FRUSTRATED!!!! Not Losing!!

Babygirl928
Babygirl928 Posts: 378 Member
edited November 12 in Health and Weight Loss
I started my journey the 2nd week of January. Recently turned 40, which was extremely depressing. When the new year came, I decided to get off my butt and DO THIS!! I started with watching what I ate and counting calories. I have never eaten veggies (except salad) so I started finding ways to force myself to eat them and now I pretty much eat everything. By the beginning of March I had lost 11 pounds and was extremely excited and very proud of myself. I hit a plateu. So I added 30 minutes of cardio every day for one week and then added in weight lifting at night. I haven't lost a pound in 2 weeks. I have shocked my body, increased calories, cut calories, eaten high protein low carbs and vice versa. It is getting harder and harder to get up at 5 to walk and stay up until 9 to work out and not see the slightest results. Does anyone have ANY ADVICE? To make matters worse, hubby started with me 2 weeks ago and has lost 23 pounds. 3 of which were this week already. I am so ready to quit but I won't. I just need to figure out what I am doing wrong.
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Replies

  • Try a personal trainer or a nutritionist to steer you in the right direction :)
  • PlanetVelma
    PlanetVelma Posts: 1,223 Member
    Your food journal is closed...it's possible you aren't eating enough or you haven't given your body a chance to adjust to new caloric levels. You didn't indicate how long you increased your calories to....sooo I'm merely speculating.

    In any event, here's a link to some threads that talk about exercise calories, expectations, etc....you may want to peruse those threads and see if anything rings true.

    Good luck! :flowerforyou:

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/23912-links-in-mfp-you-want-to-read-again-and-again
  • kimbsh01
    kimbsh01 Posts: 38
    make ur food diary public...so we can see how ur eating and everything
  • MiChaChelle
    MiChaChelle Posts: 125 Member
    im sorry ur going through this.. but it'll get better eventually. all ur hard work will pay off. u should make ur diary public so people can help u out and tell u what u're doing wrong
  • Babygirl928
    Babygirl928 Posts: 378 Member
    diary is public. Thank you I appreciate ANY help!!:wink:
  • hstanton7
    hstanton7 Posts: 4 Member
    It seems as though you are doing everything right. Although with all the working out you are doing you may need to actually bump up your calories so your body doesnt think you are starving it. Seems backward but its not.

    I would just give it time if I were you. Ive been doing this for 6 months now and didnt lose anything for the first 3.
  • justfungrandma
    justfungrandma Posts: 91 Member
    It sounds to me like you are doing pretty well. You have started some new things in the last two weeks and your body needs to adapt. You are probably building some muscle and that weighs more than fat. Give it a bit without changing things too much for another week or so and see what happens. By the way, our hubbys always lose weight easier than us...we cant compare to them.
  • With doing everything that your doing, remember you are converting fat into muscle. Don't get so caught up with the scale numbers. Get a tape measure and measure. You will see more results that way. Never compare yourself to your husband. Men loose weight much quicker than women. They have much more muscle mass so their body automaticly attacks the fat. Our bodies are trying to do two things, give us muscle mass and get rid of unwanted fat. That's where we go wrong, becoming scale slaves. Stick with it you will be amazed at the difference. And if you give up now. A year from now you will be even more depressed wondering what you would have looked like of you would have only stuck with it. If you need the extra support you can always friend me and I can be that little voice, or that pat on the back. Good luck in your journey
  • fittiephd
    fittiephd Posts: 608 Member
    Just keep going!!!!!!!! Drink lots of water and make sure to eat back your exercise cals.

    The best way to think about it is that if you keep going, you'll gain so many benefits, but if you stop, you gain nothing except lbs. There's no reason to stop!

    Also unless you haven't been logging everyhting, you need to eat WAY MORE. Eating less than 1200 will get you no where. I recommend at LEAST 1400. AND eating back exercise calories.

    I know you said you've tried upping cals, bhut seriously, try again. most of the time when people hit plateaus it's because they're not eating enough. Up your cals for at least one month and then see where you are. Don't weigh yourself for a whole month if you can!!! That's what I'm doing right now :)
  • hounds726
    hounds726 Posts: 63
    First of all, congratulations on your success of making the decision to get started and losing11 pounds! Getting started can be the hardest part.

