Getting angry now! what am I doing wrong?

B

batterypants

New member
Sorry for the long post, i thought i'd include all pertinent info i could think of-
I've really been working hard for the past 4 or 5 weeks consistently at the gym, more so than I had been for several months (go through cycles of going, and not going) as well as restricting what I let myself eat. I HAVE (on some days) noticed a loss of around 4 or 5 pounds.
i'm 5'5, with a starting weight of 170 pounds.
when i go to the gym ( 3 or 4 times a week ) i do an hour of intense cardio (push myself to MY limit, i couldn't do more than 30 mins when i started 4 weeks ago) and according to the machine i burn around 900 calories, and if i'm not feeling completely dead afterward i move on to the weights and do another 15 minutes of my hardest effort, mostly focusing on the arms, 3/4 arms 1/4 legs (been slowly creeping up the time) i also work out on an exercise ball to concentrate on my abs about twice a week, doing around 50-75 situps each time
I always take omega 3 an hour or less after i visit the gym and i get enough sleep, i eat breakfast EVERY day and eat lunch at the same time during the week and always have tons of fruit and veg, i allow myself to occasionally cheat because i was totally addicted to food before i started and would binge a lot (AND I ALWAYS STAYED AT 170lbs WTF) but i eat a lot less of what i want and i say no to myself a lot more than i used to be able to..
i drink a lot of water, (2L on some days) and am already pretty muscular (especially in the legs) most people underestimate my weight.
and have struggled with weight my ENTIRE life.
I do feel more 'fit' and healthy, but my weight often bounces back to the starting, and even HEAVIER to 170-175 (i weigh myself after my morning pee)
i know weight loss is a long process and i don't expect to reach my goal (150) for another few months, but WHY does my weight keep bouncing back?!?!!? this is driving me nuts!! if i keep working the way i am now will i see any results at all? i've also been keeping a food journal for the past month (started about a week and a half after i started this program) but have slacked off on it because i've been so discouraged

i am starting to get really pissed at my body because i am working so hard and am trying to do well for myself and am so inspired by others on here but i am feeling like a failure.. any opinions/advice?
 
I read your post twice to make sure I wasn't miss reading anything. I need more info about what exactly you are eating and how much. Too much fruit could be counterproductive but I would need to know how much you are really eating and when. Also, the cheat meal you are allowing yourself could be hurting you depending on just how bad of a meal it is. If you were patient enough to try it, I would suggest you try eating smaller meals more often. Portion control is very important. I think your excercise is probably not the problem but you might even want to try changing that a little bit too. Are you working out on an empty stomach or right after a meal? Eating late, like after 7pm, is not very good for weight loss either. I don't know if you are doing that but it sounds like you might have several negative contributors that are halting your progress.
 
Try switching up your exercise routine. 15 minutes of weights, whatever you're doing, isn't going to be very productive. It doesn't hurt, but it's not helping much either. It's great that you burn 900 calories in an hour on a machine, as that's a 4th of a pound, but weight lifting should be done for about an hour also.

So, one day do the machine and burn those calories. The next day, go lift for an hour. The muscle groups that build the most muscle quickly are the chest, upper back, and legs.

Also note, that although lifting weights doesn't burn as many calories while you're doing it, your body burns calories for up to 24 hours after you've gone to the gym. Alternate exercises for a couple weeks and tell us how that treats you.
 
I do feel more 'fit' and healthy,
Click to expand...
That's a good thing...

I'd also strongly suggest not weighing yourself daily - it doesnt seem to help you any... so stop. Put the scale away for a month and concentrate on consistent behavior

What your number is of actual weight is completely irrelavant - WHO Cares what you weight - there are people who weigh 135 and look like they weight a lot more than that - and people who weigh 190 who look like they weight less.. What does a specific weight look like - obsessing overa number will make you insane...

Go back to how you're feeling - fit and healthy -and work on feeling fitter and healthier.. and forget the number on the scale
 
yeah you guys make some good points.. i will try changing it up a bit, and do more weights.. and i SHOULD put the scale away lol it's evil.. and i know it won't happen overnight... i guess i'm just in it for the long haul hahaha
 
Hi there, just another WLF member who stumbled across you entry - I've had a bit of an absence from WLF too... how's it going with you?
 
Don't cheat

Keep a food diary and right down everything and be honest about portion size. Since I started counting calories I've been shocked at the calories in some food I thought was healthy.

The suggestion to alternate weights with cardio is a good one. If you're going nowhere with this program change but don't quit.

The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result.
 
I suggest measuring your food and calorie counting. Lossing weight is a matter of calories in vs calories out. For example, let's pretend it takes 3000 calories to stay at my current weight. I could eat 2000 calories of nothing but candy and still lose weight. I won't be healthy! But I'd lose. On the flip side, I could eat 4000 calories of veggies and still gain weight.

Healthy food is important to being healthy (and often tends to be less calorie dense). But calories count when it comes to weight loss. And, like someone else said, sometimes those foods that are supposed to be good for you really aren't.
 
me

I know exactly what you're going through. I was there once. You need to reduce your exercise to 30 minutes of cardio per day, eat at least 4 small meals a day, less carbs. One very important thing is that if you have a lot of stress in your life that really prohibits you from losing. Just reduce the exercise, walk for relaxation and you will lose. Trust me i was there!
 
YOU ARE DOING EVERYTHING RIGHT
INSTEAD OF WEIGHT WATCHING - START TAKING MEASUREMENTS TOO!

I suggest the following:

1. Yeh, go ahead and check in on your portion control, just in case. Extra mayo etc. could also really be playing a big factor.
2. Muscle weighs more than fat - you may just being super awesome! Again, measurements!
3. I weigh myself daily. It's ok, just do it at the same time each day (ideally, nude before you eat or drink anything, like early am. I've found it stays pretty much the same and I can track it well.) Overall - look for trends - one day your 170, the next 174, the next 172, the next 168... so you're probably around 168 you know? Or whatever. Just look for the major trends. THE POUNDS WILL GO DOWN if you keep doing what you're doing. I just know it!
4. I've been vegan for ten years - it's a really healthy option if you do it right - just make sure you do - and it might jumpstart your weightloss. I can help you with nutritional tips if you need them.
5. You've been working so damn hard - how do you feel? Do you feel stronger, healthier? Don't write that off!

Above all - you sound like your ROCKING and I would say continue on - do not get discourged! It took me three months to even see results! And once I did and people started to say "you are wasting away" I had only lost a measly few pounds! Keep it up :)
 
ps. Another way to lose weight is to calculate your healthy caloric intake for the weight you want to be and NEVER deviate from it. Always stay at it or below. No matter what you do, over time, you will and absolutely will, lose the weight and be the weight you want to. For you, doing NO exercise per week you shouldn't really go over: 1500 calories. Adding exercise will of course help out and it's way good for you. So keep it up! But I think this might be a smart way to go about it.

Also - if over the course of a few months of documenting your efforts etc. and you're still not seeing weight loss, it can't hurt to see a doctor. Thyroid etc. can play a part. But I'm sure you're find :) So keep it up!
 
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