Working out like a gerbil in an exercise wheel and I CANT LOSE A POUND-- HELP!!!

Hello Everyone:

I'm a newbie to this site.  I have been working out like a gerbil in a wheel  5 to 6 times a week and HAVE NOT SHED 1 BLEEPING pound. I've also been consuming 5 to six meals a day, which is nuts to me- its "supposed to speed up my metabolism". High protein diet, moderate weight training and aerobics is what I am about lately. I weigh weekly and have been 203 lbs. for the past three weeks. This week I found this delightful website and have been counting my calories, I'm hoping that wil l help. Any suggestions as to what in the Helman's mayonaise is going on 

Kizzichan, at least you look thinner. Forget muffin top, I have a freakin three layer cake top!!! We have to keep going, good luck to you as well. LOL I thought I was the only one who weighed on my Wii. The funniest thing is when I first stepped on it and my mii looked down at her hips, got fatter, and then wii announced that I was obeese with sad music behind it.

I am right with you about not getting the burn meter, it is hard to believe I am burning 2900 calories a day. I don't consider the burn meter anymore and try to burn at least 300 calories a day with cardio. I don't know how much I am burning with abs and weights. You are doing a lot of aerobics Meisha! it is wonderful, I wish I had your energy (and probably your age? LOL). But I think I read somewhere that strength training is very important to help you lose weight.  Try to do some weights in between cardio workout - Low weight and many reps. And Good job at not attacking the buffet table! I know it is hard. I went for a three day vacation and with all the eating out (and I behaved!), I put on 2lb that took me 3 weeks to lose in the first place! Frustation, big set back but OK Ok I am human, so back to work and I did lose the 2lbs in one week. Hang in there and never put yourself down because there are so many skinny girls around, Love thy curves! Love thy self!

 Err, let me just correct a few erroneous assumptions here - people believe that cardio is more efficient than strength training for fat loss, but it's not. Strength training is vastly more effective.

 I'm sorry to say it, but your stories of what your trainers have you doing sounds like they're the sort of people who give personal trainers a bad name, there are good ones out there of course but you notice the lousy ones more when you start to pay attention.

 Oh, yes - and you need to start lifting heavier. Much, much heavier.

 The rep range you should be aiming for is 8-12 at first, and 6-8 after the first 1-3 months, not 15-20 - women lose proportionally more muscle mass than men do while dieting unless you strength train to preserve muscle mass, and any weight you can lift more than 8-12 times in a row is simply too light to stimulate your body into retaining muscle. The people writing workout advice at Cosmo and Shape/Self/Fitness know this but they prefer perpetuating the myth of the Pink Dumbbell Workout for whatever reason, probably economical. But if you want to look like Gisele, you have to work out like Gisele actually does - Her publicist talks of yoga, but Joe Dowdell who trains her and her colleagues at Peak Fitness Gym in New York trains her and the others using squats, deadlifts, bench presses, power cleans and other strength training.

 Do that and the inches will come right off - and no, lifting heavy and embracing your own potential for strength will not make you bulky - at least, Suzanna doesn't look bulky to me.

 You have the potential for similar power, if you'll only embrace it.

 Of course, not to put too fine a point on it, exercise without dietary intervention = poor to embarrasing results.

So here's how it works:
The top number of the Burn Meter is the total estimated calories you will burn the entire day. This number is based of the activity level that you chose in your Account Settings.

The bottom number displays how many calories you have burned up to that point. The time will be displayed right below the meters. This number will increase as you add activities to your Activity Log.


 Your goal is to have the burn meter show 500-1000 calories more than the eat meter at the end of the day - Have your (burn-eat=) net calories be negative and you will have a calorie deficit, have 500 calories deficit a day and you wil have 3500 calories deficit for the week. Have 3500 calories deficit and you will lose a pound.

 There is a limit to how much fat your body can mobilise for energy in a day, and exceeding that will burn muscle instead of fat, so more of a deficit than your body can sustain is actively harmful to you. Plan on at most losing 0.5-1% of your body weight a week and you will not exceed your body's capacity - it's why crash diets are terrible, they cost you precious fat-burning muscle mass.

