Help! I eat healthy and exercise and can't lose weight.

IsabelVillanis
IsabelVillanis Posts: 11 Member
edited November 17 in Health and Weight Loss
Help!!!
I'm 21 y/o, female, 5'7" and 165lb. My BMI is about 24% last time I went to my doctor (2 weeks ago). I need to lose about 5 lbs mininum to meet my military requirements. (161 lb maximum)

I eat 90% healthy, but don't starve myself or deprive. I average around 1350 to 1450 cal a day of good foods- any less and I'm starving and miserable all day.
I also have an excellent workout routine - 4-5 times a week I do a combination of strength training and cardio.
Why haven't I lost a single lb?
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Replies

  • DemoraFairy
    DemoraFairy Posts: 1,806 Member
    How long have you been dieting? Do you weigh everything you eat with a food scale? Do you eat back your exercise calories? 24 is a healthy BMI so you won't lose weight very fast!
  • DeFYneME
    DeFYneME Posts: 97 Member
    have you checked your thyroid?
  • IsabelVillanis
    IsabelVillanis Posts: 11 Member
    How long have you been dieting? Do you weigh everything you eat with a food scale? Do you eat back your exercise calories? 24 is a healthy BMI so you won't lose weight very fast!

    I've been dieting for about a month. I just was hoping for a teensy bit of progress by now... It's hard to stay motivated when I'm not seeing any changes :(
  • NoIdea101NoIdea
    NoIdea101NoIdea Posts: 659 Member
    How long have you been dieting? Do you weigh everything you eat with a food scale? Do you eat back your exercise calories? 24 is a healthy BMI so you won't lose weight very fast!

    This; mostly, food scale. It is amazing how guesstimating can take you way over!
  • IsabelVillanis
    IsabelVillanis Posts: 11 Member
    MsTinaSays wrote: »
    have you checked your thyroid?

    I've never thought to. Maybe that's something I'll ask my doctor next time I see her. Thanks for the reply!
  • SezxyStef
    SezxyStef Posts: 15,267 Member
    Isabelotis wrote: »
    MsTinaSays wrote: »
    have you checked your thyroid?

    I've never thought to. Maybe that's something I'll ask my doctor next time I see her. Thanks for the reply!

    Prior to that perhaps let us know if you use a food scale and log accurately and consistently.
  • Sued0nim
    Sued0nim Posts: 17,456 Member
    you're eating too much

    weigh and log everything
  • IsabelVillanis
    IsabelVillanis Posts: 11 Member
    How long have you been dieting? Do you weigh everything you eat with a food scale? Do you eat back your exercise calories? 24 is a healthy BMI so you won't lose weight very fast!

    This; mostly, food scale. It is amazing how guesstimating can take you way over!


    Weighing food is also not something I've ever done. Maybe that's the issue ! My general rule of thumb is to eat just enough so that I'm not starving all day. I can't imagine eating any less but if that's what I need to do... ! Thanks for the advice! :)
  • Machka9
    Machka9 Posts: 25,616 Member
    Have you been faithfully and accurately logging everything you eat?

    You can eat healthy food, and that's wonderful, but the calories in healthy food can add up.
  • IsabelVillanis
    IsabelVillanis Posts: 11 Member
    rabbitjb wrote: »
    you're eating too much

    weigh and log everything

    Ok, I'll buy a food scale. Maybe that's the flaw here. Thanks!
  • LKArgh
    LKArgh Posts: 5,178 Member
    Isabelotis wrote: »
    How long have you been dieting? Do you weigh everything you eat with a food scale? Do you eat back your exercise calories? 24 is a healthy BMI so you won't lose weight very fast!

    This; mostly, food scale. It is amazing how guesstimating can take you way over!


    Weighing food is also not something I've ever done. Maybe that's the issue ! My general rule of thumb is to eat just enough so that I'm not starving all day. I can't imagine eating any less but if that's what I need to do... ! Thanks for the advice! :)

    If it were that east, most of us would be looking like top models with little effort ;)
    Get a scale, you will be surprised.
  • IsabelVillanis
    IsabelVillanis Posts: 11 Member
    Machka9 wrote: »
    Have you been faithfully and accurately logging everything you eat?

    You can eat healthy food, and that's wonderful, but the calories in healthy food can add up.

