I CAN'T lose weight. :(

thincharlene
thincharlene Posts: 6
in Introduce Yourself
Hello! I've started my weight loss journey a month back and the first week I lost about 5 pounds:

SW: 135
HW: 138.5
LW: 129.5
CW: 132.5
GW: 125

But recently I've been stuck in 132lb for a full week and I don't understand why. I walk everyday, I do Zumba everyday for an hour, I do situps, jumping jacks and squats everyday, I go to the gym on the weekends, I usually eat under my calorie goal and I've cut all junk food and sodas out of my life only drinking water. So my question is, if I'm doing everything right, why am I not getting any results?
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Replies

  • zlrobinson
    zlrobinson Posts: 1
    How is your protein intake? Up your protein, see the weight loss. It could very well be diet.
  • Annamarie3404
    Annamarie3404 Posts: 319 Member
    Might want to try eating a little more since you exercise so much. Also, you may want to add some weights in with that cardio.
  • Alatariel75
    Alatariel75 Posts: 18,206 Member
    Weight loss is not linear, you could be retaining fluid, and one week is NOT long enough to even begin thinking you "can't" lose weight.
  • SherryTeach
    SherryTeach Posts: 2,836 Member
    You don't say how tall you are, so it's unclear that you even need to lose weight. Regardless of height, 132 isn't a large person. Weight loss would be slow, probably no more than 1/2 pound a week. You just joined in May and it's still May, so be patient. If you open your diary and give us more info, we might be able to offer advice.
  • MagicalGiraffe
    MagicalGiraffe Posts: 102 Member
    Maybe open up your diary so people can have a look? They might be able to give more helpful advice if you do that.
  • princessmommy122
    princessmommy122 Posts: 135 Member
    Well, it's only been a month and your current weight is less than your start weight, if I read right. When you don't have much to lose it can take a while. It has taken me nearly twelve weeks to lose 14 pounds, and the last month I've only lost four, but that puts me three pounds from my goal. Also, you are working out a lot, maybe you have gained some muscle. Try measuring your waist. You may have lost more in inches than pounds. Otherwise, hang in there. Slow and steady wins the race.
  • aptivaboy
    aptivaboy Posts: 1
    You night also be building up some muscle. Muscle is usually denser than fat, so you may be getting fitter and leaner, but your weight may stay the same as you replace fat with muscle.
  • tlaurenw
    tlaurenw Posts: 17
    Start weight lifting and eating a bit more. A lot of people eat way too little and wonder why they don't lose weight. It could work.
  • Etherlily1
    Etherlily1 Posts: 974 Member
    A week is not enough to define ability to lose weight.
  • BurntCoffee
    BurntCoffee Posts: 234 Member
    How tall are you? Seems like a fairly normal weight for an average sized woman. Maybe your body is trying to tell you something?
  • burtnyks
    burtnyks Posts: 124 Member
    Do you weigh all your foods so you know exactly what you are consuming? No eye-balling or guesses or using measuring cups.... Its a pain, but you should know exactly what you are consuming. And I wouldn't be worried about one week. My weight fluctuates from week to week. I may be up or down 3 lbs from week to week. You want to look at trends over time.
  • ew_david
    ew_david Posts: 3,473 Member
    But you ARE. If you think you need to lose 10 pounds faster than the rate you're going now, you are wrong.
  • thincharlene
    thincharlene Posts: 6
    I am 5'2
  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 48,972 Member
    You night also be building up some muscle. Muscle is usually denser than fat, so you may be getting fitter and leaner, but your weight may stay the same as you replace fat with muscle.
    IF the OP is a newbie at exercise, there may be a little gain, but in calorie deficit, building muscle is an improbability because it would require adding tissue. And adding tissue means adding mass which happens when one is in calorie surplus.

    A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness industry for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 48,972 Member
    What goal are you trying to achieve a week? I suspect it's 2lbs, but correct me if I'm wrong.

    A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness industry for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
  • diamondgurlz1
    diamondgurlz1 Posts: 1
    take in as close to your calories as possible thats whats wrong with me
  • MrGonzo05
    MrGonzo05 Posts: 1,120 Member
    I wouldn't change a thing unless you continue not losing any weight for 3 weeks.
  • richo59
    richo59 Posts: 25 Member
    I was starting to think the same thing. My daughter pressured me to lose the scales for a while, so I did.
    I felt much better for it, and the weight started to slowly drop. I increased my exercise goal by 100 cals per session, but also increased my percentage of Protein. I think you need to keep juggling to find what suits your body. Keep going and good luck.
  • aleggett321
    aleggett321 Posts: 186 Member
    You night also be building up some muscle. Muscle is usually denser than fat, so you may be getting fitter and leaner, but your weight may stay the same as you replace fat with muscle.
    IF the OP is a newbie at exercise, there may be a little gain, but in calorie deficit, building muscle is an improbability because it would require adding tissue. And adding tissue means adding mass which happens when one is in calorie surplus.

    A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness industry for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

    Niner, in NROLFW, author Lou Schuler states a calorie deficit of no more than 300 cals/day is permissible. But I see so many posts saying you can't gain muscle or strength with a deficit. The book is a few years old so I don't know if that idea is now outdated. Could you give us your take on that?
  • thincharlene
    thincharlene Posts: 6
    My goal is to lose at least 2 pounds a week.
  • juhnell2610
    juhnell2610 Posts: 291 Member
    2 lbs a week is not healthy for anyone. Plus you'll just gain it right back very quickly because you might put your body in starvation mode.
  • daybehavior
    daybehavior Posts: 1,319 Member
    your goal is way too aggressive for your size, OP
    2 lbs a week is not healthy for anyone.

