Stalls and exercise

About two weeks ago I joined a gym and have been exercising 5 days a week. I've been doing a lot of strength training trying to help out my knees and hips. During this time I have literally lost about a pound which seems strange at only 8 weeks out. I had a stall for two weeks at week two and now seem to be in another one. What the heck? Could more exercise actually slow my weight loss down? That's the only thing I'm doing different.

I just think that stalls are just going to be a part of our journey.  I swear, the weight fell off the first 2 to 2.5 months...and is barely coming off now. I had a stall at 60 lbs loss, which was about 2.5 months out...and since then, it has only been trickling off.  I have only lost 12 lbs since---and that's in  1.5 months. 

I just started walking at the football stadium with my girls.  It's funny, as my (twin) girls are pure athletes....I mean they both have an 8 pack!!   Mine is hidden in the ice chest...lol  They work out EVERY day...and I have to wonder what happened to me??!!  They played Volleyball year around, and ran track and cross country......don't know where they get their drive! LOL  So, I have started waking up really early with them, and walking a mile or so every morning.  This, in hopes of losing a bit faster.  I haven't broken down yet and joined a gym, though, I see it in the near future.  My girls (my inspirations) are heading off to college this fall, so I won't have anyone to walk with, so maybe a gym would be easier--not to mention air conditioned.  It is hot here in TEXAS, and even at 6 or 7am, I break a sweat. 

Susan C

Ugh. I still haven't stopped to join the gym... 

I'm bad... 

I don't think exercise slows down weight loss, but your body isn't used to it & might be holding onto water weight. Stalls do happen just keep doing what you're doing & the scale will move again.

That makes sense that I might be holding on to water. I know exercise should help to some degree with weight loss, not cause a stall. I'll just keep going.

I haven't had a stall since surgery (13 weeks out).  Maybe I'm one of the lucky ones but I will tell you I change up my menu a lot.  Sometimes 600 calories sometimes up to 850 calories....and any range in between those two numbers.  Sometimes less than 20 carbs, sometimes up to 40.  My body never knows what its going to get!!  I drink a ton of water usually at least 3 litres, and my exercise is just walking, and sometimes not every day depends on the heat.

Reads like you're doing everything right and eventually the stall will break.  Hang in there.

Karen

I have been doing the same thing and at almost 4 months out, I have not stalled.  I think that keeping my body a little confused is preventing it from digging in its heels.

exercise,while good for us,really doesn't impact weight loss as much as what we eat does. 

I have lost 122# and maintained the loss for 6 years with no exercise at all.

New exercise actually damages muscles. That's ok, because that's what is supposed to happen. It's how strength increases, and muscle is added.

But as muscle is repaired and replaced, it causes inflammation and water retention. If your calories are truly low, you are still burning fat, and in the long run, you'll do great. But you'll get no immediate positive feedback from the scale.

Increasing exercise will only make the scale move slower. If you want immediate gratification, sitting around all day works better.

Keep exercising. It's really, really good for your health. But you won't measure it on the scale.

Thanks, Grim. That makes perfect sense. I really like exercising. It makes me feel so good about myself.

I had to laugh at your saying I should sit around if I want instant gratification. Years ago, I was on a nasty Medifast diet eating about the same 800 calories a day. They actively encouraged sitting around doing nothing so that you would lose more. Exercise not recommended! I did lose quickly, but was a slug and obviously unsuccessful in the long run.