Are Some People's Metabolisms Just Too Slow To Let Them Lose Weight Healthily

I've been exercising really hard at the gym the last 3 months 3 or 4 times a week. I need to lose about 40 pounds. I run 10km in an hour on the treadmill, then do 20 mins on the exercise bike, and 20 mins on the rowing machine. In spite of carrying all this weight, I do more exercise than most of the skinny people who go there. In 3 months the total weight loss is about 4 pounds.

Its just unbelievable that I can be very physically fit, probably more fit than most people who are a healthy weight, and do this much exercise but still not be able to lose weight.

I'm now considering either starving myself and just eating about 800 calories a day, or taking diet pills, as it seems the weight isn't going to come off any other way. Which do you think is the better option? I'm so sick and depressed of being fat. I am 6ft and weigh about 220 pounds.

You must be building muscle which is Great!  Muscle burns fat!

Keep up the Great work.

Xavier7, I was 5'9" 212 on Jan 1st when I went on Atkins.  That went on until about March when I switched to more of a Mediterrean Calorie Restricted diet.  I have been averaging 1200-1300 calories for about 4 months. Carb restriction is a key, but not the Atkins high fat route.  I consume all of my meat by lunch(tuna and chicken) no red meat.  My dinner is always a large salad and cabbage or other veggies.  I am now 172 lbs and heading toward losing 10-20 lbs more to get under my HS weight.  I am 62 so it is harder to lose weight.  I consider 2009 as the year I was "Born Again" and I am not talking about religion.  I am setting up 2010 as "The Year of Conditioning".  The only real exercise I am doing now is walking 3-4 miles at about 3.5 - 4 mph.  On an interesting note, another thing I did different in 2009 was to discontinue strength training.  Strength training will begin again for me in 2010, so I am not making a statement, I am just saying what worked for me.  Weight loss was impossible for me until this year.

i just want to point out that if you do go on prescription diet pills like phentermine or didrex, likely the result will be 800 calories a day as well.. just with more energy.

just if you do make sure you get them from a real doctor, not a quack as i did.  and be careful!
you do want to remain fit after all.  those pills can be risky business.

good luck.

sfredbull, I tried phentermine years ago and it gave me the shakes.  I dropped it like a hot potato, and never took another diet pill again.  The only other time I got that reaction was when I had a long drive and I took No Doze. 

Original Post by xavier7:

I've been exercising really hard at the gym the last 3 months 3 or 4 times a week. I need to lose about 40 pounds. I run 10km in an hour on the treadmill, then do 20 mins on the exercise bike, and 20 mins on the rowing machine. In spite of carrying all this weight, I do more exercise than most of the skinny people who go there. In 3 months the total weight loss is about 4 pounds.

Its just unbelievable that I can be very physically fit, probably more fit than most people who are a healthy weight, and do this much exercise but still not be able to lose weight.

I'm now considering either starving myself and just eating about 800 calories a day, or taking diet pills, as it seems the weight isn't going to come off any other way. Which do you think is the better option? I'm so sick and depressed of being fat. I am 6ft and weigh about 220 pounds.

 You don't say how much you're eating, or how old you are.  Both of those can impact any suggestions people might have for you.

Clint

Original Post by pbear999:

 You don't say how much you're eating, or how old you are.  Both of those can impact any suggestions people might have for you.

Clint

 I am 27. I have been eating about 2000 calories a day on workout days which means I should have about 1500 calorie deficit as according to stats I would burn 3500 calories in total a day. When I don't exercise I only eat about 1500 calories. I have had the odd when I have eaten a lot but not often.

I ought to have lost over a stone according to the Maths of it.

Original Post by xavier7:

Original Post by pbear999:

 You don't say how much you're eating, or how old you are.  Both of those can impact any suggestions people might have for you.

