How long does it take to see results of diet and exercise?

[Rockchick26]

I only need to lose about 5 pounds, and it's only around my midsection, so I can tell that my clothes don't fit like they used to. 3 weeks ago I started going for half-hour walks every morning (sometimes I walked for almost an hour) and I've also started dancing/jumping on my trampoline every night for anywhere between 1-3 hours. I've also started eating better (lots of fruit, raisins, vegetables instead of peanut buster parfaits,pizza rolls,etc).

The problem is I haven't seen any difference AT ALL. I have used those calorie burning calculators online and according to those I'm burning well over 1000 a day, and some days I barely eat that many. Shouldn't I be losing a little bit of fat after 3 whole weeks of this!? Every single day I am dripping with sweat and I've never worked so hard in my life, yet the fat is still there, clothes still tight as ever.

[ginkgo]

There are many factors. For example salt has no calories but is very fattening. So you cannot get rid of this water weight by burning calories. If you ate no salt for a week, you would probably lose 7 pounds! Salt is a rock and not a food.

Then there is stuff that makes you fat around the midsection. It ain't fat or water so exercise cannot get rid of it. But you can get rid of it in an hour. It is not polite to mention it on this site. People have nasty names for it, one of which is a 4 letter curse or swear word.

On my site, Losing Weight, it tells how to get rid of it in an hour if you use a simple procedure done in hospitals everyday. It is the fastest cure for constipation. See chapter that says "fastest and quickest way to lose weight."

It is a secret trick used by models and dancers before an event so they are the thinnest possible around their midsection, so do not tell others about it since it is a secret trick. But then if you change your diet, it has a permanent effect.

The above 2 things are only a couple of things that the experts miss and get wrong. The experts even say that your body has either fat or muscle (lean tissue), (like 30% fat and 70% muscle). So if you lose 15 pounds of this weight in an hour, then it is either muscle or fat according to them. So this proves that they are full of IT. What is IT? I like a play on words so I call this waste management for waist management.

[Rockchick26]

Hmmm I think I know what you are talking about, but I know that isnt my problem, because I can pinch the fat, I KNOW it's fat, I can see the rolls and I never had them there before I got laid off from my job and started sitting around every day.

I'll check out your page though, i'm curious to read it!

[ssandra]

You could try and do sit ups so you build muscle in your midsection. This muscle will also help loose the fat faster and it will help shape your body nicely.

Good luck!

[WhiteCrow]

Originally Posted by Rockchick26

I only need to lose about 5 pounds, and it's only around my midsection, so I can tell that my clothes don't fit like they used to. 3 weeks ago I started going for half-hour walks every morning (sometimes I walked for almost an hour) and I've also started dancing/jumping on my trampoline every night for anywhere between 1-3 hours. I've also started eating better (lots of fruit, raisins, vegetables instead of peanut buster parfaits,pizza rolls,etc).

The problem is I haven't seen any difference AT ALL. I have used those calorie burning calculators online and according to those I'm burning well over 1000 a day, and some days I barely eat that many. Shouldn't I be losing a little bit of fat after 3 whole weeks of this!? Every single day I am dripping with sweat and I've never worked so hard in my life, yet the fat is still there, clothes still tight as ever.

5 pounds to lose? It is not that much, should be possible in 2 weeks.

However I think that you are doing something wrong.

1000 calories a day? What calculator did you use?

My guess is that you need way more calories. Especially when you are that active, if you ingest too few calories, your body will not burn fat.

Try having a crap day, where you massively spike your food intake, like 5000 calories, and keep eating clean the rest of the week. See how it goes.

[RobD]

It is very hard to target a particlar spot for weight loss. Usually cardio will helps trim fat. Were it will trim fat is hard to tell sometimes. Sometimes women will start to diet and the scales say they lost weight but look the same except maybe they loss weight in their breast not where they want it.

Another thing is how much weight loss really does vary from person to person. That's why it is not a good iodea to base how much weight you should lose by how your friends, and family have loss through diet and exercise. Usually there should be some weight loss or progress in three weeks. Who knows how much. My wife lost only a pound a while ago and then started shedding lots of weight a few weeks later. Some lose weight right away starting a new diet some take a while.

Looking at your exercise and diet I say give it a week or two. Sounds like it should be working. As long as you keep active and eat right you will see the change.

