I want to start off by saying I am a brand new member to this forum (well not REALLY brand new...Ive kinda been spying on you ladies, but just now decided to join in! lol)

I need help/opinions please!

OK so here is the deal.
5 weeks ago I started working out with a friend at a fitness bootcamp. Ive NEVER worked out in my life. So this is pretty intense, but I have learned to enjoy it as the weeks pass! I have a trainer who put me on a diet of 1200 calories a day, also I drink 1 gallon of water a day as well!

Well...

Week 1: The first day I started I weighed 232. At the end of the week I was down to 225!

Week 2: Started at 225 got to 222.

Week 3: 222 and thats it.

Week 4: 218

Week 5: 218

Im in week 6 and im 220! WTH?!

So I told my trainer last week I was having issues and he told me to step it up in the workouts. When that didnt work....He put me on Carb Cycling. For those of you that dont know what that is, its where you count your macro nutrients like fat, carb, proteins based on weight and do not worry about calories consumed. So I carb cycled the 2nd half of last week got down to 216 which i was happy because I figured it was working. Well on carb cycling you have a high carb day, and when I took mine...I got BACK up to 218 and then today I was freaking 220!?! This is so terribly frustrating especially since I have been sticking to everything to a T and its not working! I need to try and figure something out because everytime i get on that scale now I worry that im going to end up getting discouraged. I also figured it might be to early to be plateau-ing because ive only been in this for 5 weeks?

Ugh any one have any suggestions!?

I know that for me, when I change my exercise program (not even neccicarily adding more- just a change) my weight will shoot UP for a few weeks- then I get used to it and get a big whoosh. That's when I know it's time to change my routine so that I keep getting stronger/more fit. If you're sticking to 1200 calories a day and working out hard- you'll eventually see a loss if you keep it up long enough. However- I'm sure you'd like to speed the process along. Have you seen a doctor about a possible medical condition like a thyroid problem? Also- sometimes eating a little more REALLY can help. I was stuck for 10 weeks- eating 1200/day and exercising like mad. Went on vacation- ate more like 1500/day and exercised a little less, I came home 4 lbs lighter!

Also, are you eating the right kinds of calories? (fruit vs candy) that can make a big difference for some people.

Don't get too discouraged! Weight loss is a learning experience for everyone and what works for may not for you! Good luck!

You've come to the right place. Welcome.

Nothing against your personal trainer but he hardly sounds like an expert.

I know you're concerned about the scale but it doesn't matter at all. Really, it doesn't. Take pictures and measurements - those are what matter.

You don't need to worry about calorie, carb, or macronutrient cycling right now. Maybe some day those will matter but what matters now is finding a plan that you can live with for a long long time.

If you're counting calories and that is working for you as something you can live with or possibly even enjoy than stick with it. Are you eyeballing things? Measuring things? Weighing things? It's easy to mis-calculate.

To answer your question - unless you're seriously under reporting the calories you're consuming the weight is simply water flux. That's it.

One suggestion I have is to always look at the bigger picture. I happen to gain or stall during certain weeks in my female cycle. That could be part of it. But look at the big picture: 14 pounds in 5 weeks! That is awesome! Now focus on how much you will lose in the next month, rather than week! You can do it!

So in a nutshell, you have been at it 6 weeks and show a total loss of 12 lbs. Or -2 lbs a week. Where is the problem?

Weight loss hardly ever seems to come at a nice, neat -2 lbs a week. It tends to go in "blobs" -- big blob... pause.... blob again.... pause.

You have to also consider things that will show a gain on the scale that have nothing to do with fat tissue -- sodium in the diet causing water retention. Your hormone shifts causing bloat around period time.

And that gallon of water you drink daily? Ever weight THAT? Because inside your body it will weight just as much but that doesn't meant you GAINED fat tissue. When you pee it all out it doesn't mean you LOST fat tissue.

I think you are doing fine -- just need to roll with it a bit and not get caught up in normal flux.

Hang in there. Just keep up the good work!

A.

Welcome to the forum. I'm pretty new myself. I had my first plateau after I lost only 12 pounds in the first 3 weeks......mostly water weight. They came off quickly, then I was stuck and only lost 2 or 3 pounds in 6 weeks! Then I lost 9 in less than 3 weeks. So that's 24 pounds in about 12 weeks in spite of a 6 week plataeu. So be persistant and hang in there. Make sure you're eating a healthy diet and I think you will see a drop soon.

Stay on plan stay on plan stay on plan despite what the scale says

I wouldn't even say this is a plateau for you. This same thing happens to me often and I have consistently lost 10 lbs a month. but, like others say, look at the big picture. and in the end I always lose. Do you weigh yourself once a week? If so, you may catch yourself on one of the 'up' days. cuz I always flucuate so much during the week, but it does go down. It sounds like you are doing really really awesome and I don't believe you have anything to worry about. Could be the extra water weight from working out so much, I think someone mentioned that here. Just stay on track and you'll continue to see results. You'll be just fine

Carb cycling is NOT for people who are slaves to the scale. Carb cycling WORKS (because it helps slow down any metabolic adaptation) but it still comes down to calories. If youre in a caloric deficit, you will lose. If you arent,you will maintain or gain.

Did your trainer explain anything about carb cycling to you?


The reason you"lost" on low carb days is because it depleted your glycogen stores... glycogen is "carbs" in your body. It gets stored in your muscles, liver, skin, etc, to be used as "quick" fuel/energy.

The reason we call them "carboHYDRATES" is becasue along with every gram of glycogen (carbs) your body stores, it ALSO stores 3 grams of water with it!

When you low carb, you lose the glycogen, AND the 300% water...... make sense? Hense, a very dramatic and qucik scale drop (WATER WEIGHT/a LITTLE fat).
Guess what happens when you have a HIGH carb day?
You got it? YOur body/muscles/liver/skin FILL BACK UP with glycogen AND OF COURSE the 3 grams of water that go with it, HENCE a large increaseon the scale.

Thats is why i prefaced by saying if you are a scale whore then its just going to mess with your head and discourage you.

For me, whenever I have a bigger loss, the scale always slows down for the next week, 2 weeks, sometimes even 3 weeks. Whenever I see a loss more than 3lbs or so, I know I'm going to see smaller numbers (if any) for at least the next week. Maybe your body does something similar? You're doing awesome though, keep going!!

I am pretty new to this also(been doing it about the same amount of time as you)...but, I have to ask...did your trainer take measurements? Or do a body fat count? When I didn't lose and gained 6lbs one week and knew it wasn't possible my trainer did my body fat and it was down 5% from the beginning. That right there told me I hadn't gained anything. If you know you are not eating enough to put more on then it will come off....ya just gotta give it time. After I lost that 6pounds later that week plus one...I then plateaued(actually went up 2) over a week and a half...then I went down another 6 in a couple days. I am now up 2 so hoping for another big drop. Gotta love the scale!

I, like you, am an over-analyzer. But, like the other ladies have said, it's the big picture. If, for sure, you are eating in a way condusive to weight loss (calorie deficit), you will lose. You are doing great, keep it up!