Nothing works! Please help.
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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.
If I listened to my body for diet advice, this is what I would hear:
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google PALEO and do it.... my loss is130 pounds in one year...oh im type 2 diabetic....si it worked for me0
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When I reached a plateau, I looked at my macros and discovered that my carbs were way too high in proportion to my fat and protein intake. I added lean proteins, and then eventually found a way to work in healthy fats. This is the problem I had on a vegan diet - yes, you can get your protein, but it's usually from sources higher in carbohydrates. People are on vegetarian/vegan diets for many reasons, so I won't tell you to quit, but just try playing with your ratios and see if that works. Our bodies eventually break. carbohydrates down into sugars (some faster than others).
As far as counting calories being "outdated", I think you're only getting part of the message. What most people are saying these days is "a calorie isn't just a calorie", meaning that many people try to diet by eating low calorie foods that still lack nutrients. You are better off getting calories from nutrient-dense foods like vegetables, avocados, nuts and lean meats than you are from, say, Lean Cuisine frozen meals. But you still have to count calories. It's the only thing that really works.0 -
First off, when I am trying to lose weight it often takes 3-4 weeks for ANYTHING to show up on the scale. That's just how long it takes my body to adjust and start showing losses. The key for me is to remember this and not get discouraged. Perhaps something similar is going on with you.
Second, you need to stop with the fad diet plans and learn real nutrition and how to eat healthy. You need to learn how to eat healthfully for the rest of your life. It's not a "diet," it's a healthful eating habit. Ditch all those plans whose main goal is to sell you something and begin educating yourself, using unbiased sources who don't have an ulterior motive of making a profit off you.0 -
Unless you are one of those blessed people who doesn't feel the urge to shove lots of food down your gullet, eating 'intuitively' is just not in the stars for many of us. It's all comes down to calorie counting and moving your butt. This will never become outdated - it's fact. You gotta do what you gotta do, but when you come here, you WILL hear this.
PS - After years of poo-poo'ing scales, I finally bought one at Costco a few months ago...... whoa! What a help. And the FitBit Surge is just beyond fantastic.
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If nothing you have done has worked so far, it's time to try the old fashioned method of tracking what you are eating. Counting calories may not be the only way to reduce food intake enough to lose weight, but it does provide A way, and since you haven't tried it yet, what is there to lose (besides weight :P)0
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Did you try running? Until you do, I've nothing further.0
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I would say to put back all the food groups you tried eliminating. You need them for complete nutrition. *then* start counting calories. It isn't obsolete; it works. As you've found by trial and error, other methods minus knowing calories eaten and calories burned have not worked for you.0
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You have received the same advice over and over again, so i don't feel the need to repeat but i would like to add. Your profile says your doctors and nutritionists can't understand why you can't lose weight.....If they are baffled then i think its time to find a new doctor. Weight loss is honestly simple. calories in less than calories out. You are probably guessing on the portion sizes and/or not tracking everything. if you ate nothing but fruits and veggies all day every day you can still gain weight.
STOP with the fad diets and just monitor your food intake and exercise more.0 -
Lose the fad diets and diet plans and just count calories. Buy a food scale and weigh and measure every single thing that you eat. Do that every day for 6-8 weeks and then come back here and tell everyone what happened.
I can almost guarantee you you will see a difference.0 -
Whoever told you not to count calories is a farking idiot. Be very diligent in logging all your food. Everything. It gets really easy and fast to do so w/ the app/ web here. I can log a day ahead in a couple minutes now. Initially it takes more time but you'll get the hang of it.0
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Lose the fad diets and diet plans and just count calories. Buy a food scale and weigh and measure every single thing that you eat. Do that every day for 6-8 weeks and then come back here and tell everyone what happened.
I can almost guarantee you you will see a difference.
Or you see a lot of red on the daily logs. Either way we would know what is happening.
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If you are only eating 1200 calories per day and exercising most days, you may not be getting enough calories. Can't say for sure because that depends on your height and current weight. I am 5'1" and currently weigh 131 and I have to eat 1300 calories, and that's the days I don't work out.0
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julielachtay wrote: »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
Wow, this is like a microcosm of everything people do wrong trying to lose weight. I'm almost wondering if you're a troll.
