Not Losing Weight

[sarahdameron]

I have been dieting and exercising since July 1st and I've lost 4 pounds. At first it was 6 pounds. But since my days off are Saturday and Sunday it went back to 4, but I don't understand why. I've been counting my calories and I only drink water or crystal light. Will someone please tell me what I'm doing wrong? The help is appreciated. Oh and I've been taking zantrex-3 but it doesn't help much. It just makes me feel like I'm on speed.

[andrerox80]

I have been dieting and exercising since July 1st and I've lost 4 pounds.

you HAVE lost weight! 4 lbs in less than 3 weeks is good progress. and you said it would have been 6, which would be 2 lbs / week, and you really don't want to go faster than that. you have to be patient. are sat and sun rest days (from working out) or do you mean off as in "cheat"? if the former, good, if the latter, that could slow down your results, depending on your intake. i'd get rid of anything that makes you feel lik you're on speed, btw.

[hrdgain3r89]

i dont think you have anything to worry about sounds like youre making great progress!
Congrats on the 4 lbs. but the 2 lb "gain" youre speaking of may just be new muscle..
since you ARE incorporating free weight exercise it is possible to have cut weight yet still gaines muscle mass which will only show on the scale =)
unless youre sneaking in massive amounts of junk food i say stick to what youre doing and be patient...sounds like youre getting good results but if you absolutely feel like youre not dropping pounds maybe try a litte extra morning cardio on a fasted stomach?

[hrdgain3r89]

apologies....coulda swore youd said that you were for sure using weights..are you? if so whats your training split look like (cardio included)

[tumtum]

you HAVE lost weight! 4 lbs in less than 3 weeks is good progress. and you said it would have been 6, which would be 2 lbs / week, and you really don't want to go faster than that. you have to be patient. are sat and sun rest days (from working out) or do you mean off as in "cheat"? if the former, good, if the latter, that could slow down your results, depending on your intake. i'd get rid of anything that makes you feel lik you're on speed, btw.

exactly..

if you are taking the weekend to eat like a normal person your body will quickly get adjusted. i have only one cheat MEAL a week. when i had just a single cheat day that consisted of 2 cheat meals i'd retain like a pregnant woman haha. so i had to knock it down to a single meal..

good luck and it seems like you're making progress.. it's a marathon not a race

[sarahdameron]

i dont use those days to cheat. i just rest. i do one cheat meal a week.

[sarahdameron]

first i do 35-40 minutes of intense cardio. (exercise bike, sitting stairclimber)
then i do bicep curl, tricep extension, chest press, leg extension, leg curl
i do 3 sets of 10 reps on all of them

[hrdgain3r89]

well depending on genetics the exercises you are doing now may definitely be eliciting muscle growth and your cardio plan sounds fine! Keep itup and good luck!

[tumtum]

well depending on genetics the exercises you are doing now may definitely be eliciting muscle growth and your cardio plan sounds fine! Keep itup and good luck!

unless she is first starting out, if she's on a caloric deficit she won't be putting on muscle.. aka newbie gains. If she's been at it (lifting weights) for a while she won't build muscle while restricting calories.. ESPECIALLY at that speed.

[sarahdameron]

unless she is first starting out, if she's on a caloric deficit she won't be putting on muscle.. aka newbie gains. If she's been at it (lifting weights) for a while she won't build muscle while restricting calories.. ESPECIALLY at that speed.
what does that mean tumtum?

[tumtum]

at the beginning of weight training your body as at such a shock it can build muscle even when you are restricting calories. however this is the only time you can do this. soon your body wil get used to it and since you are restricting calories it will not be able to build muscle because it needs extra calories to build... feel free to PM me with any questions

[birdiefu]

first i do 35-40 minutes of intense cardio. (exercise bike, sitting stairclimber)
then i do bicep curl, tricep extension, chest press, leg extension, leg curl
i do 3 sets of 10 reps on all of them

I would suggest looking into a program like Starting Strength or New Rules of Lifting for Women. You are wearing yourself out with intense cardio before weights - you won't be able to push yourself and use your muscles as much after that depletion. Also, you are mostly doing isolation exercises. Doing compound exercises that work large muscle groups (squats, deadlifts, overhead press, etc) makes you more metabolically active, saves time at the gym (don't have to work every individual muscle), and if you are a newbie there really is no point to work out single muscles as you are weak everywhere.