Getting so frustrated!

shely514
shely514 Posts: 7 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
Hello, I've never posted but I am at a loss at what the problem is. I am a 49 year old female, about 5'3 @170 pounds. For 20 years or more I've not exercised, ate whatever, whenever and it caught up with me. On June 12th I decided to change. I gave up all junk food, fast food, sodas, bread, etc..I set up Fitness Pal and a Fitbit, began eating more veggies than ever in my life, lean protein and a gallon of water a day. I also began walking/running for 45 mins a day. I haven't lost a SINGLE OUNCE! I am so upset because I have literally changed everything to improve health and lose weight. Any ideas?? And please don't say I don't eat enough or don't track every bite I take, because I do. :/ thank you for any ideas!

Replies

  • PaytraB
    PaytraB Posts: 2,360 Member
    edited July 2016
    Three weeks isn't long enough. Give it awhile longer.
    Things to watch out for:
    - weigh everything (you didn't mention a food scale)
    - sodium intake (can cause water retention/weight)
    - more than normal exercise (can cause water retention/weight)

    You may be losing but it's masked by water retention.
    If you are retaining because of sodium, drink plenty of water to flush it out and try to reduce the salt intake.
    If you are new to exercise, you will retain water for a few weeks. If this is the case, you should start seeing results soon.

    Wait another week or two and see what happens.
  • seska422
    seska422 Posts: 3,217 Member
    This chart has some good info:

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  • dragon_girl26
    dragon_girl26 Posts: 2,187 Member
    edited July 2016
    PaytraB wrote: »
    Three weeks isn't long enough. Give it awhile longer.
    Things to watch out for:
    - weigh everything (you didn't mention a food scale)
    - sodium intake (can cause water retention/weight)
    - more than normal exercise (can cause water retention/weight)

    You may be losing but it's masked by water retention.
    If you are retaining because of sodium, drink plenty of water to flush it out and try to reduce the salt intake.
    If you are new to exercise, you will retain water for a few weeks. If this is the case, you should start seeing results soon.

    Wait another week or two and see what happens.

    All of this. I especially agree about the food scale. I would also suggest that if you scan barcodes to put your entries into MFP, make sure it's choosing the correct entries and calorie counts. So often we see people frustrated about their lack of weight loss, and it turns out the MFP database was the problem. It has cost people hundreds of calories per day in some cases. Even the green checkmarked entries aren't always accurate, so always double check!
  • shely514
    shely514 Posts: 7 Member
    PaytraB wrote: »
    Three weeks isn't long enough. Give it awhile longer.
    Things to watch out for:
    - weigh everything (you didn't mention a food scale)
    - sodium intake (can cause water retention/weight)
    - more than normal exercise (can cause water retention/weight)

    You may be losing but it's masked by water retention.
    If you are retaining because of sodium, drink plenty of water to flush it out and try to reduce the salt intake.
    If you are new to exercise, you will retain water for a few weeks. If this is the case, you should start seeing results soon.

    Wait another week or two and see what happens.

    Yes, I would say this is more than normal exercise. I am a teacher and now off for summer. Although I never sit all day, I haven't done anything remotely cardio in 20 years..sad isn't it? I also began doing kettlebell 15 mins every a.m. last week. Thanks for your advice!
  • Jewels_Ka
    Jewels_Ka Posts: 67 Member
    Don't be frustrated. Its only been a month. You did not put on the weight over one month so don't expect it to come down in one month. Change your thinking. Do it for your health. Eating well and moving is amazing. Its great that you asking for help. Your best help would be a dietician. I know you have to pay money, but just for a visit or two, bare the cost and go see some one local who can understand whats best for you and whats best to have on your plate based on local food supplies. Find enjoyment in just making good choices you will see the weight will come down. I am in the same boat. I lost only 20 lb last year. this year I am down 15 more. Its only been 2 years and I am only 35 lb down. But its better then being 35 lb up. So, love your self, enjoy life, and have some patience.
  • shely514
    shely514 Posts: 7 Member
    I appreciate all your responses. I guess I am just extremely impatient and addicted to the scale. I see no changes and panic. My measurements aren't that much different, but I feel like I "look" different than before I started this. Just makes no sense to me sometimes, but refusing to quit!
  • BinaryFu
    BinaryFu Posts: 240 Member
    shely514 wrote: »
    I appreciate all your responses. I guess I am just extremely impatient and addicted to the scale. I see no changes and panic. My measurements aren't that much different, but I feel like I "look" different than before I started this. Just makes no sense to me sometimes, but refusing to quit!

    First of all, the above posters have it right. Take a deep breath. Let it out. This is a marathon, not a sprint. It's a long road to travel. You'll zero in on what your body needs over time and you'll learn as you go.

    You'll lose weight.

    You'll hit a plateau and freak out.

    You'll learn that you need to adjust your calories as you go...

    Things will smooth out and you'll lose more weight.

    You'll hit a plateau...

    You'll realize that eventually, you have hit the base minimum for healthy eating and it won't go lower. So now you have to plan more exercise to reduce further.

    Eventually though, it'll all work out and you will be a leaner, stronger and healthier you.

    The scale doesn't lie, but it doesn't always tell the whole truth.

    Measure yourself too - it can help when you're in the early stages, nothing is coming off according to the scale, but inches are.

    Good luck in this, we're all in it together.

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