not losing pounds, help?

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Replies

  • jipper44
    jipper44 Posts: 111
    After looking at your food diary, I would suggest adjusting your macronutrient goals (Carbs, Fat, Protein) a little bit. There are a lot of threads on MFP to help you decide which way to go and how to adjust it in your settings. I would suggest focusing more on protein to get a little more balance in your diet, it seems like your diet is very carb heavy, even if it is from a lot of fruit. Try a few different things to find an approach you can work with.

    Your goal on your profile is "to be fit". While losing weight does not necessarily "require" exercise, being fit does. Now, that doesn't mean 2 hours at the gym everyday, there are a lot of threads on here for different activity suggestions as well (cardio vs. lifting, etc.). I had about a 3-4 month plateau while doing a LOT of cardio, and it has only started budging when I started weight training, and training with heavy weights at that. I didn't get HUGE, I'm actually smaller by several inches and I'm not stopping anytime soon. Again, keep trying until you find something that you enjoy and that you can stick to. Good Luck!
  • theralewis
    theralewis Posts: 2
    I've tried WW (I was starving all the time and had wicked headaches), I've tried Adkins (I wanted to puke from all the protein), I've tried Jenny (tastes like crap). This is my final option. I only joined MFP 2 weeks ago. Before was counting calories on my own.
    I know I want to be fit, and I'm not focusing on a pant size, but weighing almost 200 lbs isn't fit by a long shot. I'm just frustrated from eating food I hate, and working out everyday and seeing almost ZERO results.
    Forgot to mention I live in a house where everyone is extremely thin. My oldest son is on a "get fat" diet, because he's 13 and weighs 65 lbs at 5'2. So I have to constantly make my food separately from the families.
    Today, I don't even want to eat at all. Yesterday, the same. Food is becoming my enemy, and I don't want that.
  • killagb
    killagb Posts: 3,280 Member
    I think perhaps what Rworthy meant was that in order for the OP to see the results faster, they have to exercise. So maybe everyone should lay off :)

    No, they called me a liar for stating that it helps but isn't necessary. Nuff said.
  • jodieh06
    jodieh06 Posts: 49
    thanks for all the advice guys, and apologies for bringing up the start of that long argument. Some really helpful advice on here, and i actually started jogging today too. Perseverance seems to be the key here, and i can't give up, even if it takes me a year, i'm gunna make it :) thanks again! x
  • sinclare
    sinclare Posts: 369 Member
    I have been eating healthy, sticking to my calorie count, exercising EVERYDAY. Started a month ago, and have lost a total of 5 lbs. I was so pissed about the slow rewards after all the suffering today, I threw my scale in the garbage, screamed and broke down crying. I'm about ready to quit. This is BS.
    My hubby told me forget about the scale and go by how your clothes feel. Guess what? My clothes are STILL tight. WTH? I'm pissed beyond belief. Not to mention I'm in constant pain from the workouts, I've been limping for a month too. My muscles hurt so BAD.


    I can't see your diary, so I have no idea what you are eating. But don't be so hard on yourself. You lost 5 lbs in a month...that is over a lb/week!

    Keep doing what you are doing, and log everything. Don't eat junk ( ie no fast food, no fried food, no chips). Take it easy on the cheese and sauces. If bread is your thing cut it back, or, cut it out.

    And if your body hurts that bad, slow down. Work out every other day for awhile.

    No one said this was easy ;)
  • sinclare
    sinclare Posts: 369 Member
    also, there is a ton of great info here:

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/186814-some-mfp-basics
  • hjames0486
    hjames0486 Posts: 31
    I have been eating healthy, sticking to my calorie count, exercising EVERYDAY. Started a month ago, and have lost a total of 5 lbs. I was so pissed about the slow rewards after all the suffering today, I threw my scale in the garbage, screamed and broke down crying. I'm about ready to quit. This is BS.
    My hubby told me forget about the scale and go by how your clothes feel. Guess what? My clothes are STILL tight. WTH? I'm pissed beyond belief. Not to mention I'm in constant pain from the workouts, I've been limping for a month too. My muscles hurt so BAD.

