two weeks and nothing......help?

blackbetty66
blackbetty66 Posts: 16
edited December 16 in Health and Weight Loss
After coming back to this site 2 weeks ago I have stuck to around my cal goal the entire time. I have not been working out yet but I plan to soon. I upped my cal goal to 1260 yesterday to see if it makes a difference and kept my desired weight loss at 1.5# per week. Last time I did this for 3 weeks and got nowhere with walking 4 times a week for 50 mins.... this time I am going to give it a bit longer but I thought I would have lost something in the last 2 weeks...... Any idea's or stories that are similar?
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Replies

  • Jezebel_Barbie
    Jezebel_Barbie Posts: 198 Member
    I can't really help because I'm in the same boat. Disheartening isn't it? :( Sorry I can't be much help, hope some of the other members can give you some good advice!
  • dfarmer6
    dfarmer6 Posts: 5
    1250 cal seems low to me especially if you are exercising. Our body will go into starvation mode and conserve, not burning fat. In some cases it will cause you to loose muscle mass instead of fat.

    In my ongoing push to reach my goal, I currently eat about 1650 calories a day (40%carb, 30% Protein, and 30% fat). Several small meals. I exercise 5 to 6 days a week. For me, eating much less causes me to feel fatigue and run down especially when exercising.

    Another thing I found helpful is to use a heart rate monitor when exercising. This will keep you in your aerobic zone (fat burning zone) which is where you burn most of the calories (fat).

    Hope sharing this helps
  • spngebobmyhero
    spngebobmyhero Posts: 823 Member
    Perhaps try changing your goal to 1 lb a week. You don't have a lot to lose, so it will be slower going for you. Even .5 lbs might be a reasonable goal, at least for a few weeks. Also, you have to give your body some time to adjust. Jillian michaels has a book about losing the last few pounds because it really is harder!
  • angelasmith230
    angelasmith230 Posts: 70 Member
    I was told by a dietician that it takes 6 weeks for the body to adjust to a new diet and exercise program and for results to start showing on the scale..

    I find this is very true for me.. every time I clean up my diet and start eating better it takes about 6 weeks to see consistent losses on the scale
  • jillsergeant
    jillsergeant Posts: 2
    Try watching the documentary titled "Fathead" I learned why I didn't lose any weight the first month. Pay attention to the glycemic index of the foods you are eating.
  • teephil
    teephil Posts: 135 Member
    Give it more time. My weight stayed the same for a little over a month at one point, and then it just started melting off.
  • ksumme
    ksumme Posts: 283
    I had been losing steady since returning to MFP mid-december, but then hit a stall for a couple of weeks. My trainer had been trying to get me to drink green tea for a month or so - I don't care for green tea much. But, I did go buy some oolong tea, and have added that to my daily diet. I don't know if it is the tea, or just my body getting past the stall, but things are moving the right direction again.
  • Countryslove
    Countryslove Posts: 50
    I have been stuck at the same weight for about the last month or longer. I have started strength training on top of cardio however and I am seeing some changes in my body. As long as I can see my body changing I won't give up.
  • busymom11
    busymom11 Posts: 15
    Pay attention to where you are in your "cycle". I don't lose all month long, then TOM and I lose 3-5 #s in a couple of days. Repeats this way every month.
  • hbm616
    hbm616 Posts: 377 Member
    Pay attention to where you are in your "cycle". I don't lose all month long, then TOM and I lose 3-5 #s in a couple of days. Repeats this way every month.


    This is exactly what happened to me this month! I was so frustrated then BAM almost 3lbs down. Hopefully this won't be my new norm though...I like losing consistently and seeing the numbers go down all the time (lol who doesn't??)
  • jsapninz
    jsapninz Posts: 909 Member
    1250 cal seems low to me especially if you are exercising. Our body will go into starvation mode and conserve, not burning fat. In some cases it will cause you to loose muscle mass instead of fat.


    UGH! Starvation mode is mostly a myth, and only happens if you have been eating WAY below your BMR for an extended period of time!!! Stop spreading misinformation!!

    There are two options: you are either not logging everything and staying under your goal, OR your goal is too high.
    Two weeks isn't a whole lot of time, maybe you should stick at it for another week and then see. If you still don't drop, I would drop my daily intake by 250 and then wait a couple weeks to see what happens.