    A few things related to the actual weight loss and the plateau:
    --It happens! I am currently experiencing it as well. You may be losing inches, which, while frustrating is still good for you! The cardio is great for heart health and the weights are good for lean muscle mass! You are still doing your body good so don't give up!
    --In regards to your hubby-men lose weight at a quicker rate most frequently. I can't totally explain the science behind it but it just happens that way.

    Keep your head up and don't give up! Measure yourself with a tape measure, fit of clothing, and level of self confidence gained--not always just the scale :)
  • Unbelieveable, we could be twins from another mother...I turned 40 last year, my husband and I have decided to loose some weight..started 2nd week of January...Exercise, eat right....I have lost 14 lbs total, (didnt start here at first), my husband has lost 23 pounds..I have not lost a pound in 3 weeks....Amazing, I am just going to keep pluggin away, you can do it...Keep up the great work!!!
  • em9371
    em9371 Posts: 1,047 Member
    first of all, well done on losing the 11 pounds!!!!!

    It takes a while for things to work, so changing what you do every week is not giving anything long enough to see if it works.
    My advice would be to set a plan and stick to it for at least a month to give it a chance to work, weight loss is not always predictable and you can sometimes do nothing when you have been 'good' then a load drops off at once!!
    Set your goals on MFP for the amount of weight you want to lose per week (i would guess 1.5-2lbs based on what you have to lose).
    Adjust your macros to 40% C / 30% F / 30% P - mfp standard is very low on protein and high on carbs. Also track sugar and sodium. (sugar is low @ 30g, its easy to go over that just from a glass of milk and a piece of fruit. dont worry if you go over from fruit, its the processed sugars you need to watch out for).
    Try and eat to your calorie goal as near as possible, including eating back exercise cals. Avoid processed foods and cook from scratch as much as possible, get at least 5 fruit & veg a day, and lots of water.
    Take measurements, you could be losing inches not lbs.
    Dont lift weights every day, ideally do 3x per week full body, or do upper body / lower body on alternate days.
    Make sure you take at rest days, rest is just as important as exercise for repairing muscles.

    It would be better if you open your diary so people can advise if there is anything you are / arent eating that could affect your loss.

    hope this helps x


    ETA - your diary was public by the time i posted!
    your problem is you are not eating enough, and you definetly need to look at your food choices and add a lot of fruit & veggies. nearly everything you eat is processed. Protein shakes are good to 'top up' a healthy diet, but not as the main source of your calories!!!
    Eating so low will work at first, then as your body is continually under fuelled it will hang onto fat and your loss will stop as you have found out.
    Im 210lbs and eat around 1900 a day (1600 net) and lose 1.5-2lbs most weeks. You are netting minus or stupidly low numbers most days which is no good for anybody - seriously you netted minus 530 calories on Sunday and you expect your body to function properly?!!!
    The goal of 1740 that MFP gives you is NET, so you should be eating this PLUS at least half of your exercise cals.

    have a look at these:
    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/518533-major-sucess-with-higher-calories
    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/531086-before-and-after-pics-no-starvation?error_user_id=6110710&error_username=em9371&page=2
  • gsager
    gsager Posts: 977 Member
    I started my journey the 2nd week of January. Recently turned 40, which was extremely depressing. When the new year came, I decided to get off my butt and DO THIS!! I started with watching what I ate and counting calories. I have never eaten veggies (except salad) so I started finding ways to force myself to eat them and now I pretty much eat everything. By the beginning of March I had lost 11 pounds and was extremely excited and very proud of myself. I hit a plateu. So I added 30 minutes of cardio every day for one week and then added in weight lifting at night. I haven't lost a pound in 2 weeks. I have shocked my body, increased calories, cut calories, eaten high protein low carbs and vice versa. It is getting harder and harder to get up at 5 to walk and stay up until 9 to work out and not see the slightest results. Does anyone have ANY ADVICE? To make matters worse, hubby started with me 2 weeks ago and has lost 23 pounds. 3 of which were this week already. I am so ready to quit but I won't. I just need to figure out what I am doing wrong.

