Frustrated

A pound a week is the healthy way to go! It sounds like you are doing everything right but may want to increase your cardio and add some weight training.

I'm pretty new to this whole diet thing but desperately need to lose 30 pounds. I have cut my calories back to 1200 per day, try to walk at least a half hour a few times per week. I'm eating mostly fruits, vegies, chicken, fish, eggs...
I drink a minimum of 60 ounces of water a day....I drink nothing but water. I've been doing this for 2 1/2 weeks now and only see a loss of about 2 pounds...maybe 3. I currently weigh 172 pounds and my goal is between 140-145. I feel at the rate I'm going, it will take me FOREVER (if even then) to get to my desired weight. Any supportive suggestions????

Fat loss of approximately 1-2 lbs a week is the recommended healthy loss.

Assuming 1 lb loss a week, 30 lbs is only 30 weeks. That might SOUND like a longtime but just think about how fast time actually flies. Remember Thanksgiving 2010? Christmas 2010? That wasn't that long ago. Even if it takes a year -- if you stay consistent, the time will be gone and you'll have reached your goal before you know it.

I would suggest changing up your exercise routine. Are you actually getting a net of 1200 calories per day by eating back your exercise calories? You may not be eating enough which would stifle your loss.

It's not a diet...it's a lifestyle change.

When you go from a certain amount of calories to 1200 it can be a big adjustment, sometimes the body can go into starvation mode if you slash too many calories without working up to it. My other suggestion would be to try doing some strength training a couple times a week, it will raise you're resting metabolic rate. Most of all don't quit, you're clearly on the right track. So good luck on that!

The rate of weight loss you are currently at is a healthy rate. It is the best way to lose it and keep it off. You may want to consider calculating your BMR and making sure that 1200 calories isn't too little for you. Just a thought!

Try to eliminate "white" foods from your diet. Instead of white bread, try wheat or rye. Instead of potatoes, eat sweet potatoes! I learned a lot of my diet principles through Extreme Fat Smash book. It's an accelerated weight loss book, BUT, it can be difficult to stick with the rest of your life, which is why only losing 1-2 pounds a week is the healthiest way to go!

Stick with this..I bet you hop on the scale next week and you're down more than that 2 pounds Weight has a funny way of holding on, then jumping off!

I hear your pain, I have only lost 5 pounds in 3 weeks. wanting to loose the same as you.
Have you r ever tried Quinoa ?? high in portein cooks like rice you can add so much into it.
Also put a little portein on a spinich salad.

Sounds like you are doing the right things and losing at an acceptable pace. Congrats on staying committed.

Two things I would recommend: It sounds like you may need motivation to keep going more than suggestions :bigsmile: Try setting other goals, e.g. inches lost in various places, daily carb/protien intake, running, jogging paces. Celebrating a win in some of these extra things may help keep the focus off the scale. To me it's like watching the clock in a doctors office :laugh:

Second, I may recommend (based solely on what you wrote) is probably increased exercise. Higher impact cardio and added strength training. But patience does come first!

good luck and keep up your good work!

took me 6 months to lose 30 pds. Pre-fitness pal, I was losing much faster, but I was also exercising every day, and consuming 1200 or less calories a day. I lost 20 pds in about 3 months that way, but knew I couldn't live like that. I like the slower, healthier pace better, I know I can maintain it, and I feel less obsessed. Its not always about the scale, it's about how you feel, and if you can make an entire lifestyle change, and avoid the term diet.

It takes time but it works - I actually gained in my first week (probably just weighing myself at a different time of day,

Stick with it - You're doing great! (This worked out at 1lb every 5.5 days)

My two cents is to be positive and supportive of yourself and set small, realistic goals. Be confident that you are doing something good for yourself and your health every day that you stick to your calories and get in some exercise.

Losing 2 pounds in 2 1/2 weeks is already a great accomplishment and a good start. In my experience and humble opinion, it takes a while for the calories you burn and don't eat one day to show up in a lower scale readout. Plus everybody's body is different and weight will not always come off evenly. You just have to stick to it and don't get thrown off track even if your weight stays the same or goes up a little bit one week to the next.

In my case, it took 8 weeks to show a two pound weight loss and then suddenly I showed a 4 pound weight loss over a single week. Note that I have also been eating 1200 net and working out EVERY day for at least 30 minutes and that I did not change anything from the time I was showing a 1/4 pound loss per week to the week when I showed a 4 pound loss. My body obviously just took a while to get the message that this was for real.

I had a similar experience 6 years ago (when I lost 60 pounds). It took just over one year and the weight loss was not even from week to week.

Since that 60 pound loss I've gained back 15, but since it has been 15 pounds over 6 years, I don't expect to be able to drop those 15 pounds immediately and I also look at the bright side that I'm back on track to get back to my goal weight. What is important is the trend down, not how long it takes you to get there.

There is a place you can enter waist measurements, etc. on MFP and you could also consider weighing yourself less often to see if that helps. But the bottom line is just to take comfort that what may seem like small steps forward will add up in the end.

I like to keep my snacks under 150 calories. an apple is 80 or greek yogurt is 140. those are good!

Boy have I been there! We have similar goals, I'm at 175 trying for 140. I have to double whammy my approach using both this fitness pal website posting my foods in the diary, and I'm using Medifast 5-1 plan, 5 Medifast meals and 1 lean/green meal. First week I lost 3 lbs. AND I had mimosas, a cupcake, and a SLIVER of Sara Lee French whipped cheesecake on the weekend, well it was a mini-cupcake using a fork to eat it (slowing down the process). I'm ecstatic with 3 lbs and expect to keep it up. I ALSO write down the time my meals are consumed, just to make certain I'm eating 2-3 hours apart, when possible. That's important.