Not working hard enough?

Are you near to your goal weight? It is really difficult to lose the last few pounds.

I had a look at your diary - it seems pretty good. Can you explain the Symington oat bursts?

What are you doing for your weight training? Two hours at the gym may be a little too much if you are not refueling your body after an hour. I was told ( and I would love some feedback to see if it is right) that if you do it right 1 hour at the gym is plenty. I was told heavier weights with shorter reps with minmal breaks ( like don't stand around for 5 mins before every set) that way you get out of the gym faster. Do you do total body workouts when you are there? or are you focusing on one body part each visit?

What are you doing for your weight training? Two hours at the gym may be a little too much if you are not refueling your body after an hour. I was told ( and I would love some feedback to see if it is right) that if you do it right 1 hour at the gym is plenty. I was told heavier weights with shorter reps with minmal breaks ( like don't stand around for 5 mins before every set) that way you get out of the gym faster. Do you do total body workouts when you are there? or are you focusing on one body part each visit?

that sounds a bit like I overheard my trainer telling one of the gymrats the other day "you know, if you stay here for 2,5 hours in a row, you're doing more harm than good"

me, I don't have the time to stay at the gym for that long, usually I'm done in around an hour, sometimes hour and 15-20 min, depending on how I'm feeling. Some days just suck, but I make sure I always finish my routine, lol

Im just wondering if you are doing too much weights and little cardio? Muscle as it builds weighs more so might account for weight gainI think you are working too hard a. Hour a day 5 days is plenty I think 1500 cals a day is the least a.yone should eat especially with jigh exercise levels

I assume your MFP settings are set for a 1 or 2 lb loss per week. On that basis I would say that you are under eating. You are consistently under your allotted calories (when exercise cals are taken into consideration) sometimes by a couple of hundred but commonly 400 ish.

i'm not sure what else to eat, i already feel like im constantly eating and my life is revolving around food.

You're not getting much fat in a typical day. Increasing the fat intake will also increase the calories (note: low fat is not necessarily better for you, your body needs fat). Also, I personally find that MFPs protein recommendation is too low. I'd up the protein significantly.

Not eating enough. Eat back your exercise cals. Try it or a few weeks and see. Also, your gym time is too long. Every trainer I have ever talked to or any book I've read says if you spend more than 45 minutes, you are wasting your time. I spend 60, but somewhere I. That range is more healthy. Figure out what you are doing that takes so long, and then modify it. Eat more. See if that works.

i can't see your diary, so I'm not sure exactly what you're eating. Firstly, it sounds like you are working hard enough indeed! 6 days a week of 2 hours gym and you say you are sticking to your food goals? That's a magnificent effort, albeit i agree with others that you shouldn't need to do 2 hours 6 days a week (but if you love it than go for it)

Have you ever thought about paying for a few personal training sessions? I see a PT twice a week now, but even if you only drop by a few times they can usually help you sort out where you are missing the mark if you are not seeing results.

Surely with that effort you can feel yourself getting stronger and fitter, I think you should focus on how good that feels first and foremost. The weight loss will come, and get some advice from a PT if you can.

Out or curiosity, what cardio do you do? If you upped the intensity you may find a budge on the scales. Have you experimented with HIIT/ Tabata training? Pick a cardio move, such as squat jumps, and do 8 sets of 20 seconds @100% effort and 10 seconds recovery (total 4 min). I have been trying to do these as much as possible, really pushes your limit and helps enhance your stamina. I also find it helps me break out of a plateau when i alternate between running and Tabata's. Try to build up the # of sets you do, I have never been able to manage more than 3-4 but hopefully I can break that soon!

Good luck and feel proud of your accomplishments so far, you're amazing!

When I start a new exercise program, especially with heavy weights, I can gain up to 10 pounds and hold it for several weeks. Then it drops quickly along with other weight. Good luck!

Also, if you are doing the same thing every time, that can be problematic. You want to switch it up a lot. Break up your weight training days and cardio days. And, always do different things, don't just go in and always do the same thing. If your gym offers classes, take them sometimes on your cardio days. Yoga can be counted as cardio, and it's great stretching and strength too. I'm not saying it is a cardio exercise, I am saying that you can replace it sometimes for cardio. It's great. Run some days. Bike on other days. Variety is key. Keep created confusion for your body so it doesn't get used to the same thing over and over.

After reviewing your diary for July, it's clear you are not eating enough calories. Your target is 1200 calories which is a recommend minimum; anything less and you are starving. On your exercise days you are not eating back those burned calories and you're body is starving for fuel. Many days you are 400-700 calories under what your body needs.

If you have to lose 2 stone, are you sure you entered your information and activity level correctly? 1200 calories seems a little low. Go to the Eat More to Weigh Less group here on MFP and read the threads on TDEE and BMR, reset your goals and enjoy your success.

What are you doing for your weight training? Two hours at the gym may be a little too much if you are not refueling your body after an hour. I was told ( and I would love some feedback to see if it is right) that if you do it right 1 hour at the gym is plenty. I was told heavier weights with shorter reps with minmal breaks ( like don't stand around for 5 mins before every set) that way you get out of the gym faster. Do you do total body workouts when you are there? or are you focusing on one body part each visit?

i do 90 seconds between sets and most of my sets are at only 8 reps on the heaviest i can manage. I alternate doing legs and abs one day and shoulders arms and back the next. Usually i go home and eat a snack (mostly greek yoghurt for protein) and then an hours cardio (15 mins before weight training, 45 mins after)

Try doing 12-15 even 15-20 reps for fatburn instead of 8 reps... if you do 6-8 reps with heavy weights then your likely adding muscle instead of burning fat