    You need to start eating more. You will not hit a plateau if you stoke your metabolism by eating.....You are working out and accumulating lots of calories but not eating them...your body thinks that you've in bad shape and being asked to work your *kitten* off but not being fed....so its going to store every thing it can....come on and eat!!!
  • runningfromzombies
    runningfromzombies Posts: 386 Member
    I started my journey the 2nd week of January. Recently turned 40, which was extremely depressing. When the new year came, I decided to get off my butt and DO THIS!! I started with watching what I ate and counting calories. I have never eaten veggies (except salad) so I started finding ways to force myself to eat them and now I pretty much eat everything. By the beginning of March I had lost 11 pounds and was extremely excited and very proud of myself. I hit a plateu. So I added 30 minutes of cardio every day for one week and then added in weight lifting at night. I haven't lost a pound in 2 weeks. I have shocked my body, increased calories, cut calories, eaten high protein low carbs and vice versa. It is getting harder and harder to get up at 5 to walk and stay up until 9 to work out and not see the slightest results. Does anyone have ANY ADVICE? To make matters worse, hubby started with me 2 weeks ago and has lost 23 pounds. 3 of which were this week already. I am so ready to quit but I won't. I just need to figure out what I am doing wrong.

    Deep breaths, and back away from the scale! Break out a tape measure and keep track of your measurements that way. I haven't lost a single damn pound in three months--but I have lost inches. I bet you have, too. We all have plateaus for whatever reason (seriously, as much math as there is to go into it, sometimes the body will do what the body will do).

    And, goodness, you need to eat more. Eat back those exercise calories. They're there for a reason. Your body is probably in starvation mode--after looking at your diary it's apparent that you aren't eating enough.

    Also--ignore your husband's progress. Men lose weight faster than women, generally, and it's your journey, not his!
  • MandyMcAwesome
    MandyMcAwesome Posts: 109 Member
    When I plateau I automatically increase my water intake by 3-4 glasses. You will pee all night, but it usually gets you going. The above advice is good. Eat, it's what we are supposed to do.

    Also, comparison is the death of happiness. I like to look at other peoples success stories to inspire me, but I realize that this is MY journey, and I have to listen to my body. Just focus on you and your spirts will lighten as well as your weight.
  • Sarauk2sf
    Sarauk2sf Posts: 28,072 Member
    I started my journey the 2nd week of January. Recently turned 40, which was extremely depressing. When the new year came, I decided to get off my butt and DO THIS!! I started with watching what I ate and counting calories. I have never eaten veggies (except salad) so I started finding ways to force myself to eat them and now I pretty much eat everything. By the beginning of March I had lost 11 pounds and was extremely excited and very proud of myself. I hit a plateu. So I added 30 minutes of cardio every day for one week and then added in weight lifting at night. I haven't lost a pound in 2 weeks. I have shocked my body, increased calories, cut calories, eaten high protein low carbs and vice versa. It is getting harder and harder to get up at 5 to walk and stay up until 9 to work out and not see the slightest results. Does anyone have ANY ADVICE? To make matters worse, hubby started with me 2 weeks ago and has lost 23 pounds. 3 of which were this week already. I am so ready to quit but I won't. I just need to figure out what I am doing wrong.

    Deep breaths, and back away from the scale! Break out a tape measure and keep track of your measurements that way. I haven't lost a single damn pound in three months--but I have lost inches. I bet you have, too. We all have plateaus for whatever reason (seriously, as much math as there is to go into it, sometimes the body will do what the body will do).

    And, goodness, you need to eat more. Eat back those exercise calories. They're there for a reason. Your body is probably in starvation mode--after looking at your diary it's apparent that you aren't eating enough.

    Also--ignore your husband's progress. Men lose weight faster than women, generally, and it's your journey, not his!

    Totally agree with this. I had a look at your diary, you are WAY below what you should be eating. I would suggest that you back off the cardio (this will help with you calorie deficit also). Try to weight train 3 x per week and only do cardio 3 x per week. This will make your efforts more sustainable. Many people train more than this, but to me, it seems as though what you are doing is taking away any relaxing/fun time and is probably cutting into your sleep.

    I also agree with the comment about about giving it more time than a week to see an impact in any change to your efforts.

