Not overweight, but want to lose 5 - 10lbs
tinabell153
Posts: 292 Member
I let myself go back to bad habits about 7 months ago and gained 10lbs. My wedding is coming up in May and I want to lose the extra weight to fit in my dress. I've been eating healthy, drinking lots of water, drinking protein shakes, and working out almost daily. I'm not seeing any results. I've lost 0 inches and 0 lbs.
I'm at a loss and want to just give up! Anyone have any suggestions on what I can do to kick start this stubborn weight that won't budge??
I'm at a loss and want to just give up! Anyone have any suggestions on what I can do to kick start this stubborn weight that won't budge??
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Replies
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How are you tracking calories? Do you weigh solid/semi-solid foods and use cups and spoons for liquids? The first advice you'll see is tighten up your food tracking because it's very likely your are eating more than you think. Also eating healthy doesn't necessarily mean eating less than you burn for weight loss. You can eat healthy and eat too much.
(Edited for clarification)7 -
So let me get this start you're trying to lose 10 pounds before your wedding in May?2
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If you give up you're definitely not going to lose anything. You don't have to eat any special way except at a deficit. Make sure MFP is set to have you lose .5lb/week (it's frustrating but an appropriate deficit with only 10lb to lose), weigh your foods (for the protein shake liquids, measure them) because you want to be as accurate as possible.4
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You've mentioned nothing about counting calories. Start there. And don't be disappointed if you don't lose all ten pounds by then, as you're looking at 5-9 weeks depending on when your wedding is. You may be better off investing in some Spanx.17
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You've mentioned nothing about counting calories. Start there. And don't be disappointed if you don't lose all ten pounds by then, as you're looking at 5-9 weeks depending on when your wedding is. You may be better off investing in some Spanx.
To add, get a food scale, be very meticulous and go Ketogenic the last 2 to 3 weeks prior to deplete glycogen/water.6 -
xchocolategirl wrote: »So let me get this start you're trying to lose 10 pounds before your wedding in May?
I want to lose the 10lbs, but not necessarily before the wedding. I was 105lbs when I bought the dress and I'm 114lbs now. But any weight loss is going to help it fit better!!1 -
You've mentioned nothing about counting calories. Start there. And don't be disappointed if you don't lose all ten pounds by then, as you're looking at 5-9 weeks depending on when your wedding is. You may be better off investing in some Spanx.
I've been tracking calories, but not consistently. I'll work harder at it! I did buy a body suit from Spanx and it makes the dress fit, but I'd like to lose however much I can before May. I have 7 weeks before the wedding and 8 before the honeymoon!0 -
If you give up you're definitely not going to lose anything. You don't have to eat any special way except at a deficit. Make sure MFP is set to have you lose .5lb/week (it's frustrating but an appropriate deficit with only 10lb to lose), weigh your foods (for the protein shake liquids, measure them) because you want to be as accurate as possible.
This is a good point. I have it set to lose 1lb a week. Maybe if I lower to .5lbs I will start seeing a change!0 -
Weigh all your food - buy a food scale, if you don't have one. I weighed meat - what I thought looked like 4 ounces it was truly 6 ounces (I am not good at eyeballing portions and ounces). Continue to eat healthy foods and I've seen big results with strength training, add that to your program (if you haven't). Take on a workout partner that will motivate you. I love my gym partner. Push forward2
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tinabell153 wrote: »If you give up you're definitely not going to lose anything. You don't have to eat any special way except at a deficit. Make sure MFP is set to have you lose .5lb/week (it's frustrating but an appropriate deficit with only 10lb to lose), weigh your foods (for the protein shake liquids, measure them) because you want to be as accurate as possible.
This is a good point. I have it set to lose 1lb a week. Maybe if I lower to .5lbs I will start seeing a change!
Uh...no. You want to go the other way. Aim for a larger weight loss so you make up for the inaccuracies in your logging that are keeping you from have a calorie deficit.3 -
You could try intermittent fasting. 16:8 ?
Eat in a 8hr window bracket, and then fast for 16 hours. I have chosen to eat only between 12pm and 8pm. Basically just skipping breakfast and any mornings snacks.
Last week I lost 2 pounds just from skipping 4-5 meals in the entire week. Just wasnt hungry so I didnt eat.
So I have decided to try IF now regularly to knock these final 15lbs.2 -
I don't understand how adding caloric beverages (protein shakes) is supposed to help lose weight?7
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TimothyFish wrote: »tinabell153 wrote: »If you give up you're definitely not going to lose anything. You don't have to eat any special way except at a deficit. Make sure MFP is set to have you lose .5lb/week (it's frustrating but an appropriate deficit with only 10lb to lose), weigh your foods (for the protein shake liquids, measure them) because you want to be as accurate as possible.
This is a good point. I have it set to lose 1lb a week. Maybe if I lower to .5lbs I will start seeing a change!
Uh...no. You want to go the other way. Aim for a larger weight loss so you make up for the inaccuracies in your logging that are keeping you from have a calorie deficit.
Or she could drop it to .5lb and tighten up logging to correct the inaccuracies.
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You could try intermittent fasting. 16:8 ?
Eat in a 8hr window bracket, and then fast for 16 hours. I have chosen to eat only between 12pm and 8pm. Basically just skipping breakfast and any mornings snacks.
I've tried this and I felt really deprived. I'm an avid snacker, so fasting is really difficult for me. If I'm hungry (stomach growling) I'm gonna eat lol.1 -
tinabell153 wrote: »You could try intermittent fasting. 16:8 ?
Eat in a 8hr window bracket, and then fast for 16 hours. I have chosen to eat only between 12pm and 8pm. Basically just skipping breakfast and any mornings snacks.
I've tried this and I felt really deprived. I'm an avid snacker, so fasting is really difficult for me. If I'm hungry (stomach growling) I'm gonna eat lol.
TOTALLY understand that. What works for one, might not work for another.
Ive found that im incredibly hangry when I eat 3 meals a day(Im not a snacker, snacks tend to turn into mini meals of bad things for me), versus much less hungry when i only eat two. I don't know how that works, but I hope it sticks around.
Cause when I am hangry.... my boyfriend avoids me at all costs lol.4 -
I am in the same boat and trying to lose about 10 pounds.
Lately I have been carefully tracking as I eat or before, using a food scale. I weigh myself every few days. I haven't been losing at all, so I averaged out my calorie consumption each day. It is about 2,200, so if I want to lose I need to cut back from that. I am trying to do between 1,800-2,000 a day, but it is hard! I like food and I get hungry.1 -
I am in same boat,
Hers how I am doing it... I took out all carbs except veggies, limit fruits, increase fiber and protein, and make sure I get enough th fats during the day. The first few days I ate a lot of apples and then the cravings totally stopped and I use my calories for protein and veggies now. I have no blood sugar swings and so I truly eat only when I am hungry. I am so much healtheier and veggies taste amazing.
I started about 3 weeks ago and have lost 3-4 pounds so far.1 -
I'm with Tennisskater, I don't seem to lose weight unless I only eat veges and low calorie protein like fish, eggs and chicken.
It's boring but I do find frozen veges very convenient
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Tennisskater wrote: »I am in same boat,
Hers how I am doing it... I took out all carbs except veggies, limit fruits, increase fiber and protein, and make sure I get enough th fats during the day. The first few days I ate a lot of apples and then the cravings totally stopped and I use my calories for protein and veggies now. I have no blood sugar swings and so I truly eat only when I am hungry. I am so much healtheier and veggies taste amazing.
I started about 3 weeks ago and have lost 3-4 pounds so far.
One does not need to lower carbs to lose weight. Weight loss comes from energy balance (CICO).1 -
tinabell153 wrote: »I let myself go back to bad habits about 7 months ago and gained 10lbs. My wedding is coming up in May and I want to lose the extra weight to fit in my dress. I've been eating healthy, drinking lots of water, drinking protein shakes, and working out almost daily. I'm not seeing any results. I've lost 0 inches and 0 lbs.
I'm at a loss and want to just give up! Anyone have any suggestions on what I can do to kick start this stubborn weight that won't budge??
Firstly congratulations! Been there, I reckon you can do this if you set to 1 pound a week and tighten up that logging and I mean even on a weekend no slacking get some digital scales, log every stolen chip and measure with a spoon measure every bit of dressing on your salad, spread on your butty and milk in your tea no eyeballing if you can help it, 10's probably ambitious but you might get 4-7 pounds off if you knuckle down. (also remember if you've increased your exercise recently you may have gained water weight for muscle repair which will eventually drop but is temporarily masking fat loss)
The protein might help you feel less hungry but CICO is the main aim. Also how are you estimating your exercise burns? If its MFP's calculations it might be crediting you too many cals, I'd half the exercise cals you eat back until you get a handle on what you are actually burning especially if you're not losing that could be the problem. 7 weeks is a bit of a funny one as it's a short period of time so try not to freak out about water weight fluctuations, also try not to fall into the trap of unsafe crash dieting either you need at least 1200 cals net if you want to look healthy for your big day (because you're short 1200 should be fine IMO)
Good luck *chucks confetti*2 -
tinabell153 wrote: »I let myself go back to bad habits about 7 months ago and gained 10lbs. My wedding is coming up in May and I want to lose the extra weight to fit in my dress. I've been eating healthy, drinking lots of water, drinking protein shakes, and working out almost daily. I'm not seeing any results. I've lost 0 inches and 0 lbs.
I'm at a loss and want to just give up! Anyone have any suggestions on what I can do to kick start this stubborn weight that won't budge??
You're not overweight and you want to lose 10 pounds before your wedding in May? Were you underweight before you gained ten pounds?
