I need help, seriously

Tamera91

I've fought with my weight my entire life. A year ago I had managed to get down to 185 at 5'6'' as a pear shape and I was super excited. My goal was 175, but then I turned 21. I have stress/depression issues and alcohol always helped with that, but I started drinking everyday, all day. I gained 60lbs in a year. I just turned 22 and started my newest diet at 235lbs. I started halfway in August. I completely changed my diet to lean meats, fish, salads, and spinach/kale shakes, and pretty much gave up alcohol completely. I work out from Friday through Monday, an hour to an hour and a half each day. Tuesday-Thursday is optional as long as I get into the gym at least once for an hour.
It's been almost 3 months and I was excited last week because I had lost 10lbs putting me at 225, but I checked my weight this morning and it says I gained another 3. I don't know what to do. I want to lose weight so badly, but it's like I just can't. I've tried 6 different diet pills and take a multivitamin each morning. I'm not lazy or live a sedentary lifestyle, I run around schools and parks all day. It's not a lack of eating or overeating. I can't just give up, but I can't keep going like this with no results. What should I do?

Sorry for the long post

somethingnewjc

not exactly sure what you are eating, but seems like being on this site is a good start as its easy to consume way more calories than we realize if you aren't keeping track or don't know how to measure portion sizes... i think that if you are looking to lose more than like 10 pounds "diets" are hard to get results with... its more about committing to a healthy lifestyle and gradually improving upon your current eating and exercising habits... if you feel you are doing everything you can and still cannot get any results it might be a good idea to talk to your doctor and see what they say as maybe you have some sort of medical condition going on, but i'm no expert on what that might be... if you maintain a consistent calorie deficiency you should see results but healthy weight loss is usually only 1-3 pounds a week and some weeks are better/worse than others... be patient and consistent and you can achieve your goals.

*sometimes water weight can account for a gain or loss of a few pounds from day to day... try to weigh yourself at the same time (i hear when you first wake up ideally) and in the same clothes for the most consistent measurements...

you can add me as a friend if you are looking for support--good luck

mnardi123

Ok... Step one, take a deep breath....you will be ok...you will succeed.
Step two look at your food diary and be honest with yourself, did you write down everything honestly.
Step three, go see your doctor and make sure your thyroid is working correctly as well any other tests they may recommend. If everything checks out my suggestion is you print out your diary for the last few weeks and go see a nutritionist and see what changes they might recommend. I go to one every three weeks to make sure I don't get discouraged and work on a plan. Most importantly, don't give up on yourself....maybe it's water weight or sodium consumption and it will come off. I was 265 at my heaviest and thought I would never get past 221. I believed that was my "natural" weight. Once I decided to not give up it came off faster at times and sometimes I plateau for a couple of weeks at a time but DON'T GIVE UP!

kiwitechgirl

Your weight will fluctuate naturally - water weight, time of the month, sodium intake and other things. Are you weighing your food (even if you're eating healthy, you can still be eating too much) logging accurately, eating back your exercise calories and meeting your calorie goal? What do you have set as the weight you want to lose per week?

TipTopMMR

Open your diary, log regularly, make some friends, be a part of the MFP community, join a challenge! You can do it!

IsaacHudson

I've had similar problems although not as wild fluctuation.

My tips:

Weigh yourself every day. This helps you deal with fluctuations.

Record your food even when you ate badly (my hardest one).

If you have a holiday and do badly - go back to eating well! It's surprising how quick it is to get back to where you were.

Above all, hang in there. It's about making a lifelong change, not about reaching a goal.

