why so hard to lose weight?

jabbajuju
jabbajuju Posts: 8
in Health and Weight Loss
Hi everyone.
I did MFP last year over xmas and did all this exercise and lost weight but couldnt stick to it cause i had to limit myself too much.

I find that unless i live on salad and vege and do heaps of exercise i cant lose weight. maybe this is normal? its just so frustrating that i have to restrict and push myself so much.
i dont have a job where i get a proper break to sit down and slowly eat a healthy meal so what i do eat is small and high calorie cause that's what i'm allowed ( i work in cafe and eat sandwiches etc) but as i am gluten free the things are higher in calories to start off with.

Edited to say my calorie allowance on here is 1400, and by eating what i normally eat and actually tracking on here i am only eating 1100 or 1000 calories so am "starving myself" but if i am constantly starving myself why am I overweight? I'm not hungry really, just get frustrated with the gluten free thing at work and home where i cannot afford to buy easy-to-eat things or more importantly the amount of fruit and vege i'd like to eat - hense not eating so much and maybe just having a sammy at work.

Is it normally so hard to lose weight?
i'm 31, 164 cm and weigh 80kg but I am muscly naturally so am size of 70/75 kg person ( size 14)

just thought I'd find other people's feelings on the matter as i get pretty down about my weight of late.

Replies

  • Crumpet_Girl
    Crumpet_Girl Posts: 276 Member
    Hi, if your eating so far below what you should be you are actually inhibiting weight loss. Just like over eating, under eating is detrimental to weight loss.

    If you eat the correct calories and move in some way on a daily basis you do not need to limit what you eat. You will lose weight. It's pretty simple what you eat vrs what you burn.

    Good luck!
  • PDarrall
    PDarrall Posts: 114 Member
    The hardest part is finding something that works for you and the reality is that is usually something which is a lifestyle change rather than a diet. Losing weight slowly and surely as opposed to expecting a fast drop through more extreme measures. Maybe set a lower weight loss on MFP a week?

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/blog/PDarrall/view/the-plan-how-to-stop-being-a-fat-*kitten*-609711

    My own personal plan is unique to me. I don't focus so much on weight targets, but more on what I know I can achieve.
  • jabbajuju
    jabbajuju Posts: 8
    i have a job where i'm on my feet everyday. i was fit enough then broke my leg and when i went back to work i gained heaps of weight - both muscle and now fat. my tummy looks like i've had kids and i havnt and it's embarrassing.

    I guess it would be nice to have someone to exercise with etc. normally i horse ride which is good exercise for strength but horse is broken too lol.

    I find sugar puts weight on me really fast so xmas hasnt been kind : ) but everyone likes a cake now and then : )
  • jabbajuju
    jabbajuju Posts: 8
    The hardest part is finding something that works for you and the reality is that is usually something which is a lifestyle change rather than a diet. Losing weight slowly and surely as opposed to expecting a fast drop through more extreme measures. Maybe set a lower weight loss on MFP a week?

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/blog/PDarrall/view/the-plan-how-to-stop-being-a-fat-*kitten*-609711

    My own personal plan is unique to me. I don't focus so much on weight targets, but more on what I know I can achieve.

    that blog is a good idea. i might try it. I think the fasting a couple of times a week is better than constantly starving yourself or living on salad : )
  • simonc14
    simonc14 Posts: 76 Member
    It's a difficult question to answer. At it's simplest, losing weight is really easy, it's just about consuming less calories than your body needs and over time the weight comes off. But finding the right way of achieving this in a way that works for you personally is always harder. I guess it has to start with an honest appraisal of what you're actually eating and a long term plan to eat the right foods In the right amounts.

    For 20 years I kidded myself that my career and workload prevented me from eating well and getting enough exercise. It was nonsense; I just wasn't prioritising myself and my wellbeing enough. Now I do. I'm not perfect and still have 'bad' days but I feel so much better that I wonder why I wasted 20 years believing otherwise.

    Good luck on your journey, I'm sure you will find a way forward that works for you.:smile:
  • livingleanlivingclean
    livingleanlivingclean Posts: 11,751 Member
    Consistency is the key. Doing something drastic that isn't sustainable isn't going to help as you're likely to quit (as you found). You're better off making smaller changes that are sustainable long term.

    I started at pretty much the same place as you a few years ago and over 7 months lost 25 kgs and went from a 14 to a 6. I ate upwards of 1400 cals a day, weight trained 4 times a week, did cardio regularly for the first three months but very little the rest of the time.

    I had a nutrition and training plan to follow and I stuck to it like glue.!
  • jabbajuju
    jabbajuju Posts: 8
    Consistency is the key. Doing something drastic that isn't sustainable isn't going to help as you're likely to quit (as you found). You're better off making smaller changes that are sustainable long term.

    I started at pretty much the same place as you a few years ago and over 7 months lost 25 kgs and went from a 14 to a 6. I ate upwards of 1400 cals a day, weight trained 4 times a week, did cardio regularly for the first three months but very little the rest of the time.

    I had a nutrition and training plan to follow and I stuck to it like glue.!

    Thats pretty impressive! I dont think i could be a 6 but wad an 8 10 yeats ago and ahain 3 years ago. I think i just need support and motivation.
  • florentinovillaro
    florentinovillaro Posts: 342 Member
    I fell into the same trap of thinking I can "beat" the system by severely eating under my goal that was set by MFP. My weight loss slowed then plateaued. So I decided to eat MORE (originally 1400, increased to 1800), a few calories under my goal and BAM!, weight dropped like you wouldn't believe. In addition I increased duration and intensity on my workouts (more weight, reps, sets, time, etc). The best part, is I feel satiated after eating, it really doesn't feel like a "Diet" anymore.
  • jabbajuju
    jabbajuju Posts: 8
    Im not even hungry though, thats whay i dont understand
  • livingleanlivingclean
    livingleanlivingclean Posts: 11,751 Member
    Im not even hungry though, thats whay i dont understand

    That doesn't mean you don't need to fuel your body. It is constantly burning fuel. If you were to lie in bed all day and night and do nothing, you'd still need to eat. Your BMR is what you NEED to just survive. Add in exercise and just moving around doing your every day "living" and your body needs more fuel.

    Plan your meals, make them fit your macros, prepare them and set times to eat them regardless of whether you think you need them.

    You need to be your own cheerleader. Motivation? That comes and goes - doing whatever it takes regardless of whether you feel like it or not is what will help you achieve your goals. I can tell you there were (and still are) many days when exercising is the last thing I want to do. I still do it because I know the consequences of not doing it. There are days when I could shove macro restrictions where the sun don't shine and just eat as I please, but I don't.


    (I never thought I could be a size 6 either...never say never!)

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