    Yes I log obsessively. My fiancé wants to thrown my phone out the window sometimes ! I'm guessing accuracy might be an issue because sometimes I really do guesstimate on my portion sizes. Measuring and weighing everything seems overwhelming, but from the responses here it seems like something I should try.
  • IsabelVillanis
    IsabelVillanis Posts: 11 Member
    aggelikik wrote: »
    Isabelotis wrote: »
    How long have you been dieting? Do you weigh everything you eat with a food scale? Do you eat back your exercise calories? 24 is a healthy BMI so you won't lose weight very fast!

    This; mostly, food scale. It is amazing how guesstimating can take you way over!


    Weighing food is also not something I've ever done. Maybe that's the issue ! My general rule of thumb is to eat just enough so that I'm not starving all day. I can't imagine eating any less but if that's what I need to do... ! Thanks for the advice! :)

    If it were that east, most of us would be looking like top models with little effort ;)
    Get a scale, you will be surprised.

    Haha yeah that's true! Thanks again :)
  • DemoraFairy
    DemoraFairy Posts: 1,806 Member
    Yeah, weighing is probably your issue. For a few days portion out the food you would eat, then weigh it and see if it's what you thought.
  • Looncove_Farm
    Looncove_Farm Posts: 115 Member
    edited April 2015
    Isabelotis wrote: »
    Machka9 wrote: »
    Have you been faithfully and accurately logging everything you eat?

    This ^^

    Good Luck and thank you for joining the Military. :)

    Becca
  • IsabelVillanis
    IsabelVillanis Posts: 11 Member
    Yeah, weighing is probably your issue. For a few days portion out the food you would eat, then weigh it and see if it's what you thought.

    Ok- that's a good idea. Thank you! I'll give it a shot for a while. Hopefully this helps ;)
  • IsabelVillanis
    IsabelVillanis Posts: 11 Member
    Isabelotis wrote: »
    Machka9 wrote: »
    Have you been faithfully and accurately logging everything you eat?

    This ^^

    Good Luck and thank you for joining the Military. :)

    Becca

    Thank you! :)
  • callsitlikeiseeit
    callsitlikeiseeit Posts: 8,626 Member

    Isabelotis wrote: »
    How long have you been dieting? Do you weigh everything you eat with a food scale? Do you eat back your exercise calories? 24 is a healthy BMI so you won't lose weight very fast!

    This; mostly, food scale. It is amazing how guesstimating can take you way over!


    Weighing food is also not something I've ever done.

    thats the problem.
  • lemurcat12
    lemurcat12 Posts: 30,886 Member
    Isabelotis wrote: »
    How long have you been dieting? Do you weigh everything you eat with a food scale? Do you eat back your exercise calories? 24 is a healthy BMI so you won't lose weight very fast!

    This; mostly, food scale. It is amazing how guesstimating can take you way over!


    Weighing food is also not something I've ever done. Maybe that's the issue ! My general rule of thumb is to eat just enough so that I'm not starving all day. I can't imagine eating any less but if that's what I need to do... ! Thanks for the advice! :)

    What you eat and when you eat it affects how hungry you are, so for me just eating to hunger wouldn't work. If you get an accurate count of your calories you can know what you are eating and either if something weird is going on--you aren't losing when it seems like you should be--or if you are eating too much. If the latter, you can figure out how to adjust your food so you won't be hungry.
  • IsabelVillanis
    IsabelVillanis Posts: 11 Member
    lemurcat12 wrote: »
    Isabelotis wrote: »
    How long have you been dieting? Do you weigh everything you eat with a food scale? Do you eat back your exercise calories? 24 is a healthy BMI so you won't lose weight very fast!

    This; mostly, food scale. It is amazing how guesstimating can take you way over!


    Weighing food is also not something I've ever done. Maybe that's the issue ! My general rule of thumb is to eat just enough so that I'm not starving all day. I can't imagine eating any less but if that's what I need to do... ! Thanks for the advice! :)

    What you eat and when you eat it affects how hungry you are, so for me just eating to hunger wouldn't work. If you get an accurate count of your calories you can know what you are eating and either if something weird is going on--you aren't losing when it seems like you should be--or if you are eating too much. If the latter, you can figure out how to adjust your food so you won't be hungry.

