help, not losing weight

jeforman

I have been dieting and exercising for a few weeks and have not lost anything. I eat around 1300 calories and am doing Jilliean Micheal's body revolution and sometimes I also do 35 minutes on the elliptical. I have always had problems losing and am getting depressed. Any suggestions? Thanks.

elisa123gal

could be all the exercise all of a sudden is making you retain water..which is typical when people start exercsing.

SMKalienyouth

I am the same way. It has been suggested that I am not eating enough protein or potassium. Both plus other nutrients can help with mood. Still struggling myself, just keep trying.

wizzybeth

Are you weighing your food?

itsbasschick

are you measuring all the food you eat with an accurate digital scale?

Kristin_1979

I'm having the same issue... I am not working out every single day (like I want to) but it is because I work full time (even over time) and during those times I am conscious of the foods I am eating and my biggest offender is sodium (which makes you retain more water) I recently (within this last year quit smoking after 17 years and within the last 6 months have changed my diet to vegetarian (with the exception of some fish here and there for help with protein)

I am having such a hard time! I am drinking lots of water, cut out most sugars, watch carbs, increased fiber intake, an tell watch proteins, watch fats. When I do work out (usually 2 -3 times per week) it is very rigorous with 1/2 -45mins of cardio, 1/2-45mins of strength training and then I do sauna, swimming (laps) I usually spend about 3-4 hours at the gym when I am there and I am working HARD! My clothes are not budging... I do not weigh myself, scales are evil. But I can tell by my clothing that I am not losing... Very frustrating Even depressing... HELP!

lafilledelarue

Cut out sugar, wheat, and flour. Try eating 2000 calories per day. I bet the pounds will start coming off.

maryquitecontreras

Can you give us any other information like height/weight/age? There are many contributing factors to weight loss. Also, how accurately are you measuring your calorie intake? Are you using measuring cups, spoons, scales for absolutely everything you eat?

DMadelineP

happened to me too! then,, a month later, I gave up for a week and was angry at myself, so I weighed in to see how much i gained... And I had lost 5lbs WITH the food I had eaten!

Rogiefreida

Cut out sugar, wheat, and flour. Try eating 2000 calories per day. I bet the pounds will start coming off.

wut?

Barbellarella_

There are SO many factors to this.
1. How much weight do you have left to lose? If you set your goal to lose 2lbs per week, and you don't have over 75lbs to lose, then you're doing it wrong.
2. Are u weighing all your food with a digital scale?
3. Why are you not eating back your exercise calories back? MFP already factors in your deficit to lose weight in your original calorie goal, it is designed for you to eat your exercise calories back.

Here are a few helpful posts.
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1343719-get-rich-quick?hl=get+rich+quick
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1080242-a-guide-to-get-you-started-on-your-path-to-sexypants

MaddyT122

I'm having the same problem. I lost 4 pounds in the beginning and now, nothing. I'm doing 1200 calories and am 5'2". I'm going to keep at it though.

jeforman

Are you weighing your food?

I weigh and measure my food.

jeforman

I'm having the same problem. I lost 4 pounds in the beginning and now, nothing. I'm doing 1200 calories and am 5'2". I'm going to keep at it though.

I am glad that I am not alone. I am also 5'2" and just want to lose 10 pounds. I will still be overweight but that is ok. I am not looking to get "thin", just healthier.

Barbellarella_

I'm having the same problem. I lost 4 pounds in the beginning and now, nothing. I'm doing 1200 calories and am 5'2". I'm going to keep at it though.

I am glad that I am not alone. I am also 5'2" and just want to lose 10 pounds. I will still be overweight but that is ok. I am not looking to get "thin", just healthier.

Well than you aren't eating enough. If you only have 10 pounds to lose, you need to set your goal to .5 or 1 lb a week, and start eating back your exercise calories. You will start losing if you do that IMO.

jeforman

I'm having the same problem. I lost 4 pounds in the beginning and now, nothing. I'm doing 1200 calories and am 5'2". I'm going to keep at it though.

I am glad that I am not alone. I am also 5'2" and just want to lose 10 pounds. I will still be overweight but that is ok. I am not looking to get "thin", just healthier.

Well than you aren't eating enough. If you only have 10 pounds to lose, you need to set your goal to .5 or 1 lb a week, and start eating back your exercise calories. You will start losing if you do that IMO.

I am 5'2" and weigh 161, so I actually have more than ten pounds to lose, but I would be happy with just ten. I am 53 and know that the older I get the harder it is to lose! I am used to the old school thought that to lose, you have to eat less. If I am going to eat more calories, how much more and I assume protein? If I eat back my exercise calories, how will I lose?

Barbellarella_

I'm having the same problem. I lost 4 pounds in the beginning and now, nothing. I'm doing 1200 calories and am 5'2". I'm going to keep at it though.

I am glad that I am not alone. I am also 5'2" and just want to lose 10 pounds. I will still be overweight but that is ok. I am not looking to get "thin", just healthier.

Well than you aren't eating enough. If you only have 10 pounds to lose, you need to set your goal to .5 or 1 lb a week, and start eating back your exercise calories. You will start losing if you do that IMO.

I am 5'2" and weigh 161, so I actually have more than ten pounds to lose, but I would be happy with just ten. I am 53 and know that the older I get the harder it is to lose! I am used to the old school thought that to lose, you have to eat less. If I am going to eat more calories, how much more and I assume protein? If I eat back my exercise calories, how will I lose?

