Weight Loss issues

Hi. Thanks for taking the time to read this.

I am a moderately overweight 18 year old male. My height is 5'11, and my weight is 201. I've been struggling with my weight since I was 10 years old. I changed my lifestyle about a year ago -- and lost 30 pounds. It was -really- easy last time. However, when I started the last time, I weighed in at 182, and lost down to 149. Now, I've put on 50 pounds over 8 month's time. I was eating EXTREMELY unhealthy (fast food every day, subs at my place of employment.) I also was taking accutane, which was causing me to eat uncontrollably. Now, I'm back on a healthy diet, and a vigorous exercise routine.

However, after three weeks of watching what I eat, and significant exercise, I haven't seen any weight change/loss. I don't feel any better, either. What am I doing wrong, this time? It worked out for me last time! And, I worked out even less last time.

What is your normal calorie intake? What is your normal caloric burn? If there's more than 1000 calories between them, your body may be in starvation mode... Happens when you eat too few calories. At your age, you should probably be eating around 1800 calories and working off between 2300-2800. If you find that your workout has put you at a 3000-calorie burn for that day, you should be eating 2000 calories that day.

I think we probably need a little more info about you.

How much are you eating and what are you doing for exercise?  What kind of schedule  are you following?  (ie Spreading you food throughout the day, or eating big meals at certain times)

Three weeks really isn't a long time to be in a regime and see no results.  It's likely that your body is just getting used to the new diet or exercise.

Edit:  I don't agree with above that you should be eating 1800 cals.  As an 18 year old male with your stats, you burn 2500 cals a day,  you need 2000 a day to lose weight if you are sedentary.  Adding in excercize, you should probably be eating closer 2500 cals a day.  1800 would probably put you into conservation mode and you wouldn't lose any weight.

My intake average is about 1400-1600.

I don't know what my burn is, but, I work out with my heart rate at 154 for 50 minutes per day, every day.

Do you think that is why I am not losing much weight? Could I be cutting too much out? I think I'm trying to do too much too quickly, because I want to be where I was a year ago, if not smaller.

Most of my exercising is done on an elliptical cross trainer. Sticking to cardio for now. I actually have had a personal trainer in the past, and work out in a gym for people who struggle with weight. They have good advice, but sometimes, I don't know exactly who to listen to.

I eat 1400-1600 cals a day to lose weight.  I am a 5'7" 170lb female.....you probably aren't eating enough.

Don't rush it, make it a healthy lifestyle and you will reach your goal and stay there.

I guess I just find it hard to think about eating more, considering how fat and ugly I feel whenever I look at myself.

It makes me sick to think about eating something that isn't healthy, or isn't a low calorie food. And, when I do, I literally think about it and mentally punish myself all day long.

Original Post by xorph:

My intake average is about 1400-1600.

For teenage males, they say that your caloric intake shouldn't be under 1800. Your body needs that bare minimum of calories just for internal function.

I know how you feel,  it's all or nothing when it comes to calorie counting and you think to yourself "I don't need to eat this, now I'm down 50, 100, 200 calories!"  And you end up being WAY under what you should be, which is just as bad as going way over.  Then I don't count and stuff my face all day long with no regard to calories.  Either way you feel gross and hate yourself for it which is no way to live.

But you need to tell yourself that it's ok to eat the healthy food that your body needs, and then make yourself eat enough.  Eat clean and you will feel great and hopefully stop beating yourself up about it.   When you feel great, have energy, etc, you will want to exercise and be healthy and will therefore want to eat well to support that... it's a good circle to be in.

Best of luck!

Thanks. I used to have a nutritionalist, who suggested foods to me -- but, I went on a plan like this before, and was eating way under what I needed to. What are the adverse effects of overcutting my calorie intake? I've heard that I will start to lose muscle, rather than fat.

Also, I'm glad to have stumbled upon this website. I've always felt REALLY alone in this whole trying to lose weight thing.

Original Post by thermal:

I eat 1400-1600 cals a day to lose weight.  I am a 5'7" 170lb female.....you probably aren't eating enough.

Don't rush it, make it a healthy lifestyle and you will reach your goal and stay there.

 I eat 1400-1600 cals a day to lose weight, and I'm a 5'2 121lb female. :-P So I agree with the other posters--eat more!

I will -try- to eat more, really.

Apples and fruit. Anything fattening immediately makes my face expand, or so it seems.

I honestly think that if you are sticking to a healthy lifestyle then you shouldn't worry about your weight for another few years.

Pounds don't fall off of healthy people fast, it's actually a slow process of your body becoming its natural weight without you putting pressure on it.

Being an 18 year old guy, you are still growing until you are 21. I know all teenagers do, but guys more-so. Still time to grow into your own body, eh? I'm pretty sure every teenager is body conscious at a certain degree, and it's a b****, but we all have to go through it. Good luck with it all though, chuck