Nothing happening?

albahazeldrop
albahazeldrop Posts: 2 Member
edited December 2024 in Getting Started
Hi everyone! I've only recently started but was looking for some advice.
The last two weeks I have been at the gym about 5 out of 7 days. The before this I was averaging walking 10-15km a day. So for the last three weeks - quite a bit of physical activity. I've also been trying to eat well with meat salads and fruits. I realise that it's early days but...5 out of 7 days a week I've been cardio - sometimes for an hour and also been doing weights. And...nothing has happened I've actually put ON half a pound. Am I going about this wrong ? I'm absolutely gutted. I realise it's early but the sheer amount of exercise I was expected a one or two pound loss...but nothing. Any insight helpful!

Replies

  • TavistockToad
    TavistockToad Posts: 35,719 Member
    Are you measuring all your food?

    If the exercise is a new thing you're probably retaining water too.
  • beatthereaper2016
    beatthereaper2016 Posts: 55 Member
    The thing people forget the most is to rest. The body makes all its repairs while at rest / sleeping. Working very hard without adequate break time can actually be detrimental to weight loss. Cut back both cardio and other by a day and see what happens
  • TavistockToad
    TavistockToad Posts: 35,719 Member
    beatthereaper2016 wrote: »
    The thing people forget the most is to rest. The body makes all its repairs while at rest / sleeping. Working very hard without adequate break time can actually be detrimental to weight loss. Cut back both cardio and other by a day and see what happens

    OP gets 2 days rest per week, and doesn't mention any soreness so I don't think rest is an issue here.
  • mmapags
    mmapags Posts: 8,934 Member
    Are you weighing, measuring and logging everything you eat? Eating healthy and exercising won't make much difference if you are eating maintenance calories.
  • albahazeldrop
    albahazeldrop Posts: 2 Member
    Thanks all for responses. It most likely is a calorie issue then. I suppose that exercise isn't going to achieve much loss if any - if I'm still consuming too much. Will log and weigh food this week and see what happens then!
    I was just downhearted as the exercise is so Much more than I ever did before (ie- nothing!) So even without a calorie change I thought it would make a difference!
  • TavistockToad
    TavistockToad Posts: 35,719 Member
    albahazeldrop wrote: »
    Thanks all for responses. It most likely is a calorie issue then. I suppose that exercise isn't going to achieve much loss if any - if I'm still consuming too much. Will log and weigh food this week and see what happens then!
    I was just downhearted as the exercise is so Much more than I ever did before (ie- nothing!) So even without a calorie change I thought it would make a difference!

    Exercise is great for good health, but on its own it won't necessarily cause weight loss
  • yirara
    yirara Posts: 10,555 Member
    albahazeldrop wrote: »
    Thanks all for responses. It most likely is a calorie issue then. I suppose that exercise isn't going to achieve much loss if any - if I'm still consuming too much. Will log and weigh food this week and see what happens then!
    I was just downhearted as the exercise is so Much more than I ever did before (ie- nothing!) So even without a calorie change I thought it would make a difference!

    Yes, do log and use a food scale, and make sure you use the right database entries.
    You know, you could just continue eating as you do now and log for a week. This gives you an idea how much you're really eating.
  • dewit
    dewit Posts: 1,468 Member
    TavistockToad wrote: »
    albahazeldrop wrote: »
    Thanks all for responses. It most likely is a calorie issue then. I suppose that exercise isn't going to achieve much loss if any - if I'm still consuming too much. Will log and weigh food this week and see what happens then!
    I was just downhearted as the exercise is so Much more than I ever did before (ie- nothing!) So even without a calorie change I thought it would make a difference!

    Exercise is great for good health, but on its own it won't necessarily cause weight loss

    Confirm! Been there, done that. Nothing changed until I got back to tracking with MFP. And accepting hunger won't kill me (if it's during decent extends of time). :smiley:
  • Dilvish
    Dilvish Posts: 398 Member
    It also depends on the time of day that you weighed yourself. Your weight can fluctuate quite a bit in a matter of hours...try it...weigh yourself every few hours on the same scale and you'll be surprised at the results...it's very common and it really does happen.

    It's mostly due to water retention in your body (male and female).

    Guessing at your caloric intake is not going to work if you really want to lose weight. You have to read nutrition labels and measure or weigh your portions.

    Additionally, cardio is great for your heart, lungs and overall health but if you really want to lose weight, do more resistance training (weights). and you will see much better results. Don't forget that if you are already generally fit but are trying to lose weight to "tone", weight gain can be muscle, not fat.
  • AnnPT77
    AnnPT77 Posts: 36,713 Member
    albahazeldrop wrote: »
    Thanks all for responses. It most likely is a calorie issue then. I suppose that exercise isn't going to achieve much loss if any - if I'm still consuming too much. Will log and weigh food this week and see what happens then!
    I was just downhearted as the exercise is so Much more than I ever did before (ie- nothing!) So even without a calorie change I thought it would make a difference!

    Don't be discouraged! You can accomplish your goals via your plans on the food front.

    I stayed obese for over a decade while working out hard most days of the week (rowing, spinning, more). Realistically, my exercise was easy to out-eat . . . not much more than one Snickers bar will do it. One of those fancy chocolate coffee drinks with whip would far exceed the exercise calories.

    I did get a lot more fit in that decade, though (which was more what I was going for, not really weight loss at the time). That's worthwhile in itself, but adding the weight loss (which took me about a year, for about 1/3 of my body weight) made huge improvements in health markers, too.

    Hang in there! :)
  • WilmaValley
    WilmaValley Posts: 1,092 Member
    Great ideas, just hang tight, it WILL happen.
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