Any weight loss 'tricks' that actually work?

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rachf2013
rachf2013 Posts: 69
in Health and Weight Loss
Hi everyone!

I'm wondering if anyone has tried any of the diet pills, weight loss patches, detoxes, clay wraps, etc and had real results?

I'm doing everything right (I think) but I can't seem to lose a pound. I eat 5 servings of veggies a day, 2-3 servings of fruit, less than 1700 cal per day, at least 100g of protein, no processed sugars, I stop eating 3 hours before going to bed, and exercise 3-5 times a week. I've been doing this for 2 months and am becoming very frustrated. [I am 5'2" and 140 lbs)

I know there is NO substitute for a healthy lifestyle but I'm wondering if there are any additions to the lifestyle that has personally worked for you?

Thanks!!
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Replies

  • Lynn_babcock
    Lynn_babcock Posts: 220 Member
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    Eat less. Real results.. I saved money and lost weight. 1700 calories at 5'2" might be your problem if you're not active. Some people don't count the calories in their fruit and vegetables, which is a huge mistake. Count everything, with everything. If you're not losing weight lower your calorie intake.
  • dbmata
    dbmata Posts: 12,950 Member
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    Make sure that you know what you are actually eating, then ensure you eat at a deficit.
  • ana3067
    ana3067 Posts: 5,623 Member
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    Calorie deficit.

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  • shibainugal
    shibainugal Posts: 46 Member
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    Are you measuring with a tape measure? You may be losing inches and gaining muscle. The scale isn't everything.
  • DoNotSpamMe73
    DoNotSpamMe73 Posts: 286 Member
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    Exercise and eat calorie deficit. That is what all diets are doing anyway. Some more roundabout than others.
  • tycho_mx
    tycho_mx Posts: 426 Member
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    The simple thermodynamic truth is that you have to burn more calories than you consume.

    How to manage that is where complications arise. Some people achieve it by following Atkins. Some by eating 18 meals a day. Some by fasting 16 hours/day or 3 days/week. Some by eating lots of soup. Some by forbidding themselves of some food or food types (like sugars). Some by forcing themselves to eat large amounts of some food or food types (cabbage, grapefruit, etc.). There are no universal tricks, that I know of.

    One thing I read on a long-term study on weight loss is that those that lost it successfully are mindful - they eat deliberately, they are aware of what they eat, and they control their portions. So instead of sitting in front of the TV with an ice cream tub they meter their portion and don't suddenly get up with an empty container.

    I am having massive issues now dealing with appetite after dinner. For several reasons, most of my workouts are around 9 pm at night. So I am eating when I should be sleeping! Getting a handle on that could make a large difference. And now I am realizing that when I am tired I confuse thirst with hunger. So for me, drinking lots of water between meals probably would be a trick that actually works (this didn't use to be an issue for me, I used to drink lots of liquids daily).

    Try lots of things, but remember that essentially it all boils down to eating less than what you burn. Achieving that in a way that is satisfactory to your life is the complicated bit.
  • bajoyba
    bajoyba Posts: 1,153 Member
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    Calorie deficit.

    Your diary isn't open, so we can't see what your tracking or your intake look like. Do you use a food scale?
    How did you determine that 1700 calories is an appropriate amount for your current stats and activity level? Do you know approximately how many calories you burn in a day and how large your daily calorie deficit is?
  • malibu927
    malibu927 Posts: 17,565 Member
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    shibainugal wrote: »
    Are you measuring with a tape measure? You may be losing inches and gaining muscle. The scale isn't everything.

    Not happening. Sorry.

    OP, log everything you eat accurately and honestly. If you aren't losing, then you aren't in a calorie deficit. The only thing any of those "tricks" will make smaller is your bank account.
  • Aviva92
    Aviva92 Posts: 2,333 Member
    edited November 2014
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    I was 140 at my heaviest and got down to 105. I ate a lot less than 1700 calories a day most days when I was losing weight. you're 24 though and I was 37 when i started losing, so that might make a difference, not sure.
  • generallyme2
    generallyme2 Posts: 403 Member
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    Your diary isn't open, so it's hard to tell what you're actually logging. For that matter what you're actually eating. I think a lot of people who look for tricks/quick fixes tend to 'cheat' on their food intake and probably eat more than they think they do or that they report.

