Can't lose weight.

sbduvall

I have been in a stall for about a month now. Constipated all the time trying to eat healthy ...nothing. I thought this challenege would help push me but NOTHING is working and I am so fed up. I am trying to convince myself that "fasting" for a couple days each week is a bad idea but I am starting to think the only way I will ever lose is if I just stop eating all together. Thanks for letting me rant.

zombiesage

Don't feel discouraged and to be honest if you don't eat your going to gain weight because your body is going to go into starvation mode and store what ever you do eat. One thing that you need to do is measure yourself don't rely on the scale, i would know for over two months of straight working out and eating within my calories i gained 2lbs and I was devastated however i had gained muscle and went down two sizes. So ask yourself how are you feeling? If you're not losing weight are you gaining energy? If i went off the scale I would have given up along time ago, but by not giving up I'm now able to jog three miles and even though the scale doesn't change much I know that I'm gaining muscle and energy.

dreamchaser12

I agree, please don't get discouraged. The scale isn't everything. Our weight fluctuates daily from water etc. You cannot go by the scale alone. A friend of mine has gone down a whole dress size but only lost 2lbs. I have been stalled at the same weight for almost a month now BUT I feel fantastic!!! I am stronger and can see the changes in my body. I wouldn't suggest fasting, definitely keep up with your calories each day. Your body needs those nutrients to make you strong and healthy. Maybe you need to increase your water intake and fibre to help with your constipation. What kind of exercise are you doing? Perhaps you need to switch it up a little bit. Please don't give up. Just take it one day at a time. *Hugs*

sbduvall

Thanks guys. I have lost size but no pounds. My exercise is usually walking or running but I get so bored that I sometimes hula hoop or do a workout video instead, so that changes a lot. I have been fighting shingles again because I had a bad allergic reation combined with taking a gash out of my finger then getting the flu and it was all too much formy body to handle. I have been struggeling with constipation a lot. I increased my fiber from 10g a day to somewhere between 24 and 40 on any given day and still it is not keeping me regular. That is a little part of it all too because I happen to weigh on days where there has been no activity for 2-3 days. Was taking stuff for it, was told to stop because I would become dependent on it.

emilye72

Losing inches is terrific! Eventually the lbs will fall off too! Just keep at it! How many calories are you consuming? Maybe you need more or less? I am up 2 lbs this week and after reading so many forums I have decided I don't think I am eating enough and to up my calories by about 400-500. Maybe that will help you too? Just try to stay positive and don't give up!

dreamchaser12

That's awesome you are losing inches!! They are much more important (in my opinion). I'm not sure what to suggest about the constipation. Could it be from meds you've been taking for your shingles etc? I'm sorry you've been having a rough go lately. Hang in there!!

sbduvall

Thanks again everyone! I am taking a ton of vitamins for the shingles. B complex, B 12, fish oil, Vitamin A and this stuff called ViraStop. It seems to be working. I originally had my calories set to 2 pounds but that was hard to keep with so I went to 1.5 and did great for about a month or so...then nothing. I have gone up to 1 pound loss a week in calories (1710 a day) and hope that will help. Also going to try to really commit to a mile everyday instead of 3 days a week.

dreamchaser12

Sounds like you are doing quite a bit to help yourself and your tweaking your calories trying to figure out whats working for you. Just keep at it. I've been changing my calories around a bit in hopes of finding what works for me too. We just need to be patient with ourselves. If you're typically walking a mile 3x a week maybe up it to 5x a week and see how that goes. It's good to have at least one day a week off from workouts. I hope the changes help. You're doing great!!

sfrohardt5

I think it is most important to lose inches and to eat healthy -- remember that muscle weighs more than fat. If you are losing inches then you are likely gaining muscle. As for the constipation, my son has a chronic problem with that, too. His doctor and a specialist we took him to both say that it is best for him to take a small amount of Miralax each day to keep him regular (we give him a capful when he forgets to take it for a while and then when things get moving again, we drop him down to 1 tsp per day). Something to keep in mind -- the specialist we took our son to said it is better to be dependent on Miralax than to have to go to the hospital to get surgery for impacted bowels. Hope that helps!

sbduvall

I think it is most important to lose inches and to eat healthy -- remember that muscle weighs more than fat. If you are losing inches then you are likely gaining muscle. As for the constipation, my son has a chronic problem with that, too. His doctor and a specialist we took him to both say that it is best for him to take a small amount of Miralax each day to keep him regular (we give him a capful when he forgets to take it for a while and then when things get moving again, we drop him down to 1 tsp per day). Something to keep in mind -- the specialist we took our son to said it is better to be dependent on Miralax than to have to go to the hospital to get surgery for impacted bowels. Hope that helps!

That does help. Thanks. I was doing the same thing with Smooth Move Tea once every 3 days but I had a few people tell me that if I kept it up I would eventually have to take it every day for the rest of my life. Not fun sounding. But you are right surgery sounds worse. I think I will try drinking 1/2 a cup every other day instead of a whole and see if that helps. Someone else suggested Omeags could be the problem so I have been taking fish oils, and another suggested fiber is the problem so now I am getting in 23+ grams a day (as high as 40). Finally yesterday a doctor told my husband I probably just need more water intake, so, I am increasing the 64 + oz a day to trying to get in a full gallon.
THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR THE SUPPORT!:flowerforyou: