Why am i not losing any weight?

cheeseberber
cheeseberber Posts: 8
in Health and Weight Loss
1. I have been eating 1,200 calories per day or even less (this is the 1st time that I have actually dieted and controlled my food intake in a long time because it's such a hassle to keep up with calories)
2. I have actually enrolled to a gym and I've been working out (which I haven't really done in a long time) - i do about 30 minutes of cardio (varies per day) and some strength training
3. I'm actually taking slimming pills to curb my appetite as well

But still, nothing is changing. I feel like my effort is being put to waste.

Replies

  • BigT555
    BigT555 Posts: 2,067 Member
    how long have you been cutting calories?

    how long have you been working out?

    how are you measuring your food intake? (scale, volume?)

    are you around your TOM?

    ETA: how are you measuring progress? you should measure through more than one medium (i.e. scale, tape measurements, progress pics ect.)
  • cheeseberber
    cheeseberber Posts: 8
    1) I've been cutting calories for a week now. I've cut calories for 2 weeks now but i havent been that consistent
    2) 2 weeks as well. I started working out this month of July. And i've been going to the gym almost everyday (or at least 5 times a week)
    3) I've been using this fitnesspal app. Believe me i'm only drinking coffee & water and eat like chicken breast sandwiches
    4) what is TOM?
  • BigT555
    BigT555 Posts: 2,067 Member
    well 2 weeks is too short of a time to tell. when you add exercise into your regime that your muscles arent accustomed to you will see a gain in water weight, which will mask your fat loss temporarily. give it a couple more weeks before stressing out too much

    be sure that you are tracking calories accurately. you may want to check out this post; http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1234699-logging-accurately-step-by-step-guide?hl=logging+accurately
    using anything other than a scale for measuring solid foods is going to have a decent margin of error, so consider getting a food scale

    TOM is your time of month, or period. i ask this because it often causes some water weight gain due to hormone fluctuations and whatnot
  • earlnabby
    earlnabby Posts: 8,171 Member
    1) I've been cutting calories for a week now. I've cut calories for 2 weeks now but i havent been that consistent
    2) 2 weeks as well. I started working out this month of July. And i've been going to the gym almost everyday (or at least 5 times a week)
    3) I've been using this fitnesspal app. Believe me i'm only drinking coffee & water and eat like chicken breast sandwiches
    4) what is TOM?

    4) what is TOM? Time Of the Month (aka your period). Almost every woman retains some water weight at that time, some as much as 4-5 lb

    To answer the rest of your questions, chances are really good that your muscles are retaining water because you have started using them in a way that they are not used to. It is extremely likely that you have lost some fat but the water weight negates the scale showing it. 1-2 weeks is way too soon to know if it is working or not, Give it closer to a month.
  • cheeseberber
    cheeseberber Posts: 8
    I have read about that too, it's either water weight or muscle weight gain. And they say that muscle weighs more than fat, and i've been lifting and doing leg presses and all those machines. And it's my first time to use them. But i guess i have to be more strict with my diet too.

    Thank you for the link, i shall check it out.

    Oh and this is actually my problem :( my period is very irregular, sometimes i dont get any period for 2 or 3 months so i cant really track it.
  • thebigcb
    thebigcb Posts: 2,210 Member
    So you are telling em that after 2 weeks of eating good, then bad, then good, then bad. You haven;t lost any weight
  • cheeseberber
    cheeseberber Posts: 8
    So you are telling em that after 2 weeks of eating good, then bad, then good, then bad. You haven;t lost any weight

    i mean, i'll eat strictly for about 3 or 4 days then reward myself (esp during weekends, "cheat days", but i dont cheat that much, i still count the calories)
  • SuperC_85
    SuperC_85 Posts: 393
    1) I've been cutting calories for a week now. I've cut calories for 2 weeks now but i havent been that consistent

    3) I've been using this fitnesspal app. Believe me i'm only drinking coffee & water and eat like chicken breast sandwiches

    Give it some more time, a week is not very long to go on. Also try and measure yourself instead of looking at the scale, you might see losses there that you arent seeing on the scale.

