I've been dieting & exercising for 1 month and haven't lost any weight really but appear smaller

myers2013foster
myers2013foster Posts: 10 Member
edited November 22 in Fitness and Exercise
I had twins 12 weeks ago via emergency section. I gained a lot of weight when pregnant & for the last 4 weeks I've been dieting & exercising everyday (having 1 day a week rest) I usually do yoga for 30 mins in the morning, then boxfit (extreme) for 20 minutes in the evening followed by extreme standing Pilates for 30 mins. According to the scales I haven't actually lost any weight but I appear small and my clothes are beginning to get lose. Why is this?? I'm trying so hard to lose weight and not eating any junk food at all, I've cut out fizzy drinks and tea. I only drink water and the odd bottle of still flavoured water. I envy my sister, she is on a diet, not as stict as me, she's doing next to no exercise and she's lost over a stone in 1 month!!! Is it normal that I'm not actually losing weight? When will it starts to come off?

Replies

  • NDCarothers
    NDCarothers Posts: 36 Member
    First, you need to stop comparing yourself to your sister you guys are not the same person. You need to stop looking at the numbers and go with how you feel. If your clothes are more loose, you're doing good. It sounds like you may not have that much actual weight to lose in the first place, your body is toning up and therefore you're gaining muscle. Don't be so hard on yourself.
  • ndj1979
    ndj1979 Posts: 29,136 Member
    do you use a food scale to weigh all solids?
    do you eat back 100% of exercise calories?
  • IsaackGMOON
    IsaackGMOON Posts: 3,358 Member
    Heh... it seems you've completely left out the important details which would tell us why you're not losing weight.
    • Are you weighing your foods with an electric food scale?
    • Are you weighing accurately? i.e. using grams instead of cups
    • How are you obtaining your calorie burns? MFP, HRM or machines?

    OP, open your diary so we can see your logging.

    A caloric deficit is required for weight loss. Exercise is for fitness. It doesn't matter how much you exercise, if you're not in a caloric deficit; you're not going to lose anything.

    Also, stop relying solely off the scale. Measure yourself weekly.

    As I said, a caloric deficit is needed for weight loss. Cutting out junk food, fizzy drinks and tea aren't going to do jack really.

    Your sister must be bs'ing you or eating stupidly low amount of calories to lose 1 stone (14lb's for you non-UK folks). Or she has a higher TDEE and is eating far under it - how long do you think that'll keep up for, OP?


  • LKArgh
    LKArgh Posts: 5,178 Member
    1) Ask your dr if what you are doing is safe, because there is a good chance there still are limitations to exercise because of the c-section
    2) Exercise is for health and fitness, limiting calories is for weight loss. If you are not losing and have a lot to lose, then you are eating way more than you should. You might be eating healthy foods, but you are eating a lot of them.
  • busyPK
    busyPK Posts: 3,788 Member
    I would focus more on the nutrition than working out especially since you had a c-section 12 weeks ago. Even though you are most likely cleared from your doctor, there is still repairing happening (I've had 3 c-sections). I would do a 30 minute workout 3-5 times a week and focus more on the nutrition. Get a food scale, weigh everything and open up your diary. Based on all that exercise you are doing I suspect you are not eating enough.
  • myers2013foster
    myers2013foster Posts: 10 Member
    ndj1979 wrote: »
    do you use a food scale to weigh all solids?
    do you eat back 100% of exercise calories?

    I eat around 1000 calories a day and burn around 500 (according to this app)
  • myers2013foster
    myers2013foster Posts: 10 Member
    I don't use a food scale, I stopped using dinner plates as I read using a small plate or bowl helps you eat less. I've cut out bread/rice/pasta and eat vegetables/salads/fish/chicken/meat. I've just started a diet called the marine commando, has anyone ever tried this? I have read a lot of amazing reviews on it. I do have quite a lot to lose as I was already over weight before having the twins, I'd like to lose around 4 stone I think but I'm going to judge it on dress size instead, so I'm aiming for a 12 as I'm quite tall (5ft 10") and at the minute I'm a size 18 and feel disgusting! My Dr said I'm safe to excersize starting lightly which was about 4 weeks ago but to be honest I just got straight into it. Thanks everyone for your replies! X
  • NDCarothers
    NDCarothers Posts: 36 Member
    ndj1979 wrote: »
    do you use a food scale to weigh all solids?
    do you eat back 100% of exercise calories?

    I eat around 1000 calories a day and burn around 500 (according to this app)

    I'm wondering if you aren't eating enough, so your body is storing it? 1000 doesn't sound like enough for a mom of twins, are you breastfeeding? How can you survive with only 500?
  • myers2013foster
    myers2013foster Posts: 10 Member
    No I don't breast feed, I wanted to but I was empty lol! I feel as though I do eat enough just low calorie foods.x
  • myers2013foster
    myers2013foster Posts: 10 Member
    busyPK wrote: »
    I would focus more on the nutrition than working out especially since you had a c-section 12 weeks ago. Even though you are most likely cleared from your doctor, there is still repairing happening (I've had 3 c-sections). I would do a 30 minute workout 3-5 times a week and focus more on the nutrition. Get a food scale, weigh everything and open up your diary. Based on all that exercise you are doing I suspect you are not eating enough.

