i am desperate for help. please read.

I have been sticking to a 1300-1500 cal diet. (well under my cal expendeture, but within my recommended allowance to reach my goal by march 26th) eating lots of veggies, no fatts (like buttery popcorn or frenchfrys.. anything like that) and lots and lots of pultry. I do pretty intense cardio everyday for 30-40 minutes. i do full body resistance training 3 days a week. [this is a huge change compared to my almost daily fast-food and never exercising.. which adds to the frustration, bc i have made such a significant change]

 last night i worked the hardest i ever have on the tredmil and with the weight machines (feeling good and eager to weigh in the next morning) and today I woke up having GAINED two lbs. also the jeans that i hadnt tried on in a few weeks, which i was hoping would be a little loose or at least not fit so snug, fit exactly the same way they did before i began. i have been going at this for a little over a week hardcore and i just am not seeing results in the scale, or the way my clothes fit.

i am so close to just throwing in the towel. i feel defeated already. i have been working so hard and being so disiplined.

is this normal? what am i doing wrong? please help me! i am so tired of being overweight.

I believe your body retains water after weights to help the muscles heal..

Try eating more too.. Changing things helps refresh the body

(thank you for a reply!) what's the best way to help water rentention? certain foods? a suplement? anything?

I totally understand when you say that you are tired of being overweight....me too!

You will not see results in only a week time...do not throw in the towel, just keep at it. Eventually over time you will notice the difference.

Stephanie,

Be patient with yourself. A week is nothing. You did not gain the weight in 1 week and you will not lose it in one week. The formula is simple, input-output dosed with patience. Believe me I know what you mean about those jeans, and yes it can be frustrating. I am finding that just sticking with it for the long haul of lifestyle changhing calorie counting, activity recording habits takes time and patience. Rome was not built in a day! Just keep on keeping on and you will be successful. It might be slow, but slow is better than not at all. Hang in there! I am 6 weeks into this and have lost 9 lbs. Now that does not seem like much but if I continue in the same trend in another 6 weeks that will be 18 lbs. See what I mean! So, don't be hard on yourself, go slow, keep recording, keep working at it, and you will be successful......Mariska

Hey!!

Don't give up!

Because think about it - even if there are no results just now, imagine how good this is for your body!! It will repay you..eventually...by the way, the best time to get on a scale is in the morning before eating or drinking, because later during the day you, are 1 or 2 lbs. heavier :)

And as we all know, muscle is heavier than fat, so if you started extercising and haven't  done that for a while, your fat turns into muscle causing you to actually gain a little...I know that happened to me after I started going o the gym, I stayed at the same weight although on a diet but my body looked different and I started losing too, after 2 or 3 weeks.

 So I hope you don't give up and give your body time to prove how it can reapy you!! :)

I agree with both posters above!

It takes time and remember muscle weighs more than fat...so you're weight will go up but eventially fall as that new muscle will start to burn the fat.

 

You're doing great! 

LOL well there were only too posts when I typed up my reply...

with that level of activity, are you sure you are not under eating?  I suggest you look at the number of calories you burn each day.  If you are not eating enough, your body may be holding onto fat to protect itself.  You need to fuel your body to lose weight. 

Have a look at the CC library for articles about "starvation mode".

i LOVE this community. you wonderful! thank for you replying and caring, all of you :)

i guess i shouldnt feel discouraged after only a week. i just figured that after making such drastic changes that i should see some kind of body bennefit. like on the biggest loser ;).

claire- i am eating what the site added to be my allowance. for my height/weight/age/frame size/activity level/and goal date. which is: 5'5"/215/20yrs/medium bones/sedentary when i am at home but work out like i described/march 26th 2008 i want to be down 45lbs. how does that sound? when i had too aggressive a goal the site told me i had to assume less lbs for that date.

Check out this thread -- it might give you a little insight and help assure that these things take time but they are possible

http://www.calorie-count.com/forums/post/5234 3.html

Stephanie it takes some time to fine tune your diet and exercise program so please don't give up. As time goes by you'll figure out what works best for you in regards to your calorie intake, exercise, etc.

Watch your sodium intake, that can make you retain water. Also drink lots of water. Many people don't drink enough. Not sure if you drink diet drinks but if you do, switch to water.

I think it's great that you've made these changes. Yes, it is very hard at first, but if you stick with it you'll start enjoying the exercise and also eating healthy. It won't seem like such hard work. And you will see results.

coach k that was great i tagged it! thanks for posting the link.

figurethefat thanks for the response. i will watch my sodium levels, whats a good amount daily? i dont drink any soda. all i have drank is water and OJ sometimes.

im so sorry if im being repetitive, i didnt feel like reading all the replies. but 1. you def havent given yourself enough time! sometimes people will notice a pound or 2 ina week but it soundslike your workouts are SO intense that you're retaining water. try drinking more! all the big water bottle brands are selling 1 liter bottles now, and thats about 33 oz, which is half the reccommended dose of water per day. well, i find it much easier to make sure im getting enough water by carrying around one of those with me and finishing it then refilling it and finishing it again! also if you're eating lower fat and fat free foods now, sometimesthey have more sodium to make up for taste, which makes it easier to retain water. i hope i helped.

oh and also i highly reccommend going to your local library and reading the G.I. diet book!!! it has GREAT suggestions! just remember, its just a GUIDE not a DIET! they try to enforce that thought in the book, and i feel as long as you remember that, it has excellent tips!

stephen1e, I am new here, and was reading this and just want to tell you to pat yourself on the back!! You are doing it! And that gives me inspiration to keep going too, so don't give up!! Also, ( I don't mean to be too personel), but are you nearing your period at all? Cuz' I know when I am I retain water like a camel!! I think watching sodium is really good advice, but if it's PMS time, I have found that Yoga really helps me. Not always lose the 2+ pounds of waterweight, but it helps me to realize that I need to take deep breaths and keep going, because I and you will lose it!! don't give up;)

iluvcheez thanks for the post! this community really saves me a lot of weakness so i am glad you joined! no i am not rtoo close to my TOTM about 2 weeks maybe. ahaha :) how much do you want to lose??

What jumped out at me was that you have only been doing this for a week.
It takes time to start seeing a loss on the scale, especially when one is weight training and exercising. Don't rush this. The important thing is that you be on a plan you can STICK WITH for the rest of your life. Casn you imagine doing what you're doing for the rest of your life? If so, good. It's no good to bust your butt for one week and then get discouraged because you haven't lost anything.  It takes months of good habits to effect a permanent change.

stepnanie-- I struggle to keep my sodium below 2,000 a day. I do it, but it's a struggle. I'm not sure but I think I saw a post that said shoot for 1 mg for every calorie??

It sounds like you are doing good, keep it up! You will see results eventually. I know it would be nice to see a pound or two drop after every workout but we all just have to be patient.  And the above post regarding sodium, my doctor said that 2300 mg is an average daily allowance.