Not Lost Anything in Nearly 3 Weeks.

PavlovianCat
PavlovianCat Posts: 8 Member
edited November 17 in Health and Weight Loss
I'm having an issue that completely confounds me. 3 weeks in and I've not lost anything. Not gaining, but not losing.

Here's the details:

- I'm 45, 5' 10", currently weigh 230lbs
- I'm eating 1500 calories a day and logging nearly every little thing I put into my mouth. (I just logged 5 pistachios and I even logged a life saver)
- I weigh or measure everything
- If I don't know exactly how many cals a food is, I won't eat it.
- I walk/jog at 3.5mph for 15min at lunch 5 days a week
- I walk/jog at 4 mph for 30 min after work 5 days a week
- 45 min total walking/jogging per day 5 days a week
- I don't always "add back" my exercise calories, but I do use the low end estimate as a buffer sometimes (200 cals for exercise) and sometimes I don't log exercise at all.
- 5 out of 7 days a week I go to bed with about 100 calories left
- I don't "cheat" on the weekends, but I don't exercise those days either. At WORST I may "allow" 100-200 or so over my 1500 cals per day

I don't see how I can't be losing weight. When I did this before, the first month was when I lost the MOST weight and I rarely exercised back then. I've been very disciplined and even proud of myself that I'm exercising as consistently as I am, as well as maintaining my 1500 cals every day.

Helps? :-(
«1

Replies

  • quiksylver296
    quiksylver296 Posts: 28,439 Member
    edited March 2017
    Is the walk/jogging new exercise to you? Your body could be retaining water to repair your muscles. When your body get used to the continued exercise, it will let that extra water go, and you'll see the loss that was always there but hidden by the water.

    I've read reports on this site that the exercise water retention can last anywhere from 2-8 weeks.
  • Sls2bhealthy
    Sls2bhealthy Posts: 15 Member
    I really believe you are not eating enough. Your body is not getting enough fuel and it is holding onto fat. What you are burning is muscle. I would up your calories to at least 1800 and track your macros. 30% fat, 35% protein and 35% carbs. Also, add some weight training into your routine 2-3 times a week. Muscle is what burns fat. Try it for a week or two and see what happens.
  • PavlovianCat
    PavlovianCat Posts: 8 Member
    Yes it is new to me. I mean, I've jogged/walked in the past (I'd do 3 miles maybe 3 times a week, but that was over a year ago) but not nearly this much as the last 2-3 weeks (5 days a week for 45 min total.)

    I don't remember having this issue before. But it is consistently more exercise than I've done in the past. I'll keep at it and hope that's what the issue is. All I know now is that I'm incredibly frustrated because I've been so disciplined.

    Thanks!
  • PavlovianCat
    PavlovianCat Posts: 8 Member
    Thank you! I'll keep at it. I suppose patience isn't a virtue I possess. :wink:
  • lilawolf
    lilawolf Posts: 1,690 Member
    Added to the above... I would strongly suggest measuring yourself and taking pictures. Sometimes, particularly if it is exercise related water, you will be losing inches even when the scale is being a lying B****. Gives you more positive metrics to follow.

    Assuming that you have not done measurements before now. How are your clothes fitting?
  • Evamutt
    Evamutt Posts: 2,797 Member
    I don't have as much experience as some do here but in my journey it's not unusual for me not to lose wt for 2-3 weeks at a time
  • Tacklewasher
    Tacklewasher Posts: 7,122 Member
    I'm up .4 lbs from 3/16. I'm doing everything right. It pisses me off but sometimes that is just the way it is. Trying to get under 250 and it just isn't happening.

    So I'm just keeping at it knowing one day I will be down 3-4 lbs and then it will start all over again. I did the same thing at 258.

  • lilawolf
    lilawolf Posts: 1,690 Member
    Tacklewasher wrote: »
    I'm up .4 lbs from 3/16. I'm doing everything right. It pisses me off but sometimes that is just the way it is. Trying to get under 250 and it just isn't happening.

    So I'm just keeping at it knowing one day I will be down 3-4 lbs and then it will start all over again. I did the same thing at 258.