    I understand your frustration. I've been there before, I will start working out eating healthy and lose weight and then all of a sudden nothing and I get discouraged and then I give up. My sister said something to me a while ago that I have been telling myself as I go through this weight loss journey...."you did gain this weight overnight, so you won't lose this weight overnight."

    I know that probably isn't something you want to hear but you have to remember, that it took years to gain the weight and will take a year or so to lose the weight. Just don't give up on yourself! Make sure you listen to your body, if you are hurting and are in constant pain, your body is telling you that you need to rest. Instead of exercising everyday try going for two days and resting a day and so on. Remember to drink plenty of water, it will help to fight of hunger pains (sometimes are body is telling us its thirsty and we mistake it for hunger pains) and it will make you fill full.

    As far as eating foods you hate, STOP! Just because you want to lose weight doesn't mean you can't eat foods you like, you just have do it in moderation. If you want to have something from a fast food restaurant, go a head and have, just make sure that its within your calories, or do extra workouts. I was craving McDonald's the other day and I ate, I went over my calories, but I made sure that I worked out a little harder so that I could compensate.

    I have found that if I make myself diet by eating foods that I don't like and deprive myself of eating foods that I do like, then I wont stick to it and instead I go on these food binges. Eat the food you like in moderation, count your calories, drink your water and make sure you give your body some rest.

    Good Luck!
  • imjustlisa
    imjustlisa Posts: 79 Member
    I have been eating healthy, sticking to my calorie count, exercising EVERYDAY. Started a month ago, and have lost a total of 5 lbs. I was so pissed about the slow rewards after all the suffering today, I threw my scale in the garbage, screamed and broke down crying. I'm about ready to quit. This is BS.
    My hubby told me forget about the scale and go by how your clothes feel. Guess what? My clothes are STILL tight. WTH? I'm pissed beyond belief. Not to mention I'm in constant pain from the workouts, I've been limping for a month too. My muscles hurt so BAD.
    You lost 5 lbs in one month that is great! So in another month that is 10 lbs! You should be thrilled. If you went for bloodwork I bet you would find healthier results, lower blood pressure, and if you are regular with your cardio a much stronger heart. A stronger heart means more endurance which for me means the world. I used to get on my elliptical and think after 5 minutes i would die.Now I go for 30 minutes with no problem. I have only lost one pound! But i know i am healthier! thats what its all about. sure we would all love to fit in a size 3 but living longer and stronger means more tome. And if in two years i work my weight down to a size or two smaller then so be it.
  • mariek
    mariek Posts: 6
    Good advise. I did the same thing. The first two months I think I might have gained a pound. :)
    I did not step on a scale at all after the breakdown I had. I still do not own a scale. Almost 4 months in and
    lots of calorie counting, Im 10 pounds lighter. Big deal, yes it is. I am running now and feel much better. It is
    about your health. The weight will come in time. Good luck and dont give up.
  • childofbodom123
    childofbodom123 Posts: 175 Member
    I have been eating healthy, sticking to my calorie count, exercising EVERYDAY. Started a month ago, and have lost a total of 5 lbs. I was so pissed about the slow rewards after all the suffering today, I threw my scale in the garbage, screamed and broke down crying. I'm about ready to quit. This is BS.
    My hubby told me forget about the scale and go by how your clothes feel. Guess what? My clothes are STILL tight. WTH? I'm pissed beyond belief. Not to mention I'm in constant pain from the workouts, I've been limping for a month too. My muscles hurt so BAD.

    Too much exercise can also be bad though. Your metabolism has to get used to your new calorie intake and this also includes your exercise. If you run before you can walk, it will be a lot more difficult. Food is more important than exercise when losing weight. If you exercise to the point you are aching then you are simply exercising too much, and 5 pounds in a month is exactly the correct rate of losing weight but you can do that without going through the pain barrier. I have lost 3 stone in around 8 months and i have only ever done light exercise like a stationary bike, but i do at least an hours walk a day.

    It actually takes a month or so for your metabolism to adjust to your new lifestyle, meaning if your goal is 1400 calories and you eat 1400 a day, your body needs to adjust to this and it takes a month or so, after that losing weight is much easier and the pounds will roll off. Plus, exercising so much to the point it hurts and eating your goal calories will never get your metabolism steady and it will be difficult once you have reached the target weight to keep the weight off.