    How would I open up my diary? X
  • diannethegeek
    diannethegeek Posts: 14,776 Member
    busyPK wrote: »
    I would focus more on the nutrition than working out especially since you had a c-section 12 weeks ago. Even though you are most likely cleared from your doctor, there is still repairing happening (I've had 3 c-sections). I would do a 30 minute workout 3-5 times a week and focus more on the nutrition. Get a food scale, weigh everything and open up your diary. Based on all that exercise you are doing I suspect you are not eating enough.

    How would I open up my diary? X

    Settings > Diary settings > Public.

  • NDCarothers
    NDCarothers Posts: 36 Member
    Ok, it could just be a mental thing, like stress and comparing yourself to your sister. Try to relax Anna's have fun with workout and make it about you and you alone. I'm 3.5 month pp and a size 16, so I feel you on feeling disgusting. Just remember to love yourself, good luck.
  • RGv2
    RGv2 Posts: 5,789 Member
    ndj1979 wrote: »
    do you use a food scale to weigh all solids?
    do you eat back 100% of exercise calories?

    I eat around 1000 calories a day and burn around 500 (according to this app)

    So are you netting 500 calories? Is this diet doctor supervised? Are you weighing?

    Also, it's possible that you're retaining water. When we start a new exercise routine and/or increase the intensity of a current one, out bodies can retain water for a few weeks for muscle repair until the body adjusts, the water flushes, and the scale drops.

    With that said.....can you answer the first 3 questions I had. Your reported intake is troubling.
  • myers2013foster
    myers2013foster Posts: 10 Member
    It's not allowing me to complete my diary entry for today as I haven't added enough calories? Is there a way around that?
  • myers2013foster
    myers2013foster Posts: 10 Member
    RGv2 wrote: »
    ndj1979 wrote: »
    do you use a food scale to weigh all solids?
    do you eat back 100% of exercise calories?

    I eat around 1000 calories a day and burn around 500 (according to this app)

    So are you netting 500 calories? Is this diet doctor supervised? Are you weighing?

    Also, it's possible that you're retaining water. When we start a new exercise routine and/or increase the intensity of a current one, out bodies can retain water for a few weeks for muscle repair until the body adjusts, the water flushes, and the scale drops.

    With that said.....can you answer the first 3 questions I had. Your reported intake is troubling.
    RGv2 wrote: »
    ndj1979 wrote: »
    do you use a food scale to weigh all solids?
    do you eat back 100% of exercise calories?

    I eat around 1000 calories a day and burn around 500 (according to this app)

    So are you netting 500 calories? Is this diet doctor supervised? Are you weighing?

    Also, it's possible that you're retaining water. When we start a new exercise routine and/or increase the intensity of a current one, out bodies can retain water for a few weeks for muscle repair until the body adjusts, the water flushes, and the scale drops.

    With that said.....can you answer the first 3 questions I had. Your reported intake is troubling.

    Yes approx 500 calories (I never looked at it like that to be honest, I just thought, I'm eating 1000 calories but never took exercise into consideration)

    No, this is not supervised by my Dr

    I haven't been weighing my foods no, weighing myself a lot though!
  • IsaackGMOON
    IsaackGMOON Posts: 3,358 Member
    edited August 2015
    RGv2 wrote: »
    ndj1979 wrote: »
    do you use a food scale to weigh all solids?
    do you eat back 100% of exercise calories?

    I eat around 1000 calories a day and burn around 500 (according to this app)

    So are you netting 500 calories? Is this diet doctor supervised? Are you weighing?

    Also, it's possible that you're retaining water. When we start a new exercise routine and/or increase the intensity of a current one, out bodies can retain water for a few weeks for muscle repair until the body adjusts, the water flushes, and the scale drops.

    With that said.....can you answer the first 3 questions I had. Your reported intake is troubling.
    RGv2 wrote: »
    ndj1979 wrote: »
    do you use a food scale to weigh all solids?
    do you eat back 100% of exercise calories?

    I eat around 1000 calories a day and burn around 500 (according to this app)

    So are you netting 500 calories? Is this diet doctor supervised? Are you weighing?

    Also, it's possible that you're retaining water. When we start a new exercise routine and/or increase the intensity of a current one, out bodies can retain water for a few weeks for muscle repair until the body adjusts, the water flushes, and the scale drops.

    With that said.....can you answer the first 3 questions I had. Your reported intake is troubling.

