So today marks 4 weeks since I began my plan of healthy eating and exercise. I have lost 6 pounds so far...not the results I was hoping for, but still not so shabby. My frustration is this...in the past 10 days, the scale has moved LESS THAN A POUND! WHY??? Don't get me wrong, I'm glad that I haven't gained, but less than a pound in a over a week...c'mon! I'm sure I'm over-reacting here, (and please feel free to tell me so), but I'm getting tired of not seeing any progress, especially after only 4 weeks. I'm working out 6 days a week (strength training, C25k, and other cardio) and eating whole grains, fruits, veggies, and protein. I'm eating between 1100 and 1300 calories a day. I realize that 1100 is a little low, but my goal is 1200 so I feel like the days I eat 1300 make up for the days I eat 1100. Is that wrong? Is it possible I should be eating more calories??? Please offer any advice/encouragement/knock on the head you see fit, haha.

Hummm....BRITANNY ~ Looks like you have everything pretty well covered and off to a great start ~ looks like the only thing left would be to join my Pity Party thread

Maybe the reason why you haven't seen a bigger result this week than in previous ones could be that in your previous weeks you tend to lose more when you start a diet. You sound like you're working VERY hard for the amount of calories you're consuming. There is a posibility you aren't eating enough to cover the amount of energy you're using whilst exercising, so your body may be storing excess fat because it's worried you're 'starving' your body. I'm not a nutrition expert, but that's what it sounds like

How much do you expect to be losing? You sound right on target to me. Maybe you just need to work on lowering your expectations. You've been consistently losing 1.5 lb a week - that's excellent! And you've just hit a little blip where it's slowed down a tad. Weight loss seems to happen unevenly - you can't expect it to be x amount a week every week. I've found that I might plateau for a week or two, then drop a pound or 2 pound in one day! It's very strange. Just have faith that you're doing all the right things and if you stick with it, your body will show the results.

6 lbs really sounds about right... my weight loss recently has gone like this:

Date Weight Change
05/12/07 207.5
05/19/07 203 -4.5
05/26/07 199.5 -3.5
06/02/07 198.5 -1
06/09/07 197 -1.5
06/16/07 196.5 -0.5
06/23/07 194 -2.5
06/30/07 192 -2
07/07/07 192 0
07/14/07 189.5 -2.5
07/21/07 189.5 0
07/28/07 187.5 -2
08/04/07 185 -2.5

TxBrittany, you're probably overreacting!

Weight loss is not a straight line. I sometimes went for two or three weeks with zero loss, and even some gain. Then, all at once it seems, I would drop 4 pounds in a week. The main thing is, don't give up. Stay with your program.

If you wanted to go up in your calories, that probably would not hurt, if you are feeling hungry or deprived. And don't go below 1200 for any long period, like days on end. That's counter-productive. You have to have enough nutrients to build muscle, as well as be burning fat calories. I'd say stay at 1300-1400 average rather than 1200. You could be trying to get by on too little.

Cheer up! Lighten up! You're doing well!

Jay

I know it can be frustrating. Seemed like when I went from working out 2 or 3 times a week to 4, 5 or 6 days a week, i didn't lose a single pound for almost 3 weeks. That was soooooo Frustrating!!!! But finally I seem to be on a downward slope again. All I can say is patience. It will come to those who stay dedicated and patient. Sounds like you are doing everything right. I also try to stick to a 1200 calorie diet. some days less, other days more, but 1200 as a weekly average. Just hang in there. The pounds will drop.

Excellent advice and words of wisdom from everyone. I find that I lose about 1-1.5 pounds a week and I work so hard too! You can go several weeks w/o a loss but then drop a few...finally. I have learned to *accept* the fact that the weight loss is painfully slow and focus on how toned I'm getting and how my clothes are fitting more than the number on the scale. Once you do that, you are free!! Believe me, I don't care anymore about that stupid scale like I used to. I've been on those plateaus too many times and know better now.

Don't be discouraged. It's a long journey but so worth it if you stay consistent and accepting of what the scale says. It drops in due time. Chin up! You're doing great!

There are so many things that affect the scale, which is why it doesn't go down in a straight line. Maybe you've lost a little bit of fat, but are retaining a little water and have added a little bit of muscle. So, your body comp is changing, but your weight stays the same. And will that scale tell you all that? No ma'am it will not! The scale is a of a thing and you have to be kind of zen about paying attention to it.

The best way to beat the scale is PATIENCE. Keep doing what you are doing and it will move in the right direction.

Thanks guys! I know I'm overreacting! I'm just gonna stick with my current plan for right now and wait things out. I'm visiting my parents for a 4 day weekend, so I'm going to up my calories (just to 1300) for the weekend and see what happens.