If you are serious, stop trying to lose weight with crash diets or restrictive eating plans. Even if you did lose weight going vegan etc., you'd just gain it all back and then some once you got sick of never eating cheese (or whatever). And please run away from Slimming World as fast as possible!
Losing weight is actually pretty simple. Figure out your TDEE (lots of posts here to help you do that), and then eat 500 less calories per day in a way that you can sustain for a long period of time. Eating plenty of protein and doing resistance training (or perhaps some types of HIIT) will make sure you're losing mostly fat. Otherwise don't over analyze it or try thinking too hard about it.
Once have become proficient at counting calories and eating at 500 cals below your TDEE, you can then try and do other things to improve your diet and health like making sure you're getting plenty of fiber, veggies, potassium, etc. However, if you want to lose weight you have to first focus on CICO.0 -
If you are only eating 1200 calories per day and exercising most days, you may not be getting enough calories. Can't say for sure because that depends on your height and current weight. I am 5'1" and currently weigh 131 and I have to eat 1300 calories, and that's the days I don't work out.
Nobody's metabolism is so low that they could gain weight eating only 1200 calories per day while exercising regularly. The law of thermodynamics doesn't care about "starvation mode" or hormones.0 -
About "listening to your body"--
I had a lot of unhealthy eating habits, one being that I would have two or even three donuts as a mid-morning break every day. I wanted to lose weight and decided to drop the donuts. This was the first change I made, before counting calories or reducing my other meals or anything else. Just--no more donuts.
My body had something to say about this. It was "YOU NEED DONUTS." And, "WHY AREN'T YOU EATING DONUTS?". And, "IT'S MID-DAY, OMG YOU ARE STARVING ME, I'M SO HUNGRY."
The first week was hell, and then I went through that hell again when I started reducing the calories / portions of my other meals. My body was used to a certain amount of food filling my stomach at certain times. It was not a good indicator of how much I should be eating, only how much I was used to eating.0 -
Ok, so don't count calories then. But put everything in MFP. You can make a choice to not care if you go over or under your calorie count, but if you notice a week or two in that you're majorly over every day then you can do something about it.
Fruits are high in sugars. Some vegetables are high in carbs. Just because it's healthy doesn't mean you can eat as much of it as you want. I'm currently doing WW, and like my leader says "You can eat as much fruit as you want. Just know if you eat 5 bananas a day, you're not going to lose weight".
If you are honestly writing down all your foods along with portions, and the Slimming World people are honestly stumped at how you're not losing weight - get a second opinion on the thyroid thing. And have a full blood work done up. If I was honestly trying everything and nothing was working, I'd be seeing every doctor I could make an appointment with until we found out what was wrong.
Hope you find your answers!0 -
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
Calorie counting doesn't guarantee a healthy diet. That's up to me and as a grown *kitten* woman, I am perfectly capable of eating a decent diet every day. OP, it does work, I hope you'll try it.
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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
Calorie counting doesn't guarantee a healthy diet. That's up to me and as a grown *kitten* woman, I am perfectly capable of eating a decent diet every day. OP, it does work, I hope you'll try it.
Agreed. MFP's system combining calorie counting and macro targets is a really good, easy way to combine both for those who need help making good nutrition decisions.
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I think people have given you some good advice already, now I want to give you some encouragement!
I've also tried every fad and plan and name-brand food system it seems, and none of them worked for me, but I'm losing weight on MFP with a minimum of stress and agony. It's not going quick, but it's working and fits into my life.
I know if I can do this, you can too! You might find your weight loss is slower than you like, and you might fluctuate a lot, but you have all the tools you need to succeed if you're willing to keep going and be diligent. Go get it!
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harpsdesire wrote: »I think people have given you some good advice already, now I want to give you some encouragement!
