Frustration, Irritation & Lack of results

I am at my wits end...

I count calories, exercise in martial arts class three times a week, choose the healthier options over the ones I really want and still nothing helps.

I am currently 255; on a daily basis I consume 1800 - 2200 calories per day.  I have been tested for all the normal things like low thyroid and yet I still fail to lose weight.  The doctor says "it is just your genetics" but there is a point where basic science must come into play. 

I am not sure what else to do and if someone can offer any insight please do so because I cannot figure out how to get rid of the tire around the middle.  No amount of exercise seems to work, calorie counting is a great way to take up extra time in my day but is effective at little else.  I am tired of hearing the doctors tell me there is nothing wrong with you.  You just need to exercise more.  In order to exercise more I need a job in the fitness industry so I could have the time.

I welcome any insight, experiences, or knowledgeable information please.

I would see a nutritionist and have your metabolism tested.  That would be a good place to start.  After that, you may need to reduce your caloric intake. 

Whenever I get frustrated, I remind myself of something that a friend once said, "you never see pictures of overweight people in concentration camps".  It's true, if people don't eat enough...they will eventually lose weight regardless of genetics (it just might be at a slower rate).  When I'm gaining, it's usually because I had a cheat day or two...there is always a reason.  Keep that in mind.  Best of luck!

Original Post by schrammbo:

 In order to exercise more I need a job in the fitness industry so I could have the time.

 

It's the hard answer, but you have to find the time. It has to become a top priority.

The only exercise you wrote that you were getting was martial arts three times a week. Clearly, that's not enough to get results. Clear up some room on the dance card, and put in some other running or weight training.

Give us more information: age, height, activity other than "exercise," etc.

Maybe you are eating too little, but can't say without more info.

good luck.

I am guessing that martial arts is not going to be enough, and that you need to mix some straight cardio in there. Also, you aren't creating a huge deficit with the number of calories that you are eating, so it is going to be a slower loss. (I think in the long run healthier, though.) But, are you on track 100%, or when you go a week or two and only see a loss of .5 or 1, or you maintain, are you saying "the h$ll with it," and having a blizzard and starting the next day? (Whoops -- that's me!) Little sabatoges like that add up.

Tell us more if you can.

What are your martial arts classes like? How long and what do they consist of. I've been doing kickboxing for almost 4 years. It absolutely wears me out, but it doesn't seem to help me lose weight. Now that i'm here and logging all my food, I think I'll have found the missing peice. But like someone said, find some other exercise, maybe something you can do at home. Do you have a heavy bag at home? Instead of bursts of punching and kicking, try setting a timer for 5 minutes and punch for five minutes straight. Not just casual punching, but constant, hard punching. That's gonna get your heart rate up, too. Are you in a rut? Same thing all the time? Maybe just changing up will help. Do you have a class on weekends?

I just ran across this post and she talks about changing up her routine a little and having results:

http://caloriecount.about.com/forums/post/110 752.html

 

OK let me see if I can provide more details with just one reply

age = 38 height = 73" (6' 1") activity other than "exercise = Walking, Swimming, and just general activity that I undertake with my child.  I take the stairs instead of the elevator, park far away from the store that sort of thing. 

However, I mostly do swimming on my off days.

My martial arts is JiuJitsu/Judo consisting of 3 sessions per week at least an hour or more per session.  This does not count the 20 minutes of warm ups prior to the actual class.  Warm ups consist of jogging, Side shuffles (jogging to the side), Push ups, mountain climbers, etc etc 

Now I did see a post regarding a deficit Supposedly to maintain my current weight using sedentary as my multiplier I would, in theory, be able to take in 3315 calories per day.  Subtracting 500 calories from that would be 2815 and I am taking in 1800-2200 but still seeing little if no result or change. 

I understand these numbers are approximate but using sedentary as my choice and subtracting the recommended 500 calories I would think that with the activity I should be seeing something other then maintaining the weight.  I have a cheat day one time a week and that cheat day is usually a cheat meal not the whole day I might actually have some french fries with a vegetarian burger or maybe a beer with my vegetarian dinner that sort of thing.  Nothing outrageous.  I cannot afford the huge intake of calories so I do my best to avoid getting into a situation where I am taking in a lot of calories or eating meals that have my entire days calories in them even on my cheat day.

I hope this helps to paint a better picture

Hi Schrammbo,

I plugged your stats into a BMR calculator and it said that your BMR is 2323.  This is the number of calories you would burn if you stayed in bed all day long and did absolutely nothing.  I've been told you should never eat below this amount for optimal weight loss.  If I were you, I'd try upping your calories a bit and see what happens. 

You probably know that 500-1000 is the recommended daily calorie deficit for weight loss, but I think 1000 is pushing it.  With your current habits, even *without* exercising, you'd have over a 1000 calorie deficit if you're only eating 1800-2200.  With exercising, you're probably way over that.  I'd keep doing the exercise, but increase your calorie intake (with healthful foods, of course, not junk food) up to at least 2400, if not 2800.

I'm no expert, but that's my advice.  Good luck to you.

In general, bigger people can tolerate larger deficits than smaller people. The 500-1000 is a general rule of thumb - someone who is small and very close to goal weight needs a smaller deficit, and someone who is very large and has a lot of fat to lose can handle more.

AND - I second the recommendation to try upping your calories to 2400 and see how that goes. 

I had the same problem when I first started, I think most people run into this. No matter what, you're doing your body and health a great service. Keep at it. You WILL eventually see results, there's no doubt about that. I used to post my frustrations and one day I decided it wasn't only about how I look (although I know it's a huge part of it) and realized what a great thing was doing for myself. I'm literally extending my life. Keep doing what you're doing, you'll be fine. :)

I'm no expert. I am only posting because I haven't seen these suggestions:

Instead of adding more cardio-martial arts, try adding a few minutes of strength training: free weights at home takes as long as you want: 5 minutes a day will benefit you. Strength training not only burns calories while you do it, it also burns calories all day long by building muscle.

That said, be sure to eat at least 25% of your calories in protein. If you know the number of calories you consume, you must be keeping track somewhere. If it is on CC, then you can find out if you are consuming enough protein to build muscles.

Doctors are wonderful (sometimes), and they know a lot, but only the 25-year-old students are getting any general information about nutrition, vitamins, supplements & exercise (and they are 25, what do they know?). Move toward other experts, such as the suggested nutritionist (there is one on this site), and try reading the extensive Fitness Forum.

Finally! a MAN who is not losing fast. I see so many envious posts from women with male partners who lose weight "faster." In short, you have the right genes to lose weight, your methods may be counterproductive at this point. You obviously know this. Good luck. You are in the right place! This site is wonderful.