2 weeks in and little change???

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sierra71foxtrot
sierra71foxtrot Posts: 17 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
Hi, I'm new to this site. I'm hoping to get back in shape and have cut back on my eating drastically, no fatty foods, no alcohol, lots of vegetables and salads, using the low cal spray etc. I cant afford a gym so I've been doing 5 mile walks at a good pace 2-3 times a week. I started on the 1st Jan but as of today I've lost 1.5lbs. This doesnt seem much to me. I was hoping for a bit more to keep me motivated. I'm looking to lose about 1stone 7lbs and get back in shape and I was hoping to build up my fitness to progress from walking to jogging. Has anyone got any tip or adivce for me. I'm 44 yrs old, 5ft 6ins and currently weigh 11 stone. Thanks in advance
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  • Sued0nim
    Sued0nim Posts: 17,456 Member
    edited January 2015
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    Weigh your food on a digital scale and log it taking care to choose accurate MFP database entries - you don't need to cut things out just eat at a defecit

    Walking is great exercise

    Consider investing in a fitbit or similar to track your steps and adjust your calorie goals (not necessary)
  • cityruss
    cityruss Posts: 2,493 Member
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    1.5lbs since the 1st of January? That's a loss, that's great.

    Are you weighing and tracking your intake accurately? If not then you have no idea how many calories you are consuming. I'd start to weigh and track.
  • WendyMosesIsland
    WendyMosesIsland Posts: 1 Member
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    I am the same..doing 2-3 mile walk every day or two and not seeing any results on the scales. Look in a full frontal mirror..my shape is firming up.. expect yours is too :)
  • richjones1968
    richjones1968 Posts: 25
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    Why wait to progress to jogging. If you`re capable of good 5 mile walks you already have a reasonable base and should be able to start jogging now. Take it easy at first, try mixing run/walking , say a minute run, minute walk until you find a comfortable level, then up the running to 2mins and 1 minute walk etc.
    Do get a good pair of running shoes, if you've not run before find a specialist running/sports shop and ask the shopkeeper for advice - they should be able to do a gait analysis - only takes 2 minutes and they don`t charge.
    Also a well fitted, supportive bra is an absolute must for running.

    If you enjoy the running don't be shy of approaching a local running club. Most clubs have runners of every ability and are very supportive of beginners - the clubs are a good source of advice, encouragement and generally quite social
  • sierra71foxtrot
    sierra71foxtrot Posts: 17 Member
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    Thanks for the advice guys. I havent been weighing and counting the calories as I've done that before and it became a bit obsessive. I know I've cut down considerably and I do eat healthier now than before but maybe I should keep a food diary for a while just to keep a check on it. I had thought about the walking/jogging idea but the cost of good running shoes is stopping me at the moment. Do you think walking/jogging is enough? I've read alot about mixing your exercise up so its not the same thing all the time?
  • TimothyFish
    TimothyFish Posts: 4,925 Member
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    There's no reason you have to weigh your food or for that matter, count calories. But you do have to have some method for determining if you're eating too much. Since you aren't losing as quickly as you would like, that is an indication that you're eating too much. Reduce what you are eating and you'll lose more quickly.
  • malibu927
    malibu927 Posts: 17,565 Member
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    If you only have 21 pounds to lose, 1.5 pounds in two weeks is fantastic! Do whatever exercise you feel comfortable with, and see if counting calories goes better for you this time.
  • sierra71foxtrot
    sierra71foxtrot Posts: 17 Member
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    Is there any truth in the 'turning fat into muscle' ? do any of you know??
  • Sued0nim
    Sued0nim Posts: 17,456 Member
    edited January 2015
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    sierra71foxtrot wrote: »
    Is there any truth in the 'turning fat into muscle' ? do any of you know??

    No there's not

    Apart from newbies on a weight training regime or teenage boys fat does not turn to muscle in a defecit (meant loosely as fat cells do not convert to muscle ...they just empty as the fat is used by the body)

    However resistance training will help to maintain more LBM as you lose weight which is better
  • sierra71foxtrot
    sierra71foxtrot Posts: 17 Member
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    Thanks malibu927. Maybe I'm just hoping for too much too soon!!
  • La5Vega5Girl
    La5Vega5Girl Posts: 709 Member
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    i'm sorry to blame age, but it seems like the older we get, it truly is more difficult to lose. i lost NOTHING for months of trying. i finally had hormone testing and found out that i have a pituitary tumor which is causing my thyroid to be "off" as well as i am in early stages of meno. i'm the same height and weight as you. friend me if you like :smile:
  • cityruss
    cityruss Posts: 2,493 Member
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    sierra71foxtrot wrote: »
    Is there any truth in the 'turning fat into muscle' ? do any of you know??