    Yes approx 500 calories (I never looked at it like that to be honest, I just thought, I'm eating 1000 calories but never took exercise into consideration)

    No, this is not supervised by my Dr

    I haven't been weighing my foods no, weighing myself a lot though!

    MFP never ceases to amaze...

    I'll be quite rash here; what the hell were you thinking?

    500 calories net is far from healthy... 1200 calories net is the RDA minimum for a female. It's at this level for A REASON.


    You're not losing weight because you're not weighing food - but then your caloric intake probably isn't 500 either.
  • myers2013foster
    myers2013foster Posts: 10 Member
    RGv2 wrote: »
    ndj1979 wrote: »
    do you use a food scale to weigh all solids?
    do you eat back 100% of exercise calories?

    I eat around 1000 calories a day and burn around 500 (according to this app)

    So are you netting 500 calories? Is this diet doctor supervised? Are you weighing?

    Also, it's possible that you're retaining water. When we start a new exercise routine and/or increase the intensity of a current one, out bodies can retain water for a few weeks for muscle repair until the body adjusts, the water flushes, and the scale drops.

    With that said.....can you answer the first 3 questions I had. Your reported intake is troubling.
    RGv2 wrote: »
    ndj1979 wrote: »
    do you use a food scale to weigh all solids?
    do you eat back 100% of exercise calories?

    I eat around 1000 calories a day and burn around 500 (according to this app)

    So are you netting 500 calories? Is this diet doctor supervised? Are you weighing?

    Also, it's possible that you're retaining water. When we start a new exercise routine and/or increase the intensity of a current one, out bodies can retain water for a few weeks for muscle repair until the body adjusts, the water flushes, and the scale drops.

    With that said.....can you answer the first 3 questions I had. Your reported intake is troubling.

    Yes approx 500 calories (I never looked at it like that to be honest, I just thought, I'm eating 1000 calories but never took exercise into consideration)

    No, this is not supervised by my Dr

    I haven't been weighing my foods no, weighing myself a lot though!

    MFP never ceases to amaze...

    I'll be quite rash here; what the hell were you thinking?

    500 calories net is far from healthy... 1200 calories net is the RDA minimum for a female. It's at this level for A REASON.


    You're not losing weight because you're not weighing food - but then your caloric intake probably isn't 500 either.

    Well according to this app, I eat around 1000 cal per day. I don't feel hungry eating this amount but don't feel full either. I just exercise too. My question was is it normal not to be losing many lbs? In 4 weeks I've lost 3-4 lbs at the most. So literally zilch! But it is coming off in inches.
  • RGv2
    RGv2 Posts: 5,789 Member
    It's not allowing me to complete my diary entry for today as I haven't added enough calories? Is there a way around that?

    Honestly......eat more calories.

    You're setting yourself up to burn completely out by netting so little (if everything is accurate). By netting so little you don't get the nutrients that your body needs to be properly fueled and functioning. You can get away with it for a bit now, but as you lose more weight those calories (fuel) becomes more important. If you continue to under eat by so much, eventually you burn out because the tank is empty...considering all your estimations (cals in and cals out) are correct.
  • IsaackGMOON
    IsaackGMOON Posts: 3,358 Member
    RGv2 wrote: »
    ndj1979 wrote: »
    do you use a food scale to weigh all solids?
    do you eat back 100% of exercise calories?

    I eat around 1000 calories a day and burn around 500 (according to this app)

    So are you netting 500 calories? Is this diet doctor supervised? Are you weighing?

    Also, it's possible that you're retaining water. When we start a new exercise routine and/or increase the intensity of a current one, out bodies can retain water for a few weeks for muscle repair until the body adjusts, the water flushes, and the scale drops.

    With that said.....can you answer the first 3 questions I had. Your reported intake is troubling.
    RGv2 wrote: »
    ndj1979 wrote: »
    do you use a food scale to weigh all solids?
    do you eat back 100% of exercise calories?

    I eat around 1000 calories a day and burn around 500 (according to this app)

    So are you netting 500 calories? Is this diet doctor supervised? Are you weighing?

    Also, it's possible that you're retaining water. When we start a new exercise routine and/or increase the intensity of a current one, out bodies can retain water for a few weeks for muscle repair until the body adjusts, the water flushes, and the scale drops.

    With that said.....can you answer the first 3 questions I had. Your reported intake is troubling.

    Yes approx 500 calories (I never looked at it like that to be honest, I just thought, I'm eating 1000 calories but never took exercise into consideration)

    No, this is not supervised by my Dr

    I haven't been weighing my foods no, weighing myself a lot though!

    MFP never ceases to amaze...

    I'll be quite rash here; what the hell were you thinking?

    500 calories net is far from healthy... 1200 calories net is the RDA minimum for a female. It's at this level for A REASON.


    You're not losing weight because you're not weighing food - but then your caloric intake probably isn't 500 either.

