Can't lose weight... WHY!???!

Majormods

So I've been heavy most of my life, nothing too obese but overweight none the less. At one point I hit the 315lb mark and decide it was time for a change, dropped to 215lbs in about a 14month time span and maintained but could never lose another lb after reaching the 215lb mark. I had a motorcycle accident, didnt/couldnt eat for almost 2 weeks, left the hospital at 199lbs and maintained for several months. I went back up slowly, not watching my diet, but now I am at 237. Over the last 3-6 months, I have cut my calories to under 2000/day. I exercise 4-7x a week, mixing weightlifting with cardio, HIIT as well as plyometrics. I've had bloodwork done and my thyroid is fine along with my other blood counts.

Can anyone give me advice on what else to do to speed up or even make this weight loss diet effective? I'm at a loss.

I'm currently 237lbs and over the last 6 months, I've ranged from 234-241 depending on the morning I weigh myself.


THANK YOU!!!

jwdieter

I'd recommend consistent logging of food, food scale, and eating to target.

Greenrun99

I'd recommend consistent logging of food, food scale, and eating to target.

Log everything, no cheat days until you get your numbers under control, don't eat back exercise calories.

cmriverside

I'd recommend consistent logging of food, food scale, and eating to target.

Log everything, no cheat days until you get your numbers under control, don't eat back exercise calories.

Buy a $20 digital food scale. Log everything that goes past your lips for a month, then reevaluate.

If you are using Myfitnesspal's system, you are supposed to eat back the calories earned by exercise.

This site is different than every other calculator out there. Just use it as it is designed to be used.

MakePeasNotWar

I would wait until I had at least 2-4 weeks of consistent logging before changing things. It's possible you are eating more than you think, or that you are overestimating your activity level. I notice you only have a couple of days logged out of the last week or so. Keep a 100% detailed log for a couple of weeks, weigh all solid food (using measuring cups can lead to underestimation), and if you are still not losing, then I would start to look for other answers.

I sometimes forget to log right away and end up logging at the end of the day, and almost every time I do that, I end up underestimating my calorie intake. The only way to be sure is to weigh and record everything.

Also keep in mind that all of the calorie requirement calculations are just estimates based on your weight, and sometimes age, body fat and other factors. The only way to know your true requirement is to get your metabolism tested. If you track faithfully and find you aren't losing at 2000 cal, maybe you need to go to 1900 to lose.

Supertact

If you aren't logging accurately (weighing) than you're margins of error are way too high.

j6o4

If you dont have a food scale, buy one. Looking at your diary, I would recommend increasing your protein intake as MFP sets protein intake a little low.

Stage14

1. Log your food

2. Log honestly

3. Log every single day

unFATuated

Adding to the chorus of log everything, as accurately as possible (buy a food scale if you don't have one) and do this for at least 4 weeks.

I would say that your calorie goal does seem a little low, but I would get the hang of logging and working out what you can manage, food-wise before adjusting.

b_ray_73

In addition to what everyone else said, measure yourself once a week or once every other week. The scale doesn't differentiate between total weight loss and fat loss.

chani8

You just need to get the math down. How many cals are you really eating? How many should you be eating to lose? You can do this!!

Invictus000

I would definitely agree with everyone that says to log! You may be surprised to find out how much you're actually eating, even though you thought you were cutting back sufficiently. After you've logged for a while you should start to get a sense of how much calories and nutrients the things you want to eat have in them and that helps A LOT, especially if you were unaware of it. It's very, very easy to eat too much and think you're cutting back (I had that same problem previously, too, before I logged faithfully for a couple of weeks). Once you've done this for a couple weeks, set a goal that will start to cut back your calories since a deficit will cause weight loss.

Also, I recommend investing in a decent heart rate monitor and tracking your exercising. You may be surprised to find that maybe the workouts you're doing aren't burning as much as you think and if you're in-taking too much or not burning enough then that might also cause the stagnation.

I've looked at your food diary and you log pretty inconsistently and what you do log it seems like you have trouble staying within the recommended guidelines so I would recommend maybe re-evaluating what you're looking at. Maybe you need to adjust some of the guidelines and slowly make the step down so you get used to the adjustment and it's more sustainable or, if you insist on hitting that target, then definitely start reading nutrition facts before eating to try to figure out what will allow you to hit those goals!

It's definitely not an easy trip, but you can do it! Best of luck.

helenlovesruby

You have done really well to lose an enormous amount of weight with other health concerns going on. Well done.
It sounds like your eating at maintenance for your body at the moment. You could concentrate on maintaing your current weight for a while and not piling on any extra weight.

The advice you've had around increasing protein and buying scales sounds sensible.
I know when your really heavy you you do need more calories for both maintenance and weight loss. Have you lowered your calorie intake to take account of your weightloss and new body shape?

Maybe mix up your exercise routine.

Well done And good luck for 2014!

Majormods

Thanks everyone. I did realize looking back that I used to log everything I ate which really helped. Now I only log when I remember, which isn't suitable. I've added MFP reminders for each meal to my phone settings so it will constantly be in front of me and knowing I need to log it. I know my exercise routine is sufficient for weight loss but if it's not working, its 99% of the time diet. So I will start there, track everything that goes in and see how it looks in 4 weeks. I have my wedding coming up in October 2014 and would like to be around the 200lb mark, which is NOW about 45lbs less. I think 4.5lbs/mo is very obtainable as long as I'm doing things the right way. Here's to 2014 and a new beginning!

DebbieLyn63

Thanks everyone. I did realize looking back that I used to log everything I ate which really helped. Now I only log when I remember, which isn't suitable. I've added MFP reminders for each meal to my phone settings so it will constantly be in front of me and knowing I need to log it. I know my exercise routine is sufficient for weight loss but if it's not working, its 99% of the time diet. So I will start there, track everything that goes in and see how it looks in 4 weeks. I have my wedding coming up in October 2014 and would like to be around the 200lb mark, which is NOW about 45lbs less. I think 4.5lbs/mo is very obtainable as long as I'm doing things the right way. Here's to 2014 and a new beginning!

WOW! Someone who came on here looking for advice, then listened to and agreed with said advice, rather than making excuses and living in denial.

Unicorns DO exist!

Good on you, OP. Best wishes in your weight loss efforts and upcoming marriage. Your attitude will be a great foundation for a healthy marriage as well.

Francl27

Everyone's already said it, but weigh your food and log everything.. Good luck!

Majormods

Well I'm now up like 10-12lbs. Some of it is muscle, but some is fat too. I have been logging but not "caring" late at night which leads to 2000 calories a day or more... I see my errors, just need to fix them.

I appreciate the advice and support from all the replies