No lbs. coming off-need encouragement

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-26-2005
No lbs. coming off-need encouragement
5
Tue, 03-20-2007 - 1:23pm

I read the Bob Green book (the guy on Oprah) and he said that when you start working out or when you add to your workout, you will gain water weight b/c that's what your muscles require to convert carbs to glycogen to burn for fuel. Average water gain is 4-6lbs. in the 4-6 weeks that you start or add to your workout.

OK. That being said, I've 'gained' 4lbs since I've kicked up my workout. I'm almost at the 6 week mark when I should be losing fat (rather than water). I have to tell you, ladies, I'm getting tired of seeing that number on the scale!! >:c{

I do 30-40min. elliptical at the 'weight loss' level on M & W plus go through a circuit of Nautilus and free weights twice after the elliptical. Then on T & TH I do high intensity step aerobics for 40 minutes + some arm and abs for the last few minutes.

Can you guys encourage me?? I have a weight loss goal, but I'm getting no where fast! :c(

Ciao! Lori

OH! And I'm eating very well-losts of veggies and fruits. I did not give up alcohol, but only have a glass of wine in the evenings now and then, and I do eat one square of Dove dark chocolate almost every day.

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-17-2007
Tue, 03-20-2007 - 1:32pm

Lori,


Hi and welcome to the 30s board!

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-04-2003
Tue, 03-20-2007 - 1:56pm

Lori, I certainly agree with Darla - if you find that you are doing everything right and you are still not losing, check those measurements! I will post what I posted to another member who had the exact same concerns as you:


1) Take measurements as well as weight. The ladies here are definitely right on this one. As you workout you build muscle and tone up. So you might not lose pounds, but you may be losing inches. Here is a picture that shows the difference between muscle and fat:



2) A healthy, maintainable rate of weight loss is 1 to 2 pounds per week. So 5 pounds in 4 weeks is actually right on target. In order to lose one pound of weight, you have to create a calorie deficit of 3,500 calories. Which means that every single day of the week you have to take in 500 calories less than what you burn. And that is to lose 1 pound per week. To lose 2 pounds per week, you have to double those numbers. Quite often a more rapid loss of weight is due to mostly water loss.


3) Check your sodium intake - sometimes if you keep your sodium intake higher than you should, you will retain water which will add weight.


Here is a link to that thread:


http://messageboards.ivillage.com/n/mb/message.asp?webtag=iv-fbfitthirty&msg=12139.1&x=y


iVillage Member
Registered: 04-11-2003
Tue, 03-20-2007 - 7:19pm

Yep, I totally agree about measurements as

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2003
Tue, 03-20-2007 - 9:16pm

Ugh, Lori....you're not alone!! I haven't lost consistently in years- I was a bridesmaid, so had something to lose it for, even if just in my head. One thing that I found to be my secret was water intake. I was

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iVillage Member
Registered: 04-26-2005
Sun, 03-25-2007 - 9:05am

Thanks, girls. I did take my measurements at the beginning of March, but I haven't taken them since. I'll have to do that!! :c)

I still want the weight to come off, though! I know it takes time, but I hate it. Of course, I didn't gain it in a month, so. . .But it seems like I woke up one day and looked in the mirror and I swear I didn't look like that the day before, ya' know?

Anyway, thanks again for the words of wisdom. I'm sticking with it, and I'm definitely going to take my new measurements soon.

Ciao! Lori