NOTHING works!

bethkrusac

I have been trying to lose weight since February 7, that's exactly 2 months and 1 day. With going up and down on the scale, I've lost a NET of about three pounds. THREE. 2 months and all I get is about 3? That doesn't seem right.

I increased my calorie intake to my TDEE minus 20% as recommend and all that stuff, but it hasn't worked. I've decreased my calorie intake back down and nothing works.

I'm getting VERY discouraged her and really need some help!

Do you think I should join a gym and visit a trainer to discuss exercise opportunities? I'm battling a knee injury and can't do much exercise as it is intensely painful. Should I join a gym and speak to a professional? I need to lose weight and nothing it working. I need help!

btsinmd

Maybe talk to your doctor. Find out if there's some reason you don't know that is preventing you from losing.

fluffykitsune

I see that your cal goal is currently set to 1300.
What were you eating at TDEE -20%?
What is your height / weight / goal weight & activity level? You said you have a knee injury but what does your job/day consist of?

Are you honestly counting every little calorie? I used to use a bunch of teriyaki sauce on my rice, but I didn't know. I thought I was using 2 Table spoons (70 cal per table spoon) but when I measured it I was actually using 5 Table spoons!
Same with butter, cooking oil, spices.. they can add up.

DirtyTrickster

Have you been tracking measurements as well as weight?

xxcooneyxx

If you are honestly counting every single calorie that goes past your lips, and not having free for all cheat days where you are not counting, then you need to get blood work done. Talk to a doctor. Check your thyroid.

Meaganandcheese

Some of the changes you're talking about having made can take 6 weeks or more to really sink in. How long have you given some of this stuff before you've thrown in the towel?

And besides, any loss is a good one. Would you prefer gaining 3 pounds?

rosebarnalice

I would definitely encourage you to up your activity level--some way, some how.

I have a really bad knee and ankle, but find that the recumbent stationary bike and the eliptical are two pieces of gym equipment that I can handle that don't put any strain on my bad joints.

If you're thinking about talking to a professional anyway, I'd encourage you to do so.

mrsmarit

I have been trying to lose weight since February 7, that's exactly 2 months and 1 day. With going up and down on the scale, I've lost a NET of about three pounds. THREE. 2 months and all I get is about 3? That doesn't seem right.

I increased my calorie intake to my TDEE minus 20% as recommend and all that stuff, but it hasn't worked. I've decreased my calorie intake back down and nothing works.

I'm getting VERY discouraged her and really need some help!

Do you think I should join a gym and visit a trainer to discuss exercise opportunities? I'm battling a knee injury and can't do much exercise as it is intensely painful. Should I join a gym and speak to a professional? I need to lose weight and nothing it working. I need help!

1) You have to realize that this is a marathon not a sprint. You only need to lose about 30 lbs so 3 pounds is a good start. You didn't put on the 30 pounds in 2 months.

2) I looked at your diary and your calories are all over the place. Some days it's almost 1700 and others you don't even hit 700. Your body needs consistency (and not at 700 calories.) You need to try and eat the same amount every day... consistency is key.

3) Even with a knee injury there should be some types of exercise you can do. Do you have a doctor you can talk to about it? That would be a better choice than a PT at the gym.

xxcooneyxx

Also, I bought a food scale and I weigh everything. Like my bag of potatoes says it's 100 calories a potato, but i found out some potatoes were twice the size of others, so now I always go by the weight listed in the nutrition facts. I NEVER eyeball ANYTHING.

I saw a study a loooong time ago, but i think they had people guesstimate their portion sizes, like 1/2 a cup of this or a TBS of that, and found that people tend to guess portion sizes at 30% larger than they actually were. That means a TBS of butter (that they were counting at 100 calories) was really 130 calories. A cup of rice (260 calories) was really 330 calories. If you do that all day, at the end of the day, you have eaten your previeved caloric deficite without even realizing it.

concordancia

You have tried three different plans in two months? You haven't given anything a chance!

Pick a plan and stick to it for six weeks. If you choose MFP's goals, eat back the calories you burn through exercise. If you choose TDEE-20%, that is your total goal.

Weigh your food, measure your drinks and log everything.

If, at the end of six weeks of being consistent you haven't lost five pounds, then you might want to consider making an appointment with your doctor.

ami5000psu

It's only been two months. Looking through your diary things seem a little inconsistent. Why are you only eating ~600 calories on some days? Are you not logging everything?

ETA: Why are your carbs set so low and your fats set so high??

cwolfman13

Usually this means that you are eating more than you think you're eating. Common pitfalls are not logging everything that goes into your mouth, not weighing and measuring your food and ingredients (especially important with calorie dense foods like nut, cooking oils, etc), not logging sauces or toppings, etc.

If you are truly doing everything 100% to a T, you should be seeing progress...this would also suggest that perhaps you have a medical condition, are vitamin D deficient, or perhaps taking medications that mess with your metabolism. Barring any of those things, it's all basic math and science and does work.

nmcintyre220

I feel ya! I have been attempting to lose weight for 4 months now and lost a total of 6 lbs! Between arthritis, plantar fascitis, and asthma, I get in as much exercise as possible and am on at 1300 cal diet but not much is helping.

