Not losing weight

daenerysstormborn3

I joined the gym nearly a month ago and have gone about 20 times. I try to go everyday after work and if I'm not busy I go once at the weekend too. I spend 1.5 hours there and do the following:

30 minutes on the treadmill which I have upped to 40 minutes this week, I normally do a 3 minute fast walking warm up and 3 minute cool down so the rest is jogging/running.

30 minutes on the bike.

30 minutes split between the cross trainer and this other machine, I don't know the name of it but the only way I can describe it is that it mimicks hill climbing.

If I go to the gym at the weekend I throw in an extra 30 minutes because I have more time.

I am drenched in sweat and wrecked leaving the gym but feel like I have way more energy than I used to and I'm sleeping really well now.

Also, on top of this, my office is on the top floor in work and we only have stairs so I'm up and down 3 flights of stairs a good few times a day so one would think that would also lead to some weight loss.

Also, I walk my dog every evening for about an hour, I would've thought that would also lead to some weight loss.

I have completely changed my diet also.

Breakfast everyday is porridge with a little bit of honey.

Lunch is either a sandwich/soup/salad with a glass of mi wadi or water.

Dinner most days is soup or a hot salad. Once or twice a week I have meat, veg and potatoes or a rice/pasta dish. I have cut my portion sizes way down as I used to be a demon for loading up my plate.

During the day I drink 2-3 pint glasses of water.

I don't drink tea/coffee (sometimes I will drink a latte or mocha on a Saturday morning in town but that is very rare) so I don't fall victim to the eating a few biscuits with my cuppa syndrome. I also don't snack during the day as I don't have time and by the time I'm home in the evening it's dinnertime anyway so I just don't bother.

Problem is I don't seem to have lost any weight in the past month. My clothes don't feel loose and I can't see any evidence of weight loss when I look in the mirror.

What am I doing wrong? I thought 1.5 hours 5 times a week is plenty to be doing at the gym and I don't really see what's wrong with my diet. I know I am lacking fruit intake but that's hardly going to suddenly see me drop some pounds.

I'd really appreciate some advice.

paky

maybe you're at your normal weight.

post your weight and height and we'll see

daenerysstormborn3

I don't think so.

I'm 5ft 8" and I'd hazard a guess at about 13 stone (that could be wildly inaccurate but I'm definitely not less than that anyway).

when you say salad, what are we talking about
there are some people i see about the place with salads that must be...well, a hell of a lot of calories

Sasquatch76

bluewolf wrote: »

when you say salad, what are we talking about
there are some people i see about the place with salads that must be...well, a hell of a lot of calories

And if the salads are low calorie, is pixiebean eating enough? Impossible to know without knowing what's in the salads and the sandwiches, but seems like she eats very little food to my uneducated eyes.

even if she were undereating, it's been a month, long enough for genuine calorie deficit to kick in

i can't see anything else the problem. that much jogging drops the weight off me regardless of what i eat.
most that's wrong with soup is that if it's processed, that's quite a lot of salt to be consuming. What's in the sandwiches as well?

alibab

I have the exact same problem . I have maintained the same weight doing feck all excercise for a year . Joined a gym and much the same programme as the op and i have put up 3lbs . I have been using fitday etc and i have a calorie deficit etc so just cant see why . I am 5ft 3ins and 58 kg . I am eating enough so not in starvation mode and i have not suddenly starting eating massive amounts more . In fact the jeans seem to be getting tighter . I am doing a mix of weights and cardio about a hour and a half in total 4 days a week

banshee_bones

Are you going by the scales or have you been going by the tape measure? I recently cleaned up my diet a bit and got a bit more consistent with my gym sessions and while the scales didnt move, I had lost a couple of inches here and there.

daenerysstormborn3

I go by my clothes. I don't weigh myself.

Salads are undressed, lots of greens (i love cucumber and onions) and either chicken (which i cook myself) or tuna/salmon.

I make the soup myself so it's all just veggies and the odd time I might put in some chicken to make it a bit more filling.

Sandwiches are always chicken salad sandwiches (only sandwich I like at the moment), lettuce, chicken, light mayo (just a lick of this), onion and cucumber.

Thud

you might not be doing this but in most of the gyms i've been in you will see a lot of people walking on threadmills (maybe slightly faster than normal pace) or cycling/cross training with resistance set to zero or 1.
They do this for extended lengths of time and i'm sure they leaave the leave the gym telling themselves they've had a great workout

A 3 minute walking warm up and cool down on the threadmill is proabaly wasting time, (you did walk into the gym?) turn up the speed a bit, push yourself!

