Don't know what else to do, need help!

SereneRose
SereneRose Posts: 500 Member
edited October 2024 in Health and Weight Loss
Feeling so depressed but trying to keep the upbeat attitude alive.
I know it takes time but I'm just not losing weight just the same 2lbs every week & getting tired of it now. I try to burn 3000cals a week yes I don't always get there but I do try. I work full time so can't work out as much as I'd like so I manage to squeeze in approx a 600cal burn an evening which is approx. 1.5hrs.
How much should I be burning a week to lose even a 1lb a week?

The bigger you are the quicker it falls off you at least in the beginning right?! I'm on a 1210 calorie limit which as of tomorrow I'm lowering to 1100 to see if that'll make a difference based on what others in the forum have done & succeeded with.
This is stressing me out despite the positive posts I put out to my mfp friends daily I'm slowly getting depressed every week the scales don't budge or the measuring take shows a decrease, yes I've had the odd splurge and surprisingly lost more when I wasn't logging.

It's been over 90 days basically 3 months and all I have too show for it is 12/13 measly pounds. I know everyone is different in there weight loss but I expected to be so much further along than this, when am I going to start seeing a difference especially when I'm trying so hard.
I need help as this is exactly what made me quit the last time, I know PCOS can make weight loss harder but this is ridiculous!

Any advice on what I should do?
Sorry for the rant but had to get this off my chest, don't know what else to do.

Serene

Replies

  • twinmama1987
    twinmama1987 Posts: 566 Member
    you need to eat MORE not less.. that is what i call starvation mode
  • rachmaree
    rachmaree Posts: 782 Member
    No, sweetie! you aren't eating enough, that's the problem. Looking at your diary, you always leave far too many calories at the end of the day. I know sometimes you say you don't get hungry, but with a bit more planning and consistency, you can do it!
    Don't forget mfp already has a good deficit factored in for you, (500 cals) so when you exercise, you're making a bigger deficit. Your body needs fuel, or it will panic and hang onto the weight.
    Please try eating a bit more consistently for at least a month, and see how that goes. You should not be under 1200 net calories, especially as you said you are 'bigger.'
    I love your idea about doing the 30DS, also, you're off to a good start today!
    Don't give up girl.
  • sjtreely
    sjtreely Posts: 1,014 Member
    My guess is you need to up your calorie intake. Play with it for a few weeks. Another strategy is to keep your body guessing. Don't eat the same number of calories each day. For example, if you up your calories to 1400 to 1500 a day - some days have 1600 and other days have 1300.
  • audram420
    audram420 Posts: 838 Member
    If you want a quick workout to do at home between going to work and sleep try the jillian michaels 30 day shred...it's 20 minutes and it's tough work...but the key is it's 20 minutes...I use it all the time...when my son naps, before going to work, getting home from work, etc!!
  • jem728
    jem728 Posts: 88
    12/13 pounds of weight loss is a huge accomplishment. WTG!!! :flowerforyou: Seems to me you are right on track at losing 1 pound per week and you are establishing new health and fitness habits. Are your clothes fitting better? Look at other ways to measure your progress other than the scale. Did you takes measurements or pics before you started?
  • adagolden
    adagolden Posts: 146 Member
    First of all, don't be frustrated. We all hit slumps and/or plateaus and you will get through it by telling yourself that you have done well so far and will continue to do better. The more positive attitude the better.

    Now, I am no nutritionist however from what I read on these forums, you need to eat more. I looked at you diary and some days you don't even come close to your calories, especially if you work out. And also, make sure you eat more fat...the good kind of fat like almonds or avocados. And fill yourself up with fruits and veggies, they will fill you up and are great for your body.

    And so many of us are busy working folks and whenever we find the time to work out, we do. You are busy and you miss a workout, just do it tomorrow. Try not to look at the whole big picture, it can be overwhelming. Look at it one day at a time. Hey, and think about it this way: only working out a bit is better than sitting around and not working out at all.


    You are doing great and we believe in you. Keep up the good work.
  • veganbaum
    veganbaum Posts: 1,865 Member
    You're going in the wrong direction - you need to be eating MORE calories. You should eat your daily goal plus some of your exercise calories - you could try for 1/2 exercise calories to account for inaccuracies - but you definitely need to be eating more than you are now. Looking at you diary (and I just looked at a few days), it seems like you are not even getting to 1200, and that's before exercise. So, up those calories - why don't you try that for a month instead of decreasing them further? You shouldn't be going under 1200 without the supervision of a doctor or nutritionist. And also - are you trying to burn 3500 to lose? I was trying to understand what you said, but I'm not sure. MFP already gives you a deficit in it's daily calories, so you should be losing without exercising as long as you are accurately counting your calories and meeting the NET calories it gives you. Of course, this may require some tweaking, but the point is that MFP already gives you a deficit to lose before exercising, you should eat at least some of your exercise calories to fuel that exercise, and you should get close to the NET goal MFP gives you, and definitely not go under 1200 calories.
  • Libby81
    Libby81 Posts: 734 Member
    I totally sympathise with you today hun, but don't drop your calories down lower than 1200. I agree with rachmaree try planning your meals and snacks out the day before and you will be able to do it. Keep your body fueled with the right stuff. We all have off days just try not to let it get you down too much. Try mixing up your exercise routine, do a few classes at the gym add in some strength training if you don't do it already because muscle burns more calories than fat by just existing.

