Feeling discouraged..

RLDrenth
RLDrenth Posts: 3 Member
edited November 2024 in Health and Weight Loss
I was recently on a medication that caused me to gain somewhere around 15 pounds. I've been off that now for over 6 months, and I've been able to lose around 5.
Now I'm stuck. Trying to lose these last 10. I've been actively really trying for a month and a half, and I've literally not lost a thing. I'm not even losing inches.
If anything I'm gaining weight. And while I'm aware that "muscle is heavier than fat" (and I'm also aware that this is not exactly correct) I'm just at the point where I feel like I'm doing all this damn work for NOTHING.
I don't get joy out of eating, in fact, I'm a terribly picky eater. So trying to eat nutritious and carefully is pretty stressful when you don't have loads of money, and loads of things to chose from.

I just don't know what else to do. My diary isn't super accurate because I don't always put down exactly how much (or exactly how) I'm exercising and I don't add my water intake, but it's there.

Please God, someone help me...

Replies

  • debtay123
    debtay123 Posts: 1,327 Member
    First realize that it probably took you a while to gain the weight so it will take a while to lose it. Stay calm. Stay focused- you CAN do this if you want it bad enough- the last few pounds are always killer- TRY to tighten up your logging- for me this has been the key- I am a turtle and lose very slowly usually 05- 1.0 each week- I have learned to just be happy and sometimes I even just maintain-You can do this- I am in it for the :long haul. PS- It does not take a lot of money to eat healthy- just make the food choices that you can afford and most of all that you enjoy!
  • RLDrenth
    RLDrenth Posts: 3 Member
    Thanks for the reply!
    I should clarify that I'm a mom of 3, so when I say it costs money, I'm thinking of the whole family, not just myself lol!

    I've always been "thin", never fit but thin. Because I don't love to eat (don't get me wrong I don't have any disorders. I can pig out on junk food with the best of them. I am just the polar opposite of a foodie...)

    What's frustrating me most is that I'm seeing ZERO results. Not even losing inches. Anywhere. I did see some results in the first two weeks, and then it's like everything just froze. :/
  • rheddmobile
    rheddmobile Posts: 6,838 Member
    What exercise are you doing? There are two halves to CICO, and upping the CO may be easier for you than further cutting your calories. Particularly if the medication you were on lowers metabolism. You don't have to do hours and hours of cardio or even join a gym - a few minutes of high intensity exercise at home using a YouTube video can help.
  • shaunshaikh
    shaunshaikh Posts: 616 Member
    I think the first place to start is a real commitment to logging everything precisely while measuring with a digital scale so you are definitely hitting your calorie deficit. I'm a full time working dad of 3 under 4 so I know the struggle but we can do it!
  • RLDrenth
    RLDrenth Posts: 3 Member
    I'm doing a mix of cardio and strength. I started out dancing for 30 minutes but I've been doing more strength stuff recently (yes, on YouTube!) At first I discovered I wasn't eating enough calories so I increased my intake, and still nothing. I went up a pound but that seems to fluctuate anyway, so I don't really count that as anything significant.
  • rheddmobile
    rheddmobile Posts: 6,838 Member
    It sounds like you're getting plenty of activity, so I agree with others that tightening up your logging is the next thing you should try. If you get a good kitchen scale with a tare function it's much easier to weigh everything as you go.
  • Orphia
    Orphia Posts: 7,097 Member
    edited September 2017
    RLDrenth wrote: »
    I was recently on a medication that caused me to gain somewhere around 15 pounds. I've been off that now for over 6 months, and I've been able to lose around 5.
    Now I'm stuck. Trying to lose these last 10. I've been actively really trying for a month and a half, and I've literally not lost a thing. I'm not even losing inches.
    If anything I'm gaining weight. And while I'm aware that "muscle is heavier than fat" (and I'm also aware that this is not exactly correct) I'm just at the point where I feel like I'm doing all this damn work for NOTHING.
    I don't get joy out of eating, in fact, I'm a terribly picky eater. So trying to eat nutritious and carefully is pretty stressful when you don't have loads of money, and loads of things to chose from.

    I just don't know what else to do. My diary isn't super accurate because I don't always put down exactly how much (or exactly how) I'm exercising and I don't add my water intake, but it's there.

    Please God, someone help me...

    Read the stickies ("Most Helpful Posts"):

    http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10300319/most-helpful-posts-general-diet-and-weight-loss-help-must-reads#latest

    For weight loss, don't worry about "eating careful". Eat the foods that will satisfy you within your calorie limit and budget.

    If you've only got around 10 lbs to lose, be prepared that this could take 6 months. You should be aiming to lose 0.5 lbs per week.

    Read "relatively light people trying to get leaner":

    http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/113609/relatively-light-people-trying-to-get-leaner
  • Ready2Rock206
    Ready2Rock206 Posts: 9,487 Member
    edited September 2017
    You have the solution in your post. The fact your diary isn't accurate is why you're having problems. If you don't know your intake then you don't know if you're eating at a deficit. And if you're not losing you're not eating at a deficit.
  • RedSierra
    RedSierra Posts: 253 Member
    Ready2Rock206 wrote: »
    You have the solution in your post. The fact your diary isn't accurate is why you're having problems. If you don't know your intake then you don't know if you're eating at a deficit. And if you're not losing you're not eating at a deficit.

    I agree with this. Your post says you don't record everything and your diary isn't accurate.

    Record everything you eat and drink. If you don't have a scale, buy an inexpensive one (you can find them on Amazon and other places). Weigh and measure.

    Weight loss is all about calories, not the type of food. You say you are stressed out from carefully eating nutritious food without a lot of choices. Have some treats and favorite food within your daily calories. There's no reason to drive yourself crazy eating a dull diet. Just pay attention to how many calories you are eating.

  • DebLaBounty
    DebLaBounty Posts: 1,168 Member
    You have to record accurately. You're probably eating more calories than you think you are.
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