almost 6 weeks and no weight loss?.. why?

Rthomas826
Rthomas826 Posts: 14
in Health and Weight Loss
I've been going to the gym 6 weeks now, about 4days a week. even worked my way up to jogging, from just walking. I spend about 60-90mins doing cardio. then I do the 30min weight circuit at planet fitness. Just recently started walking/jogging outside at a fitness trail, and that is such a difference from the gym workouts.
I avoided the scale, until yesterday. and I was surprised to see i haven't lost anything... even though my body has been so sore. I was sure I've lost at least 10lbs. My eating habits have changed as well. I've cut down on eating out and trying to eat smaller portions at home. yes i still eat pizza and go out to restaurants but I just make more conscious decisions. instead of 2 or 3 slices I'll eat only one w/salad. So I'm not sure what kind of advice you could give me to help me? I'm pretty bummed about not loosing anything yet.
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Replies

  • diannethegeek
    diannethegeek Posts: 14,776 Member
    It could really help it you open up your diary for us. Weight loss is all about calories in vs. calories burned and you don't tell us how many calories you're eating.
  • tabithaseeley
    tabithaseeley Posts: 10
    I've been going to the gym 6 weeks now, about 4days a week. even worked my way up to jogging, from just walking. I spend about 60-90mins doing cardio. then I do the 30min weight circuit at planet fitness. Just recently started walking/jogging outside at a fitness trail, and that is such a difference from the gym workouts.
    I avoided the scale, until yesterday. and I was surprised to see i haven't lost anything... even though my body has been so sore. I was sure I've lost at least 10lbs. My eating habits have changed as well. I've cut down on eating out and trying to eat smaller portions at home. yes i still eat pizza and go out to restaurants but I just make more conscious decisions. instead of 2 or 3 slices I'll eat only one w/salad. So I'm not sure what kind of advice you could give me to help me? I'm pretty bummed about not loosing anything yet.

    First off Great job keeping up with fitness! That is a problem alot of people struggle with and your are doing an amazing job pushing yourself.

    But if you break down weight loss into two different categories diet and exercise, Diet accounts for over 50%. Try reading this article for some more insight to the importance of diet....

    http://blog.womenshealthmag.com/scoop/which-impacts-your-weight-more-diet-or-exercise/
  • sire137
    sire137 Posts: 41
    how do your cloths feel? if they are fitting better, your probably trading fat for muscle. keep it up! We'll see ourselves bigger than we are in the mirror, and the scale is an evil *kitten*. but our cloths will tell us the truth!
  • born2drum
    born2drum Posts: 731 Member
    I've been going to the gym 6 weeks now, about 4days a week. even worked my way up to jogging, from just walking. I spend about 60-90mins doing cardio. then I do the 30min weight circuit at planet fitness. Just recently started walking/jogging outside at a fitness trail, and that is such a difference from the gym workouts.
    I avoided the scale, until yesterday. and I was surprised to see i haven't lost anything... even though my body has been so sore. I was sure I've lost at least 10lbs. My eating habits have changed as well. I've cut down on eating out and trying to eat smaller portions at home. yes i still eat pizza and go out to restaurants but I just make more conscious decisions. instead of 2 or 3 slices I'll eat only one w/salad. So I'm not sure what kind of advice you could give me to help me? I'm pretty bummed about not loosing anything yet.

    You need to make sure you track everything that goes into your mouth. Sounds like youre eating at maintenance which I have no idea since we do not know your height; weight, age, etc.

