Nothing works! Please help.

julielachtay

I have been trying to lose weight for the past 6 months. I switched from being Vegetarian to Vegan but I was constantly ill.
I've tried giving up wheat and sugar. I don't eat processed foods, I keep a very close eye on how much sugar I eat. I don't eat junk and I don't eat huge portions.
7 weeks ago I joined a gym. I go three times a week and do HIIT classes, I exercise at home and during work breaks so I exercise most days and I walk as much as possible.
I have tried nothing but raw food, Jane Plan [gained 1.5lbs in first week] and have just joined slimming world. The first week I gained 0.5 lbs. The consultant looked at my food diary and couldn't find any reason why I hadn't lost.
I have just had my thyroid checked and there is nothing wrong.
I'm getting really down and disheartened and having just spent 18 months being clinically depressed, this is not a road I want to go back to.
I have literally tried everything but I just cannot lose weight.
Any advice would be hugely appreciated.
Thank You

malibu927

Can you open up your diary?

yarwell

Open your diary (settings, bottom left), tell us how much you eat and how tall and light you are.

SconnieCat

It sounds like you've "literally tried" every fad diet when - unless you have a medical condition - the only thing you really need to remember is "CICO".

Do you accurately weight/track and log your food? Do you eat back exercise calories? If you open your diary, it will help people get an understanding of what's going on and it will better allow them to assist you.

TheLegendaryBrandonHarris

Hey Julie! I'm glad you're here.
Don't lose faith.

I always try to develop what I call my ADHD
Accuracy
Diligence
Honesty
Discipline

First things first: How accurately are you measuring EVERYTHING you consume? I don't mean guestimating, rounding off, forgetting condiments and leaving off liquids.

Are you being diligent and staying on your goals every day?

Are you being honest with yourself?

Are you trying to become more disciplined?

If you don't have a food scale, get one. They are like $15. It helps. Grab a few glass measuring cups while you're there. And a set of measuring spoons and cups. You can get all of this stuff for less than $30. It makes a huge difference.

You have a good goal set. It's important to you. You are going to accomplish this goal---but it's going to take the work.

And that's ok, because you're good for it!

I wish you the best of luck.
Brandon

DemoraFairy

You changed what you were eating a lot, but didn't mention calorie counting. Doesn't matter what you eat (barring medical conditions), all that matters for weight loss is calories. Did you count calories at all in that time?

julielachtay

I'm now on Slimming World so not calorie counting. I volunteer for a food and nutrition charity and every one of their dieticians has told me counting calories is out dated and they no longer advise it. I'm beyond confused,

TheLegendaryBrandonHarris

Those don't sound like real dieticians.

TheLegendaryBrandonHarris

Counting calories works. I have negative 60 pounds to prove it.

DemoraFairy

julielachtay wrote: »

I'm now on Slimming World so not calorie counting. I volunteer for a food and nutrition charity and every one of their dieticians has told me counting calories is out dated and they no longer advise it. I'm beyond confused,

How is basic science outdated?? You've come to a calorie counting website asking for advice, people are going to advise you to count calories. Since you seem to have tried everything else, I suggest you give it a go. Weigh everything that you can and stick to what MFP has recommended you. If you haven't lost weight in a month or so, I'd be surprised.

SconnieCat

julielachtay wrote: »

I'm now on Slimming World so not calorie counting. I volunteer for a food and nutrition charity and every one of their dieticians has told me counting calories is out dated and they no longer advise it. I'm beyond confused,

WHAT?!??! What on earth do they advise then??!!?

Emilia777

julielachtay wrote: »

I'm now on Slimming World so not calorie counting. I volunteer for a food and nutrition charity and every one of their dieticians has told me counting calories is out dated and they no longer advise it. I'm beyond confused,

Yeah, that’s no good, and I would definitely question their credentials at the very least. The only way to lose weight is eat fewer calories than you burn. Simple as that - no one can dispute this. You have a 3,500 calorie deficit, you lose 1lb. There’s no way around it. It doesn’t matter how “healthy” you eat - raw vegans can be overweight too.

I definitely would encourage you to read up the getting started post on here.

If you track your food intake (using a food scale for solids, cups for liquids), eat back around half of any exercise calories because they’re usually underestimated, and maintain a caloric deficit, you will lose weight (barring the unlikely chance of a medical condition).

malibu927

Ditch them. If you aren't counting calories, you have no way to know that you're eating less than you burn, which is how you lose weight.

TheLegendaryBrandonHarris

Julie,
For real, monitor your daily calories.
Your body needs a certain number of calories every day to stay at your current weight. Eat that amount, your weight stays the same. Eat more, your weight goes up. Eat less, your weight goes down.

