Why Can't I Lose Weight?

Megz155
Megz155 Posts: 2 Member
edited November 16 in Health and Weight Loss
Hello Everyone,

Between Sept 2016-Dec 2016 I didn't workout at all because I was working a lot and was taking a lot of courses at college. Before the semester started I was 131 lbs. but am now currently 140 lbs. As you can see I gained about 9 lbs. during that semester. Jan 2017 I started working out on a regular basis. At first I started eating very low cal but noticed I was gaining weight. I then decided to up my calories and found weight loss on some days and weight gain on others....Very frustrating!!! Although I did lose 5 inches the first month (Jan 2017-Feb 2017) I really have not seen any further results regarding weight loss or inches lost. I workout about 60 min a day doing Kayla Itsines program along with my own workout.I don't eat a lot of animal protein because it tends to upset my stomach but try my best to get enough plant based protein. Do any of you know why I can't seem to lose weight or have any suggestions? I'm getting really discouraged by not seeing any results.

Replies

  • StaciMarie1974
    StaciMarie1974 Posts: 4,138 Member
    edited February 2017
    What is your height? How many calories do you consume per day? Do you use a food scale? How active are you in your daily life?

    Step 1 is to figure out how many calories you burn in a day. Step 2 would be to reduce that # by 250-500 in order to create a deficit. And then accurately and honestly track how much you are consuming.

    Last you'll need patience. At the rate of losing .5-1 pounds per week, it will take time. Some weeks the scale will even show a gain. But if you gained 9 pounds in a semester, it should be reasonable to expect to lose 9 pounds in approximately the same amount of time. Perhaps a little longer as it may be easier to overeat than to create a deficit when your body is already fairly small.

    Working out is great in that it improves your heart, lung health and burns additional calories. But the key to your dilemma is in your consumption.
  • Megz155
    Megz155 Posts: 2 Member
    I'm 5'3" and consume between 1600-1700 kcal per day. I consume this amount of calories b/c I have calculated my height, weight, & activity level online and this is the amount it says to consume although I feel it may be a bit high? I don't use a food scale but use measuring cups. Lastly, besides working out 60 minutes per day, I have an active job that requires me to be on my feet the entire shift & am constantly moving around. At school, I always walk across campus from my car to the buildings - I don't take any shuttles.
  • StaciMarie1974
    StaciMarie1974 Posts: 4,138 Member
    Get a food scale. Measuring cups are highly inaccurate and not meant for solid food. You're intending to consume 1600-1700, but if you're not using a scale then you are most likely eating more. Eating more than you intend = weight gain and/or maintenance.

    Based on your activity, 1600-1700 should be a good intake for you to lose .5-1 pound per week. But if you're off by 25%, you'd maintain. If you're off by more, you'll gain. Accuracy and honesty in your food log are the keys to weight loss. And once you have that down, it is a matter of patience. Water weight tends to happen for women during ovulation and/or TOM, so a good rule of thumb is to compare your weight on the first day of your cycle each month. Eating at a deficit and comparing your weight in this manner should show a downward trend. Comparing day to day can be misleading as the water weight also fluctuates due to stress, sodium, muscle fatigue, etc.
  • animatorswearbras
    animatorswearbras Posts: 1,001 Member
    ^This, I found I was underestimating 300-500 cals a day eyeballing and measuring with cups etc. Once you've crossed that off your reasons for not losing more obscure reasons can be explored. Also remember water fluctuations can mean your weight can be up and down by several pounds so its worth charting to see if it goes down overall on average over the course of an extended time period like a month.
  • sijomial
    sijomial Posts: 19,809 Member
    Ditch the spoons, cups and scoops.
    Weigh food instead.

    After a month reassess your calorie goal.
  • Megansmith112712
    Megansmith112712 Posts: 62 Member
    I've used cups and the scale just to b see how off things are. For example it says peanut bury is 2 tbsp or 32 grams. But at 32 grams it actually about 1.5 tbsp. I can't remember exactly but I think the pays I was eating said lime 1 c was a serving star but based on the weight it was like. 5 a cup.
  • quiksylver296
    quiksylver296 Posts: 28,439 Member
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  • mitdiva
    mitdiva Posts: 1 Member
    You may want to be tested for food sensitivities and candida (yeast) overgrowth. I knew I didn't have any allergies, but it turned out that I had way too much candida in my system as well as sensitivities to gluten, dairy/casein, and eggs. After eliminating the inflammatory foods and addressing the candida using natural antifungals (as well as measuring and logging my food), I've lost over 10 lbs in 4 weeks.

    For more on candida: https://www.thecandidadiet.com/candidasymptoms.htm
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