    Do you use a food scale to measure your food? Here is a great guide. http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1234699-logging-accurately-step-by-step-guide

    When you say you are only drinking coffee and water and eat chicken breast sandwiches...what are your calorie goals?
  • aprilflower18232
    aprilflower18232 Posts: 205 Member
    It could be many things, TOM, muscle weight, or it's possible your not eating enough calories, 1200 is dangerously low.....especially with working out as well....try upping your calories a bit
  • cheeseberber
    cheeseberber Posts: 8
    4) what is TOM? Time Of the Month (aka your period). Almost every woman retains some water weight at that time, some as much as 4-5 lb

    To answer the rest of your questions, chances are really good that your muscles are retaining water because you have started using them in a way that they are not used to. It is extremely likely that you have lost some fat but the water weight negates the scale showing it. 1-2 weeks is way too soon to know if it is working or not, Give it closer to a month.

    As i said, i cant track my period, my last menstruation was around april 26, 2014. I'm very irregular, i skip MONTHS.

    I really hope thats the case :( should i just keep doing what i've been doing? or can you suggest something that can make it better?
  • Unknown
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  • cheeseberber
    cheeseberber Posts: 8

    Give it some more time, a week is not very long to go on. Also try and measure yourself instead of looking at the scale, you might see losses there that you arent seeing on the scale.

    Do you use a food scale to measure your food? Here is a great guide. http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1234699-logging-accurately-step-by-step-guide

    When you say you are only drinking coffee and water and eat chicken breast sandwiches...what are your calorie goals?

    i'll try that. i do feel like i am losing weight though the scale isnt reflecting it :|

    i usually wake up around lunch time so i'd only be drinking coffee then i head out to the gym and eat my dinner after working out, which is usually a chicken breast sandwich or some soup. i do eat cereals or oatmeal and fruits as well. 1,200 cal/day
  • thebigcb
    thebigcb Posts: 2,210 Member
    So you are telling em that after 2 weeks of eating good, then bad, then good, then bad. You haven;t lost any weight

    i mean, i'll eat strictly for about 3 or 4 days then reward myself (esp during weekends, "cheat days", but i dont cheat that much, i still count the calories)

    4 days good 3 days bad isn't going to work( I am the same , weekends I am the cookie monster)

    5 good, 2 bad at least, with 5 days exercise
  • _Resolve_
    _Resolve_ Posts: 735 Member
    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1235566-so-you-re-new-here


    Read all of this.

    Twice.
  • earlnabby
    earlnabby Posts: 8,171 Member
    4) what is TOM? Time Of the Month (aka your period). Almost every woman retains some water weight at that time, some as much as 4-5 lb

    To answer the rest of your questions, chances are really good that your muscles are retaining water because you have started using them in a way that they are not used to. It is extremely likely that you have lost some fat but the water weight negates the scale showing it. 1-2 weeks is way too soon to know if it is working or not, Give it closer to a month.

    As i said, i cant track my period, my last menstruation was around april 26, 2014. I'm very irregular, i skip MONTHS.

    I really hope thats the case :( should i just keep doing what i've been doing? or can you suggest something that can make it better?

    The main thing to make it better is to start tracking EVERYTHING you eat and eat a variety of nutrient dense foods. Whole grains, fruit, veggies, lean meats, healthy fats, etc. You are just starting out on what is a long lifetime of fitness so don't expect everything to be perfect at once. MFP really works if you pay attention to what you are doing. Don't eat too little. 1200 calories is the absolute minimum so don't cut too far,

    ETA: don't worry about tracking your period. We usually throw that out there because sometimes ladies forget that it is due and wonder why they gained some (temporary) weight.
  • nomeejerome
    nomeejerome Posts: 2,616 Member
    Patience.
    It should be noted that you only have 16 pounds to lose (if your ticker is correct), which is going to be a slower go versus someone who has more weight to lose. Go to the getting started section of the forum and read the first two stickies. (the ones with the red pin next to them)
  • Supertact
    Supertact Posts: 466 Member
    Changes habits for 1 hole week, expects a world of change.

