I have spent 4 months being completely confused. Can someone help?

I hate to be another one of those "help me" posts, but i am truly confused.

Basically for the past 4 months or so I have been having a lot of trouble losing weight.  (Ive actually been having trouble for the past year and a half, but ive spent the last 4 months trying to use this site and apply its techniques).   Although I havent been perfect with my diet and exericse, I know that I have done the right thing at least 75% of the time.   I have had pretty steady deficits (I usually eat between 1500-1900 a day and my burn meter on the sedentary level is 2100).  I also exercise for 20-30 minutes on the elliptical at least 3 times a week.  I have been doing this for 4 months and have had moments of losing weight and gaining weight.   I have basically been oscillating between 216.6 and 223.   For almost a year now, I have been eating very few processed foods.     I understand that weight loss is supposed to be slow and I have made an entire lifestyle change.   I just dont understand why Im not actually losing anything.  

I got my thyroid checked last November and the endocrinologist said everything was fine.  Also, I was diagnosed as insulin resistant and put on medication for it.  I have done a lot of research on insulin resistance and have tried eating lower carb, which also tends to produce the same oscillating effect on my weight.  Nothing permanent.

 I am 20 years old, 5'4, 221 lbs.   I am big enough to at least be losing something permanently, doing what im doing.   I seem to be some kind of master of maintaining my weight.  I havent gained real weight in a year and a half, but I cant seem to actually lose.   I will never give up on my goal, but I am just so dumbfounded.

also, I am going to post my weight log in my gallery on my profile so you can see how wacky it looks. 

thanks again for the responses.

i am going to start using the scale today (i just woke up like 2 hours ago, lol).  also, last week i started to an interval program on the elliptical which changes the intensity every minute.  ktjo- i have been taking metformin for 6 months now and its been regulating my periods, but im not sure if its affecting my weight loss or not.   I started taking birth control pills when i was 15 for the period problem and then stopped when they perscribed me metformin.

yesterday i weighed 221 lbs when i woke up.  this morning i weighed 218 and i ate 2000 calories yesterday.   my body is so sporadic.  :)

You mentioned 1500 - 1900 a day, how many days are closer to 1900 then 1500? If you want to loose weight steadily you need to be eating closer to 15-1600 every day.  A scale is definitely going to help you (it is very hard to estimate food sizes without a scale) you are probably eating closer to 1900/2000 a day without even realizing it and that's why your weight is pretty much maintaining.  I weigh everything I eat at home, especially at dinner.  When I eat at work ( we are served breakfast here ) I am a little looser i.e. I will pick 1 medium bagel, 1 small banana - some things like the muffins I won't go near because they are a calorie mystery box.

Weight flucuates all the time some mornings I weigh 3 lbs more some mornings 3lbs less I think it's the same for everybody there are so many factors to this weight retention, T.O.M. etc if your scale jumps 3lbs one day take it with a grain of salt you didn't gain 3lbs of fat while you slept that's why the trend line on the weight chart is so helpfull it smooths everything out.

Original Post by jessicasbc:

I hate to be another one of those "help me" posts, but i am truly confused.

Basically for the past 4 months or so I have been having a lot of trouble losing weight.  (Ive actually been having trouble for the past year and a half, but ive spent the last 4 months trying to use this site and apply its techniques).   Although I havent been perfect with my diet and exericse, I know that I have done the right thing at least 75% of the time.   I have had pretty steady deficits (I usually eat between 1500-1900 a day and my burn meter on the sedentary level is 2100).  I also exercise for 20-30 minutes on the elliptical at least 3 times a week.  I have been doing this for 4 months and have had moments of losing weight and gaining weight.   I have basically been oscillating between 216.6 and 223.   For almost a year now, I have been eating very few processed foods.     I understand that weight loss is supposed to be slow and I have made an entire lifestyle change.   I just dont understand why Im not actually losing anything.  

I got my thyroid checked last November and the endocrinologist said everything was fine.  Also, I was diagnosed as insulin resistant and put on medication for it.  I have done a lot of research on insulin resistance and have tried eating lower carb, which also tends to produce the same oscillating effect on my weight.  Nothing permanent.

 I am 20 years old, 5'4, 221 lbs.   I am big enough to at least be losing something permanently, doing what im doing.   I seem to be some kind of master of maintaining my weight.  I havent gained real weight in a year and a half, but I cant seem to actually lose.   I will never give up on my goal, but I am just so dumbfounded.

also, I am going to post my weight log in my gallery on my profile so you can see how wacky it looks. 