    Slow and steady wins the race and keeps on running where quick loss never stays gone.

    I'm having a bad time too with lack of weight loss but I know that it's totally down to lack of motivation.
  • mssweetjay
    mssweetjay Posts: 142
    I'm sorry to hear that you are depressed and frustrated but I do understand your feelings!!! First things to do is not to give up and no negative thinking that can lead you to be more stress!!!! Next thing I would like for you to do is continue to watch your calories but look at what u are eating!!! Your protein should be higher than your carbs. You work out in the eve so try to eat your carbs before you workout. Don't do the same workouts all the time. Mix up your cardio, change the workouts often like every other day. See if you can get up a little early to do a 20 min workout then in the eve you can do a 45 - hour workout. That way your body will be shock each time!! Water is very important too!! me personally I drink at least 128 oz of water a day. Everyone have different feelings of how many calories you should eat. I eat only when I am hungry and eat more on the days I work out twice. Hopefully these examples will help you on your journey!!! I'm still learning but for now I'm doing great!! Just remember don't give up and trust me it will get better!!! Hang in there!!!!
  • Kaycurrier
    Kaycurrier Posts: 231
    I did the same thing a few years back so I completely understadn your stress and confucsion. I agree you need to eat more, you basically need to reintroduce eating every 3 hours again to your body. It does not mean oyu need to eat heavy meals or snacks, and posibly you may be retaining water from all the working out, you should drink at least (minimum) half your body weight in ounces of water a day, adn if you are working out, more hun. Try not eating after 5 or 6 pm also, move dinner time up if you can and don't eat after that. Like i said i did the same thing, and I lost a little and stopped, dropped my calories and lost a little more then got frustrated and gained, are you ready for it? 80 pounds, please do not do this, let us save you years of weight gain, just eat healthy and exercise reguarley, make it habit, not diet. You can do it!!!!
  • melaniecheeks
    melaniecheeks Posts: 6,349 Member
    Firstly, 12 pounds in 3 months is great - that's a brilliant rate of going!

    I'd be concerned more by the quality of your calories rather than the amount of them. Try tp spread them out over the day, and have healthy snacks in between meals, Not a big fan of slimfast, I have to say. More fruit and veg!
  • Lift_hard_eat_big
    Lift_hard_eat_big Posts: 2,278 Member
    Up the calorie intake a bit. Take some fish or krill oil and CLA supplements to get the MUCH NEEDED GOOD FATS into your diet.
  • Choclat_Pearl
    Choclat_Pearl Posts: 166 Member
    Serene Hi:

    I can't say i know exactly how u feel but, I've been putting in some work sistah, I was having lots of trouble being inconsistent at first (Read my profile and some of my posts ok, when u get a chance) Someone told me it takes 21 days to start a habit...I ran with that.

    So, once I conquered that...I have been working out for 2 mths straight on a roll..my routine is in my profile. Now, I just made 2 mths and 5 days. I was one who was scared of the scale but, I finally got talked into it and in 2 mths I only lost 5lbs..I couldn't believe it...a friend of mine lost 16lbs in 2 1/2. I was kinda of taken back by it but, I'd been doing this for 2 mths and its hard work its not easy and the encouragement from my MFP friends I keep going: As someone said you "are" losing. (Good Point) Someone also said, you're probably losing inches. well a few days later still kind of bummed out: I decided to try on a pair of jeans...I keep stacked up beside my bed; where I can see them everyday about 5 pair I have in descending order -I call them my "Goal Jeans" anyway Serene, that pair of jeans slipped right on...I couldn't get both legs in before.

    I dropped 2 sizes! I went from a 20 t0 a 16! I have a long way to go but, guess what I am still motivated, still encouraged. My next weigh-in was yesterday...I only lost 1lb but I logged it in proudly because its still something and I'm not going backwards.

    You know? So, "DON'T give-up, it's a process! Shoot girl, I am going through things... I am trying to fight through right now...i had to tell myself just the other day " I am not going to let nothing or nobody get in the way of my goal...I can, I will and I am"
    You have to fight for what you want nothing is given. Its up to YOU.

    If your at work do little things like start taking the stairs instead of the elevator if thats the case...finding ways to burn calories is not hard... MFP friends and i can help you with that...I know I wrote alot but we're all in this 2gether..Don't Fret Keep ur head UP.

    MzBHavin = Sarah
  • Spedden
    Spedden Posts: 207
    Please check with your doctor about your weight loss plans. And don't forget, 12 pounds is a lot of weight to have lost! You've done well already. Sorry that progress is slow, but if we could find a way to speed it up, you and I would be billionaires!:smile:
  • SereneRose
    SereneRose Posts: 500 Member
    Alot of amazing information here and I now realise I have been starving myself, I basically thought eat less work out more weight will drop off and I've been trying to burn an extra 3500 cals aweek without eating them back. (seen its worked for others)

    I've now changed my goals and will be eating a minimum of 1400 cals a day so that when I exercise I don't go lower than 1200net and hopefully with some more perseverance I'll finally see the scales move again.
    Have measured, lost an inch all over about a month and a half ago and nothing else since and clothes feel the same so it all got a bit on top of me this evening.

    Thank you all your wonderful people.

    XxxX
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