Bottom line: you won't lose 10 pounds by May, and if you do you will probably be too sick to attend your wedding.
Go to your wedding, have a great time, and don't worry about that ten pounds.2 -
tinabell153 wrote: »
A great example of weighing for accuracy is this "scoop." What you'd want to do is weigh that scoop - 14g would typically be 1/2 scoop as determined on the label, but read the brand you have.1 -
You could try intermittent fasting. 16:8 ?
Eat in a 8hr window bracket, and then fast for 16 hours. I have chosen to eat only between 12pm and 8pm. Basically just skipping breakfast and any mornings snacks.
Last week I lost 2 pounds just from skipping 4-5 meals in the entire week. Just wasnt hungry so I didnt eat.
So I have decided to try IF now regularly to knock these final 15lbs.
Fasting has nothing to do with weight loss, it's just a style of eating that is sustainable for some people.0 -
tinabell153 wrote: »If you give up you're definitely not going to lose anything. You don't have to eat any special way except at a deficit. Make sure MFP is set to have you lose .5lb/week (it's frustrating but an appropriate deficit with only 10lb to lose), weigh your foods (for the protein shake liquids, measure them) because you want to be as accurate as possible.
This is a good point. I have it set to lose 1lb a week. Maybe if I lower to .5lbs I will start seeing a change!
No, this is not how weight loss works.1 -
Have you taken your measurements? Reason I'm asking is that you mention you are working out every day, muscle does actually weigh more than fat, it's not a myth. CICO is by far the best policy, sounds like you are doing all the right things. Log EVERYTHING, keep doing what you are doing and enjoy these last few weeks of the build up, the Big Day itself is over in a heartbeat. Good Luck x1
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You sound just like me.. I am trying to loose just 5 pounds, (115 but I want to LOWER by bf % and get to 110 lbs.)
May sound like you body is at a plateu? In order to lose those last few pounds, You have to create a deficent between cals consumed and cals burned. I'm at a loss since I've cut out pretty much all the complex carbs, sugar & bad fats.. My body doesn't want me to drop those last 5 pounds... So maybe that is what your body is doing.
As you stated, "I want to loose 5 to 10 pounds," There is a very big difference between 5 pounds and 10 pounds.
Muscle also weighs more than fat, keep that in mind. Maybe your body can drop those last 5 pounds, but then 10 may be too drastic for you.
For a more informative answer to your question, I would need a better idea of you height and frame (bone size) structure, (small framed, medium or large.) That can help you get a more realistic weight for you, as all those things (height, frame) plays a big part in it as well.1 -
Have you taken your measurements? Reason I'm asking is that you mention you are working out every day, muscle does actually weigh more than fat, it's not a myth. CICO is by far the best policy, sounds like you are doing all the right things. Log EVERYTHING, keep doing what you are doing and enjoy these last few weeks of the build up, the Big Day itself is over in a heartbeat. Good Luck x
While muscle is more dense than fat, it's also very difficult to gain. Women, under optimal conditions, can gain about 1 lbs a month. And that is with a surplus and a solid progressive overload lifting program.2 -
animatorswearbras wrote: »tinabell153 wrote: »I let myself go back to bad habits about 7 months ago and gained 10lbs. My wedding is coming up in May and I want to lose the extra weight to fit in my dress. I've been eating healthy, drinking lots of water, drinking protein shakes, and working out almost daily. I'm not seeing any results. I've lost 0 inches and 0 lbs.
I'm at a loss and want to just give up! Anyone have any suggestions on what I can do to kick start this stubborn weight that won't budge??
Firstly congratulations! Been there, I reckon you can do this if you set to 1 pound a week and tighten up that logging and I mean even on a weekend no slacking get some digital scales, log every stolen chip and measure with a spoon measure every bit of dressing on your salad, spread on your butty and milk in your tea no eyeballing if you can help it, 10's probably ambitious but you might get 4-7 pounds off if you knuckle down. (also remember if you've increased your exercise recently you may have gained water weight for muscle repair which will eventually drop but is temporarily masking fat loss)
The protein might help you feel less hungry but CICO is the main aim. Also how are you estimating your exercise burns? If its MFP's calculations it might be crediting you too many cals, I'd half the exercise cals you eat back until you get a handle on what you are actually burning especially if you're not losing that could be the problem. 7 weeks is a bit of a funny one as it's a short period of time so try not to freak out about water weight fluctuations, also try not to fall into the trap of unsafe crash dieting either you need at least 1200 cals net if you want to look healthy for your big day (because you're short 1200 should be fine IMO)
Good luck *chucks confetti*
Thank you! hahaha
I think I'm going to invest in a scale. I have an apple watch that I use to track burned calories during a workout and a Fitbit for calories I burn throughout the day. Who knows if they're accurate though. I'm going to avoid any and all crash diets, as I've seen people go through them and it isn't pretty.
I'll continue to log as strictly as possible and continue my workouts and see how it goes!0
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