HELP I'm ready to give up!

Have you thought about going to see your doctor to get a check up?

You might want to modify your food diary, so that it shows the sodium counts. You seem to be eating a bit of processed, artifical, and food replacement supplements. They're oftentimes loaded with sodium, which will make you retain massive amounts of fluids. Also, you're not recording your water intake. In order to get rid of all that sodium, you need to flush it out with water (not diet Coke).

Well by looking at your diary I can't see the sodium or the sugar intake. If those are in the red, then that could be the culprit. Also try and not eat so many processed foods, try eating more fruits and veggies and the like. Chicken breast is also good for the protein as well.

Also take a look at your exercises, try changing things up. Burn more calories. And remember when working out, do weights first before cardio. I was at a bit of a plateau because of not eating enough net calories, but I started doing that and then doing weights before cardio, and BAM the weight started dropping again.

Give those a shot, if it still doesn't work, speak to a doctor or a nutritionist.

Have you looked at sodium or caffine intake? That is what the four year hold up for me was. Plus eating a lot of carbs and only a little protein was a huge part of storing weight. I am cooking from scratch and eating fresh produce and that made all the difference.

Maybe you're not eating enough. I am at 193lbs right now and my calories intake is 1800. Try upping the calories and see if your body responds better. Also, fruits and veggies! Lots of them

My suggestions: Add sodium to your list. You eat alot of processed foods. I'm thinking your sodium intake is very high shich will definitely slow down your weight loss because of water retention. Also add more fresh/frozen veggies and fruits. I went through your diary and they are almost non-existent.

Have you tried calorie zig zaging? That might work for you. You can search the board. They had a post on it recently.

I looked at your sodium intake.. I think it was Monday which was over 6000 mg . I checked back until april 29th and you are usually over 3000 mg. You need to lower that to around 2400mg a days. That is the only advice that I have.

Well by looking at your diary I can't see the sodium or the sugar intake. If those are in the red, then that could be the culprit. Also try and not eat so many processed foods, try eating more fruits and veggies and the like. Chicken breast is also good for the protein as well.

Also take a look at your exercises, try changing things up. Burn more calories. And remember when working out, do weights first before cardio. I was at a bit of a plateau because of not eating enough net calories, but I started doing that and then doing weights before cardio, and BAM the weight started dropping again.

Give those a shot, if it still doesn't work, speak to a doctor or a nutritionist.

I was thinking the same thing....I have a feeling that a lot of the foods you eat are high in sodium and sugars...I would suggest also lowering your fat intake. it seems like you go over on fat a lot of days even if you are under on calories.

I have found this "recipe" to work for me when i need to get a boost:

NEVER do I eat carbs (except a 1/2 cup of fruit) without pairing with a protein (small quantity)

I break up my food intake to small frequent meals. This is a challenge many times but by planning ahead (i.e. put a Tbsp of all natural peanut butter in a baggie and a cut apple in another and pair them for a mid-afternoon snack,) I get through it.

I eat a small quantity of protein and complex carbs a few minutes before a morning workout-even if all I can squeeze in is 20 minutes on the bike.

I substitute tea and coffee with green tea. No sweeteners of any kind. They just trick the pancreas into doing its insulin thing and aren't beneficial to sensitive systems.

I use cinnamon, ceyenne pepper and salt-free seasonings on many of the foods I eat.

MOST importantly- VERY VERY IMPORTANT- I try my darndest to get 7-8 hours of sleep each night so that I can restore my body and keep it going.

Get sunshine. Practice relaxation .

and when you need to, "phone a friend."-like you just did.

I hope some of this is helpful to you.

Personally, I'm not a big fan of the high fat/high protein/extreme low carb diets, esp. with the meal substitute drinks - they just aren't healthy. I would suggest trying a healthy, well balanced diet - lots of fresh vegetables (steamed, raw, sauteed in non-stick cooking spray), lean proteins, some fresh fruits, whole grains or healthy carbs (like potatoes) (don't go overboard), split into 3 meals and a few snacks throughout the day - much healthier and much more of a lifestyle than a diet. That's the other problem with the low carb diets - they aren't something sustainable over the long term.

I was worried with the composition of your meals. Well, I have some tips, but not necessarily you will like them:

- erase mayonaise from your vocabulary (I didn´t see butter at your diary, but it aplies to butter also)
- cheddar doesn´t help at all. Try cottage, low fat, white cheese or no cheese at all
- add fresh vegetacles and fruits, loads of them (specially vegetables)
- Eat grilled chicken breast every meal you can (the size of your hand (fingers together)
- try to limit you processed meal to 2 things a day (example: 1 atkins meal + 1 scoop of whey protein)
- exercise 1 hour a day, 1 day of weight lifting, another for cardio (5 to 6 days a week)

You can start with these, I believe it will help.

Good luck!

I've gone through your diary about three weeks back, and you very often seem to finish the day below 1200 net calories. Many experts say that's the absolute minimum that your body would need to function properly. If you eat less your metabolism will switch into starvation mode and do it's best to preserve energy. That's why you're gaining instead.

I'd suggest you try to average 1300-1500 for a week or two and see how that works.

And I also agree with everyone else that you need to eat more real food instead of shakes and supplements. This is a change for life - otherwise you will gain the weight again. Do you really want to live on those shakes for the rest of your life?

i agree with all of the above!!! i'm no expert but based on what my nutritionist talks to me about... you are eating way too much processed foods. although these items are marketed as diet, they contain chemicals that people react to differently. and also your dinners are extremely high in calories...you shouldn't be eating that heavy at night especially processed foods. your body doesn't break most foods at night so when we go to sleep it stores it instead. dinners should be light. TRY TO EAT A LOT EARLIER IN THE DAY THAN AT NIGHT.
i also noticed that although you work out. you are eating back about 90% of the calories you've burned. which makes the exercise useless.
might i suggest doing some sort of detox to get rid of those processed foods in your system before starting a new diet regimen.
YOU CAN DO IT..DON'T GIVE UP

Try a different exercise program. Switch it up. If you do jogging for cardio try swimming. If you like the bike, try the elliptical. Enroll in a class that is out of your regular routine. I just started a Dance to Fit class and it kicked my butt because it was out of my comfort zone and made me work twice as hard!

This is what I want you to try. I am going to post Daily Servings.

5 vegetables
4 fruits
3-6 whole grains
2-3 high-calcium foods
8 glasses of water

Weekly Servings
5+ beans
5 nuts
2 fish

One vegetable and fruit serving is equal to
1 medium piece of fruit
1/2 cup chopped fruit
1/2 cup cooked or raw veggie
1 c raw green leaves
3/4 c vegetable or fruit juice

Whole Grain Serving is equal to
1 slice whole wheat break
1/2 cup cooked brown rice or bulgur
1/2 cup cooked whole wheat pasta

High-Calcium Foods Serving is equal to
1 cup fat-free or 1% milk
1 cup fat-free or low-fat yogurt
1 cup calcium-fortified orange juice
1 oz reduced-fat cheese

Beans Serving is equal to 1/2 cup cooked beans/lentils

Nuts Serving is equal to 2 Tbsp chopped

Fish Serving is equal to 3 oz cooked

I hope this helps.