I personally don't rate cross trainers, you rarely see skinny people on them.

Add some weights into your routine, don't worry you are not going to bulk up, you'll be surprised how much it gets your heart pumping

daenerysstormborn3

Thud wrote: »

you might not be doing this but in most of the gyms i've been in you will see a lot of people walking on threadmills (maybe slightly faster than normal pace) or cycling/cross training with resistance set to zero or 1.
They do this for extended lengths of time and i'm sure they leaave the leave the gym telling themselves they've had a great workout

A 3 minute walking warm up and cool down on the threadmill is proabaly wasting time, (you did walk into the gym?) turn up the speed a bit, push yourself!

I personally don't rate cross trainers, you rarely see skinny people on them.

Add some weights into your routine, don't worry you are not going to bulk up, you'll be surprised how much it gets your heart pumping

I've always been told to warm up and I was advised when I joined the gym to warm up and cool down

I also alternate days on the treadmill of doing either a sprint finish or an incline finish (of 5 minutes or so) as I'm trying to build myself up gradually.

Resistance on the bike is at 9.

Resistance on the cross trainer is at 5 and the hill climber thing is also at 5 - the both of these leave me totally breathless and pumping sweat - I would've thought that's a sure sign of a taxing workout?

I'm not worried about bulking up but I do wonder how adding weights will help lose weight if the amount of cardio I'm doing already hasn't made much difference?

Thud

Thud wrote: »

A 3 minute walking warm up and cool down on the threadmill is proabaly wasting time, (you did walk into the gym?) turn up the speed a bit, push yourself!

wtf. Warming up and warming down for 3 mins is only going to help, not hinder.

I personally don't rate cross trainers, you rarely see skinny people on them.

:rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes:

Thud

i'm not saying don't warm up but 3 minutes of walking at start and end is probably a bit long, a slower jog for 30sec to a minute would be time better spent

AntiVirus

What distance do you cover on the treadmill and bike, what's your average watt output on the cross trainer.

How much have these all improved by since you started?

n0irin

I had a similar problem a few years back, and I just couldn't understand why none of the weight was dropping. Not too long afterward, I found out that I have PCOS - one of the possible symptoms of which is weight gain or finding it difficult to shift weight. The doc put me on meds for it which really helped and I managed to lose two stone very easily after being on the meds for awhile.

It might be worth a check, just in case? Apparently around 1 in 10 women have it, and I know a whole load of people with it now, so it's pretty common!

gsxr1

Im also near the same stage as the OP. 3 times a week hard workout at 80% of max BBM.

Cut out beer and chips and crisps. Reduced meal size and CLA supplements for 2 months.

I have only lost 3lbs. But My cloths no longer fit me. Im smaller in the waste and around my neck. And my leg muscles now stick out . I also feel great.

I think as you gain lean muscle and lose fat they can offset the weight loss.
Could this be true?

alibab

I am doing 5 min warm up on bike at level 5 at the minute 2km in distance . Ten to weights which takes a good half hour . I then move back to cardio and do crosstrainer for 20 minutes at level 5 just around 2km also . I then do threadmill for 40 minutes alternateing between jogging or fast walk and running at intervals about 4km . After that i do some abdominal work with planks ball and knee ups .A 5 minute cool down again on bike and stretches

Any suggestions as to ways to improve . I am at it 3 weeks and have gradually got to this hope to improve levels etc as time goes on but just starting as such but no weight loss . I do feel a bit more toned .

daenerysstormborn3

AntiVirus wrote: »

What distance do you cover on the treadmill and bike, what's your average watt output on the cross trainer.

How much have these all improved by since you started?

I don't know where that watt output reading is on screen.

I do 3km on treadmill and nearly 4km on bike and i think 3km on cross trainer. I'll have accurate readings a little later.

I don't really know how these distances have improved, sorry, can't remember

SteelyDanJalapeno

I'm not gonna bate around the bush with this one,

Do weights, basic core workouts, Squats, push ups, assisted pull ups(for now) crunches and planks, should all be well within anyones range, no need for all that cardio.

Mr Marri

pixiebean22 wrote: »

I don't think so.

I'm 5ft 8" and I'd hazard a guess at about 13 stone (that could be wildly inaccurate but I'm definitely not less than that anyway).

I'm sure your gym has a scales, you might get a plesent surprise.