    Try slowing down, eat balanced meals and stick to your calorie goal. Go for an hours walk or half hour walk or for a bike ride. After one or two month your metabolism will realise that you are eating fewer calories and that it is normal and it will stop fighting against you because your metabolism will think you are are struggling for food, so its about training your body to think that your goal calorie intake is normal. Exercising loads and still eating little will confuse your metabolism, so when you eat properly it'll basically hug on to that food and turn it to fat because it doesnt know when its next good bit of food is coming in, therefore making losing weight harder and therefore loads of exercise feels like a waste of time!

    I was a football (or soccer depending where you live) Coach before piling on the pounds, so if you do indeed enjoy working out loads then these tips will help ..

    Make sure you warm up and stretch your muscles etc, depending on the exercise you are doing, make sure you do the correct stretches before you do light jogging, star jumps and short sprints to get your muscles warmed up, this will reduce the pain a little bit. But more importantly after your work out, warm down! This is jogging, doing stretches, or research techniques that will work for you according to the exercise you are doing. Doing loads of exercise then simply hitting the showers or sitting down creates pain and tight muscles, however if you warm down your muscles will not ache as much because you are slowly reintroducing them to general use like walking and movement!

    Hope this helps :smile:
  • Pebble321
    Pebble321 Posts: 6,423 Member
    thanks for all the advice guys, and apologies for bringing up the start of that long argument. Some really helpful advice on here, and i actually started jogging today too. Perseverance seems to be the key here, and i can't give up, even if it takes me a year, i'm gunna make it :) thanks again! x

    You know, with this attitude you are halfway there already :smile:
    Keep persevering and you will be posting in "success stories" before you know it!
  • jagh09
    jagh09 Posts: 555 Member
    I've tried WW (I was starving all the time and had wicked headaches), I've tried Adkins (I wanted to puke from all the protein), I've tried Jenny (tastes like crap). This is my final option. I only joined MFP 2 weeks ago. Before was counting calories on my own.
    I know I want to be fit, and I'm not focusing on a pant size, but weighing almost 200 lbs isn't fit by a long shot. I'm just frustrated from eating food I hate, and working out everyday and seeing almost ZERO results.
    Forgot to mention I live in a house where everyone is extremely thin. My oldest son is on a "get fat" diet, because he's 13 and weighs 65 lbs at 5'2. So I have to constantly make my food separately from the families.
    Today, I don't even want to eat at all. Yesterday, the same. Food is becoming my enemy, and I don't want that.

    Sorry, losing 5 pounds in 2 weeks is NOT zero results! You're supposed to lose 1 pound a week. That's the healthy way, and studies show that's how you'll keep it off, for good. This is a very negative attitude to take towards this process! You have a lifetime of healthy living ahead of you, so make it a lifestyle for good. If you hate the foods you're eating, be creative and search for recipes to try. Make it interesting, challenge yourself to learn new things and make this work for you. The only person standing in your way is you. I hope you can find a way to make this work for you, it's worth it. Remember, you didn't gain the weight overnight. And it takes twice as long to lose it. So be patient, stay with it, and focus on this time next year. If you lose 1 pound a week for the next year, you'll lose 52 pounds. That's pretty amazing.
  • Markus718
    Markus718 Posts: 6 Member
    In my opinion, your carb count is way to high. Excess carbs cause your body to create more insulin. Excess insulin tells your body to store fat and retain fluids. (......And many other negative things.....)

    Switch things around.... have more protein and less carbs. (Remember that many Low/no fat labelled foods have MORE CARBS.)

    The protein power plan offers a great balance of protein and carbs. It is definitely worth a shot!
  • medaglia_06
    medaglia_06 Posts: 282 Member
    Drinking lots of water has helped me as well and it helps flush out toxins in your body. AT LEAST eight glasses of water a day (this is easy when you are exercising).

    Also, I LOVE my Wii. I switch it up between Just Dance and Just Dance 2 (so much fun and it gets you sweating in about 2-3 songs) and the Wii Fit. It makes exercising fun!

    Good luck!
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