1_Slick_Chick

Girl, you can do it!! I am about 5'6" and started at 220lbs. Didn't lose it overnight but with consistency...hey, I've accomplished something. Need some motivation? I log daily and have an open diary...if you'd like send me a FR

fitgirlcookie

just remember weight loss is not a linear thing. I have been on my journey since November of 2011 and still have not reached my original goal. I am 5'7" and started at 240 pounds. It has not been an easy deal. I lost 30 pounds the first 4 months and then stalled out for almost 5 months. It has been frustrating but very worth it. I have been maintaining around 165-170 for the past 5 months now after having a personal issue that caused a little weight gain and have been stuck. I am not letting it get me down though. I am in the gym way more than I ever have been. At least 3 to 4 days a week. Cardio and weight training. I have become a vegetarian and am working on learning more about nutrition and becoming a personal trainer. Please don't let a bump get you down. Keep your chin up and keep going you will get through this and you have a ton of support! =]

fitfreakymom

b

sticksandtwigs

I know how you feel. I've been at this for a year now, and the fluctuations really throw you for a loop. You always wonder, what just happened? You know what your weaknesses are, now beat 'em off and work towards that mental picture of your ideal image. It's all worth it! :flowerforyou:

AKEBONOJR

I've fought with my weight my entire life. A year ago I had managed to get down to 185 at 5'6'' as a pear shape and I was super excited. My goal was 175, but then I turned 21. I have stress/depression issues and alcohol always helped with that, but I started drinking everyday, all day. I gained 60lbs in a year. I just turned 22 and started my newest diet at 235lbs. I started halfway in August. I completely changed my diet to lean meats, fish, salads, and spinach/kale shakes, and pretty much gave up alcohol completely. I work out from Friday through Monday, an hour to an hour and a half each day. Tuesday-Thursday is optional as long as I get into the gym at least once for an hour.
It's been almost 3 months and I was excited last week because I had lost 10lbs putting me at 225, but I checked my weight this morning and it says I gained another 3. I don't know what to do. I want to lose weight so badly, but it's like I just can't. I've tried 6 different diet pills and take a multivitamin each morning. I'm not lazy or live a sedentary lifestyle, I run around schools and parks all day. It's not a lack of eating or overeating. I can't just give up, but I can't keep going like this with no results. What should I do?

Sorry for the long post

Well, if your working out as much as you claim you might have put on some muscle which is a good thing. Its already been brought up by other people but fluctuations in water weight could have also been a factor in your three pound gain. Also, diet pills are going to do nothing but take money out of your pocket.

fitfreakymom

Do NOT weight yourself every day, make it once a month or better yet throw out the scale and go by how your clothes feel.

ElliottTN

Actually I'm on board with weighing yourself everyday at the same time until you learn your bodies natural fluctuations. You will start noticing patterns throughout the week when it comes to your food intake and surprisingly workout routines. You would be suprised your fluctuation in just water weight the day of/day after/ and two days after a certain workout if you keep everything else constant.

I have a pattern my body goes through during a week cycle where I can fluctuate in weight anywhere between 5-8 pounds but the days I see the fluctuations are always consistent if I keep my food/water/workout regimen the same. If there is inconsistently than I can almost always look back at my food journals and see where a day or so I'm really high with sodium or did a poor job keeping myself hydrated or broke my weekly routine.

This is separate than weight loss, its just noticing the patterns in your bodies fluctuations. I only look at weight loss in terms of comparing the same day every week. Like Friday is weigh in day for me. I don't really consider any other days weight in the weight loss/gain because my bodies fluctuates so much that I could never compare a Monday to a Friday and see a reliable figure.

In short, don't worry about 3 pounds. If you are as dilligent as you say you are ten there is no way you over consumed by 10,500 calories over your maintenance. But just keep in mind that you have to create a net deficiet of 10,500 for the same 3 pound loss so patience and consistency is the name if the game here. Just keep your head down and stay focused for the long run.

Tamera91

Hi I just wanted to tell everyone thank you so much for your replies and advice! I went to the doctor today, took blood work and they put me on topiramate and phentermine and matched me up with a health specialist. I hope this works

I also really want to share what I've learned: apparently dieting can be problematic for people suffering anxiety/depression related issues. If they are not getting each needed amount of vitamins a day (especially vitamin D) it can really exacerbate their issues, which of course leads to weight gain and a difficulty to losing weight (along with bone and health problems). I had never heard of this before! I just thought that was an interesting fact that could be shared around the forum