Have you calculated your BMR?

http://www.runnersweb.com/running/bmr.html

This is always a horrible small number

daenerysstormborn3

Okay, my distances are 4km on the treadmill at 7kph (40 mins). I can't really go higher than this just yet, I am asthmatic and at 7kph I am wheezing really badly so I'm just trying to build up my tolerance gradually. I did 2.2km on the cross trainer at level 5 (15 mins), I don't know what the speed was. I did 3km on the hill climber thing at level 5 (15 mins), I don't what the speed was on that either. I did 4km on the bike at 100bph (I think that's the measurement anyway) at level 9 (30 mins).

Can someone please explain how doing weights is more effective than cardio? That doesn't make any sense to me.

My boyfriend has weights at home so I could use them and also do what tiltedbrain suggested.

dev100

pixiebean22 wrote: »

Okay, my distances are 4km on the treadmill at 7kph (40 mins). I can't really go higher than this just yet, I am asthmatic and at 7kph I am wheezing really badly so I'm just trying to build up my tolerance gradually. I did 2.2km on the cross trainer at level 5 (15 mins), I don't know what the speed was. I did 3km on the hill climber thing at level 5 (15 mins), I don't what the speed was on that either. I did 4km on the bike at 100bph (I think that's the measurement anyway) at level 9 (30 mins).

Can someone please explain how doing weights is more effective than cardio? That doesn't make any sense to me.

My boyfriend has weights at home so I could use them and also do what tiltedbrain suggested.

Not sure of exact science but i think doing weights leads to burning more energy to refuel etc

if you are only at it a month and as you say an asmatic just concentrate on building your fitness levels when you start up ing your times you should see an improvement. If you aint to overweight its harder to lose the pounds rather than someone who is 5 stone overweight. Plus muscle weights heavier than fat it could be you are building muscle. Keep it up:)

daenerysstormborn3

Thanks for all the advice everyone.

If someone could provide me with some sort of explanation as to how doing weights is more effective than cardio I'd really appreciate it.

Thud

Hi Pixie, give the Women and weights thread from the stickies a read:

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2056232328

banshee_bones

Have you read the sticky at the top of the forum on "The Basics: Diet and Nutrition"

Also this post from it is also very good on why women should do weight training.


And if you would like some further info there is a really good website called http://www.stumptuous.com/ which is geared towards women and lifting.

Annnnd if you have any further questions, there are a few female lifters who can answer any queries you might have. The mod of h&f g'em has been lifting for years, and then other females who are partial to picking heavy stuff up :pac: are Supposedly,Red Cortina, GymFreak, Dotcomdolly, myself, glowing and G86 and we all log over in fitness logs.

Hope that helps!

nachoqueen

is this lady on an inhaler for the wheezing that kicks in at 7kph?
not normal even if she is really unfit

daenerysstormborn3

nachoqueen wrote: »

is this lady on an inhaler for the wheezing that kicks in at 7kph?
not normal even if she is really unfit

I'm on 2 inhalers and a nebuliser.

How do you know what's normal for an asthmatic?

daenerysstormborn3

I'm doing a new program at the gym and while I haven't noticed any sudden weight loss or anything like that I do feel like it's making a difference and I can feel myself toning up, yipee!

Only problem is my calves and shins are very sore, as are my arms but I can cope with my arms, the pains in my calves and shins are sore to the point where it's difficult to run. I stretch them out before and after my work out but still, even just sitting here now typing, they are sore. In particular down the front of my shins are sore and the insides of my calves, just wondering if anyone has any tips on how to get rid of/prevent this pain?

seamus

pixiebean22 wrote: »

In particular down the front of my shins are sore and the insides of my calves, just wondering if anyone has any tips on how to get rid of/prevent this pain?

Rest. Take a day or two off if you're in pain. If you insist on going to the gym every day, then alter your routine so that you're not working the sore muscle groups on any two consecutive days.
In particular, the bike and the treadmill use very different muscles. Use the bike one day and the treadmill the next.

Kadongy

pixiebean22 wrote: »

I'm doing a new program at the gym and while I haven't noticed any sudden weight loss or anything like that I do feel like it's making a difference and I can feel myself toning up, yipee!

Only problem is my calves and shins are very sore, as are my arms but I can cope with my arms, the pains in my calves and shins are sore to the point where it's difficult to run. I stretch them out before and after my work out but still, even just sitting here now typing, they are sore. In particular down the front of my shins are sore and the insides of my calves, just wondering if anyone has any tips on how to get rid of/prevent this pain?

dont run until it goes away. Instead use a bike or rowing machine or other non-impact form of exercise.
Consider getting better shoes. Consider training your leg strength. Consider improving your posture as you run - lots of people lean forward.

daenerysstormborn3

Kadongy wrote: »

dont run until it goes away. Instead use a bike or rowing machine or other non-impact form of exercise.
Consider getting better shoes. Consider training your leg strength. Consider improving your posture as you run - lots of people lean forward.

