Frustrations

MeanderingMammal
MeanderingMammal Posts: 7,866 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
I've been consciously trying to get fitter and lose weight for about 3 months now. And I don't seem to be actually losing weight.

I'm using MFP to track diet, Runkeeper to track Cardio and I've just re-started using Gain Fitness for strength training tracking. I'm running, using the NHS Couch to 5K programme, three to four times a week and have now started incorporating upper body weights and yoga into my training.

It's certainly having an effect, the Cto5K programme is quite progressive and I've gone from struggling with running at all to a consistent 30 minutes continuous and I'm improving speed as well. My basic working heart rate has reduced from 85bpm to 75 bpm and my clothing fits better. I'm back into 34 inch jeans comfortably and managed to just get into an old pair of 32s a couple of weeks ago. The aim is now to be able to wear them out of the house comfortably.

People are even commenting that I'm looking better.

But the scales very firmly are saying that I've only lost four pounds.

Frustrating really doesn't begin to describe it

Replies

  • jwdieter
    jwdieter Posts: 2,582 Member
    So you're healthier, fit into smaller clothes, look better, and have lost 4 pounds. This is success, not failure.
  • psuLemon
    psuLemon Posts: 38,431 MFP Moderator
    How many calories are you are you eating? Also, can you open your diary? I do agree that fitting into smaller clothes = huge win. Sometimes water retention will makes fat loss though.
  • crisbabe81
    crisbabe81 Posts: 170
    The scale can be our worst enemy in trying to get healthy. What is most likely happening is you are losing fat and gaining muscle. Take measurements and pictures, use the scale as a guide, or hide it all together. A healthy lifestyle is the goal right? Weight loss is a side effect of that life style. Stay the course.
  • Sherbog
    Sherbog Posts: 1,072 Member
    Do you weigh and measure your portions. I found that I could not easily judge correctly so my MFP input was way off. Best to you and your journey.
  • psuLemon
    psuLemon Posts: 38,431 MFP Moderator
    The scale can be our worst enemy in trying to get healthy. What is most likely happening is you are losing fat and gaining muscle. Take measurements and pictures, use the scale as a guide, or hide it all together. A healthy lifestyle is the goal right? Weight loss is a side effect of that life style. Stay the course.
    Just a small correction, its almost impossible to gain muscle while cutting fat. One requires an anabolic state and one requires a catabolic state; exceptions are with completely untrained individuals (maybe 1-2 lbs of new lbm) and morbidly obes3 people. More likely its water retention offsets the fat loss.
  • lenkearney
    lenkearney Posts: 116 Member
    It's certainly having an effect, the Cto5K programme is quite progressive and I've gone from struggling with running at all to a consistent 30 minutes continuous and I'm improving speed as well. My basic working heart rate has reduced from 85bpm to 75 bpm and my clothing fits better.

    OUTSTANDING!!!!!:flowerforyou:

    I'm back into 34 inch jeans comfortably and managed to just get into an old pair of 32s a couple of weeks ago. The aim is now to be able to wear them out of the house comfortably.

    People are even commenting that I'm looking better.

    WOW! let me say that again WOW!!
    :smokin:
    But the scales very firmly are saying that I've only lost four pounds.

    Frustrating really doesn't begin to describe it

    This is why men say they don't understand women. I mean- really? You can't take the roses and only see the thorns?
  • shadus
    shadus Posts: 424 Member
    You're getting healthier but not losing as much weight as you'd like. This is spectacular! Healthy is good and doubly so if you've lost clothing size, that is proof of weight loss there alone.
  • MeanderingMammal
    MeanderingMammal Posts: 7,866 Member
    Thanks for the views everyone. I'd agree that this isn't a muscle mass issue, muscles in my legs are certainly firming up and I'm seeing more definition around my calves and my quads but that's not enough to offset the fat loss. It may be water, but I'm not convinced that I'm drinking significantly more, and given the uplift in exercise I'm burning that up as well.

    All the indicators, except weight, are saying that I'm making improvements and that's the main thing. It just seems that the one really measurable component isn't showing anything, it's the balance between qualitative and quantitative.

    Still, onwards and upwards?
  • psuLemon
    psuLemon Posts: 38,431 MFP Moderator
    Thanks for the views everyone. I'd agree that this isn't a muscle mass issue, muscles in my legs are certainly firming up and I'm seeing more definition around my calves and my quads but that's not enough to offset the fat loss. It may be water, but I'm not convinced that I'm drinking significantly more, and given the uplift in exercise I'm burning that up as well.

    All the indicators, except weight, are saying that I'm making improvements and that's the main thing. It just seems that the one really measurable component isn't showing anything, it's the balance between qualitative and quantitative.

    Still, onwards and upwards?

    I have a feeling you are under eating. But you probably also have a lot of water retention from the amount of carbs you eat. With as little weight as you have to lose, 1 lb per week should be your max. I would suggest a goal around 2200 calories or might be good. BTW, what is your height and weight?
  • MeanderingMammal
    MeanderingMammal Posts: 7,866 Member
    I'm 6ft1 and 190lbs, so from a bmi perspective just verging on overweight.
  • Willbenchforcupcakes
    Willbenchforcupcakes Posts: 4,955 Member
    All the indicators, except weight, are saying that I'm making improvements and that's the main thing. It just seems that the one really measurable component isn't showing anything, it's the balance between qualitative and quantitative.

    Still, onwards and upwards?

    The inches lost are measureable, and what's more, everyone who sees you can see that you've lost inches. No one knows you're weight unless you share it with them. Everyone can see that you've become smaller. Enjoy the physical changes, and don't focus on the lying b*stard the scale.
  • psuLemon
    psuLemon Posts: 38,431 MFP Moderator
    I'm 6ft1 and 190lbs, so from a bmi perspective just verging on overweight.

    yea I am the same size and eat 600 more calories. Try to eat 2300 calories for a month to see if that helps. You need to fuel your body adequately when you are close to a normal weight. Btw, dont go by bmi. Even with a 6 pack my bmi will be over weight.
  • azreen1006
    azreen1006 Posts: 12
    HI ... I am asian and I weigh 114kg when I 1st started to use MFP seriously and working out vigorously..I am 158cm tall and I am very obese.. (sorry all my measurements are in metrics as I'm not familiar with pounds) ..

    after about more than a month dilligently following the 1200 kcal intake a day with exercise for almost every day, I've managed to loose about 8kg ... I'm a muslim and currently I am fasting during the day and thus this affects my daily cal intakes as well (it will be half than 1200kcal usually) .. nevertheless, after 10 days of fasting, I am still loosing some weight. However, these past few days, i gained 1kg++ and it's not reducing... weird thing is I am taking around 1200kcal or less and I do exercise every few days..

    so for the past few days i've been feeling down as the scale is not showing any reduced number.. is this normal? or i should change something? :(

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