My Rant- for what it is worth

Ugghhh!!!!  I have been conscious about my work-out/ diet for approximately three years now.  Did a "hard" cardio-core bootcamp for 2.5 years, (three days a week)  with good intial results- lost tons of inches and with calorie counting 30 pounds.   Great ....yeah me.....now, working out with a personal trainer 1 hour three times a week, swimming two days a week (1 hour) and also now video workout on Saturday.   Keeping my calories approximately 1500-1800 (I am 54 and weigh a little over 200).......I am still stuck no wait...... I have gained a couple of pounds!   Right now working on tightening up my diet ... more protein, less carbs,  but honestly,   some people would have accomplished their goal by now,  I am still 40 pounds (at least) of my goal.

I am going to keep at it .... but positive results would be nice!

I hear your rant!  Here for what it is worth is something you may not have been aware of before.  All sorts of diets, and work-outs can help in the short term, but as many of us obese people (me) can tell you, we always seem to gain it back and then some.  I finally found a doctor who explained it.  Bariatric medicine is just now learning that losing weight is not just "eat less, exercise more".  That cornerstone of what we have all been told is actually in some ways not so good for many people.  Frankly what we have not been told by the medical community is even under doctor supervised diets, less than 2% of people are successful.  Yes that is not a typo, less than 2%.  Now successful is defined as reaching a medical weight loss goal and keeping it off for 2 - 3 years. 

So what they have been looking at is how and why some people can eat food and not gain weight while others do.  It is metabolism.  Again at some level all doctors knew that, and thought there was not much we could do about it. 

Wrong. 

You should eat more often, even eat more calories (this on the advice of a doctor please, not my advice).  I know a guy who was 400+++ lbs before seeing this clinic, and only eating 500 cal a day.  He was still putting on weight.  His body was in "suvival" mode, storing food because of the famine.  The doctor put him on a 2000 cal diet, and the guy was saying "like are you trying to kill me? I am putting weight on at 500, I will balloon at 2000".   But they changed his diet to a lot more protein, and fiber, a lot less fat and carbs.  They changed his eating pattern to 8 times a day as well.  In two weeks he had lost 10 lbs.  He has continued to lose weight.

They have a machine that measures the metabolic rate of the person, and the tests have shown that eating 8 times a day, small portions, and lots of protein (even with no exercise, or little exercise) weight loss is much more consistent.

So stick to your caloric intake, but plan your intake to be many smaller portions over the period of the entire day.  Eat much more protein, and a lot less carbs and fat.  You might be amazed at what happens. 

I agree with grumpyoldman.  I am 44, and 160ish pounds.  I have been losing (albeit slowly) at 1700-2000 calories.  I work out hard -- lifting heavy weight, some cardio, and I try to keep myself busy with other things that keep me moving (playing on my wii, coaching kids bowling, etc.)

Small meals, several times a day with plenty of protein and fiber.  I've heard that protein shoud e 1 gram per pound, I've also heard 1 gram per pound on "lean body weight".  I get closer to the second saying, with about 100 grams per day and you should try to get at least 30 grams of fiber  -- for some this is easy, it's hard for me but I try to get 25ish grams per day. 

Hopefully some of these things can help you get the scale moving in the right direction again.  If not -- even if the scale is not where you want, I'm sure you are a much stronger, fitter person than when you started this journey.  And that's a good thing!

Thanks for the encouragement, both of you.  I am aiming for just that.... more protein/  fiber/less carbs/  You guys make me appreciate this web site all the more.

Try what others have said, I agree.  Here are some other thoughts:  Try a ratio of 40 carbs - 40 protein - 20 fat, or 40 carbs - 30 protein - 30 fat.  Try eating at a 20 to 30% deficit of your "burn meter" a day for three days, and then eat at your "burn rate" for a day (if you are cutting calories the other three days by 20%) or 10% deficit for a day (if you are cutting calories the other three days by 30%). Lets say your burn meter is set at 2000 calories (I'm sure it's much higher, but for ease of numbers...)

Days 1-3 at a 20% deficit followed by Day 4 with no deficit:

1-3 = 1600 calories; 4 = 2000 calories

Days 1-3 at a 30% deficit followed by Day 4 with 10% deficit:

1-3 = 1400 calories; 4 = 1800 calories

OBVIOUSLY given your stats and activity level I am NOT recommending these numbers, just the percentages :o)  This could boost your metabolism and with your 4th day, trick your body and prevent it from getting used to the lower count.  Yes it sounds strict but give it a try and see what happens (also incorporating eating MORE in general for your activity level AND switching up the ratio of carbs-protein-fat).

There does come a time where it's a good idea to consult a professional. Looks like you are already doing that with the trainer - maybe consider a nutritionist as well!  You may not be eating the best foods that could help you reach your goal; you may not be eating enough, or you may personaly need to eat less (under their supervision).

Hang in there!

Thanks Dovelette,  I am open to suggestions.

What grumpy is describing is "starvation mode".  The body goes into starvation mode when you are eating too few calories and hangs on to every ounce of fat it can.  The key is to eat the right number of calories to support the workouts and weight loss.  It can be tough to find that number!

Good luck!  You got this :-)