Question: How long without weight loss before you freak out?

[AllesonWonderland]

Hi everyone, new to this area of the DIS. I started diet/exercising last month. Did really well the first 2 weeks (lost almost 6 pounds), last week lost less than half a pound and this week nada. *sigh* It's frustrating because I am at the gym every day. Anyone go through this? Is it just a plateau and I need to be more patient? Am I not eating enough? Any thoughts/suggestions are more than welcome. TIA!!

 

[DonaldDuckFamily]

I am right there with ya. I lost 4.5 the first week and then 1, then .5 and then 1. I work out everyday about 60-90 minutes and keep a food journal (less than 1500 calories per day). I hope my body is just "adjusting". This week I am really bearing down and doing 2 hours of cardio 3 times this week. I need to break this slump if I am going to make my goal by March 27.

 

[3DisneyKids]

If you are working out every day and you were not doing so previously, then stop using just the scale as your measuring tool. Take your measurements. You may well be building lean muscle. Thus, your body will change, you will lose inches and slim down...but you won't see it on the scale.

Alternatively, your body could just be in shock. You've thrown it a heckuva a curve here and it needs to figure out that it can let go of the weight.

 

[NeverlandClub23]

How/what are you eating? Low fat, low calorie, low carb, no carb? Also, what are you doing when you go to the gym? My mom started going to the gym with me and was walking for an hour at 3-3.5mph. She lost some weight within the first couple of weeks but none after that. I finally convinced her to increase her intensity/incline and the weight started coming off again. Try doing different exercises at the gym, your body gets used to doing the same exercises. Don't give up!

 

[AllesonWonderland]

Thanks for the replies so far!

DonaldDuckFamily--you and I can be grumpy together! LOL

3DisneyKids--I did do measurements and the first week of minimal loss I still lost inches, so you're right. I haven't worked out for a long time so there probably is some fat conversion going on. I still have to use my scale though, because I started a Biggest Loser Family challenge with 10 people in my family. Collectively we're doing great--over 90 pounds lost the first 3 weeks! I'm just impatient now.

NeverlandClub23--I'm trying to stick to 1200 calories a day. I'm doing the food log on Prevention.com which has been really helpful. The plan I was trying to do suggests 40% carbs, 30% protein and 30% fat. Well, I'm struggling there...just looking back over my logs, I'm probably closer to 47% carbs, and 27% protein and fat...could be an issue, eh? At the gym I do the rpm class (spin/mountain biking) 3+ days a week and body pump (barbell/weight training) 3 days a week. Then I also meet DH over the lunch hour for more cardio...usually interval training on the elliptical. Just for fun (LOL) on Sunday I used a heart rate monitor to see how I was doing. Did the rpm and body pump classes back to back and in the 2 hours I was there I burned 1400 calories!! That adds to my disappointment about no weight loss this week...if I figure I burn 700 calories a class, 5 days a week would be a pound right there. (And I'm doing more than 5 classes a week, plus lunchtimes, plus only 1200 calories.) Again with the impatience!

Thanks again, keep the questions/info/suggestions coming!!