Don't know what I'm doing wrong..

GodDamnitAngel

I don’t drink soda, eat sweets or add salt to meals. All I drink is black coffee, water and tea (combined 1.5 – 2L a day) (and for alcohol: cucumber vodka with iced water). My meals are usually 30%startch 30%white meat and 30% veggies. I snack on pretzels, nuts, and roasted chickpeas, sometimes roasted veggies. I walk 1-3 miles a day and do a short at home workout (multiple reps of pushups, sit ups, squats, lunges, james bond crunches and random dancing) for at least 30 minutes straight, 3-4 days a week. I eat dairy (cheese) maybe once a week, the only bread I occasionally eat is always wheat. I eat 3-5 small meals a day. Been doing all this for 3 months and have done nothing but GAIN weight (I’m talking, like 20 - 25 pounds). For the most part my measurements haven’t changed (maybe gained a half inch around the biggest part of my stomach) but my arms and butt are definitely getting thicker but still really jiggly. I think the problem I’m having is over eating healthy food or maybe I have the wrong kind of diet combined with my style to work out? When I do count calories they usually average anywhere from 1300- 1600 because less than that and my stomach is actually growling. My age is 22 (female) 5’3, currently 146 lbs (3 months ago I was about 125 on avg) and this is the most I’ve ever weighed in my life. My measurements are 35-32-37. I just want to slim down and maybe tone but it’s not working. I can definitely feel myself gaining muscle but the fat isn’t disappearing at all. Please help I’m not sure what to do.

dragon_girl26

dragon_girl26

GodDamnitAngel wrote: »

I don’t drink soda, eat sweets or add salt to meals. All I drink is black coffee, water and tea (combined 1.5 – 2L a day) (and for alcohol: cucumber vodka with iced water). My meals are usually 30%startch 30%white meat and 30% veggies. I snack on pretzels, nuts, and roasted chickpeas, sometimes roasted veggies. I walk 1-3 miles a day and do a short at home workout (multiple reps of pushups, sit ups, squats, lunges, james bond crunches and random dancing) for at least 30 minutes straight, 3-4 days a week. I eat dairy (cheese) maybe once a week, the only bread I occasionally eat is always wheat. I eat 3-5 small meals a day. Been doing all this for 3 months and have done nothing but GAIN weight (I’m talking, like 20 - 25 pounds). For the most part my measurements haven’t changed (maybe gained a half inch around the biggest part of my stomach) but my arms and butt are definitely getting thicker but still really jiggly. I think the problem I’m having is over eating healthy food or maybe I have the wrong kind of diet combined with my style to work out? When I do count calories they usually average anywhere from 1300- 1600 because less than that and my stomach is actually growling. My age is 22 (female) 5’3, currently 146 lbs (3 months ago I was about 125 on avg) and this is the most I’ve ever weighed in my life. My measurements are 35-32-37. I just want to slim down and maybe tone but it’s not working. I can definitely feel myself gaining muscle but the fat isn’t disappearing at all. Please help I’m not sure what to do.

I'd say those are your problem areas in the bolded. Eating "healthier" is not a guarantee of weight loss. You need to be in a calorie deficit for that to happen. Are you also currently keeping track of your calories? If not, I'd start there, and be consistent about that. You mentioned pretzels and nuts specifically...there is nothing wrong with snacking on these, but they are high in calories and very easy to overeat. Also, how are you keeping track of your exercise calorie burns?

AliceDark

Your post mentioned a lot of things, but not how many calories you're eating on a daily basis. Caloric intake is by far the most important factor in weight control. If you're gaining weight, you're eating more calories than you're burning, and you've found that you can't out-exercise a surplus of calories. Start tracking your intake and you'll start losing.

GodDamnitAngel

I mentioned in my post that I eat 1300-1600 calories a day because it varies depending on the day. But thank you everyone, I will be more strict on counting my calories and being aware of how much of what I'm eating.

dragon_girl26

GodDamnitAngel wrote: »

I mentioned in my post that I eat 1300-1600 calories a day because it varies depending on the day. But thank you everyone, I will be more strict on counting my calories and being aware of how much of what I'm eating.

Well, to be fair, you said "when" you're counting calories, which made it sound like it's something you are not doing currently. I figure it never hurts to ask to make sure.
Good luck to you! There are lots of veterans here who post great advice..they'll be around shortly, I'm sure.

StaciMarie1974

What strikes me in your post is the 'when I do count calories'. How often is this? This is the key I think to your dilemma. Accurately & honestly logging food intake, including anything that passes the lips. So snacks, meals, condiments, cooking oils, tastes/bites, etc. Food scale for solid food.

Vegplotter

1300 calories is hardly a small quantity for someone who's 5'3"? Your stomach shouldn't be growling on such a diet - if you are eating a balanced and healthy diet.
I'd cut the snacking and stick to three healthy and nutritious meals a day. Don't be afraid of wholemeal bread or small quantities of cheese. Carbs and dairy are both important food groups.
My guess is that you aren't eating nutritious enough meals so you fall back on high calorie snacks.
A good snack might be a cup of tea or coffee with a little milk. 1 square of chocolate. ie 20cals or a tiny sweet biscuit. I eat Almond Thins which are 16 calories each. But it's the warm drink that will fill you up.
Good luck.

SueInAz

StaciMarie1974 wrote: »

What strikes me in your post is the 'when I do count calories'. How often is this? This is the key I think to your dilemma. Accurately & honestly logging food intake, including anything that passes the lips. So snacks, meals, condiments, cooking oils, tastes/bites, etc. Food scale for solid food.

This was probably the thing that stood out most to me, too. It's so easy to be off on the calorie counts if you aren't weighing solid foods and measuring liquids and then accurately logging them. Studies have shown that even people who are trying very hard to log don't necessarily do a great job at catching everything and logging accurately. We can off by as much as 40%! When you're little (I'm 5'3", too) and trying to eat 1300 calories or so, your margin for error is small so a little bit of error can have a big impact on your ability to lose weight.

It's never fun to hear that you might not have been as accurate as you thought you were but the good news is that it's a relatively easy fix. Use a kitchen scale for everything right now. Avoid eating out for a week or two and eat what you make and know the calorie counts. Log absolutely everything that crosses your lips. Overestimate the calories of what you're eating and underestimate the calories of your exercise. You should start to see results. Once you get a good feel for all of this you should be able to eat out a bit and learn portion sizes without needing the actual scale (I still use mine a lot, though) and it'll get a bit easier.

LazSommer

you eat too much food

GodDamnitAngel

Thank you everyone for your help. I think I may be underestimating my food intake because I tend to do the math in my head instead of keeping a food journal. But as of today I'm going to be logging everything that passes my lips and if I go over my amount I'll make sure to work out more to make up for it. I do love food, but maybe if I see a physical number, I'll be able to hold back. I also plan to be getting an actual food scale so I stop underestimating.

clambert1273

I have two in my house lol in case my husband is using one for some odd reason lol