Need some encouragement

erikamt
erikamt Posts: 6
edited September 25 in Motivation and Support
So i have been at this for about 2 months now and haven't lost a pound. I always stay within my 1200 calories (except the last 2 days because I have kind of given up), and have been exercising like mad.

I am 20 years old , 5'3 and 145 lbs. My original goal was to lose 20 lbs, but now any loss would be nice.

I have experimented with eating/not eating exercise calories, and have also experimented with eating a little bit more ( like 1300 cal) to see it if would help.

I have been running, doing the elliptical, zumba, step/stability ball, using free weights and the machines at the gym, 30 day shred, turbokick and turbo jam.

at this point i am very frustrated, especially when I see others losing every week.

TOM is coming soon, and I am starting to gain weight (i usually gain at least 5 lbs every month, then lose most of it pretty quick after), but it is still hard to look in the mirror.

Anyone been in this situation or have some words of motivation?

Replies

  • tamaracorine
    tamaracorine Posts: 9
    The numbers going down are just a bonus. Take a week or two and ignore the scales. Make goals to run further or faster, lift more weights or something like that. Non-scale victories are sweet.
    Go for them.
    It'll give you a push forward!
  • david081
    david081 Posts: 489 Member
    How accurately are you measuring your calories in to start with? I bought a digital scale for the kitchen so I couldn't cheat. If you maintain a calorie deficit you WILL start to lose weight - lots of debate on exercise calories - if I have done loads, like yesterday, I will maybe take 25% as I don't entirely trust the accuracy of some figures, I think they should be considered a guideline...

    Stay with it :flowerforyou:
  • ski3r4life
    ski3r4life Posts: 206
    Okay this is CREEPY. I am the exact height, age and weight as you. Have you honestly been counting your calories? Or maybe, you make the same mistake I did - underestimating the numbers by accident. I thought it was one cup, but it was IN FACT more. Also, switch up your routine with something else. I run all the time too, but I'm doing other things to keep it interesting and to train different muscle groups - swimming, calisthenics... I hope that helps... honestly I just hit 144 and I hope I don't plateau - but we'll see! Feel free to look at my diary or friend request me.
  • Mairgheal
    Mairgheal Posts: 385 Member
    I can imagine how frustrated you must feel. Have you taken measurements (I didn't and am sorry about that), or can you feel any difference in your clothes?
  • marianeo
    marianeo Posts: 161 Member
    Have you tried measuring your body fat% ? you seem to be working out a lot, and maybe you are building lean muscle which weighs more than fat - hence you would not see a real movement on the scale, but would feel it in your clothes and general well being

    Just a thought....I find that moving on BMI/body fat/clothes size etc are just as good a motivator as weight ;-)
  • summerkissed
    summerkissed Posts: 730 Member
    I think maybe you are starving your body??? 20 years old you resting metabolic rate would be around 1400 at least! and you only eating 1200cals doesnt seem right! especially with all the exercise you are doing. So maybe you need to eat more like 1400 a day so your body is not in starvation mode........Im studying fitness atm we are learning about these kind of things. im 33 years old I exercise a lot and to maintain my weight I eat 2000 cals a day!! If I drop between 1800-1600 I loose weight!! but if I drop below 1400cals I dont loose weight!!!
  • missy1970eb
    missy1970eb Posts: 1,209 Member
    come on keep going, try to exercise an extra 5 mins a day and make sure ur drinking at least ur 8 glasses of water a day.:smile:
  • debbiequack
    debbiequack Posts: 275 Member
    I agree with everything everyone else has said on here. I have had some of the same problems that you have and what I'm doing to combat is:

    1) Being COMPLETELY honest about my calories and exercise---
    2) MFP takes any exercise you do and adds it to what you can eat. Someone suggested to me that I not do this-- don't eat the extra calories....
    3) I'm re-examining the things I eat and trying to vary my diet more. I'm also upping my water consumption with the assumption that the extra water will also help me feel full.

    I also recognize that no matter what the scales say, I'm still healthier :) My blood pressure is down, for example.

    Good luck!

    Debbie
  • taruns
    taruns Posts: 2 Member
    I have experienced this, can I suggest water intake is one of the most significant factors for me loosing weight. If you are not drinking a minimum of 2 L of water every day,, the weight will come off much slower.

    If ou have an iphone, grab the Get running app and spend 9 wks doing the interval training on that, I lost a stack of weight after increasing water intake and starting the get Running app.

    Hope this helps, don't give up....
  • LadyF20044
    LadyF20044 Posts: 2 Member
    Oh Dear I know how you must be feeling :explode:

    Have you taken your body measurements? i.e your waist, chest, top of each leg (round the biggest part ) arms and hips?

    I was the same (before I broke my ankle) no weight change at all loads of exercise but no weight-loss. What did change
    were the measurements around my body. Once that stopped moving I mixed up what I did same stuff but different days to a different intensity i.e. slow jogging mixed with fast outbursts etc. Shocking your body into change (but still eating - very important do not starve yourself or drop your cal intake any further) may work. Bodies get use to what you do so they (like us) need change!

    Give it a go it may help, in the meantime keep up the good work your not getting bigger but you are getting fitter no matter what the scales say :flowerforyou:
  • erikamt
    erikamt Posts: 6
    I am trying to determine if I am eating too much, or not enough.

    I have been logging everything I eat, and as far as I know have been recording all the calories in. I have been exercising at least an hour a day (not just walking or cleaning) and so I usually have a greater calorie deficit because of the exercise.

    any thoughts?
  • missy1970eb
    missy1970eb Posts: 1,209 Member
    r u eating back the calories u've earned if so try not eating them back:smile:
  • SlimLittleMrs
    SlimLittleMrs Posts: 127
    I think you definitely need more calories
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