 And on a personal note, I wish people would come into the Fitness forum and ask their Fitness and workout questions - gives me a better chance of seeing them ;)

HEALTHMD, I'm telling you. I walk down the long hallway at my job 6 to 7 times daily, for the rest of my 8 hour day I'm behind a computer!!!! So I don't get that burn meter, not to mention when I rolled out the bed to add my breakfast to the food log before I went to the gym this morning I had already burned 600 calories, I'm like I must have had some pretty vivid dreams last night. I do the classes. So heres a classic example, my step class is 45 minutes of cardio, and then the circuit traing cardio sculpt class involves using light weights, HUNDREDS of reps (thats what it feels like anyway) and more cardio, then 25 minutes on the tread mill. Funny thing, I was on my way to the eliptical machine this morning after my kick boxing class, and the instructor forced me back onto the floor for the next class which was a toning class. She screamed " you just did 45 minutes of cardio you need to do some weight training. AT 36, my energy is shot, but the depression involved with all this weight train keeps me jumping at classes trying to get it off. I have bruises on my stomache from trying to shove the three layer cake top formerly known as muffin top into spanx and slacks, something has to give. I weigh tomorrow morning. I'm hoping something came off. two pounds on vacation is nothing!!! You shoul dapplaud yourself for that can I tell you that on my anual all inclusive carribean vacations with my 11 year daughter I can tripple my daily calorie allowance at one meal with a couple of drinks (sounds pathetic doesn't it) but it is what it is. I do love my thy curves and thy self, just wish I had a little less curves to love.

 

MELKOR-- So the oracle has spoken huh. Thanks for the clairification. I do light strength training, very light. I hear what you're saying but would HATE to pile fat on top of muscle. I know, it's impossible right, but I don't lift over 5 to 8 pounds with my free weights. Did I just make you cringe, LOL. I'm going to send you a personal note, oh fitness nobel one, because thanks to you I almost understand the calorie burn meter thing.

Everyone has to start somewhere, Suzanna didn't start with 245lbs either ;)

 It's only and ever a question of what's an appropriate challenge to you, not to anyone else - it's all about what you can do, and working to improve on it.

 It's also a question of what you want to do, of course - on a basic level you should do a bit of everything, cardio, strength and flexibility training, just to have a foundation to work from. It's when you get into sports-specific goals that training starts to look different - there is a difference between the workouts that are appropriate for someone who wants to do a triathlon and someone who wants to win their local MMA tournament.

You guys crack me UP.  Itsmeisha, I couldn't stop laughing at your reply.  When I first weighed on WiiFit, I was horrified to find that my cute little skinny Mii was suddenly rotund and looking unpleasantly surprised to find that she was overweight.  If WiiFit's saddening imagery isn't enough to motivate you, how 'bout that "dun dun dunnnn...." music?  It's half the reason I started working so hard to lose weight!  I was determined to show that damned program that I was going to be NORMAL.

As for melkor, thanks for the tips!  I knew both were essential, but I've been placing way too much stock in the power of cardio.  (P.S., is hiking considered cardio?  We have mountains on campus.)  I'll start working more towards a balance of cardio and strength and yoga, even if it does mean I end up collecting like an hour of fit credits a day (that takes way more than an hour.)

Kizzichan That's funny, I though I was the only one who noticed the sad music. I work on my Wii when I don't make it to the gym. What day do you weigh yourself, I will check in for moral support wii need it. LOL I crack myself up, Kizzichan.

Melkor- I try to switch up my workout every 6 weeks so I think I might try some basic weight training with in the next two weeks. Thanks so much for your tips.

Healthmd, Kizzichan, threeofme and Melkor drum roll please . . . . I'm down 2.4 this morning. Yeah, it's not much but its something. The down side is I thought I was 203 the last time I weiged in, the Wii tells no lies. I was 205 so now I am donw to 202. Finally some results. Little is better than none. My darn co-worker lost 5 lbs this week on Weight Watchers she in here trying to out shine my 2.4 NEVER. Lets see if I can knock that same amount off next week.

