Why am I not losing Weight?!!!!

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Replies

  • perfect_storm
    perfect_storm Posts: 326 Member
    As other people mentioned open up your diary for better input. With out seeing your diary I can guess you may be over estimating your calories and actually eating less then you should. Try weighing and measuring everything, once you start doing this it stops being a pain in the butt and becomes second nature. Please eat at least the 1200 and eat your exercise calories back. It worked for me and I lost 40 lbs in 4 months. Good luck.
  • Are you monitoring your ratios? Make sure you keep an eye sugars as well as carbs. Before I used myfitnesspal I was on 'Light and Easy' - each meal was prepared for me to a low cal and I lost nothing. Now that I am using myfitnesspal - I can see that I was eating too many carbs and also too much sugar - even though I didn't have anything with added sugar - the fruit and vegetable choices meant that I was exceeding my daily sugar allowance. So it's not just total calories you need to look at - it's the sugars and carbs. Also make Low GI (Glycemic Index) choices - as anything with a high GI elevates your insulin levels and makes burning fat virtually impossible. I had been overweight for many years despite low calorie diets. These are the secrets that have enabled me to FINALLY drop 26kg (57.5lbs). Keep going - and monitor EVERYTHING! It's very educational.
  • jonnythan
    jonnythan Posts: 10,161 Member
    Are you monitoring your ratios? You must to and make sure you keep an eye sugars as well as carbs. Before I used myfitnesspal I was on 'Light and Easy' - each meal was prepared for me to a low cal and I lost nothing. Now that I am using myfitnesspal - I can see that I was eating too many carbs and also too much sugar - even though I didn't have anything with added sugar - the fruit and vegetable choices meant that I was exceeding my daily sugar intake. So it's not just total calories you need to look at - it's the sugars and carbs. Also make sure make Low GI (Glycemic Index) choices - as anything with a high GI elevates your insulin levels and makes burning fat virtually impossible. I had been overweight for many years despite low calorie diets. These are the secrets that have enabled me to FINALLY drop 26kg (57.5lbs). Keep going - and monitor EVERYTHING! It's very educational.

    Sugar and the glycemic index are completely irrelevant. They are not worth even thinking about unless you have a medical condition that requires it.
  • SHobbs1975
    SHobbs1975 Posts: 2 Member
    Thanks for the suggestion, aimforhealthy! That's what some of the other posters have said to. Sounds like I need to give it a shot!
  • Ang108
    Ang108 Posts: 1,711 Member
    Excess carbohydrates is usually the decisive factor in not being able to lose weight - irrespective of how many calories you consume.

    " Usually " means more often than not and that is according to WHO, World Hunger Projects and UNICEF not true. There is a small % of people were that applies,. I do believe the whole very generalized issue ( because there are indeed people who cannot handle carbs, or more specifically grains ) issue surrounding carbs is a very US-American focussed fad, because in no other country people look at carbs as evil/dangerous/bad. Also most people when they think/speak of carbs, they forget that sugar fruit and vegetables are carbs and they refer to grains and other starches.Therefore suggesting that someone cut down carbs in general is very irresponsible advise.
    I have severe Lupus and RA and if I would live in the US I would have been off carbs a long time ago. But since I do not live there I still eat around 100-150grs of carbs a day, but avoid all those that are processed and I am better in regard to my health problems than some of my friends in the US who eat something like 30grs a day and are forever trying for even less.
    I think we need to stop generalizing what works and what not based on our own experiences. Some things might work very well for you, but might not work for anyone else.
    I agree with one thing however. If a person is carb/grain sensitive ( and actually very few truly are ) than indeed it makes no difference how many calories from carbs that person ingests......even a few will be too much. But that has nothing to do with weight loss.
  • nm212
    nm212 Posts: 570 Member
    Wow you all are funny, crazy, and some of you rock with great advice! LOL I actually exercise at super HIGH intensity at my spin classes! I need to get a heart rate monitor but I know that I really push myself hard every time for 45 min class. I actually think MFP under-estimates calories for Spinning so I started using the "vigorous stationary bike" for my log....but even that I think is low because when I use the spin bike myself (not in class) , it says I burn between 450-650 every time. The bikes in the class don't have the calories on it...but I work even harder on those, soooo I don't think that is the issue! It's definately what I am eating or NOT eating. :)
  • Interesting comment Jonnythan. Have you got more information on why they're completely irrelevant? Articles? Links? I'm interested to learn where you got that information from as it's contrary to the latest research. There's a huge (and growing) body of evidence that shows reducing daily sugar intake and sticking to Low GI foods facilitates weight reduction. I have experienced it first hand, and I don't have a 'medical condition'.
  • nm212
    nm212 Posts: 570 Member
    I think the key is to eat healthy carbs.
  • jonnythan
    jonnythan Posts: 10,161 Member
    There's a huge (and growing) body of evidence that shows reducing daily sugar intake and sticking to Low GI foods facilitates weight reduction.

