New fitness regime not doing much

[mungbeanz]

For the last ten years or so I've been a heavy smoker and boozer, but last week I decided to change my ways after seeing how fat i had become.

So on Monday I started walking to walk (40 min each way) and going to the gym every day for an hour. I have also started eating three small meals a day.

My question is: Does anybody know when I should start to see results? I was 15 stone on Sunday and now I'm just over 15 stone on Friday! Surely I should be losing, not gaining weight.

Also my target is 13 stone, which i think is healthy for my height (5'1"). How long should I expect to wait to be this heavy?

[daffy654]

13 stone is not a healthy weight for someone who is 5' 1".
You should be below 10st (for women) at least. I am 5' 4" and I know that 10st is my limit before I am classed as overweight.

I would give it more than a week before you start worrying about no results though.

[cazzz1975]

its too early to tell, you need to give it at least a month before you notice any slight differences

[muchlovex]

First of all well done for all of the hard work and effort you are putting in. You need to allow yourself more time to see any difference.

You are probably building muscle, so that'll weighty. Also, only weight yourself on the same day, once per week, in the morning.

Have you made any changes to the foods you are eating?

[boxtops]

well done,. muchlovex - give it a couple of weeks, you should change body shape if not lose weight straight off. I am a lot less bulky but not much lighter these days!

[boxtops]

^^oops sorry - that was for mungbeanz not muchlovex...

[boxtops]

Hi mungbeanz, see this chart - it averages men and women, but at 5'1" for your target BMI of 20-25, you should weigh below 10 stone.... http://www.caloriecou...ources/charts/bmi.htm

[boxtops]

or this one http://www.bhf.org.uk/bmi/home.html

However, if I were you, I would aim for half a stone at a time, whatever your target is - trying to lose too much too fast can have the opposite effect. Good for you for walking and the gym - you WILL start to see results!

[R1Geezer]

well done mate but Rome wasn't built in a day, my guess is that you have lost fat but gained muscle both are quick in the early days of a regime and muscle is more dense, have your measurements changed?. I can weigh 5 pounds heavier at 8 at night than I do at 8 in the morning! Stick with it! Don't over do it in the early stages. Also give up the weed that's the main ball and chain to progress.

[fliptheswitch]

Well done on getting your arse into gear. It's not easy, as most of us know.
You don't say if you've cut out the alcohol but, if not, then this is a good place to start.
You don't have to cut it out completely, but certainly try to limit yourself to either just having a drink at the weekend, or sticking to the recommended daily allowance. Also, if you're drinking lager/beer/wine, then these will be contributing massively to your daily calorie intake.
Don't go to the gym every day. You will become bored easily and lose motivation. Also, your body needs to recover from the previous days exercise, so I would recommend going every other day.
45 minutes should be all you need in the gym, providing you are doing the correct exercise and using the equipment correctly. Make sure you mix it up. I'd do 25 minutes cardio training, and then 20 minutes with weights.
Try not to weigh yourself any more than once a week, as it's easy to become disheartened when the scales tell you you've gained a pound or two. Remember, our weight fluctuates during the day, so weight yourself once a week, at the same time of day, and use digital scales.
With regards to the "three small meals", I would swap this for 'little and often'. Eat every three hours, and keep it small and healthy.. so graze. This will help your metabolism.
Lastly, do not give up! You're doing really well and will soon start seeing the results... though you'll have to wait a bit longer than a week, I'm afraid :)
There's a section on here, for weight loss. Have a look, it's really good and you'll be able to get tips and motivation from like-minded people.

Keep up the good work and good luck! :)

[VHG]

So you have taken 10 years to put on the weight, and expect to lose weight in a week.

You should be looking long term at this, not 7 days.

It may take you a few years to lose the weight so dont look at it on a day to day basis.

Anyway muscle is heavier than fat so if you are turning fat into muscle it will be heavier.

[fliptheswitch]

Also, what are you eating? What is a typical daily intake for you?

[mungbeanz]

I}m really sorry i mean I am 6'1

[Bummle]

Do you mean 5' 11"? Are you male or female?

[mungbeanz]

I probably eat about 1500 calories a day now,

[Bummle]

Sorry we must have crossed in the ether - that sounds more like it. Phew! Keep up the good work.