I have been consuming 1,800 calories daily and exercising 3 times a week. I walk, use my stationary bike and lift weights at home. Well since about the end of November I have not lost a single pound!!! I know that around the holidays I did eat more than 1,800 but I still kept exercising. I don't know what to do. Some words from someone who has been there please!! TIA!!!

Another problem I am having is that I am getting bored with my diet. What do you do??

I stay withint 1600 calories and I have too many recipes to try to keep count! lol... I would find recipes online if I were you and start there. There are awesome recipes for tacos, chili, chicken pastas and casseroles as well as great dessert and breakfast recipes too! Experiment, experiment and keep it up

Make sure you're counting every single calorie you put in your mouth, you'd be surprised how much it might be off if you aren't already writing down or tracking online. Water is important when it comes to losing weight so make sure you're getting plenty of it.

Finally, don't give up! You're exercising, you're staying on plan and you're doing great... I'm proud of you

Thanks Rachael!!! Great idea I will definitely look for some new recipes. Any particular website you like with good recipes??

calorie counting does work for me.....low-carb does. Some people (like me) can't really lose weight while still eating high carbs. There are many, many great yummy recipes for low-carb and you always feel satisfied and never hungry. You actually can put REAL ranch dressing on your salad and use REAL cream in your coffee! It's great!

I did this many years ago and lost a lot of weight but went back to carbs and gained. I just started it back again this Monday and I've already lost 5 pounds!

Some find it too hard but there are many yummy low-carb recipes for meals, snacks, and desserts online.

I just thought I would mention this to you cause I have struggled calorie counting before. Good luck!

I agree to check your portions- you may be eating more than you think, or missing ingrediants. My friend used to work out a lot and be frustrated she wasn't losing- but then when we went over her calorie count we found out just from DRINKS alone she was consuming almost 1000 calories a day! She'd start the day with a few glasses of orange juice, she'd get starbucks at work, she'd drink a soda with lunch, and so on. She cut out all drinks except coffee (only cream and sweetener) and water and finally started to lose.

I see you have lost over 30 lbs, maybe your body has gotten used to the amount you are eating or your workout routines, so you'll either have to cut down calories or kick up the workouts.

Howdy,
There is only one way to lose weight and that is to eat fewer calories than one burns over time. How people restrict their calories varies among individuals but calories consumed must be lower than what the body needs to function to lose. 3500 = 1 pound, 500 less per day gives 1 pound loss per week over time.

As soon as I understood this scientific fact, I started recording as accurately as possible, how many calories I was eating every day. I took an average of what the calorie calculators gave me and rounded down for error in either my measurements or inaccuracies of posted calorie content. I also keep a running average weekly of calories consumed and weight lost. And I take sporatic measurements of my waist and hips.

For me, if I ate 1800 cal, I definitely would not be losing weight but YMMV. Not sure of your age (you could be younger and a factor in more calories) but I am quite a bit taller.

Good luck with whatever you decide.

How often do you weigh yourself? Weigh yourself today before breakfast right when you wakeup and then do NOT do it again for two weeks. Keep active, count every calorie, journal what you eat..crumb for crumb. Plan meals ahead if you find it easier to follow that way...walk at least a mile a day...anyone can spare 20 minutes for themselves even if it means going to bed or waking up +- the minutes. You know you will be losing weight when you find yourself going to bed a little hungry, or waking up in the morning wanting to eat. Drink a ton of water as this will keep you fuller and help your metabolism. You could also be retaining some water, which will always occur no matter if you are 90 lbs. or 500 lbs. I found that obsessing pound for pound put me in a vicious cycle on a daily basis..it made or broke my day. truth is, you may be gaining muscle if you are becoming newly active....increasing your lean body mass while decreasing your body fat is great as well. good luck to you. keep us updated.

btw...don't be bored with your diet! it's winter so I LOVE carbohydrates during this time...but get smart and try these things to make your diet a lifestyle so you won't feel deprived.

