NO weight loss!
Bria0709
Posts: 11 Member
I need to lose 15lbs in the next 6 months for health reasons. For the past 5 weeks I have been working out (30min cardio burning 300cals + 30 min strength training) at 5 days a week and eating 1200-1300 cals a day. I always ate generally healthy but didn't lose any weight so I started working out. The problem is I have lost ONE pound in these last 5 weeks. It just doesn't make sense. What can the problem be?
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I need to lose 15lbs in the next 6 months for health reasons. For the past 5 weeks I have been working out (30min cardio burning 300cals + 30 min strength training) at 5 days a week and eating 1200-1300 cals a day. I always ate generally healthy but didn't lose any weight so I started working out. The problem is I have lost ONE pound in these last 5 weeks. It just doesn't make sense. What can the problem be?4
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If you need to lose weight for health reasons, I would ditch the strength training, cos that won't shift the scales for awhile, if at all, you will be replacing the fat with muscle. Also if you opened your diary we could help you with food advice. But I suggest looking at the IIFYM.com and use their calculator. Keep your water intake high 8-12 glasses. Also watch your sodium, you might be sodium sensitive, some people hold extra water with sodium.1
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If you aren't losing weight, you'll probably not actually eating 1200-1300 calories a day. It's likely logging errors. (eyeballing and guessing portion sizes)8
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measure you food and DRINK LOTS OF WATER!! slow down on the weight training - muscle weighs more.2
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It's possible that it is a medication you are on. Just throwing that out there as it took me a while to discover that despite the fact I was working out 5 days a week, I was not losing any weight due to one of my medications.1
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Unfortunately this isn't an exact science. My take your body a little longer to respond... OR you might be building muscle (which by volume weighs more then fat). Don't get discouraged though!! I DO hope you eat back those exercising calories...2
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While there are several possible explanations, the most likely is that you, in fact, are not eating or exercising as little or as much as you think you are. It's human tendency to underestimate calories and overestimate calorie burn. Several people here have suggested the correct course of action. Weigh, portion and diligently follow your nutrition plan. Any deviation renders the data useless. Good luck!5
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I'd also like to add...don't stop with the weight training. One, it doesn't sound like you're eating at a surplus, since you aren't gaining weight, so you are not gaining muscle. Two, if you have to lose "weight" for a medical reason, it's likely that you have to lose FAT for a medical reason, not just scale weight. Keeping as much lean mass as possible while losing weight will be beneficial for you in the long run, for both health and vanity purposes.12
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Make sure you have your activity level set correctly if you are using MFP for tracking. Secondly, track everything and if you are not use to portion control then buy a scale and weight you foods.
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1080242-a-guide-to-get-you-started-on-your-path-to-sexypants0 -
I'd also like to add...don't stop with the weight training. One, it doesn't sound like you're eating at a surplus, since you aren't gaining weight, so you are not gaining muscle. Two, if you have to lose "weight" for a medical reason, it's likely that you have to lose FAT for a medical reason, not just scale weight. Keeping as much lean mass as possible while losing weight will be beneficial for you in the long run, for both health and vanity purposes.3
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I don't really know about muscle weight but I know unless I measure and count my calories exactly with measuring spoons and a food scale I don't lose. It is time consuming and annoying but it is the only thing that works. Drinking water helps me a lot also. I wish you good luck. I know it is not easy. I have to lose for health reasons also because I have bad arthritis and the weight on my joints is very bad. Try to picture yourself healthier and how happy you will be from that and hopefully it will motivate you. Again good luck.
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I'd also like to add...don't stop with the weight training. One, it doesn't sound like you're eating at a surplus, since you aren't gaining weight, so you are not gaining muscle. Two, if you have to lose "weight" for a medical reason, it's likely that you have to lose FAT for a medical reason, not just scale weight. Keeping as much lean mass as possible while losing weight will be beneficial for you in the long run, for both health and vanity purposes.
It has been my experience that drs go by BMI not body fat % and I have had a lifetime of experience with doctors. Perhaps though you can call them and ask if they need just weight loss or body fat reduction? This is why I suggested stopping weight training for now (I am a huge advocate for weight training).0 -
I need to lose 15lbs in the next 6 months for health reasons. For the past 5 weeks I have been working out (30min cardio burning 300cals + 30 min strength training) at 5 days a week and eating 1200-1300 cals a day. I always ate generally healthy but didn't lose any weight so I started working out. The problem is I have lost ONE pound in these last 5 weeks. It just doesn't make sense. What can the problem be?
Working out doesnt = weight loss. Calorie deficit = weight loss.4 -
As mentioned above - it's a misnomer that you can gain muscle in caloric deficit. You just can't. If you're truly in a deficit, you're body is trying to come up with ways to feed itself. Muscle production and repair is minimal, if any. Fat stores, as well as muscle tissue are broken down for their energy producing potential. You may start looking more 'cut' or 'diced' but that's more from muscle tone improving and fat layers becoming less thick.
When you're in a deficit, your body is functioning in a catabolic state - it's consuming itself.
Nobody is getting big (or staying the same) when those conditions exist.
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If you aren't losing weight you're not in a caloric deficit. Start logging properly.
To the other posters:
Don't stop weight training. That makes no sense.
She is not gaining muscle in a deficit.
Muscle does not weigh more than fat. A pound is a pound. Muscle is more dense.
When they say muscle weighs more than fat they don't mean 1 lb of muscle weighs more than 1 lb of fat, they mean 1 square inch of muscle weighs more than 1 square inch of fat.2 -
It sounds to me like given the amount you're working out and only eating 1200 calories a day that your body is likely in starvation mode. Figure out your BMR and TDEE and then subtract 20%. You need to eat at the very minimum your BMR as that is the minimum that your body needs to function. In my case that's 1417 a day...at 1200 I will NEVER lose anything. Try this website: http://scoobysworkshop.com/accurate-calorie-calculator/0
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It sounds to me like given the amount you're working out and only eating 1200 calories a day that your body is likely in starvation mode. Figure out your BMR and TDEE and then subtract 20%. You need to eat at the very minimum your BMR as that is the minimum that your body needs to function. In my case that's 1417 a day...at 1200 I will NEVER lose anything. Try this website: http://scoobysworkshop.com/accurate-calorie-calculator/
If you are not losing weight-you are eating too much-you are not in deficit!
Weigh solid foods and measure liquids very carefully. Buy a digital kitchen scale-it works!!!5 -
I'd also like to add...don't stop with the weight training. One, it doesn't sound like you're eating at a surplus, since you aren't gaining weight, so you are not gaining muscle. Two, if you have to lose "weight" for a medical reason, it's likely that you have to lose FAT for a medical reason, not just scale weight. Keeping as much lean mass as possible while losing weight will be beneficial for you in the long run, for both health and vanity purposes.
^this
It would also help people help you if you opened up your diary.1 -
I am in same boat as original post. I am tracking accurately. But I am 10 days in and have lost nothing.
I am keeping it up because the tracking keeps me aware and eating better.
I am just curious about what is happening in my own body…0
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