I'm sorry, but that's it.

USE THE WEBSITE. It's done wonders for me.
Take some time, fill out your profile. Put up some pictures. Make some friends. I'd rather check MFP than Facebook. I have better, more positive, more supportive friends on here than I do on other social media sites.
You'll start to see changes if you put in the work.

No more excuses.

I believe in you.

julielachtay

I tried Diet Chef about 2 years ago and recently Jane Plan both of which are calorie counted...and I gained weight on the Jane Plan.
I had a nutrionist advice session when I joined the gym who also told me calorie counting isn't the best way as it doesn't guarantee a healthy diet. I'm vegetarian and limit diary as it makes me ill. Most of my diet is vegetables, salad, pulses and fruit

earlnabby

Ignore Slimming World and their paid shills (aka dieticians). You need to start counting calories. That is the only way to know how much you are eating. You can use any form of eating (vegetarian, paleo, keto, Mediterranean, etc., etc., etc.) to determine WHAT to eat, but unless you are eating less than you burn, you will not lose. The only way to do that, is count how much you eat and calculate how much you burn.

JSurita2

julielachtay wrote: »

I'm now on Slimming World so not calorie counting. I volunteer for a food and nutrition charity and every one of their dieticians has told me counting calories is out dated and they no longer advise it. I'm beyond confused,

Okay so don't count calories but it's the only way you'll be able to see how much you're eating. And if you're not losing weight you're either over eating calories or eating enough to maintain the weight you have. If you want to lose weight, eat less and move more. It's just much easier when you count calories to know how much less you need to eat.

malibu927

julielachtay wrote: »

I tried Diet Chef about 2 years ago and recently Jane Plan both of which are calorie counted...and I gained weight on the Jane Plan.
I had a nutrionist advice session when I joined the gym who also told me calorie counting isn't the best way as it doesn't guarantee a healthy diet. I'm vegetarian and limit diary as it makes me ill. Most of my diet is vegetables, salad, pulses and fruit

That is true...you can lose weight eating nothing but McDonalds and pizza, but it wouldn't be healthy. Many people follow an 80/20 rule when it comes to their diet...80% nutritionally dense foods that satisfy them, and 20% treats in moderation.

Emilia777

julielachtay wrote: »

I tried Diet Chef about 2 years ago and recently Jane Plan both of which are calorie counted...and I gained weight on the Jane Plan.
I had a nutrionist advice session when I joined the gym who also told me calorie counting isn't the best way as it doesn't guarantee a healthy diet. I'm vegetarian and limit diary as it makes me ill. Most of my diet is vegetables, salad, pulses and fruit

The only reason that happened is because you didn’t weigh your food and track it accurately. Fruit can especially add up.

^ What he said too. Seriously, try it out, for a month or so, and let us know how it went. You can absolutely do this!

P.S. Calorie counting doesn’t guarantee a healthy diet and a healthy diet doesn’t guarantee weight loss. However, you can calorie-count while maintaining a “healthy” diet and lose weight, but you don’t necessarily lose weight just by maintaining a “healthy" diet. Calorie counting and eating nutritional food aren’t mutually exclusive.

yopeeps025

julielachtay wrote: »

I'm now on Slimming World so not calorie counting. I volunteer for a food and nutrition charity and every one of their dieticians has told me counting calories is out dated and they no longer advise it. I'm beyond confused,

Well I have heard that too from someone in school studing dietitian major. We debate a lot They are starting to preach intuitive eating and listen to your body.

SconnieCat

yopeeps025 wrote: »

julielachtay wrote: »

I'm now on Slimming World so not calorie counting. I volunteer for a food and nutrition charity and every one of their dieticians has told me counting calories is out dated and they no longer advise it. I'm beyond confused,

Well I have heard that too from someone in school studing dietitian major. We debate a lot They are starting to preach intuitive eating and listen to your body.

Sometimes my body tells me I want pizza and beer....

TheLegendaryBrandonHarris

lol,
And I think this is the last thing I'll say:

If you're wanting folks to tell you it's not your fault, you've tried everything, you just can't help it---you have definitely come to the wrong place!

We'll support you, encourage you, guide you with our own experiences, but coming to a pity party? Ain't gonna happen on MFP. The people on here will not pity you or feel sorry for you. I don't.
You know why?
Because they know YOU are the one who is in control.