You need to be doing at least 30 min of high intensity cardio every day.  Even the gov't standards reccomend that amount just for maintaining your health.  For LOSING, you should probably do twice that, but I think an hour a day, 5 days a week would help you out a lot!  20 min a day, 3 times a week is really not much (athough I know it FEELS like it is!! ), so you need to work yourself up to longer sessions.

 

And I agree with the above poster - 1900 cal a day is too much.  Add in the fact that most people underestimate what they eat by 30% to 60% (I just read a study on that)...that makes a huge difference.  Get a scale, start learning portion sizes and calories for what you normally eat.  I know it sounds like a lot of work, but after a while, it will be second nature to you!  Good luck!

 

Have you researched Poly Cystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS)?  Not to get too personal, but have you had fluctuating/missing menstrual cycles, lots of acne, maybe even strange hair growth?

As another response stated, PCOS can ruin your attempts to lose weight before you even start due to increased estrogen production.  The increased estrogen can also cause insulin resistance.  You may want to discuss this possibility with your gynecologist, along with some birth control options that sometimes help.

PCOS diagnosis can take a long time - I had symptoms from high school, but was only diagnosed when I was 25.  Plus, it can be a vicious cycle - the estrogen causes weight gain, the weight gain triggers estrogen and insulin resistance, causing more weight gain...

Personally, I have to jog/interval train for an hour every day and weight train 3x a week for a minimum of half-hour along with 10 - 20 minutes of cardio in order to start losing weight. All to some pumping fast music. When I do maintenance, I exercise 3-4 days a week for 30 minutes.  This summer, I'm throwing in some swimming in the mix.

Hang in there: even if there is no medical background to this lack of loss, sometimes an extreme change (big burst of exercise, drastic drop in food for a week, but not below 1300 calories) may help.  Also try upping you fat/protein intake - a chart I had from a nutritionist during my gestational diabetes suggested 25% protein, 30% fat, 45% wholegrain carbs, which really helped to level out my blood sugar.

In the end, you are the only one who can stumble on what will work for your body to shed any excess. Stay steady, you can do it, even if it takes a bit of personal experimentation.

 

And after looking back, I realize you've already mention the PCOS possibility.  Sorry!

...The metformin causes weight loss during the first six months, according to my doctors.

Original Post by jessicasbc:

I hate to be another one of those "help me" posts, but i am truly confused.

Basically for the past 4 months or so I have been having a lot of trouble losing weight.  (Ive actually been having trouble for the past year and a half, but ive spent the last 4 months trying to use this site and apply its techniques).   Although I havent been perfect with my diet and exericse, I know that I have done the right thing at least 75% of the time.   I have had pretty steady deficits (I usually eat between 1500-1900 a day and my burn meter on the sedentary level is 2100).  I also exercise for 20-30 minutes on the elliptical at least 3 times a week.  I have been doing this for 4 months and have had moments of losing weight and gaining weight.   I have basically been oscillating between 216.6 and 223.   For almost a year now, I have been eating very few processed foods.     I understand that weight loss is supposed to be slow and I have made an entire lifestyle change.   I just dont understand why Im not actually losing anything.  

I got my thyroid checked last November and the endocrinologist said everything was fine.  Also, I was diagnosed as insulin resistant and put on medication for it.  I have done a lot of research on insulin resistance and have tried eating lower carb, which also tends to produce the same oscillating effect on my weight.  Nothing permanent.

 I am 20 years old, 5'4, 221 lbs.   I am big enough to at least be losing something permanently, doing what im doing.   I seem to be some kind of master of maintaining my weight.  I havent gained real weight in a year and a half, but I cant seem to actually lose.   I will never give up on my goal, but I am just so dumbfounded.

also, I am going to post my weight log in my gallery on my profile so you can see how wacky it looks. 

Depending on where you live you may benifit from going to a doctor who specializes in weight problems and also sit down with a nutritionist. You need to make sure there are no endocrin problems impeding your success Many doctors, God love them, are really not well versed in nutrition or weight problems.

 

Here's another frustrating update.   Its been about 2 weeks since I last posted on this thread and I weigh the same.  220.6 lbs.  My measurements are the same as well.

 First of all, I havent been using the food scale.  I know that everyone is going to jump down my throat for estimating, but there is no way that Im miscalculating to the point of gaining weight/staying the same.  There is just no way. 

 My maintence at sendentary is 2100.   Ive been doing this for 4 months and have gained bout 2.5 lbs.   Im not exercising everyday, but I have a deficit.  

Ive been wondering if Ive been eating too much fruit possibly. I usually eat 1/2 a pint of blueberries and approx. 15 cherries everyday.   I havent been eating any grains except crackers and I have absolutely without a doubt been eating under my maintenance calories. Im insulin resistant and Im wondering if even though Im eating very healthy, the sugar in fruit is messing up my metabolism. 

