What do I do when nothing works?

herhighnessvictoria
herhighnessvictoria Posts: 7
in Health and Weight Loss
I have tried to lose weight pretty much my entire life and nothing works. Weight Watchers, Paleo, P90X, Couch to 5K...you name it, I've tried it. None of the traditional methods work. Since January I have been doing My Fitness Pal and exercising 3 days a week. I eat 1800 calories a day (tried 1200, but that was putting me into starvation mode according to my nutritionist) and eat very well. No processed foods, not a lot of salt, not a lot of bad fat, etc. In six months I have gained ten pounds, which I thought was muscle at first but I haven't lost any weight since I started seriously dieting and working out, so I'm pretty convinced it's not because I haven't lost any weight. Any.

I'm getting frustrated and a little desperate here. If anyone has any advice it would be greatly appreciated.
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Replies

  • JenMc14
    JenMc14 Posts: 2,389 Member
    If y are weighing and/or measuring everything and being honest in logging food and exercise (especially if you're eating those calories back) and you gained 10 pounds, talk to your doc. Otherwise, I'd say, barring a medical cause, that you're either underestimating how much you eat, overestimating burn or a combination of both.
  • KaraAlste
    KaraAlste Posts: 168 Member
    Be willing to change it up.
    Track everything and when you are not getting results, try something new.

    It could be a new diet, a new exersize routine, adding water, adding more protien, anything.
    Sometimes, it's our body adapting to our routine.

    Also, think of something that has worked for you in the past and do it again.
    Consistancy is key because if you do it for one day, it will not create change, it has to be everyday.

    But if you don't see results in one week, try another method.
  • lcfairbairn74
    lcfairbairn74 Posts: 412 Member
    There is a huge difference between 1200 and 1800 calories!! What amount did mfp give you originally?
  • Trilby16
    Trilby16 Posts: 707 Member
    There are a lot of numbers between 1200 and 1800. It seems like 1800 is too many for weight loss for you. I would eat 1800 cals. if I wanted to weight 180 lbs. (rule of thumb).
  • DanaHerro
    DanaHerro Posts: 186 Member
    Have you had your thyroid checked?
    What you are describing was my issue before getting diagnosed with thyroid disease. I'd follow everything perfectly and nothing worked.
    Now that I'm on meds and my disease is controlled? EVERYthing works like it should - it's night and day!
    I'd highly recommend seeing an endocrinologist if you can. 1 in 10 women have undiagnosed thyroid disease.

    Good luck!
  • lee91356
    lee91356 Posts: 330 Member
    another question is how much are you trying to lose, if your just trying to lose vanity pounds (i.e. your a healthy weight and just want to lose to look better) it take more time than someone who is overweight and losing. perhaps you just need to give it more time. and not jump around each time you dont see results. patience a really important key to weight loss
  • wendybird5
    wendybird5 Posts: 577 Member
    I don't know your current weight/size, but for me 1800 calories is maintenance mode. I can't lose weight at that level unless I'm doing 45-90 minutes of high impact exercising. I have to stay between 1300-1600 calories to lose weight. Maybe try going down to 1600 calories. It's not much of a drop in calories.
  • Hellbent_Heidi
    Hellbent_Heidi Posts: 3,669 Member
    Its VERY unlikely that you gained 10 lbs of muscle (if not impossible).

    There are a lot of people here that can give you helpful advice, but you should open your diary and provide some more info....like how much you really need to lose (height, weight, etc...will be helpful). What kind of exercise are you doing? Are you tracking everything you eat? ....are your calorie burns realistic?

    If you're eating as well as you say, and exercising regularly, there's no logical reason for you to gain....so if that's truly the case (and you aren't over or under estimating your workouts and calorie intake), you should consider seeing a doctor to see if they can rule out and medical issues..
  • bumblebums
    bumblebums Posts: 2,181 Member
    Have you read this?

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

    And seen this?

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JVjWPclrWVY
  • herhighnessvictoria
    herhighnessvictoria Posts: 7
    I am 5'7" and 189 lbs. Not too extreme, but overweight enough that I am uncomfortable in my skin.

    MFP originally gave me 1200, but I was exercising really rigorously (2 hours of cardio and weight lifting 3x weekly) that my nutritionist thought that would put me in starvation mode so she raised it to 1800. I was on 1200 for 4 months and lost nothing.
    I have been doing P90X for the past 2 weeks and nothing has happened.

    I am very honest about what I put on MFP. I do my best not to over or underestimate calories I eat or calories I burn.

    Had my thyroid checked. Medically, everything is normal.
  • JulieGirl58
    JulieGirl58 Posts: 158 Member
    1800 calories seems like too much for weight loss.
  • _Zardoz_
    _Zardoz_ Posts: 3,987 Member
    I would worry about any nutritionist who starts going on about 'starvation mode'. You don't need any qualifications to call yourself a nutritionist. If you need that sort of advice seek out a registered dietician. Also get a check up by your doctor.
  • Metallux
    Metallux Posts: 117 Member
    well, also, if you've maybe had yo-yo dieting in the past, or eating too few calories plus that much cardio and weights, at your height, I could kind of understand why someone might think you could use 1800 calories--as a way to help stabilize your metabolism so your body knows its safe and not in starvation mode.

