ARGGGG

Starbuck2020

I am at my wits end.
Story:

3 months ago I was done with being over weight and out of shape. I quit my job that was harboring stress and hired a personal trainer. I work out with her for an hour a day 3 days a week. After the first month of training I decided I wanted to get into triathlons. So I started using my off days to bike or swim. I also began running and joined a half marathon training program. My husband and I started taking a pilates/yoga class a few times a week for fun. I also found hitting the heavy bag to be a good stress relief.
My diet you ask? Well. We have two children so our meals have always been pretty healthy. Baked chicken steamed vegetables etc. I have always eaten a nice rounded breakfast and a pretty decent and small lunch. Why are you fat you say? Well, I admit the dinners often included mashed potatoes and steak and seconds. Or pasta and seconds. Yep I like to be full and happy in the evening. Not to mention the large large amounts of Whiskey that I would drink every night and delicous large desserts. Last 3 months: no seconds, smaller portions, one alcoholic beverage a week, a small dessert a week.

Wow! that all sounds great! I must have lost some weight right? No. I haven't. I haven't loss a pound. I have gained several. "oh but you lost inches and body fat" Nope gained a few inches and my body fat % is about the same.

Went to doctor and he said eat less. Went back to doctor and he said eat even less. I have tried eating less. I have tried eating more. I eat a ton of vegetables. I eat everything else in moderation. Even some jerk eating mccondald every day would probably lose or at least maintain if they were working out like I am!!! Thanks doc.

I don't know what is wrong. I know that I should have some results. Any results. .4lbs a week would be welcome at this point. I joined this site yesterday morning. I am using it to record what I do so I can take it to a REAL doctor and get some help....but I stepped on the scale today. I have gained 5 lbs since last week. Not "oh 5lbs from eating meals and drinking fluids all day" no...5 lbs more than my previous "end of day weight after eating and drinking fluids all day" yea a legitimate 5 lbs. I cried for awhile. I called the doctor again. No appointments. So depressed.

Starbuck2020

....was hoping for some motivation and support. Might I add this:

This weight gain has been in the last couple of years. Between January and June I gained about 20lbs. I have gained at least 10lbs since June.

I have never had a weight problem in my life. Even after two kids I was down to my normal size 110-120 depending on the time of year. I am over 170 now. I can't do this. I can't deal with this. Everything I do makes me gain more weight.

Alemap25

if counting calories doesn't work, you should have your thyroid checked

chlorisaann

Yes to the thyroid check, but also try seeing a nutritionist instead of a MD... Md's take VERY few classes on nutrition.....

18guyhornet

I can sense your frustration. below is a link to a group on here - worth taking a look and reading the information within.

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/groups/home/8017-in-place-of-a-road-map

I'm assuming your doctor ran a battery of tests to determine the unexplained weight gain - to rule anything like thyroid problems?

GhostPack

Are you over training? Get that food log going, and don't cheat yourself. Log everything you eat. Check your carbs. I'm sure others can reply to what training for a tri will do for you. I've never done it, and from things I've read, It's not a program for loosing weight.

ldholcombe

Hello. I would like to see your diary... Maybe you do not realize what you are eating. For example maybe you have a tiny little snack here or there... Well those add up. (not saying you do this). But some people do not realize they are snacking all the time and adding on calories.

kaitimae

Has your doctor run any tests? If not, I would see about seeing another doctor... but, get a doctor to run some blood tests and such on you! Perhaps you have a thyroid problem and don't even know it!

Other than that, I would just make sure to really keep track of all the food you eat (which MFP is awesome at helping with!) and also keep track of your exercise... and I would suggest eating at least half, if not most, of your exercise calories back. If you are exercising as much as you say you are, you definitely need to be eating a little more to fuel your body!

If you are truly being honest with yourself, and still gaining weight, it is definitely time to get a second Dr.'s opinion!

Hope you can get this figured out soon! I am sure it must be very frustrating!!!

jaxxie

Wow, I'm no doctor but you seem to do things right. Just out of curiousity has the Dr. ever done any thyroid tests or other testing to determine if there is something else going on? Have you gone to a proper nutritionist to ask if there are options? I have no solutions but I also have a friend going through the same frustrations on here and I feel for you both. I really wish you the best of success and if you would like to add me, I'm all about motivation and support! Good luck!

PS Do you have a food scale?

going2befit4ever

keep logging and measure everything that goes in your mouth and show your doctor & ask for allergy testing and a thyroid test thats what i did low thyroid function and allergies held me up

tracy1031

Try a different doctor. I'm sorry you're struggling, your situation sounds really difficult and frustrating.

2hobbit1

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/654536-in-place-of-a-road-map-2-0-revised-7-2-12

Lots of good info here!

Eat less than your TDEE and more than your BMR. Follow the link to find these numbers so your targets are appropriate.
Be patient! And stick with it, It will work!

Be sure you are weighing and measuring your portions so you know your intake is accurate. Watch you sodium intake as it causes water gain. Are you near TOM?

