I can't figure out where to begin

aprilbriann
aprilbriann Posts: 72
edited October 3 in Health and Weight Loss
Please someone look at my diary and tell me what to do. I have been cutting back calories for a month or so and most of the time besides travel days ( I'm a wedding photog ) I do pretty well. I was doing 1300 calories. I cut back to 1200 b/c I haven't lost anything. I started the 30 day shred about the same time so I know I've gained muscle but I still see no change other than about an inch lost in the waist and in the hips.... WHAT am I doing wrong? I have so much fat on this tummy of mine and that is the ONLY place with fat. I've even tried to add in some running here and there and some strength training. I really need guidance though! Thanks in advance!

Replies

  • love4fitnesslove4food_wechange
    love4fitnesslove4food_wechange Posts: 6,897 Member
    you're not eating enough hun. cutting calories is not the answer. when your body perceives a shortage of food it becomes resistant to weight loss and slows the metabolism to preserve your fat stores. when you do lose weight with too great a deficit it predominantly comes from muscle mass, slowing your metabolism even further. I recommend eating 1500 calories a day...minimum...and wait it out. I know that this is a controversial recommendation because some people hang on to the less is better notion of calorie intake, but I know from experience that the human body is more complex than calories in - calories out.
  • siabevis
    siabevis Posts: 811
    No cheat days!!! :)
  • Shweedog
    Shweedog Posts: 883 Member
    you're not eating enough hun. cutting calories is not the answer. when your body perceives a shortage of food it becomes resistant to weight loss and slows the metabolism to preserve your fat stores. when you do lose weight with too great a deficit it predominantly comes from muscle mass, slowing your metabolism even further. I recommend eating 1500 calories a day...minimum...and wait it out. I know that this is a controversial recommendation because some people hang on to the less is better notion of calorie intake, but I know from experience that the human body is more complex than calories in - calories out.

    Agreed. When I got close to my goal I had to up my calories from 1200 to 1600 and then I lost MORE than I planned because I spiked my metabolism. I unknowingly slowed it for a while there.
  • aprilbriann
    aprilbriann Posts: 72
    you're not eating enough hun. cutting calories is not the answer. when your body perceives a shortage of food it becomes resistant to weight loss and slows the metabolism to preserve your fat stores. when you do lose weight with too great a deficit it predominantly comes from muscle mass, slowing your metabolism even further. I recommend eating 1500 calories a day...minimum...and wait it out. I know that this is a controversial recommendation because some people hang on to the less is better notion of calorie intake, but I know from experience that the human body is more complex than calories in - calories out.

    No I completely get this. I actually was eating a good bit more especially with my exercise. It was probably close to 1500 or 1600. I just used to be a HUGE junk eater and would eat bags of Hersheys drops or Peanut butter m&ms a day.... I guess I thought that after cutting out that and all the mcdonalds I ate it would surely come off pretty easily. =(
  • aprilbriann
    aprilbriann Posts: 72
    you're not eating enough hun. cutting calories is not the answer. when your body perceives a shortage of food it becomes resistant to weight loss and slows the metabolism to preserve your fat stores. when you do lose weight with too great a deficit it predominantly comes from muscle mass, slowing your metabolism even further. I recommend eating 1500 calories a day...minimum...and wait it out. I know that this is a controversial recommendation because some people hang on to the less is better notion of calorie intake, but I know from experience that the human body is more complex than calories in - calories out.

    Agreed. When I got close to my goal I had to up my calories from 1200 to 1600 and then I lost MORE than I planned because I spiked my metabolism. I unknowingly slowed it for a while there.

    Thanks! This gives me hope! I can certainly handle MORE!
  • aprilbriann
    aprilbriann Posts: 72
    No cheat days!!! :)

    Sorry Sia Bia I gotta disagree! It keeps me sane and it's recommended in all my fitness magazines and books. I realize it may take longer with these but as a mom of 3 with a VERY busy schedule it's something I need! love ya!
  • cardbucfan
    cardbucfan Posts: 10,571 Member
    If you only have 5-6 lbs. to lose, you do need to up your intake and lower your weekly loss expectations. Those last 10 lbs. are the absolute hardest to get rid of and you may need to change your mindset from weight to toning. Put the scale away, take your measurements and keep working out. Eat some more (and I think what you are eating looks fine) and you should start to see some results. You're in the "vanity" pounds stage and those are really, really hard to lose!
  • love4fitnesslove4food_wechange
    love4fitnesslove4food_wechange Posts: 6,897 Member
    add in some healthy nuts, avocado, seeds, peanut butter or a couple glasses of lowfat/skim milk. you need more fuel so that your body feels comfortable expending some of it! good luck!
  • aprilbriann
    aprilbriann Posts: 72
    If you only have 5-6 lbs. to lose, you do need to up your intake and lower your weekly loss expectations. Those last 10 lbs. are the absolute hardest to get rid of and you may need to change your mindset from weight to toning. Put the scale away, take your measurements and keep working out. Eat some more (and I think what you are eating looks fine) and you should start to see some results. You're in the "vanity" pounds stage and those are really, really hard to lose!

