Zip - Zero- Nada

shellshell43
shellshell43 Posts: 116
edited September 28 in Motivation and Support
I have been working out for 6 weeks now and watching what I eat. I have been here on this site for only a couple of weeks but Had been doing calorie counting on my own before I found this site. I quit smoking 8 weeks ago and started working out to lose the 10 pounds I had been ignoring for a year or so and also to not gain any quit smoking weight. I know it takes longer to lose weight but I am working out like crazy . I started off with Ten minute trainer dvds and a Core Rhythm dance dvd . I have since worked in a Jillian Ripped in 30, some cardio HIIT on the treadmill consisting of brisk walk 2 minutes, run 2 minutes 8mph for a 20 minute period, Some strength training on a total gym system as well as Power 90.

The routine usually looks like this=

Monday- R30, P90 or 20 minute strength training, 10M cardio or 20 minute dance aerobic, and a varied ab routine.

Tuesday- R30, P90 or 10M full body, 20 minute HIIT treadmill,

Wednesday- R30, P90 or 20 minute strength training, 10M cardio or 20 minute dance aerobic, and a varied ab routine.

Thurs- R30, P90 or 10M full body, 20 minute HIIT treadmill,

Friday- rest

Saturday-R30, P90 or 20 minute strength training, 10M cardio or 20 minute dance aerobic, and a varied ab routine.

Sunday R30, P90 or 10M full body, 20 minute HIIT treadmill,


I cut out ALL processed food except an occasional cheese it cracker snack-most everything is made from scratch unless I go out occasionally with friends or we are driving up north and I have to eat fast food...I still try to make the healthiest choices I can then.

Most (98%) carbs are from whole grain...rye, veggie- etc.

I cut out MOST sugar, I used to be an all day sugar eater, sugar in coffee, sugar in tea, etc..all day long, now the only sugar I get is natural with the occasional small chocolate covered pretzel which I allow myself otherwise I’d dive into the box of brownies and it would be much worse. (although, partly of of being discouraged with my lack of progress and beginning to feel slightly deprived, I drank sweet tea this weekend and also a coke, I don’t remember the last time I drank soda pop even before this endeavor)

Anyway the scale hasn’t changed, my measurements haven’t changed. My family is getting sick of me talking about it, working out etc... my jeans are actually tighter in the legs and butt than they used to be because I do know that I have gotten more muscle in these areas...but none of the love handles or belly pooch have gone...I am getting discouraged, If i didn’t enjoy the workouts so much I would quit! I do feel healthy and since I stopped smoking the workouts are a good substitute for the smoke break after work, I now work out for my peace time.
Can anyone give me advise? I opened my food diary so you can view ...please help, I really don’t know why I haven’t seen any weight or measurement results yet.? Is it too soon?

Replies

  • mom23nuts
    mom23nuts Posts: 636 Member
    you mentioned you cut sugar but what are your starchy carbs like? maybe replace starchy heavy carbs with fresher lighter green veggies

    go low sodium and make sure you drink lots of water

    are you getting enough protein in your diet .6grams per lb of body weight I think especially if you are working out.
  • beccarockslife
    beccarockslife Posts: 816 Member
    I can't see your food diary :(

    you may be building muscle before the fat starts to go, have you done your body fat %? You seem to be concentrating on the pooch and such but you can't spot reduce so you may be losing it somewhere else.
  • agilegazelle
    agilegazelle Posts: 15
    6 weeks you should have had a change. I know that it is said to actually lose weight you need to work out for 30 minutes at a time. I have just heard it before not sure about the scientific fact of it. But it seems like you are doing exercises that are muscle building based, like running at 8mph for 2 minutes on a treadmill isn't about losing weight its about burst and short term muscle endurance. try running for 30 minutes at like 5-6 mph on the treadmill. Just food for thought.
  • tekiegirl
    tekiegirl Posts: 78 Member
    I would agree with WeightWars about the fact that you are gaining muscle - you even said it yourself. Muscle weighs more than fat so you can actually put on weight before starting to lose.

    Some of my favourite workouts at the moment are by Jillian Michaels. You might want to try her No More Trouble Zones as it targets love handles, pooch etc :o)

    Keep going, you are heading for a healthier you! :o)
  • shellshell43
    shellshell43 Posts: 116
    I changed my diet setting to public. I really don't know except my jeans are actually tighter. I should mention that because of some medical issues I had been getting weak and out of shape...part of the reason I cut out cigarettes and processed foods(trying to get away from chemicals that may interfere with my neurological system) so I did have a long way to come to rebuild some muscle...I don't know if this is what's happening...but I thought I could do both at the same time, rebuild lost muscle and lose some of the weight?

