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Post by smalltowngirlie on Aug 12, 2015 12:09:26 GMT
1 pound. Yes only only pound. I did not expect to lose double digits or anything, but I thought I would be down a bit more. Here is what I have changed- >No pop. Drink mainly water with a little milk here and there, and by little I mean 1 cup maybe once a day. >Cut way back on sugar, so no sweet snacks. I put a little sugar and cinnamon on my oatmeal in the morning. >Cut out salty snacks, no chips. I love chips and could easily down half a bag. >Portion control, we have looked at portion sizes and are trying to follow them. >Small, healthy snacks. If I get hungry and know a meal is a few hours away yet, I get some fruit or a couple grape tomatoes, our garden is loaded with them now. >Workouts. I have missed one day of working out since we started. I get my heart rate up to where it should be, I feel it in my legs and I am working up a sweat. >More active during the day in general. When we started I weighed myself to get a starting point. A few days in I weighed myself again and I happy to see I had lost 3 pounds, not a lot, but progress. Then I actually gained the weight back. I am not sure what I did. It is just now starting to come back down again. Meanwhile, DH and DS have each lost almost 15 pounds. YEAH for them. I could really use some encouragement right now. I know no matter what the scale says I am better for working out, but at this moment it does not feel that way. I will continue to go. DS and I go in the morning and DH goes when he gets home from work. DS does better if one of us is with him. He is not to point where he wants to do it himself. I could tell yesterday though that he is seeing a difference on the scale and had a little smile on his face, so maybe....
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AnotherPea
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,969
Jan 4, 2015 1:47:52 GMT
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Post by AnotherPea on Aug 12, 2015 12:12:35 GMT
don't even look at the scale the first couple of weeks after you start working out. It won't be a realistic representation of what is going on. If you start any program that involves muscle growth, those muscles are going to retain water in the beginning. Then, as they grow, they will add to your mass even as you are losing fat. You've done a lot to lose a full pound in a week's time, especially if you're building muscle. You've created an energy deficit of 500 calories each day - pretty impressive!
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Post by smalltowngirlie on Aug 12, 2015 12:22:32 GMT
don't even look at the scale the first couple of weeks after you start working out. It won't be a realistic representation of what is going on. If you start any program that involves muscle growth, those muscles are going to retain water in the beginning. Then, as they grow, they will add to your mass even as you are losing fat. You've done a lot to lose a full pound in a week's time, especially if you're building muscle. You've created an energy deficit of 500 calories each day - pretty impressive! I tell myself that it is most likely that I was generally dehydrated and now that I am drinking more water, my body is where it should be, so I did not have that initial water weight to lose. I did not have specific goals in mind, like I am going to lose 10 pounds in the first month. I work for the next 5 pounds. So if I am at 252, I work to get under 250. Then my goal is to get under 245. It is small, slow steps, but I can see the difference, and each one is a motivator. I kind of need that. DH and DS losing weight is helping me. Since I go with DS at this time I am more motivated to keep him going. So even if I lose nothing, it is changing his life and is totally worth it.
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Post by freeatlast on Aug 12, 2015 12:26:13 GMT
Congrats on the loss!
I know how disappointing it can be to work so hard and not be rewarded by the scale. Women lose weight differently than men so don't use your DH or DS numbers to measure your success. Did you take measurements before you started? It's not too late to get out a tape measure and see where you are. Despite what the scale says, I gauge my success by how my clothes fit. You should see or feel a difference if you keep this up.
Also make sure you are doing the exercises correctly. If I recall, there isn't much assistance at your gym. No worries - you can check out websites and online videos. I see so many people at the gym using the weights incorrectly. At best they are not getting the benefit. At worst they are setting themselves up for injuries.
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Post by Spongemom Scrappants on Aug 12, 2015 12:26:45 GMT
For women especially, when you make a big change in diet and/or exercise, there's definitely an adjustment period before you can "see" any change. Hang in there. You are doing good and you will get a payoff from it.
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Dalai Mama
Drama Llama
La Pea Boheme
Posts: 6,985
Jun 26, 2014 0:31:31 GMT
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Post by Dalai Mama on Aug 12, 2015 12:37:16 GMT
When you start working out (and even as you continue), muscles retain glycogen (carbs) to help with repair. For each gram of glycogen, your body also retains 3 grams of water.