    10 pound gain is a bit much. you could probably safely come down 100 or 200 calories a day though

    read bumblebums link!
  • Brad805
    Brad805 Posts: 289 Member
    Crack open that diary and lets take a looksee? :smile:

    Can you answer the very important points below:
    If you are weighing and/or measuring everything and being honest....
  • jwdieter
    jwdieter Posts: 2,582 Member
    Has to be something wrong with health or entries.
  • billsica
    billsica Posts: 4,741 Member
    I'll tell you what I did. I gave up.

    That ultimately was the solution for me. I run, I lift heavy, I love it and I stopped worrying about the scale.
  • wadedawg
    wadedawg Posts: 315
    Without knowing how much you weighed to start with and weigh now, it's hard to offer an opinion.
  • herhighnessvictoria
    herhighnessvictoria Posts: 7
    The only thing I consistently go over on in MFP are sugars, and that's usually because there's two sugars here and one there, and then I have an apple or banana and it puts me way over. (MFP gives me 24/day)

    So I'll ask this question while I'm here: how important is it to stay under all the categories MPF gives you?
  • Annerk1
    Annerk1 Posts: 372 Member
    Forget the scale, what does the measuring tape say?a
  • MysticRealm
    MysticRealm Posts: 1,264 Member
    1800 calories seems like too much for weight loss.

    Not at all. I eat 1800 calories and am 5'4 and 137 pounds and I'm still losing weight. I have a standing job and am trying to do Ripped in 30 but other than that I'm not exercising for 2 hours a day or anything.
  • Bambers14
    Bambers14 Posts: 15 Member
    It's not important to stay under their numbers. I went over on everything almost every day until I customized my macros. How often do you weight train? Do you do too much steady-state cardio? At 189lbs you should be eating about 189g of protein every day. Your carbs and fats will depend on your exercise level and will need to change depending on your workouts. I agree with your nutritionist that 1200 is too low if you are exercising.
  • mccbabe1
    mccbabe1 Posts: 737 Member
    There are a lot of numbers between 1200 and 1800. It seems like 1800 is too many for weight loss for you. I would eat 1800 cals. if I wanted to weight 180 lbs. (rule of thumb).

    bump! ive heard this before.. my sisters boyfriend said that.. like if you wanted to weigh 150 then you eat 1500 cals a day...160 then 1600 cals a day etc.. kinda cool
  • jwdieter
    jwdieter Posts: 2,582 Member
    The only thing I consistently go over on in MFP are sugars, and that's usually because there's two sugars here and one there, and then I have an apple or banana and it puts me way over. (MFP gives me 24/day)

    So I'll ask this question while I'm here: how important is it to stay under all the categories MPF gives you?

    I find the sugars category to be irrelevant at best, since it doesn't differentiate fruit sugars. If you're getting sugar from fruit, it's just not worth paying attention to.

    Protein intake is important, and calories are very important.
  • meeper123
    meeper123 Posts: 3,347 Member
    I thought this was me til I noticed I had dropped 4 dress sizes :) Just take a body fat test ( forget what its called) a doctor can do it for you
  • twinketta
    twinketta Posts: 2,130 Member
    I am 5'7" and 189 lbs. Not too extreme, but overweight enough that I am uncomfortable in my skin.

    MFP originally gave me 1200, but I was exercising really rigorously (2 hours of cardio and weight lifting 3x weekly) that my nutritionist thought that would put me in starvation mode so she raised it to 1800. I was on 1200 for 4 months and lost nothing.
    I have been doing P90X for the past 2 weeks and nothing has happened.

    I am very honest about what I put on MFP. I do my best not to over or underestimate calories I eat or calories I burn.

    Had my thyroid checked. Medically, everything is normal.

    Without wanting to come across as rude, if you have no medical problems and you are eating at a deficit then you are defying nature?

    Any body without a medical problem that eats a deficit of calories and exercises also would lose weight.

    Take my answer as you please.
  • taiyola
    taiyola Posts: 964 Member
    There are a lot of numbers between 1200 and 1800. It seems like 1800 is too many for weight loss for you. I would eat 1800 cals. if I wanted to weight 180 lbs. (rule of thumb).

    I eat 1800-2000 daily, and I lost 1.4lb last month. I weigh 142lb, not 180lb.
  • kao708
    kao708 Posts: 813 Member
    I am 5'7" and 189 lbs. Not too extreme, but overweight enough that I am uncomfortable in my skin.

