I know I've made so many threads about losing weight and trying to but I just can't seem to find the way anymore. I feel like I've lost every bit of strength and knowledge that I had when I lost the weight the first time. I feel weak. I feel like it's just not working anymore. I'm so used to my old routine of weight loss (the one that has me maintaining now) that I don't know how to kick it up a notch. I even am trying so hard to find a trainer but they're all way too expensive. I have agood 10-15 lbs of weight to lose still and a lot of muscle/toning to do but it doesn't seem to be coming as easily to me as it once was.
I just feel lost and clueless - I dont know how I should be eating anymore since I already feel like I eat well. I eat around 1500 cals a day, I struggle to bring it lower than that. My main meals consist of some sort of chicken sandwich, soup and lots of snacks because I feel like I'm always hungry. I admit my snacks can be healthier, usually they're some sort of crackers/cheese. My breakfasts always oatmeal because I have been told its good for you but I do find I get hungrier a lot faster off oatmeal than I used to when I ate my bran cereal which had less calories so maybe I'll go back to that.

Other than that, I feel like Im starting this journey for the first time. Im frustrated and haven't lost a single pound in weeks/maybe months.

EDIT: forgot to talk about my exercise experience, but because school is so bad for me this semester and Im there from morning to night, I go to the gym for ~1 hour 3-4 times a week max. i usually do cardio, and sometimes I'll do some combat-type classes at the gym or Zumba.

Well, we are in the same boat only I'm a bit older (I'm assuming) and I have a little more free time. My scale is pretty much "stuck" too... that's better than going up though! Just keep busting butt as much as possible, 1,500 cals a day is great. Hopefully soon you can find a way to get to the gym 5-6 days a week. I think that would help.

Wish I had a better answer, but I definitely relate.

BTW, I'd kill to be 5' 7"....I used to be 5' 6" but somewhere along the line I lost an inch. :/

Tbh I think Im 5'6 so dont be jealous haha I measured myself and got a biiit over 5'6, and all my friends who claim to be 5'6 are shorter than I am, so I went with 5'7 but I guess im 5'6 and a half at best.

Anyway, Im so sick of feeling this way. I miss being able to jump up and down and feel thinner and wear new clothes, loving my new body. I loved being excited to look at pictures of me. I like the way I look but I dont stare in the mirror going "daaaaayum" and I'd like to. Im never going to give up on the weight loss process but it's been so long since I've been consistent with my weight loss that I forget what its like to diet and to exercise and to lose weight. It sucks.
I just feel lost. I dont know how I could possibly eat less. Right now im thinking ~250 cals for breakfast, 100 cal snack, 400 cal lunch, 100 cal snack, 400 cal dinner, and 2 more 100 cal snacks before bed. Thats even low for me and thats still only a bit under 1500 cals. Bleh!

You are some where between 5'6" and 5'7", you are, according to your ticker at 142. Shooting for 1500 cals a day.



And, evidently you are very young, given the school reference. Correct me if I'm wrong on this one!

Actually, your weight is fine, given the stats you've posted.

So, given all of that. And making a few assumptions, a bad idea I know, but, I'm gonna roll with it.

I am 53 years old, I work for a veterinarian, an active profession, I am a Lifetime WW member, currently 17 months of maintaining my loss, and I strength train 3 times a week and also get in at least one day of cardio of my choice, ( I try for 2, does not always happen).

I am 5'5" and my weight runs between 136/138. I maintain on an average of 2000 calories a day.

While I don't think you are doing bad or wrong, I think you need to take a breath and take a more objective look at the process. To have a healthy nutrition plan and active lifestyle, it needs to be reasonable and sensible and a plan you can maintain over your whole life.

Adjustments and tweaks will need to made here and there, given where you are in any given situation. Marriage, new job, moving, family crisis, Pregnancy, menopause, and whatever life may throw at you.

Keeping in mind, listen to your body and learn to adjust as needed.

I'm 5'6", 138-140 lbs maintaining, 30 years old. I'm eating between 2000 and 2500 calories a day, lifting heavy 3 times a week, cardio sometimes no more than 30 mins, and never on lifting days. I'm pretty active aside from that, 2 small kids etc. I'm not at goal, but sick of weight loss and trying rather to change the way my body looks. Sure, I still struggle with the scale, but trying to fix that.

Would you be willing to focus on body recomposition rather than weight loss? Muscle building and fat loss, rather than just numbers on the scale? If you are willing, finding a good lifting program might be just the thing to get you out of this funk! You definitely don't need a trainer! I'd recommend something like New Rules of Lifting for Women, or just New Rules of Lifting.

I'm going to second what everyone else is saying. Maybe you're already at maintenance from a weight perspective? I'd relax on the cardio a bit to maybe 20 mins and then really focus the rest of the workout on strength training. I think you'll get the "daayuum" you want from having a toned body that lifting will give you, not from trying to squeeze out another 5lbs of fat. As for your calories, if it works for you, keep it there but if you do decide to lift make sure you get enough protein. Maybe switch out the oatmeal for an egg white omelet with veggies (have you seen the boil in a bag version? Just chop up some veggies and put in a zip lock sandwich baggie, add some egg whites, seal and boil for a couple minutes - open the bag and a perfect omelet spills out in about the same time it took to make the oatmeal). Or keep the oatmeal (it is good for you - maybe add some ground flax seed to it?) and find a way to get some extra protein somewhere else in your day.

Yes Id definitely be willing to change body composition more than weight, but I do feel like I need to be a tiiiiny bit smaller, I still have a large gut and kind of big thighs. Ive never looked atanything more than calories when I eat, and I think I want to start actually being healthy and looking at fat/ sugar/protein etc. I just dont know what numbers I should be looking for, my nutrition course is next year

I will definitely check that book out, thank you. Is there any youd recommend for eating a little "cleaner"?

I actually ended up gaining 1-2 lbs when I went over 1500 cals, so Im thinking ~1500 cals is my maintenance. So thats why I'd like to go a bit lower, but I seem to be struggling. Maybe the only deficit I should be doing is in my exercise from now on is what I'm thinking.

Good guesses though too, all accurate aha.

Try Tosca Reno "The Eat Clean Diet"

Keep in mind that weight loss is calories in/calories out - even if you switch up your workout to be more lifting focused than cardio focused, if your overall calorie deficit is the same as it is now, you'll continue to lose slowly just like you are. If there are some areas that you want to be leaner, keep creating the calorie deficit and you'll get there. But, I think you'll be very happy with the results of strength training.

I'm not anywhere near maintenance but I find that a positive attitude can work wonders. Stop beating up on yourself. You have done an AWESOME job already. If you say that you're tired and through then that's what it will be. You seem really committed to finding an alternative solution so say that instead.

If your routine stops working it seems it couldn't hurt to throw it out and make a new one.

Try a different way of eating, or eating at different times of the day, or trying calorie cycling, or do new exercises. Do you get enough sleep?