    No, there's not.

    The key is not "to eat healthy carbs."

    Sigh.
  • Serah87
    Serah87 Posts: 5,481 Member
    I eat carbs, I eat sugar, I eat fats and I eat proteins, see ticker below. :bigsmile:
  • nm212
    nm212 Posts: 570 Member
    The Asian culture does not eat any bread or gluten products! They eat alot of white rice! They also eat alot of spicey food which speeds up your metabolism. I went to Thailand about 5 yrs ago and when I came back, I was 10 lbs lighter. They eat alot of vegetables, fish, and rice. It's that easy ...but it's all about resisting temptation here in the U.S.! It's not easy when unhealthy foods are so readily available and advertised everywhere you look.
  • I hit the gym again 5 weeks ago and have been consistent for all 5 weeks ago- but up until 1 week ago I saw NOTHING on the scale and was getting discouraged.. but then I started studying and talking to trainers at the gym and they said because I am working out- I am replacing fat with muscle (which weigh the same) so I may not see anything on the scale. Here I am 5 weeks later, (and I've stopped weighing myself all together)- and I am 2 pant sizes down and my bras and shirts are even loose. It took 5 weeks to see this.. but my body is getting smaller! Don't focus on the scales - just eat clean and keep working.. your body will change!

    Congratulations, you have found the lost city of gold of weight loss...please explain this magical process by which you converted fat into muscle...

    Look again and you'll see that she said "REPLACING" not "CONVERTING" fat to muscle, which refers to the WEIGHT she sees on the scales (not a magical process where the body converts fat to muscle).
  • nm212
    nm212 Posts: 570 Member
    Carbs are not the enemy...It's all about what kind of carbs you eat and how much!
  • bkyoun
    bkyoun Posts: 371 Member
    No, it has nothing to do with the carbs, read this again:
    You already have all the good advice you need in this thread, but there is also a lot of bad advice here, so let me sum up the good stuff:

    1. You are NOT at a deficit if you are not losing.
    2. You are likely overestimating the calories burned because MFP exaggerates them. Only eat back half your exercise calories.
    3. Measure and log everything that goes in your mouth. You need to make sure you are accurately logging.
    4. It doesn't matter what you eat (carbs, fat, unclean, etc) as long as you eat fewer calories than you burn. The number of calories is what matters, NOT what type of food or beverage makes up those calories.

    If you do those things, I have no doubt that you will lose weight.

    And then read this again: http://www.acaloriecounter.com/blog/why-am-i-not-losing-weight/

    And then go get a HRM because I really think you are overestimating those spinning burns no matter how intense you think you are doing it.
  • jonnythan
    jonnythan Posts: 10,161 Member
    Carbs are not the enemy...It's all about what kind of carbs you eat and how much!

    No, weight loss/gain about how many calories you consume. Carbs have nothing to do with it other than carbs are one source of calories.
  • I eat carbs, I eat sugar, I eat fats and I eat proteins, see ticker below. :bigsmile:

    CONGRATULATIONS - that's AWESOME!

    I also eat all of the above, I just stick to my daily allowances. That's all I'm saying. Don't OVER eat them is my message. Keep an eye on them and keep them in check.

    Well done, you are a champion.

    So how does one get a ticker to appear on their forum posts?
  • Serah87
    Serah87 Posts: 5,481 Member
    I hit the gym again 5 weeks ago and have been consistent for all 5 weeks ago- but up until 1 week ago I saw NOTHING on the scale and was getting discouraged.. but then I started studying and talking to trainers at the gym and they said because I am working out- I am replacing fat with muscle (which weigh the same) so I may not see anything on the scale. Here I am 5 weeks later, (and I've stopped weighing myself all together)- and I am 2 pant sizes down and my bras and shirts are even loose. It took 5 weeks to see this.. but my body is getting smaller! Don't focus on the scales - just eat clean and keep working.. your body will change!

    Congratulations, you have found the lost city of gold of weight loss...please explain this magical process by which you converted fat into muscle...

    Look again and you'll see that she said "REPLACING" not "CONVERTING" fat to muscle, which refers to the WEIGHT she sees on the scales (not a magical process where the body converts fat to muscle).

    No....what she is seeing is fat disappearing and the muscle, that's always been there, you are now able to see. You can't gain muscle on a deficit!!
  • arlenem1974
    arlenem1974 Posts: 437 Member
    if you don't think MFP is accurate with the cals look to the site I use instead. http://www.healthstatus.com/perl/calculator.cgi
  • Carbs are not the enemy...It's all about what kind of carbs you eat and how much!

    Yes yes yes - I agree - my goodness, I can see how what I've said has been interpreted in so many ways.

    I was just pointing out to keep an eye on ratios and sugars. Stay within your daily limits. That's all.

