Stuck...Frustrated...Need some SOLID advice right now...No "feel good" lines???

Today I  am frustrated again...I started at 192 last year...I'm at 173 today...ok...glad for the 20+ lbs lost, but I started this journey again on January 19th at 174 lbs...my lowest has been 170.1 on January 30th...now I'm at 173, basically back where I started!!!  I've been working out 6 days a week faithfully...counting my cals...cals have been ranging from 1400- 1900 depending on how much I workout that day...deficits, (aside from 2 days), have been 800+...what's going on??? I'm tempted to go back to the Biggest Loser formula and just consume 1200-1400 STRICTLY and still do the same workouts...when I did this last year, I was losing 4-5 lbs per week...I was honest with all the questions listed on CC for my Burn Analysis, etc... and now I'm starting to think that the numbers on my burn meter cannot be accurate???  Any advice...I've been trying to be patient, but this is working my nerves so much, looking at that scale day to day...I weighed myself EVERYDAY on the Biggest Loser plan last year and I continuously saw improvement each day and when I didn't see a difference, I KNEW why, (eating/workout)...I'm committed, but this is dampening my spirits day by day...one thing I am doing different is the Taebo workouts...I didn't do those last year...I stuck with the treadmill...running or walking...I ran/walked until I burned 500 cals and ate 1200-1400...I did that for 2 months with consistent loss...THEN after two months I started adding the Biggest Loser Circuit workouts for a little tone/definition...any advice????

Clarification...my LOWEST was 158 lbs last year at the end of August...my lowest for this year since I started again has been 170lbs...just in case that makes a difference

Up the cal intake to maintenance for a week, then drop the calories again.  It'll be like you just started your diet all over again, and the pounds'll drop again.  You're probably not taking in enough calories, yadda yadda, and when are you exercising?  Best to exercise in the morning, before you go to work.  Boosts metabolism for the whole day.

Good luck, don't feel down, you're doing great.

Do I still workout while I up the cals to Maint this week? My maintenance cals is at 1900...also, I workout in the evening primarily...right after work...5:30/6pm - 8PM...when I can I get 30 minutes in the morning before work...on Saturday/Sunday workouts fall around 11 am - 1pm...when I drop the cals should I go back to the 1200-1400 like last year???  What do you think?

I know a couple of pounds can be really frustrating, but most likely it's just water retention. Think about where you are in your cycle - I know I fluctuate a couple pounds up at a few key points in my cycle.

For sure keep working out, and I would agree to eat more - you probably don't ever want to go under 1600 calories... maybe even 1800 if you're working out hard 6 days a week. Try cutting the amount of calories from fat and adding in more protien - try to eat protien with every meal.

Also, try for a slow steady weight loss of no more than 2 lbs per week - it's easier to stick to and you're more likely to be able to keep it off.

A couple of quick questions:

• Are you logging everything that goes in your mouth?  (including things like ketchup and mustard, milk and sugar in your tea/coffee, drinks, etc.)
• How are you measuring portions?  By weight?  By volume?  Or by looking at the portion and estimating?

Two of the easiest mistakes we can make when dieting are forgetting to log some of the "extras" (which can add up!) or underestimating the size of our portions.  If you're sure neither of those is the case, it could be that your metabolism has slowed down due to the Biggest Loser plan you attempted.  I started off at your current weight, and I know I wasn't supposed to eat less than 1500 calories/day or I'd slow down my metabolism.  A third possibility is that your deficit is either too big for your body to handle (it might work better at 500-700 calorie deficit) or not as big as you think (cardio machines lie about how many calories they burn; have you tried using a heartrate monitor?)

That's all I can think of for now.  Hopefully, something jumped out as seeming like a possible problem.

I was kind of having the same problem. I started off at 167 lbs. Went down with consistant exercise and better eating habits to 138 lbs. Then I went up to 145 this past month. I seemed to hit a plataeu. I was very frustrated, because I worked so hard to come that far and because I know the danger of letting your weight creep up on you. After all, gaining a bunch of weight doesn't come overnight. What I decided to do was to shake things up a bit in my routine.