[DoctorB2B]

On an average day, the human body can burn anywhere from 1500-3000 calories on its own without exercise (depending on gender, age, etc).

When you consume less than 1,000 calories, you're not giving your body enough energy to function properly. You're body is defending itself against starvation and will break down muscle tissue before it breaks down fat stores for energy. As long as you continue this trend, you will begin a journey towards looking anorexic before anything else ... this I assure you.

You have to eat more. Eat 12 times your body weight in calories. If you weight 120lbs, then eat 1440 calories at least every day. Continue your exercise, but I think something other than bouncing on a trampoline would be more effective. If you have a bike, get out on that and move, or run or practice yoga/pilates. You aren't burning a ton of calories jumping up and down. Also, a 30 minute walk isn't doing much for you ... it's better than nothing, but I'll assume you're young, so assuming that my assumption is correct, get outside and move. Walking is for those who can no longer physically run ... get out and run ... enjoy your legs while you can.

Eating is the key to weight loss ... sounds stupid right?

[liamona]

Originally Posted by DoctorB2B

When you consume less than 1,000 calories, you're not giving your body enough energy to function properly. You're body is defending itself against starvation and will break down muscle tissue before it breaks down fat stores for energy.

ITA. You ought to have protein and fat at every meal—try to eat some eggs for breakfast every day for a week.


Eating Eggs Boosts A Healthy Weight Loss Plan

[James81]

You're looking at it all wrong.

You don't need to "lose 5 lbs."

You need to embrace a healthier lifestyle.

The difference? Instead of working your ass off (odds are that you are burning glucose instead of fat if you are working as hard as you say you are), set yourself up on a healthy eating plan and exercise for an hour a day 5-6 days a week.

And get a heart rate monitor. You really only need to do aerobic exercise in your target heart rate (180- your age). If you work harder than that, you won't actually burn fat. You'll burn glucose, which will actually make things worse for you.

The interesting thing is, that when you get inside your target heart rate, it's not really pushing you THAT hard. You'll still be able to hold a conversation, but you'll still sweat (but not be "covered" in it). It's actually quite enjoyable to exercise in that heart rate.

[Rockchick26]

James- So you think i'm just working TOO hard? I sit around all day and barely move for 11 or 12 hours so I don't want to cut back on any working out, that's how I gained the fat in the first place. I don't have a monitor but I can talk when I'm working out, I often sing

DoctorB2B- Well, about eating more...I have actually been eating more in the last 5 months or so, which is when I started gaining fat. I eat out at resteraunts at least twice a week, and I was also hooked on Peanut Buster Parfaits which I would have probably on every week or two. So it seems counter-productive to eat more when that has to be part of why I've gained the weight. I still eat every 3 hours, I've always had a fast metabolism so I HAVE to eat every few hours or my stomach is growling again! Oh, and I'm not really young, I'll be 37 in 2 months. And i'm 110 pounds so I just figured I need about 1300 calories a day. I'm still confused how I should eat more and work out less when I have to work off WAY more than 1300 calories to even lose a pound!

WhiteCrow- I dont remember what calculator I was using, I actually used a few of them and they all pretty much had the same number.

[ginkgo]

I still suggest that you go to that site. It explains how you can also fast for a couple of days to lose weight. The body will need to burn that fat. A growling stomach does not mean that you need food. It means that your stomach is getting empty. The other part of hunger is mental since you could go without food for weeks.

There is nothing wrong with an empty stomach. I have one most of the time since I eat about once a day. I have always been thin and muscular. Then that site also suggests lifting weights since that can cause you to burn many more calories than cardio exercises.

[James81]

Originally Posted by Rockchick26

James- So you think i'm just working TOO hard? I sit around all day and barely move for 11 or 12 hours so I don't want to cut back on any working out, that's how I gained the fat in the first place. I don't have a monitor but I can talk when I'm working out, I often sing

Still, you might be surprised. I'd definately get a heartrate monitor and make sure I stay focused in that target heart rate and see how it compares to how you've been working out. (Target heart rate = 180 - Your Age)

That would be my first step.

My second suggestion would be to start writing down how many calories you are taking in in a given day and add them all up. Make sure they are matching fairly closely with this chart:

Originally Posted by ginkgo

I still suggest that you go to that site. It explains how you can also fast for a couple of days to lose weight. The body will need to burn that fat. A growling stomach does not mean that you need food. It means that your stomach is getting empty. The other part of hunger is mental since you could go without food for weeks.