You have changed your diet and added exercise - it can also cause initial water weight as your muscles adapt to the new routine.

Starbuck2020

My log for the last few days hasn't been perfect, but decent. I think I have read every single word there is on nutrition. My trainer majored in health and wellness and she hasn't heard of half of the food I eat. If I were not fat I could say I am a health nut and people would believe me. I am very into organic foods. We got rid of milk months ago in exchange for almond milk. We use grains like quinoa in our cooking and I can't even tell you how much Kale, turnip greens, boc choy etc I eat (I never add anything to my vegies that is gross. haha) I am not much of a snacker so I have to make it a point to eat a small piece of cheese or some raw almonds or a carrot or celery. I only drink water these days unless I am having my green smoothie that I make every morning. Nothing added, just greens a some berries. Well this is a long post. The point is I am very very very good with nutrition.

The doctor ran some tests after I begged him, but I was told everything is normal. I wasn't told what tests they were or what the results were. I sat there and told him how much I work out and he says "you may be a 1000 calorie girl" Seriously.

DMW914

First of all welcome to MFP!
You may have joined just in time. You can get all kinds of info here while you log your daily intake.
I was just wondering had you ever had your thyroids tested? Are you weighing yourself upon rising?
Do you eat a lot of breads or breaded things? Are you preparing your meals all from scratch or use shortcuts (like a rotissire chicken from your local grocer)? How much water do you drink in a day? I'm asking because sometimes it's those hidden sodium in foods that may cause you to retain water you may not be aware of.

Starbuck2020

The only "bread" that I eat is about once a week. I have slice of grain bread or rice bread. I often buy the frozen stuff in the organic section because it is rice, gluten free yadda yadda. I don't add salt to anything and we make our food from scratch. I have eaten out the past few days as we have been super busy with getting our house ready to sell. So def some bread and salt there, but not my usual choice in food.

Starbuck2020

Oh and I drink a ton of water. Ice water, lemon water. I was drinking tea everydayd but I haven't bothered recently. (herbal tea home brewed, nothing added)

Starbuck2020

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/654536-in-place-of-a-road-map-2-0-revised-7-2-12

Lots of good info here!

Eat less than your TDEE and more than your BMR. Follow the link to find these numbers so your targets are appropriate.
Be patient! And stick with it, It will work!

Be sure you are weighing and measuring your portions so you know your intake is accurate. Watch you sodium intake as it causes water gain. Are you near TOM?

You have changed your diet and added exercise - it can also cause initial water weight as your muscles adapt to the new routine.

No, not near it. I have been reading about this TDEE stuff. I don't have answers for that yet.

Starbuck2020

Are you over training? Get that food log going, and don't cheat yourself. Log everything you eat. Check your carbs. I'm sure others can reply to what training for a tri will do for you. I've never done it, and from things I've read, It's not a program for loosing weight.

Where did you read that? I did a 90 min bike ride last thursday and murdered 1400 calories. Not to mention my swimming and running. That is strange.

Starbuck2020

I'm new to this site however I started my dieting in late march, My doc had put me on the hcg diet and told me 500-800 cals a day alot of docs wouldnt recommend this but mine did. He told me if u only consume that amount of cals that even if u sit and do nothing u will lose and i did but I have a long , long road to get where i need to be. You can google that kind of diet plan.

I have been tempted to do something insane like that, but it isn't for me.
First: I don't do well without food. I get irritable FAST. I get headaches HARDCORE. I get tired INSANELY tired. I want to run jump and play too much to be starving.
Second: The irritable, headache, tired me is a stressed me. Stressed me is not good. I am bipolar=no stress allowed. Also, stress causes weight gain and I wouldn't be able to stick to the plan so the stress would be there and...well more fat me.
Thanks anyway.

2hobbit1

I did a 90 min bike ride last thursday and murdered 1400 calories. Not to mention my swimming and running.

Please take the time to look at the roadmap link. I can't see your diary to know if you are eating enough - but with a training schedule like yours you are more than likely under feed. Too big of a calorie deficit will stop/stall weight loss and can actually cause fat retention. With a bodyfat% in the 30's you should not really have a deficit larger than TDEE-20%. You are burning huge amounts of calories with your training and they need to be added back into you daily calorie consumption.

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/654536-in-place-of-a-road-map-2-0-revised-7-2-12

If you need help with the calculation PM me and I'll run them or double check them for you.

justjenn1977

ok... just to say it...

I can make healthy choices and still go over my calories for the day... my bmr is about 2400 (depending on the calculator you use)... so if I count.... (and accurately measure everything) and eat more than that (without exercise) I don't loose... it is entirely possible for me to eat 5000 calories eating "healthy" if I don't measure...


I say to figure out your bmr... and see what you should be eating calorie wise... then log... log logloglogloglog... do not let anything pass your lips without logging it...

in talking to hundreds of people here and in real life... when people think they "should" be losing weight... they are usually underestimating their intake and over estimating their output (not saying that is necessarily your case... just saying that I have been at this for a while... and I talk to lots of people... and I am a nurse and going back to get my masters... and I try to help people figure out what they are doing wrong when I can....)


that being said... there are also hormonal issues (thyroid) that can cause you to not have expected results...