    Good luck
  • quill16
    quill16 Posts: 373 Member
    just checked your food and you really need to eat 1200 cal minimum. I am not a fan of eating back all my exercise calories, but this has been successful for me(159lb loss in 16 months). I hear others have success with eating back the cals and its one of those pro/con issues. I have hit many plateaus along the way and they last for 3days to 3 weeks depending on time of month and salty foods.It takes alot to just to push thru it. At the end of a plateau i am usually rewarded with a big drop for days in a row. Don't stop and you will be rewarded!
  • Babygirl928
    Babygirl928 Posts: 378 Member
    LOL yes we could I know men lose easier it was just frustrating to see him weigh in lol
  • wewon
    wewon Posts: 838 Member
    It doesn't look like you're getting enough calories. There are days when you have less than 1000 calories for the day.

    Also, Are you logging the water that you drink?
  • MyFeistyEvolution
    MyFeistyEvolution Posts: 1,014 Member
    Are you really done eating before 6? I noticed pretty much every night there is nothing logged in the evening, leaving you with a large amount of calories left over. Add on the exercise calories and that could be your reason. Eat up to your set goal, make sure to get in all your water, and be patient. You didn't gain the weight overnight and unfortunately it's much harder to lose it.

    Good luck!
  • mzjandiace
    mzjandiace Posts: 162
    Im with everyone your not eating! Get that breakfast in... A good 5-600 calorie, cause your body will run off that most of the day. You need water, and fresh veg and fruit. No more scale use tape measure... And congrats on the 11lb loss!
  • Babygirl928
    Babygirl928 Posts: 378 Member
    Are you really done eating before 6? I noticed pretty much every night there is nothing logged in the evening, leaving you with a large amount of calories left over. Add on the exercise calories and that could be your reason. Eat up to your set goal, make sure to get in all your water, and be patient. You didn't gain the weight overnight and unfortunately it's much harder to lose it.

    Good luck!
    I try not to eat after 6 because I work out around 7 and finish around 8, study, drink crystal light and hit the bed. I know night calories stick with me so I dont eat after 6, if im hungry I drink water or crystal light. I guess I have to change that. Thanks
  • Babygirl928
    Babygirl928 Posts: 378 Member
    first of all, well done on losing the 11 pounds!!!!!

    It takes a while for things to work, so changing what you do every week is not giving anything long enough to see if it works.
    My advice would be to set a plan and stick to it for at least a month to give it a chance to work, weight loss is not always predictable and you can sometimes do nothing when you have been 'good' then a load drops off at once!!
    Set your goals on MFP for the amount of weight you want to lose per week (i would guess 1.5-2lbs based on what you have to lose).
    Adjust your macros to 40% C / 30% F / 30% P - mfp standard is very low on protein and high on carbs. Also track sugar and sodium. (sugar is low @ 30g, its easy to go over that just from a glass of milk and a piece of fruit. dont worry if you go over from fruit, its the processed sugars you need to watch out for).
    Try and eat to your calorie goal as near as possible, including eating back exercise cals. Avoid processed foods and cook from scratch as much as possible, get at least 5 fruit & veg a day, and lots of water.
    Take measurements, you could be losing inches not lbs.
    Dont lift weights every day, ideally do 3x per week full body, or do upper body / lower body on alternate days.
    Make sure you take at rest days, rest is just as important as exercise for repairing muscles.

    It would be better if you open your diary so people can advise if there is anything you are / arent eating that could affect your loss.

    hope this helps x


    ETA - your diary was public by the time i posted!
    your problem is you are not eating enough, and you definetly need to look at your food choices and add a lot of fruit & veggies. nearly everything you eat is processed. Protein shakes are good to 'top up' a healthy diet, but not as the main source of your calories!!!
    Eating so low will work at first, then as your body is continually under fuelled it will hang onto fat and your loss will stop as you have found out.
    Im 210lbs and eat around 1900 a day (1600 net) and lose 1.5-2lbs most weeks. You are netting minus or stupidly low numbers most days which is no good for anybody - seriously you netted minus 530 calories on Sunday and you expect your body to function properly?!!!
    The goal of 1740 that MFP gives you is NET, so you should be eating this PLUS at least half of your exercise cals.

