TOTALLY Confused about Diet/Fitness Plan - NOT WORKING!

Ditch the Slim Fast - eat real food, and more of it. I'm an inch shorter than you, and it sounds like we have similar goals - namely FAT LOSS!

I have had my absolute best success at losing the fat in the same areas you mentioned, while eating 1800+ calories a day. I run three days a week, average 3 -5 miles, and I do weights at home (dumbbells with Nike Training Club at the moment, no cash for a gym or the big barbells at home) the other three days, and always at least one day off per week. The muscle is showing through (loving my arms in tank tops this summer!!), and even my toughest areas are losing inches, namely my tummy, butt & thighs.

A few years ago I bought all long shorts and capris, I wanted everything knee-length or longer because I hated my dimply legs, and seeing the fat creep lower and lower. Now I'm back in shorter shorts, along with smaller sizes of pants, shirts, dresses - everything!

Best move I made was following the information and using the tools in this topic: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/974889-in-place-of-a-road-map-short-n-sweet That's the short version, and there's a link there to a longer explanation of it all, but I have loved loved loved the results I've gotten from eating MORE food, good protein, fat & carbs, and still enjoying treats like dessert, alcohol, etc.

I hit goal weight (135lbs) a couple of months ago, and now I'm just working on lowering my body fat percentage a little more. My diary is open (be warned that for the past few weeks I've haven't been super disciplined due to my birthday, Mother's Day, etc :bigsmile: ) - feel free to check it out.

My guess is that you're not measuring your food correctly and you're eating more than you think. Combine that with not pushing hard enough in your workouts and you're going to even out at no change whatsoever.

I didn't say not logging, I said not measuring. Also, people have different ideas about what a "hard" workout is. I've done that... what's it called... the gym one that's supposed to be super hard with the kettle balls and stuff, and it's basically like my regular warm up.

Bottom line, unless you have an actual health issue, if you want better results you're going to have to work harder.

The other alternative is that your eyes are lying to you. You really are super hot, and you just don't see it. That's pretty common too.

I have the exact same problem!
Try this (this is what I am doing and its already working! Ive dropped my BF % from 28% to 21% so far within two weeks!)

-I recommend a Primal/Paleo diet, the reason being is that you cannot eat processed foods, grains, legumes and you limit dairy consumption. All of these foods have been known to cause weight gain and or digestive irritation even diseases. This will inhibit your fat loss (and makes you feel awful!)
Have a look here --->http://www.marksdailyapple.com/primal-blueprint-101/#axzz2TCyM7U4I

-try it low carb, a lot of people think Primal/Paleo means low carb but it doesn't. However I recommend low carbs because Carbs cause insulin spikes easily in the body which causes fat storage. Especially sugar. Yes that means restricting fruit too (Personally after eating lots of meats, fats and veg I don't find I need the fruit so I have berries about 1-2 times a week)

-I recommend trying a little ketosis and IF (intermittent fasting).
http://www.leangains.com/search/label/Intermittent Fasting Primer <----have a look at this!
http://www.marksdailyapple.com/dear-mark-ketosis/#axzz2T7ldsh6M <

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and this!

-In order to speed up fat loss you will want to be building muscle and toning yourself up especially as you dont wanna lose lean muscle mass!

-Walk every day for 1-2 hours
-Sprint 8x70-100meters once a week
-Hit the gym 2-3x a week and weight lift, use the weight resistance machines too
-Incorporate lots of squats, pushups, sit ups and lunges into your routines
-Have fun! Go roller blading, hiking, dancing, swimming, yoga, sports and cycling whenever you want to

-eat in a SURPLUS of calories, yes thats right I'm telling you to eat quite a bit in order to build that muscle underneath the fat.
Then on IF days of course you will eat less because you will be eating only 1 meal a day. Try 24hr fasts for great results too.
However don't do fasting every day! Just whenever it comes naturally. Sometimes I feel full in the morning and dont eat all day until 7pm but its not forced. And I dont do this every day. Perhaps a few times a week.

-I use the macros of 10/30/60 10%carbs 30%protein 60%fat
Fat will sustain you better and doesn't give the insulin spikes, also eating fats all the time makes it so easy to refuse sugar or processed stuff. (especially sausages and bacon!) Don't be afraid of fat!
If your still scared, consider this; the average McDonald Hamburger has about 9g of fat but 33g of carbs! So I wonder whats causing the weight gains? Hmmmm :P
(http://nutrition.mcdonalds.com/getnutrition/nutritionfacts.pdf)
Also if you looked at farms about 60years ago and onwards, they all had hearty breakfasts (some still do!) of lots of fatty meats, butter, eggs, cheeses and fatty pastries but not a doughnut in sight.
Fat is your friend here.
Sugar is your enemy.

Of course you don't have to follow anything I'm doing or you could take away some of my advice, its entirely up to you!
Good luck with your journey and don't despair, good results require hard work and patience

Lilypad, we are totally in the same situation. I'm 5'6'' and weigh 130, but since i have a small frame I'm trying to get down to 120. I started eating at 1500 and lost 6 lbs in 7 weeks, but I've been stalled for the past 5 weeks at 130. I'm,also in school, and stress causes me stomach problems as well. i don't have a solution, but I'm hoping that someone does!