    MFP originally gave me 1200, but I was exercising really rigorously (2 hours of cardio and weight lifting 3x weekly) that my nutritionist thought that would put me in starvation mode so she raised it to 1800. I was on 1200 for 4 months and lost nothing.
    I have been doing P90X for the past 2 weeks and nothing has happened.

    I am very honest about what I put on MFP. I do my best not to over or underestimate calories I eat or calories I burn.

    Had my thyroid checked. Medically, everything is normal.
    I'm not an expert but I have lost and gained about 75+ lbs at least twice and am on my 3rd try at it. So far, each time I've lost has been different. The first time, I didn't track anything and just worked out...I was younger then. The 2nd time, I actually had to eat back all my burned calories to lose weight..weird, but that's what worked. This time, I've found that I need to stay around 1400 calories and work out about an hour 5 times a week or nothing moves. You may have to try different options and see what works for you.

    First, try the plan as MFP intended. That means eating your daily goal and most or all of your exercise calories back. For some people, they need that extra boost to lose.

    Give it a couple weeks and if that doesn't work, try to eat only to goal and don't eat back any exercise calories.

    Lastly, if neither of these 2 options work, take the middle road.

    It may take some time to find out what works for you...and it may not always work...so mix things up. Eat different foods, vary your calorie intake from one day to another and always keep your exercise varied. If you always do the same things your body will get used to it and think you are just trying to "maintain".

    Based on your height and weight, sounds like you don't have much to lose so it's going to be harder for you to do. I'd definitely think 1800 is too much per day if you want to lose. Good luck!
  • LexiMann
    LexiMann Posts: 4
    I was having trouble losing weight as well I tried everything. No medical condition is present but I was always so tired and if I didn't eat a lot of calories I felt like I was starving so my Gyno actually put me on the Generic form of Adipex. Which helps boost your energy and metabolism while supressing appetite. I am on day two and have found that I am not hungry as often and get full faster. Maybe you could talk to your Dr. to see about him putting you on it. You should go back monthly for a weight check and to see if your blood pressure is rising that is one of the side effects.
  • taiyola
    taiyola Posts: 964 Member
    - Weigh what you eat. What I thought was 100g oven chips/fries, was more like 250g.

    - If you can afford it, get a HRM/Fitbit/some kind of calorie counter for exercise - MFP is way out with me. For example, an hours walk for me is up to 400 calories burnt. MFP suggests about 280.

    - Try a few different calorie goals. Work out your BMR and set you goal just above that, then try eating exercise calories. I like my weekly net calories to be around my BMR.

    - Measure. I weigh and measure once a month, and whilst I have lost 12lb, I have lost 23 inches. I am 1-2 dress sizes smaller.

    - It's not a race. I upped my calories from 1500-1600 to 1800-2000 and maintained my weight for two months, then lost.

    - Do weights - maintain your lean body mass whilst you lose weight.

    Unless you have a medical condition, you clearly aren't doing something right.
  • hookilau
    hookilau Posts: 3,134 Member
    I'll tell you what I did.

    I went to the doctor. Turned out for the last 8ish years that I've been trying to lose weight, doing everything right, working out taking gym classes, yoga classes and weight training, I've slowly becoming more and more insulin resistant.

    So much so that I am now a T2 diabetic. Only found out when I went to the doctor for a sharp pain in my upper abdomen and part of the routine labs included a BG.

    I'm 44 years old. I can tell you the last time I was able to lose weight was the first time I was on WW 8 years or so ago. Probably because in cutting calories, I inadvertently cut carbs & was able to lose. However the weight loss stalled & when I went back to WW, I could'nt for the life of me figure out why it would'nt work.

    I was on 1200 cal, 1400 cal, bought a fitbit, started 5x5 stronglifts, calculated my TDEE, calculated again, then re-calculated, consulted MFP'ers and couldn't for the life of me figure out what was happening.

    I bought into the whole 'you aren't a special snowflake', you are not weighing your food properly, you're not challenging your body enough, you're challenging your body too much, you're miscalculating, you're eyeballing portion sizes, create a deficit & you WILL lose weight, it's the law, you can't fail if you create a deficit, so you must be 'off' somewhere.

    Because of my insulin resistance/T2D (as I understand it, right now this is all new to me) there was no way in hell I would be able to lose weight until my blood sugar is within somewhat normal limits.

    If you're doing everything right, but not seeing results, carry lots of weight around your middle, have anyone in the family with diabetes or IR, see a doctor, read up on Insulin Impairment, Insulin Resistance etc.

    Don't care to see a doctor yet?...do a simple 7 day experiment.
    Cut from your diet all bread, potatoes, and rice.
    Just those three things per se, continue with fresh veggies, fruits etc & don't eat any low fat/no fat, just keep within caloric requirements & see if that works. If so, continue with your research along the lines of processed carbs, insulin resistance etc.

    As for me....I wish I'd sought help earlier. I have surpassed the point of no return into T2 territory & I'm only 44 years old but as I said before, the warning signs were there since my late 30's.

    Good luck friend :drinker:

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