Cannot lose weight

Hi everyone! I've been working out since last august (2013) and have not lost a pound. For 5 months straight I religiously did an eliptical for 30-35 minutes monday through friday with no weight loss. I took a month off and then hired a trainer. I worked with him w days a week for a month with no weight loss. Now I have been going to the gym on my own, concentrating on weights with about 10-15 minutes of cardio 5 days a week for the last month with no weight loss. And I mean not one single pound.

I thought maybe I wasn't doing the right exercises, so that's why I changed my routine and even hired a trainer. I'm 38 years old, female and am frustrated. I've changed my diet completely over 4 months ago to cut out most carbs and eat mostly protein rich foods. I don't drink or smoke and I only drink water. I went to an endocrinologist and was told that my thyroid function is just fine.

I don't know what to do at this point. I've actually gained weight since I started working out almost a year ago. My clothes don't fit any better, which would be expected if I was gaining muscle and losing fat (no weight loss, just muscle being heavier than fat). In fact, they fit worse and I look like I have a super fat back and my stomach is sticking out over my pants.

Has anyone else experienced anything like this and if so, what did you do?

I know there's a lot of holes in my story that if asked, I'll happy fill them in, but I just wanted to give you all the gist of my situation.

Help... :(
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Replies

  • jadethief
    jadethief Posts: 266 Member
    How many calories do you eat?
    Do you weigh and measure your food?
    Height?
    Weight?
    Age?
    TDEE?
  • manda1978
    manda1978 Posts: 525 Member
    How many calories do you eat?
    Do you weigh and measure your food?
    Height?
    Weight?
    Age?
    TDEE?

    Yep need this info
  • psu1975
    psu1975 Posts: 6
    I generally eat around 1700 cal/day. Somedays, depending on the intensity of my workout, I will eat up to 1900 cal. I do not weigh my food or measure, but I do watch what I eat very closely.

    I am about 5"5", 175lbs, 38 years old. And I'm sorry, I don't know what TDEE is.
  • jarrard6
    jarrard6 Posts: 1 Member
    i would love to talk to you about your troubles, i know its hard!
  • jadethief
    jadethief Posts: 266 Member
    Go here http://www.fitnessfrog.com/calculators/tdee-calculator.html to find your TDEE.

    For a 1lb per week loss, eat 500 calories less than your TDEE.

    Open your diary and people will be able to help you more.
  • AJ_G
    AJ_G Posts: 4,158 Member
    I generally eat around 1700 cal/day. Somedays, depending on the intensity of my workout, I will eat up to 1900 cal. I do not weigh my food or measure, but I do watch what I eat very closely.

    I am about 5"5", 175lbs, 38 years old. And I'm sorry, I don't know what TDEE is.

    DING DING DING! We have a winner! There's your problem.
  • lynn1982
    lynn1982 Posts: 1,439 Member
    I do not weigh my food or measure,

    I would start here.
  • agunya59
    agunya59 Posts: 1
    Even though Endocrinologists are specialists, they usually just test TSH in regard to thyroid function. This is not enough. Do you have a naturopath that you could see? You need to check your Free T3 and Free T4 numbers as well to determine if your thyroid is working properly. Also, check your iron and adrenal function. Check out Mary Shoman on About.com or on FB.
  • psu1975
    psu1975 Posts: 6
    Thank you all for the info so far. I think my biggest concern is that I work out, and not in a sloppy manner. I have a very strict workout plan designed by a trainer, leave the gym feeling fully worked out, sweaty and tired, so I know I got a good workout in, yet I still have the same body I had last August. What could I be missing. I eat only whole foods, little to no fruit, with the exception of berries here and there, so I'm not eating those hidden sugars, in fruits. Also, I hardly eat any carbs.
  • psu1975
    psu1975 Posts: 6
    I do not weigh my food or measure,

    I would start here.

    I did this for 3 months with no results. I am very careful with what I eat.
  • kruserk
    kruserk Posts: 1
    do you lift weights? muscles burns fat faster than cardio.
  • AJ_G
    AJ_G Posts: 4,158 Member
    I do not weigh my food or measure,

    I would start here.

    I did this for 3 months with no results. I am very careful with what I eat.

    It's not the only thing, it's a combination of things. To get results you need to be as accurate as possible. You need to get accurate TDEE numbers and don't exceed your daily calorie goal, you need to weigh and measure your food. People are terrible at estimating food intake.
    In some cases, people who claim they can’t lose weight by cutting calories underestimate their food intake by 47%, and overestimate their exercise levels by 51%. Other data has shown that people can under report their food intake by up to 2,000 calories per day. This is true even for people who are paid to track their calorie intake.
  • QuietBloom
    QuietBloom Posts: 5,413 Member
    Losing weight is all about a calorie deficit, not cardio exercise (although it can help to create a deficit).

