Having a LOT of trouble losing weight.

So for about 5 or 6 weeks now, I've been keeping a pretty good eye on my calorie intake, which is about 2,160 a day, and I've been going to the gym pretty regularly, if not every day. My problem is I don't seem to have lost a single pound. In fact, I'm pretty sure I've *gained* weight. 

It's really discouraging... and I'm about ready to give up. What's wrong with what I'm doing?

Tell us a bit more about your stats.  

Height, age, weight, sex.   Your workout routine,  your diet.   give us some details to go on so it's easier to see whats happening.

The important thing here is not to quit.  Nothing was ever accomplished by giving up.

Oh, sorry, my bad. The topic at hand kinda has me flustered and I didn't think about the basics...

I'm 5'11", 19 years old, 260 lbs, and male. 

As for my workout routine, I'm usually at the gym about an hour after I eat dinner, (its really the only time during the day that I actually have the time to go) and I do about 20 minutes on some cardio machine, then depedning on the day I work out my upper or lower body on the weight machines... and before I leave I do a few more minutes on cardio.

As for my diet, it's not very specific... I never drink soda unless I'm at a movie or some special occasion, I try to eat small things throughout the day, but most of the time I'm too busy to remember. I eat corn flakes for breakfast usually, a sandwich for lunch and whatever my mom has for dinner, which admittedly isn't usually anything healthy but I still live at home, so I eat what they eat. 

Does that help at all?

I'm no expert, but I soon realized that one dinner portion of my mom's famous cooking ended up to be around 2,000 calories itself.  I know you don't have a choice of WHAT you eat, but maybe start eating half for dinner, or find out what the ingredients are of the few dishes you eat most often, so you can count them.

Otherwise, patience!!! You're doing great - stick to it.

Your problem could be your calorie intake.

The rule of thumb when dieting is that you must burn more than you eat, its also very important to know that 1 pound is 3500 calories. Therefore you must burn 3500 calories more than you eat in order to lose 1 pound.

The healthy way to do this is to create a calorie deficit of 500 cals per day. i.e burn 500 calories more than you eat every day for 1 week and you've lost a pound.

Get the idea?

Dont be disheartened, sometimes it starts very slow, other times you can loose 2 or 3 pounds in 1 week. But stick with it and you'll soon see the results you want!

Start with the basics.  The usual reason for gaining weight is 'eating more than you need'...   Work out a) how much you need and compare it with b) how much you eat.   Then you'll have a clearer picture

Because you're under 21 use this site to work out your daily requirement  http://www.bcm.edu/cnrc/bodycomp/bmiz2.html   and read off the number for 'low' and 'moderate' activity level if you're going to the gym.  That comes back to 3850 - 4370 cals per day.  4000 average.   To lose weight therefore, you should be looking at an intake of about 3000 cals.  If that sounds like a lot it's because, young, tall, heavy, active people need more energy than old, short, light, inactive people.  

Next, really check your calorie intake.....  Weigh and measure what you eat rather than guess.  Try not to eat out because you're not in control of the contents.  If it's higher than 4000 cals you've got your answer.

Finally... check that what you eat is good, wholesome foods and that you eat/snack regularly.  Lots of vegetables, lean meat/fish, wholegrains etc.  Three main meals a day plus some snacks.   A poor diet (especially one with a lot of salt) can hamper weight-loss as can irregular eating patterns. 

2200 cals a day should have resulted in you losing some weight, even if it was only initially.  If you've been getting 2200 during the week but eating more at the weekends, that would makes sense for not losing weight.  I would suggest you increase to a steady 3000 cals a day starting now, make your diet as balanced as possible, keep up with the exercises and then see how it goes.

I would keep an eye on what you are having for dinner and try to eat 1/2 of that meal, ( maybe your mom could adjust her cooking to help you with your weight loss )? also i agree with the sodium intake.. that will keep water weight on you... and another thing muscle weighs more than fat so if you are working out daily it could be muscle you are building...

Im not sure how much you weight; but I would reduce your calorie intake to about 1500 calories.

On my diet I try for 1200 - 1300 calories a day, but Im also not too much overweight.

Control your eating habits, I learned that by working out, I then felt more hungry, and would eat more after returning from the gym. Im not sure if you have the same problem, but think about it next time!

& just keep staying strong!

Maybe take a week or two off from the gym, that's what I did and at the end of the 2 weeks people started noticing Id lost weight. Weird I know.. but maybe that'll work for you too.

& watch your portion sizes! you'd be suprised how many calories are in a "normal portion size" for everyday americans. <3

hope this helped.

I am on a 1200 a day calorie intake and it seems to be working for me. I lost 15 lbs in three months just watching what I eat and incorporating exercise 3-4 times per week.

Dear Technoxbrain,

please do NOT reduce your calorie intake to 1200 a day. For someone of your age, gender, height and weight it would only lead to malnutrionion and your body would react to starvation by clinging on to the body fat. You wouldn't lose weight but you would gain much faster after upping your intake again.

Please take GI-Jane's advice. She is quite an expert and has lots of experience.

Just as a reference: I am female but your weight and height and I am on a 1700 - 1800 cal diet. I try to work out daily in the gym for 45 min (cardio) and do some weight training as well but only twice a week for 45 min.

I lost 10 lb within the first 2 weeks and now I am slowly losing 2 lb per week which is healthy and stable.

So - keep going, don't give up, read GI Jane's advice, maybe ask your mom to cook something more healthy and less fattening for you?! It could be a great spark for your whole family!

If your mom doesn't want to change her way of cooking you might want to ask her to teach you how to cook! Just hink of Jamie Oliver and other great chefs. Cooking is definately not just a "girls thing".  You can follow the recipe's here on CC! There are great things to find that might be a new experience for all of your family!

Good luck and all the best!

B.

As mermaid said above me, disregard kasandraa's and donunkwo1980's comments, they obviously didn't read anything but your op.  gi-jane's advice is always sound

you're right;

i read the post asking your stats, but didnt see your response.

im a 138lb girl...

so obviously my calorie intake would be different than yours.

i'd agreee. dont lower your calorie intake to 1200! sorry bout that.

It seems like people on here are on a race to give out advice. I was merely commenting and statiny my own plan. To each is his own.

At a glance, I would recommend upping your cardio at the gym for a while.  Maybe spend the bulk of your time doing vigorous cardio and keep the weight training to two times a week (just for example). 

As far as the diet and eating at home, that's a tough one, I know.  I agree with some of the others - try eating half of what you normally would or eat more of the healthy items that your mom puts on the table.  Oh, and if she seems offended that you're "not eating" (which has happened to me in the past), explain honestly that you're trying to get into better shape and she will probably understand.  Good luck!