Cardio an 45 min a day and no weight loss :(

I stay under 1600 calories.
Do intensive cardio 45 min 4-5 days a week.
Burn 300-450 per session.
I have not lost one pound in two months.

I was diagnosed with Hashimotos/ Hypothyrodism a few months ago and was put on Armour thyroid replacement. Other then that I am healthy. My diet is pretty good! I also ride my mountain bike on the weekends (that is probably roughly an additional 300+ calories I am burning per day). I really need some help/advice/tips/inspiration.

Replies

  • BlueBombers
    BlueBombers Posts: 4,064 Member
    Add some weight training. Compound lifts are a great full-body workout and you will see a big difference in your shape.
  • jessicahill530
    jessicahill530 Posts: 65 Member
    Without more info like your height and weight, it sounds to me like you need to eat more. You are eating 1600 and burning 300-400 which leaves you with a net calorie intake of 1200-1300, which could be too low. How many cals does MFP tell you to eat? Might be helpful to calculate your TDEE instead and go by that, sometimes MFP goes to low on their calorie suggestion IMO.
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    hypothyrodism is going to make it much more difficult to lose weight because of all of the hormonal issues. have you talked to your doctor about possibly referring you to a dietician or other specialist to deal with the issue? having a medical condition puts you outside of the statistical norm for these types of calculators and what not.
  • I am 5- 5.5" and 190lbs. MFP calculated my calories at 1900. Is it bad if I am staying in the 1600 minus my workouts leaving me at 1200 most days?
  • ea101367
    ea101367 Posts: 175 Member
    I see your diary is open but are you logging all your food? Looks like you have 600-900+ calories left most days you log.
  • Hi

    Going by your picture you dont appear to have much at all to lose so I think maybe you need to look at eating more and loosing it slower.. I think 1200 net a day is too aggresive.

    I would also get your thyroid levels checked again as if thats out of whack you will struggle... voice of experience here! lol

    Good luck... you look lovely as you are so try not to stress!
  • I have been logging my breakfast/lunch/ snack...not been to good about logging my dinners but they are usually chicken breast and brown rice around 500 calories. My daily calories are 1600- my workouts leaving my at 1200.
  • Thank you for the compliment! but the scale and my doctor say different lol. My doctor informed me that I am obese.... my healthy weight should be 140.
  • auddii
    auddii Posts: 15,357 Member
    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/872212-you-re-probably-eating-more-than-you-think

    ^The big eye opener for me was that measuring cups are completely inaccurate for what is a serving.
  • silken555
    silken555 Posts: 478 Member
    If you're following the numbers MFP gives you, you should be eating about 75-80% of your exercise calories back (MFP overestimates calories burned). You are basically not eating enough to fuel all that exercise if you aren't.
  • RGv2
    RGv2 Posts: 5,789 Member
    Thank you for the compliment! but the scale and my doctor say different lol. My doctor informed me that I am obese.... my healthy weight should be 140.

    Remember, healthy weight can be kind of a joke IMHO. My "healthy weight" is like 150, and I'll never touch it (current 215). I believe the tape measure is a better indicator of health than the scale.

    How are you measuring your burn? Is the 350-400 what MFP gives you?...the machine?...or an HRM?

    If that is what MFP or the Machine gives you, the estimation is probably pretty high. Usually when I log cardio into MFP I cut the duration in half and have found to get a better estimation of calories burned.

    And of course...mix in some weight/resistance training.
  • ummlovelovesyou
    ummlovelovesyou Posts: 1,024 Member
    Add some weight training. Compound lifts are a great full-body workout and you will see a big difference in your shape.

    this. and eat more.

    I lost 5 lbs. from minimizing my cardio (was doing 3-4hours a week) and adding strength training. Weights work! :flowerforyou:
  • ChangingAmanda
    ChangingAmanda Posts: 486 Member
    Since you do have a medical condition that causes harder weight loss, you may want to consult a registered dietitian (not a nutritionist). He or she will, most likely, provide better advice giving your condition than you'll find here.

    I will second the opinion to lower the cardio and pick up the weights. Weights will preserve lean muscle mass while you're losing weight. Also, don't focus only on the number but also on how you're looking, feeling, and the inches you're losing.
  • MzManiak
    MzManiak Posts: 1,361 Member
    1. You've only logged the last 3 days... how do you know how much you were eating before?

    2. You only eat between 700-1200 calories per day BEFORE exercise... not the healthiest way to go about losing weight.

    3. You have a medical condition and should probably be referred to a dietitian.
  • Yes, the calories are based off of what the machine gives me. I was lifting weights a few months back and I will def. start again. Thanks for your input. :)
  • 1. There are other ways to calculate my calories other than MFP. I have kept a personal log.
    2. Why is it unhealthy to exercise on under 1200 calories?
    3. I agree, I should see a dietitian for Hashimotos.
  • Thank you for your input:)
  • Strength training it is! Thank you for being positive!
  • I will def. start fueling my body more to replace the calories burned. Thank you:)
  • SLLRunner
    SLLRunner Posts: 12,942 Member
    The calories burned function on the exercise machines are not all that accurate.

    If that is you in the profile picture, then you are not obese.
  • How do I get an accurate calorie burn when using cardio machines? Thank you lol I am stating what the doctor said. I know I am not obese, but I know I am overweight. at 190lbs at 5 5". I have extremely muscular legs and carry all of my weight in my mid section.
  • RGv2
    RGv2 Posts: 5,789 Member
    1. There are other ways to calculate my calories other than MFP. I have kept a personal log.
    Heart rate monitor is the most accurate.
    2. Why is it unhealthy to exercise on under 1200 calories?

    I'm not going to say it is or isn't, but according to your height/weight/age you could lose weight NETTING over 1500 calories per day... TDEE-20%
  • hum...good to know. Ive seen/heard of a lot of people who like to do cardio on a completely empty stomach....not saying that it is a good thing. Thanks for all of your input. Very helpful:)
  • RGv2
    RGv2 Posts: 5,789 Member
    hum...good to know. Ive seen/heard of a lot of people who like to do cardio on a completely empty stomach....not saying that it is a good thing. Thanks for all of your input. Very helpful:)

    I pretty much do....

    I get up in the morning, take my pre, and nothing else.
  • pavrg
    pavrg Posts: 277 Member
    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/872212-you-re-probably-eating-more-than-you-think

    ^The big eye opener for me was that measuring cups are completely inaccurate for what is a serving.
    this.

    Also 300 cal in 45 min is not high intensity cardio, and machines grossly overestimate calories burned. I'm not saying that to discourage you, but rather you shouldn't count it toward your food intake or tdee.