Unexpected weight loss and still feel uber fat?

Question

I usually workout monday thru friday on the elliptical and burn 600 calories and do weight training M/w/f.

I was sick on Saturday and didn't workout and was still sick so I haven't worked out in 4 days, but yesterday I did.

I went to the doctor today for monthly bloodwork and I was surprised to find that I lost about 4lbs!!!! I felt like I gained!

I've had a lot of salt recently and have reduced my water to like 2-4 glasses a day.

So, why are my jeans still as tight as hell?
Is this weight loss possible? Do you think weight training really helped!? I haven't been looking at my weight for the past 3 weeks.

Answer 1

maybe it is water weight u lost and not so much fat. sure it is possiable since most of ur body is made up of water and u cut back. wight training always helps. bigger muscles take more engery to work and move..so u can loose weight jus by making ur muscles bigger. here is some more tips if ya want.

u can safly loose 2 to 3 lbs a week like i did. it took me 9 months to lose 90 lbs. everyday is filled the choices..keep making the right ones and ur weight will fly off. jus breathing and relaxing u burn somthing like 1400 so jus make sure that ur burning more then ur consuming.

u can check out youtube for free vidioes too. i do hip hop abs with shaun t and super abs with billy blanks! i am now learning to belly dance..all cuz of the free vidoes there. i look so good i git hit on by guys 1/2 my age!

what else helped me was when i put up a calender and i marked off what i did on each day and i felt better with th most days marked, and it was in my livingroom right where i see it all the time! good luck.

work out everyday..alteast cardio. and push urself harder. i too was at a plautue then i relized i was doing "light" weights..when i wanted to have my muscle burn my fat!

another tip is to git like 3 lunch bags (the cooler type) and make up all the food that u will eat for the day and put it in 1, making 3 bags at a time will help on days when u dont feel like the hassle u can grab one and go. it works for me, i fill mine with 100 calorie pack of chips, gum, fruit and a few powers to add to my drinks. i freeze 3 water bottle and not only can i drink them but they keep my food cold!

and what is ur calorie intake? are u maxing out everyday? i found for me that staying under 1000 worked better for me! join sparkpeople.com that is an awsome site. u can download a diet plan and a workout plan. plus there is tons of info and tips!

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Answer 2

You are retaining water and losing muscle.

You need to consume 20-30% of your calories as fat. If you don't have enough fat in your diet, your body goes into a "famine mode" and starts consuming muscle tissue instead. This is because fat is needed for the proper operation of your nervous system, so your body conserves it. Reducing saturated fats is a good idea, but don't avoid all fats.

It is also possible that your scale and the doctor's scale are calibrated differently. I work at a hospital, and there is about a 5 pound difference within all the medical grade scales here. You need to stick with one scale and pay more attention to the change in weight rather than the actual number. Also your weight changes throughout the day as you eat and excrete.

The only way to lose weight, get fit and stay that way is the slow way – healthy diet and regular exercise. Think long-term: wouldn't you rather get fit and stay that way for the rest of your life?

No dieting: dieting ends, a healthy diet is a lifetime of good habits. A basic healthy diet: lean meats and legumes, dark veggies, whole grains, lots of water, reduce processed carbs (soda pop is Satan!) and increase fiber. Snack on fruits and veggies instead of salt and sweets. You don’t have to count every calorie, but you should be aware of your overall intake.

It’s unrealistic to say you will never treat yourself to deliciously evil food ever again. The first time you fail becomes the excuse to quit completely. Allow yourself a moderate splurge once every two or three weeks. It’s easier to be good if you know there’s a treat in your future. Don’t buy it until you’re going to eat it – who can resist the temptation? Not me!

Exercise: you're doing great there. Don't quit! Sadly, exercise doesn’t burn enough calories to lose much weight – two miles on the treadmill equals about half of a Big Mac. But exercise is irreplaceable for a healthy heart, stamina and flexibility. That means a longer and more active lifespan.

Each body has different needs - find what works for you and stick with it. Educate yourself – anatomy and physiology is the owner’s manual for your body. There are thousands of websites with nutrition and exercise information. You can tell the good ones – they aren’t selling a quick diet fix or the Nuclear Abdominatorizer.

Don’t quit just because you fall off the wagon one or twelve times – that’s just an excuse for laziness. It took years to develop your bad habits; it will take time to change them.

Remember – your biggest obstacles are laziness and unrealistic expectations. Your best tools are perseverance and education.

Good Luck!

Some links to get you started
Nutrition http://www.mypyramid.gov
Exercise, nutrition, and a lot more http://www.webmd.com/

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