rivrrat

Okay, so about a month ago I really got serious about changing my diet and sticking to my workout. I've been keeping a food diary, so I know what I've been eating. No, I don't measure everything - I just can't do that crap. I've been working out on the bowflex 3x week, and it's a strenuous workout. (1 hr long, circuit/cross training - I do two sets of each exercise and 2 full curcuits)

And, I do a set of ab exercises at least 3x week, if not more. My abs are always sore. LOL

But in this past month, I've only lost like 5 lbs and only 1% of body fat according to the scales I have. According to the measuring tape, I've lost 3 inches off my waist, 2 inches off my hips, 1 inch off my thighs. I can SEE the effects of the ab workout on my stomach. Granted, I'm nowhere near where I WANT to be, but I can SEE a difference.

How is that humanly possible? How is it POSSIBLE to lose inches like that and NOT lose weight or body fat %? I realize I could fudge the measuring tape a bit, but I don't think I could fudge it 3 inches.

And, I just don't understand why I'm not losing weight from changing my diet alone, but in combination with the exercise? It just makes NO sense. I'm eating a crapload of fresh fruit and veges. I mean, is it really possible to eat too much fresh fruit and veges? I steam the veges, no butter and only a dash of salt. The fruit I'm eating is just... fresh fruit. Nothing added. I've cut out SO MUCH sugar. I've gone from drinking 3-4 sodas a day to drinking 1 or 2 a WEEK. I drink oodles of water at work, and at home I drink mostly crystal light. (which is well.. water with some flavoring) I eat brown rice and grilled salmon quite a bit too. Sugar free jello and sugar free popscicles for my sweet tooth attacks. (And I have a serious sweet tooth, it's my biggest problem)

I'm not a big breakfast person, but I understand the importance of jump starting my body in the morning. So I always have either a smoothie (that I make myself) or a Slim Fast shake.

I "fill up" on vegges or fruit, so I'm wondering if that could be the problem. But I just don't see how. It makes no sense to me. /cry

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WI Crippler

I thought all it took on a Bowflex was 3 workouts a week, 20 minutes a day?

You might be building up some muscle, which helps lose those inches, but keeps the weight from dropping.

Or you are just getting old.

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obvious Child

Give it more then a month. Serious weight loss without resorting to extreme measures take times.

SouthernDemocrat

Take up running. Nothing burns weight off of you faster if you do it enough. Get to the point where you are averaging 25 miles a week (or more), and you will be worried about being too thin.

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MrFungus420

Why are you worried about body fat percentage? Especially after only about a month.

You can SEE the effect of your excercising. You have lost weight, a sensible, sustainable loss of weight (generally no more than 1-2 lbs a week). You are not going to lose as much wieght as you eyes tell you, you are replacing fat with heavier muscle mass.

If the method you are using for determining you body fat is based on tape measurements, it is going to be inaccurate.

Another consideration is that you have made a major change of activity level and your diet. You have stressed your body. Your body views fat as a safety net, so it tries to hold onto it when under stress.

You have lost weight. You have lost inches. You are getting more muscular. You've only been at it a month. You are off to a very good start. Don't let unreasonable expectations ruin it.

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rivrrat

lol Well, I DO see a difference and I have been able to increase the weight. So obviously I'm building some muslce.

True, BUT... my scales measure body fat % too, which is not dropping. So even if I am losing some fat weight and putting on muscle weight, I should see a difference in the BF% on my scales.

I'm wondering though.. the scales only measure the body fat in my legs, I wonder if your body loses fat in specific areas first?

BITE ME

That's what my BF says. LOL

I wish I could do something like that, but I can't. Me and cardio don't get along, for one thing... but jogging is too high impact for my knees. (shut up Crippler!) I've injured both knees in extreme sports activities so there are certain things that just cause me too much pain. Impact activities are one of them.

I've always done better with high endurance and strength activities. Just my body type, I guess. I have a touch of asthma, so extreme cardio is hard for me anyway. I can row a raft down a river for 25 miles, or for 5 hrs straight... but I can't run for crap. LOL

Cardio that I do has to be more slow, sustained cardio - and low/no impact. Like rowing, I guess. Thinking about getting a rowing machine.

WI Crippler

My scale at home measures body fat as well, but its horribly off. By about 10-12% from when I got an actual bf% measurement by a personal trainer. You can throw off the scale by simply being more hydrated as well. Even if the scale is off like mine, you can usually chart your loss(or gain) by weighing yourself at the same time of the day each time. For me, I weigh myself in the morning right after I wake up, before I eat breakfast. I don't do it every day, probably once a week or every other week. But its the most accurate way to chart your body changes.

Voidwar

Muscle is dense, significantly moreso than adipose tissue.

Fat floats, meat sinks.

It is completely possible to lose inches and gain weight. If the weight is toned muscle, then the change is a healthy one.

rivrrat

I'm using some scales that give me weight, body fat %, bone density, water % (hydration level - so I know if my water % is high, I'm going to weigh more but my BF% should go down.. and vice versa) and it gives you an estimated BMI based on the afforementioned information. But, it does only measure your legs. So it's an estimate. (except for the weight, of course)

Stress is a consideration. In the past couple months the amount of stress in my life has increased to just about it's maximum level. ROFL (Cross-country move, new job, BF goes to Iraq, death in the family - all in three months time)

I guess I'm just getting frustrated. Never really had to work this hard at it before. My job kept me fit, so I didn't have to actually workout or diet. I just want my old body back so badly, I want it to happen... last week! hehe

independent_thinker2002

It usually takes a month for the metabolism to change.

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