Why in the hell am I stuck at this weight?!

You are way overestimating your calorie burns. You're probably burning 200-250 calories in the 30-45 minutes you're exercising. I'm in the gym 75 minutes lifting weights 3-5 times a week, and I bike 20-40 minutes a day. On my hardest workout days, which is 2 hours, the most burn I get is still under 600. I also push myself very hard. A 5K run in 30 minutes burns less than 250 calories for most women.

You're also eating more than you think. Sorry, if you're stalling, it isn't magical metabolism-slowing foods or sugar causing your problems. It's thermodynamics.

But if you don't want the advice, feel free to keep doing it your way.

Well, when you hear things like "burn more than you eat to lose weight" or "calories in, calories out"...I'd think so. LOL. Hence, were you can sense my confusion! :noway:

Sooooooooooo, is it the wrong way or is it not? Do I need to just eat like 2000 calories a day when exercising or no?

There are many things which influence the "calories out" part of the equation. If you are certain that your intake is exactly what you've said, then you must assume that your output is lower than the estimated TDEE. The causes can be many. I would start by getting my doc to check my mineral levels as deficiencies are VERY common and that wreaks all kinds of metabolic havoc.

IODINE--Unfortunately, we are having an epidemic of thyroid disease in Western countries and part of the problem is iodine deficiency. When tested in wide population studies, it has been observed that serum iodine levels are lower than they were even a couple of decades ago and iodine deficiency impairs the thyroid gland from doing its job--i.e.keeping the metabolism humming. Fluoride in the water is part of the problem, as fluoride competes with iodine in the thyroid gland's receptor sites. In addition, our intake of iodine is lower because our soils are depleted in iodine and we tend not to eat seafood and sea vegetables. Of course iodine deficiency has always been a real problem for those living inland on the iodine poor soils of the American food belt. Goiter is endemic to those areas--it got so bad that the government mandated that salt be iodized. But we are not eating as much salt these days. If you think that might be your problem, I would try an iodine supplement or, if you prefer a more natural way, include kelp and lots of other sea food and sea vegetables in your diet. The incidence of thyroid disease has skyrocketed since the wide use of fluoride in municipal water systems after WWII. If you have an iodine deficiency, you need to stop drinking fluoridated water (and you would need to stop eating the processed food that invariably gets its processing water from fluoridated municipal sources).

MGNESIUM Another problem is magnesium deficiency. Magnesium is essential to MANY metabolic functions. Athletes in particular, are quite prone to magnesium deficiencies. Magnesium supplements can be problematic because, in many people, they precipitate diarrhea and the person ends up no better. One easy and safe way to get your magnesium is through your skin with Epsom salts baths but using "magnesium oil" is longer lasting (magnesium oil is not oil but it can feel "oily" when applied to the skin). Magnesium oil is magnesium chloride from sea water. It can be purchased online or from a health food store. Don't be put off by the price as you are supposed to dilute it before applying it to your skin--a little goes a long way. I dilute it in a spray bottle and then I spray it on my skin after a shower and then rub it in before applying a little vegetable oil as a moisturizer. IIRC, the birth control pill causes magnesium deficiency.

Those are the two mineral deficiencies most likely to influence weight loss (or rather, the lack of it).

There are other hormonal problems that influence weight loss and gain. Many, many women complain of impaired ability to lose weight after a period of being on the birth control pill (despite what the pharmaceutical houses claim). This is because the birth control pill stops ovulation (which is what it is designed to do). Progesterone production peaks at ovulation. Progesterone counters the "body fat hoarding" tendencies of estrogen. Estrogen does this in two ways. It blocks the uptake of iodine AND, it reduces the effectiveness of thyroid hormone at a cellular level. The birth control pill tends to put a woman's body into a condition called "estrogen dominance". Without the countering effect of progesterone (which enhances the action of thyroid hormone at a cellular level) body fat gain (and retention) is inevitable. And even if the birth control pill is stopped, ovulation may not resume so the woman's estrogen continues to run unopposed. There are bio-identical (and it is very important that it be real progesterone and not synthetic progestin) over-the-counter progesterone creams that can be purchased at a health food store if you think this may be a problem. There is an online critique of the best one's available here:http://johnleemd.com/store/faqs_progest_crm.html It is the website of Dr. John Lee (now deceased) who was a pioneer in the field of natural progesterone therapy for women and extensively studied the problem of estrogen dominance.