    Stop eating as much
  • kenzie0884
    kenzie0884 Posts: 66 Member
    There are two options that I can think of. It's either what you are eating, or that you are gaining muscle. If you make your diary public, you will get a lot more answers. No one is going to attack you for wanting to eat pizza, but it's the only way for anyone to help you. If you want to keep it private, that's fine, but I don't see how anyone can help if they can't eliminate at least one of the two options.
  • greenmonstergirl
    greenmonstergirl Posts: 619 Member
    What # of calories does MFP have you at and are you sticking to that or are you eating back your exercise calories? (If you are then stop doing that and see if you lose). Some believe in eating them back but I don't. Some people can eat their exercise calories back and lose and some can't (me). Maybe you are one of the unfortunate ones like me that can't. Maybe you are eating too much salt or carbs or sugar. Not sure since we don't know what you eat for sure. Your work outs sound great for you though!!!
  • nxd10
    nxd10 Posts: 4,570 Member
    Exercise will make you look great and be healthy, but it doesn't help you lose weight. That's about eating.

    Once you do lose the weight you want, the exercise is also important in maintaining it.
  • Hornsby
    Hornsby Posts: 10,322 Member
    As others have stated, you have to track everything you eat. I would bet you are eating more than you think.

    One thing that I think happens when they come to a place like MFP is that people come here while they are gaining weight because they want to lose weight. Therefore, the calories you were taking in before you started MFP, was probably much higher than your maintenance calories should be. Now you are cutting back, but unless you are tracking it all, you still could be eating to much. How many calories per day are you trying to stay below?

    All this is just a possibility as it does seem odd that you have been working out that hard and for that long without any results.
  • Becca1637
    Becca1637 Posts: 38 Member
    Don't go by the scale if you are working out. Muscle weighs more than fat. Do your measurements and check them monthly and see how your clothes fit. That will be the true test. Good luck.
  • Hornsby
    Hornsby Posts: 10,322 Member
    Don't go by the scale if you are working out. Muscle weighs more than fat. Do your measurements and check them monthly and see how your clothes fit. That will be the true test. Good luck.

    Muscle doesn't weight more than fat. It's just more dense . A lb is a lb. Just a technicality I know, but still :)
  • whiteberry17
    whiteberry17 Posts: 124
    Make sure your not over eating,
    but Thats really weird you should of lost SOME WEIGHT
  • Rthomas826
    Rthomas826 Posts: 14
    I did make it public, I just started today. So there might not be much on there yet. I'm 23, 5' 3" and 264
  • JessicaZen
    JessicaZen Posts: 149 Member
    with your diary being private it is kinda hard to tell but if you are eating back too many of your workout cals you won't lose and you might actually gain.
  • Rthomas826
    Rthomas826 Posts: 14
    It is set to viewable by everyone.
  • Hornsby
    Hornsby Posts: 10,322 Member
    It is set to viewable by everyone.

    Still not viewable from my end.
  • tabithaseeley
    tabithaseeley Posts: 10
    It is set to viewable by everyone.

    The important thing so to watch what you eat, and log it. That way you can learn what your eating habits are and also learn what you can do to correct them.
  • Rthomas826
    Rthomas826 Posts: 14
    Just figured it out! sorry! but now my DIARY is view able.
  • Rthomas826
    Rthomas826 Posts: 14
    I do feel my muscles are gaining strength :) and I can do more distance on the treadmill than I first started because now I'm doing intervals of jogging and speed walking.
  • melissarae27
    melissarae27 Posts: 25
    If I were you, I would drop the carbs down a little and get more protein. That's what works for me anyway! I aim to keep carbs under 100 grams a day, and completely avoid any white processed grains. I snack on eggs, beef jerky, cheese and nuts to get the protein up.

    I'm also the type that will think "but I've been eating so clean!" until I start tracking again and find out where I'm falling behind.

    Also, working out doesn't actually make you lose weight. It's great for your health and metabolism and gives you a better figure, but don't expect to only work out and start dropping weight.
  • klobberintime
    klobberintime Posts: 1
    i started to do the same and after some research I have discrovered that there is a such thing as working out for nothing. You have to work out and maintain 55-70% of your target heart rate while you work out in order to see results the best way to monitor this is with a heart rate monitor watch. you can get them at walmart.
  • teaparty75
    teaparty75 Posts: 170
    some of us lose slower and 6 weeks may be too soon to start with the scale .....your workouts sound awesome so keep that up and clean up your "diet" - if not, you will lose weight but it will be slow going - they are UNFORTUNATELY right when they say its 80% diet and 20% exercise .....
  • fitgirl09jessica
    fitgirl09jessica Posts: 16
    Just make sure you eat clean, or mostly clean! And take your measurements & progress pictures. I've only lost 5 pounds in a month but my measurements and pictures have changed quite a bit!
  • RGv2
    RGv2 Posts: 5,789 Member
    Don't go by the scale if you are working out. Muscle weighs more than fat. Do your measurements and check them monthly and see how your clothes fit. That will be the true test. Good luck.

