I am desperate for help.....

Ok, I'm about at the end of my rope.

Stats: 5'4", weigh 179.4 (according to new scale) calorie in-take 1350.

I've been working out 4-5 days a week. Walking on treadmill that's it. Burning about 200-250 each time. I don't change my calorie in-take daily because I don't work out every day. I've been doing this since the beginning of February. With no success. My husband thought maybe it was the scale. So I went and got a new one and it shows I gained 5 lbs. He said that can't be right because the weight didn't match his from when he went to the Dr. a week ago (off about 10-13 lbs)

B-fast: So.Beach protein bar

Snack: tomato juice or almonds

Lunch: protein, small salad, fruit

Snack: jello/100 calorie pack popcorn

Dinner: protein salad (sometimes whole grain rice or pasta 1/2 cup)

Snack: Swiss miss fudge bar. I think it's 110 calories.

I'm really at a loss.

Hi,

I need a little more info before I can offer any help. Do you have any illnesses and or have you quit smoking? Were you eating 6 times a day before you started the diet and if not what were your habits like before and how long were you eating like that? Also, what is your total calorie burn average for each day?

 

 

 

i know EXACTLY how you feel. It's like, you're doing all this work and nothing's happening. Don't worry, it took me like 4 weeks for my body to realize that something was happening to finally drop another pound (officially started on Jan 24th) It sounds like you're eating the good stuff and allowing yourself to have a bit of chocolate to keep yourself sane!

If you ever need to vent, feel free to message me.

Thanks. I have not been ill. I have never smoked. I ate a b-fast, lunch, dinner (whatever the family ate) and evening snack. Weekends, cocktails and whatever the family decided for food for the weekend. I have been at this weight for two years. When I registered, I put sedatary (sp?) because I did no physical activity. That puts me at 1850 a day.

Thank you for your help.

Make sure you are eating enough!

This is what I'm trying to figure out. Since I don't work out every day, I don't adjust my calories.

My first thought is that you may not be eating enough.  Does everything on the list you provided actually equal 1350 calories?  Since you don't go into a lot of detail as to what sort of proteins you're eating and how much of everything, it's hard to say.  But if you're logging it, and your quantities are correct, then 1350 should be at least mostly accurate.

But, here's the frustrating part: no calorie count is ever exact.  You don't burn exactly 1850.  Those foods on your list probably don't equal exactly 1350.  The calories of your food may differ slightly, either because it was entered wrong into the database, or because food companies are allowed to round up/down within certain limits.  You may burn a little more or a little less, depending on how your metabolism works and how your body burns calories.  Everyone is different in that regard.

What I recommend doing is trying to eat just a little more; maybe add in a healthy 100 - 200 calorie snack on the days you exersize.  You state on your exersize days that you burn 200-250, so even if you ate an additional 150 calories or so, you still have enough of a calorie deficit that you will continue to lose weight.  I know it's a really hard thing to believe, that you can actually eat MORE and still lose, but you can, as long as what you eat is healthy and within your calorie limits.  Also, "yo-yo-ing" calories helps many people, because sometimes your body gets used to what you're eating and your metabolism becomes more efficient.  So eating possibly as much as 1600 one day and then 1350 the next, 1500 then 1400, etc., can help keep things "active."

Finally, it looks like you might be consuming a high amount of sodium.   Jello, for one, has insane amounts of sodium when you look at the serving size.  That popcorn probably does, too, unless you're buying the natural, "unsalted" variety.  Tomato juice is another culprit.  Are the almonds salted?  The South Beach bars may even have more sodium than you'd think, because processed foods in general tend to have higher quantities of it.  Diet sodas and many other diet drinks are high in sodium.  My point is that too much sodium makes you retain water, and that will hinder weight loss.  Check your sodium levels and try to cut back if you can (recommended max sodium for most adults is 2000 mg per day - your Calorie-Count "Analysis" page will show your sodium levels.) 

If your sodium is okay, then still make sure you are drinking plenty of water.  (Not diet soda, not juice, but plain water.)  It helps immensely to keep your system flushed out, and not drinking enough water is also another culprit for water retention.

And one last word, don't worry too much about the difference in your scale vs. other scales.  Any scale that most normal people can afford will not be 100% accurate, so just take whatever number it gives you and concentrate on making that number go down as much as possible. :)  The scales at most doctor's offices are best as far as giving you your true weight, because they are usually professionally calibrated.

Sorry that I typed out a novel!  But I know how frustrating this can be.  You really have to go through some trial and error before you find what works for you, but just keep at it!

Justlaura....thank you, thank you. It's great information. Maybe my sodium is too high. I'll try anything at this point.