Good luck!

Another I want advice but only if I agree with it thread.

Shocker.

Shakeology for dinner helped me break my plateau

Shakeology for dinner helped me break my plateau

That's one (really expensive way) to create a caloric deficit. She swears she's already doing that so I fail to see how this would help beyond lightening her wallet!

I think you are overestimating how many calories you are burning at the gym. The machine's estimates are notorious for being inaccurate. And even at 180 lbs, I think 580 is a very high estimate for a 4 mile walk.

I think you might find your answer here:

http://gomaleo.wordpress.com/2013/07/22/metabolic-derangement/

This for sure. I am 125 and I put my weight into the elliptical and it comes out to roundabout 270 cals burned in a half hour..seems more likely..500 plus seems an awful lot. I do TDEE and I just put calorie burn in the exercise notes..I find eating back calories a slippery slope.

I've been at 550-1000 NET cals this whole time. My BMR is 1625. TDEE 2377-2541. So, I'll up my intake to 1900-2050. I've been consistently eating less than 1500 for about 3 months although I'll burn 500+-1000. SMH.

:noway: Wow, that is a really low NET calorie level. I do not know how you are sustaining your body's functioning on that for months.

You should prolly be around 1850 - 1890 calories daily.

I would recommend and encourage getting a food scale, and measure/weigh your food.

But 33 lbs in two months is a lot!!!!

Yes, I was shocked when I read 33lbs in two months....but then read about their NET calories and I can see the problem.

Eldamiano.... Haaaa! Nice comeback. However, if you choose to go toe to toe...we can! I can definitely take CONSTRUCTIVE criticism. I just get REALLY annoyed by people like YOU who think THEY KNOW IT ALL have a very rude way of trying to convince others of such.

First and foremost, I lost the weight by doing as I will continue to do....eating better and exercising. However, I've been doing it for about 18 months now.... yet, I've only lost the weight STARTING November 2013. Know why? Because of the issues of estrogen dominance and a weak thyroid. Caused by birth control.... don't believe me, go research it.

Seeing how you are posting on this thread, I can already tell you won't do it. And since you're a male, you won't believe it. However, you probably won't believe that I've stooped as low as 569 calories and STILL exercised...limited and lightheaded but it was done...burning 613 calories on the treadmill. So, when I say I am VERY meticulous about my calorie intake....I am.
Three weeks ago, I dropped as low as 994 calories and as high as 1127 calories....did it for a week. Two week, I did 1300-1450 while working out..Last week I tried 1250 with just walking a mile everyday.....still no loss. Now, I know my body and can see a loss within DAYS. BUT, I was patient...and waited three weeks...I lost nothing.

Thanks to research and other forums on here.... I encounter 'eat more lose more'....netting only 500-1000 or hell, even only eating 1450 calories with NO exercise, there should still be some weight loss.

Considering that type 2 diabetes runs in my family and that I've had elevated glucose levels in the past at 214.6....I'm thinking I may have insulin resistance...at WORST. I am going to have my labs drawn just to eliminate that possibility/excuse as you'd call it.

The reason, I'm freaking out...is because I've been stuck here before. I went from a 167-172 weight when doing nothing and eating everything...to 180. I am the type that I can walk 1 mile a day for 5 days and drop 4 lbs in a week....doesn't make any sense and it's weird...but hey, that's just how my body does it. But, I shot up to 180, before birth control, and couldn't lose it. I only lost it when I was still eating what I desired and doing run intervals for 36 mins/3x a week....

NOW, I do them everyday....I count calories...and I even eat better.