    I've been losing an average of 2.5 a week since December and I'm doing fine.
    Plus you'll just gain it right back very quickly because you might put your body in starvation mode.

    No. That's not how starvation mode works.
  • juhnell2610
    juhnell2610 Posts: 291 Member
    your goal is way too aggressive for your size, OP
    2 lbs a week is not healthy for anyone.

    I've been losing an average of 2.5 a week since December and I'm doing fine.
    Plus you'll just gain it right back very quickly because you might put your body in starvation mode.

    No. That's not how starvation mode works.

    You're right my response is inaccurate but like you said, her goal is pretty aggressive for her size. That's what I was trying to get at.
  • SLLRunner
    SLLRunner Posts: 12,942 Member
    Hello! I've started my weight loss journey a month back and the first week I lost about 5 pounds:

    SW: 135
    HW: 138.5
    LW: 129.5
    CW: 132.5
    GW: 125

    But recently I've been stuck in 132lb for a full week and I don't understand why. I walk everyday, I do Zumba everyday for an hour, I do situps, jumping jacks and squats everyday, I go to the gym on the weekends, I usually eat under my calorie goal and I've cut all junk food and sodas out of my life only drinking water. So my question is, if I'm doing everything right, why am I not getting any results?

    Welcome.

    So, you've been doing this a month, lost an average of 3.5 pounds and you are worried?

    First of all, that first five pounds was probably water. Second of all, three weeks is not enough time to make a judgment that you CAN"T lose weight. My advice is to chuck that horrible word.

    Also, you have very little to lose, which means you need to lower your expectations and up your calorie goal to lose .5 pounds per week. Weigh all your food and measure your liquids and log every single thing you eat. If you exercise, eat back a portion of your exercise calories. If you are consistent with keep to your calorie goal, you will lose weight unless you have some medical condition stalling your weight loss. However, based on what you say in your original post, this is probably not the case.

    Finally, you must be patient because of how little you have to lose. If you are aggressive and lose those ten or so pounds quickly, it will come back as soon as you return to maintenance.

    Remember: slow easy, patience, and keep it simple. :smile:
  • SLLRunner
    SLLRunner Posts: 12,942 Member
    My goal is to lose at least 2 pounds a week.
    Nope. Too aggressive, thus you are setting yourself up for failure.
  • SLLRunner
    SLLRunner Posts: 12,942 Member
    2 lbs a week is not healthy for anyone. Plus you'll just gain it right back very quickly because you might put your body in starvation mode.
    Well, it can be healthy for someone who is obese and needs to lose the weight quickly for health reasons and is under a doctor's care.

    However, you are wrong about starvation mode. People who are normal weight or obese do not go into starvation mode.
  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 48,972 Member
    You night also be building up some muscle. Muscle is usually denser than fat, so you may be getting fitter and leaner, but your weight may stay the same as you replace fat with muscle.
    IF the OP is a newbie at exercise, there may be a little gain, but in calorie deficit, building muscle is an improbability because it would require adding tissue. And adding tissue means adding mass which happens when one is in calorie surplus.

    A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness industry for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

    Niner, in NROLFW, author Lou Schuler states a calorie deficit of no more than 300 cals/day is permissible. But I see so many posts saying you can't gain muscle or strength with a deficit. The book is a few years old so I don't know if that idea is now outdated. Could you give us your take on that?
    Gaining strength isn't impossible due to neuromuscular adaptation. One can easily gain strength after a couple of weeks of lifting whether if they are new at it or returning after a long layoff.
    Realize that weight loss is a catabolic (tissue wasting) process while muscle building is an anabolic process. Almost impossible to gain muscle if deficit is the dominating factor. While it's possible to recomp if nutrition is correct and training is right for hypertrophy, a newbie trying this approach probably wouldn't see progress until well into their weight loss journey. Even for experienced lifters, the process is quite slow.

    A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness industry for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
  • zoeysasha37
    zoeysasha37 Posts: 7,088 Member
    Weight loss is not linear, you could be retaining fluid, and one week is NOT long enough to even begin thinking you "can't" lose weight.

    This!!!! It's been a week! Weight loss isn't linear, it just doesn't work like that. What matters is the big picture, the overall trend over time.

    From your profile, it looks like you've only been using this site for a few weeks. Be happy with the loss so far, and it will even out.
  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 48,972 Member
    My goal is to lose at least 2 pounds a week.
    With so little to lose and already being well under 200lbs, this is not a reasonable goal. This goal is causing you to have an extreme calorie deficit for your size now and that will cause your body to "suspend" any weight loss. And if you did by any chance lose some weight continuing it, lean muscle tissue will be a target and loss of lean muscle tissue will only lower your metabolic rate more.

    Be sensible and safe. Since you have so little to lose, your calories should be at about your TDEE minus 250 calories.

    A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness industry for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
  • porscheparcher
    porscheparcher Posts: 81
    I would say it has to be your eating. Something is going wrong there. Yes more protein, and maybe you are eating too many carbs! What have you changed recently? Maybe added on some stress too?

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