I am at a loss. What am I doing wrong?

This is my 2nd post but please bear w/me.  My stats: 5'4, 135 lbs, 33.  For the past two weeks, I have kept my calories between 1200-1400, jogged on the treadmill for 45 mins 4x a week plus 15 min of strength training 3x a week.  I have cut out all soda and sugar.  My eating is clean (whole grains, veggies, lean protein) and I'm drinking a ton of water (I average 64 oz a day.) All this to not have one pound drop on the scale.  I think I'm doing everything right, but I'm starting to get frustrated fast!! My clothes still fit tight, I don't think anything is budging.  Am I expecting results too fast?  I'm not sure I can keep going if I don't see at least the tiniest of results.  Any ideas?  Or similar experiences?  I need some motivation please!!!

You're probably not eating enough.  The same thing happens to me, I was only eating between 1000-1200 calories a day and working out 6 days a week, aerobic and strength and flexibility and couldn't figure out for the life of me why I wasn't losing a pound.  Try upping your calorie intake; 45 minutes on the treadmill plus strength training burns quite a few.  Then just wait it out because you should be seeing results by now (2 weeks in?  definitely) but hopefully the scale will budge!  I'm in the same boat as you - this is day 3 for me on over 1000 calories... nice feeling not to starve 24/7, though.

you should probably be eating more on days you go 45 on the treadmill.

I think you should try bumping your calories up to 1500-1600 on your running days. It will make you feel better and also just might get your body to drop a few pounds. Your body is so busy with the treadmill and building new muscle you need to fuel it.

Try to think of other measures of success as well: getting 7 servings of fruit and veggies, running a quarter mile farther, taking the stairs one more time.

Thanks. I've been trying to eat 1400-1500 on running days (4x wk), and closer to 1200 on non-gym days.

kizzichan - when you started eating more calories, did you start to lose?? 

I'm in almost the exact same boat as you! Very similar stats (5'3", now at 131 lbs) walking (fast-paced, can't run and as of now can't afford a gym) between 4-6 miles a day and eating about 1000-1250 calories a day. I am so afraid of eating more though! Maybe we can keep each other motivated...?

sounds good jennbush.  have you had success with eating more calories??

Unfortunately I haven't done much trying yet... I got to 1250 yesterday and almost cried that I ate too much. I know that sounds dysfunctional but obviously I am a normal weight, I've just developed a little bit of a complex. BUT clearly what we are doing isn't working very well, so I'm thinking I need to force myself a bit. So to answer your question (very long windedly) I haven't had success with eating more calories, but I know others that have and so I am hoping to. :o)

When I upped my calories from 1350 to 1550, I started losing weight like crazy.  I lose on average 1.8 pounds a week.  You have to play around with your calorie deficit and see what works for you.  For me a deficit of around 500 doesn't really do anything for me.. but as soon as I started working out harder and eating more, I started losing. 

Maintaining a deficit between 600-800 is what works for me.  If I have a deficit of 500, I dont lose any weight, and if my deficit is anything over 800, I dont lose anything at all.

Wow thanks so much for the info, kjmadill. That really makes me feel better about upping my calories! I try to have a deficit of 850-1000 every day, but I guess that might be a little too much for my body or something. I totally get the starvation mode thing, but I still don't understand how I'm not losing more weight. With that kind of deficit I should be losing something, even if it isn't healthy weight loss right?

 If you carried on where you are you'd probably start losing weight again slowly.... thermodynamics will out, after all.   But if you want to kickstart your weight-loss and get things moving a little quicker have a day where you go with the full 2200-2300 (or whatever your 'maintenance' level is).... and then return to losing weight with a deficit of 500-700 a day.  It does actually work....

You're getting good advise.  I'm 5'4", 162# and when I started to eat more than 1500 calories and as high as 2000 on work out days I started to lose.  But, you have to give each change at least 2-3 weeks.  Unfortunately, weight loss takes patience.  I've lost 70#, I broke a 6 month plateau and lost 20# since joining CC last November and have been maintaining since spring.

Good Luck :-)

Leslie

gi jane, i will happily try that.  :) 

I agree - perhaps try upping your cal intake and see what happens.

And remember, Patience is a virtue - you didn't gain the weight overnight, it won't come off overnight.  Heck, it's taken me 17 months to lose 50lbs. (with 3 plateaus in that time)

Good luck!

two weeks is not long, especially if you've made dramatic changes.  i know that sounds contradictory.  but it seems like the bigger the changes, the more our bodies--like--wait to see if it's a joke.

i suggest that you keep doing what you're doing for another week or so.

thanks! all i want to do is lose a pound a week, to get back to my healthy weight (for me) of 120 pounds.  i guess i'll keep plugging away, eventually something has to give; right!!

Haha you, me, and jennbush are all in the same boat!

So far I haven't lost any weight.  It's only day three, though - I boosted my exercise as I took in more calories, and I know my body is still coming back from me eating 1000 a day... religiously.  Strangely it is starting to feel alright to eat more, if I exercise.  I know I still am having problems because when I eat more I feel the absolute necessity to exercise, like I CAN'T have the extra calories on me... so who knows what will happen.  I think what I am going to have to do is wait and see.  But I think we should all encourage each other because the buddy system is the best!!!

looks like it. i'm glad i'm not the only one! but it is frustrating.  i know my husband will be happy that i'm venting on this board, and he doesn't have to hear it :)  so today i'm going to take a day off from the gym, and eat around 1500 calories. tomorrow i'll go back to what i've been doing. who knows, maybe a 'shake up' in the system will do something....???

You probably don't eat enough and you should wait abt 4-6 weeks to see results.

I'm 5'2", 27 and 127-128 lbs. I burn only 700 cal a week and my range is 1200-1400 ca! So by running on the treadmill you burn way more than me. I did 30 min on my stepper and burned over 250 cal so you are looking at about 1000-1500 cal burned per week via cardio hence you do need to eat a bit more

I am coming in late here...but, what is the logic behind eating more calories to lose?  I have been taking Group Power classes M-W-F at my gym.  And, I totally push myself.  Plus, I do an hour on the treadmill running and incline walking after my class.  So, I'm at the gym for 2 hours every M-W-F.  Then, I try to run once on the weekends.  I am 5'5", 138lbs and 42 yrs old.  The past year an a half I have gained 10 lbs.  I am struggling to get it off!  I am great eater, too.  Lean proteins, fruits, veggies..What can I do?

Original Post by jennbush:

With that kind of deficit I should be losing something, even if it isn't healthy weight loss right?

 Not necessarily.  You're body may be holding on to the food and calories that it gets.  yes eventually you would start to lose weight, but you would start to see underfed signs as well, such as inability to concentrate, headaches, loss of balance, fatigue, irritable, low energy... not pleasant at all, and not worth it, because for a few more calories you can be healthy AND lose weight! ;)