after my third day, I don't see weight loss. Why?

[sararenee]

I am on my fourth day using the fit bit, and since I'm on brake, I have been taking long hikes, except for today. I have eaten less calories than normal intake, and I'm using burning more calories than I eat. When am I supposed to see any weight loss?

sararenee

[Heybales]

So where you in a diet before this break, eating at certain level with certain amount of exercise?

And now you are eating even less than normal diet amount, and moving even more?

Don't think a bigger deficit is better.

If that was the case - why don't you just stop eating and just lose the weight fast?

Also, if all this hiking and walking is a new level - your body responds by trying to store more glycogen for the increased time doing it - that stores with water - that increases weight.

If no weight gain, you need to measure, because you've probably lost some fat - but there likely won't be enough in 3 days to see.

[KukaaKatchou]

When your muscles are developing they store water.  Also muscle tissue weighs more than fat tissue, so when you start to lose fat and develop muscle, you may not notice much change on the scale.  I would suggest you weigh and measure yourself once a week at the same time.  That way you will have a more accurate picture of what is happening with your body.  I don't have one of those fancy scales that measures fat%, but I suppose that would also give you an idea of the changes your body is going through (I use my wii board as a scale for now).  I know when I increase my exercise, my weight initially goes up, then starts to drop as my body ajusts.  Keep up the good work!

[slysam]

I don't see how you can tell in three days. Fluid weight fluctuates day to day due to all sorts of things and can go up and down a few pounds (for some five+) at different points in the same day. I prefer frequent, maybe daily weigh ins. But this is why some plans suggest weighing once a week and some even less frequent. Just keep up the good stuff for another week or so and reevaluate then.

Vigorous activity is one of many things that can cause extra fluid retention, if you are not use to the long hikes that might be happening. In the long run, this does not prevent fat loss (and might even help it) the temproary water weight is just part of the process of your body recovering from the activity. I often see a gain of about 2-3 pounds, but if losing fat at the same time it may look like my weight is just staying the same.

Also for women, different stages in the hormone cycle effect fluid weight--for me it isn't the obvious time my weight gain tends to be a couple weeks before my period then after it starts I tend to lose some fluid weight. I like to weigh myself the second day of my new cycle because that is often my lowest weight day (unless I eat a lot of salt the day before). If that day my weight is lower than day 2 previous cycle I know I lost. I do weigh more frequent than once a month though and have seen losses quicker than that. But just saying it helps to take a more long range view especially when combining diet with increased activity/exercise. 

I think it is helpful for anyone who is dieting (especially if working out) to learn about what effects fluid retention. This is sometimes not mentioned, but if you weigh frequently it can play with your head if you don't know what causes it for you. It can make people thing they are constantly gaining and losing the same three pounds when in reality they are just maintaining their bodyfat (3 pounds up and down sounds more like normal fluid fluctuations--not saying you. I've just heard and read a lot of people saying that exact thing). And on the other hand someone who lost a pound might think they are maintaining or gaining weight if they assume the only thing that effects their daily weight is fat. 

[sararenee]

I had taken some food off my diet, like sugar, and dairy. Now I am eating
less fat, and carbs.
I had been doing some strength exercise and some walking, but not as much
and as now or not as intense.

Yes, I think I need to be more patient, but I also want some motivation, I
think.
Yes, I could just stop eating and then I would loose the weight and die
too. 🙂

My husband says I look better, and maybe there is less tummy.
I think I will be patient.

Thank you for answering.
Sara

[sararenee]

Yes, that is true. I will be more patient about this.
Sara

[sararenee]

I think the hormone issue is real issue for me now.
Sara

[CardiacBeat]

You could also try a low carb diet 🙂 that would help a lot. Carbs are turned to sugar for energy, and if you don't use all that sugar in your daily activity the sugar will just store, raising bllod sugar and gainning weight. 

Best of luck to you!! 

[sararenee]

I try. Thank you.
Sara

[Heybales]

Carbs are sugar. Rather, sugar is carbs.

They aren't turned to energy, they are stored in the liver and muscle as glycogen for when your activity intensity is too great for fat to be the main energy source, and then they start to get used as needed.

You only store them as fat if eating very greatly in excess, because first you top of liver and muscle stores for whatever has already been used, and then you use them as immediate energy until your blood sugar drops to normal. At that point normal fat-burning mode is on.

Your blood sugar raises no matter how many carbs you eat, and insulin is secreted to do the job above, as well as take the protein you ate and get it to where it's needed.

Insulin is also secreted when you eat protein.

You have a very incomplete picture of human physiology.

Glad you have found low carb to work for you, but you don't really understand why.

---

@CardiacBeat wrote:

You could also try a low carb diet 🙂 that would help a lot. Carbs are turned to sugar for energy, and if you don't use all that sugar in your daily activity the sugar will just store, raising bllod sugar and gainning weight. 

Best of luck to you!! 

---

[CardiacBeat]

Oh! Well thanks! I still don't really understand but I look more into it so I have a better understanding. Again, thank you!

[sararenee]

Yes, I may not have a very clear understanding of how carbs work, and maybe
that is why people ask. you could be a bit more understanding of us the
people who don't know.

Maybe that is the reason people write in these blogs, to ask, to get
information. I did not think I was going to get called an ignorant/\.

Oh well, I am who I am and I am happy, the best thing is that I am OK with
learning.

Sara

[Heybales]

---

@sararenee wrote:
Yes, I may not have a very clear understanding of how carbs work, and maybe
that is why people ask. you could be a bit more understanding of us the
people who don't know.

Maybe that is the reason people write in these blogs, to ask, to get
information. I did not think I was going to get called an ignorant/\.

Oh well, I am who I am and I am happy, the best thing is that I am OK with
learning.

Sara

---

You misread that post as being for you. It was not.

I even included the quote of the person I was talking to (like this one now) who was giving advice based on incorrect info.

And the reason I wanted to correct those misconceptions is exactly because you had asked, and I figured no need for someone asking to come away with incorrect info. That's how myths start.

http://www.extension.iastate.edu/humansciences/content/carbohydrate

[CardiacBeat]

You still could have been more understanding. I did read your post as being harsh. I did not know I was giving incorrect info.

[CardiacBeat]

Heybales was not talking to you. He was correcting me. I am sorry for providing false information. 

[whome]

Looks like some people are getting pretty touchy here.

 @sararenee - I had to go back and read the thread again and I still didn't find the word "ignorant" until YOU used it - much less whatever you meant by "/\" - however I have to admit when I first saw your first post I had to restrain myself from replying "because it has only been three days you silly ______(fill in the blank)" 

@ everyone concerned

I will admit that some of haybales' posts do seem a little on the short side (bordering on rude) but never have I seen an actually rude post - Most all the posts are backed up with documentation - more than can be said for much of the "common" wisdom that so often is bandied about around here -

I would like to suggest that cutting others a little more slack is usually the best way to handle these sort of things and if you don't like my suggestion, well, you can just @#$%&* (*(*&^&% - lol - hope y'all get the joke

Craig