I don't understand.
GummyLionGirl
Posts: 23 Member
Im 5'6" and weigh 255 pounds. Ive been counting calories for 21 days. Most days I stay under 1300 calories but occasionally I do go over but not to a complete 2000. I go to the gym and do cardio AT LEAST every other day. Sometimes I get to go more often, but when I'm there, I go 5-6 miles on the stationary bikes and then will either walk 1.5 miles on the treadmill or I will do a weight training 30 min. Full body curcuit. I am killing it! But the numbers on the scale aren't reflecting all the work I'm puting in. What am I doing wrong????
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Replies
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Lots of things can be the problem:
1) Are you logging accurately? If you're not weighing your food and using the correct entries in the diary then you may be eating more than you think. Make sure you are logging everything, even condiments, dressings, drinks.
2) If you're eating out a lot you probably are eating double the calories you think you are.
3) 21 days really isn't all that long, if you've just started this exercise routine your body can still be holding onto water weight. Any time you assault your body/muscles with a hard workout they retain water to repair themselves. Not giving yourself adequate rest days can also lead to them retaining water on a permanent basis because they never have the chance to repair fully. But I'd refer to #1, buckle down, buy a scale if you don't have one, and make sure your logging is accurate first.
Just my opinions.5 -
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Have you lost anything?2
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can you open up your diary? (if it isn't already)0
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As far as I know, I'm logging in accurately. I measure my food, and no.. Very seldom do I eat out. Maybe once every 2 weeks. I've been going to the gym longer than ive been counting calories, so the gym exercise isn't really 'new' I weigh myself once a week, if I did it any more often, I'm afraid I'd get discouraged. Thank you for your response though. ☺1
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I lost 3, but it just seems so little
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deannalfisher wrote: »can you open up your diary? (if it isn't already)
I haven't opened it, I'm afraid of what ppl would say on my 'bad' days0 -
don't think about it as oh, I only lost 3lbs, but yay I'm 3lbs closer to my goal - we tend to minimize our small successes but they are key to long-term success
please open up your diary3 -
If you have too many "bad days" it can cancel out all the work you do on the good days.......GummyLionGirl wrote: »deannalfisher wrote: »can you open up your diary? (if it isn't already)
I haven't opened it, I'm afraid of what ppl would say on my 'bad' days
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deannalfisher wrote: »don't think about it as oh, I only lost 3lbs, but yay I'm 3lbs closer to my goal - we tend to minimize our small successes but they are key to long-term success
please open up your diary
Im gonna open it. Just don't be too harsh0 -
we won't be harsh but we want to help you...and trust me - my log is horrible with the amount of candy I eat at times - but I log everything (and down 8lbs and now focusing on performance in the last 3 months)
BTW - my diary is open if you want to look at it1 -
Everyone on this website has their "bad days" or at least their own definition of it. Maybe you could open it just to get help on this topic and close it back. If you don't want to open it, you are probably eating at maintenance calories, not accurately weighing your food, or lacking a bit of patience. For your height and size, under 1300 calories doesn't seem like enough. Also, remember that it doesn't matter if you go 'balls to the wall' in the gym - you must still eat under maintenance to lose weight. I used to bust my *kitten* in the gym - but I overate all the time. At that time, I saw little to no progress with weight loss. Keep in mind, you don't even have to work out to lose weight. Calories are King. best of luck.3
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My food diary is mess too! We won't be harsh, honest.2
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I didn't look at a ton of days but one thing I am seeing is that you are going over on sodium every day I did look at. That can lead to water retention, which could mask any actual losses on the scale.
So one suggestion would be to eat fewer packaged/processed foods. It makes the prep time longer in many cases, but it should definitely cut down on sodium and on water retention.
