and it seems like it isn't working. I only lost 0.2 ounces this last week! My body is changing but the scale is not moving! I wish that number really didn't matter.

That number really doesn't matter.*




* unless you're trying to win a bet...trying to get to a weight to be allowed on a ride at Disneyland...trying to reach a number that results in lower insurance premiums...etc.

If you don't have one already, get a food scale. It's too easy to underestimate your calories if you are just eyeballing your portions.

It is possible that you are gaining muscle. I began exercising in earnest a couple years ago. I too was frustrated by not losing but actually gaining a couple pounds. After while,though, I noticed my clothes were looser. In a year I lost five pounds and dropped from a 20 to a size 16 (same brand). I had given up on dieting because I just could not focus on both. Now that my exercise habit is well established I am trying the diet again. On the advice of my trainer I am eating more protein than suggested by MFP. I am much less. Hungry and have finally started losing (slowly). I know how very frustrated you are,but keep exercising and remember that scale does not tell the whole story!

It is possible that you are gaining muscle. I began exercising in earnest a couple years ago. I too was frustrated by not losing but actually gaining a couple pounds. After while,though, I noticed my clothes were looser. In a year I lost five pounds and dropped from a 20 to a size 16 (same brand). I had given up on dieting because I just could not focus on both. Now that my exercise habit is well established I am trying the diet again. On the advice of my trainer I am eating more protein than suggested by MFP. I am much less. Hungry and have finally started losing (slowly). I know how very frustrated you are,but keep exercising and remember that scale does not tell the whole story!

Outside of newbie gains, no that's not possible while eating at a deficit.

What does that derp mean? AND I FIGURED OUT HOW TO OPEN MY DIARY TO MAKE IT PUBLIC

it means that there is some content in this thread that is getting slung at you that is just plain silly.

listen to adini. she is the bomb and knows wtf shes talking about. :flowerforyou:

ETA: others in this thread also know what theyre talking about. sorry if i discounted anyone who posted solid stuff.

I started working out in Feb 5 days a weeks like you are. The first 2-3 weeks I was pissed because I only lost one pound, and I was being so careful with my diet. One of my friends who exercises a lot suggested it was probably water retention. I took a few days off and drank tons of water and lost a significant amount of weight that week. I've since kept working out and eating good and I've steadily lost weight. Last month I hit the dreaded plateau, so I sympathize now as well.

Hi there!

I know you have just started at the gym and way to go...that is awesome. You are doing great by getting out there and doing it.

I looked at your exercise diary and I was thinking perhaps you should lift heavier weights but with less reps. I see you leg press 20 pounds 30 times. You could probably press 60-70 pounds 8-10 times to start. Just an observation. I have seen better results lifting a heavier weight less times than lifting light weight for a long time.

But great start! I applaud you for getting active! Well done! Hang in there and don't get discouraged!

I will send a friend request if you'd like a new buddy!