Frustrated

taramickels
taramickels Posts: 2
edited November 10 in Introduce Yourself
I started on myfitnesspal again a week ago after working out on treadmill drinking alot of water in the first 3 days I lost 4 pounds now I am back to my starting weight after being under my
calories most days? How can I stay .motivated when I go backwards

Replies

  • AZTallguy
    AZTallguy Posts: 154 Member
    When that happens to me I try to remember that muscle is heavier than fat because of the density. So any gain, when I know I'm working the program, is actually a good thing. Hang in there!
  • queenliz99
    queenliz99 Posts: 15,317 Member
    edited January 2015
    Weight loss is not linear. Patience is key. 25 pounds will probably take at least 25 weeks.

    Set mini goals.
  • krysmuree
    krysmuree Posts: 326 Member
    You skip breakfast, a lot, which is incredible important in getting your metabolism going. Your lunches are very light and your dinners are very heavy, and you also drink often, which can inhibit weight loss. Try to focus on eating the most in the morning, and moderately in the afternoon and evening, with healthy snacks in between. Splurging is okay and it's good that you factor your alcohol consumption into your daily allotment, but you're sacrificing nutrients, proteins and good fats your body needs to function and to lose.
  • wanabefit2016
    wanabefit2016 Posts: 187 Member
    Is it nearly totm? I know I gain when it's that time. Hang on in there, it will come off
  • diannethegeek
    diannethegeek Posts: 14,776 Member
    KrissyMuree wrote: »
    You skip breakfast, a lot, which is incredible important in getting your metabolism going. Your lunches are very light and your dinners are very heavy, and you also drink often, which can inhibit weight loss. Try to focus on eating the most in the morning, and moderately in the afternoon and evening, with healthy snacks in between. Splurging is okay and it's good that you factor your alcohol consumption into your daily allotment, but you're sacrificing nutrients, proteins and good fats your body needs to function and to lose.

    Meal timing has very little to no effect on weight loss. For some people it may affect things like hunger and energy levels throughout the day, but it varies from person to person. When to eat is personal preference and will never matter more than how much you're eating.
  • taramickels
    taramickels Posts: 2
    Thank you all for your advice and motivation I will keep going.
  • smilingdaisies
    smilingdaisies Posts: 76 Member
    I always gain a little after beginning a new workout or getting back on track. There are many online articles that explain why. A lot has to do with water retention as well as some muscle build up but muscle will burn more fat so you have to keep going. I started back after a 2 mth holiday blah and gained 4 pds immediately. It's been a month and it just now started to go down.
  • zoeysasha37
    zoeysasha37 Posts: 7,088 Member
    It's actually very normal to retain water at first. It's about the long term trends, and a week isn't long enough to make any judgments . Anytime I start a new workout routine,I retain water for the first couple weeks. Don't worry about it and keep going
  • MeanderingMammal
    MeanderingMammal Posts: 7,866 Member
    taramickels wrote: »
    I started on myfitnesspal again a week ago after working out on treadmill drinking alot of water in the first 3 days I lost 4 pounds now I am back to my starting weight after being under my
    calories most days? How can I stay .motivated when I go backwards

    So you've been logging less than two weeks, so I'd be very surprised if you see any credible outcome in that time. If anything that 4lbs initial loss could easily have been residual food coming out of your system.

    That said, if the exercise regime is new there is some adaptation, and whilse you seem to be doing very limited workouts you may find some water weight retention.

    fwiw the notion of adding any significant muscle mass as upthread isn't going to happen in a week, particularly when you're eating in deficit.

    The one observation I would make is, your daily calorie target is quite low, and you're approximating a lot in your logging. Just how much confidence have you that you're accurate about either calories in or calories out?

  • spaterson005
    spaterson005 Posts: 24 Member
    taramickels wrote: »
    Thank you all for your advice and motivation I will keep going.

  • spaterson005
    spaterson005 Posts: 24 Member
    spaterson005 wrote: »
    taramickels wrote: »
    Thank you all for your advice and motivation I will keep going.
    Good luck
  • riffraff2112
    riffraff2112 Posts: 1,756 Member
    Its been said a few times, and if you look at old post this may be one of the more common observations from people (and one reason you may not want to weigh yourself so often!).
    Weight comes off at different paces for different people, and your true weight is going to fluctuate as it trends down. Don't get discouraged by the scale unless you have been at it for a few months, and are not seeing progress. Keep doing the right things and you will succeed.
  • farfromthetree
    farfromthetree Posts: 982 Member
    Be sure you are logging accurately. You cannot give up and don't believe the muscle weighs more than fat thing. You are certainly not gaining muscle after a week on the treadmill. Read this!!


    http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/1296011/calorie-counting-101/p1
  • ndj1979
    ndj1979 Posts: 29,136 Member
    Tall1IAm wrote: »
    When that happens to me I try to remember that muscle is heavier than fat because of the density. So any gain, when I know I'm working the program, is actually a good thing. Hang in there!

    OP is not "gaining muscle" eating 1300 calories a day and working out on a treadmill…

    I wish gaining muscle was that easy..
  • ndj1979
    ndj1979 Posts: 29,136 Member
    OP - it has only been a week. IT really takes our body about three to four weeks to adjust to a new program, and as others have pointed out, weight loss is not linear.

