Starting to believe I'm not meant to lose weight...

what type of food u eating, have u lost any inches?

Also maybe you have a food intolerance? Like gluten or wheat? Try getting this checked on.

Hey, I just noticed that you're are the same height and started at the same weight and have the same goals as I do. Traditionally, I always hit the same numbers for my plateaus, this time I am exercising more than ever, mostly cardio, and trying to stick to that 1200 cal diet, and no I try not to eat back my calories. I exercise daily, even if it's a half hour walk, and this seems to be helping. Also, if you are eating back your calories, do you have a HRM, that will give you a better idea as to how many calories you are burning? I got into trouble one week by going with my treadmill, which is wayyyyy off. Hang in There, your body may not want to give up that weight, but you CAN DO THIS! Lynn:flowerforyou:

Two things come to mind here.
First of all, Lucky you, you have been able to maintain your weight, unlike so many of us who balloon right up again after some time of inactivity. Secondly, it might be worthwhile for you to consider changes in other measurements or even better fitness goals. I bet, with all that exercising you have been doing, you can maybe run further, faster, lift more weights, do more push ups, squats, throw bales, wrestle horses, pull out weeds, than ever before. Those are more important than some number on the scale.
You said "I'm killing myself and not getting any results". Surely all that exercise is getting results (if nothing else than keeping your body in fine form, no matter how heavy). Not sure that the same simple number formula (height of X = ideal weight of Y) is meant to be true for all women or men, way too many body type, muscle mass density variations for that. Many super fit football players would otherwise be considered way overweight. You might also be exrcising too much?
I was going to suggest to look at the types of food you eat (open Diary?) but you seem to know exactly what you are doing there.
For all you know you might not be overweight, just supremely muscular superwoman (no wonder with that much workout, kids, etc on your plate):)

Whatever you do, please don't give up. By any chance are you taking any medications that may cause weight gain? I am taking 4 blood pressure meds and a pill for depression and anxiety and they all made me gain 60 pounds in 3 months. I didn't know what was going on until I researched them a little. Just keep up the good work. Trying is better than not. With doing everything that you say you are doing and eating well, just the point of you getting your body healthier than not doing anything and eating badly is sometimes just enough. Hugs XXXXXXX :flowerforyou:

Without seeing your food diary, it's difficult to offer any truly helpful suggestions.

In general, though, I would suggest focusing on the QUALITY of the food your eating. Make sure you're getting in enough fruits and veges, and try to stay away from fast foods and processed foods. They can be a real diet killer. They're packed with sodium and sugars. Sodium is great for water retention and diet sabotage, and sugar, in all of its many highly processed forms is another great way to keep the pounds around. Also processed foods doesn't provide the same quality vitamins and minerals that fruits and veges do. By their names - ie. blueberry something or other - they try to make you believe the food contains fruits or vegetables, but a lot of the time it's just a chemical flavoring. The products are enriched with vitamins and minerals, but the body can't process these nearly as effectively as it processes the real thing.

Maybe go see a nutritionist... they could probably provide some great insight into what you should be eating.

Without double checking, I'm guessing that 160 lbs for 5'1" is still in the obese range (I know I was when I was 160lbs @ 4'11"). Your body is not in a healthy place right now, and sooner or later you'll feel the repercussions.

Whatever you do, stick with it! You can do this!

I hope this helps. Best of luck with your journey!

Two things come to mind here.
First of all, Lucky you, you have been able to maintain your weight, unlike so many of us who balloon right up again after some time of inactivity. Secondly, it might be worthwhile for you to consider changes in other measurements or even better fitness goals. I bet, with all that exercising you have been doing, you can maybe run further, faster, lift more weights, do more push ups, squats, throw bales, wrestle horses, pull out weeds, than ever before. Those are more important than some number on the scale.
You said "I'm killing myself and not getting any results". Surely all that exercise is getting results (if nothing else than keeping your body in fine form, no matter how heavy). Not sure that the same simple number formula (height of X = ideal weight of Y) is meant to be true for all women or men, way too many body type, muscle mass density variations for that. Many super fit football players would otherwise be considered way overweight. You might also be exrcising too much?
I was going to suggest to look at the types of food you eat (open Diary?) but you seem to know exactly what you are doing there.
For all you know you might not be overweight, just supremely muscular superwoman (no wonder with that much workout, kids, etc on your plate):)

You say it best WolfEarl!! WTG.

Catcrazy's comment that you are likely on maintenance calories at the moment makes sense.


I can't see your diary, but I would recommend looking at getting 7 vegetable servings (full servings, even double of the same items if you can, I try to eat 2x steamed cauliflower for example) or more a day, and shooting for a lot of fiber.

I've been stuck for a while- I was eating what should have been maintenance calories earlier in the year and lost some weight, then I started dipping my intake down a bit (when losing stopped) and adding exercise and gained gained gained. I started out aiming for 14 pounds loss and now have 21 or so to lose.

BUT! This week I've been taking it easier on the exercise (more relaxed, 3mph walking) and eating a TON of food but ending the days under my calorie goals by ~500, including tons of grilled and steamed veggies, and I may finally be losing some weight. 3 pounds in a week! I'm not getting excited yet, because I really need to lose around 7 to feel like I'm succeeding. I'm also eating 40+ grams of fiber. 50 will really upset my stomach, I feel best at 40-45.

