Can not seem to lose weight

Are you weighing your food?

What do you mean by "I've eaten up to 1200 calories a day"? Do you mean that typically you eat less than that?

1200 is the minimum amount of calories recommended for a woman. You're not doing yourself any favors by eating below that. Not because of "starvation mode" or any other such myth. It's just not a good idea: it's not healthy and you're more likely to crash and burn if you're too restrictive.

As for why you can't seem to lose weight, I'll echoes other posters: are you weighing your food and logging everything?

It initially took me nearly six weeks to start losing, and then it WHOOSHED! Don't give up.

SherryTeach wrote: »

The experience users could help you more if you opened your diary and let us take a look. Are you accurately weighing all your food and using correct (USDA) entries? Are you logging every bite that goes in your mouth? Three weeks isn't very much time, but if you aren't losing, you are probably eating at maintenance.

Although it is daunting to think about doing this it may help tp answer quickly and effectively what is going on ~ open it selectively (not so everyone can see) and see what the more experienced members can help you with. I was adding coffee but forgot to add the milk I put in it (small but added up over 5 cups/day or so).
Above all don't give up! One month is a huge accomplishment! As someone who stopped and started and repeated the cycle when I got discouraged let me encourage you to keep on it! I have taken a week off before (even a few months) then come back. Trust me when I say you can always get back on the wagon....but it is much more effective to stay on it ~ even when it seems so discouraging. Wishing you luck!!!

JustMissTracy wrote: »

Just keep at it Cynthia! Don't be discouraged, regardless of what some app predicted...the secret to weight loss success isn't a secret.....CONSISTANCY.....DETERMINATION.....keep at it, don't stop, and you WILL start to see progress...have you measured yourself yet? Many times if you're working out, you will gain muscle...so your shape will become slimmer, but you wont actually lose numbers...this is not a bad thing!! Good luck, stick with it, and if you fall off the horse, get back on the next day! YOU GOT THIS!

No. The secret to weight loss success is a deficit, not CONSISTENCY............DETERMINATION. She is eating at maintenance and needs to change. Better to be a "mean people" than a cheerleader for failure.

A few weeks ago I was on the same boat as you it does take a while to start with I'm in week 8 now and am just starting to see results. But remember to be honest with yourself. Make sure you're logging everything including oils you use for cooking, condiments you have with meals such as sauces etc as the all add up. Weighing your food, and make sure you weigh yourself first thing in the morning as you'll get a better reading. If you are following these steps and after 6-8 weeks you don't see results Id recommend seeing a doctor check that you don't have any health problems that are setting you back.

i would be willing to bet you are eating much more than you think you are.....

If you aren't losing weight, you are not eating fewer calories than you burn. It's almost always that simple. As others have posted, you need to be sure you are really logging absolutely everything you are eating. I read an article recently about a study that was done on people who are logging and they were missing approximately 40% of the calories they actually ate from their logs! 40% is a lot and these people were really trying like you are.

Keep going but be very mindful of entering absolutely everything into your log. Oil you add when you cook, the piece of chocolate from a co-worker's desk, gum, vitamins, everything. If you don't own a food scale, buy one and start to use it as much as you possibly can. Most of us are terrible at eyeballing food portions. A food scale helps us to learn what 4 ounces of chicken really looks like (it's about the size of your smart phone) and that a tablespoon of peanut butter is really not very much at all.

rwhyte12 wrote: »

This is what I did. (Only my opinion and a dietician I was sent to.) Use olive oil as your cooking oil and as your salad dressing. For whatever reason, olive oil makes a person fuller. Then, I eat low carb and that includes sugar. I increased my protein by adding in two cups of whey protein daily with just water. It takes like a milkshake.
So in the end, the kind of fat seems to matter and the increase in protein means you're fuller all day. The carbs just turn into straight fat in my body so I see constant improvements as I go along. In the last three weeks, I've lost two inches off my waist and one off my hips plus so far 26 pounds since the beginning of July. I do swim a lot but until I did the above, it really didn't matter. Good luck in your weight loss journey. Don't be afraid to play around with the macros at the bottom or to try new things.

Yes, fat (olive oil is a fat) is satiating, but on it's own it doesn't have any magical weight-loss properties. No, carbs don't turn to fat any differently or faster than any other macro-only a surplus in calories can do that. Yes, Protein is pretty satiating also. Moral of the story: as long as you're eating at a deficit, you'll lose weight.

Are you weighing yourself in the morning on an empty stomach, naked after you have went pee and maybe #2? If not, your may have lost and not know it because weight fluctuates throughout the day.

CynthiaCS68 wrote: »

I did weigh in the morning just like you said. I do use olive oil only. But I will do the whey protein like you do. How much water? I am hoping that once I get my scale it will be better. Guys I can't tell you Hiw much I appreciate your replies and advise.
Cynthia

You don't need to add anything to your food like protein powder unless you are lacking in it. you've already said you aren't losing weight, why would you add a calorie source? Just buy a food scale and weigh all of your solid foods, and log them. Keep to your calorie deficit carefully, including your oils, and you will be fine.

MissJay75 wrote: »

Additional thoughts, you may be retaining water for any number of reasons, and that is hiding some of the actual pounds you've lost.

Personally, I experienced this throughout my weight loss. I would eat and work out consistently, and the scale would. not. budge. For 2-3 weeks sometimes even a month. Then I would drop 2-4 pounds seemingly overnight. Sometimes it can take your body a while to catch up to what you are doing. Over time (almost a year) I lost exactly 1 pound a week, just as predicted.

Keep your chin up. Keep working out and eating well. Start weighing your food, and be diligent in your logging. The pounds will come off.

Water retention would not last for a month. OP would be seeing fluctuations in her weight if this were the case.

Hello I am Tina I trying to lose also but can't some inches maybe its the type of food I eat rather then the amount .does any one have any good recipe to help lose i am burn out on alot I eat .