Help! What am I doing wrong?

I could really use some help to figure out why I'm just not losing weight.   

In mid-may I had a baby, and I have been trying to lose weight ever since.   I didn't gain any weight when pregnant, so when I had the baby I was 23lbs below my pre-pregnancy weight. However, I still have 100lbs to lose.

I want to adopt a healthy lifestyle that I am happy maintaining forever, so I haven't made drastic changes.   I have cut out all snacking and most sugar (once a week, maybe). I have balanced, healthy meals with reasonable portions.   I also exercise 4 times a week for one hour each, a combination of cardio and weight training.

Yesterday's menu:  

breakfast:  bowl of raisin bran w/ 1% milk
lunch:  boston cheesesteak sandwich w/ spinach salad and diet pepsi
dinner:  pork loin, mashed potatoes and salad (w/ vinigrette dressing)
bed time snack: peanut butter on biscuit and cup of 1% milk

today's menu:

breakfast:  canned salmon on whole wheat toast w/ cream cheese
lunch:  ham and cheese sandwich w/ lettuce and tomato, banana
dinner:  tortelini w/ light alphredo sauce and salad

Yesterday I went to a 1 hr weight training class, and today I'll be going for 1/2 hour eliptical and 1/2 hour weights.

I know that I need to up my water intake, and I could probably use more fruits and veggies.   I also don't get enough sleep (with a 4 month old that's hard to fix).  But is that actually enough to see absolutely no weightloss since May?     Actually, I see weight loss, maybe one or two pounds, but then it goes right back up the next day.   I really don't understand just what I'm doing wrong.   Can anyone help?

Your diet doesn't seem too bad on the outside, but are you recording the caloric intake for each thing?  It could be that your ham and cheese sandwhich is hiding a bit more calories than you're expecting? 

Also, is the weight training class the first bit of exercise you've done as of yet?  If so, then try doing something active at least 3 days a week, and you should really see some weight start to drop off soon :)

Hi I'm kinda in the same boat with you..  I have only lost 2lbs in like 3 weeks. My calorie range 1600-1800. Current weight 226 Goal 175....

Breakfast: 1 pack oatmeal made with water,  toast with 1 tsp peanut butter, banana and coffee with sweet low... 400

Lunch: 3 Grilled chicken strips with onions, Salad with fat free dressing and lite cheese.....apple..... diet sunkist... 520

Dinner  Gumbo tonight  500         

Snacks  30 Frozen grapes  60, 100 calorie popcorn, or baby carrots and cucumber 100   and plenty of water all day.......

My calories around 1700 a day .... I have been getting A and A- on the food analysis..... I also walk 30 mins on Treadmill.....    

    Sounds wholesome enough but having a meal like chesesteak sandwich and mash potatos could be really high in calories if you make them at home maybe not but if they are bought out you may be consuming lots more than you think,  for now i would swich to eating more fruits and vegs with each meal,  no sodas, only water or tea, and really watch how much you are eating,  Cause even if a restaurant or fast food serves you a sandwhich they are not watching the mayo, grease, and chesse like you would at home. serving size wise and walk walk and walk,  

Definitely cardio at least 3 times a week, preferably every other day.  1/2 hour duration should be sufficient at first.

Watch the dressings in the salads and the sauces, they can contain tons of calories.  Try ordering the dressing and sauces on the side and just dip your fork in from time to time, you get the same flavor without nearly the calories and the poor lettuce doesn't scream as it's drowning. 

Use the analyzer tool to get a nutrition score, you might also be having a ton of sodium with those dressings which does make you retain water. 

Hi, thru trial and error I've found that these things worked for me.  First, diet soda is not really a diet food and it doesn't count towards your daily water intake :-(  It may not have any calories, but it will spike your blood sugar later in the day that will cause cravings.  Besides that, aspartame is not healthy for you either.  Try switching to tea with Splenda, or Crystal Light which will also count towards your daily water intake.  Second, try cuting your carb intake down a bit.  Since your body has a supply of fat to fall back on (which is what we want it to use for fuel) you don't necessarily need all those carbs.  They break down into energy and are likely what your body is using when you work out instead of your own body fat.  Don't cut them out entirely, you still need then, but at the end of the day you should have eaten more protein and good fats (olive, canola, and even butter on your toast is ok) then carbs.  Also, stay away from the whites-white bread, rice, pasta, tortillas, these are not good carbs.  Go for the whole wheat versions of these things instead.  One last thing, do your weight training before your cardio for better fat loss (I can't remember why it works, but I got this one from my trainer)  At any rate, I'm not a nutritionist or doctor or anything so take this as only my opinion, but it worked for me.  Good luck, and let us know how you do.

