desperately need help and advice

Hello to all,

I am brand new here and really need your help. I have always been a 145 pounds and the last year I just ate a lot, really a lot, was a couch potato and also ate the bad very bad things.

Now since April I am going 5 times a week for 1 1/2 hours on the elliptical with diferent programs, mostly interval though, in between I also walk for 30 min with 4 mph. Diet wise I tried everything from 1400 to 1000 and now barely 1000 cal/day. I only eat whole grain, if i eat wheat, fruits, vegetables, no sugars. I barely lost weight I am at 162 and I am really honest.

I was already at the doctors and checked my blood, I don`t know the results yet. Oh and I have never struggled with weight, it always came right off if I had to loose just 5 pounds.

I know it is kind of a stupid question, nut is it possible, that there are people who will never loose weight, no matter what? During the day I am a babysitter and barely sit down.

When I ate more calories to boost my metabolism, I gained or the weight just stayed at its point!

What am I doing wrong! Some people loose 150 pound with weight watchers and no exercise and I am doing really everything and it is barely moving down. I thought it is possible to loose 2-4 pounds a week!

Please help me, I am thankful for every advice!!!

Alright, first 1200 calories a day is the bare minimum for a very short, slender, older,sedentary woman.  You are under eating and starving your body of vital nutrients. 

Second golden rule of weight lose.  Never have a deficit over 1000 calories.  This means that  burn - eat < 1000 calories.  The reason for this is that your body can only break down so much fat in a day for fuel.  After that it starts cannablizing your muscles and organs for fuel.  You are at this point losing muscle... and possibly damaging your organs.

The good news is you haven't been doing it very long.  So if fixed long term health problems are unlikely.

Also, it is suggested that when losing weight healthily to only lose 1% of your body weight a week.  So at most you should be losing 1.6 lbs a week.  Since your likely very close to a healthy weight this will be less.  more like 0.5-1 lb a week.

You are atleast moderatly active, if not very active.

If you could share your stats, age, height, weight.  I and probably others would be more then willing to help you.

Good luck!

With all of your physical activity, you are not getting enough food.  1200 calories isn't enough for you.  Did you use the tools to determine your activity level when you first signed up?  It doesn't look like it.

Since we don't know your height, age, etc. it would be impossible to give much more advice without that information.  Were you eating 1400 calories, were you also exercising?  Did you start your exercise after you decreased your calories?  See, more info is needed to help you out. 

I don't go out of my way to exercise.  I'm lightly active, and my calorie recommendation is 1350 per day.  (Sitting on my butt all the time).  Go back and use the tools.  At the top of the screen next to "my Account" is a "Home" tab.  Scroll down to where it says "getting started".  That will guide you through what you need to do.

The go to the Tools tab and calculate your calories needed and with your activity level.

Thank you for your replies. I am  5'8, 30 years old. And yes when I ate 1400 calories Ialso was working out 5-6 times a day 1 1/2 hours

Alright awesome.   Seeing your stats I see your already at a healthy BMI, and your goal is on the low side of healthy.   This means that your weight lose is likely to be a bit slower, compared to some one who is overweight.  But slow and steady means that you are more likely to keep it off, so don't worry about it.

If we calculate your burn at moderatly active you burn about 2400 calories a day.  This would include chasing after kids all day, cleaning, and your 30 min walks.  I would suggest that on the days you do intervals at the gym you log those.

Which means your burn will be 2400 + intense exercise.

in general you should be aiming for a 500 calories deficit to lose 1 lb a week.  So you should be eating 1900 calories a day.  I'm suprised you don't have more symptoms of under eating with how little your currently eating.  Fatigue, trouble sleeping, headaches, dizzy feelings... Have you had any of those?

Anyway to get your self back on track I would suggest eating at maintaince for a week.  Yup eat all 2400 calories a day, keep up your exercise and stay off the scale.  This will let your body know that it is no longer starving and that it is ok to burn fat. 

After that aim for a 500 calories deficit.  I usually go with a range rather then trying to eat the exact same amount every day.  1800 - 2000 calories is a good starting range for you.  Still stay off the scale the first week or two.  Since you are changing your eating habits your weight will fluctuate and you don't want to let this bother you. 

On days your not that hungery eat 1800 on days your more hungery eat 2000, this will allow you some leeway.  On the days you use the elliptical at high intensity eat back some of the calories you burn, when you log that exercise pay attention and don't let you deficit get larger then 1000 calories. 

I know it seems like a lot... but honestly I'm an inch shorter then you, have been comletely sedentary, and I started losing at 1700-1900.  It worked.

Also remember to give it time.  Your body will need time to adjust to the changes you make.  Since your in a healthy weight range it's going to be a bit of a slower process.

I would also suggest adding some weight training to your exercise.  Muscle burns more fat, so building muscle will help a lot.  The folks over in the fitness forum are really great at helping beginers. 

Good luck with everything!!!  If you need any help or have any questions I'd be glad to help.