    Well according to this app, I eat around 1000 cal per day. I don't feel hungry eating this amount but don't feel full either. I just exercise too. My question was is it normal not to be losing many lbs? In 4 weeks I've lost 3-4 lbs at the most. So literally zilch! But it is coming off in inches.

    You may not feel hungry, but your body isn't going to like the lack of micronutrients...
  • yopeeps025
    yopeeps025 Posts: 8,680 Member
    OP start weighing your food. Eat more than 1000 calories.
  • malibu927
    malibu927 Posts: 17,562 Member
    Eat more, but make sure you're weighing and logging accurately too.

    Also, this is an excellent post put together by a member who recently had her second baby that gives a lot of information to think about as your body is still recovering. community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10176233/gaining-weight-during-pregnancy-and-losing-it-post-partum
  • rushfive
    rushfive Posts: 603 Member
    You are eating more calories than you think.
    Weighting your food will be more accurate, and you will learn what a correct portion size looks like.

    Don't eat less than 1200 cal. Those wonderful twins are going to need a strong healthy mother. :)
  • AsISmile
    AsISmile Posts: 1,004 Member
    I second everyone who says you have to start weighing food.
    A jar of peanut butter might say a serving size is 15 grams, guaranteed I am eating more than that.
    You honestly can't know your real calories unless you weigh it.


    I also second everyone who says to eat a minimum of 1200 calories.
    Furthermore, log your exercise and eat those calories back!
    Your defecit at 1200 net is already high enough for weightloss.
    You NEED to fuel your body, otherwise you will become malnourished.
  • diannethegeek
    diannethegeek Posts: 14,776 Member
    RGv2 wrote: »
    ndj1979 wrote: »
    do you use a food scale to weigh all solids?
    do you eat back 100% of exercise calories?

    I eat around 1000 calories a day and burn around 500 (according to this app)

    So are you netting 500 calories? Is this diet doctor supervised? Are you weighing?

    Also, it's possible that you're retaining water. When we start a new exercise routine and/or increase the intensity of a current one, out bodies can retain water for a few weeks for muscle repair until the body adjusts, the water flushes, and the scale drops.

    With that said.....can you answer the first 3 questions I had. Your reported intake is troubling.
    RGv2 wrote: »
    ndj1979 wrote: »
    do you use a food scale to weigh all solids?
    do you eat back 100% of exercise calories?

    I eat around 1000 calories a day and burn around 500 (according to this app)

    So are you netting 500 calories? Is this diet doctor supervised? Are you weighing?

    Also, it's possible that you're retaining water. When we start a new exercise routine and/or increase the intensity of a current one, out bodies can retain water for a few weeks for muscle repair until the body adjusts, the water flushes, and the scale drops.

    With that said.....can you answer the first 3 questions I had. Your reported intake is troubling.

    Yes approx 500 calories (I never looked at it like that to be honest, I just thought, I'm eating 1000 calories but never took exercise into consideration)

    No, this is not supervised by my Dr

    I haven't been weighing my foods no, weighing myself a lot though!

    MFP never ceases to amaze...

    I'll be quite rash here; what the hell were you thinking?

    500 calories net is far from healthy... 1200 calories net is the RDA minimum for a female. It's at this level for A REASON.


    You're not losing weight because you're not weighing food - but then your caloric intake probably isn't 500 either.

    Well according to this app, I eat around 1000 cal per day. I don't feel hungry eating this amount but don't feel full either. I just exercise too. My question was is it normal not to be losing many lbs? In 4 weeks I've lost 3-4 lbs at the most. So literally zilch! But it is coming off in inches.

    Healthy weight loss is 1-2 pounds per week. It honestly sounds like you're right on target (though I agree with everyone else to check that your logging is as accurate as it can be and then recalculate a safer calorie goal).
  • VintageFeline
    VintageFeline Posts: 6,771 Member
    I am eating about 1500 calories a day and have lost nearly two stone. I'm steadily losing an average of a little over 1lb per week (some weeks none, some weeks 2lbs, weight loss isn't linear) which is healthy and sustainable. You need to eat more and lower your expectations, the loss you've had so far is perfect! The last thing you need is to be passing out due to lack of nutrition, the aim is to be a fit and healthy mum, not a weak malnourished one.

    And buy a digital food scale and start weighing everything. No need to cut out carbs or fat or anything else, just weigh and log everything and stay within your goal. Slow and steady, especially post partum, is the name of the game.
  • myers2013foster
    myers2013foster Posts: 10 Member
    Thanks everyone, just bought some food scales today! X
  • yopeeps025
    yopeeps025 Posts: 8,680 Member
    Thanks everyone, just bought some food scales today! X

    Now you will see how portion control and serving sizes look for foods you like. I notice that my one bowl of cereal was close to 4 servings.
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