Keep in mind this is different from building muscle which is a slow process and very unlikely (with few exceptions) if you are eating fewer calories than you burn.
I know a lot of people will recommend staying away from the scale but I actually weigh daily just so that I can get a handle on how my body reacts to changes in diet and exercise. YMMV.
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Nicole in TX
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,951
Jun 26, 2014 2:00:21 GMT
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Post by Nicole in TX on Aug 12, 2015 14:41:47 GMT
You are probably replacing fat with muscle.
Just keep going. If you lost 2 pounds every three weeks until next summer, imagine where you would be!
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scorpeao
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,521
Location: NorCal USA
Jun 25, 2014 21:04:54 GMT
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Post by scorpeao on Aug 12, 2015 14:45:04 GMT
A good friend who is a body builder calls the scale "a random number generator." I haven't gotten on the scale since December when I weighed 124 and FREAKED OUT! I used to weigh 108, however, once I started lifting my weight increased...A LOT! Now I just go by how my clothes fit. I'm still fitting into the clothes I wore at 108 lbs, albeit they are a bit snug in the thighs, but they fit and look good.
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Post by brina on Aug 12, 2015 14:47:05 GMT
I started back at the gym in March. The first month I lost nothing, but I noticed a pair of jeans fitting a bit less snug. As of April I have been slowly and steadily losing - about 13 lbs at this point, but most people think I have lost a lot more. Remember, if you are putting on muscle and losing fat you will slim down, but not lose.
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Dalai Mama
Drama Llama
La Pea Boheme
Posts: 6,985
Jun 26, 2014 0:31:31 GMT
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Post by Dalai Mama on Aug 12, 2015 14:48:08 GMT
You are probably replacing fat with muscle. Just keep going. If you lost 2 pounds every three weeks until next summer, imagine where you would be! Like fat, muscle requires fuel. If she's burning more calories than she's eating, she's not building muscle mass.
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Post by polz on Aug 12, 2015 15:34:17 GMT
Scales are crap. At my bootcamp, one girl lost 26lbs of fat and gained 24lbs of muscle. She literally worked her butt off for 12 weeks to 'only' lose 2lbs. But she dropped a couple of dress sizes. The scales do not measure everything that is going on. Keep at it.
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wellway
Prolific Pea
Posts: 9,022
Jun 25, 2014 20:50:09 GMT
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Post by wellway on Aug 12, 2015 16:25:30 GMT
Just keep reminding yourself it is a loss not a gain. (If you had gained after all that effort I would have sat beside you on the pissed off bench). Plus it's only one measure of your health, all those foods/drinks/extra activity changes will pay dividends down the line in terms of overall health.
It's a great start in the right direction, well done you.
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melissa
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,912
Jun 25, 2014 20:45:00 GMT
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Post by melissa on Aug 12, 2015 16:30:52 GMT
If you lose 1 lb every 10 days, remember that you'll lose 36 lbs over the course of a year at that rate. That's fine with me! And, frankly, I need to start doing things again to make that possible!
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Post by myboysnme on Aug 12, 2015 16:32:39 GMT
Here's my encouragement. a pound a week is healthy loss. Stay off the scale. you have a starting weight, now just implement your lifestyle changes and at the point your clothes are too big, reweigh if you want.
I do not weigh myself at all. I have been on 1500 cal a day for 90 days this Friday, and I am down about 14 lbs. I use a weight calculator and doctor tells me how much I've lost.
My guess is your initial loss was mostly fluid, now you are getting down to actual sustainable loss.
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Post by pierkiss on Aug 12, 2015 16:35:03 GMT
I feel your pain. Literally. I am in the exact same boat. Started doing the treadmill at least 3 times a week for an hour each session for the past 2 weeks. In addition to doing at least 5 other types of exercising sessions/week. The entire first week I gained a half a pound each day!!!! WTF Body?!?! Sunday I noticed that the scale was starting to go down, and yesterday I was finally down an entire pound and a half! Yay! And all that is with having cut out all caffeine (and creamer) and carbonated drinks and only having water, and reducing portions and etc. I apparently have a looooong road ahead. I did notice that my jean shorts felt a bit looser in the thighs yesterday than the last time I wore them, so that was a huge boost. Keep at it! You're doing great!!!!