    Editing to add: I see you have gotten some good answers from folks. I'm sure that once you get a handle on your intake, you will find success! :drinker:
  • Have you tried a paleo diet? you don't have to measure or watch what you eat just cut out the bad things. It worked for me, I lost 16 pounds in a months and a half...Either it makes you more healthy or less healthy is what I basically live by
    Hope this helps!
  • AJ_G
    AJ_G Posts: 4,158 Member
    do you lift weights? muscles burns fat faster than cardio.

    What? Weight lifting absolutely does not burn more calories than cardio. Weight lifting is very important, but the only way to gain muscle mass is when you're eating at a surplus and gaining weight, so weight lifting during a calorie deficit and weight loss is for muscle preservation, but isn't meant to burn calories.
  • bpotts44
    bpotts44 Posts: 1,066 Member
    Thank you all for the info so far. I think my biggest concern is that I work out, and not in a sloppy manner. I have a very strict workout plan designed by a trainer, leave the gym feeling fully worked out, sweaty and tired, so I know I got a good workout in, yet I still have the same body I had last August. What could I be missing. I eat only whole foods, little to no fruit, with the exception of berries here and there, so I'm not eating those hidden sugars, in fruits. Also, I hardly eat any carbs.

    You can overeat even on the highest quality foods.
  • AJ_G
    AJ_G Posts: 4,158 Member
    Have you tried a paleo diet? you don't have to measure or watch what you eat just cut out the bad things. It worked for me, I lost 16 pounds in a months and a half...Either it makes you more healthy or less healthy is what I basically live by
    Hope this helps!

    Please stop with the Paleo propaganda...
  • yeahfu2
    yeahfu2 Posts: 1
    I generally eat around 1700 cal/day. Somedays, depending on the intensity of my workout, I will eat up to 1900 cal. I do not weigh my food or measure, but I do watch what I eat very closely.

    I am about 5"5", 175lbs, 38 years old. And I'm sorry, I don't know what TDEE is.

    i am 5' 7', 1900 Cal seems like quite a bit, I normally eat around 1400-1600 and VERY SLOWLY am losing weight. Maybe double check what your cal intake should be.
  • How is it propaganda?
    It's a healthy way to lose weight and works? I can personally vouch for it lol...
  • lynn1982
    lynn1982 Posts: 1,439 Member
    I do not weigh my food or measure,

    I would start here.

    I did this for 3 months with no results. I am very careful with what I eat.

    Well then you didn't do it right. You claim to be eating at a calorie deficit, you have no health problems that prevent you from losing weight, and yet you are not losing anything. You must a unicorn.
  • AJ_G
    AJ_G Posts: 4,158 Member
    How is it propaganda?
    It's a healthy way to lose weight and works? I can personally vouch for it lol...

    Because it's a restrictive diet based on absolutely zero scientific evidence and you just tried to say that the carbs that are excluded from the paleo diet are "bad things". Please explain and I'd love if you'd cite some sources. Also, you losing weight on the diet does not make it superior or necessarily a "healthy way" to lose weight. All it takes to lose weight is a calorie deficit. By definition you can lose weight eating nothing but Oreos, but that's not healthy. Restrictive diets lead to binges almost every time sooner or later, and that is far from healthy.
  • RllyGudTweetr
    RllyGudTweetr Posts: 2,019 Member
    Have you tried a paleo diet? you don't have to measure or watch what you eat just cut out the bad things. It worked for me, I lost 16 pounds in a months and a half...Either it makes you more healthy or less healthy is what I basically live by
    Hope this helps!
    There are almost no 'bad foods' except when an individual has a particular medical issue. I am glad paleo is working for you; in many cases, the results folks see from paleo are similar to what many folks saw when Atkins was all the rage: mostly water weight lost.
  • lynn1982
    lynn1982 Posts: 1,439 Member
    Thank you all for the info so far. I think my biggest concern is that I work out, and not in a sloppy manner. I have a very strict workout plan designed by a trainer, leave the gym feeling fully worked out, sweaty and tired, so I know I got a good workout in, yet I still have the same body I had last August. What could I be missing. I eat only whole foods, little to no fruit, with the exception of berries here and there, so I'm not eating those hidden sugars, in fruits. Also, I hardly eat any carbs.

    What is missing is eating at a calorie deficit. People have told you this, yet you are resisting.

    FYI: You can eat carbs and fruit (fruit is healthy!!!) - just eat at a calorie deficit!!!!!
  • jsuaccounting
    jsuaccounting Posts: 189 Member
    If you can - follow up with the endocrinologist, in a year of watching your diet - you should not have gained. Also, while working out will help you maintain a higher muscle to fat ratio - I don't think it does much for your weight in the long run. I once worked out with a personal trainer for about 4 months, sticking to a fairly low carb diet and did not lose any weight. However, I felt like I made progress on gaining muscle and losing fat. IMO People who try to balance diet with cardio may lose at first (especially if they are 20 years old) but as the years go by they end up gaining.

