Weight loss girls... I need help :-(

MelandJeff

Whether you are doing WW, or Sparks, or whatever...

I have been doing WW for 3 months (Well, off and on for like 10 years, but not always on it) and I have been working out for 2 months. Joined a gym late July.

I have lost only 10-12 pounds. I am working out pretty vigorously 3-4 days a week. Each work out I burn about 800 calories or more.

WTF is the problem? Why is it coming off so slowly?

MH says I am not eating enough... I have a hard time with this concept. 

mlm1128

He could be right...what do you eat in a typical day?

EliseB0323

How many calories are you eating?  Are you getting enough protein?

Rebekah1021

Are your hormones out of whack? I found that  am borderline PCOS and this is why I have a hard time losing weight.

Are you drinking enough water?

Jodi&Joe

Without knowing more info, and knowing this is exactly what I do, you are NOT eating enough! 

Also, I have found that WALK WALK WALK is what works best.  I HATE it.  SO boring.  It doesn't feel vigorous enough, etc.  But when I walk for 60 minutes versus burning 800-1000 calories in that 60 minutes, I lose WAY faster.  You are probably working out TOO hard.  Sucks, I know!

DaiLyght

EliseB0323:

How many calories are you eating?  Are you getting enough protein?

ditto Elise. If you use SP, you can track how many calories and other nutrients you're getting in a day. You may be taking in just barely enough caliroes, and significantly lacking in protein or even carbs.

Also, try changing up the workouts that you do at the gym - use the treadmill one week, the elliptical another week, and so on. Don't underestimate strength training. Your body has to work (burn calories) in order to maintain muscle, so the more muscle you have, the more efficient your body becomes at staying lean.

And don't forget that the numbers on the scale are sometimes less important than how your clothes fit and your body feels! 

ridesbuttons

10-12 lbs over 12-14 weeks is excellent weight loss.  Excellent!

It's hard to accept that losing a pound a week is a great accomplishment when you can see people on tv losing 5, 10 or 20lbs in the same time period.  Those types of losses are not realistic nor sustainable.

You are doing a GREAT job!  Just think, if you keep it up, you can lose another 12 lbs in the next 14 weeks.  That's 24lbs!  That is amazing!!

 Keep pushing the quality food, keep pushing the water, no late night snacking and go kick it at the gym!

Keep it up!!!

 

Goose51504

Based on your statement that you're working out "vigorously," I would suspect that you're not eating enough to support your workouts. If you're working out as seriously as your state, you actually need extra calories. Otherwise, you body will shut down and try to hold onto anything and everything, in order to recover. Plus, when your body feels "starved," it will hold onto fat and you'll actually end up losing lean muscle mass, which is what you want to keep.

How many calories are you consuming in a day?

MelandJeff

Well, I follow WW so I assume I am getting enough calories...

I do cardio for 60 minutes and I alternate strength training on arms and legs.

 

I will just DIE if I start eating more and then find out that I gained.

shopgirl_07

Unfortunately it's probably just your metabolism. It seems you're averaging about a pound a week and that's perfectly normal. That's really all I average unless I go balls to the wall (like this month) and eat like a rock star.

Also, are you working out using machines? I ask because they are notorious for overestimating calories burned. By like twice as much. To really burn 800 calories in a workout you'd have to run at least 8 miles or do very serious cardio for 90 minutes.

And for me, exercise is great for toning and cardiovascular health, but it's all about the eating for weight loss results. But hang in there. It's a slow process when you only lose a pound a week but you'll get there. 

MelandJeff

Rebekah1021:

Are your hormones out of whack? I found that  am borderline PCOS and this is why I have a hard time losing weight.

Are you drinking enough water?

1. What can you do about it? 

2. I am pretty sure that this answer is a big fat no. I DO drink lots when working out and will fill my water bottle twice, but during the day, not so much. I am never thirsty and I ALWAYS forget. I seriously dont think about it.

MelandJeff

Now vigorously to me may not be vigorous to someone else, LOL!

My HR is kept around 145 and according to my Polar heart rate device thingy, I burn around 800 + calories in 75 minutes.

DaiLyght

I would suggest using SP to put in everything you ate yesterday, for example and take a really close look at what you're eating. WW only has you tracking point (calories), it doesn't have you watching the other nutrients, and those can be just as important. Good nutrition is getting the right balance, not just cutting calories.

shopgirl_07

MelandJeff:

Now vigorously to me may not be vigorous to someone else, LOL!

My HR is kept around 145 and according to my Polar heart rate device thingy, I burn around 800 + calories in 75 minutes.

I can feel your pain. I also work out a lot and, as I mentioned, I really only average a pound a week. It seems low because you hear of all these other people who are consistently losing 2-3 lbs per week, but it's just not realistic for a lot of us. Plus, WW says an average of 1-2 lbs a week is ideal, so you;re right there.

AnnapolisLari

It does sound counterintuitive, but you may indeed not be eating enough.

But 12 lbs in that time fram is great! I have lost 41 lbs, but that's since mid-February. That's an average of 1.3 lbs per week. It took a long time to put on the weight, so I am not under any illusion that the loss will be fast, either.

erika1974

The closer you are to your goal weight the slower and harder the weight comes off.  You have to think that you didn't gain it in a month so you won't lose it in a month.  The progress you are making is PERFECT, esp for long term keeping it off.  Usually fad diets that cause you to drop weight fast only causes you to gain it right back just as fast.  You are learning portion control and the right foods to eat to keep your body fueled properly with WW.  Stick to it, it will come off.  Also I found that adding an extra milk sometimes helped with my loss. Be patient, you are doing everything correct.  Another thing is maybe drop the cardio down to 2-3 days a week and do a lighter cardio, heavier lifting for the other day to mix up the routine. The more muscle mass you have the more calories your body will burn in a resting state. But you are doing a great job, so don't be so hard on yourself.