So I just started working out, and I'm losing nothing?!

bms34b
bms34b Posts: 401 Member
edited October 7 in Health and Weight Loss
Alright MFPers. I've been on here for a while and I've lost around 26 pounds. All of that weight loss was from dieting alone. This last week (roughly, every day since saturday) I've been exercising - usually 20 minutes of elliptical or arc trainer and 20ish minutes of some sort of bike. I've been counting calories and I swear I haven't cheated!

I should have lost a little, at least. I've got my stuff set to one pound per week. I haven't lost ANYTHING. I'm just frustrated.
Is there a scientific explanation to why this is happening so I can keep myself from getting discouraged? When can I expect this pattern to stop?
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Replies

  • faithisfabulous
    faithisfabulous Posts: 38
    I am in the same boat. I started dieting first and lost around 8 lbs then when I incorporated working out, it stopped. I haven't lost a pound since saturday and I am ALWAYS under my calorie intake. It makes me work even harder because I havent lost a single pound but my clothes are looser. I think we might be gaining muscle.
  • Courtneycms88
    Courtneycms88 Posts: 24 Member
    Are you eating back the calories you burn from exercising? That could be the problem. Also if you are starting to build muscle you could be seeing a weight gain but really losing fat.
  • Ceebee37
    Ceebee37 Posts: 49
    It just takes time!! If you have not been exercising at all, it may be just your body is taking time to wake up to the changes. Please be more patient, weight loss takes time!! You may of hit a plateau also, so exercise, anchange to diet may help. Also because you are exercising, make sure you are eating more protien, and drinking more water, and eating back your calories, this will help!! Good Luck!
  • MyFeistyEvolution
    MyFeistyEvolution Posts: 1,014 Member
    I can't see your diary but ..

    Eat back your workout calories.
    If you aren't lifting weights, start.

    Those are my first two suggestions. :)
  • bms34b
    bms34b Posts: 401 Member
    I am eating back some. Still my intake is around 1400 or 1500 a day, maybe 1600 if I really worked out hard.
  • galaxyhearts
    galaxyhearts Posts: 258 Member
    If your muscles are a little sore, they're probably retaining water. Keep at it, and drink tons of water! =]
  • MyFeistyEvolution
    MyFeistyEvolution Posts: 1,014 Member
    Well just remember that MFP has already provided a deficit so you do want to get as close to eating all the calories for your day.

    Oh and like others said, it takes time and sometimes you have to switch it up. Try something new for cardio or outside of the gym completely.
  • bms34b
    bms34b Posts: 401 Member
    Diary now public! I do need to start lifting weights, I'm just not really sure on how to do any of the free weight stuff. And YES my muscles are sore, not by a ton, but I can definitely feel it. Water - I can do that!
  • MeganElana
    MeganElana Posts: 1
    You will get a muscle weight gain for a few weeks, so just keep it up. It will balance out eventually and you will see wt loss again.
  • iuangina
    iuangina Posts: 691 Member
    A few things I notice immediately (I only looked back a few days):
    1. You are not logging any water. Are you drinking it? Especially when you are working out your body needs more water.

    2. It seems like you're not always eating full meals. For example, I would say that you should include a protein, carb, and fruit/veggie for all of the big three meals (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner). There were a few days that all you ate for lunch was a bagel and cream cheese. When you workout, you need to fuel your body correctly before and after your workouts.

    3. Do you eat any protein right after you workout? This will help your body repair muscles that you used while working out.

    4. Start lifting weights/circuit training. What kind of cardio are you doing? Do you change it often?
  • bms34b
    bms34b Posts: 401 Member
    iuangina:
    1. I drink loads of water. I'm a vocalist, and whether I'm working out or not I never have trouble getting in 8 or 9 glasses of water, so I don't usually bother to log.

    2. This is a good point! I guess the reason I do a bagel/cream cheese is for two reasons: 1. low calories and 2. I'm running between classes and don't have a lunch break every day. I hadn't thought of my meals in protein,carb, fruit and veggie means though, so I'll definitely take that into account.

    3. No. I should. Maybe I'll start packing a protein shake or protein bar that will be good on the run and also be a part of my lunch? I usually work out at 10am.

    4. I intend to start lifting. I usually do arc trainer or elliptical, and sometimes add bike. I'm open to other suggestions, but I don't really know what to do.
  • MsRoxyPepper
    MsRoxyPepper Posts: 109 Member
    give it some more time, you should see a drop soon. make sure your getting enought water. and remember muscle weigh more than fat so you should start seeing a loss in inches.
  • emmaruns
    emmaruns Posts: 189 Member
    Stick with it! It can be frustrating until your body figures out what you're doing. I was stuck at 5 pounds lost for EVER it felt like, then suddenly I dropped 3 1/2 pounds overnight. I'm guessing it's water retention fom the exercise. Plus, there are so many other great benfits of working out - more energy, better sleep. It is a great habit to get into!
  • gigiangelique
    gigiangelique Posts: 233 Member
    80% is what you eat. I workout like crazy but I only loose when I cut back on calories and processed foods. egg whites and fresh produce (i know it gets old) but it works
  • TinaLTaylor79
    TinaLTaylor79 Posts: 140 Member
    If your working out, make sure you eat back all or close to all your earned extra calories from working out! That may be the problem...sometimes its hard to wrap your head around it, but if your active, you need to eat more to have better results!!!
  • kneeki
    kneeki Posts: 347 Member
    When you're doing the elliptical or bike, are you using the resistance button? You /should/ be drowning in sweat by the time you get off those things in twenty minutes. Resistance is SO much more important and beneficial than speed will ever be on those devices.
  • dadoffo
    dadoffo Posts: 379 Member
    Maybe you're building up the muscles that's why there in no weight loss.
  • ieishab
    ieishab Posts: 34 Member
    I never thought to eat back calories. thanks!:happy:


    url=http://www.myfitnesspal.com/weight-loss-ticker]13443612.png[/url]
    Created by MyFitnessPal.com - Nutrition Facts For Foods
  • akelly50
    akelly50 Posts: 1
    Don't give up! You body will gain muscle from excersising. And as we've all heard before... "muscle weighs more than fat". Don't pay too much attention to the number on the scale. Your body will start to tighten and tone the more you work out!

    Good luck!
  • ieishab
    ieishab Posts: 34 Member
    Are you doing the Turbofire DVD set??? or did you do it??? I was looking at your weightloss ticker....
  • DenverKos
    DenverKos Posts: 182
    Maybe you're building up the muscles that's why there in no weight loss.

    Physiologically speaking, It takes 6 to 8 weeks to actually start "building" muscle. You will notice gains in strength sooner than that, but those are neurological as your brain and nerves coordinate and learn how to recruit more muscle fibers when you lift, thus you'll feel stronger.

    No matter what, keep exercising and worry about inches rather than weight loss. You seem to be eating back your calories and not in excess. If you haven't workout before, you body may just be in shock and trying to adjust to get used to it :) As some one else said, exercise is good for you in general, not just for weight loss.
  • Dave198lbs
    Dave198lbs Posts: 8,810 Member
    Maybe you're building up the muscles that's why there in no weight loss.

    with 5 days of cardio?
  • kacdragon
    kacdragon Posts: 21 Member
    This would be a great time to take your measurements and do a reality check on how your clothes are fitting.

    I have just restarted MFP, but when I was working out regularly (I use to be very athletic), plateaus were not uncommon. I'd gain muscle, lose fat and the scales remained the same... BUT my measurements would change drastically!

    That is one reason I love MFP. Not only should we weigh-in regularly, but we should be taking those measurements as well.
  • XXXMinnieXXX
    XXXMinnieXXX Posts: 3,459 Member
    Its only been 5 days!!! You should weigh in less, helps me a lot. This always happens to me when I up exercise or change it up, but then I get a big drop. I expect it now and wait for the big drop. Give it another week and you should see results. You look quite slim already so you do need to eat quite a few of your calories back. My advice? Ignore the scales for a week or so, then check... You may get a nice surprise! X
  • lmeksayo77
    lmeksayo77 Posts: 7
    The scale is our worst enemy..buy a tape measure (for clothing or bodies) and start measuring you will see a difference that way if you do all the above..I know it's still irritating to not see a drop on the scale, I have been there done that and still do it from time to time..but I know I am losing inches and muscle does weigh more than fat..and most of the time when you start working out you always actually gain a few pounds but still lose the inches eventually...also remember like stated above eat your calories..MFP has already deducted for your goal weigh loss..if you don't eat enough your body goes into starvation mode. :)
  • neanderthin
    neanderthin Posts: 10,222 Member
    This week? Get back to us in 1 or 2 months and evaluate then.
  • ssepolio80
    ssepolio80 Posts: 4
    I use to have a personal trainer MANY years ago and she told me that once you start working out, you start gaining muscle (even if you do cardio alone) so be patient and give it a couple of weeks. Congrats on loosing 26 lbs, keep the working out up and I promise you will see a difference SOON!
  • nsimportant
    nsimportant Posts: 170 Member
    Ok here we go again.
    Read this
    http://body-improvements.com/resources/eat/

    And cardio doesnt build muscle.
  • Elona_30
    Elona_30 Posts: 66
    have you worked out before??? it could be that you are gaining muscles from what ypur doing and then you would be losing fat but gaining muscle and that weighs more then fat:happy:
  • audreygumm
    audreygumm Posts: 30
    Best way to look at it....are your clothes feeling lose? That's the best feeling. And also when you log everything on MFP sometimes foods can be more calories then what is logged in here and portion size can be different. And also when you go for a walk or if you're riding the bike, the calories lost aren't always accurate. Also when you log that you exercised and lost those calories, MFP adds that back into your calories that you can eat for the day. If I were you I would Log your exercise at the end of the day. That way your consuming 1300 calories per say and then losing 200 with exercise, rather then consuming1500calories in a day. Also keep in mind, they say that 3,500 calories is roughly a pound. So it takes a lot to lose, but you can do it.
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