22 years old and can't seem to lose weight...

shawnab2013
shawnab2013 Posts: 3
in Health and Weight Loss
Hi, I am 22 year old female. I work out 5-6 days a week, twice a day. I do HIIT 12-15minutes in the mornings and I go to the gym for cardio and strength training for about an hour to an hour and half in the evenings. Plus I am eating a very healthy diet packed with 1500-2000 calories of fruits, veggies, fish, and chicken. I have been following this routine religiously for 10 weeks now. The day I started I weighed 146 pounds. Guess what. 10 weeks later, I step on the scale and still weigh exactly 146 pounds. My clothes don't even fit any looser. I am trying so hard to be patient, but 10 weeks of busting my *kitten* and still not losing one single ounce is highly discouraging, I feel like I have been plenty patient. Ideally, I'd like to get back down to 130, and I'd like to do it by the end of May this year. Anybody have any suggestions?

Replies

  • kacarter1017
    kacarter1017 Posts: 651 Member
    Open your diary so we can see what you're eating. There are so many things that could be causing this, to offer good advice, we need to be able to see what you're eating every day.
  • stealthq
    stealthq Posts: 4,298 Member
    And post your height so people can calculate how many calories would normally be recommended for you.
  • diannethegeek
    diannethegeek Posts: 14,776 Member
    How accurately are you logging? Are you using a food scale, measuring cups, or eyeballing portion sizes? A well-calibrated food scale is the best tool to be sure you're eating the calories you think you're eating. The inconsistencies with measuring cups and guesstimation can really add up over the course of a day.
  • diannethegeek
    diannethegeek Posts: 14,776 Member
    Open your diary so we can see what you're eating. There are so many things that could be causing this, to offer good advice, we need to be able to see what you're eating every day.

    You can open your diary by going to Settings > Diary Settings > Public. It really is helpful for us to take a look if you're comfortable sharing.
  • lmmo1977
    lmmo1977 Posts: 25
    You don't need to exercise that much (your body needs some rest too) and most likely you're eating more calories than your think you are. Are you weighing your food? When you cook do you control everything that goes (e.g., olive oil, butter, etc.)? Do you "steal" bits of other people's food? Just some ideas...
  • WBB55
    WBB55 Posts: 4,131 Member
    Are you pregnant? Honest question.
  • bumblebreezy91
    bumblebreezy91 Posts: 520 Member
    Are you pregnant? Honest question.

    Also, you are working out a lot. Maybe too much, I can't say. You could be overestimating calories burned and eating too much back. Or not eating enough back.
  • Kenazwa
    Kenazwa Posts: 278 Member
    I also suspect that you're probably working out too much. Bodies need rest as well as exercise, especially after a hard strength-training session.

    As for weight loss, you have to be in a calorie deficit to lose weight, so I can only conclude that you're eating at maintenance. Keep very accurate records - measure absolutely everything before you eat it. You may need to tweak the calorie count downward. Just because some calculator said you would lose weight at a certain calorie level doesn't mean you will. Calculators give you estimates that could be off as much as 25%.
  • lrmall01
    lrmall01 Posts: 377 Member
    1500-2000 is a pretty wide calorie target.

    Are you consistently eating 1500 on non workout days, and 2000 on workouts?

    Maybe look at your average daily calorie intake is over the course of those 10 weeks. It may be higher than you think.
  • CaitlinW19
    CaitlinW19 Posts: 431 Member
    I agree, you might find in the answer in what you are eating. For example, I know someone who could not lose weight and it turns out they were starting their day every day with a banana (which is obviously a very healthy food) but that was inhibiting their weight loss for some reason. He exchanged a few bananas a week for an apple or some other healthy item and the weight started coming right off. Too much of a good thing isn't always a good thing :-)
  • shawnab2013
    shawnab2013 Posts: 3
    well, height wise I am 5'6. And I don't keep all of my food entries on here because I don't really have time to try to enter everything on my phone (I am a very busy wife/college student). However, I do keep a notebook with me to write everything down. I eat small portions, I don't use vegetable oils or butter or condiments. I never drink soda.I went ahead and added the past weeks meals that I have written down, my measurments are exact, and now you can see it. Also, I work with trainer in the gym. I know I am doing everything I need to be doing. I have been incredibly athletic my whole life, so I know I am not overworking my own body, I know what my limits are. Just beginning to wonder if there is something else behind all this...
  • shawnab2013
    shawnab2013 Posts: 3
    Lol, no I am not pregnant.
  • lrmall01
    lrmall01 Posts: 377 Member
    If you are working with a trainer, what does he / she say?

    I think the general response you will get from this board is that you are eating more than you think and tell you to eat less. The other likely response will be that you are wrecking your metabolism and you should eat more. Ultimately you have to pick a strategy, do it consistently for about another month, and see what happens. If it doesn't work then try something else. You have to be consistent but you should see some results after a few weeks.

    Read this in support of eating less:
    http://www.acaloriecounter.com/blog/why-am-i-not-losing-weight/

    Read this in support of eating more:
    http://www.muscleforlife.com/how-to-speed-up-metabolism/

    Good luck!
  • kacarter1017
    kacarter1017 Posts: 651 Member
    I'm seeing very few fruits and vegetables. And at the level you are working out, you are probably not getting enough calories.
  • healthygreek
    healthygreek Posts: 2,137 Member
    I'm seeing very few fruits and vegetables. And at the level you are working out, you are probably not getting enough calories.
    She may not be eating a lot of fruits and veggies but she's probably not eating at a deficit because she's not losing weight.

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