5 lbs in 10 weeks

My boyfriend gets back from Japan in 10 weeks and I’d really like to lose 5 lbs by then. I’ve been trying for a while and haven’t lost an ounce. Here are my stats:

5’2", 110 lbs. very small frame GW: 105 lbs
activity: walk maybe 1/2 mile per day to classes, etc.; MWF 5-7 mile runs, TU/TH: HIIT (just started this week), SAT: 10 mile run

Calories: (loosely counting so could be inaccurate) 1200-1500 per day.

Any ideas as to why I haven’t lost? And some tips to help me lose this 5?

You probably have very little muscle, I’d guess. I’d recommend adding some weight training a couple days a week.

I’m actually extremely muscular…I was a gymnast for 16 years haha.
My body fat percentage is roughly 15…is that why its so hard to lose?

You sound like you are in great shape and your stats look good. Is there some reason why these 5lbs are bothering you or a particular goal (other than lose the 5lbs) that is driving you?

With that said, drink plenty of water and keep your sodium intake low so you don’t mistake water retention for fat gain. Eat quality foods and stay active. Journal your food and measure everything so you aren’t guessing anymore.
Pamela

www.ThrivePersonalFitness.com

Thanks Pamela,
The main reason I want to lose weight is (as shallow as it may be) vanity. I was 105 lbs at one point and loved the way all my clothes fit and how I looked in shorts or running tights. All around I feel better and more comfortable with myself. So if my body just doesn’t want to lose (which may be the case) then I won’t be devastated, it’s just nice to be completely comfortable with myself.

I see you have a relatively high mileage every week. Maybe you are overcompensating with what you eat for how much you exercise? Like, maybe you say you’ve ran ten miles, so you figure you could still eat a lot and not gain weight. I know I do this when I was training for my marathon. Just a suggestion! I could be totally wrong :)

If you have a BF% of 15! you are simply not losing because you don’t have that much to lose. I think this one is in your head.

After hearing you are at 15% body fat, I completely agree with Arnthorla. As a women, yo ureally don’t want to get lower than that. That’s like a guy being at 5% body fat and still obsessing about losing weight.

I agree with the others that if you are truly at 15% bodyfat, then you shouldn’t be worrying about the scale. It’s not going to be an good indicator for your fitness level. You may look fantastic in shorts at 115 pounds if your legs are strong and muscular. Try using a tape measure to keep track of your key measurements instead and track how those change over time.

That being said, we’re about the same size. I’m 5’1" and 112 lbs. When I was around 15% body fat, I was 108 lbs. I was generally wearing a size 2 or maybe a 4 depending on the brand. I’m wondering what about the fit of your clothes seems to be the problem. Are your legs more muscular than you like?

It might also be helpful to know how you estimated your body fat percentage. 15% is pretty low for a woman and I think you’d be pretty lean and fit and not have anything left to lose but muscle at that point.

http://lookinggoodmom.blogspot.com

Hi liz,
Yeah I fluctuate between 108-110. Thats exactly it, my legs are more muscular than I’d like them to be…I don’t tumble anymore. I mainly just run distance now (half-marathons, so training for those etc.). I just incorporated HIIT into my routine this week so maybe that will help boost my metabolism. I wear a size 2, but my legs just look disproportionate to the rest of my body. I’d like leaner muscle because it is just really bulky at this point. I thought distance running would help with that, but it hasn’t.

If anything, HIIT would make it worse.

Are you doing squats or lunges? Those’ll make your legs big too. Long distance running, you are correct, will make your legs smaller.

I’ve been distance running for a year now and nothing. pilates? I’ve heard that helps. Anyone? Maybe I’ll just accept it and move on. It’s 5 lbs not 50. The only hope I have with HIIT is that maybe it will help me lose the actual weight, which in turn would make my legs leaner, as that is where I gain and lose weight more than anywhere else.

If your legs are really muscular maybe you should try to balance out your body with some extra upper body weight work. I know its hard, especially for us as women, to not be critical of ourselves. Just don’t be too hard on yourself because there are many women who would kill to be in the shape you are in. It’s all relative.
Pamela

www.ThrivePersonalFitness.com

@AGo89
I second PamelaH here in going for over all balance.
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Most long distance runners I know, as in utlra marathon runners, have muscular legs, It depends upon genetics, or say body type, where they tend to be muscular, some get huge calves and skinny thighs. Some are generally overall muscular. Marathon runners tend to be slender, but the skin and bone type is rare and more used as fodder for herding folks to do HIIT training more or less exclusively. ;)
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So long distance running wont necessarily make your legs less muscular, might even go the other way. Seems to me that the legs tend to reach a balance in bulk, and then the development tends to be inside the muscles, not in them changing sizes. So you will probably balance out, and in my experience (from admiring female runners) will get hot legs. So no worries. ;)