Really Frustrated :(

Hello all -

I have been counting my calories for almost a month now and I go to the gym at least 4 days a week for over an hour. I am so frustrated in the fact that I have only lost 1 POUND!!!! Seriously!?!? Sometimes I don't even know why I try. I do have PCOS and I know (as it has been my whole life) it is 10x more difficult to lose weight with this condition. On top of counting calories I have been also only eating Low Glycemic Index foods because that is supposed to help one's blood-sugar (key issue in PCOS) and yet I still am not seeing any results...

I usually drink a protein shake for breakfast, salad and fruit for lunch, and for dinner either grilled or baked chicken and veggies...and I drink a ton of water...

Does anyone have any ideas on what I can change or what I can add / subtract from my diet?

I am no expert, but are you eating your exercise calories? If you are only eating your "food calories" but not replacing what you burn, it could be why you are holding onto weight. How are your clothes fitting?

I feel your pain. I too eat right all the time, limiting my calories to 1,200 a day and I go to the gym 5-6 times a week! I would love some suggestions too from others. I weigh too much and work really hard everyday and it takes me a whole month to lose 1 pound! Help!!!!!

Do you think you are getting enough calories?
Make your diet public so others can see. We all might be able to help better.

from :
http://soulcysters.com/weight_loss.html

Sticking to a special diet is a very important aspect of PCOS care. Some women with PCOS find success by reducing their total intake of carbohydrates (cereals, breads, pastas) and choosing to eat different types of carbohydrates that are less processed (whole wheat, brown rice, beans). Replacing manufactured carbohydrate products with whole grains, fruits and vegetables can help to reduce your insulin response. The diet also should include enough protein to control the amount of sugar in the blood. (source: Hormone.org)

According to many studies, women with PCOS can improve their insulin resistance just with moderate activity. Even if you exercise and don't lose weight, you are still reaping very important health benefits. Exercise has been shown to improve use of insulin and can support dietary interventions to promote weight loss; it is important that the exercise program chosen is enjoyable for the PCOS woman

I'm not a doctor but understand how frustrating this can be. My wife has celiac disease and weight loss has been very hard on her.

I'm sure your probably doing everything right but I also know how you feel I 25 pounds from my goal and have been at the same weight for three weeks without losing anything sometimes gaining a few and working even harder to lose those couple pounds just to bottom out again. One thing I have noticed with my efforts other than the sugars like you discribe is my sodium being high. each time I control my sodium for a while I start losing again. Today was a good day for me coming off the weekend I actually lost four pounds but I have been controling that sodium level for a while too and it has finally helped.

we are in the same boat. I actually am starting to zig zag my calories starting today to see if this helps me. I am not really sure as to why I am having such a hard time, losing 5lbs here or there use to be fairly easy but I have been calorie counting for 3 weeks and working out 4-5 days of the week with no loss. Try zig zagging I hear its supposed to break the plateau...im optimistic and determined not to give up!

I dont know anything about PCOS, but I do agree with this post. I have tried zig zagging before and it works! Plus you can alternate your zig zag days. So if you have like a big dinner out planned for Friday night, but Friday is supposed to be your 1200 calorie day. Swap your 1800 calorie day for Friday. Make sense?
It has helped me get through plateaus before. Something to consider. :happy:

It's interesting reading all your comments as I too have been frustrated at my slow weight loss, especially when you consider how quickly it went on! However I have found myself inadvertently going over my daily allowance and even running for 4 miles per day only burns off 400 calories.

One thing which doesn't help me is too much fruit - it's so easy to snack on but I was told sometime ago that too much fruit can restrict your weight loss. Something to do with it's natural sugar? Can't remember the details but I try to limit it to one apple, pear and banana per day.

B x

I had hit a plateau and not lost anything for 4 weeks. I have a thyroid condition that (currently) is lowering my metabolism (it fluctuates). A couple of weeks ago I started the leptin diet, and I finally broke through the plateau. Basically it's only eating 3 times a day and waiting 5-6 hrs between meals. The idea is that your fat-burning metabolism doesn't kick in until 2-3 hrs after a meal, so if you snack, you don't hit that fat burning phase. Most importantly, though, is the fat burning that occurs at night, so absolutely no snacking after dinner and at least 10-12 hrs between dinner and breakfast plus getting a good nights sleep every night (8 hrs). Apparently this is when we burn most of that unwanted belly fat. So if we eat late at night or don't sleep enough, we sabotage our fat burning. (Now for all you folks who will say "I always snack at night and I am losing," that's great, but this diet is to get the OPTIMUM fat burning especially for folks who may have insulin and/or leptin resistance and/or hormone problems. If you're not on the diet it doesn't mean you won't lose.)

Also, the diet suggests eating a lot of protein for breakfast, 50/50 protein/carbs for lunch and dinner, and a lighter dinner, but heavier breakfast and lunch. Also, you're supposed to eat slowly and stop eating right before you get full. (I have a bit of a problem with this so I continue counting calories using MFP since I know that I usually get full at around 400 calories. My natural ability to determine fullness is a bit messed up, although this diet is helping me know this and get in touch with my body.)

Personal experience with this diet: I thought it would be really difficult to give up snacks, but it's been really easy! I get hungry just about 5 hrs after eating a good meal. And night snacking is not a problem either. I think that eating a good fully-balanced meal truly is better than eating/grazing all day like I used to. Bottom line - I broke through my plateau.

If you want more information, the author of the diet (and book) is Byron Richards.