4 weeks, trying hard, no results: I need help.... - Couch to 5K

Couch to 5K

134,190 members159,536 posts

4 weeks, trying hard, no results

Debjm1 profile image
15 Replies

I need help. 4 weeks of dieting (vegan), clean eating, drinking slightly less than 1/2 my weight in water each day, exercising (treadmill and outside walking) 3 miles 5 x week have not lost 1 lb.

No alcohol. I need to lose 15lbs and feel completely frustrated. Any thoughts? 🤔. I have been a vegetarian (some fish ) for many years...just recently trying Vegan because I thought eliminating dairy may help. Appreciate feedback.

Written by
Debjm1 profile image
Debjm1
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
15 Replies
Dunder2004 profile image
Dunder2004Graduate

Possibly this is not the right forum but I do hope you are exaggerating with the water comment. Over-hydration is really dangerous, don't overdo it with the water.

Aside from that, 4 weeks is a very short period of time in the overall scheme of things.

Is there a medical reason that you "need" to lose 15lbs?

Debjm1 profile image
Debjm1 in reply toDunder2004

No real medical reason, I have gained 15 lbs and find physical activity easier when I weigh less and have less physical issues. Re the water- read that a good gauge is to take your weight, divide in half and this represents water intake goal-,approx 70 to 80 oz per day.

Dunder2004 profile image
Dunder2004Graduate in reply toDebjm1

Fair enough. 70-80 fluid ounces is certainly not overdoing it.

RainbowC profile image
RainbowCGraduate

It's partly what you eat; it's mainly calories in vs calories used. So even if you're eating 'clean', giving your body more energy than it needs will still mean no weight loss.

Although many people on this forum have found that by taking up running, they've lost some weight, that's not its primary purpose; you may find more support and advice on the Health Unlocked Weight Loss forum. :)

Debjm1 profile image
Debjm1 in reply toRainbowC

Thank you!!!! My first post/will check out weight loss forum

Debjm1 profile image
Debjm1 in reply toRainbowC

Thank you! I'm a stickler for counting calories in and expended. Use Fitbit and my fitness pal. I'm going to the other forum, too. Appreciate your feedback

misswobble profile image
misswobbleGraduate

You have to eat enough! Eat too little and your body hangs onto fat

It takes a while to start losing weight, or it can do. You have to give it time

If you are eating and drinking healthily and exercising then you will lose weight.

Debjm1 profile image
Debjm1

Thank you- I have possibly cut my calories too much. May try reincorporated some dairy for protein.

Tomas profile image
TomasGraduate

You don't lose more weight by eating vegan. There is no such thing as dirty/clean eating.

Losing a pound of fat requires that you expend 3500 calories more than you consume. While very healthy, walking is not a great way to burn calories. Your 3 x 5 miles will probably burn around 1,000 calories (depending on all sorts of things including your weight).

So if you're not losing weight, it might be because you consume as many calories as you spend.

P.S. Try asking anyone who has survived a famine what they think about the theory that eating too few calories stops weight loss...

annie1970 profile image
annie1970Graduate

Hey. Just a question but have you measured yourself? I graduated a week ago and healthy eating but have not lost any weight. But....I have dropped a jeans size and am so much more toned with slim legs and buns of steel due to all the exercise. So, it may be that although you haven't lost weight, you have reduced in size...

Debjm1 profile image
Debjm1 in reply toannie1970

No, but awesome idea! Thank you

IgaT profile image
IgaTGraduate

I am not an expert, but I'd consider myself quite well educated in this subject. Although I struggle with loosing weight by myself. I can share knowledge that I have. It may not help you, but it will not harm you either ;)

Regarding water. Water you need to drink depends on many factors: activity, temperature, overall weight, and age. Think of it as minimum of 1.5L of water each day spread equally over the time. I'd say the optimum would be between 2 - 2.5L for you, so 70-80 oz is ok.

Regarding eating. I am not good with vegan diet (I don't know much about it), but remember to give your body enough proteins to help your muscles regenerate. Check if you are eating balanced diet, so you don't miss any vitamins or minerals, like calcium or iron. You need also eat at least 1500 kcal per day, I'd suggest 2000-2500 kcal per day for you. Otherwise your metabolism is slowing down, as it thinks it is fasting time, so it needs to keep all possible energy until good times. It will absorb every possible calorie from food, which sometimes may also cause some bowel or toilet problems (no idea if you have those or not).

Regarding exercises. It's great that you are walking each day. But in order to loose weight you need to burn more calories. Unfortunately, cardio is usually not enough if you want to loose weight. Apart from running (preferably as a HIIT - high intensity interval training), you should also do strength exercises. As building up lean muscles increase you basic metabolic rate enhancing amount of calories burnt even while resting. I'd recommend at least twice a weak a proper at least 30 min HIIT (running or any other, you can find quite a lot of HIIT on youtube, including low impact if you have any joint problems). Above that twice a week strength training, you can use your body weight if you don't want to spend money or don't like gym. Two days of more easy exercises, can be light cardio, light core strength exercises, yoga, pilates, long session of stretching. You should be walking each day at least 10,000 steps, so approx. 3-4 miles, that can be divided over all day, so e.g. 1.5 mile in the morning and the other 1.5-2.5 mile in the afternoon. Give yourself 1 day of proper rest.

Remember to sleep at least 7 hours per night, preferably 8, to give your body time to regenerate.

The last more general tips are:

- Give yourself time! As you didn't gain this weight in a month, you won't loose it in a month ;)

- Do not concentrate on the number on the scale, muscles are heavier than fat ;) Try measuring yourself and check if cm / in are going down. Or even better: analyse how you feel, do you feel better / fitter / happier?

Not sure how much it is true, but I've noticed that, depending on your starting point, sometimes loosing pounds when you are close to your normal weight is much slower than loosing when you have quite a bit additional stones on you.

Wish you all the best and good luck with your journey!

PS. Try Loose Weight Forum. Maybe they will be able to help you more.

Theziggy profile image
TheziggyGraduate

How many calories a day on average were you eating?

I did a well publicised blood sugar diet recently which had a 800 cal per day max and lost 1.5 stone in 6 weeks (plus I am a vegetarian so similar to vegan) - alas Christmas brought me a bit of weight back as a gift - so am thinking about embarking upon the diet again

misswobble profile image
misswobbleGraduate

Your diet should be sustainable. If it's not you won't stick to it.

I walk everywhere. Walking is good and burns calories, lots of em 😀 I do put quite a spurt on though 😀

First-time-run profile image
First-time-run

Maybe try measuring yourself rather than weighing. You could just be toning up. Just a thought?

Not what you're looking for?

You may also like...

Trying hard

Starting wk3 of treadmill version. So far so good but think I will need decent trainers. Any ideas?
Mary112 profile image

Week 4 is hard! :s

I was loving week 3, I flew through it and was looking forward to each walking interval to be over...
emzolita profile image

Trying hard

I'm 56 and never done a lot of running but am reasonably fit am I suitable for c25k?
Mary112 profile image

Graduation plus 4 weeks

4 weeks following graduation I'm really please to say I've stuck with the programme. I set myself a...
O505k profile image
Graduate

Week 4 still hard

I'm on week 4 done run 1. This isn't getting easier. My legs are killing me when I run. It's sheer...
froggyrunner profile image
Graduate

Moderation team

See all
MissUnderstanding profile image
MissUnderstandingAdministrator
Annieapple profile image
AnnieappleAdministrator
Oldfloss profile image
OldflossAdministrator

Content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them.

Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.