It's just not working
Replies
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I agree, don't give up, don't worry about daily weight fluctuations, and make sure you are as accurate as possible.
I just wanted to add re: Insanity...I don't know if you've read other people's experiences with Insanity, but a lot of people who do it (myself included when I did it last summer) don't see a whole lot of changes the first month and then it's the second month they drop weight and start to see the changes. I have no idea why, but Insanity can be pretty intense, especially if you're new to working out and a lot of times people hold onto weight or even gain weight when they start a new exercise program.
I know it's frustrating to not see any progress after a month of working hard, but in the grand scheme of things a month isn't that long. Six months from now you can either be closer to/at your goal, or you can regret that you gave up.0 -
I just reviewed your diary. I do not think your diet is all that great. There are days you consume 1500 calories and 500 of those calories are snacks and sweets. Since it apparently is not working for you. I would suggest trying 3 weeks of real food. No protein bars or drinks, no fast food, or at the very least, make your sub a salad instead of eating it with bread.
Add leaner meats and more fruits and veggies. Just see where that lands you.
That doesn't matter. Calories matter.... not the source, unless she's worried about body comp. for shows.0 -
I just reviewed your diary. I do not think your diet is all that great. There are days you consume 1500 calories and 500 of those calories are snacks and sweets. Since it apparently is not working for you. I would suggest trying 3 weeks of real food. No protein bars or drinks, no fast food, or at the very least, make your sub a salad instead of eating it with bread.
Add leaner meats and more fruits and veggies. Just see where that lands you.
What is the matter with protein drinks and bars? the snacks and sweets are no good, but I think protein stuff is ok... or at least I thought it was. I'm doing fine with them in moderation!
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You look great in your profile picture! As another short chick with a goal in the 120s, may I make a suggestion? Focus on building muscle. You are already at a healthy weight. If you're like me, you probably look great to others, but you're not quite happy with what you see in the mirror. Start lifting heavy, and you'll be amazed at how it changes your body. I'm not talking about dumbbells here, but real heavy weights. Put the scale away for a week or two, and get out the measuring tape and camera. Take photos and measurements. Determine your progress by how your clothes fit, and by how your muscles feel. Muscle weighs more than fat, and requires more calories. It also holds onto water to repair muscles. So your weight might go up, but eventually, that new muscle will be burning the fat that covers it, and your weight will drop then.
I'm pretty new to lifting, but there are a lot of folks here who can give you advice about getting started. I've been lifting for about a month(and eating at maintenance), and I'm beginning to think I'll never get back down to 120, because of how much muscle I'm putting on(I'm 148 today, down from 180 a year ago). I'd have to let my new (awesome) muscles shrink in order to be that light again. So I may land around 130 or 135, but I'll be stronger and more fit than I've ever been at a lighter weight.
Good luck! You've got this! Don't give up!0 -
I just reviewed your diary. I do not think your diet is all that great. There are days you consume 1500 calories and 500 of those calories are snacks and sweets. Since it apparently is not working for you. I would suggest trying 3 weeks of real food. No protein bars or drinks, no fast food, or at the very least, make your sub a salad instead of eating it with bread.
Add leaner meats and more fruits and veggies. Just see where that lands you.
That doesn't matter. Calories matter.... not the source, unless she's worried about body comp. for shows.
QFT0 -
Did you take measurements before and after? If not, then please, please do so! Take before and after pics too.
I think you're getting overly hung up by a number on the scale. I bet you've lost inches and gained more definition.
I'm 5'2" and look best at around 140lbs - despite going by various charts etc this means I'm overweight, yada, yada.
Try lifting weights, ensure you eat back exercise cals and have a decent amount of protein.
And take measurements!0 -
When you start exercising, you will gain a few pounds. Using pre-exercise weight as a baseline is a poor idea.
Set your baseline weight now, after you've started exercising. And yes eat back fewer of those exercise calories (I think those calorie burns are rather optimistic).
Also, up your protein goal. By a lot. You should be looking at 90+ grams a day.0 -
I just reviewed your diary. I do not think your diet is all that great. There are days you consume 1500 calories and 500 of those calories are snacks and sweets. Since it apparently is not working for you. I would suggest trying 3 weeks of real food. No protein bars or drinks, no fast food, or at the very least, make your sub a salad instead of eating it with bread.
Add leaner meats and more fruits and veggies. Just see where that lands you.
What is the matter with protein drinks and bars? the snacks and sweets are no good, but I think protein stuff is ok... or at least I thought it was. I'm doing fine with them in moderation!