    Yeah, I'm willing to guess that I'm eating too much, even when I try to cut calories. I'm sort of terrible at consistency when it comes to meals, I tend to skip meals often (not intentionally, just busy). I think if I control the timing of my meals that will help too. It's tough! Thanks for the advice!
  • 999tigger
    999tigger Posts: 5,235 Member
    Isabelotis wrote: »
    How long have you been dieting? Do you weigh everything you eat with a food scale? Do you eat back your exercise calories? 24 is a healthy BMI so you won't lose weight very fast!

    This; mostly, food scale. It is amazing how guesstimating can take you way over!


    Weighing food is also not something I've ever done. Maybe that's the issue ! My general rule of thumb is to eat just enough so that I'm not starving all day. I can't imagine eating any less but if that's what I need to do... ! Thanks for the advice! :)

    This is the most common solution to the not losing problem because it helps you eat an accurate amount so you know you are at deficit. The good news is its something that will help solve your issue.
  • brucerc311
    brucerc311 Posts: 11 Member
    I've been in the Army for 6 years and not once made my screening weight 166 for 5'8 (though I'm getting close now). If you are healthy and fit, 5 lbs can be hard to lose, especially since you probably have a lot of muscle weight. 24% BMI is really good, this is why we have the tape test. So long as you pass tape and are happy with your fitness level, don't worry so much about the number on the scale.

    I also weighed my food for a period of time; I was shocked at the difference in portion sizes. After a while, you will be able to more accurately judge how much is on your plate without weighing, but the scale is a great place to start. I still have it on my counter to avoid underestimating!

    If you have a Wellness Center on your post, I highly recommend making an appointment with them, they've helped me immensely!
  • ahamm002
    ahamm002 Posts: 1,690 Member
    MsTinaSays wrote: »
    have you checked your thyroid?

    OMG, yeah, because after not losing weight for one month it MUST be hormones . . . . .
  • Abby2205
    Abby2205 Posts: 253 Member
    Your BMI is not 24, it's 25.8 at 5'7" and 165 pounds. Possibly you mean body fat %?
  • Sarasmaintaining
    Sarasmaintaining Posts: 1,027 Member
    Isabelotis wrote: »
    How long have you been dieting? Do you weigh everything you eat with a food scale? Do you eat back your exercise calories? 24 is a healthy BMI so you won't lose weight very fast!

    This; mostly, food scale. It is amazing how guesstimating can take you way over!


    Weighing food is also not something I've ever done. Maybe that's the issue ! My general rule of thumb is to eat just enough so that I'm not starving all day. I can't imagine eating any less but if that's what I need to do... ! Thanks for the advice! :)

    Actually weighing food on a kitchen scale can be really eye opening. You can get one for under $20 and it's a great place to start :)
  • Asher_Ethan
    Asher_Ethan Posts: 2,430 Member
    Weigh your food.... I was definitely probably eating 3000 calories a day before I started weighing everything.
  • mr21mr21
    mr21mr21 Posts: 21 Member
    What is your average daily sugar and carb intake? Cutting these back was very effective in my weight loss
  • aaroncirilo
    aaroncirilo Posts: 23 Member
    adjust your food intake to have a macronutrients ratio (total calories) of 60% Healthy fats, 25% protein and 15% from healthy carbs. I eat like this.. never hungry and losing body fat and gaining lean muscle. Good luck
  • Lib_B
    Lib_B Posts: 446 Member
    Agreed on the food scale. You're probably underestimating. However, over time, you will start to be able to guesstimate. I know what 4 oz of lean meat looks like now. And when I cut up a chicken breast and throw it on the scale, I can get pretty close. It takes practice. Also, make sure the scale you get has grams as an option. I weigh peanut butter, cottage cheese, etc. They list the imperial serving size too on the package, but I've found that a 1/2 c. of cottage cheese vs. 110 grams of cottage cheese can be completely different depending on how tight you pack that 1/2 cup. Better to use weight when you can. I brought taco salad to work today. Last night I weighed everything and got it packed up to go. You just have to make the time. It can be a giant pain in the butt, but it pays off.
  • Liftng4Lis
    Liftng4Lis Posts: 15,151 Member
    ahamm002 wrote: »
    MsTinaSays wrote: »
    have you checked your thyroid?

    OMG, yeah, because after not losing weight for one month it MUST be hormones . . . . .

    QFT!

    OP, I agree, the scale will help tremendously.
This discussion has been closed.