Can't drop it!

Matthew Collin said:

I'm a 35yr old male. I'm 5ft.9,inches and weight 13st 7. My waste size is about 38 and chest 46.
I've recently been working out everyday approx for and hour at a time in the gym. Ten minutes
running and 15 minutes swimming. I've watched what I've eaten for the past week and a half and not
had any empty calories (i.e alcohol etc).( no more than 2000 cals per day and not more than 25
grams of fat per day) I've only lost one pound in weight!! Can anybody explain this to me? Its
very disheartening.

You could be turning it into muscle, which weighs more than fat. Forget the scales for a week and
check your measurements instead - if your chest stays the same and your waist loses an inch, the
weight will soon catch up (or down!).

Don't restrict your calories too much, or your body will go into conservation mode! And drink plenty
of water - at least 4 pints a day, in addition to any tea, coffee, coke, or whatever you drink
normally. You can flavour the water with squash, but don't forget to count the points/calories in
your daily total.
--

Lady Catherine, Wardrobe Mistress of the Chocolate Buttons diceyhome.free-online.co.ukdiceyhome.free-online.co.ukOpen ↗
Click on Kate's Pages and explore!

Matthew Collin said:

I'm a 35yr old male. I'm 5ft.9,inches and weight 13st 7. My waste size is about 38 and chest 46.
I've recently been working out everyday approx for and hour at a time in the gym. Ten minutes
running and 15 minutes swimming. I've watched what I've eaten for the past week and a half and not
had any empty calories (i.e alcohol etc).( no more than 2000 cals per day and not more than 25
grams of fat per day) I've only lost one pound in weight!! Can anybody explain this to me? Its very
disheartening.

You aren't drastically overweight , are you targetting somewhere around 12stone?

Counting calories isn't very easy. There is a website that will help - www.fitday.com. The free
account there helps you count calories, keep an eye on the composition of your food and keep track
of your weight.

Your resting BMR is around 1900 calories. exrx.netCalRequire.htmlOpen ↗ This goes
to 2500 assuming you have a fairly sedentary job., so limiting your food to 2000 calories would
yield about 1lb a week loss which is about right. If you have recently started exercising, your
muscles will have taken on some water to help recovery. This probably accounts for the extra weight
you might otherwise have expected to lose at the start of a 'diet'.

You are doing fine. Keep up the exercise and carry on eating right and you'll lose weight slowly.
1lb a week is exactly right. If you carry on as you are you'll be on target before the summer 🙂
Have you thought about doing weight training at the gym? It's very good to do whilst losing weight
as it tends to conserve muscle, and so facilitate fat loss.

Good luck

Ray

--
rmnsuk overall - 273/205/182

You are most likely turning fat into muscle. Muscle weighs more than fat. So, just because the scale
says 1 pound does not mean you are not doing well. I wish I had the motivation to workout as often
as you do.

Keep it up..

Charlie

"Matthew Collin" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I'm a 35yr old male. I'm 5ft.9,inches and weight 13st 7. My waste size is about 38 and chest 46.
I've recently been working out everyday approx for and hour at a time in the gym. Ten minutes
running and 15 minutes

swimming.

Quoted message said:

I've watched what I've eaten for the past week and a half and not had any empty calories (i.e
alcohol etc).( no more than 2000 cals per day and not more than 25 grams of fat per day) I've only
lost one pound in weight!!

Can

Quoted message said:

anybody explain this to me? Its very disheartening.

Sorry, I have to pitch my 2p in here and I sincerely hope that no one takes offence...

Muscle doesn't weigh more than fat - I see this statement a lot and it's a bit misleading. A pound
of fat weighs the same as a pound of muscle. Muscle is *denser* than fat (i.e. takes up less room in
the body - think of it like a pound of feathers vs. a pound of butter), so I think what people are
trying to say is that although the weight may not be coming off, your measurements may have changed.

Just a few quick tips: -make sure you're eating enough. Max. 2000 a day is probably fine but don't
go much below that on a regular basis. If you don't eat, you don't lose weight (believe it or not).
-try incorporating weights into your exercise routine. Lifting really helps build those muscles,
which in turn burns off a lot more calories. -take your measurements and take them again in a month.
Also, try to get your body fat measured (see if your gym has this facility). This is a much more
accurate way to measure your progress. -if you're just starting out, be patient. 🙂 Average out your
losses/gains over a longer period of time (e.g. a month) and see how you're doing. Some weeks are
better than others, but it's the total number that matters. -try doing 20-30 minutes of more intense
cardio (i.e. you have to huff and puff your way through it) 3 times a week. Sometimes lots of
sessions of "lighter" cardio (I assume there's a bit of a break between the running and swimming)
doesn't work as well for some people.

