Help - the weight loss is too slow!

Scubachick
Scubachick Posts: 54
edited September 20 in Motivation and Support
What on earth is going on with me! :frown: I have been trying really really hard for 6 weeks now and there is little or no difference. Monday to Friday I do everything perfectly - diet and exercise. I eat my allowance less the calories earned by exercise. I walk about 30mins each day. In other words, Monday to Friday I have a little extra there. The plan is to keep this spare ration for the weekends. Most Saturdays I would eat my allowance plus I would have a little treat (a couple of beers or a meal out). Week 1 I had a good few beers and gained so I learned from that. I would also tend to do more exercise than my 30mins walk on Saturdays. Sundays I dont track, but I dont go wild either - I might have a meal out, but I would choose wisely.

I am really dissappointed with the slow loss. :mad: I have got to goal weight previously, but I was nursing both times and the weigh went much quicker. Is this rate of loss more usual? Do I need to cut my calorie intake? Is there anyting to speed up my metabolism a bit? Oh Jayney I am at the point of giving up and scoffing a big bar of chocolate :sad: :embarassed:

Replies

  • artschoolgirl
    artschoolgirl Posts: 598 Member
    Weight loss takes a while, especially when you don't have much to lose. Try mixing up your exercise routine, alternate jogging for 5 minutes and getting your heart rate up, walk for 5 and alternate back and forth. If you can't afford a gym membership, splurge on an exercise dvd or something along those lines to help boost your routine.

    Also, mix up your calories. Eat 1,200 one day, 1,500 the next, stagger them to keep your metabolism active.

    Best of luck!
  • shanwow16
    shanwow16 Posts: 203 Member
    Although walking is great for cardio, you should try doing some weights. Muscle is what burns fat. Trust me, you won't become some gross bulky body builder by lifting weights. We don't have enough testosterone in our bodies for that to happen. If you aren't a member of a gym I highly suggest buying some of the Biggest Loser workout DVD's to do at home and just a small set of dumbells (3-7 lbs depending on what you can handle).
    Honestly though, I've been on MFP for a year now and you really have to stick with logging everything 7 days a week maybe with the occasional day off. I know it seems like a royal pain some days, but if you stick with it and log EVERYTHING you intake in a day whether you've cheated or not it will help. You have to be honest with yourself. If you go over one day, not a big deal....just get an extra workout in that day.

    After 2 kids the weight is always harder to get off......although I've lost nearly 30 lbs now I am still trying to get my tummy down. It's a slow process, but well worth the wait! Good luck! :wink:
  • 1Sweets
    1Sweets Posts: 395
    I am by no means a professional however....I've noticed for myself that I don't loose either when my carbs out weigh my more natural calories...example more mashed potatoes calories over fruit calories.

    Also, my PT told me today that slow walking does nothing for weight loss...have to increase the speed a little during the workout .:heart:
  • 1Sweets
    1Sweets Posts: 395
    I am by no means a professional however....I've noticed for myself that I don't loose either when my carbs out weigh my more natural calories...example more mashed potatoes calories over fruit calories.

    Also, my PT told me today that slow walking does nothing for weight loss...have to increase the speed a little during the workout .:heart:

    Actually I meant the other way around ...eat more more natural fruit calories or veggies over carbs:noway: Increase the intensity of your walks
  • KatWood
    KatWood Posts: 1,135 Member
    Hello,
    I looked at your profile and it says you have lost 3lbs. So 3lbs in 6 weeks is 0.5 lbs per week. For someone with only a small amount to lose that is actually fantasic progress. Keep it up. You will get there it will just take some time.

    Off topic but I just wanted to say I love diving too! I dove in Curacao last year and definitely one of the most memorable experiences of my life.:happy:
  • I dove in Curacao last year and definitely one of the most memorable experiences of my life.:happy:
    Drool, I dont get wet any more since the two kids came along! I should change my handle to Flabbychick - LOL, Oh well:cry:

    Thanks for the advice gang. I really believe that I am doing all the right things and I feel like I deserve to be loosing quicker. If I was skimping on exercise or stealing treats I wouldn't mind so much. I just feel hard done by at the moment. Spikes121- I am honest. Even the odd french fry I steal off the kids plate is duly noted.

    I do a good pace when I walk - about 4 miles per hour. I dont own an TV or DVD player (I can hear the jaws hitting the floor from here! :bigsmile: ) As a full-time working mam with a partner working evenings and weekends I am on my own a lot and dont get the luxury of being able to watch DVDs or time to spend at gyms. Also, gyms here in rural Ireland are fairly crap. (there is the peat cutting machine, the sheep lifting device and the bog trotting tred mill!!) Therefore, my weight training consists of babywearing my 18month old son while pushing the 3.5 year old in the buggy up hills. I do this and aerobics once or twice per week and walk on the other nights (without the kids).