Clint

 I am 27. I have been eating about 2000 calories a day on workout days which means I should have about 1500 calorie deficit as according to stats I would burn 3500 calories in total a day. When I don't exercise I only eat about 1500 calories. I have had the odd when I have eaten a lot but not often.

I ought to have lost over a stone according to the Maths of it.

Well according to my research, having a deficit larger than 1,000 makes the body go nuts and do some odd things, such as holding on to your weight. Why not try a 1,000 deficit?

Original Post by sfredbull:

i just want to point out that if you do go on prescription diet pills like phentermine or didrex, likely the result will be 800 calories a day as well.. just with more energy.

just if you do make sure you get them from a real doctor, not a quack as i did.  and be careful!
you do want to remain fit after all.  those pills can be risky business.

good luck.

I was on phenteramine for a while (about 3 months). In those three months, I lost 70lbs or so. I was literally never hungry. At all. And I had tons of energy. I am by no means promoting this, I screwed with my body and it was definately the wrong way to do things. I still have some phen left, but I am not taking it. The other day I took one in the morning, because I knew I was going to have a very challenging day food wise. I barely ate 700cal, and I was forcing food down my throat. So, phen isn't for me. I mean, it works great but it was very un healthy. Now I am focusing on doing things the "right" way. Sounds to me like you are doing a great job! Don't worry about pounds lost, if you feel better and ur clothes fit well, then you are on the right track :)

yeah that was my point as raerae said she was eating 700 calories a day.  rx pills will do that!
not as much for the phendemetrazine (sp).  but then phenteramine and didrex which was an actual amphetamine and stronger then the phen.  they do kill the appetite! 

i did them years ago, i don't think they are that safe or healthy.
so if you do do them make sure it is a good doctor rxing them and be careful.

When you say "about 2000", do you mean you're estimating your calories, or that's just an average for you?  It's easy to underestimate your calories if you don't measure your food with a scale/measuring cups/etc.

I'd also recommend going for the 1000 or even 750 calorie deficit per day for a week or so.  See how that works for you.  I wouldn't recommend going down under 1500 per day, and even at that, I wouldn't do it for more than a few days.  And I personally wouldn't go for the fat pills without talking to a doctor first.

What kind of carb/protein/fat ratio are you eating?  And maybe post a day's menu, as well.

Clint

I am sorry you are having such a difficult time, it would seem with all your efforts it should be easier.  I just ran your numbers through the calculator and I get a Basal Metobolic Rate (BMR) for you of 2174 calories per day.  If you are eating below this you may really be slowing your metabolism down.  I would say you are close to Very Active but I used Moderately active and calculated your maintenance calories at 3370.  If you are eating only 2000 calories per day you have a deficit of over 1000 calories per day and you appear to be eating below your BMR, both of these factors could contribute to slowing down any weight loss.  In order to lose one pound per week you could try eating 2900 calories per day.  This is simply your maintenance calories of 3370-500=2870.  This formula worked for me and so far I am down over 30 pounds and working on just getting more strength through weight training.  I hope this helps, and don't give up because you are certainly healthier and more fit from all the exercise you have added to your life.  Good luck!

Edit - Changed to assume male and not female based on the name, age and height.  If I have this wrong please let me know and I will re-do.

I usually loose 1.2-1.5 lbs a week, which I am fine with.

This past week I worked out a little more (gym for moderate weights 3x, and walked 20 miles at the park total).

I ate 100-200 cals more each day and purposely had a maintenence day.

I lost a little over 2 lbs...

I guess my point is, eating more can sometimes help. And a calorie deficit over 1000 will not benefit your metabolism long term.

Good going with the working out though. Even if the scale isn't budging, you are getting great results.

With all that exercise, I believe there are only two possibilities here:  you're not eating enough and your body is starving, or you are considerably underestimating your intake.  "About 2000" could easily be 1500 or 3000 unless you are weighing your food.

One thing for certain though, dropping down to 800 calories will not get you the results you want.

Also, lift weights.