There is nothing wrong with an empty stomach. I have one most of the time since I eat about once a day. I have always been thin and muscular. Then that site also suggests lifting weights since that can cause you to burn many more calories than cardio exercises.

Please don't seriously suggest someone fast to lose weight.

First of all, the act of fasting will slow their metabolism down in such a way as that when they come OFF the fast, they are going to be more likely to gain weight.

Secondly, fasting does nothing to set up the healthy lifestyle and eatig habits that is required to lose weight and be healthy.

[Joeschmoe]

Originally Posted by James81

Please don't seriously suggest someone fast to lose weight.

First of all, the act of fasting will slow their metabolism down in such a way as that when they come OFF the fast, they are going to be more likely to gain weight.

Secondly, fasting does nothing to set up the healthy lifestyle and eatig habits that is required to lose weight and be healthy.

You are half right. Fasting doesn't fix lifestyle issues. However you are wrong about the slowing down of metabolism. That is a widely propagated myth.

[Angela]

Originally Posted by Rockchick26

I sit around all day and barely move for 11 or 12 hours ...

This is what jumped out at me.

What's up with that?

[James81]

Originally Posted by Joeschmoe

You are half right. Fasting doesn't fix lifestyle issues. However you are wrong about the slowing down of metabolism. That is a widely propagated myth.

Depends on your source, really. I could go find you a whole handful of links to reputable sources that say it's true. You, in turn, could go find a whole handful of links to reputable sources that say it's a myth.

Therefore, I'll relegate to common sense and think about it logically. I'll use an analogy (let's be upfront here, an analogy is NEVER exactly the same, so please don't come back with "that's not the same" because I know it's not the same...I'm using the analogy to illustrate a point)....

You have a car. On a whim one day, you decide that you are going to abandon your modern life and go live on an island for a year.

Before you leave, you want to store your car. So you take all the necessary steps to do so. You remove all the fluids, etc. The car sits in a garage somewhere for a year while you are out gallavanting around like a gazelle.

You come back refreshed and alive and ready to re-enter your modern life. You go get your car, put the fluids in it, and start driving it.

Does that car run as good in those first few days as it did when before you left? Of course not. If you expect that car to run as well when you come back as it did when you are left, you are in for a big surprised.

Why? Because inactivity does certain things to that car. And it takes a little while for it to get back in the groove. By not using all the mechanisms in that car, you decrease it's performance until you can run it for a while and work out all the kinks.

***

Second analogy, and little closer to home with this one. You are a track star. You ran a mile in 4 minutes in high school, broke all kinds of records, and were operating at peak performance.

Then, you take a desk job and become sedentary for 10 years. In that 10 years, you don't run anymore. One day you wake up and realize that you want to run again.

When you get back on the track, do you think that you are going to be running a mile in 4 minutes? Of course not. If you try, you'll probably end up in the hospital. You need to warm up and get back into shape, and there stands a possibility that you might not *ever* get back to where you were in high school because you spent too much time sedentary. You might get close, but maybe not quite the same.

****

The point that I am illustrating is this (and remember, neither of those analogies are the *same* thing, they are just there to illustrate this point):

Inactivity causes a breakdown in efficiency.

So, when fasting, you are essentially shutting down the digestive process and reverting to burning fat as your primary source of energy.

Depending on how LONG you fast, will depend on how inefficient your metabolism will become in the meantime. If you fast for 3 days, you won't notice as much a drop as you would if you fast for 30 days.

But the drop in metabolic rate will occur.

It starts occuring the moment your body switches modes. And it continues to detoriorate until you take back up the digestive process.

After you do so, you'll experience a lower metabolic rate for a while (the amount of time depends on how long you fast and the frequency of the fasts you take).

To me, that just makes good common sense.

[Joeschmoe]

People don't run on analogies and "good common sense." I don't know what reputable sources you claim to have, but to make a scientific claim you need peer review in a reputable scientific journal. That's just how it works. There is a "starvation mode" where there is a shift in BMR when the body tries to protect itself from starvation. What's also true is that people and animals don't go into this mode until they are out of fat.

If you would like me to try and pull up the articles I would be happy to try, although many of the journals charge. I'll also be happy to look at and comment on any articles you have.