Nothing is wrong with the protein bars/drinks, or the sweets and snacks, as long as calories are in a deficit.0 -
If your ready to quit after a month.. its already over.
this. sorry.
I don't usually say this kind of stuff, but I think you need a little boost with some tough love. This time last year I was basically dying. I have a brain condition that was cutting off my neurological functions. I couldn't walk right or talk right. I fell and crashed into stuff all the time. I choked on my own spit. I had double vision. There are more symptoms, but I will leave it at that. I knew I had to fight to maintain my weight through this. I easily could have given up and let myself gain. I was nearly bedridden for 7 months. I didn't let it happen. I stuck to my calorie goals and did not exercise. I had surgery in February of 2013 to alleviate the symptoms. I was able to start exercising again 4 weeks post op and I did. Slowly, but intentionally. You can't let little things get in your way. If you do, big things will fully derail you. Relax. You can do this.0 -
Also, remember that working out also makes your body gain muscle, which weighs more than fat. I would do some research on average intake that is involved with eating fast-food (if it's something you can't stay away from) and make sure you balance it with healthier foods like fruits and vegetables in your diet plan. Fast-food is addicting and it's hard to resist the urge to consume it until you feel sick, but I would make it a once a week "treat" if anything. Water weight is a hassle as well, but there are foods out there that can limit the water retention:
Melons and citrus fruits
Water (believe it or not)
Watercress
Salmon
Whole grains and nuts
*If you are going to eat fast-food, I would then stay away from processed foods.*0 -
My guess is that you're building muscle through your workout regime. Muscle weighs more than fat, and is more compact. So the more you exercise, the more you're technically stunting your "weight" loss. However, you're toning your body and replacing the loose fat with denser muscle. This is a good thing. It means you're gaining muscle faster than you're losing fat, and that's okay!
Keep doing what you're doing, and be well!0 -
My guess is that you're building muscle through your workout regime. Muscle weighs more than fat, and is more compact. So the more you exercise, the more you're technically stunting your "weight" loss. However, you're toning your body and replacing the loose fat with denser muscle. This is a good thing. It means you're gaining muscle faster than you're losing fat, and that's okay!
Keep doing what you're doing, and be well!
Solid first post.
Highly likely this is not true though. If you are eating at a deficit you will not be building very much muscle if at all.0 -
My guess is that you're building muscle through your workout regime. Muscle weighs more than fat, and is more compact. So the more you exercise, the more you're technically stunting your "weight" loss. However, you're toning your body and replacing the loose fat with denser muscle. This is a good thing. It means you're gaining muscle faster than you're losing fat, and that's okay!
Keep doing what you're doing, and be well!
Nope, not if OP is eating a true calorie deificit. When all calories consumed are burned and the body uses fat storage for energy as well, there's nothing left to build new muscle from.0 -
Also, remember that working out also makes your body gain muscle, which weighs more than fat. I would do some research on average intake that is involved with eating fast-food (if it's something you can't stay away from) and make sure you balance it with healthier foods like fruits and vegetables in your diet plan. Fast-food is addicting and it's hard to resist the urge to consume it until you feel sick, but I would make it a once a week "treat" if anything. Water weight is a hassle as well, but there are foods out there that can limit the water retention:
Melons and citrus fruits
Water (believe it or not)
Watercress
Salmon
Whole grains and nuts
*If you are going to eat fast-food, I would then stay away from processed foods.*
No, no, no. Just no. It doesn't matter what kind of food OP is eating, as long as there is a calorie deficit, weight will be lost. You CANNOT build muscle while eating at a deficit!0 -
Just my opinion but unless you are burning like 700 calories with exercise do not subtract them and let yourself eat them! if it is like 300or less just ignore them and eat the recommended # per day as if you have not worked out!0
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I also didn't really shed too many pounds doing Insanity, but I felt much stronger and had a lot more endurance. Have you been taking measurements or anything like that? Maybe you are losing inches/gaining muscle, and that's why you're not seeing much change on the scale. Good luck!
i put on weight but lost loads of fat... i would really disagree with the people saying dont eat your exercise cals... you should NOT be doign insanity on just 1300 cals!
stop weighing yourself till you have finished th eprogramme, and then use measurements/pictures as progress... with only a little weight to lose you want to be focusing on your bodyfat % not scale weight.0 -
Solid first post! :huh:Also, remember that working out also makes your body gain muscle, which weighs more than fat. I would do some research on average intake that is involved with eating fast-food (if it's something you can't stay away from) and make sure you balance it with healthier foods like fruits and vegetables in your diet plan. Fast-food is addicting and it's hard to resist the urge to consume it until you feel sick, but I would make it a once a week "treat" if anything. Water weight is a hassle as well, but there are foods out there that can limit the water retention:
Melons and citrus fruits
Water (believe it or not)
Watercress
Salmon
Whole grains and nuts
*If you are going to eat fast-food, I would then stay away from processed foods.*
Muscle does not weigh more than fat. A pound is a pound is a pound. Muscle is denser than fat. It takes up less room for the same weight.