    Lol. Up half a pound from 3/16 myself...but I added a lot of new training. I'm expecting it to be at least another week before I see the needle move.
  • Sls2bhealthy
    Sls2bhealthy Posts: 15 Member
    fitmom4lifemfp wrote: »
    Sls2bhealthy wrote: »
    I really believe you are not eating enough. Your body is not getting enough fuel and it is holding onto fat. What you are burning is muscle. I would up your calories to at least 1800 and track your macros. 30% fat, 35% protein and 35% carbs. Also, add some weight training into your routine 2-3 times a week. Muscle is what burns fat. Try it for a week or two and see what happens.

    The body does not "hold onto fat" if one is undereating. How does that even make sense?

    Here you go:

    http://www.stack.com/a/undereating

    This is a simple explanation. I am trained in nutrition, I am not making this up.
  • tabletop_joe
    tabletop_joe Posts: 455 Member
    I don't have advice, I just wanted to tell you that I like your style. ;)
  • tufntender
    tufntender Posts: 98 Member
    I actually gained 5 lb within perhaps 4 days. I couldn't believe it, but I remembered that I had stopped my blood pressure meds because my pressure was almost too low. So I started one again, it is supposed to help get rid of Sodium, anyway...I didn't weigh myself for a while because the 5 lb gain shocked me somewhat I usually weigh every day or every other day but when I finally did. I lost the 5 lb and a pound and a half. We are talking within a weeks time.So, seems like was just retaining water/ sodium. Do you eat a lot of salt? Do you sweat when you walk/ jog?
  • LessCookiess
    LessCookiess Posts: 538 Member
    You could still be retaining water perhaps.
  • misskarne
    misskarne Posts: 1,765 Member
    tufntender wrote: »
    I actually gained 5 lb within perhaps 4 days. I couldn't believe it, but I remembered that I had stopped my blood pressure meds because my pressure was almost too low. So I started one again, it is supposed to help get rid of Sodium, anyway...I didn't weigh myself for a while because the 5 lb gain shocked me somewhat I usually weigh every day or every other day but when I finally did. I lost the 5 lb and a pound and a half. We are talking within a weeks time.So, seems like was just retaining water/ sodium. Do you eat a lot of salt? Do you sweat when you walk/ jog?

    Ai ai ai, what? Does your doctor know about this?
  • tufntender
    tufntender Posts: 98 Member
    misskarne wrote: »
    tufntender wrote: »
    I actually gained 5 lb within perhaps 4 days. I couldn't believe it, but I remembered that I had stopped my blood pressure meds because my pressure was almost too low. So I started one again, it is supposed to help get rid of Sodium, anyway...I didn't weigh myself for a while because the 5 lb gain shocked me somewhat I usually weigh every day or every other day but when I finally did. I lost the 5 lb and a pound and a half. We are talking within a weeks time.So, seems like was just retaining water/ sodium. Do you eat a lot of salt? Do you sweat when you walk/ jog?

    Ai ai ai, what? Does your doctor know about this?

    Kinda sorta. I was told to monitor and to gradually decrease meds if needed. Since I started the HZT ( Hydrochlorothiazide) again I feel less bloated, but time for a full check up soon. Unfortunately ,I do not have insurance and it costs about 300 bucks including Lab work etc.
  • nutmegoreo
    nutmegoreo Posts: 15,532 Member
    edited March 2017
    Sls2bhealthy wrote: »
    fitmom4lifemfp wrote: »
    Sls2bhealthy wrote: »
    I really believe you are not eating enough. Your body is not getting enough fuel and it is holding onto fat. What you are burning is muscle. I would up your calories to at least 1800 and track your macros. 30% fat, 35% protein and 35% carbs. Also, add some weight training into your routine 2-3 times a week. Muscle is what burns fat. Try it for a week or two and see what happens.

    The body does not "hold onto fat" if one is undereating. How does that even make sense?

    Here you go:

    http://www.stack.com/a/undereating

    This is a simple explanation. I am trained in nutrition, I am not making this up.

    I'm not sure what "trained in nutrition" means, but I know that the RDs I work with would disagree with you.

    OP, I agree with those who say to give it some more time. I stalled for a month when I started weightlifting. It was frustrating, but I knew that I was doing everything else right.
  • misskarne
    misskarne Posts: 1,765 Member
    tufntender wrote: »
    misskarne wrote: »
    tufntender wrote: »
    I actually gained 5 lb within perhaps 4 days. I couldn't believe it, but I remembered that I had stopped my blood pressure meds because my pressure was almost too low. So I started one again, it is supposed to help get rid of Sodium, anyway...I didn't weigh myself for a while because the 5 lb gain shocked me somewhat I usually weigh every day or every other day but when I finally did. I lost the 5 lb and a pound and a half. We are talking within a weeks time.So, seems like was just retaining water/ sodium. Do you eat a lot of salt? Do you sweat when you walk/ jog?

