Very frustrated with (lack of) weight loss

smpearce13
smpearce13 Posts: 32 Member
edited September 29 in Health and Weight Loss
As the title says, I'm getting a little frustrated. I've been working out about 6 weeks now and have lost about 6 pounds or so. I'm working out consistently (pretty high cardio on my elliptical for 30-40 minutes at least 4 times a week, plus some weights occasionally), and my eating habits haven't changed (actually I've been more conscious about what and how much I eat since I joined the site!) I'm keeping just around the calorie total the site recommended (1800 calories), give or take based on my workouts, and go over occasionally, but typically stay close to what I'm supposed to.

I can understand alot of the building muscle back (weighs more than fat, all that), but the progress seems extremely slow (especially when I usually drop a buttload of weight early on when I've gotten back into exercise!) Any thoughts/suggestions? It's hard to stay motivated when I don't seem to be dropping much, and that 25 lbs left to lose seems further away than when I started!

Replies

  • Hernandezedw
    Hernandezedw Posts: 284
    How have your measurements changed?
  • elsham
    elsham Posts: 549 Member
    Well, that's about a pound a week, and that's awesome! I know it's frustrating (believe me, it took me a whole YEAR to lose only 15 pounds) but at the end it's so worth it (I mean, I'm still far from the end, but I hear it's awesome). Keep going!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    =)
  • bjohs
    bjohs Posts: 1,225 Member
    One week at a time. One meal at a time. One pound at a time. You are losing weight and I'm positive that you are losing inches as well. Don't let the scale rule you. You are doing fan-flippin-tastic, my friend! Although you may not see it now... you are doing an awesome job. Six weeks = 6 pounds. Everyone should be so lucky. :)
  • ajostraat
    ajostraat Posts: 101
    How have your measurements changed?

    Agreed!

    A measuring tape will tell you more than a scale! A pound is still a pound, it's just that muscle is more DENSE than fat. What does that mean? It means your body might actually be getting physically smaller even though your weight hasn't changed.

    My biggest .02 worth - take your body measurements. Go to a fabric/sewing/craft store and get a dressmaker's measuring tape and take body measurements once a month.
  • Emmy_Ann
    Emmy_Ann Posts: 60
    What do your macros look like?? Like previously asked.. have your measurements changed?? Drinking water?? I don't like to knock people's amount of calories because everybody is different.. 1200 for me being sedentary is way too little.. and I lift hard and do cardio 3-4 days a week and I eat 1700-1800 per day.. so I guess my suggestion is have you played around with your calories at all?? I would maybe adjust up 200 calories for a week or two and if it slows down go the other way.. you kinda have to play with it to find your sweet spot.. Everybody is different.
  • bjohs
    bjohs Posts: 1,225 Member
    It's hard to stay motivated when I don't seem to be dropping much, and that 25 lbs left to lose seems further away than when I started!

    A suggestion is to break that 25 lbs down in to mini-goals. Work on 5 lbs at a time with a target date for each. Celebrate each little victory with something just for you (not including a food reward). It took me 1 year and 6 months to work off 32 pounds. I don't care how much time it took to get here... I'm just glad I'm here celebrating my accomplishment of not giving up. You CAN do this! Just give it more time. :)
  • Emma1903
    Emma1903 Posts: 195
    Up your calories eat more protein less carbs and lift more!
  • annacataldo
    annacataldo Posts: 872 Member
    R u drinking half ur body weight in ounces of water a day? What r u filling ur 1800calories up with? I've lost all my weight in under 4months by diet alone, diet is the most important part, excercise is second...if ur not eating well, all the excercise in the world wont help u... r u eating back ur excercise calories? U want to be sure ur net calories r around 1800 calories, not ur food amount...if u eat 1800 and then burn 1000 its like uve only eaten 800calories that day; u loose alot slower in starvation mode/not at all...
  • withchaco
    withchaco Posts: 1,026 Member
    The fast, huge weight loss at the beginning of an exercise/ weight loss regimen is mostly water weight. It's natural that you taper down to a slower loss pattern. It may seem slower, but the upside is that now most of the weight you lose is fat!
  • wildon883r
    wildon883r Posts: 429 Member
    Weight isn't the save all. Figuring your percentage of body fat is way more important then scale weight. My sister said " You look like you weight about 180-185 and i weight around 200-205. I probably have 10lbs of belly fat but it don't show lol. My goal is 185-190 and i have no date. I will continue to eat healthier and exercise.I'll weigh in one in awhile but clothing getting loser means i'm losing no matter what the scale says. Good Luck and think long term not short.
  • MichelleF81
    MichelleF81 Posts: 98 Member
    A lb a week seems a healthy rate to me and you must be so much healthier than you were before. If the weight comes off gradually and you're making a lifestyle change then it should stay off and be the start of a brand new you :) I don't know what to suggest to increase your weight loss other than to cut calories.....which could be pretty unhealthy if you aren't getting enough. Just keep at it......the scales are definitely moving in the right direction :)
  • marianne_s
    marianne_s Posts: 983 Member
    Are your sodium level high? Because that could be blocking your weight loss.... it6's best to keep sodium as close to 1500 as possible.

    What about alcohol? Do you drink regularly? As that can also slow down weight loss.
  • smpearce13
    smpearce13 Posts: 32 Member
    Thanks for all the replies. It's hard to tell sometimes. My wife and her best friend say they've noticed a difference (from a side profile especially), but it doesn't feel like my waistline has dropped all that much. I'm paying closer attention to what I eat (portions as well as what), and overall I think it's better (need to drop some more carbs I would imagine, but stay low on sodium and don't drink all that often.) Maybe it's just a sign of getting older, because I could drop 3-5 lbs a week sometimes when I'd start a new exercise regimen/diet. I can certainly tell I'm getting healthier (longer cardio, and stamina behind closed doors is increased lol), just don't feel smaller. I really want that belly to go away (along with the love handles!)

    Thanks for the support!
  • SueInAz
    SueInAz Posts: 6,592 Member
    I'm with you in that I'm not losing very quickly, either. I just keep reminding myself that this isn't a get-thin-quick diet plan. We're all in this for the long haul. Losing weight slowly may be more frustrating but it's better for our bodies and better for the long term. There's no chance we'll gain it all back if we continue to watch what we're eating and stay at the same exercise level. If it takes me until Christmas to reach my "goal", at least I reached it and I didn't have to buy a lot of clothes quickly in the process. I also know it'll stay off until the following Christmas.
This discussion has been closed.

Categories