Why is weight so hard to lose?

Question

A few weeks ago, I started counting my calories and exercising daily. The first week I lost 3 pounds, but this morning I weighed myself and I'm back to my starting weight. Everyone is telling me that I look like im losing weight, but the scales say different. My diet consists of about 1200-1300 calories a day and I exercise (lightly) every night (sometimes I exercise harder depending on weather, etc). Can someone please explain how "weight loss" works or recommend something?

Answer 1

a few weeks is too soon to expect any big changes, especially on the scale. maybe you're building muscle, which weighs more than fat and will make the number on the scale go up. maybe your body isn't getting enough nourishment and is holding onto some of the weight it has stored up because it's not getting what it needs. 1300 calories isn't much at all. if you are looking better, be happy with that. isn't that the point anyway?

Answer 2

Wow, you ask a loaded question! The women in my family have struggled with weight loss for so many years, and we are just now being successful, so let me share with you what we know. With calories you have to be careful to eat enough so your body continues to work at its prime, but do not eat more than you need. It is a delicate balance. Your amount of calories needed depends on your height and weight and what you do each day. My sister has 3 girls and runs an at home day care, plus she exercises more than me, so she consumes more calories. I have a desk job and exercise 30-45 minutes a day, so I stick to about 1400 calories. (I am 5'6 and weigh 176 -- in Oct 2006 I weighed just under 200 lbs.) We eat 5 or so times a day - small "meals". Drink water, sugar free drinks (like crystal light or any generic brand of the same type). When I first started working out, I was like you -- my muscles were getting a workout and remember they weigh more than fat! The scale didn't budge all that much until about week 6, but by then I lost 2" on my tummy already! Inches work, too! I just finished reading the Dr. Oz book (YOU on a Diet) and he reminds us a measure of physical health should be your midsection. Don't just focus on the scale - measure your middle and keep track -- it motivates you. Sorry this is long, I have even more I could say, but who knows if it is helping.... the biggest changes for me happened when I quit eating sugar, candy, junk food, fast food. I cook meals at home or eat Subway, pack my lunches and snacks. I use part of my weekend to buy groceries and plan the week -- fruit,etc always in the fridge and plan dinners for the week. Eat breakfast every day, then a snack, then lunch, a snack, dinner, and maybe another small snack. My snacks 90-100 calories. Dinner doesn't include carbs usually, unless they are whole grain rice or barilla pasta. We workout every day -- 2 days a week are slower days, tho - like a light 30 minute walk...

Answer 3

The final judge is your waist, not the scale. Getting buff and not losing the pounds is fine for your looks and health. There always seems to be a delay between the diet & exercise regime and the computation on the scale.

Why is it so hard?

A candy bar has 300 calories and takes 1 minute to eat.

To Burn that candy bar would require running at least 2.2 miles. If you did it at twice the world record rate, it would take about 4 minutes. A normal person who is pretty fit will take 17 minutes. An out of shape person will take almost half an hour, if they can finish.

Answer 4

This is a long, painful battle. You never really "win" you just make progress and then have to watch to make sure you don't slide back. The scale is a scary thing to base your sole progress on.
I highly recommend you take measurements, i.e. biceps, thighs, calves, waist, etc. and track this also. It really does encourage you. Remember though, you didn't gain it in a month, so don't expect to come crashing down in a month either. Do some light weight training or resistance training like with the resistance bands that excercise your muscle mass. Muscle burns more calories than fat, even when you sleep. Studies have shown that some resistance or weight training will really help in the long run.
Good luck! My Doctor said weight watchers is the ONLY thing he has ever seen work long term consistently, and it is the cheapest option out there, might try that also, it gives you encouragement when you go to meetings, nobody judges you, they just encourage you.

Answer 5

I've always understood that the first few pounds are the easiest to lose, because you are losing excess water. (How accurate this is, I'm not certain.) Then, after you lose the excess water, you begin the battle with losing fat. That's harder than getting rid of excess water.

Also, muscle weighs more than fat. So, Lt Dan is making a good suggestion in taking body measurements along with weight on the scale. You may actually find you weigh more in the process of losing fat and developing muscle with exercise, no matter how light the exercise is.

Answer 6

The fact that weight is extremely hard to use is 'cause (i think) your body's metabolism (rate you are eating) is thinking and wanting that certain amount. so when ur food intakes stops it goes to the storage or the food with minimal nutrients to be as full as without so you might gain more weight while dieting. Well, i really suggest a long and fast run no stopping (like quick sprints then contant speeding run) never stopping each day like 4 km? running will actually work the thighs lower parts of the legs, and the side stomach muscles. but DO NOT OVERRUN it mades your thighs like HUGE...so also take less carbs if you don't work out much..just proteins and fibre..

Answer 7

I'm dealing with trying to lose weight aswell and have been for years. It is really hard I think it's because we do our best to eat right and exercise but it's easier to put it on then take it off and I for one am a good example of saying I'm going to lose weight and giving up. My life has been hard and I've turned to food for comfort and found out that that's not the way to go. Cutting calories isn't for everyone. I'm going to start this pill called "Diet pill seduction." I hope that works for me. If you need any motivation or need someone to talk to I'm here just email me. I know what your going through.

Answer 8

most people simply do not consume enough calories to promote fat loss. "your" daily caloric intake should be based on the amount of fat free mass that you have and your level of daily activity.

you basically need to trick your body into releasing it's fat stores, this is only accomplished if the caloric intake is high enough. if not, weight loss will not occur or the body will sacrifice lean muscle tissue. this is what happens with fad diets and starvation diets.

go to the website below for a good estimate of your caloric needs:
http://www.protraineronline.com/past/july2/nutrient.cfm

you want the majority of your foods to be all natural, not prepackaged. you also want to monitor your body fat while on a fat reducing diet. this way you "know" where the losses on the scale are coming from fat or muscle. the key to successful dieting is to maximize fat loss while minimizing losses of muscle mass

Answer 9

you may have a slow mutable system i cant spell you know your digestive system, and its common to lose some then put it back on a little then goes down again, dont always look at the scales just a number look at you. your friends are right they wouldnt lie, just keep it up, rapid changes in your diet are bad for you anyway.

Answer 10

You are fighting nature. A person is genetically programmed to weigh a certain amount.