    Make sure you're measuring out your food or weighing it. When you exercise, it should be actual effort, not just walking around the mall (not saying that you aren't, just a mention). Weight loss is more in the kitchen so focus there and like another poster said, consider reducing your cals by a little bit- you are on the short side and I know that my tdee at 5ft6in was supposed to be 1700-1900 depending on what scale I used.
  • ana3067
    ana3067 Posts: 5,623 Member
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    Aviva92 wrote: »
    I was 140 at my heaviest and got down to 105. I ate a lot less than 1700 calories a day most days when I was losing weight.
    Based on my personal actiivty level I could likely still lose 1lb/week at 140lbs eating 1700 calories a day. It's all personal based on personal activity levels. If she works out an average of 10 minutes a day, she could lose on 1700 just fine. Chances are it's just poor logging or miscalculating burns or something similar.

  • Aviva92
    Aviva92 Posts: 2,333 Member
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    ana3067 wrote: »
    Aviva92 wrote: »
    I was 140 at my heaviest and got down to 105. I ate a lot less than 1700 calories a day most days when I was losing weight.
    Based on my personal actiivty level I could likely still lose 1lb/week at 140lbs eating 1700 calories a day. It's all personal based on personal activity levels. If she works out an average of 10 minutes a day, she could lose on 1700 just fine. Chances are it's just poor logging or miscalculating burns or something similar.

    she's also younger than me. I added that to my post. That might make a difference.
  • AnthonyThrashD
    AnthonyThrashD Posts: 306 Member
    edited November 2014
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    Belviq (lorcaserin HCI) is FDA approved weight loss drug. I know about it because I told a specialist I saw for my eye, I had lost 40 lbs, and she asked if I used Belviq to lose it.
    I did not, caloric deficit works, and you don't need a prescription!

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  • SLLRunner
    SLLRunner Posts: 12,942 Member
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    rachf2013 wrote: »
    Hi everyone!

    I'm wondering if anyone has tried any of the diet pills, weight loss patches, detoxes, clay wraps, etc and had real results?

    I'm doing everything right (I think) but I can't seem to lose a pound. I eat 5 servings of veggies a day, 2-3 servings of fruit, less than 1700 cal per day, at least 100g of protein, no processed sugars, I stop eating 3 hours before going to bed, and exercise 3-5 times a week. I've been doing this for 2 months and am becoming very frustrated. [I am 5'2" and 140 lbs)

    I know there is NO substitute for a healthy lifestyle but I'm wondering if there are any additions to the lifestyle that has personally worked for you?

    Thanks!!

    Hi Rach,

    The only trick I know of to lose weight is to eat less calories than I burn. I do this by weighing food and logging everything I eat. I eat all the foods I love but in moderation.
  • ana3067
    ana3067 Posts: 5,623 Member
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    Aviva92 wrote: »
    ana3067 wrote: »
    Aviva92 wrote: »
    I was 140 at my heaviest and got down to 105. I ate a lot less than 1700 calories a day most days when I was losing weight.
    Based on my personal actiivty level I could likely still lose 1lb/week at 140lbs eating 1700 calories a day. It's all personal based on personal activity levels. If she works out an average of 10 minutes a day, she could lose on 1700 just fine. Chances are it's just poor logging or miscalculating burns or something similar.

    she's also younger than me. I added that to my post. That might make a difference.

    Possibly, although I've seen some older women posting numbers similar to mine when they are at my goal stats. I don't think age itself has a HUGE effect on TDEE unless the person has simply lost a lot of muscle mass, but do not quote me on that.
  • A_Dabauer
    A_Dabauer Posts: 212 Member
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    As most of the posters here have said a calorie deficit is a must.

