What am I doing wrong? Advice needed!

I may be clueless because I don't count calories, but I believe it IS still possible without doing so. My portions aren't big, and my exercise is consistent...Perhaps I'm looking for advice about exercise more so than food intake.

I just posted about that in the "maintaining weight" forum. I should have posted it here. The nutritionist I talked to says never ever ever count calories because that won't help you, but rather be harmful for you in the long term. I want to believe there's another way, too. I'm confused...

There's not, there's really no opinion on the matter, just simple facts.

1lb of fat = 3500calories. To lose 1lb of fat every week, you need to be 3500 calories, so 500 per day, under your "maintenance".

Certain diets may assist with this, and give other benefits in some places, but the fact remains that for fat loss, you need to be using your fat stores, which means having a total calorific deficit.

And some food, such as nuts, have a *lot* more calories than people realise. Healthy foods, are not always low in calories.

Three things that helped in the past that I'm implementing again this go around, were: lowering carb intake, eating at least 100 g of protein, and not eating too few calories. Keep experimenting and making little changes, you'll get there!

To start with what are your stats, also how long have you been doing this for now?
The reason I ask is because although you are doing all the right things it can take a while for your body to adapt and start shedding the weight.
I was in your boat and I didn't see the scales move until 6 weeks after I first started with my program, then the weight just began falling off!
Good luck!

4. avoid fads. don't buy in to any "Hey, try the twinkie and vodka diet"

Man I so gotta try that diet!

try actually using MFP.

^^This. :laugh:

What I wanted to say.

What you consider a small portion is probably not the same as what I call a small protion. A portion of rice is 1/2 cup cooked. Maybe for you, 1 cup is small because before you would've had 2. (that's 300 cals right there - regular dressing on salad? minimum 100 cals)

And as for not believing in counting calories...I counted them for 2 years, now I don't because I KNOW how many calories are in my 1/2 cup of rice. I keep a mental log and I'm still losing weight... But you have to know your basics first!

Log your cals for 1 month and then see if you're really eating 1300 cals.... I beleive you're eating more than that! I eat around 1500 (I log once in a while to make sure I'm still on track) and I'm losing at 5'2'' and 132lbs.

And you want more advice on exercise, I suggest lifting heavy (throw away the 1 to 5lbs dumbells) 3 X week. Some HIIT (google it) would be good for cardio.

If I made an educated guess, I'd say I eat approx.1300 calories a day. Is there such thing as an average calorie goal for generic weight loss? I guess I will have to start counting, and see what happens.

Thanks all, any other advice is welcomed!

As others suggested, you need to be logging your food. Weighing and measuring so it is accurate.

IF, and that's a big IF, your educated guess of 1300 calories is what you are eating every day, it is not enough.

At 5'8", 225lbs, and exercising as regularly as you do, 1300 calories a day is NOT enough food.

Here is a link full of great information!!
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/974888-in-place-of-a-road-map-2k13

1. Any diet/workout needs at-least minimum 2 weeks to show results. Sometimes even more if our metabolic system was in hibernation mode for too long.

2. Sometimes we lose fast but gain muscles too (good thing), so actual weight difference will remain low. Scale hardly shows any improvement but mirror and clothes tell different story.

3. Count your calories and eat in proper portions ie. proper percentage of fats/protein/carbo's according to new caloric goal.

4. Do not stress, make it a new lifestyle instead. Avoid sitting for too long. Keep walking/moving/standing when doing household chores. Just forget you are doing this to lose weight. Just keep thinking whatever you are doing is good for your blood and Lymphatic circulation. Happiness will be at your door step soon.

5. Try Intermittent fasting, it works for me always. I eat 2 proper meals everyday in 8 hour window. My routine -
12AM - Lunch
8 PM - Dinner
8PM-12AM Fast (Only water consumption), I hardly feel hungry between 8PM and 11PM (Sleep Time) then in morning again I hardly crave for breakfast in 9-12AM period. 16 hour fast daily looks burden on paper, but in reality easily manageable due to 9 hour sleep. I only spend 30 minutes total on eating, 2 times a day. I find it much easier, I am shedding kilos at rapid pace.

I don't count calories (sorry! My view is that if it's all good for you, as long as the portions aren't huge-- its generally okay)


I'm 24, 5'8 and 225.

My mother eats the healthiest foods of anyone I know and she has been obese most of her life.

You need to count calories.

Same here. My mother eats super healthy. She juices and eats mostly veggies. She is almost 300 pounds.

Healthy eating does not = thin.

I always scratch my head at people who ask for advice on what they are doing wrong and when Everyone tells them what they are doing wrong, they argue because obviously they don't need help.

/facepalm

I may be clueless because I don't count calories, but I believe it IS still possible without doing so. My portions aren't big, and my exercise is consistent...Perhaps I'm looking for advice about exercise more so than food intake.

Weight loss is mostly diet, not exercise. However, I understand what you're saying...

Have you been losing weight at your current eating habits, portions, etc., and then plateaued?

If so, it's time to trim back even more. If you normally eat 3/4 of a plate of food, go to 1/2 of a plate of food. If you normally eat 2 slices of bread, eat one instead. If you normally eat a big bowl of Special K, eat 1/3 less. Personally, I lost the most weight on portion control and have made lasting changes that have kept the weight off. I see no reason that you can't continue on your current plan (with further cutting back) and succeed.

Here's the thing: When you count calories, every time you lose 5-10 lbs., you have to adjust your caloric intake to avoid the plateau. So, that's all you're doing here, as well. Just trim it back a little every 10 lbs. and you should rock along just fine.