    Ai ai ai, what? Does your doctor know about this?

    Kinda sorta. I was told to monitor and to gradually decrease meds if needed. Since I started the HZT ( Hydrochlorothiazide) again I feel less bloated, but time for a full check up soon. Unfortunately ,I do not have insurance and it costs about 300 bucks including Lab work etc.

    "gradually decrease" =/= "jump straight off and then jump straight back on again because weight loss".
  • RuNaRoUnDaFiEld
    RuNaRoUnDaFiEld Posts: 5,864 Member
    Sls2bhealthy wrote: »
    fitmom4lifemfp wrote: »
    Sls2bhealthy wrote: »
    I really believe you are not eating enough. Your body is not getting enough fuel and it is holding onto fat. What you are burning is muscle. I would up your calories to at least 1800 and track your macros. 30% fat, 35% protein and 35% carbs. Also, add some weight training into your routine 2-3 times a week. Muscle is what burns fat. Try it for a week or two and see what happens.

    The body does not "hold onto fat" if one is undereating. How does that even make sense?

    Here you go:

    http://www.stack.com/a/undereating

    This is a simple explanation. I am trained in nutrition, I am not making this up.

    I'd ask for a refund on your training costs.
  • ransaka
    ransaka Posts: 135 Member
    Tacklewasher wrote: »
    A better article on it

    http://www.aworkoutroutine.com/starvation-mode/

    That is a very good article, nice find.
  • jnomadica
    jnomadica Posts: 280 Member
    OP, when I first started calorie counting and exercising again I lost nothing for 3 weeks. Then the 4th week I dropped 4 pounds. I assume the water retention from being more active again was the culprit!
  • georgeous66
    georgeous66 Posts: 47 Member
    I wont debate the not eating enough...i will only tell you my experience....was doing everything the same as i had been previously except for 4 weeks i did not lose a thing....i was eating 1200 cals...hubby said i was not getting enough to fuel my body....up'd my cals to 1590....boom down 4lbs in a week and back on track to losing again. People argue that "starvation mode" is a myth and back this up by using anorexics/starving children as examples....well i believe the difference is that they are getting minimal/no food explaining their body composition...where as too few calries wont result in literally starving but will trigger the body into slowing down or holding onto food until it gets fed what it needs. Good luck :)
  • kq1981
    kq1981 Posts: 1,098 Member
    edited March 2017
    The body does not hold onto food. We need resources for energy when we eat to few calories this energy must come from somewhere.

    Anyways, This was me op. No weight loss for a few weeks then I had a "whoosh". Reassess in another 2 weeks. Maybe you could start measuring?
  • beemac52014
    beemac52014 Posts: 22 Member
    I don't have any advice, but I can tell you that you are not alone. At age 50, I have to figure 3-4 weeks to lose a pound. Sounds like you are doing the right things, just hang in there!
  • nikkibay8
    nikkibay8 Posts: 23 Member
    I think you are undereating. Read the book Burn the Fat Feed the Muscle by Tom Venuto. I'm halfway through and it has educated me incredibly on food intake and exercise!
  • Tacklewasher
    Tacklewasher Posts: 7,122 Member
    Tacklewasher wrote: »
    Tacklewasher wrote: »
    I'm up .4 lbs from 3/16. I'm doing everything right. It pisses me off but sometimes that is just the way it is. Trying to get under 250 and it just isn't happening.

    So I'm just keeping at it knowing one day I will be down 3-4 lbs and then it will start all over again. I did the same thing at 258.

    And there is 2.1 gone in a day. If history is any indication, I'm under 250 for good.

    Another 1.4 down today. So the keeping at it and waiting for the whoosh has paid off for me. Down 3.5 in 2 days when I was stuck for almost 2 weeks gets me right back on the expected 2 lb per week loss.

    It sucks but the math does work out in the end. Probably be a bit up tomorrow (sushi lunch today), but in short, keep at it for more than a 3 weeks and then decide if you need to change things up.
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