    However if you have a medical condition complicating things it can be a lot more complicated than that. IF you are confidant you are logging properly, and creating a deficit you should print out your journal and take it to a doctor. I can't happen to hazard a guess as to what exactly is causing the issue. But a Doctor is a good place to start.

    I personally have been where you are, doing it all "right" and not losing a pound. After getting proper treatment for a few issues (because I'm blessed like that, to have more than one medical reason to mess with my weight loss :p ) I am loosing pretty much calories in...calories out....
  • heybales
    heybales Posts: 18,842 Member
    edited November 2014
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    ana3067 wrote: »
    Possibly, although I've seen some older women posting numbers similar to mine when they are at my goal stats. I don't think age itself has a HUGE effect on TDEE unless the person has simply lost a lot of muscle mass, but do not quote me on that.

    No, that's right.
    Though standard formula's are obviously just estimates, the march of age doesn't change the BMR that much. (Mifflin BMR)

    Even the loss of a few pounds of muscle mass isn't that huge a drop. (Katch BMR, Cunningham RMR)

    But not using it - that's a big drop.
    - And since not using it along with age can ease then losing it - that's a bad triple combo.

    Oh - OP - I'll suggest same as others - decent scale and log all food that goes in mouth.
    Weigh pre-packaged items, and then do your own math for how many servings you ate if you don't weigh out an exact serving.
  • EK00001
    EK00001 Posts: 85
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    What I'm about to tell you will sound so absurd that you might ignore my advice, but trust me. This definitely works for anyone.
    #1 Check the real amount of calories that you need to maintain weight on bmr-calculator.net
    2# Subtract 700 calories from the maintenance calories (Make sure it doesn't go lower than 1200 for females)
    3# Make sure to track your sodium intake in the "Nutrition" section. The more sodium you have in your body, the more water your body will hold. The average Canadian and American consume approx. 3200 mg of sodium.
    4# Make sure to eat less carbohydrates and more protein to maximize your body fat loss.
    5# When you're in the gym, do heavy weight workouts in 5 repetitions, a total of 5 sets. Since you're a female, you won't get the physique of a man, UNLESS, you take steroids and eat more than your maintenance goals. Doing more heavy weights will force your body to use your fat and sugar storage for energy, and if you don't get proper protein, you'll also burn muscles with this workout.
    #6 Drink lots of water to detox your body to allow you to have a more fresher, moisturized, and beautiful skin. Drink around 2 litres a day to get rid of water weight (search water retention for details).

    I know you may ignore my advice, but I hope to have at least helped someone who came here, having the same dilemma as you.
    Good luck and try hard!
  • MsHarryWinston
    MsHarryWinston Posts: 1,027 Member
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    It's quite possible that water retention is covering any weight loss. I can be carrying 5lbs of water at any given time. Also for me at 5'7 working out 3 days a week 1,700 would make my weight loss seem soooooo slooooooow. So if you have yourself on a 1lb/wk deficit and are carrying any water weight then you aren't going to see any change for a while but that doesn't mean it's not happening. The tape measure is your friend!
  • Sarauk2sf
    Sarauk2sf Posts: 28,072 Member
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    ana3067 wrote: »
    Aviva92 wrote: »
    ana3067 wrote: »
    Aviva92 wrote: »
    I was 140 at my heaviest and got down to 105. I ate a lot less than 1700 calories a day most days when I was losing weight.
    Based on my personal actiivty level I could likely still lose 1lb/week at 140lbs eating 1700 calories a day. It's all personal based on personal activity levels. If she works out an average of 10 minutes a day, she could lose on 1700 just fine. Chances are it's just poor logging or miscalculating burns or something similar.

    she's also younger than me. I added that to my post. That might make a difference.

    Possibly, although I've seen some older women posting numbers similar to mine when they are at my goal stats. I don't think age itself has a HUGE effect on TDEE unless the person has simply lost a lot of muscle mass, but do not quote me on that.

    I am older and have a higher TDEE than many people at my weight. The impact is about 100 calories for every 10 years (on BMR). The biggest impact is the fact that we get more sedentary/less active as we age - which is variable.


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