If I'm doing everything right, why isn't it working?

ally0ops
ally0ops Posts: 5 Member
edited November 30 in Health and Weight Loss
Please help! I've been on my "diet" for two months now. I started at 142lbs (5'7"), certainly not FAT but not where I wanted to be. My 30th birthday is just around the corner (mid april) and my goal was to weigh 130lbs by then. I have been eating 3 healthy meals a day, drinking water and green tea, logging EVERYTHING, sticking to about 1200-1300 calories per day AND working out. A lot. I go to the gym 6 days a week and do the recumbent bike and the elliptical for about 40-50 minutes total. I've also been doing a tabata (or high intensity 5 minute workout) 7 days a week, zumba once a week, and a 10 munite ab circut 3 times a week. So here I am, two months into my diet and still weighing 137.8lbs I've actually gone up 0.4lbs since last week!! I'm so frustrated and confused. I've never had an issue dropping a few pounds before. What am I doing wrong?! Is it just because I'm turning 30?

Replies

  • annette_15
    annette_15 Posts: 1,657 Member
    Are you weighing your food?
  • Ready2Rock206
    Ready2Rock206 Posts: 9,487 Member
    How is your logging? Are you using a food scale? Weighing all solids? Measuring all liquids? Logging every single thing that goes in your mouth? Do you use accurate entries? Use the recipe builder? If you eat back your exercise calories are you accurately determining your burn?

    And you are losing. When you have so little to lose it is going to take longer. You've lost 5 lbs in 2 months - that's probably right on track for what you have left to lose.
  • shadow2soul
    shadow2soul Posts: 7,692 Member
    edited March 2016
    Your averaging about 0.5 lbs per week, which is actually about the right pace for someone who started with a healthy BMI and was only looking to lose about 12 lbs.

    If your not weighing solid foods, you could be eating more than you think. However, when you don't have much to lose weight loss is a lot slower.

    Weight fluctuations are completely normal. Some weeks you lose, some you don't and some you see a slight gain. It's normal. Our body weight fluctuates for numerous reasons including things like needing to use the bathroom, water retention from salt, water retention from TOM, etc
  • RoseTheWarrior
    RoseTheWarrior Posts: 2,035 Member
    shadow2soul wrote: »
    Your averaging about 0.5 lbs per week, which is actually about the right pace for someone who started with a healthy BMI and was only looking to lose about 12 lbs.

    If your not weighing solid foods, you could be eating more than you think. However, when you don't have much to lose weight loss is a lot slower.

    ^ This exactly. Also, with such a fierce workout schedule, it's likely your body is holding water for muscle repair.
  • emdeesea
    emdeesea Posts: 1,823 Member
    Ditto what everyone else said. Are you doing any strength training? If not, you should consider adding that as well.
  • Maxematics
    Maxematics Posts: 2,287 Member
    You're losing weight so it is working, actually. However, if you're not weighing your food to the gram, the margin of error is enough to slow down your rate of loss. I'm 5'3" and it took the utmost precision to get to my final goal weight of 110.
  • Yi5hedr3
    Yi5hedr3 Posts: 2,696 Member
    Too much cardio! Need to pump iron! Also keep carbs below 100 grams/day.
  • ally0ops
    ally0ops Posts: 5 Member
    Thank you all. I guess I'm just used to seeing faster results in the past!! It is also a possibility that, despite eating very unhealthy foods, I was consuming less calories before my diet started because I would always skip breakfast and eat a very late lunch.
    I am going to look into strength training this week with my gym buddy. I'm far to shy to investigate the strength equipment by myself.
  • ally0ops
    ally0ops Posts: 5 Member
    I have not been weighing my food but I do use the recipe builder and measure out as accurately as I can. I certainly am trying to be realistic with my logging and take things like sodium and sugar into account. As a professional baker I have to taste a lot of sweets but anything more than the tip of my finger I try to log (1/8th homemade brownie etc).
  • jemhh
    jemhh Posts: 14,261 Member
    Are you netting 1200-1300 or aiming to eat 1200-1300 per day?
  • endlessfall16
    endlessfall16 Posts: 932 Member
    synacious wrote: »
    You're losing weight so it is working, actually. However, if you're not weighing your food to the gram, the margin of error is enough to slow down your rate of loss. I'm 5'3" and it took the utmost precision to get to my final goal weight of 110.
    ally0ops wrote: »
    I have not been weighing my food but I do use the recipe builder and measure out as accurately as I can. I certainly am trying to be realistic with my logging and take things like sodium and sugar into account. As a professional baker I have to taste a lot of sweets but anything more than the tip of my finger I try to log (1/8th homemade brownie etc).

    Can you just lower the calorie amount by 200 or so? That's much easier than stressing out over precision.

    Consistency is key.
  • DeadLift5
    DeadLift5 Posts: 16 Member
    Have you tried switching your exercise routine up throughout the two months?
    Possible chance you've already plateau'd and need to 'shock' your body by changing things up.

    If you're still losing .5lb/week though then you're still doing great.

    Also be very vigilant about vitamin and nutrients. A good multi can make a difference as well as powders (vege greens etc).
  • ally0ops
    ally0ops Posts: 5 Member
    jemhh wrote: »
    Are you netting 1200-1300 or aiming to eat 1200-1300 per day?

    I'm aiming for 1200 I was netting for equal for a while and then cut back to just intake of 1200-1300
  • ally0ops
    ally0ops Posts: 5 Member
    DeadLift5 wrote: »
    Have you tried switching your exercise routine up throughout the two months?
    Possible chance you've already plateau'd and need to 'shock' your body by changing things up.

    If you're still losing .5lb/week though then you're still doing great.

    Also be very vigilant about vitamin and nutrients. A good multi can make a difference as well as powders (vege greens etc).

    My tabata routine changes weekly but I've been doing pretty much the same cardio at the gym. I might try mixing in some strength training too.
  • StaciMarie1974
    StaciMarie1974 Posts: 4,138 Member
    If you're not using a food scale, then you are estimating to some extent on your calories in. So while you are losing, you're losing slower than you expected because you're most likely eating more calories than you think.

    Options:

    1. Continue as you are, and work on patience. You may not hit your goal by your set due date but you should in time.
    2. Improve logging accuracy by having less 'tastes' and you are more accurately accounting for true calories in by weighing food
  • itsthehumidity
    itsthehumidity Posts: 351 Member
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  • Meganthedogmom
    Meganthedogmom Posts: 1,639 Member
    But you ARE losing weight, so I don't understand how it's not working? Weight loss is not linear, you will have ups and downs. You have a small amount to lose, so it will probably take longer to come off than say, a 250lb person trying to lose 7lb. Patience is everything.
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