My daily meals are usually the same because Im a very boring eater, so this is basically what i eat everyday:

1/2 pint of blueberries (115 calories)

15-20 cherries (80 calories)

4 tbsp of natural peanut butter (420 calories) 

a no sugar added yogurt (80 calories)

can of lentil or minestrone soup ( 200-300 calories depending on the brand)

1/2 bag brocolli and cheese from the freezer (130 calories)

1/2 chicken breast (160 calories)

1 serving of triscuit crackers (120 calories)

salsa to go with the crackers (probably around 50-80 calories)

that all comes out to 1485 calories.  I dont count the ketchup I put on my chicken and maybe a few small additions  here and there, but other than that, this is pretty much what I eat everyday.  Even if my estimations are off a little, its still nowhere close to the 2100 mark.   Ive been eating like this for months and i either maintain or gain a lb.  

You guys probably dont have any answers for me, since you've given me a bunch already, but Im just so frustrated.   I used to eat bad foods and maintain my weight for long periods of time and now Im eating healthier than ever and I'm having the same results.   I will continue to eat healthy but, Im just so over everything.

Jessica, I have been there and know what it is like. I was stumped for about 3 months when I just bit the bullet and ordered the GoWear Fit. I paid 180 plus tax, and s&h plus it is 6.95 a month to use the website. And I have to tell you it has been worth every penny! Entering your consumed calories is a little more cumbersome than on CC but you get used to it. The armband tracks everything - even your sleep! It also makes me challenge myself more just to see what the charts will look like! It also commits me a little more because people see me wearing it so they are expecting results and I can't let them down!?!

I know it is a chunk of money and I felt foolish to begin with but I have lost 5 pounds in the 1 1/2 weeks I have been using it and I had been on a 3 month plateau! It really let me see where I was going wrong.

Good luck!

Screw the numbers. I, for one, don't believe that anyone can tell you how many calories is maintenance for YOUR body.  If you are eating 1485, and staying the same, then you need to make a change.  Double your exercise, and cut some of those calories.  That peanut butter is a good place to start - halve it.

Jessica, I'm sorry you're so frustrated..I would be too!!

the only thing I suggest is to exercise more. I agree with the person who said to exercise 1 hour 5 days a week. A lot of people think exercise is not that important, but I know for me, how much exercise is the main factor in how much weight I lose.

Good luck, and don't give up!!

thank you all for replying.  there is a big part of me that wants to say screw the numbers, but then again, everything on this site and everything ive heard about sensible weight loss is all about the numbers.  it frustrates me to no end. 

Original Post by jessicasbc:

thank you all for replying.  there is a big part of me that wants to say screw the numbers, but then again, everything on this site and everything ive heard about sensible weight loss is all about the numbers.  it frustrates me to no end. 

 I had to throw out "the numbers" long ago, and do what was working for me.  After a point, you have to learn what works for you and stick with that.

Trust me ,fitmom4life, ive had many many moments of rebellion against the numbers.  Im not against "going rogue" and doing something different.  It just boggles my mind that so many other people have success at doing this, and most of the time these people are smaller than me and eating either the same or more than me.  Ive had so many people tell me "calories in < calories out =weight loss.  Its so simple."   I dont understand why I'm an anomaly and nobody else does either.  The only thing that stands out is my insulin resistance, which Ive also asked about and have been told that calories are ultimately what matter.    I also hate being told that I need to measure every bit of food and that Im not exercising enough.   Both of those things would help the situation, but it doesnt mean Im anywhere near a surplus.   If there is any kind of deficit, even a small one produced by diet alone, there wouldnt be weight gain over the past four months.   It makes me feel like I must be a complete idiot to constantly be trying and yet always fail or get even worse.

Original Post by jessicasbc:

 I also hate being told that I need to measure every bit of food and that Im not exercising enough.   Both of those things would help the situation, but it doesnt mean Im anywhere near a surplus. 

When I suggested in an earlier post to exercise more, I wasn't trying to belittle you. I was trying to offer a suggestion that actually helped me. I exercise at least an hour a day, and that's what kick-started my weight loss. One thing I would suggest is getting your RMR professionally tested. Perhaps your body just has a slower metabolism. My friend got her RMR professionally tested and hers was 1100 (which is less than what CC tools were telling her). So for her to lose weight, she has to eat less than most people. 1900 calories a day might be too much for you. Try sticking religiously to 1500 calories a day, while incorporating at least 30 minutes of daily exercise (an hour would be better, though).