Measly One Pound Loss

So, I started Zumba classes (latin dance aerobics) 2x a week, and walked 5k 4 times this week, increased my water intake, stayed within my calorie limit and STILL only lost 1 measly pound!  I purposely stayed away from the scale 'till weigh in today...I was actually looking forward to weigh in. I would have thought that since I'm still in the 200lb range that I would be losing more because I have alot to lose.   I've lost 11 lbs so far, since July.  I have the added challenge of having to follow a Gluten-Free diet, but have managed to limit my carb intake to the 35-50%.  It's a little discouraging because I was actually hungry more this week.  Any encouraging comments out there?

Starting a new exercise regime can make muscles retain water to heal themselves.  Give it a while.

And 1 pound a week is still awesome!  Just keep that trendline pointing down!!

1 pound is still 3500 calories.

Okay, I have only lost 1 lb this week, too.  Here's what I tell myself:

1) The quicker you lose weight, the more loose skin you have at the end.  Slow weight loss is the only way to go. It gives your skin a chance to "catch up".

2) Slow weight loss is more likely to stay off.

3) 1 lb is A LOT. I know it seems depressing just looking at the scale but it is a lot of fat.  Don't take my word for it.  Click here and see what you have accomplished.  (You could also think of it as an entire pack of butter.) That is now gone from your body. You accomplished that! And it was achieved healthfully.

Also, in your case, it could just be that the new addition of Zumba classes has caused your body to react differently than it would have otherwise.  Maybe you're building new muscles.  Maybe you're holding onto water weight. Common sense says that your body will get used to what you've changed and should normalize.

I know that anytime I change anything in my diet or exercise, my body reacts to that change.

Give it time. You're doing great! Congratulations on sticking with it.

Hi Jay! 

I absolutely understand how you feel! I worked out every day this week - including the weekend and if I add up my calorie deficits I should have lost 2.5 lb. But I have only lost 1 since last weekend and that is surely not great - but afterall it's a whole pound that is GONE! 

You really do well and if you stick to your plan you will definately lose more weight. Don't give in, just keep pushing! It will pay off soon! Maybe next week is our week again! 

All the best! 

Brigit

Thanks....I definitely needed reminding that its 3500 calories to lose a pound....and I love the analogy to the pound of butter!  I'll keep that visual to use next time I start feeling down. I did stay on track today and did my 5k walk.

At least you didn't gain a pound.

You are describing my case exactly. I started dieting on July 1st with 200.5 pounds. Sticking to my 1250 calories a day and exercising like crazy (4 to 5 times a week), I've only lost 11.5 pounds so far.

It can be so frustrating at times... especially because I still have another 30 pounds to loose...

Notwithstanding that, on the bright side, my doctor said that the weight lost I was having was ideal. He said the slowest the pounds go, the best. He explained that pounds lost slowly aren't gained back as easily. Also, our skin is less likely to sag afterwards, which to me it's importart. I don't want to be skinny and flacid.

I'm trying to enjoy my small success and feel happy when I see how big my pants feel. I also decided to start thinking on smaller goals, like my next 5 pounds, instead of my next 30. Maybe that will make me not loose my focus thinking how long is it going to take me to reach my ideal weight.

Keep motivated and keep on with the good work!!!

Don't go by the scale. Go by the way your body feels, and the way your clothing fits. When you are working out, your body converts fat into lean muscle, and that negates some of the loss, but, the differences in your body are enormous.

If you weren't working out, you may see a few more pounds drop on the scale each month, but, those numbers are misleading. Many people starve and lose muscle, and actually are setting themselves up for getting fatter.

Stick by your plan. Have fun. Dieting can become obsessive, but, try to adjust your thinking by telling yourself that you're getting healthy and thin, not just skinny with a low number on the scale. In fact, you may find that if your goal is 110 pounds, you may look fantastic at 128 pounds, and this is because you're building strong healthy muscles and I'd much rather be looking at a healthy and beautiful body than some low numbers on a scale.

Stick to it!  I know it's disappointing to expect more but it's a pound gone, not gained or even the dreaded "un-moving scale" when you stay the same.  

to mariekeh:

Lol. I love your number one. I should keep that in mind because I've started dieting again but its going PRETTY slow right now and I've only lost like one pound also.

But your #1 makes me more patient and wanting time to pass as I lose weight gradually instead of a fast weight loss and a skin gigglefest after I lose the weight. And I'm 17! That can't happen. =]

So I'll be more patient with my scale and keep on going. And on the bright side, at least I didn't gain anything.=]

just keep at it, it'll come eventually :D

i lost 1lb for the first time in weeks (since gaining 5lbs back) and i'm so happy about it :D  just gotta look at the positives ^_^. hell you've lost 11lbs, thats fantastic! 

If it makes you feel any better, last week I dieted like crazy, never cheated, and exercised *every* day (walking 30 mins, sometimes 35 or so..) and i lost...wait for it....ONE HALF a pound.  I admit it, i cried!  Only cause I worked so hard. If I had cheated or something I woulda understood, but dang that was like a knife to the heart.

I didn't give up...been working even harder and looking forward to Tuesday's weigh in...but a little scared too if I'm honest. I do FEEL better, which is good, but I can't tell a big difference in my clothes yet and I'm working so hard...but I know it does take time :)

Hang in there...let me know how you do this week and I'll do the same...send me a message. If we both don't lose we can cry together, lol

Think about it this way: You could have not lose any at all or you could have gain one instead. So the way I see any weight loss is better than none or some.

So the saga continues.....as of today's weigh in I lost ZERO extra pounds! No weight loss this week - ugh!

Are you sure that you're getting in enough calories?  You're pretty active so if your intake is too low you're not going to lose.  Otherwise, nothing much I can say other then just sticking to it.  

Oh no I'm sorry you didn't lose...I figured you would...how much did you add to your calories, if any?  I'm worried b/c since I started this site (Thu) I've yet to get close to what I need...it's tough...I'm scared to eat too much.  Are you gonna try to up some this week to see what happens?

Yup, I think my calorie intake was too low.  I rarely was below 1400, but did try to keep a deficit of 750 daily to try and get a 1.5 lb loss over the week.  I'm going to try a deficit of only 500, by increasing protein intake, and see what happens this week. Unless there are other suggestions?

Hi Jaylong,

actually this really surprises me! 750 cal deficit per day should lead to a nice weightloss! you should check all the parameters again:

- are you measuring your food correctly? (measuring cups are not as exact as a food scale would be... try weighing your foods)

- are you balancing your diet well (grains, greens, fruits, fats)

- are you working out as much as you do? Sometimes the calories given on a treadmill or eliptical are not exact. A heart rate monitor (i.e. polar watch w sensor) might give you a better (correct) number.

- are you tracking really EVERYTHING you put in your mouth? Even tea and coffee has calories! Even if it's just very little.

And afterall... you might want to see a doctor to make sure you are healthy and fit.

All the best for you and heads up: you will be losing soon!!

Brigit