[James81]

Originally Posted by Joeschmoe

People don't run on analogies and "good common sense." I don't know what reputable sources you claim to have, but to make a scientific claim you need peer review in a reputable scientific journal. That's just how it works. There is a "starvation mode" where there is a shift in BMR when the body tries to protect itself from starvation. What's also true is that people and animals don't go into this mode until they are out of fat.

If you would like me to try and pull up the articles I would be happy to try, although many of the journals charge. I'll also be happy to look at and comment on any articles you have.

I purposely didn't go seeking articles, because I know that we BOTH can find articles (peer reviewed at that) that support our viewpoints.

Why bother wasting time doing that (I mean, what will that solve, if we both go find reputable articles--and I know they are both out there because I've been in this discussion before), when we could look at the logic behind it and test it?

[Rockchick26]

Originally Posted by ginkgo

I still suggest that you go to that site. It explains how you can also fast for a couple of days to lose weight. The body will need to burn that fat. A growling stomach does not mean that you need food. It means that your stomach is getting empty. The other part of hunger is mental since you could go without food for weeks.

There is nothing wrong with an empty stomach. I have one most of the time since I eat about once a day. I have always been thin and muscular. Then that site also suggests lifting weights since that can cause you to burn many more calories than cardio exercises.

So the body's reaction to an empty stomach by producing a growling sound is for no reason whatsoever? I HATE having an empty stomach though, it almost hurts! And I get weak and shaky if I go too long without food.

Once a day you eat?! I have never heard that being recommended, but I guess everyone is different. I am pretty sure I'd fall into a gelatinous heap on the floor if I could only eat once a day!

I use Curves, yes that silly looking bar, as seen on tv, but it really works! I have really toned arms and chest muscles thanks to that. I also use a resistance band. I used 10 pound weights for many months but never saw any results from them.

[Rockchick26]

Originally Posted by Angela

This is what jumped out at me.

What's up with that?

Well I got laid off from my job, so I spend all my time at home on the computer, working on my website which I started in February. (through SBI ) and also searching for jobs and applying for jobs online which takes up an insane amounts of time. Up to an hour just to apply for ONE job. I've also been researching careers which is more time sitting on the computer. I really wish there was a way I could work out while using the computer. I also spend more time with friends, and my friends aren't into physical activity, just watching movies and playing card games so that's just sitting around too.

[Angela]

I see ... I suspect that all those hours of lethargy are seriously contributing to your roll. You might want to make a dent in those hours by exchanging some part of that movie watching and card playing for more movement; I think that would make a difference for you. You do not live at the mercy of what those friends want, do you? Who is in charge of your life?

The more you move, the more calories your body will burn even when you're not moving.

And sitting around, barely moving for 11 or 12 hours (and then sleeping, barely moving, for however long you sleep), is just like being a Fat Factory.

[Rockchick26]

Originally Posted by James81

Depends on your source, really. I could go find you a whole handful of links to reputable sources that say it's true. You, in turn, could go find a whole handful of links to reputable sources that say it's a myth.

Therefore, I'll relegate to common sense and think about it logically. I'll use an analogy (let's be upfront here, an analogy is NEVER exactly the same, so please don't come back with "that's not the same" because I know it's not the same...I'm using the analogy to illustrate a point)....

You have a car. On a whim one day, you decide that you are going to abandon your modern life and go live on an island for a year.

Before you leave, you want to store your car. So you take all the necessary steps to do so. You remove all the fluids, etc. The car sits in a garage somewhere for a year while you are out gallavanting around like a gazelle.

You come back refreshed and alive and ready to re-enter your modern life. You go get your car, put the fluids in it, and start driving it.

Does that car run as good in those first few days as it did when before you left? Of course not. If you expect that car to run as well when you come back as it did when you are left, you are in for a big surprised.

Why? Because inactivity does certain things to that car. And it takes a little while for it to get back in the groove. By not using all the mechanisms in that car, you decrease it's performance until you can run it for a while and work out all the kinks.

This is beside the point, but I have 2 vehicles and I store both of them for approximately half the year, sometimes longer. I don't take the fluids out and they run perfectly fine later when I drive them. I suppose someone might say I'm taking a risk, but, I've been doing this for 5 years and never had a problem yet, except for a dead battery but that's normal.

The point that I am illustrating is this (and remember, neither of those analogies are the *same* thing, they are just there to illustrate this point):

Inactivity causes a breakdown in efficiency.

