I second the ladies that brought up thyroid - if they haven't already done it, ask your doctor to check your thyroid function. An imbalance really messes with your metabolism and ability to lose - that's what I'm going through right now.

I am going to jump on board and comment as well, I feel your frustration, I have been going through the same thing for about a year now, I am not losing any weight or I will get down 7 lbs and then it will come right back. I am very fit and have lots of muscle underneath my fat- I did a study a couple years back for heavy people and they had to take a muscle sample out of my thigh and the doctor was like your muscle is incredible, no fat on the muscle at all. So I was like great I am a fit fat person, wonderful.....

I had my doctor to a thryoid test this past year to see if that was the problem and no problems there and all labs came back great. I am just having a tough time with water retention as well right now. I have tried drinking tons of water and it still isn't helping.

I think I will look up the Wendie effect and see if that will help me. I think I have been trying so long that my body is used to what I am doing and refuses to give up the weight.

I was overweight in High School, lost 25 lbs after I graduated and pretty much kept it off (worked very hard to keep it off) until I got pregnant. Everytime I got pregnant I blew up and gained between 60 and 80 lbs. I lost the weight when my second was 4 years old finally and kept it off until I got pregnant again 5 years later and blew back up. My youngest is 7 and I still have not managed to figure out how to get it off.

I wrote all of that to let you know that you are not alone and that there are lots of us just like who are trying to figure it out and we are here to support each other.

Thank you all for sharing your comments, opinions, and personal stories. I have read and reread them and take your advice very seriously. No offense has been taken for sure!! I'm trying to learn about my body for the first time and it's so frustrating when things go awry! Re bodymedia...today, I have burned 2423 calories so far today (it's 3:30) even if there is 20% error rating (someone here was kind enough to tell me that the median is 15) that is still 1939 that I burned. I was lead to belive that it is more accurate than that (the older ones had issues but the new ones are super). So, regardless....I have a plan of attack....2 weeks at calorie level 1200-1400 (south beach style) and if I don't see some stuff moving off of me...then I will go onto Fat flush again ....give that a month and then if that doesn't work....I will go to the endo with all my papers and see what's up. OH, and yes, I am having my thyroid checked.

Oh, and I also wanted to make note that other sites....body building and exercise sites, have told me to eat more...Way more...in order to lose. So it's strange to see so many different points of view on the same subject from successful people on both ends. And I know you both are around my same height but no where near my weight. I would burn significantly more calories than you even if we did the exact same thing in a day. My bmr is higher then yours to begin with. Again...I don't know who's right...so many different opinions. What I do know is that I DID lose weight before so either it was the diet itself and all it's properties (flax oil, flax seeds, cranberry juice, lemon water, NO dairy etc....) or it was the calorie level, which, as I was looking at was 1300-1400 in phase 1 and 1500-1600 in phase 2. So...that's my reasoning for trying calorie decrease first.

Okay, so weigh in today...wanted to update you all....Last week had an average calories of 1310. I have my period (sorry TMI). And still down 3 lbs. So, down 9 since March 3...not great but working on increasing the weekly totals now. Those are eaten calories. I don't eat back exercise calories. And the experiment continues.

OK, 9 lbs. in about two months. That's a pound a week. A pound a week equals 50 lbs. in a year. You can do this. You are doing great and I hope you know it.

Thanks so much! I'm getting there!

Good for you for hanging in there during the tough times. An average of a pound a week is better than a lot of us are doing. Congrats and hope your weight continues to drop.

Thanks Tall and thin! I'm not going anywhere. I have to learn about my body and it's going to take some time. Once I do, I expect the weight loss to be a bit more consistent. But, in the mean time...I'm setting goals that aren't weight related...fitness goals...and I feel good making those and keeping my committments! I started this journey with earnest on March 3rd and haven't missed a day that I said I was going to work out! So, that's something. And my body media sure shows me when I need to add more steps or calorie burn to my days!!!!

I agree that this thyroid thing is unreal. I've been able to lose all my adult life,by being active,and eating less. I've always loved veggies,so it was that along w/chicken for a long time..and I stayed within a 3Lb.weight gain for yrs. Now,I can lose a lb. per wk. IF I stay on track,and go to the gym,AND walk the dog..BUT,if I decide to have a turkey sandwich,I'll gain 2lb.s overnight.I havn't given up,totally,but it's harder than ever. I told my Dr. I don't want my life to be ALL ABOUT LOSING WEIGHT! So I'm changing my attitude abit,along with a certain degree of acceptance. Eat right,eat less..and Move,move,move..and let the rest go...Aim for healthy.
p.s.I do feel that comments to oneself that you 'cheat' arn't healthy either..Eating something not SB,is just that...to me saying I cheated sends a negative message.I don't think we need to beat up on ourselves over any kind of food,if it's within reason,and we do know what 'reasonable' is... keep on, you Know what's healthy,and what's not. (Ok,done w/my 2c's.)

Update...down 13 lbs total since March 3. Slow but steady. Lost 2.4 lbs this week and calories were averaged 1480. Still doing couch to 5k (did w6d2 yesterday) and new rules of lifting for women. Feeling good.

Well, you better change your ticker!! Congrats.

LOL!! Just did! Hee hee hee!

Great job! Congrats!!

Yay!