Hi everyone. I'm 22, 5'7" tall and about 50lbs overweight.

I've been trying, seriously, to lose the weight for about a year. Joined a great gym and I go about 3-5 times a week for at least an hour each time. (although some weeks I only make it out once or twice) I eat between 1000-1500 calories a day, low fat, whole foods. However, I haven't lost anything.

I was on Trivora, since November 2009, until last week. I've heard many stories about weight gain from being on the pill. I'm thinking that I haven't lost weight because I've just been working off the weight gain from the pill. Anyone have experience with that or any ideas?

I find it very hard not to snack because my husband has a high metabolism and needs to eat often. Also, I live in Arizona and in the summer it's too hot to do anything but eat. At least that's what it feels like sometimes.

I need to get in shape so my youth isn't taken from me and I can enjoy being healthy. It feels so hopeless sometimes, because the weight just doesn't go away. Then I get depressed and I want to snack.

I'm in serious need of encouragement and suggestions from people that have lost weight/are losing weight. Thanks for reading.

Hi and welcome to 3FC.

Good luck with your goals.

Hugs
Michelle

Hello lionspaw -- I am new too.

You say that you are eating between 1000 and 1500 calories a day and not losing weight? Well as I am sure you know, to lose weight you must eat less calories than what you are burning, so your body has to use your stored fat for energy. If you are exercising 3 to 5 times per week, your problem is not that you don't get enough exercise. It could be your metabolism is so slow that you don't burn as many calories as you should when you exercise. The slowed metabolism could be caused by many different things -- quite possibly from being on the pill -- I dunno. Or -- it may be that you are actually consuming more calories than you think.

I am not sure what approach to weight loss you are taking, but if you are counting calories there is a great forum here for support with that that I just joined -- they are a wonderful bunch of people to talk to about your progress, problems, etc.

One suggestion if you are in fact attempting to count calories -- there are many different sites online where it takes the guesswork out of it for you -- you enter everything that you eat and they calculate the calories for you. The one I just started using is Sparkpeople.com, but there are others -- if you are interested I can show you the thread where the forum members suggested them to me.

If after calculating the calories you are eating you discover that you really are eating only 1000-1500, then I have read that there are ways to speed up your metabolism -- maybe someone here could help you with that, or I could help you research it if you like.

Anyway, I wish you the best with your weight loss journey -- and again -- welcome !

Good luck. I'm here to support you on your journey.

KarenBee-Thanks for the helpful information. I'll check out the forums and the calorie counting websites.

I'm mainly working on portion control (for now) with some calorie counting thrown in, but honestly, I don't eat much. For about a month, I was doing a 3 day diet each week where I ate between 850-700 calories for those days and then regular meals the rest of the week. I didn't have difficulty following that diet and I didn't feel tired, I just got really sick of the food options.

I burn approximately 800-1000 calories for each cardio work out (cross-trainer, elliptical) plus I do a weight circuit, plus I walk each evening with my husband.

Anyway, thanks everyone and I'll check out those website suggestions.

Welcome to 3FC and best of luck!

I just joined sparkpeople.com and so far it looks awesome! I'm amazed that it's free. Thanks again KarenBee!

3FC has made a good impression on me. Everyone is so helpful and kind. :

I too am joining sparkpeople.
Thanks Karen. Awesome site.

You're welcome....

One comment, lionspaw -- you say that you really do not eat much, and that may be your problem -- if you are not eating enough, then your body tries to conserve what you do take in, and slows your metabolism to use it up slowly. That can really stall any weight loss. The key is to eat enough so that your body doesn't freak out and worry that you are going to starve, and it will start to burn the calories at a quicker rate.

You have to be careful to eat enough, but just make sure what you do eat is as nutritionally dense as possible.

The eating enough is important. Without knowing your specific case and you personally, going lower than 1200 on any given day is detrimental to your metabolism. It ends up burning your lean muscle mass instead of fat and it turn you may lose weight, but you'll have to eat less and less to maintain it.

I would suggest getting really clear about how much you're eating. Once you're sure what you're eating, and maybe raise it up to 1600 or so with that much exercise, I would see a doctor, dietitian or a personal trainer to help you figure that out.

Good luck.

Welcome to 3FC, we are glad you are here!