Are you feeling healthier?  Do your clothes fit better?  Do you have more muscle?  Weight is not the only way to measure your successes.  Different scales will give you different numbers, the scale is only one way of measuring your changes over a period of time.

I'm 5'5", 150ish and down from the 180s.  I would suggest that you add another 100 calories to your allowance to start so that you're sure you're eating enough.  If you're using the treadmill to tell you how many calories you've burned they lie...worse than a rug!  Enter the time and speed in CC and you'll get a much better approximation.  Maybe add a few pushups each day and a few situps as well to give you some strength exercises that will show results.

If you have no known health issues and are not losing with a 1,000 calorie deficit, try closer to 500.  The 500 calorie deficit seems to work better for me overall. 

smwhipple. Thank you for the feedback. I actually do log in the treadmill from CC. I've just never worked so hard to lose weight and get "0" results. I don't feel as bloated. As far as feeling healthier, I can't say it's noticeable. I ate all the food groups before now just less and whole wheat.

I think my deficit is about 750 calories a day. If I'm basing it on the 1860 that I calculated before I started working out. Working out is 2100.

Another thought is doing some weight training along with your cardio.  Cardio is fantastic to lose weight but if you start weight training as well it definetly helps.  Also...how is your fiber intake?  If you look at your analysis it will tell you how much fiber your taking in.  You should have at least 24 grams a day.  I just started watching mine again.  I bloated up the first couple days but now am doing much better and am losing again.  Just take those things into considerationg.

Hi there - I am a newbie.  I just started this last night when a friend called and said that he just lost 24# since October - men - this is so easy for them it stinks.  Anyhow - I am the exact weight and height as you.....so you will be my helper.  I am so tired of this feeling.  Anyhow - Nick said "If you bite it - you write it."  sounds easy huh.  I am really going to try for the billionth time again. 

Linda

Maybe your eating too few calories ie body may be in starvation mode.

I agree w/ Nikki on the weight training.  Studies show that light weight training 3-5lbs even can give your metabolism a boost and give the body some incentive to burn fat into muscle.  Burning the calories on the treadmill is fine, but youre not working your upper body much and you need to be doing a bit of weight training.  I would suggest this article to help you get started:

http://exercise.about.com/cs/exerciseworkouts /a/weight101.htm

 I also agree that you need more than 1350 calories a day.  Your body will try to hoard fat.  Up the calories over 1600 and add weight training as well as treadmill time.  Consider going a little faster than you currently walk too, or for longer periods of time as the distance gets easier.  Good luck!

Kristin

I know I have to weight train, but I'm putting it off. I really dislike working out. I know it's good for me. I do like how I feel afterwards, but I just don't enjoy doing it. I look at it as means to an end. I think I will start with some sissy pushups and sit ups and go from there.

Yesterday I was really really hungry all day. So I ate more than usual. Probably about 300 more calories then normal. I'm better today. I may have to add in an additional 150 calories to my day when I work out. One I'm afraid I will gain, or worse yet be starving on the day I don't work out because the day before I got to eat more. I'm stickin with it. What choice do I really have?

Hi again :)

Checking back in and wanted to leave a couple more thoughts.  You said that when you exercise, you walk on the treadmill.  Is that the only type of exercise you do?  If so, it's possible that your body has gotten used to that workout and it will no longer be effective in helping you lose.  It's still good to do it, of course, but you're basically maintaining instead of losing, it sounds like, which means that your body has adjusted itself.

If you can, maybe try riding a bike (either a stationary one or a "real" one) for cardio, or go for a longer walk outside, where you'll have varied terrain, OR just vary the routine on the treadmill a little and go a little faster, or a little longer, or adjust the incline, or a combo of all three.  This can sometimes jumpstart things and make your body have to "work for it" again. 

Also, if weight training doesn't sound exciting to you, you can purchase hand weights at places like Target, Walmart, etc that range anywhere from one pound to five pounds.  You can hold them (or some of them strap onto your wrists) while you walk and swing your arms.  That helps to burn a few more calories and will improve muscle tone.

My last thought is that if you try all this stuff, and you KNOW that you're eating the right amounts, and drinking enough water, and all that stuff, and you still aren't losing, you may want to consider going to your Doctor.  You may have a thyroid condition or other medical condition that is preventing you from losing, and most of the time that sort of thing is easily treatable.

Good luck with everything, I know it is frustrating! :)

justlaura. Thank you for the additional thoughts/suggestions. I do walk/run on the treadmill. I adjust speed and elevation. Does a body get use to a work out when it's only been six weeks? I am looking forward to going outside. In MN it's just thinking about getting nicer. This way we can go outside. I have had my thyroid checked in a prior Dr.'s appt. Everything is a-ok with that.

It just feels frustrating when you committ to healthy eating & working out and then to find out that's just the cost of admission.