    Do you own a food scale?

    Do you weigh/log/measure everything?

    If the answer to theses questions is no, then start doing them...
  • zenaxe
    zenaxe Posts: 203 Member
    1 lbs of muscle weights exactly the same as 1 lbs. of fat.. both are 1 lbs. but muscle is more dense than fat, as pointed out in a post. But again the issue is really weight loss verses fat loss. Remember 3500 calories measures 1 lbs of fat so unless you ate 3500 x 4 you wouldn't have gained any fat and it's likely water and other weight. Those of us cutting and in calorie deficit are really talking about fat loss but we use weight loss as the proxy for this. Like others are saying, it's long term, don't be discouraged, stay focused on your goals and you'll get there, as will all of us on this road. B)
  • laconrad2013
    laconrad2013 Posts: 41 Member
    Weigh once a week. Make sure it's at the same time after doing the same thing (such as after waking up, before drinking anything) and wearing about the same amount of clothing (or no clothing). Women especially retain water that comes and goes. By weighing only once a week you are more likely to have a sense of your true weight loss and will not be frustrated by water weight gains or losses. I can weigh 3 pounds more one day to the next despite eating less the day before. I can eat more that day and be 2 pounds less the next despite eating more. So I opted to weigh once a week so I don't get so focused on the ups and downs.
  • emdeesea
    emdeesea Posts: 1,823 Member
    edited January 2015
    You really have to give it a full six weeks to see any noticeable change. And don't weigh yourself every day. That's usually guaranteed to be a motivation killer because weight fluctuates daily.

    Weight loss is 80% diet. You're only going to get minimal benefit by using a dreadmill. At your age (and I say this because I'm a 43-yo woman) best thing to do is to ditch the cardio and focus on strength training, like 2-3 times a week, and walking/jogging here and there to get the heart benefits of cardio. Because as we age, we lose muscle mass every year. And women who focus on ONLY cardio lose weight in the form of muscle, which for a woman, ultimately puts us at risk for osteoporosis and other wonderful health risks later in life.

    The thing is by doing strength training, you're not likely to see the scale go down, but you'll see your clothes getting looser, which, really, is what we want. If you focus on just the number, you'll drive yourself crazy.

    Anyway, just my suggestion. Good luck.
  • cwlsr
    cwlsr Posts: 71 Member
    I will keep it short! Congratulations on making a start toward good health. A healthy lifestyle contains the following elements: Sleep, Water, Mental Rest, Proper Nutrition and Exercise, MFP is the greatest tool for developing a healthy lifestyle plan if you use it properly. If you are incorporating the above elements in your effort to lose weight then you will only have to weigh in every 30 days. Note: The scale is the most discouraging tool dieters use in their efforts to lose weight if they weigh in to often. Your life style plan should be seen as a journey to excellent health and happiness. The best to you.
  • GlennFaz
    GlennFaz Posts: 2
    farfromthetree wrote: »
    Be sure you are logging accurately. You cannot give up and don't believe the muscle weighs more than fat thing. You are certainly not gaining muscle after a week on the treadmill. Read this!!


    http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/1296011/calorie-counting-101/p1

    The "muscle weighs more than fit thing" is absolutely true. You are correct in saying she wouldn't have significant muscle gain in 1 week though. ☺
  • krysmuree
    krysmuree Posts: 326 Member
    diannethegeek wrote: »
    KrissyMuree wrote: »
    You skip breakfast, a lot, which is incredible important in getting your metabolism going. Your lunches are very light and your dinners are very heavy, and you also drink often, which can inhibit weight loss. Try to focus on eating the most in the morning, and moderately in the afternoon and evening, with healthy snacks in between. Splurging is okay and it's good that you factor your alcohol consumption into your daily allotment, but you're sacrificing nutrients, proteins and good fats your body needs to function and to lose.

    Meal timing has very little to no effect on weight loss. For some people it may affect things like hunger and energy levels throughout the day, but it varies from person to person. When to eat is personal preference and will never matter more than how much you're eating.

    I never said anything about meal timing. My point is she skips a meal entirely.
  • MeanderingMammal
    MeanderingMammal Posts: 7,866 Member
    KrissyMuree wrote: »
    I never said anything about meal timing. My point is she skips a meal entirely.

    Doesn't really matter as net intake remains in the vicinity of 1300 cals per day.
  • farfromthetree
    farfromthetree Posts: 982 Member
    GlennFaz wrote: »
    farfromthetree wrote: »
    Be sure you are logging accurately. You cannot give up and don't believe the muscle weighs more than fat thing. You are certainly not gaining muscle after a week on the treadmill. Read this!!


    http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/1296011/calorie-counting-101/p1

    The "muscle weighs more than fit thing" is absolutely true. You are correct in saying she wouldn't have significant muscle gain in 1 week though. ☺

    Not "significant", she will have NO muscle gain in one week. Someone who "lifts" and weighs 130 lbs, will look better than someone who is 130 lbs and does not exercise. 1lb of muscle does weigh the same as 1lb of fat, muscle just looks better. But we are splitting hairs here...

This discussion has been closed.

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