I'm also filling my food diary ahead of time so that I know what I am going to eat and how many calories it comes out to. I may not always eat everything in the order I put it there- sometimes I take this or that from dinner and put it into lunch, or I leave my banana out of breakfast and have it as a snack- but it does help to say, 'I'm hungry' or even 'I feel snacky' and look at my list to see what I haven't eaten. Then I get to say, 'Oh, I need to eat that grapefruit!' and it helps me a lot.

In fact, I think that's the biggest change I've made this week. Deciding to fill out my diary the night before. It definitely helps with overcoming weak moments!

Also you should get your body fat % measured. If you really do work out that much maybe you just have a lot of lean muscle mass and your body fat is healthy. In which case you don't need to lose weight. You can get it measured at any doctor surgery.

I feel your pain. Yes I totally agree that 2000 calories is entirely too much. I am 4'11-1/2" and my weight ranges from 128 to 138 range since i hit 40 years old.

When I was younger I could eat 2000 calories a day and exercise 3 hours a week high impact aerobics and maintain!!!!!!
Now at 46 years if I eat 2000 calories a day you better believe I'd be gaining weight.

Currently I exercise 4-5 days a week 1 hour each, am pretty active on off days, shopping running errands, my feet always hurt from so much walking. I am staying between 800-1200 calories a day and I have seen the scale go from 138 to 131.8 in three months. This is rediculous!!! In my thirties I'd be a rail working this hard.

I am doing some serious weight training three days a week so hopefully I am losing more in size than weight, but I am still in a size 10 which is now getting a little loose. I started in a tight fitting size 10 in Feb.

I am so close to throwing in the towel but I can see the fat coming off my legs!!!! I just need it to come off the mid section so I can go down a size in my clothes back to the 8's.

Don't give up, I am amazed that there are 5' women in the world struggling like I am, please share your stories like what you do to maintain, exercise program, age etc. I do think something is wrong with me but I have gotten all numbers great on my physical, seen an endocrinologists and found I am a little insulin resistant. This makes me crave crave sugar, but that is under control i do still eat a little dove dark choc bites hear and there, but watching my cal's constantly!!!!!!!

Its definitely not easy if you're on limited calories but you learn to eat well. LOTS of vegetables, filling but very few calories. Lean protein, protein fills you for far longer. Avoid white bread, rice and pasta, theyre already heavily processed which means your body has little work to do to digest them...you will feel hungry very soon after eating processed foods.

You must have a lot of patience to be still at it a year later so i'd suggest dropping to 1700, its not a huge drop but should allow for a half pound a week loss. Give it 8 weeks minimum. Keep boiled eggs on hand as snacks, the whites are only around 17 calories and pack a protein punch, be adventurous with veg. Broccoli, cauliflower and green beans are my favourite. boil, strain and toss them in olive oil seasoned with cayenne, garlic and black pepper. Strong cheese sprinkled on them works too (watch the amount of oil or cheese tho!)

I can't say its fun, its not and I know its for life :grumble: so I make nothing off limits, if i want something I will build it in or work extra calories off. There is a chocolate cake sitting in front of me (cheers son!) i'm trying to decide whether a small slice is really worth an hour on the elliptical, i'm swaying towards no.

I really do sympathise with you, I've been there but I only waited 4 months on calories before trying the next step down...I admire your staying power so please don't even think about quitting now

Have you considered doing a 10 day ketogenic diet to see how insulin resistant you are? If you can't lose on a Keto diet then you are hard core resistant and may need to lower your calories/carbs to a much lower level. I would also suggest cutting back on your exercise during the 10 day test. Let your body rest (not be in stress/cortisol overload!). Let me know if you are interested and I will send you a link for the diet.

OK I am a little confused now. Say I don't exercise then I should eat 1200 calories. If I were to exercise and earn 900 calories taking my total calories to consume to 2100 cals. Now if I were to eat all of these back at 5 foot 5 would I most likely maintain? Do I need to only eat up to 1700 say?

Personally, and I know this is against general advice here, when I eat more than 1400 total in a day I do not lose. Often I exercise 300-400 a day, sometimes up to 700, but I do not ever consume more than 1400. Sometimes I have a net of like 700-800 calories. I discovered that I need to work like this because I hit a plateau, tried eating more and re-gained, and then tried not eating back exercise calories and have started losing again. But like I say, I think probably it is a very individual thing, as in my first 8lb of weight loss I ate back my calories and lost. I guess the body changes as we lose. I would definitely start by eating back and then if things stop working, re-evaluate.

I have tried taking my calories down but when I do, I am starving....like wanting to eat my arm off starving. I'm just starting to wonder if it's all worth it, that's all. I'm working so hard but getting no where. It feels like I'm on a treadmill trying to run a marathon...

Onoce you cut your calories it definitely takes a while to get use to. The first 2-3 weeks are the worst but once your stomach gets "use" to not being so full you will not be as hungry.

Considering you are pretty active I'd go with 1500 calories a day at the very most.