Having said that, the OP did not gain 3.5 pounds of muscle in a month. A professional bodybuilder who is female will be doing excellently to put on one single pound of muscle in a month. And she will have put on fat with it as well.
Water weight is just that, and nothing to stress out about. Maybe worry less about the number on the scale and pay more attention to body composition, the way your clothes fit (if you care about that) and your performance when training.
ETF a stupid format tagging typo.0 -
If your ready to quit after a month.. its already over.
Well that's helpful..not! Not cool....
I agree that his response was kinda ...blunt...but I also agree that's true. When only setting goal for a month it usually leads to failure, at least from my personal experience.
Having said that, I can totally relate to OP's frurstration. I have been trying to lose that 10 pounds for over a decade. It did come off and then went back on...back and forth.
However, my body compostion has looked significantly different. With the same weight for more 5 years, I now look the leanest in my whole life, say BF 18% or somewhere around there. As much as I wish to drop a few on the scale, I just have to keep trying, frustrated, depressed, but at same time, I from time to time, do see myself prettier and leaner than ever. 0 -
Most likely, you just arent doing things properly. Not recording strictly enough and not being honest. This 'its not working'. 'It', whatever it is, is to blame, and not yourself.0
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Another personal experience I would like to share with OP is that when I was doing p90x double, I tried to eating 1400 calories...the result? I was over trained, undereating, and put on more weight than ever, especially around my waist...So after 89 days, I stopped, took a breather, relaxed for a couple of weeks by simply walking, slow running, stretching. Then I started again with Chalean extreme program, my body fat came off (not necessarily the scale however).0
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Another personal experience I would like to share with OP is that when I was doing p90x double, I tried to eating 1400 calories...the result? I was over trained, undereating, and put on more weight than ever, especially around my waist...So after 89 days, I stopped, took a breather, relaxed for a couple of weeks by simply walking, slow running, stretching. Then I started again with Chalean extreme program, my body fat came off (not necessarily the scale however).
If you "put on more weight than ever", you were not eating at a calorie deficit.0 -
Another personal experience I would like to share with OP is that when I was doing p90x double, I tried to eating 1400 calories...the result? I was over trained, undereating, and put on more weight than ever, especially around my waist...So after 89 days, I stopped, took a breather, relaxed for a couple of weeks by simply walking, slow running, stretching. Then I started again with Chalean extreme program, my body fat came off (not necessarily the scale however).
If you "put on more weight than ever", you were not eating at a calorie deficit.
don't want to argue...but you must have heard cortisol level, and ....hmmm....water retention right?0 -
I just reviewed your diary. I do not think your diet is all that great. There are days you consume 1500 calories and 500 of those calories are snacks and sweets. Since it apparently is not working for you. I would suggest trying 3 weeks of real food. No protein bars or drinks, no fast food, or at the very least, make your sub a salad instead of eating it with bread.
Add leaner meats and more fruits and veggies. Just see where that lands you.
I agree with this! You seem to be eating a lot of processed food and sugar. Cut ALL of it out and that will help. Also, don't eat back all the workout calories you burn. The less you put in and the more you put out will help you reach your goals. One month of not being that consistent is not going to show you the results you want. It can take time, eating clean and working out!0 -
I just reviewed your diary. I do not think your diet is all that great. There are days you consume 1500 calories and 500 of those calories are snacks and sweets. Since it apparently is not working for you. I would suggest trying 3 weeks of real food. No protein bars or drinks, no fast food, or at the very least, make your sub a salad instead of eating it with bread.
Add leaner meats and more fruits and veggies. Just see where that lands you.
I agree with this! You seem to be eating a lot of processed food and sugar. Cut ALL of it out and that will help. Also, don't eat back all the workout calories you burn. The less you put in and the more you put out will help you reach your goals. One month of not being that consistent is not going to show you the results you want. It can take time, eating clean and working out!
