In the last six weeks I've started trying to get back into the shape I was in during high school. I started out at 200 lbs and I'm 5'6", 28 years old.
First, I cut out fast food and prepared foods, began keeping a food journal and counted calories. I eat at LEAST 3 veggies a day and 3 fruits a day, and avoid refined flour and white rice. I went from consuming 2400 calories a day to about 1700 calories a day and lost no weight.
Two weeks later I increased how much water I drink from about 46 ounces a day to 94+ a day. I have stopped drinking any soda (including diet), drank limited amounts of sugar-free juice and low-fat (1%) milk. I lost no weight and my clothes began to feel tighter.
two weeks ago I began to work out- 3 days a week, 40 minutes each cardio (treadmill or elliptical) and 40 minutes of light weights.
I now weigh 210 lbs and my clothes are all tight on me.
Any ideas or suggestions why this is happening?
2007-08-02 05:46:33 · 15 answers · asked by Anonymous in Health ➔ Diet & Fitness
I haven't stopped anything- just added to what I'm doing. On top of eating healthier and counting calories, I drink more water, then added exercise.
2007-08-02 05:48:22 · update #1
Before I started I had blood work done (I actually consulted my doc before I started because I'm so over weight and out of shape). Sluggish thyroid, but not diabetic, high blood pressure. Doc said the eating better and exercise MIGHT take away the need for hormones. Guess I'll need to go back and get more bloodwork done. Thanks guys.
2007-08-02 05:58:01 · update #2
Do not cut any more calories!
See your doctor, if he said you had any sort of hormonal imbalance, this is most likely affecting your weight loss.
Be safe, don't listen to O&A, and good luck.
2007-08-02 06:01:04 · answer #1 · answered by squishymallo 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
First, you need to get your 'calories' down a bit (only 200, to a total of 1500 per day taken in) ... you need to 'reduce your intake of water/drinks to about 64-80 ounces ... and don't forget to 'add the calories' from that 'sugar free fruit juice' and 'low fat' milk to your 1500 calorie total. INCREASE your intake of fresh fruits and vegetables to 5 'servings' of each ... and be sure you 'know' exactly how much that 'serving size' is for every different fruit and vegetable you eat.
Also increase your 'exercise' ... keep upt your 3 day a week 'work outs' but keep track of the 'calories' you burn doing them, add the 'other calories' you naturally burn ever day, and ADD 'walking' ... start slow ... park at the 'far side' of the parking lot the first week, park a block away the next week, or get onto the bus one stop farther, and get off one stop sooner and walk until you have the 'walking' up to 'one hour total' of 'extra distance' ... also 'increase your pace' from a 'slow stroll' to a 'rapid walk' ...
What you are 'looking for is an 'imbalance' of 500 calories between intake (1500) to 'burned' (2000) a day. You have been doing 'the right stuff' but doing it wrong ... you should not expect 'rapid results' so weigh yourself AT THE SAME TIME EVERY DAY, preferably in the morning, after you 'take care of the bathroom' but while you are still naked. If you don't 'lose both weight and inches' then you'll need to 're-do' your exercises ... you may actually be 'losing fat' but are 'gaining muscles' a bit faster ... if so, reduce your 'cardio' and weights' time to 30 minutes of each, and increase the 'days per week' to four or five, and walk a bit more ...
Also, pay attention to the breathing and the 'body form' ... if you aren't breathing properly and paying attention to doing the exercises correctly, you can actually do more harm than good.
So you've gained ten pounds ... I'll bet that you are also feeling much 'healthier' and have more energy ... and your 'basic plan' isn't that far off the 'optimum' so it should be easy for you to 'up the program' and 'down the calories' to start burning the fat.
IF you do this, and haven't lost at least six pounds in the next three weeks, go to your doctor and get 'full blood tests' ... there are several different 'illnesses' that have a 'weight gain' as the first symptom ... and if you have one, and find it 'fast' then you'll have a better chance of losing that extra weight, and being 'really healthy' because you'll have a good 'medical plan' to go with your weight loss/getting healthy plan.
2007-08-02 06:03:58 · answer #2 · answered by Kris L 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I know you struggle...don't be discouraged. Only consider your health and that your moving in the right direction...Don't Give Up!
1. Are you keeping a really accurate food journal...it's a pain ,but it works, trust me I've lost over 50 lbs. Use the Internet to find out how many fats & calories are in everything.
2. You are still really young, your work out may not be intense enough, kick up the treadmill a few notches (even if it is just in 2 min intervals) until you can sustain the work at this level for longer periods of time.
3. Lift heavier weights, sometimes we as women go for the lightest weight, although you do need to be careful, all things being equal your stronger than you think.
4. Enlist the help of a professional, visit a dietician and get a few sessions in with a pesonal trainer, it's expensive but a good investemnt. I had 4 sessions and they were really helpful in planning my regimen.
Mostly don't stop. It took me a 1 1/2 years to lose the weight. But it's gone for good!
2007-08-02 05:56:03 · answer #3 · answered by simplepleasures 3 · 2⤊ 1⤋
The key to losing weight is burning more calories than you take in. Sounds like you are still consuming more calories than you probably should be. I got Dr. Phil's weight loss diet book (just the meal plan version, not the psycho-analysis version) and it has recipes that you can follow. I've lost about 40 Lbs by doing that. The key is exercising, so you have to do that in addition to eating well. DON'T GIVE UP!!! You can certainly do this!!!
2007-08-02 05:50:43 · answer #4 · answered by ? 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Your body may still be adjusting to the new diet, but that sounds odd. You might want to see an endocrinologist and have them check your thyroid levels, etc.
You might also be retaining water as well. I just reread your question and you say you are drinking 94+ ounces a day plus eating lots of fruit and veggies - this is probably excessive. 64 oz/day is recommended (plus another cup or so to replace sweat on days you exercise), and new research is showing that a lot of water that our bodies use comes from fruit and veggies.
2007-08-02 05:49:42 · answer #5 · answered by squirrely 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Well, normally when you start working out you don't lose weight because you begin to exchange muscle for fat. Your weight stays the same but you get thinner. If you're not eating anything bad, and you've been exercising and you're still gaining weight... it could be something serious. I would see a doctor to make sure it wasn't something glandular or cancerous.
2007-08-02 05:51:07 · answer #6 · answered by gyoza1216 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Don't lift weights, stick to cadio and 1600 cals is way too much for serious weight loss results I'd cut that almost in half. Good Luck!
2007-08-02 05:53:26 · answer #7 · answered by O&APest 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I think drinking mega amounts of water is always a mistake, never helps you lose weight, can blow you up, and can kill you (you can die after drinking 2 gallons!)
Eat right, exercise, drink water and iced tea INSTEAD of colas and other crap. Don't force down huge amounts. You will lose the weight!
2007-08-02 05:51:09 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Try eating 5 meals per day, small portions. You could also be gaining weight because your body is not used to your new routine.
2007-08-02 05:49:54 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Because you cut so many calories your body takes in and stores all the fat that your eating and your gaining muscle mass.
2007-08-02 05:49:57 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