    So maybe a longer duration of cadio is needed instead of some of the circuit training?
  • sushisuzi2
    sushisuzi2 Posts: 111 Member
    Congrats on stopping smoking. I smoke a bit per week.....I just love that one cigarette at night too much.....
  • stanvoodoo
    stanvoodoo Posts: 1,023 Member
    Nice calories, careful not to go under 1200. Some days were low on water and protein so try a bit more and be patient.

    It will happen!
  • Jenscan
    Jenscan Posts: 694 Member
    If I read your OP correctly, you're trying to lose 10 pounds, right? Are you set to lose 1 lb/week, .5 lb/week...? It could make a difference on your deficit - I'd suggest .5/week. Be sure you're eating enough!
  • sushisuzi2
    sushisuzi2 Posts: 111 Member
    Wow, you don't eat much, darlin'.
  • ashlinmarie
    ashlinmarie Posts: 1,263 Member
    Try drinking a few more glasses of water and eating more of your exercise calories back. Sometimes increasing your calories can help you lose more weight.
  • MinnieInMaine
    MinnieInMaine Posts: 6,400 Member
    You're doing a lot of strength training so it may be plain old water retention. When the muscles are ripped/torn from these types of exercises, they will retain water as part of the repair process. Try not to work the same mucles 2 days in a row so they have some time to heal and make sure you are getting plenty of water and that your sodium intake is within limits.

    P.S. Definitely make sure you're getting AT LEAST 1200 calories per day and maybe a couple hundred more so that you're eating back at least half of what you're burning. If you're not properly fueling your workouts, you may end up burning muscle and not fat.
  • stang41992
    stang41992 Posts: 129 Member
    I'm going to have to disagree with a couple of comments. First of all, HIIT is the most effective form of fat burning exercise. Paired with weight lifting you have an excellent combo. When people do steady state cardio, their bodies learn how to burn fat more efficiently, so you actually stall your progress if you continue to do that for a long period of time. Just look at a trained sprinter and a long distance runner and you will see what I'm talking about. Also, muscle does not weigh more than fat, a pound is a pound. 1 pound of muscle takes up soooo much less room than a pound of fat.

    I looked at your food diary. I think you need to eat more. You hardly eat anything during the day and have a huge dinner but don't eat back your exercise calories. You also need a lot more protein. Try to get .75 of a gram per pound of body weight. For example if you weighed 150, you would need 112.5 grams of protein in the day. That would help I think. I am no expert and everyone is different but that is what I would suggest.
  • lijparsons
    lijparsons Posts: 258
    I think you aren't eating enough. I know it goes against what your brain is telling you, but try to eat back your exercise calories everyday. I think with all the muscle building exercises you are doing, you are gaining muscle. By not eating enough, your body is starving. Try doing more cardio to get things moving.
  • MyaPapaya75
    MyaPapaya75 Posts: 3,143 Member
    I took a look at your diary ..Im not an eat back your exercise person so I think as long as you have 1200-1500 calories per day your fine BUT I do think u need to track your sodium..and make sure you do at least 30min of exercise you may just need to boost the length of activity
  • Thriceshy
    Thriceshy Posts: 708 Member
    You may, right now, be counteracting the known metabolism crash of quitting smoking with your newfound activities and way of eating. Don't be discouraged--most people gain, sometimes a LOT, after smoking. Consider it a victory and keep up the great work! As time passes, I'm sure you'll begin to lose!

    Feel free to add me--ex-smoker here, too.

    Kris
  • shellshell43
    shellshell43 Posts: 116
    Thriceshy- I was wondering if this is a combination of my body slowing down after the quit as well as developing and new exercising routine all at once.

    I think my body may be in a little bit of a shock...stop smoking after 20 years as well as kicking my activity up to fight a medical condition that I do not want and have made my mind up to fight with getting stronger and more healthy. My body is going through a lot of adjusting. I have also always been a bird eater...not very much...as my mother always said "I eat just enough to keep a bird alive." so I am eating more than I ever have.

    Should I make up some extra calories and protein with a protein shake or some other quick protein fix. I was eating way more nuts to help with protein but when I wasn't seeing any results I cut back on those thinking maybe I was getting too much. I started the hard boiled egg eating because I do have a hard time getting all my calories in, I still eat like someone who is inactive and am having a hard time adjusting my stomach and my hunger routine into this active state.
  • shellshell43
    shellshell43 Posts: 116
    Thanks everyone for the replies and advice..I appreciate it. :smile:
This discussion has been closed.

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