Don't give up! All the best to you and congrats on sticking to an exercise routine so diligently!
That's no small feat.

Cheers, Petal

"Matthew Collin" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I'm a 35yr old male. I'm 5ft.9,inches and weight 13st 7. My waste size is about 38 and chest 46.
I've recently been working out everyday approx for and hour at a time in the gym. Ten minutes
running and 15 minutes

swimming.

Quoted message said:

I've watched what I've eaten for the past week and a half and not had any empty calories (i.e
alcohol etc).( no more than 2000 cals per day and not more than 25 grams of fat per day) I've only
lost one pound in weight!!

Can

Quoted message said:

anybody explain this to me? Its very disheartening.

Quoted message said:

-make sure you're eating enough. Max. 2000 a day is probably fine but don't go much below that on a
regular basis. If you don't eat, you don't lose weight (believe it or not).

BMR for a guy this size and weight is 1900. He's already relying on exercise to bring him into
calorie deficit. Going down a bit further would probably speed up weight loss a bit, especially if
he doesn't keep up the cardio. IMO he should suck it and see. If after a month he's still losing
1lb/wk then thats good, but if the weight loss tails off he should try lowering calories slightly.
I'm slightly heavier (205) and slightly taller (6'2"😉 and I target 2000 calories to lose about 1lb a
week with a fair amount of cardio and lifting. I think the OP might find lowering another 300
calories a day achieves a slightly better weight loss over time.

I agree though that there is an optimum range and if you go over or under weight loss will be
adversely affected

Quoted message said:

-take your measurements and take them again in a month. Also, try to get your body fat measured
(see if your gym has this facility). This is a much more accurate way to measure your progress.

This is a really good idea. Especially if you want to lose fat and gain muscle. as opposed to merely
losing weight.

Ray
--
rmnsuk overall - 273/205/182

Thank you for saying this petal! I have tried in the past to say the same thing .. muscle does NOT
weigh more than fat .. but have never been able to say it as eloquently as you. It is one of the
biggest misconceptions I seem to hear in weightloss issues though, even hear it from the drs. on
occassion. I am a firm believer ... a pound is a pound is a pound ... regardless as to what that
pound is. It is better to have that pound of muscle though, as it will burn continue to burn off
more calories. I have noticed that since starting on the treadmill early in the fall, my weight has
stayed pretty much the same - flucuating up and down a bit, but the body has definitely changed
(hence the falling down sweatpants ... and new jeans that are now sliding down the hips).

I have been watching the silly monitor on my new treadmill ... just for grins (we all no how
unreliable those electronic lcd monitor things are). It gives readings for calories burnt and fat
calories burnt. It is rather disheartening to see that you may have walked off 300 calories during
your workout, but only 95 of those were fat calories. Dang, those things are hard to get rid of yet
so easy to accumulate! <G>

Joyce

Petal' mrsdoyles_teapot@#NoSpam#yahoo.co.uk said:

Sorry, I have to pitch my 2p in here and I sincerely hope that no one takes offence...

Muscle doesn't weigh more than fat - I see this statement a lot and it's a bit misleading. A
pound of fat weighs the same as a pound of muscle. Muscle is *denser* than fat (i.e. takes up
less room in the body - think of it like a pound of feathers vs. a pound of butter), so I think
what people are trying to say is that although the weight may not be coming off, your
measurements may have changed.

Just a few quick tips: -make sure you're eating enough. Max. 2000 a day is probably fine but don't
go much below that on a regular basis. If you don't eat, you don't lose weight (believe it or not).
-try incorporating weights into your exercise routine. Lifting really helps build those muscles,
which in turn burns off a lot more calories. -take your measurements and take them again in a
month. Also, try to get your body fat measured (see if your gym has this facility). This is a much
more accurate way to measure your progress. -if you're just starting out, be patient. 🙂 Average
out your losses/gains over a longer period of time (e.g. a month) and see how you're doing. Some
weeks are better than others, but it's the total number that matters. -try doing 20-30 minutes of
more intense cardio (i.e. you have to huff and puff your way through it) 3 times a week. Sometimes
lots of sessions of "lighter" cardio (I assume there's a bit of a break between the running and
swimming) doesn't work as well for some people.

Don't give up! All the best to you and congrats on sticking to an exercise routine so diligently!
That's no small feat.

