Help needed...I"m beyond frustration with my weightloss.

Hi all...I'm new to posting here, having  lurked for a few months. What an excellent site! I am usually pretty quiet, but have decided to speak up and seek advice from fellow travellers in this journey. 

 I'm 5'7 and weigh 120 kilo in aussie speak..252 pounds? My weightloss journey began on january 8th at 130 .7 kilo...274ish pounds. I lost 17 pound by Feb 13th, by restricting calories to approx 1, 500 a day and walking for half an hour about 5 times a week. I then joined the gym on Feb 16th and go 3 times a week, doing a weight circuit, then  about 30 mins of treadmill or bike. Since Feb 13th, I have lost 2 lousy pounds!!! grrr...that's 2 pounds in 5 weeks and 1 day.

In frustration, the other week, I decided to diligently weigh and record everything I ate to check that my calorie intake  was around what i was estimating...i came in at 1200 calories a few days, and at worst no more than 1700.  I have also used my frustration and anger and self loathing to do extra time on the treadmill/bike/cross trainer..60 mins one day and 80 minutes another...burning  about 550 calories an hour...and still no weightloss.

Where am i going wrong?  I thought that being this big, the weight would fall off to start with, but to plateau at 19 or 20 pound loss  when I have another 100 or so to go is totally disheartening. I have had an underactive thyroid and was on medication for about 2 and a half years. Out of lazyness i stopped taking the medication, however recent blood tests have shown that my levels are normal..much to the amazement of the endocrinologist, ..and my disappointment, as i was hoping that it might explain my slow weight loss.

 My BMR says that i need 2000 calories a day just to function, up to 2, 600 given my activity level, so i thought that with a deficit of 1000 a day, putting me at an intake of around 1600 calories a day, the weight should come off at around 2 pounds a week at least.

Yes, i know about muscle weighing more than fat..so i got my gym instructor to check my measurements..but it seems that she had taken them inaccurately the 1st time because some of my measurements had gone up!..I think my hips had gone up 2 inches according to her, so it will be about another month before i can get some reassurance from the measurung tape. Until then, i'm relying on the scales to show me some reward for my effort, which at the moment they are not doing.

Can anyone see anything obvious that i'm doing wrong??

Please don't give up.  It will happen.  My body doesn't understand "supposed to happen" if I do this.  Frustrating, I know.

I did a rough calculation based on your stats and a 'light to moderate' activity level (which I think you are) and came back to a maintenance intake of 2700 - 3000 a day.  So 1500, 1600 or 1700 in that light could well have been a little low for you.  It's pretty common for people who go too low with their intake to see a fairly rapid start (17lbs in 5 weeks)... followed by a nasty 'stall' (2lbs in 5 weeks).  That seems to be the pattern you're in?

I'd suggest the following.

• Accurately clock your portion sizes.... that eliminates the possibility that you're eating too much (this is the most common reason for failing to lose weight)
• Should you definitely be getting 1600 or so cals, this weekend have 3000 cals a day for a day or two.... This could help give your metabolism a little perk up
• Subsequently reduce your intake to 2000 as your new average.  This will give you a 700 - 1000 deficit.  (As you lose weight this will gradually come down)
• Make sure your food choices are mostly wholefoods e.g. wholegrain products, fresh fruit/veg, lean meat/fish.... and try to avoid processed/ready-made/diet foods, sugars and refined starches.  This will help combat fluid retention.
• Drink 2 litres of water a day.... this again helps combat fluid retention and keeps your digestion moving along
• Space your food out well during the day... three light-ish even-sized meals and a few healthy snacks.  Try not to skip meals, especially breakfast.
• Try new foods.... something different keeps it interesting
• Try new exercises....  gyms are great but I always see the best weekly weight-loss after a long cycle-ride or hike... change things around a little

Hope something in there helps get things going.  Good luck.

I have this strange prediction coming to me that everyone on the site that responds to this topic of yours is going to tell you that you need a higher caloric intake.

Sad thing is that they aren't wrong... Stupid huh? ^_^

From my experience, once you reach a plateau, you need to change your workout routine. Your body reaches a point where it "gets use to" what you are doing, and your weight loss slows way down. You need to throw in confusion. In stead of just walking on the treadmill, add an incline to it, in other words, add some intensity. If you are weight training, boost your weights up 5lbs for each exercise. Free weights are the best to use when weight training because you have to control the weight on the way up and on the way down. Hope this helps....Good Luck

Hi, I hate to jump on the bandwagon, but first thing is you have not eaten enough calories. Also, kick your exercise up to 90 minutes per work out day, and I promise you--there will be a difference. Also, muscle is heavier than fat. I walked for 2hrs yesterday before exercising I weighed in at 155, now I weigh in today at 160, but my pants are bigger, belt loop has gone down a notch. I realize the muscle is weighing more. When I first joined CC, I was told to stay of the scale, and use a tape measure, at first I lost inches then my inches turned into pounds.I say all this to say this......don't let the scale discourage you and learn to eat nuts, they will give you the extra calories you need. Do not make your deficit more than 500 calories more than 3 days a week, you will wake up one morning and the fat will have burned off during your sleep, that is usually the case with me. Do not, I repeat do not give up yet.....it takes a good 4-6 months to get a really big notciable weight loss.