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valincal
Drama Llama
Southern Alberta
Posts: 5,768
Jun 27, 2014 2:21:22 GMT
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Post by valincal on Aug 12, 2015 16:40:01 GMT
Slow and steady wins the race! Weight loss is mainly about diet. Have you thought about tracking your food/calories on an app like My Fitness Pal? You can track your exercise and water intake too. Good luck..you can do this!
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caangel
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,674
Location: So Cal
Jun 26, 2014 16:42:12 GMT
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Post by caangel on Aug 12, 2015 16:44:27 GMT
Did you measure yourself? We don't lose as quickly but I believe things are supposed to shift.
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Post by spitfiregirl on Aug 12, 2015 17:33:16 GMT
Do NOT weigh yourself. You are changing your lifestyle and thats what the focus should be on. NOT the scale. Later, when your pants are baggy... then weigh yourself.
Do not focus on food. Do not focus on what you can or cannot eat. "i dont want those chips, and I dont want soda." "a salad with grilled chicken would be awesome. " Just eat healthy and control your portions. Log your food and aim for calorie goal each day.
Aim for an ACTIVE LIFESTYLE. Walk instead of driving. Use the stairs instead of elevator. Do things because you want to lead an ACTIVE LIFESTYLE.
I lost 20 pounds this summer.... saying these things. Good luck!
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Deleted
Posts: 0
Oct 6, 2024 8:27:52 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Aug 12, 2015 17:38:46 GMT
Even IF you never lose a pound (and I most certainly think that you WILL lose weight) you've made very positive changes that will very much reflect a healthier you.
Keep at it. Don't get discouraged. Don't weigh yourself.
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Post by smalltowngirlie on Aug 12, 2015 17:47:09 GMT
Thanks everyone. This does help. I know it will be a long road and my plan is slow and steady.
I have tried tracking calories in the past and it was just not me. I would focus on what I could not eat too much. As I watch what I eat and portions I feel more in control. Tracking made me feel like something else had control.
At my size it is going to take a lot to see a physical difference. I know the scale is evil to some but the last time I really tried to lose weight, it really helped me. It measures to the tenth, so I was happy with even a half pound weight loss. If it showed less at the end of the week I was happy, no matter how much it was. This time I started down and it went back up. My body is different now so I have to expect different results.
I carry most of my weight in my stomach and have been told that is the hardest to lose, but I will lose it. This is not making me want to stop by any means, it is actually somewhat motivting to push a little more, not stop once it gets comfortable.
Thanks ladies, you are the BEST!!!
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Post by kellybelly77 on Aug 12, 2015 18:06:43 GMT
Slow and steady wins the race! Weight loss is mainly about diet. Have you thought about tracking your food/calories on an app like My Fitness Pal? You can track your exercise and water intake too. Good luck..you can do this! After my IUD I gained 26 pounds in just over a year. So I made a vow to get that weight off. I am in the process right now and it is slow work! But I agree with tracking on MFP.
My family eats clean and we make most of our food, including snacky junk food. So I started tracking calories and even though my foods are clean, some like nuts, organic dairy and avocado add up quickly on the calorie charts.
Between 6 days a week of pilates and yoga and keeping calories to 1,600 or so I have lost 13 pounds in 2.5 months. I was doing the workouts before and eating clean and not losing. It was seeing the calorie counts that did it for me!
Congrats on starting and seeing a loss!!!! Starting is always the hardest part!
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Post by catseatcheese on Aug 12, 2015 18:09:41 GMT
I think you are doing awesome things to improve your health. One thing I did was buy a step tracking device and I try to get 10,000 steps per day. I do not get it every day. It is sad to say that I do not go to the gym very often. I do not "work out" per say. I eat a lot less and I get those steps (mainly by walking). I lost about 50 lbs last year. This is not to brag it is to mention that what I found was that on the days I did not "work out" I was sitting a lot and not stepping. Walking is easy for me so I had no problems.
