Hi! I'm new here. As a quick introduction, I've been fighting the battle of the bulge since jr. high...and now I'm in my mid-30s. I've tried everything but never stuck with anything.

I have a history of pretty slow (but not THIS SLOW! See below) weight loss.

This past January, I decided to finally make a lifestyle change and do everything RIGHT. I had 80 pounds to lose and was tired of the vicious cycle.

I have been able to work out an hour a day, 5 or 6 days a week (two days strength training intervals, one day 2 miles elliptical, one day kickboxing, one day zumba, one day walking). I eat between 1500 and 1700 calories a day. I cut my carbs from 300 g. per day to around 175 - 200. Cut out the white sugar and flour. Added in one or two fruits a day, green vegetables, and lean proteins. Drinking lots of water. I've been doing this for almost 3 months...and...I'm still lucky if I lose even a few ounces a week. I'm averaging just a pound or two lost per MONTH. I've been to the doctor, there's nothing wrong with my thyroid or anything else. My clothes are fitting slightly better but I'm nowhere near close to being out of my current size.

When you have a lot to lose...and when you can't seem to lose...and you don't know how to fix whatever's wrong...how do you stay motivated?

Or does anyone see something that I'm doing wrong? I'd love any advice. I'm feeling a little disheartened. Thank you!

Well, you are losing. Just not as fast as you want.

If you have been cleared at the doc for any underlying health issues, next I'd look at this level of exercise vs this level of eating. You may need to eat a bit more to fuel the loss.

Can't expect to burn a hot fire (metabolism) without giving it some wood. (food).

http://www.freedieting.com/tools/calorie_calculator.htm

Punch in your stats and see what ballpark it puts you in to support that level activity AND lose weight.

A.

I totally agree that it may be time to assess the amount of food and exercise you are taking in/and completing.

What I really wanted to say was GO YOU! for making a change. Plus try to remember that even your smallest victories are still victories! It will get so disheartening so fast if we treat our little wins like nothing. Hang in there.

My story is similar to yours, but I've been plateaued since September. I'm doing everything right, but the only result is a loss of about a half-inch from my waist. I've tried every plateau-busting strategy with no results. It's freakish.

I stay motivated in a few ways.

1. I know that if I go back to my old ways, I'll get fatter & be miserable.
2. I set athletic goals that exercise & good nutrition help me meet.
3. Counting calories, weighing food, & eating LC have become habits that are easy to maintain.
4. I believe that eventually, my body will respond.

You have my sympathy. This has been immensely frustrating. I have a big event in 6 weeks & when I started the weight-loss regimen back in Sept, I fantasized about the dress I would buy for this event. Now, shopping for that dress is going to be all business & no joy.

Thanks for the encouragement!

I punched in my stats on the freedieting website, and it told me that I should be eating 2000 calories a day for fat loss. But I'm confused...I watch "The Biggest Loser" and they eat 1200 calories a day and work out constantly...and it seems like everywhere I've read, calories should be below 1800. Plus...I feel satisfied with my 1500 - 1700 calories a day...not hungry. I hate to eat if I'm not hungry. THoughts??

And yoyomadness, I feel your pain. I, too, have events in May and then later in the summer, and I'd planned on 1.5 - 2 pounds lost per week for a total loss of close to 30 pounds lost by then...it's not looking like that's going to happen and it makes me feel really sad.

I had the same experience as yourself the first time I seriously tried to lose weight. Over three years I managed to get down 90 pounds or so, but it was really slow compared to many. I got the same advice you are going to get here, and yes, there were times when I could have eaten better. But the truth is that the standard diet recommendations don't work the same way for everyone.

So I tried Atkins, because hey, maybe carbs were the problem. They were, but Atkins just gave me an excuse to eat bacon three times a day, and some of the substitutes for bread (muffins made with flax meal, for instance) are very calorie-dense, so I gained weight on Atkins.

After that I gave up for a long time and gained back 68 pounds. So that's where I am now, working on taking the weight back off again. The difference this time is that I'm not eating any grains whatsoever. I've cut out dairy and all legumes, given up my beloved peanut butter in favor of almond butter, and added healthy fats (no bacon!) along with lean proteins and vegetables.

I'm losing much faster this time around (this week notwithstanding) than I ever have in the past, because I finally figured out what worked for me. If the standard low fat/whole grains nutritional advice isn't working for you, try something else. I'd suggest you give paleo a shot, because it's working so well for me and we have similar stories. I thought it would be hard to stick with, but it's really pretty easy.

My carbs are about 75 g per day. I suspect carbs are your problem. That's not always such a popular opinion around here, but it's working for me. Good luck. I feel your pain.

PS: I eat 1400-1600 calories a day and I'm 5'0". I'm averaging about 2 lb a week loss right now, and I work out (cardio/strength training) six days a week.

My first thought is that Biggest Loser is not an accurate depiction of healthy, sustainable weight loss- I used to watch it, and it just made me growly, because even though I KNOW it's no realistic (or healthy) for someone who is working and living life to exercise for 5 hours a day and eat 1200 calories, it makes me feel like I should.

And I shouldn't! The whole premise of the show is unfair, because most of us can't just up and quit our jobs and walk away from our lives to exercise like maniacs and eat like rabbits. So don't let that show get you down. You are getting results! And I understand it's so frustrating for it to be slow, but it likely won't always be that way.

Moving on from that rant...

No, don't eat more if you're not hungry. I am 'supposed' to be able to lose 1-2 lbs a week on 2200 calories and the amount of exercise I do; I'm lucky if I lose one pound per week on 1700. You might try calorie or carb cycling, switching up your workouts, etc. The main thing is that you keep going and try something new for long enough to see if it gives you better results (give it a few weeks).

I'm proud of you for sticking with it- and just don't take the "2 pounds a week" figure as gospel- because for many of us, that's just not the case.

Also, I feel your pain.

I know, I know, I tell myself that "The Biggest Loser" isn't realistic. But then I see that they are greatly restricting their intake and they're still losing lots of weight. Same with the other weight loss show I watch: "Heavy". And books that I've read. But I think there might be something to the calorie thing. I think I might try staggering my calories...eating 1500 one day, 1800 the next day, back and forth. We called that "The Wendy Plan" back when I was on Weight Watchers and it really seemed to work, for some reason!