It will not help to cut all of that out. It will help if OP makes sure there is a calorie deficit.0 -
Another personal experience I would like to share with OP is that when I was doing p90x double, I tried to eating 1400 calories...the result? I was over trained, undereating, and put on more weight than ever, especially around my waist...So after 89 days, I stopped, took a breather, relaxed for a couple of weeks by simply walking, slow running, stretching. Then I started again with Chalean extreme program, my body fat came off (not necessarily the scale however).
If you "put on more weight than ever", you were not eating at a calorie deficit.
don't want to argue...but you must have heard cortisol level, and ....hmmm....water retention right?
for 89 days? I've yet to find anyone who can retain water that gives them noticeable weight gain for 89 days. Anorexics are incredibly stressed and can have high levels of cortisol, but if they eat at a calorie deficit, they will lose weight. Starving people are pretty stressed out, I'm sure. They still die.0 -
Another personal experience I would like to share with OP is that when I was doing p90x double, I tried to eating 1400 calories...the result? I was over trained, undereating, and put on more weight than ever, especially around my waist...So after 89 days, I stopped, took a breather, relaxed for a couple of weeks by simply walking, slow running, stretching. Then I started again with Chalean extreme program, my body fat came off (not necessarily the scale however).
If you "put on more weight than ever", you were not eating at a calorie deficit.
don't want to argue...but you must have heard cortisol level, and ....hmmm....water retention right?
for 89 days? I've yet to find anyone who can retain water that gives them noticeable weight gain for 89 days. Anorexics are incredibly stressed and can have high levels of cortisol, but if they eat at a calorie deficit, they will lose weight. Starving people are pretty stressed out, I'm sure. They still die.
NICE.
By the way, we all still die, eating healthy or not, right?0 -
If you ate out the whole weekend, I'll bet you it's water weight from all that sodium. In order for you to gain two pounds in two days, you would have had to have eaten 7,000 over your TDE within those two days. If you did that, then you know what to do to get back on track. If you did not, the water weight will come off in a few days. Just drink lots of water in the meantime.I am so frustrated. I have been trying to lose weight the healthy way by eating enough calories since December 9. On that day I weighed 139 and I have my net set to 1300 calories. I eat back my exercise calories. I gained some weight in the beginning which I heard was normal and then I started losing. On Friday I weighed 137, I felt great and felt for the first time I was happy while losing weight. I was out of town this weekend and came back gaining 2 pounds. I stuck to my calories but ate out a lot so I figured it was water weight from the sodium. Well I was home yesterday and this morning I was up another pound! I'm now 140.4. I almost just want to give up and stop eating back my calories. I weigh everything and document everything that goes in my mouth, even a piece of gum. Weighing and measuring everything is time consuming and I'm about to stop cause it's obviously not working. What am I doing wrong????0 -
Another personal experience I would like to share with OP is that when I was doing p90x double, I tried to eating 1400 calories...the result? I was over trained, undereating, and put on more weight than ever, especially around my waist...So after 89 days, I stopped, took a breather, relaxed for a couple of weeks by simply walking, slow running, stretching. Then I started again with Chalean extreme program, my body fat came off (not necessarily the scale however).
If you "put on more weight than ever", you were not eating at a calorie deficit.
don't want to argue...but you must have heard cortisol level, and ....hmmm....water retention right?
for 89 days? I've yet to find anyone who can retain water that gives them noticeable weight gain for 89 days. Anorexics are incredibly stressed and can have high levels of cortisol, but if they eat at a calorie deficit, they will lose weight. Starving people are pretty stressed out, I'm sure. They still die.
Wow...okay...0 -
I just reviewed your diary. I do not think your diet is all that great. There are days you consume 1500 calories and 500 of those calories are snacks and sweets. Since it apparently is not working for you. I would suggest trying 3 weeks of real food. No protein bars or drinks, no fast food, or at the very least, make your sub a salad instead of eating it with bread.
Add leaner meats and more fruits and veggies. Just see where that lands you.
I agree with this! You seem to be eating a lot of processed food and sugar. Cut ALL of it out and that will help. Also, don't eat back all the workout calories you burn. The less you put in and the more you put out will help you reach your goals. One month of not being that consistent is not going to show you the results you want. It can take time, eating clean and working out!
Not always the best advice......0 -
I'm not criticizing you, but 1,300 is not maintenance for many people. Eating back exercise calories is important to fuel the body, and a person should not wait until they are weak.I understand completely. My guess is that it may have to do with exercise calories. What kind of exercise do you do, how many calories do you eat back?
Edit: Just saw your edit. I may get criticized for saying this, but I would try not eating back your calories, unless you are feeling hungry, weak, or tired. Eat a lot of protein though. It sounds like you are eating right around maintenance.0
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