Good luck!2 -
Three weeks aint that long so I wouldn't be worried. But I'd take on board the good advice others have gave on this thread. I was at not a too dissimilar weight to you when I started (232lb) and I started slowly and then I started cardio / going to the gym 4 times a week I lost about 1lb a week. Be in it for the long haul dude, take it one day / week at a time and you'll kill it ! :-)3
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bmayes2014 wrote: »Everyone on this website has their "bad days" or at least their own definition of it. Maybe you could open it just to get help on this topic and close it back. If you don't want to open it, you are probably eating at maintenance calories, not accurately weighing your food, or lacking a bit of patience. For your height and size, under 1300 calories doesn't seem like enough. Also, remember that it doesn't matter if you go 'balls to the wall' in the gym - you must still eat under maintenance to lose weight. I used to bust my *kitten* in the gym - but I overate all the time. At that time, I saw little to no progress with weight loss. Keep in mind, you don't even have to work out to lose weight. Calories are King. best of luck.
Thank you.
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You're taking in a lot of sodium - for some people this can lead to bloating and water retention.
How are you measuring your workout calories?
Best of luck to you!1 -
boom. that's one pound for week! Look at your super-dedication to exercising! That's amazing! Definitely celebrate your successes, but AND! it's OK to problem-solve around sticking points.
For example, I can say that my body does not buy the whole "a calorie is a calorie is a calorie" mantra. Simple carbs (like sugary or starchy things) tend to make my scale go sticky, whereas high protein/low sugar stuff (real food not fabricated protein-bar-ish things) help me feel full, well-fueled and let my body work more efficiently...and let me see better impact when I weigh in. You can try cutting out carbs entirely or even cutting back your normal portion size of starches (half a potato instead of a whole, 2 tablespoons of rice instead of a half-cup) and ramping up your crunchy, bright veggies (think broccoli, squash--eat the rainbow!!)
The other thing that I can say that's been helpful about having my own fair share of "bad days" (and you don't have to share anything you don't want to, babe) is taking a look at what made it hard to stay true to my goals. Did I make not-so-great food choices because I was stressed? because I didn't take time to plan meals and snacks that help me take good care of myself? ... all of the above? So what can I do to manage those challenges?
You are gorgeous. You are not wrong. This is an opportunity to learn from what's working for you and what's not. Every day you have a glorious chance to explore a different path to reach a different place in your fabulous life.
You've got this. And we've got your back.5 -
I'm having this same issue and am so frustrated. I am meticulous with my diary, and work out at least 60 minutes six times per week. I have been to the doctor and she just said to focus on health and measurements. I try to drink at least 128 ounces of water a day. For real though, it's so defeating. For my mental health, I am going to do as the doctor says.1
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Looking over your diary I see a lot of things measured by cups. If you were having good success with that, I would say stick with it, but you are not. My suggestions are get a digital kitchen scale and weigh all solids (including those that are grated and ground) and even liquids if you have weight serving sizes for them.
https://youtu.be/vjKPIcI51lU 3 -
GummyLionGirl wrote: »I lost 3, but it just seems so little
3 lb in 21 days = 1 lb per week. That's usually pretty good. Has it come off little by little, or a bunch at first and nothing since?
If the former, I'd say keep doing what you're doing, because it's working.2 -
boom. that's one pound for week! Look at your super-dedication to exercising! That's amazing! Definitely celebrate your successes, but AND! it's OK to problem-solve around sticking points.
For example, I can say that my body does not buy the whole "a calorie is a calorie is a calorie" mantra. Simple carbs (like sugary or starchy things) tend to make my scale go sticky, whereas high protein/low sugar stuff (real food not fabricated protein-bar-ish things) help me feel full, well-fueled and let my body work more efficiently...and let me see better impact when I weigh in. You can try cutting out carbs entirely or even cutting back your normal portion size of starches (half a potato instead of a whole, 2 tablespoons of rice instead of a half-cup) and ramping up your crunchy, bright veggies (think broccoli, squash--eat the rainbow!!)