    If your defecit is correct, your shouldn't ever truely plateau.
  • cln714
    cln714 Posts: 174 Member
    I think the addition of exercise is going to make a big difference with you. Also, just focus on the fact that you are getting healthier. Ya know, even if the weight doesn't come off as fast as you would like.

    Good luck to you!
  • mysticdaisy78
    mysticdaisy78 Posts: 24 Member
    I have noticed that if I pay attention to what I eat for 5 random days out of the week and take 2 "play" days to eat whatever. I usually do pretty good and loose about 1 lb or more each week. And if you are craving it........eat it, just with moderation.
  • jsapninz
    jsapninz Posts: 909 Member
    I was told by a dietician that it takes 6 weeks for the body to adjust to a new diet and exercise program and for results to start showing on the scale..

    Uh, I think the opposite is true for most people because they drop alot of water weight in the first week of their weight loss program.
  • ronitabur
    ronitabur Posts: 178 Member
    Get to the exercise and the weight will start coming off. As you build muscle, your body will begin burning more calories while at rest. Also, you're more likely to keep the weight off. Use a heart rate monitor that has a calorie counter in it so when you enter your calories burned into MFP, it will be more accurate.

    Make sure you weigh and measure your food - don't rely on "eyeing" it. Use MFP food selections that have recorded verifications - these are more likely to be accurate. Find a healthy diet plan that you think that you can live with for life. One should eat a healthy diet with whole grains, vegetables, lean meats and vegetable proteins. Limit your meat-fat, processed foods and sugars. Get plenty of fiber - at least 25 grams per day. Don't expect to eat 1250 calories per day in junk food and expect to drop the pounds. If you eat healthy, whole, unprocessed foods, your body will consume the nutrition and eliminate what it doesn't need.

    Good luck to you! Consistency, honesty and hard work is the key to successful weight loss.
  • TrailRunner61
    TrailRunner61 Posts: 2,505 Member
    I looked back at your diary a few days and noticed a few things. You are eating under your goal for calories but you are eating the wrong things.
    I'd cut out the cake, sugar in the coffee, alcohol and fried foods. Add more whole grain breads, oatmeal or whole grain cereals with fruit for breakfast, grilled or baked meat with no breading, lots and lot of veggies, fruits, fat free plain yogurt with fresh fruits, a few nuts. You can still have some of those other things, just limit them to once a week or so. Also if you're not already, watch your sodium intake and drink plenty of water. Good luck! You can do this. :)
  • Xamire
    Xamire Posts: 5
    If you're drinking a lot more water, and eating more wheat products, you can have several pounds of full on bloating, or spread out bloating. Wheat+water is heavy! I've already had this problem and I'm a guy, women bloat even easier (or if you have ibs, etc) I eat a low dose chocolate laxative (just one) and take a gas pill. By the next day you can flush out all that stuff.

    Also, don't forget that muscle weighs more than fat. By doing more exercise, you increase your muscle mass, thereby making your muscles consume more calories even when sitting still. Sometimes you will gain, before the weight sheds off (I'm one of those) and then bam the weight keeps falling off pretty quickly due to good muscle mass.
  • fittiephd
    fittiephd Posts: 608 Member
    Give it longer. 6 weeks at least. And eat more, 1260 is not enough. try 1400. You should not be set at 1.5 lbs per week when you have so little to lose. Less than 15 lbs to lose do .5 lbs per week at the MAX. Losing weight is not a quick thing, you should focus on changing your life style not losing quickly. Then you will be set for life! It's all about breaking old habits and forging new ones :)

    Good luck!
  • jsapninz
    jsapninz Posts: 909 Member
    And eat more, 1260 is not enough.

    There is NO set number for everyone about what "isn't enough." JEEZ.
    I eat 1150 a day and am losing 1 lb a week, which is perfect.
  • Coco_Puff
    Coco_Puff Posts: 823 Member
    I agree you might need to eat more. As we get older we can't lose the weight on the sme calories we could in our 20's.
  • TrailRunner61
    TrailRunner61 Posts: 2,505 Member
    I was told by a dietician that it takes 6 weeks for the body to adjust to a new diet and exercise program and for results to start showing on the scale..

    I find this is very true for me.. every time I clean up my diet and start eating better it takes about 6 weeks to see consistent losses on the scale
    I think that perhaps your dietician was in the bottom of his/her graduating class or you didn't understand what they were saying. Your body adjusts easily to a healthy diet, it's your brain that takes time getting used to it. I saw results the first week I started and within 2 weeks I had gained muscle and could see the difference.
  • angelasmith230
    angelasmith230 Posts: 70 Member
    I was told by a dietician that it takes 6 weeks for the body to adjust to a new diet and exercise program and for results to start showing on the scale..