    Artschoolgirl - I like the idea of eating more some days! But, I think I inadvertently do this at weekends anyways.

    IKnowICan - I do eat a fair bit of veggies/ fruit and have cut back dramatically on the carbs. Carbs is my downfall and what got me into this to start with. So, wraps instead of bread and tiny portions of pasta/rice. As a veggie I have also cut back on cheese and dairy.
  • SHBoss1673
    SHBoss1673 Posts: 7,161 Member
    yep, Kat is right. 1/2 lb per week is just about right for your amount to lose.

    And it's also true that walking isn't really a very good way to help you lose weight or improve your cardiovascular health. There are obvious exceptions to this rule, but it's generally true.

    And who says you need a gym, there's tons of body weight things you can do right in your living room that can really (pardon my french) kick your *kitten* and give you both a cardio and anaerobic workout (both are really what you want to gain optimal health benefits)

    My recommendation is to not expect too much weight loss, and to google plyometrics. You can do most plyometrics routines right in the home, and with little or no equipment, and if you do them rather quick, they are an excellent workout. With plyo's you can get a great 300 to 400 calorie workout in 30 to 45 minutes (walking can't even come close to that).
  • shanwow16
    shanwow16 Posts: 203 Member
    I am by no means a professional however....I've noticed for myself that I don't loose either when my carbs out weigh my more natural calories...example more mashed potatoes calories over fruit calories.

    Also, my PT told me today that slow walking does nothing for weight loss...have to increase the speed a little during the workout .:heart:

    Actually I meant the other way around ...eat more more natural fruit calories or veggies over carbs:noway: Increase the intensity of your walks
    Good carbs vs Bad carbs!!
    Good fat vs Bad fat
    etc
  • shanwow16
    shanwow16 Posts: 203 Member
    I dove in Curacao last year and definitely one of the most memorable experiences of my life.:happy:
    Drool, I dont get wet any more since the two kids came along! I should change my handle to Flabbychick - LOL, Oh well:cry:

    Thanks for the advice gang. I really believe that I am doing all the right things and I feel like I deserve to be loosing quicker. If I was skimping on exercise or stealing treats I wouldn't mind so much. I just feel hard done by at the moment. Spikes121- I am honest. Even the odd french fry I steal off the kids plate is duly noted.

    I do a good pace when I walk - about 4 miles per hour. I dont own an TV or DVD player (I can hear the jaws hitting the floor from here! :bigsmile: ) As a full-time working mam with a partner working evenings and weekends I am on my own a lot and dont get the luxury of being able to watch DVDs or time to spend at gyms. Also, gyms here in rural Ireland are fairly crap. (there is the peat cutting machine, the sheep lifting device and the bog trotting tred mill!!) Therefore, my weight training consists of babywearing my 18month old son while pushing the 3.5 year old in the buggy up hills. I do this and aerobics once or twice per week and walk on the other nights (without the kids).

    Artschoolgirl - I like the idea of eating more some days! But, I think I inadvertently do this at weekends anyways.

    IKnowICan - I do eat a fair bit of veggies/ fruit and have cut back dramatically on the carbs. Carbs is my downfall and what got me into this to start with. So, wraps instead of bread and tiny portions of pasta/rice. As a veggie I have also cut back on cheese and dairy.

    I didn't mean any offense by that comment just so you know!! I just know how easy it is to "forget" to add that handfull of chocolate chips, etc
  • I didn't mean any offense by that comment just so you know!! I just know how easy it is to "forget" to add that handfull of chocolate chips, etc
    Oh jayney, none taken :happy: I have been guilty of that trick in the past alright. Its the old "there's no calories from someone elses plate" gag :embarassed: I know I am only cheating myself doing that.

    Anyways, I am feeling much happier today. I called my Weight Watchers leader and got a full record of my official weights. Turns out I was updating the system here incorrectly (Goofey moments!) and I have actually lost 5.5 lbs in total. I put on weight on week three (its now week 7), so from week three to now (4 weeks later) I have lost 8.5lbs which I am delighted with. I also know why I put on weight on week three ( :devil: EVIL beer :drinker: :embarassed: ) and it wont happen again!

    Mind you, when I was updating my recorded weights I also readjusted my goal weight downwards, so the goal post has moved. I can just see if from here.......!
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