I've also tried every fad and plan and name-brand food system it seems, and none of them worked for me, but I'm losing weight on MFP with a minimum of stress and agony. It's not going quick, but it's working and fits into my life.
I know if I can do this, you can too! You might find your weight loss is slower than you like, and you might fluctuate a lot, but you have all the tools you need to succeed if you're willing to keep going and be diligent. Go get it!
Me too, I promise you I've been where you are and you can do this. I've done slimming world, weight watchers, replacement milkshake diets, low carb, you name it I've done it and yes some of it helped me lose weight. BUT it came back on or I got sick
Since using mfp properly, properly measuring and logging all my food and drink, I have been losing steadily, both pounds and inches. I don't feel deprived as I fit treats into my calorie allowance, I feel healthy and strong and I know this is something I can stick with
There are some great people on here that offer some valuable advice and support you and cheer you on along the way
I promise you, if you were to ditch sw and use mfp you will lose
Good luck on whatever you decide0 -
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 guesstimating, 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
Great advice! I hope you take it! I have a feeling Slimming World is a bit more than $30 that would buy you all the above.
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julielachtay wrote: »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
Please do yourself a favor and give calorie counting a shot for 6 months. MFP is a great tool and it is free. You can lose weight using it.
The only thing you have to do is log honestly and as accurately as you can. You can eat whatever food you like that fits in your calorie goal. If you decide not to eat any processed food or foods that start with p that is up to you but you don't have to cut any foods out. The calories are the important part for losing weight.
IME, counting calories has been the easiest and sanest way to lose weight. I resisted doing it for almost 15 years trying other things I wish now that I had not wasted my time and money on those things.0 -
Please listen to the suggestions above & start counting your calories. Also remember - Calorie counting will help you lose the weight... but it's also helpful to keep track of your recommended amount of carbs, fat, & protein. For example, if you fill your calories with mostly carbs, and not enough protein & healthy fats, it may not be as effective for keeping muscle while losing weight & feeling less hungry. This is how this site really helps, and it works great! Eating the right balance has helped me lose 17 pounds in 3 months, and I never feel hungry. Just log honestly, and accurately, and keep within your goals... and try not to get disheartened.
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You don't need any specific diets. All you need to do is have a calorie deficit. You lose one pound when your calorie deficit is, roughly, 3,500 calories. Stay away from those diets and just keep accurate account of what you eat. I recommend a food scale. It works well for me and I've went from 297 to 247.0
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If you're on slimming world you should already have and be using a food scale. A lot of foods on SW need to be measured.
I disagree with the SW hate, it is a good programme for people who have £5 a week to spare, who were eating crap or ln stipid diets before and who don't like dealing with the maths of calorie counting.
don't keep chopping and changing what you do. Pick a programme and stick to it PROPERLY for a month.0 -
Eating intuitively is what got most of us here trying to lose weight. It does not teach you proper serving sizes, or the calorie counts of specific foods.
Here is my standard MFP advice:
Buy a food scale, weigh and log everything.
Do cardio if you want, and if you do, only eat back 50% of your calories (if you are losing faster than expected after logging for a few weeks, then up the % you eat back). Lift weights and hit your protein goal to help maintain muscle mass while losing.
Cheat meals that take you over maintenance will sabotage your efforts. Log the cheat meals too (falls under the 'log everything' rule).
Eat anything you want in moderation, keeping in mind that your diet will be easier to stick with if you chose foods that make it easier to stay under your calories without feeling hungry.
Also it would be a good idea to read some of the stickies at the top of the various forums such as:
Calorie Counting 101
Logging Accuracy, Consistency, & You're Probably Eating More Than You Think
A Guide To Get You Started on Your Path To Sexy Pants[/quote]0 -
Yeah, no idea what Slimming World is, but if it helps you creates calorie deficit, it'll work.
Burn more calories than you consume, you'll lose weight. It works! You, yes YOU can do it!
I believe in you.0 -
Slimming world is basically calorie counting. You are just paying for someone else to count it for you.
If after 4 weeks on SW you haven't lost weight then I bet you were doing it wrong. Also they'll give you your money back.0
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