no weight loss

[leroy1]

I initiated an exercise program about 7 weeks ago.  I have been doing cardio exercise at about 85% max heart rate 4 to 5 times a week for an hour.  I have also been doing a weight traing regimen of 10 machines for about 45 minutes three times a week.  I have cut back some on my food intake and made certain to avoid "unhealthy" foods.  I have not lost a single pound.  What's up?

[forestdweller]

I would first recommend a physical to rule anything medically wrong but my first suspicion would be that you currently replacing fat with muscle which in this case you should see a weight gain.  I am sure that you are seeing a difference in how your clothes fit.  I would suggest taking measurements and looking at how those numbers are changing.

[anotherdummy]

What's up is you are totally uninformed on what you are doing.  You are like most, you jump in, do too much, and expect instant results.  When it does not happen, you quit....trust me, that's how commercial gyms who require memberships make tons of money is on people like you.

I am not criticizing you but you need more education.  I have been lifting for years and I still read tons of books, literature, trial and error, but it is a lifestyle not a hobby or quick fix.  Most people think they eat healthy, and especially if they but boxed foods that say "multigrain" etc...but ingredients are what tell the story, whihch I would bet is your problem.

[casey22]

Wow, I got insulted reading your comment and I'm not the origanal poster. Comments like "people like you" is so uncalled for. You don't know this person. And 7 weeks is a long time and no where in the post did I see where he/she said he/she was going to quite. most people quite after 2-3 weeks. That person also did not specify what foods they were eating so for you to bet that that is the problem is kinda out there don't you think? Also it's not very nice to tell some one they need to be educated. They didn't come here to be insulted they came here for a simple question.


Leroy--I agree with the first post. Muscle does weigh more than fat Good Luck!

[dquenzer]

We (the medical community especially) make too much of total body weight.  Work for conditioning and the weight will take care of itself. If you are the type of person that has a particular build and you lift and run you will probably gain weight. I agree with the previous post on measurements.

But it sounds to me like you are over doing it to some degree.  That stresses the body too much.  Your body may actually be fighting back.  If you are fatigued it's a sign you are stressing your body to much.

Also you are going to burn out at the rate you are training.  Lighten up.  Think of exercise as a life long initiative.  If you go too intensely you are going to get an injury, or just get tired of it.  I have been a life long runner.  I'm now 51, and my goal is moderate conditioning and staying injury free.  I always make sure that after I'm done exercising I feel like I could go some more.  If I don't I'm overdoing it.

Also a study was done at the Mayo Clinic, and they said that actually once you work the muscle to fatigue that's all you need to do.  The idea that you have to spend an hour in the weight room doing lots of sets to improve strength was shown to be totally false.  I wish I had the web site for that, because it was really interesting.

[NewTOThis]

thank youu casey

[Vicki5]

Congrats on starting a program and a healthy lifestyle. I am 43 and started working with a trainer 13 months ago. I did not start losing weight until about 2.5 months into it. Your body is changing losing fat and gaining lean muscle, your clothes will show the change that doesn't show up on the scale. YOu will begin to lose weight. I have lost almost 50 lbs, and feel great.
My goall is to burn 500 calories a workout. I lift 3 days and do cardio 2 to 3. Sometime, I do 10 minutes of cardio after lifting days.
Hang in there, you'll be glad you did.
Ps. get a polar watch they're really worth it.

[sworks]

From reading your question it looks to me that you are losing some fat and building more muscle. Also at 85%MHR your body’s primary fuel will be protein. If you lower your MHR to 50-60% your primary fuel will be body fat. If your in a gym, do spin classes and cardio, for fat loss.