    have a look at these:
    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/518533-major-sucess-with-higher-calories
    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/531086-before-and-after-pics-no-starvation?error_user_id=6110710&error_username=em9371&page=2
    Thank you. Apparently I was interpreting my calories wrong. Seems to be the general concensus LOL. The problem with eating more is i am not hungry. I feel lie I am constantly eating and get to the point where I feel like I am going to explode. I assumed that my calories were to remain the same regarless of excersize, apparently I have a lot of changes to make. Thank you for the insight and I will definately start making healthier foods and stay away (as much as possible) from processed foods. MFP people have gotten me this far and I am so glad for all the support. Thank you for the links also, very helpful :flowerforyou:
  • Babygirl928
    Babygirl928 Posts: 378 Member
    Unbelieveable, we could be twins from another mother...I turned 40 last year, my husband and I have decided to loose some weight..started 2nd week of January...Exercise, eat right....I have lost 14 lbs total, (didnt start here at first), my husband has lost 23 pounds..I have not lost a pound in 3 weeks....Amazing, I am just going to keep pluggin away, you can do it...Keep up the great work!!!

    LOL thats funny. I am in NO WAY giving up just feel frustrated. I havent had this problem before and it is driving me crazy lol. Apparently I need to eat more so I will make some changes and hit it hard!!! Good luck
  • I looked at your food journal and bottom line is you aren't eating enough and you are not eating enough fresh fruit and veg. you also need to introduce good fats into your diet like salmon, avocado, nuts/seeds, ect. Drink lots of water. within a couple weeks you should see a shift on the scale. Another thing, if you can, stay away from coffee. Coffee can dehydrate the body and mess with your adrenals which can impede weight loss.
  • atjays
    atjays Posts: 797 Member
    It takes several weeks for your metabolism to adjust to calorie intake changes and exercise. Getting frustrated after a few days and making more changes is only making things worse. If your body cannot rely on you to provide it properly with food its going to continue to cling to the fat. Pick a plan that's healthy and stick with it. Do that for several months and then see where you're at
  • Babygirl928
    Babygirl928 Posts: 378 Member
    It takes several weeks for your metabolism to adjust to calorie intake changes and exercise. Getting frustrated after a few days and making more changes is only making things worse. If your body cannot rely on you to provide it properly with food its going to continue to cling to the fat. Pick a plan that's healthy and stick with it. Do that for several months and then see where you're at
    Excellent advice. My diet seems to be the issue acccording to all the great advice I have gotten today. Going to take it all in, adjust my food and see how I do. Gonna try and stay away from the scale as long as i can LOL thanks again :happy:
  • 2fit4fat
    2fit4fat Posts: 559 Member
    i also noticed.. do you not put down all your cals? or did you really not eat after 3:00 yesterday?! also tueday and monday same thing... and sunday im 625 all day (and nothing after noon) (and it goes on into months ago nothing really after 3 or 12 is in your diary)
    is this all right?! if not i would suggest writing it ALL down. my dinner is my biggest calorie meal and night times is a big snack time for many people
  • Di3012
    Di3012 Posts: 2,247 Member
    i also noticed.. do you not put down all your cals? or did you really not eat after 3:00 yesterday?! also tueday and monday same thing... and sunday im 625 all day (and nothing after noon) (and it goes on into months ago nothing really after 3 or 12 is in your diary)
    is this all right?! if not i would suggest writing it ALL down. my dinner is my biggest calorie meal and night times is a big snack time for many people

    Exactly what I was going to ask.

    OP, if you are not eating between 3pm and the next morning, that is one hell of a long time to go without food, especially if you are doing that everyday.

    Space your meals out so that you are eating regularly. You don't need to eat every couple of hours or anything, but at least have something for dinner....
  • Babygirl928
    Babygirl928 Posts: 378 Member
    i also noticed.. do you not put down all your cals? or did you really not eat after 3:00 yesterday?! also tueday and monday same thing... and sunday im 625 all day (and nothing after noon)
    is this all right?! if not i would suggest writing it ALL down. my dinner is my biggest calorie meal and night times is a big snack time for many people
    It's right. I have never been a dinner eater lol. I get home from work, and with 3 kids, ALWAYS have running around to do. A game, practice, etc plus I work out for an hour when i get home, cook and do homeowrk with the kids the I study for me (also started back at school in january) by the time I realize I havent ate, it's too late so i fill up on fluids. On the weekends, I am cleaning and we are painting the house and again by the time I realize the time, it's 8-9pm and i dont want to eat a big meal and pass out in bed. I am going to have to find a way to eat more food, better food choices during the day and maybe a light snack in the evening
This discussion has been closed.