    how do your cloths feel? if they are fitting better, your probably trading fat for muscle. keep it up! We'll see ourselves bigger than we are in the mirror, and the scale is an evil *kitten*. but our cloths will tell us the truth!

    In 6 weeks you aren't going to build enough muscle mass to stall the scale. It is EXTREMELY hard to put on measureable muscle mass, especially for a female........especially in 6 weeks.
  • RGv2
    RGv2 Posts: 5,789 Member
    I've noticed 2 things here.

    1) You barely track what you eat.

    2) The two days I saw that you did, one day was only 800 calories.

    Be consistent and true to yourself in logging. Also, it's possible that you are maintaining quite a bit of water retention from your new found exercise. Muscles retain water for repair, and it will show on the scale. I can measure the difference of 1.5 lbs when I weight myself after a heavy lifting session to the next morning.
  • TMcChamp
    TMcChamp Posts: 165 Member
    Record EVERYTHING you eat for a full week, weigh and measure everything, Hopefully you will see a change on the scale.

    Have you done measurements? I had one week where i lost 500 grams but 8 cms!!
  • MexicanOsmosis
    MexicanOsmosis Posts: 382 Member
    Just make sure you eat clean, or mostly clean! And take your measurements & progress pictures. I've only lost 5 pounds in a month but my measurements and pictures have changed quite a bit!

    waaaiit fooor iiiit...
  • Lupercalia
    Lupercalia Posts: 1,857 Member
    OP, don't listen to all these people telling you to cut carbs, you must eat clean, work out harder, etc. Keep stuff simple!

    Eat within your caloric goal, eat what you like to eat, and make sure you're tracking ALL the calories correctly. Weigh/measure everything on a kitchen scale (they're not expensive--if you don't have one, get one now). Track your alcohol if you indulge, track your condiments, oils, everything. All those bites and licks from spoons, etc.

    Exercise how you like--I only walked at first, and when I felt up to it/interested in other stuff, I started doing that stuff too. Control your weight with your diet--exercise to be more fit, to get stronger, to reshape your body....but the diet is what will determine your fat loss.

    Drink water, sleep well, try not to stress out.

    Take photos and record your measurements. Use those things and the fit of your clothes to judge how you're doing...the scale is just not the best way to look for progress or a lack thereof.

    Good luck! :flowerforyou:
  • WendyTerry420
    WendyTerry420 Posts: 13,274 Member
    Log your food consistently for six weeks and then see if you are still not losing. You would be surprised at how far off you can be if you aren't keeping track.
  • SmartSysta
    SmartSysta Posts: 18 Member
    Take a look at your sodium intake. When I began to eliminate table salt and lower my sodium intake, the weight began to move. Sodium is in almost everything we eat, but in higher amounts in prepackaged foods. This is why I stopped eating things that are sealed. Instead, I eat, juice, or blend a variety of fruits and vegetables to help me along the way. I got this information from the new book that I'm reading by Joel Fuhrman called "Eat to Live." Check it out, you just might find some useful tips.
  • Rthomas826
    Rthomas826 Posts: 14
    @RGv2 I just started this yesterday. so that is why my entries are so few. Yesterday I did only eat 800 calories and then a light work out of walking 4miles. I wanted to bring my calories up some, but it was 11pm and I don't like eating so late right before I go to bed :) I didn't realize I didn't eat as much as i should until I tracked it with MFP. So I think this is going to help me with more consistency .

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