Thanks everyone for all your replies.... I need to make this brief, cuz the baby's unhappy.

I don't eat any white flour, it's all whole wheat so that's not an issue.  I fully acknowledge I need more fruits and veggies and should cut out the diet pop.  I got into it because when I was pregnant I had Gestational Diabetes and it was the only thing sweet that I could have that would cut the cravings for cookies, etc.  

I do eat out occasionally....about once a week, but I try to make the healthiest choices, and only use vinigrette (on the side) dressings.

I've been working out for 3 weeks now as often as I can.... I have 4 free days a week so I take two classes (one strength training and a ball class), and the rest of the days I do cardio (eliptical) and ab work, and if there's time  (there wasn't today) weights.

It's just so unfair that my husband does exactly the same thing I do and he's been losing steadily.   Ah, to be a man.... :(

sounds to me you are eating healthy but too many calories....Do you have a sit down job? I do and even though I work out, I realized that in order for me to drop weight, even slowly, NO MORE THEN 1200 calories a day. I am 205 and trying to get to 165 again and now that I am older and have an office job, 1,200 a day and working out is the only way....

good luck

HI, Let me start by saying congratulations on the baby.  I also had a baby back in March and losing weight has been extremely hard for me as well.  I have been working out 3 days or more for about 2 and a half months now and I have only lost about 6 lbs so far.  It is very frustrating since my husband has been working out for the same amount of time and he has lost nearly 40 lbs.  The only thing I can say is something seems to happen to your body when you get pregnant that isn't so easy to come back from.  Maybe it hormones I am not sure but the one thing I have noticed I am losing inches .  Also I am 228 lbs and I had my cholesterol checked a few weeks ago and it is the best it has been in years so I guess the exercise does work.  The only thing I can suggest is keep on keeping on it has to come off eventually. Chin up I feel your pain

I see that you are only eating 3 times per day.  This will result in tremendous peaks and valleys in your blood sugars and insulin levels--I'm sure you know all about them from your gestational diabetes.  Instead, determine your desired caloric intake for the day and break it down into at least 5 meals per day...6 if you can do it.  Make sure that each meal contains at least one lean protein and a complex carbohydrate.  This will keep the insulin in check and keep your body from storing as much of what you eat as fat.

Next, DRINK MORE WATER!!!  I can't overstress the importance of this.  I would recommend that you drink at least a gallon of water per day.  A good thing to try is to fill an empty milk jug at night with water and put it in the fridge.  Use it to keep track of your consumption for the next day.  Every time you open the fridge, you will see it and it will become a challenge to make sure it's empty by the time you refill it for the next day.

Keep up the strength and cardio training as well.  Nothing burns fat and builds muscle (read toning) better.  Do 3 days per week of strength training--full body workouts and on alternate days do cardio.  At least 30 minutes at a good heart rate.

Last, don't cheat yourself.  You will never know what you're capable of until you get out and try it.  Push yourself.  As you start to see results you will become even more motivated and dedicated.  Ever hear about an ex-smoker talk about how great it is to not be smoking?  They are the true believers....you can be one about your fitness.

Good Luck and let us know how you're doing!

Michael

Yep - I am a big girl 180 5'6 large frame, I was exercising my rear off.  I eat no CRAP FOOD.  Nothing was moving,  Currently staying under 1200 cal.  and finally the earth is moving.

My experience is similar to yours. I started this Journey On May 28, 2007 and weighed 304.  I yo-yoed for many months before i saw an improvement. I am glad to say as of yesterday i broke the 299 mark.  I eat well proprotions and at my highest in July was 313. So, I figured I have done well. Just stick with it. When you least expect it you will see the scale move  That is what happened to me!

lol u eat some weird ****