I have started doing interval training. I'll get on the treadmill, will warm up with a brisk walk for a couple of minutes, then put the speed up to 9 mph for 30 seconds, and then decrease it to a brisk walk for a minute and a half, and then repeat the process about 7 times or so. After that, I'll get on the elliptical and do about 20 minutes. Then I'll do some weight training. In the past two weeks I've lost 3 pounds from this method. Even before I gained a few pounds back I had stopped losing. I think my metabolism had slowed and my body had gotten used to the exercise. I needed to change my routine. My suggestion would definitely be to throw in some interval training, eat some more to shock your metabolism a bit (I believe the first poster mentioned getting on a maintanance diet for a week before trying to lose anything). Also, do not let this stress you out. The more anxious you are about it, the harder it is to lose. At least for me. Too much stress and anxiety keeps weight on me, making it harder to shed. I'm not sure what all your new workout or past workout routines included, but I have to say I'm very pleased with the interval training so far. And please, don't get discouraged. Just keep on going. Never give up. Every journey has trying moments, so just find the best solution for you at this cornerstone and keep on going, and I know you'll do great!

Thanks for the advice...suzie...yes, I'm counting all calories...I learned to do that with the BL plan ....sugar, butter, sauces, everything...I know how those can sneak up on people in BIG numbers..."tatertotaggie"...I will try to mix up the workout routine...the thing is...being that I'm not even a month in to re-starting my plan, I thought it would be way too early to do that???  maybe it's the fact that my 5'1" frame was so ready to release that first 20 lbs a year ago and maybe that's why it came off so easy...last year when I hit about 168...I hit the plateau...added calisthenics to the workout...added the "sprints" you were talking about and then glided my way down to 158...the lowest I ever hit...my ultimate GOAL is 130 b/c I'm "bigger-boned" and have never wanted to appear skinny/thin...but toned & curvy...I'm just at a loss...if I can get a good movement on the scale I'll be fine mentally...I looked at my journal from last year and the first week I was on a 1300 cal allotment per day with 30 minutes of treadmill each day...I lost 5lbs that first week...I think I have two choices...up the cals with the workouts I'm doing now...(which is Billy Blanks Ultimate Bootcamp or Basic Training Bootcamp & Treadmill w/ incline of 3.5 at 3.5-4.0 for 60 minutes - not including warm up or cooldown...), with those two workouts I'm burning an estimate of 900-1200 per day....eating about 1600-1800 per day...so if I keep that routine, maybe cals should be at 2000? That sounds TOO scary to me...OR, I should do just the treadmill and take the eating cals to 1400??? I'm sorry if I have given too much/too little information or if I'm asking too many questions...but you all are the only support I have and the only people I can get advice from...I don't want to quit...I got 43 lbs to lose and I know I can do it...why does it have to be so hard at times.

i dunno girl: I don't think this is a one size fit all deal. So people give advice here that's great but just because it works for one person doesn't mean its going to work for you. Just like I don't think the BMR numbers on here are a one size fits all for everyone-----If you were consistently dropping 4-5 pounds eating 1200 to 1400 calories then why not get closer to that number maybe by eating 1400 to 1600 calories?? If that's what was working for you then you need to get back to that...I guess the question to ask is were you satisfied eating 1200 to 1400 calories? were you happy with the exercise? what was your energy level like?

How tall are you? Do you want to lose too much weight? Last week I took a four day break from working out. I stuck to 1800 calories a day, though. When I resumed my 45 mins/day on my elliptical it's like my program got a re-boot, and I lost 5 lbs in just over a week.

Of course, I'm a guy so I tend to lose quicker than women. I know that sucks, but what are you going to do, eh?

Anyway...do you have an elliptical? If not, consider one. I found a fantastic one here in Ottawa, used, for $300.00. Best investment I have made in a long time. I set it up in front of the TV and go nuts. I use the interval mode to keep my body guessing.

Good luck! 