Cheers, Petal

"Matthew Collin" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I'm a 35yr old male. I'm 5ft.9,inches and weight 13st 7. My waste size is about 38 and chest 46.
I've recently been working out everyday approx for and hour at a time in the gym. Ten minutes
running and 15 minutes

swimming.

Quoted message said:

I've watched what I've eaten for the past week and a half and not had any empty calories (i.e
alcohol etc).( no more than 2000 cals per day and not more than 25 grams of fat per day) I've
only lost one pound in weight!!

Can

Quoted message said:

anybody explain this to me? Its very disheartening.

Thanks, Joyce. 🙂

Hee hee I never look at those "calories burned" numbers because they're usually pretty inaccurate.
Plus, it's very annoying to look down after sweating your buns off to see that you've burned off the
equivalent of a piece of toast!!

Well done on sticking with the treadmill. I think that's one of the hardest cardio machines (running
has been the most difficult exercise for me to do), so congrats to you!

Cheers, Petal

"Joyce" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Thank you for saying this petal! I have tried in the past to say the same

thing

Quoted message said:

.. muscle does NOT weigh more than fat .. but have never been able to say

it as

Quoted message said:

eloquently as you. It is one of the biggest misconceptions I seem to hear

in

Quoted message said:

weightloss issues though, even hear it from the drs. on occassion. I am a

firm

Quoted message said:

believer ... a pound is a pound is a pound ... regardless as to what that

pound

Quoted message said:

is. It is better to have that pound of muscle though, as it will burn

continue to

Quoted message said:

burn off more calories. I have noticed that since starting on the

treadmill early

Quoted message said:

in the fall, my weight has stayed pretty much the same - flucuating up and

down a

Quoted message said:

bit, but the body has definitely changed (hence the falling down

sweatpants ...

Quoted message said:

and new jeans that are now sliding down the hips).

I have been watching the silly monitor on my new treadmill ... just for

grins (we

Quoted message said:

all no how unreliable those electronic lcd monitor things are). It gives

readings

Quoted message said:

for calories burnt and fat calories burnt. It is rather disheartening to

see that

Quoted message said:

you may have walked off 300 calories during your workout, but only 95 of

those

Quoted message said:

were fat calories. Dang, those things are hard to get rid of yet so easy

to

Quoted message said:

accumulate! <G>

Joyce

On Sat, 24 Jan 2004 09:52:04 -0000, "Petal"

<mrsdoyles_teapot@#NoSpam#yahoo.co.uk>

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Sorry, I have to pitch my 2p in here and I sincerely hope that no one

takes

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

offence...

Muscle doesn't weigh more than fat - I see this statement a lot and it's

a

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

bit misleading. A pound of fat weighs the same as a pound of muscle.

Muscle

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

is *denser* than fat (i.e. takes up less room in the body - think of it

like

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

a pound of feathers vs. a pound of butter), so I think what people are trying to say is that
although the weight may not be coming off, your measurements may have changed.

Just a few quick tips: -make sure you're eating enough. Max. 2000 a day is probably fine but

don't

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

go much below that on a regular basis. If you don't eat, you don't lose weight (believe it or
not). -try incorporating weights into your exercise routine. Lifting really

helps

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

build those muscles, which in turn burns off a lot more calories. -take your measurements and
take them again in a month. Also, try to get your body fat measured (see if your gym has this
facility). This is a

much

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

more accurate way to measure your progress. -if you're just starting out, be patient. 🙂 Average
out your

losses/gains

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

over a longer period of time (e.g. a month) and see how you're doing.

Some

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

weeks are better than others, but it's the total number that matters. -try doing 20-30 minutes of
more intense cardio (i.e. you have to huff

and

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

puff your way through it) 3 times a week. Sometimes lots of sessions of "lighter" cardio (I
assume there's a bit of a break between the running

and

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

swimming) doesn't work as well for some people.

Don't give up! All the best to you and congrats on sticking to an

exercise

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

routine so diligently! That's no small feat.

Cheers, Petal

"Matthew Collin" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I'm a 35yr old male. I'm 5ft.9,inches and weight 13st 7. My waste size

is

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

about 38 and chest 46. I've recently been working out everyday approx

for

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

and hour at a time in the gym. Ten minutes running and 15 minutes

swimming.

Quoted message said:

I've watched what I've eaten for the past week and a half and not had

any

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

empty calories (i.e alcohol etc).( no more than 2000 cals per day and

not

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

more than 25 grams of fat per day) I've only lost one pound in weight!!

Can

Quoted message said:

anybody explain this to me? Its very disheartening.