Get a scale, get some liquid measuring cups, some measuring spoons, and monitor your calories accurately, regularly, honestly, and adjust your diet based on the number of calories you need to eat or not eat to lose weight.

yopeeps025

SconnieCat wrote: »

yopeeps025 wrote: »

julielachtay wrote: »

I'm now on Slimming World so not calorie counting. I volunteer for a food and nutrition charity and every one of their dieticians has told me counting calories is out dated and they no longer advise it. I'm beyond confused,

Well I have heard that too from someone in school studing dietitian major. We debate a lot They are starting to preach intuitive eating and listen to your body.

Sometimes my body tells me I want pizza and beer....

Her face was priceless when I bought my food scale over and was weighing out my dinner.

Now does your body know when it is full is the real question?

TheLegendaryBrandonHarris

If I listened to my body I'd weigh 600 pounds.

InsanityForMe

TheLegendaryBrandonHarris wrote: »

Hey Julie! I'm glad you're here.
Don't lose faith.

I always try to develop what I call my ADHD
Accuracy
Diligence
Honesty
Discipline

First things first: How accurately are you measuring EVERYTHING you consume? I don't mean guestimating, rounding off, forgetting condiments and leaving off liquids.

Are you being diligent and staying on your goals every day?

Are you being honest with yourself?

Are you trying to become more disciplined?

If you don't have a food scale, get one. They are like $15. It helps. Grab a few glass measuring cups while you're there. And a set of measuring spoons and cups. You can get all of this stuff for less than $30. It makes a huge difference.

You have a good goal set. It's important to you. You are going to accomplish this goal---but it's going to take the work.

And that's ok, because you're good for it!

I wish you the best of luck.
Brandon

This is great advice! Well said Brandon! :-)

BlueSkyShoal

Eating nutritiously and eating to lose weight are two separate things. You could eat nothing but junk food and lose weight. (I've had weekends where I ate nothing but brownies, but since I was at a calorie deficit, I still lost some ounces.) And you can eat nothing but organic raw veggies and gain weight.

SconnieCat

TheLegendaryBrandonHarris wrote: »

lol,
And I think this is the last thing I'll say:

If you're wanting folks to tell you it's not your fault, you've tried everything, you just can't help it---you have definitely come to the wrong place!

We'll support you, encourage you, guide you with our own experiences, but coming to a pity party? Ain't gonna happen on MFP. The people on here will not pity you or feel sorry for you. I don't.
You know why?
Because they know YOU are the one who is in control.

Get a scale, get some liquid measuring cups, some measuring spoons, and monitor your calories accurately, regularly, honestly, and adjust your diet based on the number of calories you need to eat or not eat to lose weight.

OP, the part I bolded is great advice. I recommend getting the things Legendary recommended, find your TDEE (the amount of calories your body burns in a 24 hour period while sleeping, working, exercising, etc.) and also finding your macro levels. Track your calories and macro amounts (protein, fiber, fat, carbs., etc.) and give it some time.

Be patient as weight loss isn't linear and won't happen overnight.

yopeeps025

TheLegendaryBrandonHarris wrote: »

If I listened to my body I'd weigh 600 pounds.

"It's all part of the journey". Is what she told me when she asked why I count calories. I was like well clearly listening to my body did not work.

BernadetteChurch

If you've tried everything and nothing has worked, then why not try counting calories? You have nothing to lose.

I suggest you set your goals here on MFP, aiming for a half pound a week loss, and then weigh and measure everything you eat and drink and accurately log everything in your food diary. At first don't worry too much about being over or under your calorie goals, or whether you're losing weight. Use the first week or two to log what you would normally eat and drink and have a look at how close that gets you to your goals. Once you're in the habit of logging you can start to look at what sort of changes you need to make to your diet to meet your calorie target.

Give it a try. It's worked for many, many people on this site!

wils5150

julielachtay wrote: »

I'm now on Slimming World so not calorie counting. I volunteer for a food and nutrition charity and every one of their dieticians has told me counting calories is out dated and they no longer advise it. I'm beyond confused,

yeah fads and gimmicks are "IN" you really need to get a scale. weighing food works! I am down 40 plus and just bought size 32 pants. I was a size 38 back in November.

racingislife97

TheLegendaryBrandonHarris wrote: »

lol,
And I think this is the last thing I'll say:

If you're wanting folks to tell you it's not your fault, you've tried everything, you just can't help it---you have definitely come to the wrong place!

We'll support you, encourage you, guide you with our own experiences, but coming to a pity party? Ain't gonna happen on MFP. The people on here will not pity you or feel sorry for you. I don't.
You know why?
Because they know YOU are the one who is in control.

Get a scale, get some liquid measuring cups, some measuring spoons, and monitor your calories accurately, regularly, honestly, and adjust your diet based on the number of calories you need to eat or not eat to lose weight.

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