Starbuck2020

Yea. I have off and on counted calories over the past few months and they are usually pretty low. I just can't grasp the idea that I am not eating enough. It seems so strange to me. How can an obese person working out a lot not lose weight even if they tend to not get enough calories apparently. It doesn't make sense. What about all the calories in calories out bs? What about my stupid doctor and his "1000 calorie girl" crap!
Not yelling at anyone in particular. Just frustrated as hell.

justjenn1977

Yea. I have off and on counted calories over the past few months and they are usually pretty low. I just can't grasp the idea that I am not eating enough. It seems so strange to me. How can an obese person working out a lot not lose weight even if they tend to not get enough calories apparently. It doesn't make sense. What about all the calories in calories out bs? What about my stupid doctor and his "1000 calorie girl" crap!
Not yelling at anyone in particular. Just frustrated as hell.

I understand and feel your frustration...

I would try for blood work... see if you can get thyroid levels checked

jaxxie

you can go to Fitness frog and they have calculators to figure out your BMR and TDEE (then subract 20%) from your TDEE and that is what you should be eating .... it bases it on all of the information you input, just have to be honest about it.
I noticed in an earlier post you haven't done this yet...it is almost the first step in the process....a measuring scale and go from there.

Good luck.

katiejarr

I totally and completely understand your frustration! I am 5'1" and last Nov I weighed 170 lb and I worked out all the time...but what I learned and that its not all about the exercise...once I got here to MFP and really was honest about what I put in my mouth and I really weigh and measure EVERYTHING before I eat it...I started losing.

You would be surprised how small 4 ounces of chicken breast really is when your used to eating a whole chicken breast...things like that really make a difference. My suggestion is to start here, weigh, measure and log EVERYTHING and give yourself some time, maybe 4-6 weeks. I don't know how old you are but the older you get the longer it take to take the weight off. And like every one else said, get your thyroid checked also.

I eat 1200 calories a day, feel free to look at my diary, I eat chocolate almost every day, I never feel hungry or deprived...no I don't drink whisky every day but I do enjoy a beer or a glass of wine occasionally.

Give it a chance and don't give up...there are tons f people here to support you!

GhostPack

I did a 90 min bike ride last thursday and murdered 1400 calories. Not to mention my swimming and running.

Please take the time to look at the roadmap link. I can't see your diary to know if you are eating enough - but with a training schedule like yours you are more than likely under feed. Too big of a calorie deficit will stop/stall weight loss and can actually cause fat retention. With a bodyfat% in the 30's you should not really have a deficit larger than TDEE-20%. You are burning huge amounts of calories with your training and they need to be added back into you daily calorie consumption.

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/654536-in-place-of-a-road-map-2-0-revised-7-2-12

If you need help with the calculation PM me and I'll run them or double check them for you.

Take the offer of help from 2hobbit1. (Way to go 2Hobbit1! Love to see people offering help!)
Murdering 1400 cals does not mean your are loosing weight. Your body will want to keep reserves for burns like this.

Starbuck2020

Thanks everyone. I am feeling better. I was going to "off" myself but that is how badly I was feeling.

cmriverside

Thanks everyone. I am feeling better. I was going to "off" myself but that is how badly I was feeling.

This is crazy-talk. Not even funny if you were kidding. You have two kids. You're 28 years old. You're only 50 or so pounds overweight. You're not eating enough, and your brain isn't functioning well....never mind your body.

You are making yourself depressed. Get enough nutrition and this won't seem like such a disastrous situation.

ndj1979

what is your work out regimen like?

katevarner

Are you on meds for bipolar? Medications can make you gain or at least keep you from losing. And you should definitely get your thyroid checked--problems with the thyroid actually make bipolar symptoms worse.


I have been tempted to do something insane like that, but it isn't for me.
First: I don't do well without food. I get irritable FAST. I get headaches HARDCORE. I get tired INSANELY tired. I want to run jump and play too much to be starving.
Second: The irritable, headache, tired me is a stressed me. Stressed me is not good. I am bipolar=no stress allowed. Also, stress causes weight gain and I wouldn't be able to stick to the plan so the stress would be there and...well more fat me.
Thanks anyway.
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Starbuck2020

Sorry. I have lived with depression on and off so long I forget people are not use to that sort of talk like I am. I was on meds but I was RAVENOUS on them and freaked out because of the weight gain. I turned to fitness and health to deal with my moods, plus lots of rest and limited stress. It is difficult. I am so not going to kill myself, but sometimes I get down enough to feel like it would be an option if I didn't have a family. No worries.

My trainer and I do a lot of strength training. Even though I am complaining about my weight, I am super strong compared to when I first started. So that is one thing to be thankful for. I have legs of steel and can do planks for days! haha

I am talking to hobbit. Yea my training can get pretty intense sometimes. I get so focussed on my goals that I guess I haven't taken everything into account. Long way to go yet.