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eastcoastpea
Prolific Pea
Posts: 9,252
Jun 27, 2014 13:05:28 GMT
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Post by eastcoastpea on Aug 12, 2015 18:12:28 GMT
I think you're doing great. I think the positive life changes you are making is awesome. Keep up the good work.
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Post by brina on Aug 12, 2015 18:23:27 GMT
You are probably replacing fat with muscle. Just keep going. If you lost 2 pounds every three weeks until next summer, imagine where you would be! Like fat, muscle requires fuel. If she's burning more calories than she's eating, she's not building muscle mass. No, she can be burning fat for the fuel necessary to build muscle. During the time that I lost no weight I was burning more than I was eating (I track using Spark People) but definitely got slimmer.
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valincal
Drama Llama
Southern Alberta
Posts: 5,768
Jun 27, 2014 2:21:22 GMT
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Post by valincal on Aug 12, 2015 18:30:01 GMT
Thanks everyone. This does help. I know it will be a long road and my plan is slow and steady. I have tried tracking calories in the past and it was just not me. I would focus on what I could not eat too much. As I watch what I eat and portions I feel more in control. Tracking made me feel like something else had control. Tracking is not about limiting your food options, it just brings awareness to portion sizes and calorie counts of food items. When I tracked, I set a total calorie count for the day. You can work treats and splurges into your daily numbers, but in smaller portions than you might normally have. No deprivation! MFP can work out a plan for you, based on your current weight, your goal weight and how long you'd like to take to get there. I think it's a great resource.
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Post by auntkelly on Aug 12, 2015 18:41:01 GMT
You are probably replacing fat with muscle. Just keep going. If you lost 2 pounds every three weeks until next summer, imagine where you would be! I think this is great advice to keep in mind! Good for you OP on your weight loss and healthier lifestyle. You are an inspiration to me. I've been drinking way too much diet soda lately. I need to cut way back and drink more water like you are doing.
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Dalai Mama
Drama Llama
La Pea Boheme
Posts: 6,985
Jun 26, 2014 0:31:31 GMT
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Post by Dalai Mama on Aug 12, 2015 18:47:16 GMT
Like fat, muscle requires fuel. If she's burning more calories than she's eating, she's not building muscle mass. No, she can be burning fat for the fuel necessary to build muscle. During the time that I lost no weight I was burning more than I was eating (I track using Spark People) but definitely got slimmer. It makes sense that you became slimmer when you were burning more than you were eating - that's how weight loss works. But slimmer just means less fat, not more muscle. If you are eating at a deficit, you will lose both fat and muscle.
I'm a big fan of strength training even if you are eating at a deficit because it will slow your rate of loss of muscle mass and make you appear much more muscular once most of the fat is gone.
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Post by iamkristinl16 on Aug 12, 2015 18:51:07 GMT
don't even look at the scale the first couple of weeks after you start working out. It won't be a realistic representation of what is going on. If you start any program that involves muscle growth, those muscles are going to retain water in the beginning. Then, as they grow, they will add to your mass even as you are losing fat. You've done a lot to lose a full pound in a week's time, especially if you're building muscle. You've created an energy deficit of 500 calories each day - pretty impressive! I agree with this post but didn't see anywhere that said how many calories the OP is eating or what foods specifically. Or anything else that suggests what the energy deficit is? That being said, I can relate. I haven't been exercising yet but have been following the 21 day fix meal plan very closely for a little over a week. Clean eating, lots of veggies and around 1200 calories a day. As of last Friday I was down 4 lbs. yay!! But, on Monday I was only down .8 from where I started. I am expecting my period so hope it is due to that, but man...it was frustrating to see those pounds come back on. Would have been better if I had just been at 1 lb the whole time.
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Post by brina on Aug 12, 2015 18:51:37 GMT
Dalai Mama, but in that case you would lose weight. If you burn more than you are eating and losing fat you would lose weight. If you are buying fat while building muscle you can lose inches but not pounds.
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Post by mrsscrapdiva on Aug 12, 2015 18:52:01 GMT
It is discouraging isn't it! Like the others say - don't weigh yourself and just keep on keeping up the healthy lifestyle. Don't compare your loss to the boys - they lose differently and faster in my opinion. Remember that age, pcos (if that applies), hormones, premenopausal stuff etc all can complicate this
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