program not working for me :(

My advise is the same as many others on here, muscle weighs heavier than fat.

Protein from foods are termed “complete proteins because they contain a balance of all the amino acids for the growth and maintanence of muscle. The more muscle you have the more calories you will burn. Also drinking water helps with weight loss. Don’t give up & just take it one day at a time you will get there.

YOUR EXPECTATIONS ARE UNREALISTIC!!!!!! You are too grown for this. Just go back to your original plan and get the Lap Band and deal with those side effects rather than the ones that you are getting here. The answer here is real simple. This is just my opinion!

What is "too grown" when it is at home??

If you mean the OP is "too old", don't be ridiculous, 51 is not too old, in fact, NO age is too old.

Also, please can you go into more detail regarding WHAT side effects the OP is apparently getting from here.

OP - I do not mean this in an aggressive or harsh way, but you are allowing yourself to spin out of a control a bit. Relax, step back, and take a critical look at where you are and what you have done.

Losing weight is a simple, but difficult, process. Let me repeat that: losing weight is a simple, but difficult, process. There are no magic formulas or special diets that will work long term, other than a balanced diet and eating at a calorie deficit.

(1) You lost 5 pounds in a month. Pat yourself on the back.

(2) Know that others on MFP have lost hundreds of pound and avoided surgery by doing so, but that they did it with perseverance and patience. Be willing to listen to them and learn from them.

(3) Set your calorie goal at a reasonable deficit so that you are targeting losing a pound to 1 1/2 a week.

(4) Weigh and measure all of your food.

(5) Make sure you get .8 grams of protein per pound of body weight (easier right now than calculating your lean body mass), and get .35 grams of fat per pound of body weight. Fill the rest with carbs and forget the carbs/fat/protein ratios. Just get enough protein and fat in terms of absolute numbers.

(6) Be patient.

(7) Join the Eat, Train, Progress group for serious help and serious discussion.

I am just so upset I really liked this program but not getting results.

You're not following the program which is why you're not getting the results. I can understand how you're feeling, when you've been heavy for awhile and finally come to your senses and decide to drop weight it can make you frantic, you really don't want to be that way any more. However your approach of eating less than 1200 cals a day whilst exercising is setting yourself up for failure. Read the stickys educate yourself and make a lifestyle change that will stick with you for life that way you will have life long results. You CAN do this but you need to take a step back and rethink your approach.

I haven't lost a lot with MPF but when I first joined I had my calories at around 1500, trying to lose 2 lb per week. Most days I went over the 1500 (I love food). I quit for a while, then rejoined and changed to 1 lb per week. Now I can have like 1800/day. This totally works for me, because it's a mental thing. I have most days been under the 1800. I don't watch the details, like the fat/protein/etc. But I try to eat healthy while being happy at the same time (deprivation is disaster for me). Last week I lost 2.6 pounds. I drink lots of water. The thing is you have to find what works for you. I have the same thing for breakfast every day, which seems like a lot of calories, but then I have a light lunch. And I usually have close to or over 1000 calories to save for the rest of the day. Now I can make dinner for my family and eat whatever they are eating and not feel guilty. And usually still have a snack at night. It works for me, I'm happy and healthier without depriving myself.

Okay thanks I was eating more protein until I came on this program in fact I removed the protein off my menu because I was eating too little amount in the beginning had horrible headache for 14 days, but was trying to follow this to a tee. Okay maybe I will keep trying this because I really do like it and don't want to give it up I'm just so discouraged. And this is the first time in my life that I actually exercised I lost alot of weight without it but now I really like going to the gym. Okay I will give it more time and I will eat more protein Thanks

Ok I have read enough including the comments - really listen to this advice! I can say from someone who was scared of eating more to lose more - it does work. This isnt a programme - this is most definitely a change in lifestyle (one I am about to post on myself!). MFP is like a secret that those who dont have dont know and never will. It basis is calories in v's calories out. With an additional 80lb to lose - dont worry about your macros yet! Worry about getting your calorie balance right - the macros will follow and as you get fitter and leaner, and the longer you log on to this site and learn, you will automatically start to understand the macros more - but I would strongly recommend not sweating it over these things until you are at a more comfortable level.

I cannot imagine a time now where I wont use MFP - I have been using it since June this year prior to which I had alrealy lost 14lb - I have since lost 8lb and that is just perfect! I have not lost any weight for the last 6 weeks - and I dont care - even though I still have 30lb to lose. The reason I dont care? because for the last six weeks - I have increased my exercise, I have continued to eat relatively clean, with the occasional indulgence (which is not only allowed but encouraged - the day I feel I am on a diet again is the day this will fail) but most of all I have had comments continuously over those weeks about how much weight I have lost! Even the same person commenting within 48 hours of the last to say I looked like I had lost more! It made me realise it was time to check the tape measure not the scales and low and behold - I have lost 4 inches off my waist - 3 inches from my hips and 1 ince from my neck. My waist to hip ratio is now in the very healthy range (it was obese) and i feel amazing.

I think its about getting your head around eating more (I ave. about 2000 cals on a day wiht good exercise i.e. 500cals in 1 hour, and 1500 on rest days.) but eating more providing its in moderation makes all the difference and is strongly advised. It also means you are less likely to fail your goals as teh changes you make are more subtle! the quick diets mean you deprive yourself, so 'falling off the wagon' leads you to gorge on cr*p. The subtle changes required to follow this effectively means you are less likely to 'fall off'. If you are struggling to eat all of your calories - then have a small portion of high calorie food. For the first time ever I have actual chocolate in my fridge! I eat it! at least every other day - but my body continues to change for the better..

Serioulsy stick with this - its sooo much easier than slimming world or WW (I am a gold member twice over with significant weight gains afterwards) this is by far the easiest and most realistic and definitely the most relaxed I have ever been about food without the normal side effects ! Best of luck! xx

Your problem is you are too impatient.

Try not to look for rapid weight loss. Try 1500 calories food and 500 calories exercise. Probably holding on to water too, hell I *kitten* at least 2lbs a morning so looking at a tiny up and down of that isnt worth worrying about. Bearing in mind a litre of water weighs 2.2lbs and I can easy drink that within half an hour on some days. Quit stressing and give your body time to adapt and be less extreme.

If you're truly in it for the long run, you won't give up at 1 month - I've been here for nearly 2 years anbd been up and down the whole time... I know exactly why i have gained when i have and i know not to worry over 5lbs... and i know i can get back to where i want to be with hard work and dedication.

No-one said it would be easy. There is no easy... and surgery? Really? It'll change your life...and not in a good way...plus all the associated risks... and after it, will you REALLY change? MFP makes oyu change yourself mentally and think more about what you're putting in and out of your body and consider all your lifestyle choices. I'd stick with it and deprive myself of my gluttony rather than risk surgery.

I think that you are looking at eating healthy in a wrong way. We need a certain amount of carbs and fat to have energy. You should not limit it to only once per day. There are good carbs and bad carbs. Bag of chips bad carb...english muffin good carb...special k good carb. All things are OK in moderation. Losing 5 lbs in one month is considered a realistic goal. I was stuck at no weight loss for almost 3 wks straight but, never gave up. Then this wk, dropped 3 lbs. Try adjusting your cals to 1200 a day. You can do this by just eating fruit, more veggies or a nonfat yogurt.