The other thing that I can say that's been helpful about having my own fair share of "bad days" (and you don't have to share anything you don't want to, babe) is taking a look at what made it hard to stay true to my goals. Did I make not-so-great food choices because I was stressed? because I didn't take time to plan meals and snacks that help me take good care of myself? ... all of the above? So what can I do to manage those challenges?
You are gorgeous. You are not wrong. This is an opportunity to learn from what's working for you and what's not. Every day you have a glorious chance to explore a different path to reach a different place in your fabulous life.
You've got this. And we've got your back.
You are so nice. I appreciate everything you just said. ❤0 -
A) 3 Pounds in 3 Weeks is just fine!
Calorie burns are a big guess, try logging half of what you think you are burning. 2 -
GummyLionGirl wrote: »bmayes2014 wrote: »Everyone on this website has their "bad days" or at least their own definition of it. Maybe you could open it just to get help on this topic and close it back. If you don't want to open it, you are probably eating at maintenance calories, not accurately weighing your food, or lacking a bit of patience. For your height and size, under 1300 calories doesn't seem like enough. Also, remember that it doesn't matter if you go 'balls to the wall' in the gym - you must still eat under maintenance to lose weight. I used to bust my *kitten* in the gym - but I overate all the time. At that time, I saw little to no progress with weight loss. Keep in mind, you don't even have to work out to lose weight. Calories are King. best of luck.
Thank you.
You are welcome. Track condiments (ketchup, mayo, coffee creamer, salad dressings, etc) It is kind of a pain but it is important. Also, don't rely on the database for measurements. I cant tell by your diary if you are actually using a food SCALE. not measuring cups. That will make a big difference.
Check out this link and be sure to look under #1 http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/1080242/a-guide-to-get-you-started-on-your-path-to-sexypants/p1
You got this! It just takes a little time to find what works for you!1 -
Make sure you are taking body measurements also - sometimes you will lose inches before you start to see it on the scale. And averaging a 1# loss per week sounds like a consistent and safe rate of loss to me - hang in there, it will happen *_*1
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Make sure you are taking body measurements also - sometimes you will lose inches before you start to see it on the scale. And averaging a 1# loss per week sounds like a consistent and safe rate of loss to me - hang in there, it will happen *_*
North east Ohio girl? I'm in akron. (lol if it does stand for north east Ohio?)0 -
bmayes2014 wrote: »GummyLionGirl wrote: »bmayes2014 wrote: »Everyone on this website has their "bad days" or at least their own definition of it. Maybe you could open it just to get help on this topic and close it back. If you don't want to open it, you are probably eating at maintenance calories, not accurately weighing your food, or lacking a bit of patience. For your height and size, under 1300 calories doesn't seem like enough. Also, remember that it doesn't matter if you go 'balls to the wall' in the gym - you must still eat under maintenance to lose weight. I used to bust my *kitten* in the gym - but I overate all the time. At that time, I saw little to no progress with weight loss. Keep in mind, you don't even have to work out to lose weight. Calories are King. best of luck.
Thank you.
You are welcome. Track condiments (ketchup, mayo, coffee creamer, salad dressings, etc) It is kind of a pain but it is important. Also, don't rely on the database for measurements. I cant tell by your diary if you are actually using a food SCALE. not measuring cups. That will make a big difference.
Check out this link and be sure to look under #1 http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/1080242/a-guide-to-get-you-started-on-your-path-to-sexypants/p1
You got this! It just takes a little time to find what works for you!
I do use measuring cups. That's bad?
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It may be that your body is getting used to your routine .. can you change things up a bit? Your sodium intake could be reduced .. prepackaged foods are usually a big contributer. A person is more likely to retain water with increased sodium. I like the treadmill, spin and eliptical too much but I found that making a couple changes (enter rowing machine) and tried intermittent fasting (the 5:2 eating strategy) I was able to jump off the plateau. It wasn't a huge drop but a consistent 1/2 lb a week... and that is a good feeling. Good Luck0
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That's a pound a week. Seems fine.
A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
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