Don't I know it! I pump away, huffing and puffing, swear I've been going forever ... and see 100
calories have barely been moved. LOL I try so hard not to look at those numbers, more because it
seems to me that the time drags on slower if I *know* how long I've been working. But it also
seems that they keep making the displays bigger and bigger - pretty hard to ignore. And the only
way to turn them off (on my machine anyway) is to unplug the dang thing. Kind of defeats the
purpose then. <G>

I don't run on the treadmill, probably should but my knees just won't take it. I'm currently
walking at 4MPH, sometimes just a tad over - and with my short lil legs, that's dang near a light
jog to keep up.

Joyce

Petal' mrsdoyles_teapot@#NoSpam#yahoo.co.uk said:

Thanks, Joyce. 🙂

Hee hee I never look at those "calories burned" numbers because they're usually pretty inaccurate.
Plus, it's very annoying to look down after sweating your buns off to see that you've burned off
the equivalent of a piece of toast!!

Well done on sticking with the treadmill. I think that's one of the hardest cardio machines
(running has been the most difficult exercise for me to do), so congrats to you!

Cheers, Petal

"Joyce" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Thank you for saying this petal! I have tried in the past to say the same

thing

Quoted message said:

.. muscle does NOT weigh more than fat .. but have never been able to say

it as

Quoted message said:

eloquently as you. It is one of the biggest misconceptions I seem to hear

in

Quoted message said:

weightloss issues though, even hear it from the drs. on occassion. I am a

firm

Quoted message said:

believer ... a pound is a pound is a pound ... regardless as to what that

pound

Quoted message said:

is. It is better to have that pound of muscle though, as it will burn

continue to

Quoted message said:

burn off more calories. I have noticed that since starting on the

treadmill early

Quoted message said:

in the fall, my weight has stayed pretty much the same - flucuating up and

down a

Quoted message said:

bit, but the body has definitely changed (hence the falling down

sweatpants ...

Quoted message said:

and new jeans that are now sliding down the hips).

I have been watching the silly monitor on my new treadmill ... just for

grins (we

Quoted message said:

all no how unreliable those electronic lcd monitor things are). It gives

readings

Quoted message said:

for calories burnt and fat calories burnt. It is rather disheartening to

see that

Quoted message said:

you may have walked off 300 calories during your workout, but only 95 of

those

Quoted message said:

were fat calories. Dang, those things are hard to get rid of yet so easy

to

Quoted message said:

accumulate! <G>

Joyce

On Sat, 24 Jan 2004 09:52:04 -0000, "Petal"

<mrsdoyles_teapot@#NoSpam#yahoo.co.uk>

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Sorry, I have to pitch my 2p in here and I sincerely hope that no one

takes

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

offence...

Muscle doesn't weigh more than fat - I see this statement a lot and it's

a

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

bit misleading. A pound of fat weighs the same as a pound of muscle.

Muscle

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

is *denser* than fat (i.e. takes up less room in the body - think of it

like

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

a pound of feathers vs. a pound of butter), so I think what people are trying to say is that
although the weight may not be coming off, your measurements may have changed.

Just a few quick tips: -make sure you're eating enough. Max. 2000 a day is probably fine but

don't

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

go much below that on a regular basis. If you don't eat, you don't lose weight (believe it or
not). -try incorporating weights into your exercise routine. Lifting really

helps

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

build those muscles, which in turn burns off a lot more calories. -take your measurements and
take them again in a month. Also, try to get your body fat measured (see if your gym has this
facility). This is a

much

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

more accurate way to measure your progress. -if you're just starting out, be patient. 🙂 Average
out your

losses/gains

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

over a longer period of time (e.g. a month) and see how you're doing.

Some

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

weeks are better than others, but it's the total number that matters. -try doing 20-30 minutes
of more intense cardio (i.e. you have to huff

and

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

puff your way through it) 3 times a week. Sometimes lots of sessions of "lighter" cardio (I
assume there's a bit of a break between the running

and

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

swimming) doesn't work as well for some people.

Don't give up! All the best to you and congrats on sticking to an

exercise

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

routine so diligently! That's no small feat.

Cheers, Petal

"Matthew Collin" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...
> I'm a 35yr old male. I'm 5ft.9,inches and weight 13st 7. My waste size

is

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

> about 38 and chest 46. I've recently been working out everyday approx

for

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

> and hour at a time in the gym. Ten minutes running and 15 minutes
swimming.
> I've watched what I've eaten for the past week and a half and not had

any

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

> empty calories (i.e alcohol etc).( no more than 2000 cals per day and

not

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

> more than 25 grams of fat per day) I've only lost one pound in weight!!
Can
> anybody explain this to me? Its very disheartening.
>
>