    Wait longer.
  • kris4chloe
    kris4chloe Posts: 245 Member
    you only have 16 pounds to lose til goal. so at the most your body would lose .5 a pound a week. the closer to goal the lower the weight loss per week on perfect weeks. since you are going to the gym, break out the tape measure and use that to determine how you are doing and not just the scale. incorporate weights into your workout and build muscle and you may not lose but your body will change shape.
  • cheeseberber
    cheeseberber Posts: 8
    Patience.
    It should be noted that you only have 16 pounds to lose (if your ticker is correct), which is going to be a slower go versus someone who has more weight to lose. Go to the getting started section of the forum and read the first two stickies. (the ones with the red pin next to them)

    I have about 20+ pounds to lose actually. Alright, thanks!
  • cheeseberber
    cheeseberber Posts: 8
    you only have 16 pounds to lose til goal. so at the most your body would lose .5 a pound a week. the closer to goal the lower the weight loss per week on perfect weeks. since you are going to the gym, break out the tape measure and use that to determine how you are doing and not just the scale. incorporate weights into your workout and build muscle and you may not lose but your body will change shape.

    that is my initial goal. after i reach that i plan on losing 10 more i guess. i really have to keep track of my measurements, i will measure myself now hahaha.
  • Kate7294
    Kate7294 Posts: 783 Member
    I have read about that too, it's either water weight or muscle weight gain. And they say that muscle weighs more than fat, and i've been lifting and doing leg presses and all those machines. And it's my first time to use them. But i guess i have to be more strict with my diet too.

    Thank you for the link, i shall check it out.

    Oh and this is actually my problem :( my period is very irregular, sometimes i dont get any period for 2 or 3 months so i cant really track it.

    You may have PCOS "Poly Cystic Ovarian Syndrome" if your irregular. Losing weight can help some with PCOS ;other's like myself have to used prescribed medication to help regulate hormones.
    Women with PCOS often are very irregular, develop male characteristics such as facial hair do to having to much testerone. Is your Doctor aware of your irregularity? You can also research this subject. I previously lost 67lbs after being diagnosed in 2009/10.
  • AllOutof_Bubblegum
    AllOutof_Bubblegum Posts: 3,646 Member
    Sigh. You are probably eating too little.

    MFP is quite notorious for setting calorie goals FAR too low, regardless of height and weight. For example, it told me to eat 1200, and my BMR (the bare amount of calories I need to LIVE) is 1280. And I am extremely tiny, only 5 feet. So unless you are smaller than me, or bedridden, it is almost a CERTAINTY that you are eating too little. (This can result in lean muscle loss, chronic fatigue, metabolism damage, and bingeing due to over-restriction.)

    Go to

    http://iifym.com/tdee-calculator/

    and enter your height/weight/activity level.

    Subtract 10-20% from the number it calculates for you, and that is the number of calories you should be eating a day in order to lose weight. With this method you do not eat back your exercise calories, as they are already figured into your daily goal.
  • leggup
    leggup Posts: 2,942 Member
    You only have 16 lbs to lose. Unless you are 4 ft 0 inches tall, you're probably undereating at 1,200 calories. No, this won't cause you to go into "starvation mode," it just means that it's not sustainable, healthy, or likely to give you the results you want. I recommend reading through all of the topics stickied to the top of the General Diet and Weight Loss forum. You are making this harder for yourself than it needs to be.
  • diannethegeek
    diannethegeek Posts: 14,776 Member
    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1235566-so-you-re-new-here


    Read all of this.

    Twice.

    This is a really good place to start.
  • scode83
    scode83 Posts: 42
    Ditch the 'slimming pills', they're all a con and you're just wasting your money on them. When people are hungry often it can sometimes actually be thirst, but it just feels like hunger. So drink plenty of water.

    Loving the profile picture by the way.

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