    When I was on Light and Easy - the ratios where out and there were too many carbs and sugars (in terms of ratios and daily allowances). Myfitnesspal calculates all of that so it's easy to monitor and stay within the limits. That's all I'm saying. If you are already doing that - then I'm at a loss. Sorry.
  • MityMax96
    MityMax96 Posts: 5,778 Member
    Carbs are not the enemy...It's all about what kind of carbs you eat and how much!
    actually your body processes simple and complex carbs the same
    the only difference between the two is when they are on the table in front of you
  • jonnythan
    jonnythan Posts: 10,161 Member
    Carbs are not the enemy...It's all about what kind of carbs you eat and how much!

    Yes yes yes - I agree - my goodness, I can see how what I've said has been interpreted in so many ways.

    I was just pointing out to keep an eye on ratios and sugars. Stay within your daily limits. That's all.

    Well that should be easy. I set my daily sugar limit to 160 grams!

    Perfect.
  • Phoenix_Warrior
    Phoenix_Warrior Posts: 1,633 Member
    Carbs are not the enemy...It's all about what kind of carbs you eat and how much!

    Yes yes yes - I agree - my goodness, I can see how what I've said has been interpreted in so many ways.

    I was just pointing out to keep an eye on ratios and sugars. Stay within your daily limits. That's all.

    Well that should be easy. I set my daily sugar limit to 160 grams!

    Perfect.

    I think now is an appropriate time to tell you you're my hero.
  • aimforhealthy
    aimforhealthy Posts: 449 Member
    The Asian culture does not eat any bread or gluten products! They eat alot of white rice! They also eat alot of spicey food which speeds up your metabolism. I went to Thailand about 5 yrs ago and when I came back, I was 10 lbs lighter. They eat alot of vegetables, fish, and rice. It's that easy ...but it's all about resisting temptation here in the U.S.! It's not easy when unhealthy foods are so readily available and advertised everywhere you look.
    What on earth is "the Asian culture?"
  • jonnythan
    jonnythan Posts: 10,161 Member
    I think now is an appropriate time to tell you you're my hero.

    I even reached my goal on 10/23. 50% of calories from cookies that day.
  • kangaroo33
    kangaroo33 Posts: 76 Member
    With all the good and bad advice...obviously part of it is your own genetic make-up. However, I'd say, since you already know about good carbs, bad ones....measurements on the calorie burns and number of calories...just keep these things in mind...

    ...make sure you are giving your body enough rest in between workout days and sleep at night (this is when your body gets caught up)

    ...don't take in less than 1200, after your calorie deficit...1200 should be the bare minimum consumed (otherwise goes into starvation mode and stores fat)

    ...log regularly
  • Phoenix_Warrior
    Phoenix_Warrior Posts: 1,633 Member
    I think now is an appropriate time to tell you you're my hero.

    I even reached my goal on 10/23. 50% of calories from cookies that day.

    What kind of cookies?!:laugh:
  • jonnythan
    jonnythan Posts: 10,161 Member
    good carbs, bad ones

    AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

    insanity.jpg
  • MityMax96
    MityMax96 Posts: 5,778 Member
    The Asian culture does not eat any bread or gluten products! They eat alot of white rice! They also eat alot of spicey food which speeds up your metabolism. I went to Thailand about 5 yrs ago and when I came back, I was 10 lbs lighter. They eat alot of vegetables, fish, and rice. It's that easy ...but it's all about resisting temptation here in the U.S.! It's not easy when unhealthy foods are so readily available and advertised everywhere you look.
    What on earth is "the Asian culture?"

    would assume Chinese Japanese Korean etc... no?
  • Carbs are not the enemy...It's all about what kind of carbs you eat and how much!
    actually your body processes simple and complex carbs the same
    the only difference between the two is when they are on the table in front of you

    Whilst the processing of simple and complex carbs may be the same - the speed at which those sugars are released into your bloodstream are different, which is what impacts the insulin in your bloodstream. Insulin is a peptide hormone that is central to regulating carbohydrate and fat metabolism in the body. Insulin stops the use of fat as an energy source by inhibiting the release of glucagon. Too much high GI foods and too much consumption of sugars/carbs that spike insulin leads to impaired fat metabolism. It's all in the research.
  • jonnythan
    jonnythan Posts: 10,161 Member
    Carbs are not the enemy...It's all about what kind of carbs you eat and how much!
    actually your body processes simple and complex carbs the same
    the only difference between the two is when they are on the table in front of you

    Whilst the processing of simple and complex carbs may be the same - the speed at which those sugars are released into your bloodstream are different, which is what impacts the insulin in your bloodstream. Insulin is a peptide hormone that is central to regulating carbohydrate and fat metabolism in the body. Insulin stops the use of fat as an energy source by inhibiting the release of glucagon. Too much high GI foods and too much consumption of sugars/carbs that spike insulin leads to impaired fat metabolism. It's all in the research.

    And the insulin spike has nothing whatsoever to do with weight loss.

    Please, stop spouting this nonsense. Sugar is not the Demon Nutrient.