I'm 5'1"...my bone structure is larger size...esp for the BMI charts...I'm considered "severely overweight", but look nothing like it...not being vain, but I know...anyhow, what I'm planning this week is taking the workouts down to 30 minutes in the morning on the treamill 3.5 speed at 3.5 incline, then 30 minutes after work...that's it...no Taebo or any extras...with the calories, I'm sticking to 1200 this week...Monday thru next Sunday...(realistically with the exception of Valentine's Day)....I'll see how that works on the scale next Monday for me...it might be enough Jump-Start...I think it's with the calories not with the workouts...but we'll see...thanks for the advice

Hi, do you weigh your food or do you measure/estimate?

Maintain everything but spead your calorie intake through out the entire day.  3 meals allows your matabolism to drop but six small meals maintains a high matabolism. Also, mesure your waist. muscule weighs 3 times as much as fat so with the strong workout rutine, the extra pounds may only be a gain of muscule.

I would be willing to bet that it's nothing but water weight. If you say you've been faithfully working out and counting your calories there should be no reason for you to have gained 3 pounds. How often are you weighing yourself and at what time of day? Regardless of the answers to this, I would recommend weighing yourself in the morning after using the restroom if possible, and maybe set one specific day a week to weigh in. That will give you some sort of consistency in your weigh-ins. Also, if you've been working out 6 days a week 2 times a day I would not hesitate to say that those 3 pounds might very well be muscle. Frustrating I know! But muscle should always be welcomed over fat :) Hang in there! If it's really getting to you try zig-zagging your calories and see if that helps at all.

Good luck!

Finally broke the 70's today ;)!!!!  I know what it felt like last year to break the 70s and the 60s, but I also know what it felt like to gain some back...so this is like the FIRST time...and I'm making a committment the "last" time...the re-boot is working out I guess with the 1200-1300 cals per day and only working out to burn 500 cals on the treadmill...I'll stick with it until I plateau and then we'll go to step B...I am very hungry this morning and I'm going to eat, but I have the personality to like dinner over the other meals in the day, so I hope I can stretch these cals out today...if there's one thing I can say, being on a lower cal allotment FORCES you to make good choices or you won't eat! You'll starve...someone asked me did I feel fulfilled with 1200 cals on the forum...yeah very fulfilled when I eat the RIGHT stuff...there's no "cheat" days with cal allotments like that and I think that's what makes it so hard for us...even on Valentine's Day, I've set my limit at 1500...I can do it, we all can, we just have to find time in our busy lives to PLAN for it...I think I'll end up doing Applebee's for dinner on Saturday so I can be lazy and choose one of the Weight Watchers dinners they have and dessert..then I know exactly what's going in my mouth...I don't like to go to a restaraunt and literally CHANGE the whole entree...what's the point??? Plus, the chef's could absolutely choke people like that :)  I work with a chef and he said if you're on that strict of of a plan...don't go out. Period. lol!  Good luck to everyone...I feel good, but I'm still keeping my guards up at this time for a few more weeks...I'll take this 169 this morning...but with caution! Talk to you all later...doing 1/2 the workout in the AM is helping my metabolism too I think.

Hello,

I am new to this group however I have been trying to loose weight forever!  I just recently started back because I am at my largest weight ever...179lbs.  I am only 5'1 so I am trying to get on track.  Out of all of the forums this is the one that I felt comfortable with reading.  Since Feb 1 I have been on this weight lost journey.  I am on a strict 1000 calorie diet (I know that is very low) but I am desperate!  I am working out 3 days a week for 45 minutes. I could really use the friendship and motivation!  I wanted to ask you what does the Biggest Loser diet consist of?  Do you have any suggestions for me?  I live in Michigan, is there anyone on her from there? 