    Thank you! Basically that is what I'm trying to do.... just turn the fat into muscle... or whatever. I'm not sure even how to do that the RIGHT way! Any advice on that? Does my exercise seem ok? I don't have time for much more!!!
  • aprilbriann
    aprilbriann Posts: 72
    add in some healthy nuts, avocado, seeds, peanut butter or a couple glasses of lowfat/skim milk. you need more fuel so that your body feels comfortable expending some of it! good luck!

    I Adore peanut butter! I probably it a jar a week atleast!!!
  • kmbrooks15
    kmbrooks15 Posts: 941 Member
    Keep in mind, too, that for many people, the belly is the last place to go! It is for me. I lose first in my arms, legs/thighs, and face, then the butt, then the belly and boobs.

    The fact that you've lost an inch around the waist and hips is good progress. Just remember, this is a marathon, not a sprint! It's little baby steps and a lot of fluctuations. I lost almost 2.5 pounds yesterday, and today, 1 pound is back. That's just par for the course. Kind of a "two steps forward, one step back" thing.

    Hang in there!
  • cardbucfan
    cardbucfan Posts: 10,571 Member
    I don't do JM DVD's so don't know what the workout consists of but you need cardio to strip the fat-preferably some HIIT (google it or search on here for some workouts) and strength to tone those muscles that you do have. Good luck!
  • mmmichelle8486
    mmmichelle8486 Posts: 269 Member
    I don't do JM DVD's so don't know what the workout consists of but you need cardio to strip the fat-preferably some HIIT (google it or search on here for some workouts) and strength to tone those muscles that you do have. Good luck!

    The dvd she is doing is an interval training. It goes in circuits of strength/cardio/abs. I think that the strength and abs are enough, but to burn fat I would definitely add more cardio.
  • mmmichelle8486
    mmmichelle8486 Posts: 269 Member
    Also, try changing your setting to lose .5 - 1 lb per week to give you those extra calories. Pp's are dead on. Because you don't have much weight to lose, you are definitely eating far too little calories. You make wonderful food choices though, from what I can see. Good luck!!
  • aprilbriann
    aprilbriann Posts: 72
    Also, try changing your setting to lose .5 - 1 lb per week to give you those extra calories. Pp's are dead on. Because you don't have much weight to lose, you are definitely eating far too little calories. You make wonderful food choices though, from what I can see. Good luck!!

    Thanks so much for the help... how much more cardio do ya think and should i do that the same day as Jilians cd?
  • mmmichelle8486
    mmmichelle8486 Posts: 269 Member
    Also, try changing your setting to lose .5 - 1 lb per week to give you those extra calories. Pp's are dead on. Because you don't have much weight to lose, you are definitely eating far too little calories. You make wonderful food choices though, from what I can see. Good luck!!

    Thanks so much for the help... how much more cardio do ya think and should i do that the same day as Jilians cd?

    I think adding in about a half hour extra a day could help. I see significant improvements when I run 30 - 40 mins a few times a week (I should probably do that again lol) but the cardio boost definitely helps me.
  • aprilbriann
    aprilbriann Posts: 72
    Also, try changing your setting to lose .5 - 1 lb per week to give you those extra calories. Pp's are dead on. Because you don't have much weight to lose, you are definitely eating far too little calories. You make wonderful food choices though, from what I can see. Good luck!!

    Thanks so much for the help... how much more cardio do ya think and should i do that the same day as Jilians cd?

    I think adding in about a half hour extra a day could help. I see significant improvements when I run 30 - 40 mins a few times a week (I should probably do that again lol) but the cardio boost definitely helps me.

    Thanks this helps a LOT! I did 30 minutes on the elliptical yesterday on top of the JM video and I burned 375 just on the elliptical... It was sooo much fun!
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