Getting frustrated.

KOkerman

I've been working out with s personal trainer for 1.5 years and been eating healthy for that long as well. I go to the gym at least 4X's a week. I've only lost 12-15 lbs. and did that in the first 6 months. I've been at the same weight for over a year. Why am I not losing any weight. As hard as I've been working out and watching what I eat I feel like I should be down at least 20-25 lbs in that time frame. What could I be doing wrong? I'm getting SUPER frustrated and now it's getting me SUPER bummed out. Any suggestions?????

LazSommer

You eat too much. Weigh your food.

KOkerman

How does weighing food differ from going by portion size and counting carbs, sugars, proteins, etc?

cathipa

Watch this video
https://www.youtube.com/embed/JVjWPclrWVY?list=PLaMhxrERtLo8doidk3paLrSDP1GiXbgYL

reineke1992

KOkerman wrote: »

How does weighing food differ from going by portion size and counting carbs, sugars, proteins, etc?

Portion sizes are estimates. You are likely overeating and don't even know it. Packaged food that gives you a serving size is always an estimate and is never identical from item to item. If you get a weight scale and weigh in grams you can be 100% accurate with your diary. That being said, you are likely eating at maintenance.

TavistockToad

You're eating too much

SueInAz

This chart created by @lemonlionheart may help:



Here's a great post about keeping a food diary that might offer some insight: http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10191216/the-most-important-thing-you-can-do-to-lose-weight

If you still have questions, please ask.

CasperNaegle

Huge difference between weighing your food and trying to match portion sizes..

dragon_girl26

Eating "healthy" is not a guarantee of weight loss Are you also keeping track of calories? It's very possible to overeat "healthy" food.

SueSueDio

CasperNaegle wrote: »

Huge difference between weighing your food and trying to match portion sizes..

This. Get a food scale and prepare to be surprised. (See above video.)

Also, "eating healthy" doesn't mean much... it's possible to get fat (or not lose weight) on too much fruit and veg just the same as on too many donuts. Figure out how many calories you should be eating in order to lose at a reasonable rate, weigh and log your food accurately, and be patient.

KOkerman

Thanks for all the advice. I'm eating 1,200-1,300 calories a day, which with exercising I thought was ok but I guess I'll have to cut down to 900 or so. I'm not gonna lie to you that is going to be tough!! Wish me luck!!

kathrynjean_

Wait, that's NOT what anyone suggested here ...

Why don't you try weighing your food to see how much you're actually eating?

astrampe

KOkerman wrote: »

Thanks for all the advice. I'm eating 1,200-1,300 calories a day, which with exercising I thought was ok but I guess I'll have to cut down to 900 or so. I'm not gonna lie to you that is going to be tough!! Wish me luck!!

Why would you do that? Nobody suggested that - face up to the fact that you are probably eating a lot more than 1300 cals, get a food scale and start weighing your food......Not that difficult??

ryry_

KOkerman wrote: »

Thanks for all the advice. I'm eating 1,200-1,300 calories a day, which with exercising I thought was ok but I guess I'll have to cut down to 900 or so. I'm not gonna lie to you that is going to be tough!! Wish me luck!!

How long have you been eating at that level. I'm not saying its impossible but highly improbable you haven't lost all the weight you need to need lose after 1.5 years if eating that much consistently.

Your profile and therefore diary are private so its hard to provide advice on intake but that many calories is likely more than enough.

SueInAz

KOkerman wrote: »

Thanks for all the advice. I'm eating 1,200-1,300 calories a day, which with exercising I thought was ok but I guess I'll have to cut down to 900 or so. I'm not gonna lie to you that is going to be tough!! Wish me luck!!

That's not what anyone was actually suggesting. It's a bit confusing when people come in here and simply say "You're eating too much" because that's not what is happening. What is more than likely happening is that you're eating more than you think you are.

Rather than decide you're going to starve yourself, which is NOT the right answer, check your logging. Use a food scale. You'll be surprised how off portion sizes can really be.

SueSueDio

Yes, tighten up your logging before you consider cutting further. Have you been using MFP to log your calorie intake so far, or are you just guessing at how many you eat? If you've not been really accurate then you probably are eating more than you think - this is not to suggest that you're "greedy", just that many people are not that great at eyeballing portion sizes. Try it and see.

B4Rachael

KOkerman wrote: »

Thanks for all the advice. I'm eating 1,200-1,300 calories a day, which with exercising I thought was ok but I guess I'll have to cut down to 900 or so. I'm not gonna lie to you that is going to be tough!! Wish me luck!!

That is not what anyone suggested! I have been eating 1,200 calories a day and have lost 40 lbs! There is no way that in 1.5 years of eating 1200-1300 that you would still only be at a 15 lb loss. You need to realize that you are underestimating your intake and make the appropriate changes in your diet to see the results you want.

SueInAz

B4Rachael wrote: »

KOkerman wrote: »

Thanks for all the advice. I'm eating 1,200-1,300 calories a day, which with exercising I thought was ok but I guess I'll have to cut down to 900 or so. I'm not gonna lie to you that is going to be tough!! Wish me luck!!

That is not what anyone suggested! I have been eating 1,200 calories a day and have lost 40 lbs! There is no way that in 1.5 years of eating 1200-1300 that you would still only be at a 15 lb loss. You need to realize that you are underestimating your intake and make the appropriate changes in your diet to see the results you want.

Of course, if this is the case, as we all assume it is, her lowering calories to 900 will probably result in eating close to 1200. The end result might be the same but the thought of people thinking or saying that they need to eat less than 1000 calories to lose weight makes my blood run cold.

jkal1979

KOkerman wrote: »

Thanks for all the advice. I'm eating 1,200-1,300 calories a day, which with exercising I thought was ok but I guess I'll have to cut down to 900 or so. I'm not gonna lie to you that is going to be tough!! Wish me luck!!

When people say that you are eating too much they don't mean to reduce your calorie intake. I can see why you interpreted it that way. It would be nice if people went into a little more detail instead of leaving a one sentence comment.

What is meant is that while you think that you are eating 1200-1300 calories, you are eating much more than that due to a combination not weighing food and using inaccurate entries in the database. Those two things can easily wipe out a deficit.

Use a food scale to weigh all solids and double check the entries that you use to make sure that you are truly eating 1200-1300 calories.