What am I doing wrong?

mrsewert
mrsewert Posts: 430 Member
edited November 14 in Health and Weight Loss
I'm working out a minimum of 30 minutes each day including cardio and weights. I'm always within my calories and have even tried upping my calories thinking I wasn't eating enough but here I am 3 months into my "change" and the scale has only moved 11 lbs. :neutral_face: I've heard the song and dance about muscle weighs more than fat and I get it but at what point will the scale start showing me some results? I feel great and I'm losing inches because I'm measuring which is great and should be enough but it just isn't.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Scale won't budge in Minnesota.
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Replies

  • Kelley0519
    Kelley0519 Posts: 254 Member
    How many calories are you eating per day? Are you drinking lots of water?
  • deksgrl
    deksgrl Posts: 7,237 Member
    You lost 11 pounds. That is about a pound a week which is healthy. Do you use a food scale and log accurately? Do you eat back exercise calories? Perhaps your exercise burns are too high. Are your goals set correctly? Did you choose you are "active" when you are closer to "lightly active"? There are a lot of reasons why you might not be losing as much as expected. I assume you chose "I want to lose 2 pounds per week".
  • rosnigetsfit
    rosnigetsfit Posts: 569 Member
    What are your stats?
  • DirtyTrickster
    DirtyTrickster Posts: 202 Member
    Are you on any meds that retain water?

    How's your sodium intake?

    These are things that messed up lost wight for me
  • mrsewert
    mrsewert Posts: 430 Member
    Yes I drink on average 10+ cups of water day.

    I don't use a food scale and I know my eating could be better but it's better than it ever was before. I measure things with a measuring cup perhaps a scale is better? I chose "lightly active" do to my desk job. And yes I would like to lose 2lbs per week.

    Not sure what you are looking for rosnigetsfit?
  • mrsewert
    mrsewert Posts: 430 Member
    DirtyTrickster wrote: »
    Are you on any meds that retain water?

    How's your sodium intake?

    These are things that messed up lost wight for me

    No meds! I do go over on sodium some days.

  • deksgrl
    deksgrl Posts: 7,237 Member
    Get a food scale, really. Most people underestimate their calories. Most of the time by a lot.
  • brookesdsu
    brookesdsu Posts: 47 Member
    edited March 2015
    Many people here strongly suggest the use of a food scale as it is much more accurate than using measuring cups for solids.
  • mrsewert
    mrsewert Posts: 430 Member
    Thanks deksgrl I'll look into that. :)

    I am currently doing the Couch25k challenge too.
  • sgthaggard
    sgthaggard Posts: 581 Member
    If you are losing between a half pound and a pound a week, I would say you are doing very well. Yes, buy a food scale - you will be amazed how much of a difference it can make.
  • evileen99
    evileen99 Posts: 1,564 Member
    You're not doing anything wrong; you're doing everything right and seeing a steady weight loss. You're getting smaller. Why are you so concerned about the number on the scale? Everyone else can see how you look, not the number on the scale.
  • snowflakesav
    snowflakesav Posts: 649 Member
    11 pounds over 12 weeks seems very close to being on track. That is something to celebrate! I think you are on the right track and evaluating your progress will help you be successful.
  • 999tigger
    999tigger Posts: 5,235 Member
    I stopped at
    I dont use a foodscale
    . Get the basics right or deal with being less effective than you might be. 30mins exercise spread over cardio and weights is not masses its ok and everything counts, but dont have unrealistic expectations.
  • carmenrosab
    carmenrosab Posts: 44 Member
    I think you're doing great. Get a food scale, you have no idea how much that helps. It makes a huge difference. Try not to be too low on calories, I had mine at 1,000 and that was way too low. I'm at 1,200 now and I eat back all of my exercise calorie burns. Also, don't over estimate calories burned during exercise.
  • rosnigetsfit
    rosnigetsfit Posts: 569 Member
    edited March 2015
    I was asking for your height and weight.

    11lbs in 3 months seems a healthy weight lost to me. Why does it bother you?
  • malibu927
    malibu927 Posts: 17,562 Member
    How much do you have to lose? 2 pounds could be too aggressive for you depending on the amount.
  • 999tigger
    999tigger Posts: 5,235 Member
    Because she feels her effort should be yielding more weight loss than that.
  • RoxieDawn
    RoxieDawn Posts: 15,488 Member
    There is no song and dance about muscle weighing more than fat. A pound of muscle weighs the same as a pound of fat. Muscle is denser...

    And for 11 pounds in 12 weeks... that is perfect and very healthy and attainable for long term results in keeping it off once you have met your goals.

    Keep at it... you are doing well!
  • mrsewert
    mrsewert Posts: 430 Member
    I have 100+ lbs to lose so I don't think 2lbs per week is unrealistic. I'm not throwing in the towel because like I said I feel great, I'm more active than I've been in a very long time and clothes are fitting differently so I know things are happening. I guess it's a personal struggle to want to see that number on the scale move.
  • malibu927
    malibu927 Posts: 17,562 Member
    mrsewert wrote: »
    I have 100+ lbs to lose so I don't think 2lbs per week is unrealistic. I'm not throwing in the towel because like I said I feel great, I'm more active than I've been in a very long time and clothes are fitting differently so I know things are happening. I guess it's a personal struggle to want to see that number on the scale move.