Yes!!!!!! Congratulations Meisha, it's 2.4 lb, that's wonderful! Nobody can outshine you, success is success. Besides it is healthier to lose about 1% of your weight per week, like melkor said. And you are more likely to keep this weight off. Fantastic news, keep the good work!

way to go meisha!! 2.4 is awesome! I have been up and down the same 4 lbs since 8/11 but I made it back to that lowest number from 8/11 this morning. I hope it goes down this week!! but i'm not stopping the exercise, even though i'm frustrated. all the info on this thread has been super eyeopening for me. my weight loss so far has really just been diet. i've been gradually increasing my activity and exercise...cuz i was really really out of shape and not able to do much....but how frustrating to start working out and gain weight!!! Not fair!!! and then be hungrier because i've burned more calories....dang it. it seemed easier to diet but lay around. at least i saw results. but to continue with that i would be flabby and unfit. i don't want to just lose weight, i want to be fit!

here's my mantra...muscle weighs more than fat, muscle weighs more than fat, muscle weighs more than fat.

congrats on the loss! here's to everyone losing some in Sept!! cheers! :)

I'll drink to that Ben-- a little spirits doesn't hurt anyone. NOw my delima is working out too much. Like you said the info in some of these threads are amazing. Talking about starting to work out and gianing weight-- that's really not fair and I feel your pain, Ben. I burned 3800 calories today ( worked out like a crackhead chasing a vial today doing three high impact aerobics classes) and only intook 1850 calories as the website suggested. I'm finding out that I might gain because I'm not taking in enough calories. Well shoot me dead why don't you. Well I guess we can always run to applebees and have a helping of buffalo wings and bluechese to go with our chairs.  I'm glad you've made it back down to your lowest wait. Well get rid of this flab, you weight and see (LOL)

And the whole not eating enough thing makes me nervous. I'm usually right at my goal intake if not a bit more. I keep my burn meter set on sedentary and enter my activites manually, so I'm hoping that i'm burning more that I think. But I don't want to screw myself and go into starvation mode. But.....I've never been "that" low on my intake. ha!

weight and see! funny. gotta luv puns!

I'm with ya on not eating too much. Like seirously, 1850 calories is a bit much, but I'm trying to step it up a notch. Hopefully we keep losing. How often do you weigh, BenPen

Screw the morning comics...i just come to read itsmeisha's posts!!!

Seriously....keep at it and the results will come and come and come........

~H~

LMAO, Haley darling, the jokes keep me going. Because if I don't laugh, the emotions will come out some how, and I don't want to be depressed, because that's just depressing. YOU ARE MY NEW INSPIRATION, freak BEYONCE-- your stats are terrific. Great job, how did you do it, tell me your secrets ole slim one. Seriously, congrats, Haley. Where did you get the weigh los ticker thign from, I'm adding you to my friend's list sista. Please school me, give me tips-- I seek knowledge

meisha to answer your question about how often i weigh, well that's probably an issue too. i weigh every morning. i usually torture myself and weigh at night too. it's interesting to see how much it can fluctuate and i'm facinated with weighing before and after i use the bathroom, which is totally gross. it's science!! my friends get after me for weighing myself so much, but i can't stop!! it can be discouraging but i'm too chicken to just weigh once a week. i feel like i need to keep on top of it.

Benpen I thought I was crazy. Are you nutz???? That must be interesting calculating your yo-yo weight changes with in a day.Talk about sadistic toture. I would be suicidal!!!! Any who Ben, I'm interested to know (because I'm just as nutz as you) is there a great deal of weight gain/loss after you ... you know When I use my wii for excersice it forces me to weigh, that's why I only work out on it twice a week. I admire you, bor. I couldn't weigh everyday.

You and me both benpen. I also weigh myself every morning, sometimes at night or after shower, after I go to the bathroom too! LOL. Naked of course, even the hairband goes, everything afects the weight. If my hair is wet, it is a no no, water is too heavy. Yeah, I am out of hand, but I can't help myself! As for your question Meisha, not want to gross out, but if it is a lot, let's say as much as a full glass (just estimative!), I do see a difference of about 1/4 lb on the scale! Well my scale is in kg, so it is about 0.2g. Laugh, but this little difference makes me feel better. Yeah, it's official I'm nuts.

Health, I freakin' knew it!!!!! I knew I liked you from the start sista. Only a crazy person woudl do such. Where do you live that your scale weighs in Kg? I can't do it, but I am going to start weighing twice a week.