Needing Help! Can't loose even a pound!

shoufek2

Hi, I have been on and off this for years, and about 5 weeks ago, I decided it was time to get serious! I gave up my favorite cherry coke (3-44 oz/day) and started doing 2-3 44oz waters every day. I have not eaten over 1200 calories in the 5 weeks, and finally, the last 3 days have started tracking my food intake to verify. i am under 1200! I have not lost a single pound! I am so amazing flustered, I still eat, just smaller portions. I don't work out, I have MS and it is difficult. I have been at the same weight for 2 years, so dropping the soda should have some benefit, and then to eat less than 1200 calories, that should have also resulted in calorie loss! Can anyone give me any advise?

Thank you so much

QuilterInVA

Eating too little will stall your weight loss and so will eating some foods. I didn't lose until I got rid of all processed foods. I've changed to low carb and feel the best I have in years. Eating less than 1200 calories means you are probably not giving your body all the nutrients it needs. Eating smaller portions may not be enough if you don't weigh and measure your food.

You need to log your foods every day and open your food diary if you want help.

tquill

the last 3 days have started tracking my food intake to verify

Keep at it, 5 days is not really enough tracking to really know how much you've been eating.

Also, it's "lose." Don't worry though, no one gets that right around here.

nancytyc

Even with MS, you can still work out......I went on a pack trip in the lower Tetons on horseback, with a lady with such severe MS, they had to hand load her and unload her off the horse. She still could do a lot of things on her own. So, my first response would be to ask you if you aren't making up unnecessary excuses? You are going to have to find some way to move. Even the National MS Society stresses the benefits of exercise for MS patients.
http://www.nationalmssociety.org/Living-Well-With-MS/Health-Wellness/Exercise
http://www.everydayhealth.com/multiple-sclerosis/multiple-sclerosis-and-exercise.aspx
http://www.tysabri.com/ms-and-exercise.xml
http://www.webmd.com/multiple-sclerosis/guide/multiple-sclerosis-exercise

With that said.....I know from my own past experience (3.5 years in a wheelchair, hemiplegic, could not walk, talk, eat), that it is easy to make excuses when we are disabled, ill, or otherwise unable to do what normal people do. I did it, I admit it. So, step one would be to find some way to start moving. Leave the excuses behind and find the reasons to do what needs to be done. Diet alone is NOT going to get the job done.

Okay, so here is where I am sure that I will catch some flack from others.....LOSING WEIGHT IS NOT THAT HARD!! It is balancing calories in with calories out....no matter the kind of diet or eating lifestyle you chose. So, if after four weeks (not five days) you are still not losing weight, then (barring a metabolic disorder, which are extremely rare I have been told) you are not telling yourself the truth, not telling us the truth, not measuring EVERY morsel of food that crosses your lips and logging it honestly, not exercising enough (which can be done even sitting in a chair), or not leaving a large enough calorie deficit (and I am sure others could add a little more to this list)

The plain ABC's of weight loss are to take in less than what you exercise and metabolically burn in a day. It is that simple.

ellie0213

I know how frustrating it can bee when you are stuck. I have been having steady success. Happy to help if you'd like to add me.

AmyRhubarb

I have not eaten over 1200 calories in the 5 weeks, and finally, the last 3 days have started tracking my food intake to verify.

Tracking is key. You don't know for sure how much you were eating in the days before you starting tracking, which is only 3 days.....

I gave up soda and expected huge changes and got none because I was still eating too much. I walked more, walked faster, walked further, added more exercise - nothing happened until I started tracking food, and eating the proper number of cals for my stats and activity level. (and 1200 is too low for most of us. under 1200 is really not a good idea)

Measuring cups and a food scale are what you need for accurate tracking. Log everything you put in your mouth, and have patience - if you're in a calorie deficit (and reasonable deficit is better than huge deficit), you'll lose.

Good luck!

saberika87

I completely agree with what every one else is saying. I definitely struggle with weight loss when I am not working out. I used to just go work out all the time and just eat whatever and not count calories and figured I could still lose weight. That definitely did not work. Not that I am both counting my calories and working out regularly (I try to do at least 30 min every day of something, whether it's running or walking or hiking, etc) I am finally losing some weight. In the past, I have lost 30 pounds in three months just by counting calories and walking an hour every day. It is doable with determination and I believe you have got it in you! Keep going and don't lose hope! Add me if you would like, I could always use more friends to motivate me and vice versa!

janesmith1

I'm not sure what your Dr. has said was an acceptable daily calorie count for you, so, with that, have you spoken to a nutritionist or a dietician about it?

"Inactivity in people with or without MS can result in numerous risk factors" - National MS Society.

There's this, "Fitness with Katrina" for people with MS
http://www.msactivesource.com/ms-exercise-and-fitness.xml

& this has some great advice, including fitness in water
http://www.nationalmssociety.org/Living-Well-With-MS/Health-Wellness/Exercise