    You're right, it isn't unrealistic, but often people come here with just 10-20 pounds to lose and choose that amount. Definitely pick up a food scale and start weighing. You'll be amazed at how far off portions are from what you think!
  • 999tigger
    999tigger Posts: 5,235 Member
    edited March 2015
    mrsewert wrote: »
    I have 100+ lbs to lose so I don't think 2lbs per week is unrealistic. I'm not throwing in the towel because like I said I feel great, I'm more active than I've been in a very long time and clothes are fitting differently so I know things are happening. I guess it's a personal struggle to want to see that number on the scale move.

    Then get the basics sorted out if you want to diet effectively and lose at a greater rate. We cant see your diary so we have no idea if whether you have a reasonable expectation of 2lbs a week based on what you are doing. Your body says no at the moment.
  • brianpperkins
    brianpperkins Posts: 6,124 Member
    The difference between a one and two pound per week loss is 500 calories per day. Honestly, that isn't a difficult amount to negate with inaccurate logging. The intake side of the equation is easier to narrow down .. weigh all solids, measure all liquids, be judicious when selecting entries in the database.

    The exercise burn side of the equation can be harder to nail down. Caloric burn from lifting is almost impossible to accurately estimate which is why MFP doesn't provide calories for it when it is logged as strength training. Cardio is easy to overestimate and many calculators report gross, not net from exercise calories. For a person with a resting metabolic rate of 2400 (just a nice easy number for this example) that works out for one hour, the difference in net and gross is 100 calories. A start point for net calories from walking is .3 x weight in pounds x miles ... or for running .63 x weight in pounds x miles ... not 100% accurate but they should get you in the ballpark. For other activities ... here is a link to MET tables and the explanation of how to calculate a burn ....

    http://prevention.sph.sc.edu/tools/compendium.htm

  • Liftng4Lis
    Liftng4Lis Posts: 15,151 Member
    Are you using a food scale?
  • I_Will_End_You
    I_Will_End_You Posts: 4,397 Member
    What is your calorie goal set at? Opening your diary would make it easier for people to help you.
  • LoosingMyLast15
    LoosingMyLast15 Posts: 1,457 Member
    mrsewert wrote: »
    I have 100+ lbs to lose so I don't think 2lbs per week is unrealistic. I'm not throwing in the towel because like I said I feel great, I'm more active than I've been in a very long time and clothes are fitting differently so I know things are happening. I guess it's a personal struggle to want to see that number on the scale move.

    the scale didn't go up overnight so it won't go down overnight either. you are doing great!!! you should be proud of that 11lbs loss! buy a food scale, ditch the measuring cups. keep at it. eventually you will lose the weight. watch your sodium intake.
  • iamchuckbass78
    iamchuckbass78 Posts: 34 Member
    I think 11 pounds in 3 months is good. Especially since you admit your eating could be better. And honestly, its probably even worse than you think when you consider how much people misjudged measurements and portion sizes. If you want to increase your speed of weight loss you have to be careful about what you're consuming.
  • Neyllogem
    Neyllogem Posts: 14 Member
    deksgrl wrote: »
    Get a food scale, really. Most people underestimate their calories. Most of the time by a lot.


    This. I started using a food scale about a week ago and I was surprised by how much I was underestimating my food. I was consuming 300+ calories more than I thought I was each day.

  • SLLRunner
    SLLRunner Posts: 12,942 Member
    mrsewert wrote: »
    I'm working out a minimum of 30 minutes each day including cardio and weights. I'm always within my calories and have even tried upping my calories thinking I wasn't eating enough but here I am 3 months into my "change" and the scale has only moved 11 lbs. :neutral_face: I've heard the song and dance about muscle weighs more than fat and I get it but at what point will the scale start showing me some results? I feel great and I'm losing inches because I'm measuring which is great and should be enough but it just isn't.

    Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

    Thanks,
    Scale won't budge in Minnesota.

    Wait a minute. You've lost 11 pounds in three months and you're upset?

    That is actually terrific progress.

    You didn't gain the weight the weight overnight so you won't lose it overnight, weight loss is not linear, weight naturally fluctuates, patience is a virtue....and I could think of a whole lot of other truths to throw your way. :)

    Just keep doing what you're doing, take your time, and create some sustainable changes in your eating habits. There is no need to rush anything at all.
  • MomTo3Lovez
    MomTo3Lovez Posts: 800 Member
    You may not be seeing a loss on the scale BUT you are seeing a loss in inches which means what you are doing seems to be working. I try not going by the scale as much anymore and just go by measurements and how my clothes feel and how I feel. And you are right 2lbs a week for 100+ lbs to lose is not unrealistic. I agree with everyone else in buying a food scale, you may be eating more than you think by using measuring cups. 11lbs in 12 weeks is nothing to be unhappy about that is amazing!!!
  • SLLRunner
    SLLRunner Posts: 12,942 Member
    mrsewert wrote: »
    Yes I drink on average 10+ cups of water day.

    I don't use a food scale and I know my eating could be better but it's better than it ever was before. I measure things with a measuring cup perhaps a scale is better? I chose "lightly active" do to my desk job. And yes I would like to lose 2lbs per week.

    Not sure what you are looking for rosnigetsfit?

    What are your stats?

    How much do you have to lose?
This discussion has been closed.

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