    I find this is very true for me.. every time I clean up my diet and start eating better it takes about 6 weeks to see consistent losses on the scale
    I think that perhaps your dietician was in the bottom of his/her graduating class or you didn't understand what they were saying. Your body adjusts easily to a healthy diet, it's your brain that takes time getting used to it. I saw results the first week I started and within 2 weeks I had gained muscle and could see the difference.

    I understood what she said and that is exactly what she told me .. I never said that her word was gold.. was just sharing my experience.. it unfortunately does take around 6 weeks for me to start seeing consistent losses on the scale.. I don't count the first week as a real loss as I know I'm losing water weight and such.

    again was just sharing my personal experience :smile:
  • blackbetty66
    blackbetty66 Posts: 16
    Thanks all, I will keep trucking on and hope it works out.... need to start getting active cause I can't give up my wine. To the person who looked at my diary, cheers, agreed although the cake I had was the first cake I have eaten in around a year, they make me sleepy so I don't eat em. I eat s++t pile of veges and protein at most meals, I dont eat ready made meals, nor processed foods. One good thing about living in NZ! I just seem to hold weight is all..... anyway like I said thanks heaps to all for weighing in.
  • blackbetty66
    blackbetty66 Posts: 16
    I can't really help because I'm in the same boat. Disheartening isn't it? :( Sorry I can't be much help, hope some of the other members can give you some good advice!

    Yep, sucks huh.....
  • jaydubbayu
    jaydubbayu Posts: 456
    I dont eat ready made meals, nor processed foods. One good thing about living in NZ!

    Maybe that's why you're maintaining, because you never ate crappy foods in the 1st place!
  • ibshell
    ibshell Posts: 22 Member

    Also, don't forget that muscle weighs more than fat. By doing more exercise, you increase your muscle mass, thereby making your muscles consume more calories even when sitting still.
  • ibshell
    ibshell Posts: 22 Member
    I've understood that it is not actually true that muscle weighs more than fat. In reality, they weigh the same, but muscle is more condensed and refined. I think we like to believe that muscle weighs more so that when we are working out and the scale doesn't register a loss, we won't be discouraged. Concentrate more on your measurements, and you will be more satisfied with the results. On the other hand, it is definately true that muscle burns fat even when sitting still, which is encouraging when starting a regular training and exercise program. I'm sure you will start seeing the difference soon when you get to eating the right foods and become more active.
  • ladyraven68
    ladyraven68 Posts: 2,003 Member
    After coming back to this site 2 weeks ago I have stuck to around my cal goal the entire time. I have not been working out yet but I plan to soon. I upped my cal goal to 1260 yesterday to see if it makes a difference and kept my desired weight loss at 1.5# per week. Last time I did this for 3 weeks and got nowhere with walking 4 times a week for 50 mins.... this time I am going to give it a bit longer but I thought I would have lost something in the last 2 weeks...... Any idea's or stories that are similar?

    Do you know what your BMR and TDEE are?

    1250 does seem low, and is probably under your BMR.

    From my personal experience, my weigh loss got better when I ate above my BMR, but below my TDEE.

    Also, remember to take measurements and check fat% and check them regularly for progress.

    Have a look here for some tools for calculating your Bodyfat. http://www.fat2fitradio.com/tools/mbf/

    Good luck :)
  • blackbetty66
    blackbetty66 Posts: 16
    Three weeks now and some weight gain.....................aaaaaargggghhhh!!!
  • dfarmer6
    dfarmer6 Posts: 5
    UGH! Starvation mode is mostly a myth, and only happens if you have been eating WAY below your BMR for an extended period of time!!! Stop spreading misinformation!!


    The message below is displayed on bottom of the food tab page of myfitnesspal when below 1200 calories for the day.

    "Based on your total calories consumed for today, you are eating too few calories. Not only is it difficult to receive adequate nutrition at these calorie levels, but you could also be putting your body into starvation mode. Starvation mode lowers your metabolism and makes weight loss more difficult. We suggest increasing your calorie consumption to 1,200 calories per day minimum"

    I had no intention of misleading anyone, only share information and experience. In addition, there are many other sources pertaining to subject of low calorie diets and the effects on the body.
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