So again, I've done it all.....except continue to increase my calories. LOL. SO, if that doesn't work and my blood levels are cool...then I wouldn't mind listening to more of your snide remarks.

OP --- I've encountered these types of people on this site too. One who went even as far to call me a liar saying that it was IMPOSSIBLE to be eating at a deficit like I stated and not lose weight. Such people simply don't understand certain physiological issues, so there is no use debating it with them. I've had others come back and say, sure, you have a medically diagnosed condition, so that rule doesn't apply you. The issue is that for years I didn't have that condition diagnosed -- it wasn't until the numbers weren't making sense and me really pushing my doctor and then seeking out specialists that it got diagnosed.

I don't know why some people have such a hard time understanding that and are more apt to call people liars or tell that obviously they don't know how to measure food or exercise rather than think "hey, this isn't normal, perhaps you do have a condition and have to look into more...and perhaps really push doctors on it (as I had 3 tell me everything was "fine" and I had to just eat less and move more)."

Open your diary

If using the MFP method, set it to lose 1 pound per week.

Make sure you are not underestimating your calories in or overestimating your calories out. Eat to Net calories goal. Weigh your food, use a heart rate monitor to estimate calories burned.

If using the TDEE method, try a 15% deficit. Do not eat more for exercise.

With the potential hormonal issues watch your carb intake.

Oh, and over training while under eating can cause further stresses and hormonal imbalances which make weight loss difficult. Not sure if this is going on, but something to be aware of.

Looks like this thread got a little outta hand....

However, I use a HRM (chest strap) when I do cardio. My HRM has my height, age, weight (most machines do not ask for height) and the machine always states that I've burned *at least* 100 calories more than my HRM. That's even when I use a Polar compatible machine and picks up my HR from my chest strap. On a good day where I have the energy and motivation, I typically burn about 350 calories during a 45 minute eliptical session.

I would seriously consider that the machines have been over estimating and if you would like a more accurate burn, invest in an HRM, I love mine!

So that being said, if your calorie burn isn't as high as you think, but you're eating to compensate for that inaccurate burn, that COULD be why you aren't losing.

I also suggest using a food scale as well and weighing all non-liquid items.

To those of you who believe my posts....I thank you. This weight loss thing is nuts...and this plateau is making me crazy as I'd like to see results (well duh lol) and I just want to ENSURE nothing else is wrong...

It's not a matter of not believing you, in fact believing your info *is* the source of the feedback you are getting. If you are not losing weight, you are in a state of thermodynamic equilibrium. You are taking in as much energy as you are expending. So something is wrong with your calculations, either intake, output, or likely both. This doesn't make you a bad person or stupid or a liar or lazy.

If something else is out of whack (i.e. a mineral imbalance or hormonal something) it probably accounts for about 1% of the equation. Seriously. I know that sucks, but it's fact. You could adjust the energy equation by moving (lots) more or eating less and start losing again. It's hard to do, usually because it's so easy to misjudge calorie intake (and sometimes this is totally unconscious) and it's almost impossible to exercise enough to make up for a calorie misjudgement.

If using the MFP method, set it to lose 1 pound per week.

Make sure you are not underestimating your calories in or overestimating your calories out. Eat to Net calories goal. Weigh your food, use a heart rate monitor to estimate calories burned.

If using the TDEE method, try a 15% deficit. Do not eat more for exercise.

With the potential hormonal issues watch your carb intake.

Oh, and over training while under eating can cause further stresses and hormonal imbalances which make weight loss difficult. Not sure if this is going on, but something to be aware of.

THIS!!!!! I love it!!!! I think this is what I did! With all sincerity! Like when I first started, eating 700 calories? BMR alone needs that...now add a 200 calorie workout/walk? This is why I'm thinking it could be insulin resistance but PRAYING it isn't.

I've upped my calories to 1800-2000 this week... and only worked out for 3 days and for only 30 mins so far.... I stepped on the scale and now I'm on the lower end of the plateau...182.0. Soooo, I'd say that's maintaining...right? o.O

BMR alone is likely somewhere around 1400 or possibly more