Have just bought new trainers with good support. I'm doing strength training for my legs. Posture is actually very good. Suppose all that's left is to switch off running for a day or two

Kadongy

It might possibly take longer for the pain in your shins to go away. Pain in your shins can be quite persistent and you may need to take a significant amount of time off (weeks or even months). It is a good idea to leave off running and a bad idea to push through pain in your shins, or you'll keep getting pain in your shins.

daenerysstormborn3

Kadongy wrote: »

It might possibly take longer for the pain in your shins to go away. Pain in your shins can be quite persistent and you may need to take a significant amount of time off (weeks or even months). It is a good idea to leave off running and a bad idea to push through pain in your shins, or you'll keep getting pain in your shins.

:eek: weeks or months?? No running for me for a while then

alibab

I had a issue with my ankle for the last few weeks . I had a break 2 years ago which came back to haunt me when i started running on the treadmil . I am heading off soon and today will be my first day running in 3 weeks as it took that long to settle down again and i will be taking it very slow . The good news is that replacing threadmil with rowing and bike actually suited me better and i have noticed much better results with the rowing .

Like yourself i am not losing weight but in my case the aim was not to actually lose much weight but more to tone up . I am 6 weeks in next week and notice a huge change in my body for the better . I can see myself more toned and my fitness level has increased . I have gone down a back size and my clothes are loose so altough no weight change on the scales i can see it in my body . Dont worry too much about the running as i was upset at the start but now orefer the rowing and bike .

Thud

Hi Pixie, what is your new workout routine?

daenerysstormborn3

It lasts 2 hours and it's warm up->stretches->cardio->weights->core->stretches and then cool down.

Warm up is any cardio machine for 5 mins at level 8+, I have been doing the bike at level 11.

Then I do just your basic stretches on my arms and legs and my shoulders.

Then I do 25 mins on the treadmill at level 7 (I've really been struggling on the treadmill since i started the new routine, with regard to pains in my calves and shins and just generally not having the stamina to run as much as I was doing, I used to be able to have a good run for 40 mins at level 7 and was trying to build myself up to level 8+ but feel like I've just gone backwards) and then 15 mins on the rower at level 8.

Then I do shoulder press, lat pulldown, chest press, seated row, leg press, hip abductors, hip adductors, leg extension and leg curl at weights ranging from 10kg - 35kg as my legs are naturally stronger than my arms (12 reps 3 sets).

Then I do ab curl (10 reps 4 sets), back extension (10 reps 4 sets), oblique curls (10 reps 3 sets), tricep dips (12 reps 3 sets) and bicep curls (12 reps 4 sets).

Then I do stretches, followed by a cool down which is any machine for 5 mins at level 6-<8.

I can feel the new routine in my arms and thighs but nothing in my stomach yet although I can feel the ab curls when I'm doing them.

The only day off I've had from the weights was last night as I was late leaving work so couldn't give my usual time at the gym but I did everything else except the weights.

I just thought at this stage of the week I would be hobbling around and really feeling the results of the new routine but nothing like that, yet anyway.

daenerysstormborn3

I'm not concerned about belly fat, I want to lose weight all over. In the words of the trainer in the gym my diet is "as clean as a whistle".

Thud

good too see you've added some weights into your routine.
As others have posted if you get shin splints, which it sounds like, and continue to run on them they won't go away, switch rowing or cycling in for the running for a few weeks.

As for feeling he workout in your stomach ab workouts will make you feel the burn there (try the plank) but squats and deadlifts also work the abs (rowing also)

daenerysstormborn3

Can anyone explain to me why these "shin splints" have suddenly come on me after changing my routine but having been running on the treadmill for 2 months now? My running style hasn't changed, the only thing that has is my trainers. I was wearing very old trainers for the past 2 months but bought new ones, a pair of those Reebok easytone ones, last week just before I started my new routine and they have lots of support in them so I would've thought they would be better for my feet and legs.