Can you please read those posts I linked above? Here they are again. http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1343719-get-rich-quick?hl=get+rich+quick
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1080242-a-guide-to-get-you-started-on-your-path-to-sexypants
You will still lose because MFP has already included your caloric deficit in your goal, before exercise like I stated before. You are meant to eat those calories back.

heres one that explains exercise calories http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/818082-exercise-calories-again-wtf

Barbellarella_

I just ran your numbers.. I will PM you.

Tanie98

Give it time and be patient.3 weeks is not long enough to see difference. It took me 2 months to start feeling difference and see the difference:flowerforyou:

stephe1987

Are you logging everything, including drinks?

How long have you been at this weight? It could be water weight. Take a recovery week from exercise or eat at maintenance for a couple of days and the water weight should come off. If that doesn't help then either you're eating more than you think (no or very low deficit) or have a medical condition and should see a doctor.

Exercise calories... if you choose to eat them back, make sure that you know exactly how many calories were burned. MFP and gyms usually overestimate. I usually advise people to eat back no more than half just in case they underestimated food and overestimated calories burned. Only if you know for sure that you ate what you ate and burned what it says you burned, should you eat back all those exercise calories, especially if you have not much to lose... every calorie counts toward the end, no wiggle room like the people who have a lot to lose.

Make sure you do not eat less than 1200 calories per day. That is considered a very low calorie diet and is not sustainable long term, meaning you will almost certainly gain the weight back when you switch to maintenance.

Also, make sure your activity level is correct. If you do physical activity normally (something that isn't measured, because most exercise should be logged) you need to set your activity to the appropriate level to allow yourself to eat more calories.

If you have 75+ lbs to lose 2 lbs/week is ideal
If you have 40-75 lbs to lose 1.5 lbs/week is ideal
If you have 25-40 lbs to lose 1 lb/week is ideal
If you have 15-25 lbs to lose 0.5 to 1.0 lb/week is ideal
If you have less than 15 lbs to lose 0.5 lb/week is ideal

If you are on your last 10 pounds, please be warned that the weight loss can often be painfully slow. 0.5 lb/week is a goal but even that can be high for some people. If you weight is close to your goal then that means your TDEE is low and it's difficult to get a deficit while maintaining proper nutrition.

jeforman

Are you logging everything, including drinks?

How long have you been at this weight? It could be water weight. Take a recovery week from exercise or eat at maintenance for a couple of days and the water weight should come off. If that doesn't help then either you're eating more than you think (no or very low deficit) or have a medical condition and should see a doctor.

Exercise calories... if you choose to eat them back, make sure that you know exactly how many calories were burned. MFP and gyms usually overestimate. I usually advise people to eat back no more than half just in case they underestimated food and overestimated calories burned. Only if you know for sure that you ate what you ate and burned what it says you burned, should you eat back all those exercise calories, especially if you have not much to lose... every calorie counts toward the end, no wiggle room like the people who have a lot to lose.

Make sure you do not eat less than 1200 calories per day. That is considered a very low calorie diet and is not sustainable long term, meaning you will almost certainly gain the weight back when you switch to maintenance.

Also, make sure your activity level is correct. If you do physical activity normally (something that isn't measured, because most exercise should be logged) you need to set your activity to the appropriate level to allow yourself to eat more calories.

If you have 75+ lbs to lose 2 lbs/week is ideal
If you have 40-75 lbs to lose 1.5 lbs/week is ideal
If you have 25-40 lbs to lose 1 lb/week is ideal
If you have 15-25 lbs to lose 0.5 to 1.0 lb/week is ideal
If you have less than 15 lbs to lose 0.5 lb/week is ideal

If you are on your last 10 pounds, please be warned that the weight loss can often be painfully slow. 0.5 lb/week is a goal but even that can be high for some people. If you weight is close to your goal then that means your TDEE is low and it's difficult to get a deficit while maintaining proper nutrition.

I should lose 25-30 lbs, but since I have such a hard time losing, I just want to start with 10 lbs. I use a HRM when exercising and according to that, I burn approx 200 calories /30 min jillian michaels body revolution workout and 220-250 on the elliptical (35 min). I weigh and measure my food and only cook low cal. I have to add more healthy oils but don't know what else to add. I know it sounds strange but after years of eating low cal, it is difficult to eat more. My weight gain is from vacations and I don't watch what I eat ( who wants to do that on a cruise!). I come home and have trouble getting the vacation weight off and then go on vacation again. Notice a cycle?

ZaCkOX

In my experience, I would NOT eat back the exercise calories unless you want to wait a very very very long time.

Either your body cannot function properly or you aren't making your body feel it has to use the stored fat.

Unknown

This content has been removed.

deanrun

I've done many diets over the years and there's no magic plan. Most can get you to lose weight but once you go off you gain it back and more. The only one that has helped me is the PQ plan through Univera. It is however a MLM company. It was recommended by my Doctor and my HSA plan covered it. This is a life style change plan with supplements and basically eat lean and green. I've lost 70 LBS over 1 1/2 years. You have to not only eat right but exercise. I have now done 3 half marathons and one full marathon. Planning on another full in September. For me it's setting the goal that keeps me motivated and seeing the results. SO as others have said it all about portion control and exercise, This worked for me,...., it may or may not work for you. Everyone has to find that plan or support that works and gets you to your goal as well as maintaining once you get there. Best of luck and encouragement to you!