    You can of obviously try to tighten up on your diet as suggested by others. However, sometimes it doesn't work for women around 40 and the reasons can be varied.

    Some people have found that adding hard workouts to a stressful life messes up your hormones - if this is the case then increasing sleep and cutting way back on cardio may help.

    Others have blood sugar that is high but not yet pre-diabetic. This may cause you to get excessively hungry an hour or two after meals. Obviously, even if you are trying to control your eating - hunger will get you over time.

    Some women have other hormonal difficulties such as PCOS - which they say should respond to the lower carb diet you mention.
    Paleo proponents point to dairy or wheat sensitivity as causing a host of difficulties including weight gain.

    I am reading a book that seems like it might be helpful, it is called, Diet 101: The Truth about Low Carb diets. I also read the ME diet book - which talks some about hormonal issues with women losing weight.
  • rosebette
    rosebette Posts: 1,660 Member
    I think weighing and measuring is really important. My husband was going for a while just "Eyeballing" it, and if we ate breakfast together and he had cereal, I'd measure my cup and he'd fill the bowl and count that as his serving. I don't think you can overestimate the importance of measuring.
  • LyndaMaggie
    LyndaMaggie Posts: 3 Member
    There are few things you need to change
    a) doing the same cardio every day at some point becomes easy and is no longer work
    b) Recommendation for cardio is 60 minutes per day for weight loss
    c) Interval Training = metabolic conditioning - Intervals stimulate fat burning through out the day.

    I would look into your trainers methodology to be honest

    Lynda
  • psu1975
    psu1975 Posts: 6
    I do not weigh my food or measure,

    I would start here.

    I did this for 3 months with no results. I am very careful with what I eat.

    Well then you didn't do it right. You claim to be eating at a calorie deficit, you have no health problems that prevent you from losing weight, and yet you are not losing anything. You must a unicorn.

    This is very helpful, thank you. I never would have known I was a unicorn had it not been for your post.
  • How is it propaganda?
    It's a healthy way to lose weight and works? I can personally vouch for it lol...

    Because it's a restrictive diet based on absolutely zero scientific evidence and you just tried to say that the carbs that are excluded from the paleo diet are "bad things". Please explain and I'd love if you'd cite some sources. Also, you losing weight on the diet does not make it superior or necessarily a "healthy way" to lose weight. All it takes to lose weight is a calorie deficit. By definition you can lose weight eating nothing but Oreos, but that's not healthy. Restrictive diets lead to binges almost every time sooner or later, and that is far from healthy.

    I'm not saying it's superior in any way? lol It was a suggestion because it worked for me and I lost a healthy 15 pounds on it? Fruits, vegetables, nuts, meats and seafood are all relatively healthy wouldn't you agree? they would aide in weightless yes?
    Paleo isn't all that much a diet more a lifestyle change. It doesn't involve measuring your food or counting calories and at the same time we all have some sort of clue as to what is considered too much, we're all adults no one needs to tell us. Eliminating foods such as rice, pasta, dairy, vegetable oil, etc. can aide your body in cleaning itself out and "resetting" itself. You make your food and eat however much you think your body needs. Food serves as fuel for our bodies so it's either more healthy for you or less healthy for you. You don't just binge eat oreos. I can honestly say yes I don't personally agree when it claims that it can cure diseases but what have we got to lose? its an OPTION like everything else and I was just putting it out there.

    Sincerely,
    a nutrition major
  • psu1975
    psu1975 Posts: 6
    If you can - follow up with the endocrinologist, in a year of watching your diet - you should not have gained. Also, while working out will help you maintain a higher muscle to fat ratio - I don't think it does much for your weight in the long run. I once worked out with a personal trainer for about 4 months, sticking to a fairly low carb diet and did not lose any weight. However, I felt like I made progress on gaining muscle and losing fat. IMO People who try to balance diet with cardio may lose at first (especially if they are 20 years old) but as the years go by they end up gaining.

    You can of obviously try to tighten up on your diet as suggested by others. However, sometimes it doesn't work for women around 40 and the reasons can be varied.

    Some people have found that adding hard workouts to a stressful life messes up your hormones - if this is the case then increasing sleep and cutting way back on cardio may help.

    Others have blood sugar that is high but not yet pre-diabetic. This may cause you to get excessively hungry an hour or two after meals. Obviously, even if you are trying to control your eating - hunger will get you over time.

    Some women have other hormonal difficulties such as PCOS - which they say should respond to the lower carb diet you mention.
    Paleo proponents point to dairy or wheat sensitivity as causing a host of difficulties including weight gain.

    I am reading a book that seems like it might be helpful, it is called, Diet 101: The Truth about Low Carb diets. I also read the ME diet book - which talks some about hormonal issues with women losing weight.

    Finally, a real answer. Thank you. For a minute there, I thought it was because I was a unicorn as someone else suggested.