Thud

I don't think those easytones are made for running, i think the "idea" with them is that they get you to use more leg muscles when walking due to the curved sole, you need to get a proper pair of running runners, head into Elverys and ask for advice, proper runners should help the way you plant your foot when running and help avoid injury/soreness

Mars Bar

pixiebean22 wrote: »

Can anyone explain to me why these "shin splints" have suddenly come on me after changing my routine but having been running on the treadmill for 2 months now? My running style hasn't changed, the only thing that has is my trainers. I was wearing very old trainers for the past 2 months but bought new ones, a pair of those Reebok easytone ones, last week just before I started my new routine and they have lots of support in them so I would've thought they would be better for my feet and legs.

I went for a run summer before last in hard ground and wrong shoes, ended up with shin splints that have plagued me since.

I put on a stone weight between March and April so I had to lost it again for August. I did very little cardio because of the shin splints (1 mile on the treadmill and 4km on the bike) but went and did free weights in the gym and I lost 1 stone 4 lb between the end of May and the first week of August.

You have a much better diet than me too so with your diet, you probably should be losing weight. I was surprised the numbers on the scale moved so much as I was doing weights and building muscle and muscle weighs more than fat.

Oryx

Oh god get rid of those trainers. Imo they are useless for running. If they are the only change (no change in speed or distance covered?) they are likely the cause.

daenerysstormborn3

Thud wrote: »

I don't think those easytones are made for running, i think the "idea" with them is that they get you to use more leg muscles when walking due to the curved sole, you need to get a proper pair of running runners, head into Elverys and ask for advice, proper runners should help the way you plant your foot when running and help avoid injury/soreness

No Elverys (that I know of) in Waterford.

I bought those trainers, not because I thought a pair of them would do the work for me, but because i thought they looked really comfortable and after ending up with blisters on my feet from my old trainers.

mars bar wrote: »

I went for a run summer before last in hard ground and wrong shoes, ended up with shin splints that have plagued me since.

I put on a stone weight between March and April so I had to lost it again for August. I did very little cardio because of the shin splints (1 mile on the treadmill and 4km on the bike) but went and did free weights in the gym and I lost 1 stone 4 lb between the end of May and the first week of August.

You have a much better diet than me too so with your diet, you probably should be losing weight. I was surprised the numbers on the scale moved so much as I was doing weights and building muscle and muscle weighs more than fat.

I would understand (kind of) if I had gotten shin splints when running in my old trainers but instead I've gotten them when running in my new trainers :rolleyes:

I do like the bike and the rower so I guess I'll just have to switch off some of my time on the treadmill onto them now.

daenerysstormborn3

Oryx wrote: »

Oh god get rid of those trainers. Imo they are useless for running. If they are the only change (no change in speed or distance covered?) they are likely the cause.

No change in distance or speed because I feel like I literally cannot push myself further. I was doing longer before i got these trainers and felt like it was easier

Any advice on what trainers I could get and from where?

corkcomp

OP, no time to read entire thread so apologies if Im repeating but you should get a body fat test done now with calipers of possible or via machine with someone who knows what they are doing and repeat in 3 - 4 weeks.. keep up the routine. If I were to take a guess though id say your under estimating your calorie intake and that you may need to drop a bit more.

Thud

Alfie Hales used to be a decent sportshop, i'm sure they could help you. if not the chains all sell decent runners do some reading online.

Asics would be considered the best but may not suit some feet, Adidas have some decent models nowaday, New Balance etc (there are many others)

Look for running runners and not cross/tennis/basketball/etc trainers

daenerysstormborn3

corkcomp wrote: »

OP, no time to read entire thread so apologies if Im repeating but you should get a body fat test done now with calipers of possible or via machine with someone who knows what they are doing and repeat in 3 - 4 weeks.. keep up the routine. If I were to take a guess though id say your under estimating your calorie intake and that you may need to drop a bit more.

They did one of those for me before I started my new program and the results were in the red zone of the chart unfortunately but the trainer said he would do another one with me in 4-6 weeks.

I was told I'm eating too little and to include 2 extra small meals a day which I have been doing.

I have posted already what I eat everyday and that is 100% honest. The trainer advised against continuing those eating habits and has told me I need to eat more to lose weight. He also said that I am eating the right food just not enough of the right food.

Thud wrote: »

Alfie Hales used to be a decent sportshop, i'm sure they could help you. if not the chains all sell decent runners do some reading online.

Asics would be considered the best but may not suit some feet, Adidas have some decent models nowaday, New Balance etc (there are many others)

Look for running runners and not cross/tennis/basketball/etc trainers

The last ones I had were Asics, I should've just stuck with them, they never did me wrong :rolleyes:

Thanks for the advice