So, when fasting, you are essentially shutting down the digestive process and reverting to burning fat as your primary source of energy.

Depending on how LONG you fast, will depend on how inefficient your metabolism will become in the meantime. If you fast for 3 days, you won't notice as much a drop as you would if you fast for 30 days.

But the drop in metabolic rate will occur.

It starts occuring the moment your body switches modes. And it continues to detoriorate until you take back up the digestive process.

After you do so, you'll experience a lower metabolic rate for a while (the amount of time depends on how long you fast and the frequency of the fasts you take).

To me, that just makes good common sense.

I've heard good and bad things about fasting. I've heard everything from it curing cancer to giving you diabetes. I've never tried it, I like to be 100% sure something is good before I try it.

But with the way my body is, I honestly think I would need to be hospitalized if I fasted. I can't even go 6 hours without food sometimes.

[Rockchick26]

Originally Posted by Angela

I see ... I suspect that all those hours of lethargy are seriously contributing to your roll. You might want to make a dent in those hours by exchanging some part of that movie watching and card playing for more movement; I think that would make a difference for you. You do not live at the mercy of what those friends want, do you? Who is in charge of your life?

The more you move, the more calories your body will burn even when you're not moving.

And sitting around, barely moving for 11 or 12 hours (and then sleeping, barely moving, for however long you sleep), is just like being a Fat Factory.

Well this is why I've started my new routine of walking and dancing and jumping on the trampoline every day. But like some people have said, maybe i'm working out TOO much now, even though some days I'm still sitting around for many hours, total. I am sure that once I get a job I'll lose my fat, but in this economy it's not looking to happen anytime soon.

[Angela]

...in this economy it's not looking to happen anytime soon.

Uh-oh, your limiting beliefs are showing!

You might want to add more incidental exercise, is what I was saying. Set a timer for every 15 minutes and get up and walk around the room or stretch. It doesn't take long, but your body will appreciate your consistent attention to it throughout the day, rather than just that "exercise time" -- fidget!

[Rockchick26]

Originally Posted by Angela

Uh-oh, your limiting beliefs are showing!

You might want to add more incidental exercise, is what I was saying. Set a timer for every 15 minutes and get up and walk around the room or stretch. It doesn't take long, but your body will appreciate your consistent attention to it throughout the day, rather than just that "exercise time" -- fidget!

I know, I'm just a bit skeptical after being out of a job for 6 months and not having any luck yet.

I know what you're saying about incidental exercise, the only reason that doesn't work is because once I get into something, it's hard to stop. Once I start working out, i want to work out for 3 hours. Once I get on my computer and start working on my website, I want to write more and more. It's a momentum thing. It's hard for me to take breaks from anything I do because I like to get it done first. But, for my body's sake, I should give that timer thing a whirl!

[James81]

Originally Posted by Rockchick26

This is beside the point, but I have 2 vehicles and I store both of them for approximately half the year, sometimes longer. I don't take the fluids out and they run perfectly fine later when I drive them. I suppose someone might say I'm taking a risk, but, I've been doing this for 5 years and never had a problem yet, except for a dead battery but that's normal.

Again, just an analogy and not something to veer off into.

Never ceases to amaze me how befuddled analogies make a discussion, though. lol That's why I try to clarify clearly that analogies aren't something to discuss in and of themselves. They exist to illustrate a point.

Originally Posted by Rockchick26

I've heard good and bad things about fasting. I've heard everything from it curing cancer to giving you diabetes. I've never tried it, I like to be 100% sure something is good before I try it.

But with the way my body is, I honestly think I would need to be hospitalized if I fasted. I can't even go 6 hours without food sometimes.

I'm not arguing the benefits of fasting. From what I've read, fasting is really good for the body.

All I'm saying is that if you DO fast, please be aware of the slowdown of your metabolism and don't come out of it thinking you can pick up eating the way you went into it. You gotta ease into it.

And fasting as a way to lose weight? Probably one of the worst approaches at losing weight. Why? Because it does nothing to establish proper eating habits. Nor does it do anything to establish a good exercise regimin (sp?). Two key components to weight lose. Sure, it'll chew the fat off, but the odds of you coming OFF the fast and going right into the perfect lifetime diet plan are slim. Oh, it can be done, but it rarely ever is. And thanks to the slow down of the metabolism, resuming your eating habits where you left off will make you more prone to gaining the weight back and then some. Happens very frequently and is worth noting.