My doctor believes a big part of my issue is my birth control and stress. And it's an endless cycle bc I stress about the weight loss (among other things) and the stress is what is hindering the weight loss! Could that also be part of your problem?

Also, in the beginning, even though I was sticking to my calorie goal most days, I was going over in sugars which wasn't helping at all!

Good luck in figuring it out...I know how frustrating it can be!

joleenl

1. Are you recording everything? I mean absolutely everything? Do you weigh or measure your food?
2. You said you were eating at TDEE -20% but thats not what your diary suggests, it looks like 1300. You have to do this consistantly for a while. Be Patient. It does work.
3. I looked at your exercise a day or two ago. These things sound like they should be included in your TDEE not extra eat back calories IMO. TDEE is calories for an average day of cooking, cleaning, working, and walking and such. Eat back calories should be at least 20 mins of consistant exercise (IMO anyway) that is not part of your normal routine.

Hellbent_Heidi

Joining a gym and getting a trainer can't hurt and exercise is important, but weight loss is mostly related to your diet, not your exercise...so odds are, you're doing SOMETHING wrong. You might be overestimating your calorie burns, or underestimating portion sizes, or maybe you're just simply being too impatient before you change up your methods.

It really wouldn't hurt to see a doctor to get a check up at this point...there could be something that's hindering your ability to lose...

mryak750

your going over on your cals

iWaffle

Sunglasses don't work.



Cutting bread with a door stopper doesn't work.



Sitting down doesn't work



Tape measurement doesn't work



Cleavage doesn't even work.





THIS IS THE ONLY THING THAT WORKS.
You must buy this thing.

valeriemcmichael77

Yes, I would check to find what exercises I CAN do despite your injury.

valeriemcmichael77

What is that exercise equipment called?

bcattoes

I agree that seeing a doctor to check for thyroid or other medical reason is a good idea.

Also, it's good remember that those TDEE calculators do not measure your TDEE. The results they return is the TDEE for the average person using the stats you entered. Every calculator I tried overestimated mine, some by as much as 300 calories, which was a good % of my deficit.

If you are eating TDEE - 20% and not losing, I'd suggest dropping your calories a little more to allow for miscalculation.

difabu

@ iWaffle -- Thanks for the laugh! I needed that right now.

@ OP: What they said.

ami5000psu

It says in your profile that you were recently diagnosed with underactive thyroid by your doctor. Are you taking medication for that?

VanessaGS

Have you tried measuring yourself? You could be losing inches if you are working out.

chrisvinci

Honestly, I think you will need to add exercise to jump start your metabolism and begin strengthening muscle. However, I think you should get your knee checked out and wait to it is healed fully, so you can get the maximum out of working out.

jolt28

No offense; but you aren't exactly eating healthy. Lots of candy, chips, cheese - over on carbs many days. I'd try to eat some veggies and more healthy foods. Just because you didn't go over on your calories,doesn't mean that food is good for you. You aren't giving your body what it needs nutritionally. Just my 2cents:).

sammichPG

Sunglasses don't work.

Cutting bread with a door stopper doesn't work.


Sitting down doesn't work


Tape measurement doesn't work


Cleavage doesn't even work.




THIS IS THE ONLY THING THAT WORKS.
You must buy this thing.

this deserves a 8/10 just for the effort, well played sir

shannonshay1

No offense; but you aren't exactly eating healthy. Lots of candy, chips, cheese - over on carbs many days. I'd try to eat some veggies and more healthy foods. Just because you didn't go over on your calories,doesn't mean that food is good for you. You aren't giving your body what it needs nutritionally. Just my 2cents:).

I was going to say the same thing. Adding in more healthy foods will help.

bethkrusac

You guys have all offered great suggestions.

Currently, I have been weighing everything. I bought a food scale and have been religious about weighing things (I even got my husband to help me with it). It's just discouraging. I know that "slow and steady wins the race", but I just feel like I've been slow and not so steady.

I'll try to stick with it and try some of the things some of you have suggested. Thanks!

kikokateyy

Trying staying consistent with one plan... also, why is 3 pounds in 2 months bad? thats about .5 of a pound a week

BlackEyedPanda

Sunglasses don't work.



Cutting bread with a door stopper doesn't work.



Sitting down doesn't work



Tape measurement doesn't work



Cleavage doesn't even work.





THIS IS THE ONLY THING THAT WORKS.
You must buy this thing.

OMG!!! Why didn't anyone tell me this earlier!!!

lcfairbairn74

If you are taking medication for an underactive thyroid, it takes about 6 months to stabilise your metabolism. I also agree with the other posts about measuring and weighing every food item religiously. I didn't realise how much I was underestimating my portion sizes until I became strict with measuring!
Good luck and stick with the system.....it works! I started the journey in a wheelchair and have a few metabolic issues but give it some time, be strict and it will work!