FRUSTRATED!!!

ALittleSwanny · July 2013

I'm so frustrated with the scale!!!! I only lost 1 pound last week! I know, I know its a loss but 1 pound?! ugh!!! I stick to my 1200 calories and I work out hard every day! Its not like I don't have the weight to lose. I have lost 47 pounds and have at least another 35 pounds to my goal. I earn lots of extra calories through exercise but I haven't used them. I usually stay right at 1200 maybe 1100 calories a day of healthy food. I'm so frustrated!!! What am I doing wrong?!

Maybe this has been said before in other comments but have you worked out your BMR to see how many calories your body needs for minimal function? You could be eating too little causing your body to become a fat storer rather than a fat burner.

AlongCame_Molly · July 2013

I'm confused on all of this. People are always saying that you need to eat more than 1200 calories\day, but every calulation I have used tells me that I am only supposed to eat as much as 1200\ day..... and yet I don't lose any weight...I am with you on being frustrated

Either your goals are too aggressive or you are not factoring in exercise. Fueling the body > starving the body. What are your stats (height, weight, age, exercise routine) and we can run the numbers for you. Also, how accurately are you tracking calories, do you weigh and measure foods?

I only put in to lose 2 pounds a week. I am 5'5' tall and 44 years old. I do some form of exercies every day. whether it be walking 3.5 miles or going to the gym and running sometimes only a mile and sometimes 2 or 3 miles. If i only run a mile then i usually do the elliptical for 20-30 minutes. I also so some weights for my legs and arms and abs. I am on my feet most of the day for work, Im a teacher in a toddler classroom (2 year olds are the best lol).

How heavy are these weights? 2-5 pounders don't count.

If you really want to see your body change drastically and in a good way, I'd suggest scaling back a little on the cardio and using that time working on some heavy lifting. Nothing will change your body more effectively.

Though I have to add, if you start lifting, you are going to HAVE to eat more than that pitiful little 1200/day. Your muscles won't thank you to be starved on TOP of being overworked. You'll burn out fast.

psuLemon · July 2013

Expecting Biggest Loser type loses when you live in reality. 1 pound a week is fantastic.

Also undereating and overexercising likely isn't doing you any favors.

THIS!!

And I know someone said you're gaining muscle, but if you're eating that little....that's VERY unlikely...

I am gaining muscle. I can see it. It amazes me! and makes me happy. my legs have really nice definition and my biceps are getting there. my triceps...no so much!! ugh! and i can see muscle in my belly and back and shoulder. So yes, i am gaining muscle.

Not to be a party pooper but there is zero chance that you actually gained muscle. What happened is you gained strength and lose fat to expose the muscle. It's extremely difficult to gain muscle, let alone do it on a calorie deficit.

But seriously, you need to start to eat more otherwise, you are just going to hurt your progress if you still want to exercise. If you don't want to eat more, just don't exercise.

tinamarie014069 · July 2013

I'm confused on all of this. People are always saying that you need to eat more than 1200 calories\day, but every calulation I have used tells me that I am only supposed to eat as much as 1200\ day..... and yet I don't lose any weight...I am with you on being frustrated

Either your goals are too aggressive or you are not factoring in exercise. Fueling the body > starving the body. What are your stats (height, weight, age, exercise routine) and we can run the numbers for you. Also, how accurately are you tracking calories, do you weigh and measure foods?

I only put in to lose 2 pounds a week. I am 5'5' tall and 44 years old. I do some form of exercies every day. whether it be walking 3.5 miles or going to the gym and running sometimes only a mile and sometimes 2 or 3 miles. If i only run a mile then i usually do the elliptical for 20-30 minutes. I also so some weights for my legs and arms and abs. I am on my feet most of the day for work, Im a teacher in a toddler classroom (2 year olds are the best lol).

How heavy are these weights? 2-5 pounders don't count. If you really want to see your body change drastically and in a good way, I'd suggest scaling back a little on the cardio and using that time working on some heavy lifting. Nothing will change your body more effectively.

Though I have to add, if you start lifting, you are going to HAVE to eat more than that pitiful little 1200/day. Your muscles won't thank you to be starved on TOP of being overworked. You'll burn out fast.

I do anywhere between 40-50 pounds weights for arms (pec fly, pull down and bench press) I do 10 pounds for bicep curls. For my legs I do anywhere between 70-90. Is that heavy or no? I can do 3 reps of 12 at these weights. I've thought that maybe i will start rotating cardio days and strength training days. And try to shut my brain up when it tells me I'm not getting a workout if i dont do cardio.

tinamarie014069 · July 2013

Expecting Biggest Loser type loses when you live in reality. 1 pound a week is fantastic.

Also undereating and overexercising likely isn't doing you any favors.

THIS!!

And I know someone said you're gaining muscle, but if you're eating that little....that's VERY unlikely...

I am gaining muscle. I can see it. It amazes me! and makes me happy. my legs have really nice definition and my biceps are getting there. my triceps...no so much!! ugh! and i can see muscle in my belly and back and shoulder. So yes, i am gaining muscle.

Not to be a party pooper but there is zero chance that you actually gained muscle. What happened is you gained strength and lose fat to expose the muscle. It's extremely difficult to gain muscle, let alone do it on a calorie deficit.

But seriously, you need to start to eat more otherwise, you are just going to hurt your progress if you still want to exercise. If you don't want to eat more, just don't exercise.

i am realizing that i do need to eat more. but im gonna disagree with you on the muscle thing. I know I've gained muscle. I feel it and see it. Maybe not as much as i would if i would eat more but its definatly there where there was just flab before. thanks though for your advice. i appreciate any and all help.

psuLemon · July 2013

Expecting Biggest Loser type loses when you live in reality. 1 pound a week is fantastic.

Also undereating and overexercising likely isn't doing you any favors.

THIS!!

And I know someone said you're gaining muscle, but if you're eating that little....that's VERY unlikely...

I am gaining muscle. I can see it. It amazes me! and makes me happy. my legs have really nice definition and my biceps are getting there. my triceps...no so much!! ugh! and i can see muscle in my belly and back and shoulder. So yes, i am gaining muscle.

Not to be a party pooper but there is zero chance that you actually gained muscle. What happened is you gained strength and lose fat to expose the muscle. It's extremely difficult to gain muscle, let alone do it on a calorie deficit.

But seriously, you need to start to eat more otherwise, you are just going to hurt your progress if you still want to exercise. If you don't want to eat more, just don't exercise.

i am realizing that i do need to eat more. but im gonna disagree with you on the muscle thing. I know I've gained muscle. I feel it and see it. Maybe not as much as i would if i would eat more but its definatly there where there was just flab before. thanks though for your advice. i appreciate any and all help.

You can believe what you want, but the ability to gain new lean body mass is virtually impossible while on a deficit (especially for woman who can barely gain 1lb of muscle a week on a surplus). A deficit does not provide enough energy to create new matter and since you are not morbidly obese, you probably are confusing the fact that you got more lean and stronger with gaining new muscle. Essentially, your muscles are more efficient now and have less fat on top.

Additionally, since you aren't even getting 1g of protein per lb of lean body mass, there is a greater chance (even with a weight training routine) that you will lose lean body mass. This is one area I would also improve in your diet. Take 70-80% of your weight and that shoudl be the number of grams in protein you should aim for per day. This along with protein will help minimize lean body mass loss.

bhealthyagain · July 2013

I am 5'1, 164 lbs, 27 years old. I am a mother of 2 so i'm constantly on the go. I do Jillian Michaels 30 Day shred in the mornings and i am on the treadmill for at least 45 min (depending on the needs of the kids) at least 3 times a week. i also cut the grass a lot with a push mower (an acre). Weigh or measure my foods? I count the calories if that's what you mean.... I am on a budget so i try to eat as healthy as i can within my means. A lot of veggies and fruit, i drink protein shakes when i don't get enough protein. I eat mostly chicken when i eat meat. But if i have a steak it's just a small portion. I've lost 45 lbs before doing the same thing i'm doing now..so i'm confused.

I believe it's a combination of setting up your goals to be too aggressive. Based on harris benedict, your estimated BMR is around 1528. Take in the fact, that you are lightly active because you are active with kids, without exercise, you would be around 2100 calories in a day. So if you selected 2 lbs per week, it would try to subtract 1000 calories with the stipulation that you can not go lower than 1200 calories. With that said, do you have your account set at lightly active and lightly active? Also, when you exercise you burn more calories so you need to eat more.

Personally, I would suggest your base calories should be around 1700 calories since you really don't have that much more to lose, so you can't expect huge losses at this point. Also, when exercise I would suggest eating an additional 200 calories or you should set your calories at 1800 calories daily and not worry about eating back exercise calories. When you exercise, you burn more calories and your body requires more fuel.

Ok thanks for the help! I will give it a try!! And my account is set to lightly active, still 1200 cals\day.

FRUSTRATED!!!

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