I guess I'm not doing enough

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-16-2007
I guess I'm not doing enough
7
Thu, 03-22-2007 - 11:14am
I started this journey 3 weeks ago, and the scale hasn't changed much since the first week. The lowest it dropped was 7 lbs. Ever since then it bounces back and forth between saying 4 lbs lost- 6 lbs lost. I go to the gym 4 days a week, and walk a mile three days a week (but two of those days overlap, so there are two days during the week that I'm not exercising). I'm not really dieting, just trying to eat healthier things and watching portions. But I guess that is not enough, and I'm really frustrated about it.
Thanks for listening.
Kerri
iVillage Member
Registered: 01-25-2006
Thu, 03-22-2007 - 11:31am
I understand your frustration but don't give up. 6 lbs in 3 weeks is fantastic. And you're probably gaining muscle so that will help you burn more calories. Please don't give up, you are doing GREAT!!

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Angela

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Avatar for saej72
iVillage Member
Registered: 04-21-2003
Thu, 03-22-2007 - 1:34pm

and also take your measurements.... just because the scale isn't moving doesnt mean you arent' getting smaller.

1 lb of fat & 1 pound of muscle do weigh the same but... muscle takes up less space, so if you are working out you may be losing fat, gaining muscle and losing inches..

Sara
342/266.4/200
http://www.babiesonline.com/babies/s/samanthagrace/

Sara  

342-300-200

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-31-2006
Fri, 03-23-2007 - 6:14pm

It might be helpful to measure portion sizes for a little while. I know it helps me a lot to make a point of doing this for several weeks while I get acclimated to what a good portion size is.

Colleen

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-16-2007
Fri, 03-23-2007 - 6:50pm
Thanks for the advice gals. I was really frustrated this morning because now the scale says I'm only down 3 lbs total. It made me so upset that I skipped my gym workout this morning (stupid, I know). But I did still take my walk so I felt good about that. I didn't think that I would be gaining any muscle yet because I'm only doing cardio, not weights. But you never know. I guess I've got to keep on track, and maybe try to push myself harder.
iVillage Member
Registered: 10-26-2005
Sat, 03-24-2007 - 3:44pm
soemtimes it happens, as your body adjusts to the new weight, and the weight you lose in the beginning is usually water weight vs. REAL fat... keep going! Your doing MUCH better than I have ever dreamed of :)
iVillage Member
Registered: 02-06-2006
Sun, 03-25-2007 - 8:51am

If the numbers on the scale are going to upset you that much (and to the extent of blowing off a gym date) then stop weighing for a while. Maybe focus on other things on how healthy you're getting.. I bet you can walk further now than when you started.. and you are not running out of energy as early as you used to... etc.


I know that you're only doing cardio, but what is your routine? Are you throwing in some hills, maybe some resistance with the cardio machines at the gym? This can build muscles you know.


One more thing, have you been journaling your food? Sometimes we eat much more than we realise and even when we think we're eating healthy and good, we can be overdoing stuff. I strongly recommend that you keep a journal of everything you eat.


Best of luck with handling thing. I know how frustrating this can be. I am a very slow loser myself. Hang in there and whatever you do, don't get frustrated.. just keep going.

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iVillage Member
Registered: 02-25-2007
Mon, 03-26-2007 - 4:44pm
Hi Kerri
Well, I agree with you. You aren't doing enough. I don't mean to sound harsh, but only you know how committed you are to weight loss. Have you decided why you want to lose weight, other than you are tired of being obese, fat, overweight, etc..? Weight loss and then maintenance is all about having a goal and a plan to reach that goal. Regardless of what any guru might say, weight loss requires that fewer calories go in and more are burned. Expecting to lose lots of weight (100 pounds or more) without really counting calories, in my opinion, is setting yourself up for failure. You have to know the total calories you are consuming because exercise by itself won't work, just as dieting by itself won't work. You seem to have the exercise part of your plan well mapped out. I really admire your implementation, dedication and action! However, watching your portions and eating healthy may not equal a significant reduction in calorie intake to bring about the weight loss goals you have set for yourself. I mean, watching your portions sounds all weight watcher and proper, but if you used to eat 2 cups of mashed potatoes and now cut it down to 1 cup, that's still probably more than is needed. Find a portion control plan that will really tell you the calorie content. I used to eyeball a serving of meat and found that my idea of a reduced portion was about 8 ounces - - - not quite in the portion control parameters of my eating plan (recommends 4 ounces). Now, I weigh my food, because I am just a little too generous in my portions even though I am very, very aware of what I am putting into my mouth. Do you want to lose a pound a month? a week? What is your ultimate goal and what will you have to do to get to it. How do you plan to get there. It sounds really cool to say I'm eating healthy and watching what I eat (which for someone who weighs 140 pounds and wants to lose 10 pounds may actually work), but maybe it would be better to say I'm eating healthy and counting calories in what I eat (which for someone with a 100 pounds to lose is probably more realistic). If you have a goal of 2 pounds a week, then figure out how you are going to get rid of 7,000 calories; a goal of 3 pounds is 10,500 calories. I used to have a problem saying I was on a diet, simply because I hate the word (silly thing to hate a word). So, I changed it to a weight loss eating plan, this was something I could say to others and not see their eyes roll upward. I believe you will be successful once you commit. And once again, I am in "awe" of your dedication to exercising, that's why I know you will be successful if you apply the same dedication to healthy calorie reduction....Ms Trim and Fit 2007. You will turn heads!



Edited 3/26/2007 4:49 pm ET by sharon150