    Complete and total myth.

    Lose fat, build muscle. Two separate processes.

  • La5Vega5Girl
    La5Vega5Girl Posts: 709 Member
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    TimothyFish wrote: »
    There's no reason you have to weigh your food or for that matter, count calories. But you do have to have some method for determining if you're eating too much. Since you aren't losing as quickly as you would like, that is an indication that you're eating too much. Reduce what you are eating and you'll lose more quickly.

    i dont' understand your point. how are you to determine if you're eating too much if you dont' count calories or weigh your food?

  • Liftng4Lis
    Liftng4Lis Posts: 15,150 Member
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    WTG on 1.5 pounds. You didn't gain it in two weeks and it isn't going to all come off in two weeks. Patience is key.
  • Sued0nim
    Sued0nim Posts: 17,456 Member
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    La5Vega5Girl wrote: »
    i'm sorry to blame age, but it seems like the older we get, it truly is more difficult to lose. i lost NOTHING for months of trying. i finally had hormone testing and found out that i have a pituitary tumor which is causing my thyroid to be "off" as well as i am in early stages of meno. i'm the same height and weight as you. friend me if you like :smile:

    That is unfortunate

    However without an underlying medical condition the reason it is more difficult to lose as people get older is because we become less active and lose muscle ...the solution to this issue is fairly simple for most people
  • Liftng4Lis
    Liftng4Lis Posts: 15,150 Member
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    TimothyFish wrote: »
    There's no reason you have to weigh your food or for that matter, count calories. But you do have to have some method for determining if you're eating too much. Since you aren't losing as quickly as you would like, that is an indication that you're eating too much. Reduce what you are eating and you'll lose more quickly.

    How is one supposed to know how much they're eating if they aren't weighing and measuring? She lost 1.5 pounds in two weeks, which is a healthy rate of loss for someone with so little to lose.
  • sheldonklein
    sheldonklein Posts: 854 Member
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    We're trying to solve a non-problem. .75 lb/wk is an appropriate rate for someone with only 21 pounds to lose. Any more will be needlessly punishing, at best, and sacrifice lean body mass, at worst.
  • ihad
    ihad Posts: 7,463 Member
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    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/blog/ihad/view/mfp-101-patience-you-must-have-it-713900
  • clambert1273
    clambert1273 Posts: 840 Member
    edited January 2015
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    rabbitjb wrote: »
    La5Vega5Girl wrote: »
    i'm sorry to blame age, but it seems like the older we get, it truly is more difficult to lose. i lost NOTHING for months of trying. i finally had hormone testing and found out that i have a pituitary tumor which is causing my thyroid to be "off" as well as i am in early stages of meno. i'm the same height and weight as you. friend me if you like :smile:

    That is unfortunate

    However without an underlying medical condition the reason it is more difficult to lose as people get older is because we become less active and lose muscle ...the solution to this issue is fairly simple for most people

    Actually it is fairly simple even with conditions... trust me I have quite a few including thyroid. You can read everything about me in my profile - I got nothing to hide. It still (regardless) comes down to CICO.. just finding the sweet spot is the hard part for most and a lot don't want to go into that much depth to do it.

    I can't slack with weighing because of my conditions - so I don't. It is all about constantly tweaking and evaluating.

    ETA: You are doing fine with that loss... just keep going and tweaking as you go - you will find the spot that works the best for your body.
  • Timorous_Beastie
    Timorous_Beastie Posts: 595 Member
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    sierra71foxtrot wrote: »
    Thanks malibu927. Maybe I'm just hoping for too much too soon!!

    Ding, ding, ding! We have a winner! :smiley:

    You're losing weight at a great rate for the amount you have to lose. Don't compare you loss to shows like the Biggest Loser or bogus magazine claims that you'll lose 7 pounds in 7 days by drinking organic unicorn urine.

    Walking and jogging is great. Make sure you add some form of strength or resistance training, and get good nutrition.

    Track your progress through more than just the scale, too. You won't always see a linear drop on the scale. Take progress photos every month or so, in as little clothing as you feel comfortable (they're for you, not anyone else). Take measurements. Go by how clothes fit. Have fitness markers, such as increasing distance or speed when running or walking, increasing weight amounts when lifting, being able to hold a plank longer, or even being able to carry all the groceries in the house in one trip, or not getting winded carrying laundry upstairs.

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