SWEETPOTATOES
BUTTERNUT SQUASH
OATMEAL
WHOLE WHEAT TORTILLA
HUMMUS AND VEGETABLES...CELERY, SPINACH, BROCCOLI, CAULIFLOWER, CARROTS
GREEK YOGURT
CHICKEN, TURKEY, SALMON, TUNA, BEEF JERKY
ALMONDS (Watch the serving!)
SALSA
LOWFAT COTTAGE CHEESE
APPLES AND BANANAS


change up what you are eating because your body breaks down things differently as well..everyone is different.

I'd say mix up your exercise a bit if you can... sometimes your body gets used to it and stops burning as much.

sometimes its recommended you decrease your calories by 200 or up your exercise by 30 minutes.

You could also try calorie cycling which is where you eat say 1800 one day then 1500 then 2000..

I think the bold, under-lined portion is the answer to your question. Exercise ALONE is no where near enough to create the calorie deficit that is needed to lose weight. Perhaps working out 3X a week burns 900 calories, maybe less. It takes a 3500 calorie deficit to create a one pound weight loss. It's the food that needs to be kept firmly in check. That's where the largest chunk (by a LOT) of your deficit will come from. One has to be consistent with their food intake, keeping within their calorie budget IF they want consistent results. You can't have it both ways. You can't eat over your allotment AND have the weight loss. It just can't be.

Maybe it's time to re-asses your plan. Are you counting every sip, bite, lick, taste and crumb that passes your lips? Are you accurately counting your calories? Perhaps it's time to really, really food journal and get an accurate picture of what you're consuming.

As far as recipes, there's LOTS out there. But it does take time to find new, HEALTHY foods that you adore. They're out there. You can just google "healthy chicken recipes", "healthy soups", "healthy side dishes", etc.

I also urge you to plan out your foods IN ADVANCE. Know exactly where every meal/snack is coming from - and than you stick with it. It makes it much easier to make the right choices if you've thought it out ahead of time. Also make sure to have the right foods on hand - ALWAYS. Eating healthy won't happen by chance. It's gotta be prepped for. It takes thought and effort. It's more then worth it mind you, but it won't happen on it's own.

I would also get rid of all the junk - you can't eat it if it's not there. But make sure to ADD in lots of healthy, low calorie veggies, fruits, low fat proteins. Another thing I find helpful is to set up some food laws and boundaries that I can adhere to. DEFINITE NO"S. Sneaking in a little of this and a little of that always led to disaster for me. Once I had a taste of that cookie, that cake, that whatever - that was that. It spiraled out of control. I found it MUCH easier to just say no all together. I had a BIG problem stopping with many foods once I started - after suffering for many years I came up with a solution - DON'T START. Problem solved.

Losing weight and lots of it is doable for anyone and everyone. Yourself included. Make that plan, get excited, find new foods to eat, get into this, get moving, get going and transform your life. I look forward to hearing of your success.

My trainer at the YMCA told me that exercise 5 or 6 days a week was necessary to support weight loss--so maybe you should add a couple days in there. Do different things on consecutive days to make sure your muscles get a rest.

Jay

Vivian, I just want to say, learn from my mistake. I was where you are and I got fed up, threw up my hands and put back on everything I had lost. Don't do that. At least be happy with what you've already accomplished...and then keep going. ;o) It's a lifestyle change. But you know that, right?

So here is what I decided to do. I am going to plan my meals in advance which I have not. I am going to keep my calories between 1,500 and 1,800. I am going to journal EVERYTHING!!! I am going to increase my workouts from 30 minutes 3x a week to 30 minutes 5x a week. I will get back in the groove of things!! Just needed some ideas.

Thank you!!

ETA: Eliana thanks!! That did happen to me years ago and I put everything back on. I learned from my mistake and I am not going to let that happen. I am going to do everything I need to do so one day I'll post my success story on this website!!!

Good! Then you can say the same thing to me when/if I ever write out this same post! LOL! I need to remind myself of this DAILY.

You've gotten a lot of good advice and great ideas. I will just second what Robin highlighted and said.

During the holidays I continued to exercise 6-7 days per week, however I did not track my calories or stay at/under my 1800 limit on many days. Not only did I not lose over the holidays, but I gained. I'm glad I kept up my exercise routine and I do enjoy my gym time, however I know that will not keep the weight off. Food is a HUGE factor. If I'm not perfect/near perfect the majority of the time I'm not losing.

Keep track of those calories and keep exercising. The pounds will start coming off again.