AsaMoss

Hello asamoss18,

I'm from Michigan...Southwest Michigan....last year when I started the first time in February, I weighed 192....anyway, I bought 2 books that were great...I followed the advice and I was down to 158 by the end of August last year...I took a "break", stopped working out from Sept. thru December and gained 12 lbs back...so I started again last month...anyway...I bought the Biggest Loser calorie book...I NEVER wanted to count calories...never...but when I forced myself to and got used to it, it's great...we HAVE to know what goes IN our mouths...if you're gonna lose weight! So you don't have to get the Biggest Loser calorie book, use the tools on here AND find you a calorie book you can use when you can't get to the computer...I also bought the Biggest Loser Plan book at Walmart...it was like $12...it has their plan, testimonials and recipes in it...I stuck with the basics of the plan which was YOUR WEIGHT x 7 = Calories needed to lose weight...I followed the exercise plan in the book exactly and the first 20-25 lbs came off within 2 1/2 months...then I hit a plateau and I started to add calisthenics/toning exercises to my routine and I started doing 1-2minute sprints on the treadmill...I also had to up my calories a little when I changed the exercise routine and then I lost about 15 more...I fully believe if I had stayed diligent from September-December last year, I would have hit my goal weight of 130, but I didn't...life happens, we get lazy...and here I am starting again...I'm not mad though, b/c with the Biggest Loser plan and now the support of this website, I'll get to 130 this year...day by day...meal by meal...I do think  1000 cals is not enough...at least 200 more...don't work AGAINST yourself with not eating enough cals...you'll get frustrated and binge ALOT...one plan does not fit everyone, but try it out...it's alot CHEAPER than all the other fads/pills/plans out there and remember if you don't MOVE you don't LOSE...no matter what your eating habits are! My journal is public if you ever want to take a peak at my ups and downs on a daily basis...good luck!

Good Morning,

You know the killer part about weight is that I have always been 135-145lbs.  Ever since I got married in June 08, I have just put on non-stop weight!  It does not help that my husband is 300lbs but he is muscular!  Sometimes I get so depressed because I hate the way I look.  He (husband) tries to make me feel better but nothing works!  I am really trying this time because I just want to feel better about myself.  I am wearing huge clothes and cannot fit anything in my closet.  I refuse to buy anything new in this extra size.  I know I need to increase my calorie intake and I try to by 200 but I feel guilty when I do.  I just need the motivation and support to do so.  Oh, by the way I live in Detroit but I am from North Carolina.  I forgot to mention, I also have to have my wine daily and I have been off of it since Feb 1!  I think that is the hardest part of this darn diet!!!!!!!(smile)  Do you think I need to increase my workout?  I am going to try and order that book online from Amazon

Hi! Detroit huh? My dad and sister are up that way...Pittsfield Township right outside of Ypsilanti, but both work in Livonia...anyhoo', in my opinion I don't think you should increase your workouts if you're not going to increase that calorie intake to 1200...make a decision for yourself...I'm not saying this will work for you, but try...if you increase your cals to 1200 per day, I would work out to burn 500 cals each day..do you have a treadmill??? Or any other workout machine??? Or if you don't they have these Heart Rate Monitors, (I don't have one) that will give you estimates on how many cals you are burning during a workout, Calorie Count has the same thing also...SPREAD your calories out during the day...don't eat 200 in the morning then 1000 at 7pm in the evening...that stalls your metabolism too...I got lazy with this, but try to do 1/2 your workout in the morning and 1/2 in the evening...helps your metabolism as well...those are some tips..since we are in the same "range" and trying to lose about the same amount of weight, these tips might work...oh yeah, before I forget..WATER, WATER, WATER...you're short like me and it will feel as though your stomach is gonna burst somtimes, or you'll feel VERY fat drinking lots of WATER, but it works..it works..it works...don't worry about it...and NEVER get on the scale after drinking a lot of it...wait till the next day or something...I gotta get back to work, but I look forward to talking to you during this journey we're on...take care!

Hey, I actually live in Grosse Pointe right outside of Detroit but anywho, I have a gazelle and my husband just brought me a treadmill that I will be picking up today as a matter of fact!  I actually started doing at least 45min-1hr on the gazelle.  I am going to incorporate the treadmill in my work out.  I am in grad school so I am always tired but since I now have this work out equipment at home I can watch TV while doing it.  I am not a morning person so, that working out in the morning is close to impossible!!! I try to work out on Mon, Wed, Fri, Sat and rest on Sundays.  As for water, I drink at least 64oz so hopefully the weight will start falling off soon.  Well, I will talk to you later...You know what I did also, I took pictures of myself at this size in my under clothes from a front, side, and back view.  I want to see my progress every month to see if there is any difference.  So on March 1 I will take the same pictures, just as a motivational effort...whatever will work!!!  Lastly, how long do you do the treadmill?  Sometimes it can get really boring!