I'm not seeing progress, am I looking in wrong places?

jasony0423
jasony0423 Posts: 14 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
Hi all,

I have been working on getting myself into better shape the past couple of months. I work out 4-6 times a week, both running and weight lifting. I have also been eating healthier, and the biggest thing has been controlling my portions. I have been taking progress photos, but to be honest, I'm not seeing any difference between three months ago and now. I'm not expecting to have huge changes, but my arms look the same, my gut is still there, shoulders, everything is still looking the same. If you looked at all three photos from all three months, other than wearing difference pants, you can't tell any difference.
I keep my calories under my 2,020 daily limit, eat plenty of fruit and vegetables, and drink more water, too.
I've had people I work with mention that I look like I'm losing weight, and my belt is now one notch tighter, but that's it. With that said, I know I must be making some progress, but why can't i see it?

Replies

  • SunofaBeach14
    SunofaBeach14 Posts: 4,899 Member
    How much weight have you lost?

    Please open your diary. You'll get much more targeted advice here if you do that.

    I will say that the visual changes are slow in the beginning and sometimes patience is in order.
  • ironanimal
    ironanimal Posts: 5,922 Member
    It took me a long time to start to see any physical change, and I really don't see much change in weight, ever. It will happen - just need to be patient and consistent.

    The thing that kept me going was the feeling of improving health. I don't know to what extent I've burnt off the visceral fat that had accumulated over the years, but I think there has to be some improvement in that area. I've also enjoyed improved respiratory function, running ability and massive improvement in neuromuscular response and strength, flexibility and balance.

    Keep an eye on markers such as those, and push your physical capability to the limit once in a while - a longer run than ever before, a bigger deadlift, whatever.
  • jasony0423
    jasony0423 Posts: 14 Member
    How much weight have you lost?

    Please open your diary. You'll get much more targeted advice here if you do that.

    I will say that the visual changes are slow in the beginning and sometimes patience is in order.

    I thought my diary was public, but it was friends only. It's now public. I've lost 1 pound of weight since signing in on mfp, but 7 pounds since I started a few months ago.
  • SunofaBeach14
    SunofaBeach14 Posts: 4,899 Member
    How much weight have you lost?

    Please open your diary. You'll get much more targeted advice here if you do that.

    I will say that the visual changes are slow in the beginning and sometimes patience is in order.

    I thought my diary was public, but it was friends only. It's now public. I've lost 1 pound of weight since signing in on mfp, but 7 pounds since I started a few months ago.

    I took a quick look. Are you using a food scale?
  • jasony0423
    jasony0423 Posts: 14 Member
    No Food scale but I use measuring spoons/cups.
  • SunofaBeach14
    SunofaBeach14 Posts: 4,899 Member
    No Food scale but I use measuring spoons/cups.

    I'm going to venture an educated guess that your primary problem is one of overestimating your calorie burns and underestimating calories. Many of us have been there. Go buy a digital food scale (they're cheap, many are $12-$18) and use it for all solids that you consume. Keep measuring liquids with cups and spoons. Try that and see if that reduces your portions and weight for a few weeks. If it doesn't, cut your calorie burns by 20% or so and see what happens. Also, don't be afraid to up your fats and protein intake.
  • jasony0423
    jasony0423 Posts: 14 Member
    No Food scale but I use measuring spoons/cups.

    I'm going to venture an educated guess that your primary problem is one of overestimating your calorie burns and underestimating calories. Many of us have been there. Go buy a digital food scale (they're cheap, many are $12-$18) and use it for all solids that you consume. Keep measuring liquids with cups and spoons. Try that and see if that reduces your portions and weight for a few weeks. If it doesn't, cut your calorie burns by 20% or so and see what happens. Also, don't be afraid to up your fats and protein intake.
  • jasony0423
    jasony0423 Posts: 14 Member
    No Food scale but I use measuring spoons/cups.

    I'm going to venture an educated guess that your primary problem is one of overestimating your calorie burns and underestimating calories. Many of us have been there. Go buy a digital food scale (they're cheap, many are $12-$18) and use it for all solids that you consume. Keep measuring liquids with cups and spoons. Try that and see if that reduces your portions and weight for a few weeks. If it doesn't, cut your calorie burns by 20% or so and see what happens. Also, don't be afraid to up your fats and protein intake.

    I'll stop at walmart on my way home from work today and get one. I'm sure they'll have one there somewhere. As far as calorie burns, yeah, I just go with what fitocracy calculates for me based on how much I run. I don't count weight training in mfp.
  • wilsoje74
    wilsoje74 Posts: 1,720 Member
    Probably still eating too much
  • xxnellie146xx
    xxnellie146xx Posts: 996 Member
    No Food scale but I use measuring spoons/cups.

    I'm going to venture an educated guess that your primary problem is one of overestimating your calorie burns and underestimating calories. Many of us have been there. Go buy a digital food scale (they're cheap, many are $12-$18) and use it for all solids that you consume. Keep measuring liquids with cups and spoons. Try that and see if that reduces your portions and weight for a few weeks. If it doesn't, cut your calorie burns by 20% or so and see what happens. Also, don't be afraid to up your fats and protein intake.

    This^^

    Digital food scale should help a lot and I would half the calories that you think you are burning and see if that helps make a difference
  • SunofaBeach14
    SunofaBeach14 Posts: 4,899 Member
    No Food scale but I use measuring spoons/cups.

    I'm going to venture an educated guess that your primary problem is one of overestimating your calorie burns and underestimating calories. Many of us have been there. Go buy a digital food scale (they're cheap, many are $12-$18) and use it for all solids that you consume. Keep measuring liquids with cups and spoons. Try that and see if that reduces your portions and weight for a few weeks. If it doesn't, cut your calorie burns by 20% or so and see what happens. Also, don't be afraid to up your fats and protein intake.

    I'll stop at walmart on my way home from work today and get one. I'm sure they'll have one there somewhere. As far as calorie burns, yeah, I just go with what fitocracy calculates for me based on how much I run. I don't count weight training in mfp.

    Cheers. We're talking minor tweaks here. You're on the right track, and I'm optimistic that the food scale will get you there. Come back and let us know how it goes for you. Good luck! :drinker:
  • capnj1545
    capnj1545 Posts: 10
    Did you take measurements before you started? Before I saw a real drop on the scale or in the mirror, I felt it. My clothes felt better and that was the motivation I used to keep going until the other signs followed. Just keep doing the right things and everything will happen.
  • commtry
    commtry Posts: 20
    In three months, i'd assume that would be losing no more than 10 lbs. And you really won't see that much progress, especially because of blotting and differences through the day. The gut, shoulder and arm areas are the hardest to slim down. They won't show progress unless you've lost a lot. so just keep on going in a few more months, u'll see progress. Its very hard in the beginning. I remember just wondering how others were doing it, until i started seeing a curve going in my guts, wondering where those abs were all these years. Still no progress with those shoulders of mine ever though.
  • jasony0423
    jasony0423 Posts: 14 Member
    I bought a scale for my food. That could definitely have been the problem. I estimated my dinner tonight to be about a 4oz piece of chicken. Scale says 11.2 oz. so..... Yeah, this will help.
  • MadDogManor
    MadDogManor Posts: 1,531 Member
    Portion control sucks! Good luck to you :-)

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