Jay--I realize it was a hidden agenda. But really, can one be healthy at 250+ pounds? 7 weeks does not make one healthy. it's a start, but I'm far from being there. Losing weight /should/ come naturally when one is being healthy. I just don't see how I cut so much and started moving so much more and haven't seen any change in clothes/weight. I'm healthier than I was, but I'm not healthy. That still has to be my goal. A lifestyle change.

MoveMove---This is true. I just guess I'm feeling the need for some outward results!

A typical day....

Breakfast -- protein shake. I don't eat breakfast and need more protein, so this was the best option for me.
Lunch -- Salad with veggies, cheese, croutons, and italian dressing. I don't measure the spinach and veggies so much, but I do measure cheese (2 ounces reduced fat), croutons (6 croutons), and dressing (1-2 Tbl).
Dinner -- A black bean recipe found on Spark people. 1/5 cup on a whole wheat tortilla, an ounce of cheese, lettuce, Tbl reduced fat sour cream, 3 tbl salsa. Glass of tea
Snack -- yogurt or cottage cheese, handful of grapes

I'm not hungry. I'm not deprived.

I average between 1300 - 1500 calories a day. Which I think is pretty appropriate with exercise on most days. On class days (zumba and strength training) I try to boost it a little.

Hi a couple of thoughts. That does not seem like a lot of food. Try upping the beans & veggies and cut back on the dairy. Also, if you really don't see any loss, maybe check with your doctor. There might be something funky going on with your thyroid or sugar levels. Don't get discouraged. You are putting in good effort and you Will succeed.

OK, since you don't think you're healthy, could we say healthier?

Looks to me like not enough food, and not enough protein, even with the shake. Are you vegetarian?

It takes a long time to build muscle mass, especially for women, so I don't think that you have gained enough muscle mass to account for what you're observing.

My guess is that you're not eating enough to support the level of exercise you're doing, and you might lose weight faster if you add more food, particularly protein foods. Consider consulting a registered dietitian--they understand more about nutrition than gym trainers and even most doctors.

Jay

When I was at my highest of 239, I lost fairly steadily at 1700 calories a day but didn't budge a pound at 1500 a day or anything below. It looks to me that you're eating on the lighter side of thing. Maybe you should try bumping it up and dropping the calories gradually as you drop weight.

Everybody is different, and we each have to figure out what works for us individually. Don't give up. You're frustrated now, but a year from now you will be so happy you kept at it.

To Claudia-
 

My guess is you're eating too many fruits. My sister is doing Weight Watchers and was getting really upset about her slow loses and even gaining some weeks. Then she showed her food journal to a fellow WW and they discovered my sister was eating about 8 whole fruits a day. Fruits are healthy but they do have calories. WW says fruit is FREE in Moderation.... well, for my sister... if she knew what moderation was, she wouldn't be heavy, lol. I think WW should say, Fruit is Free but only eat Three!

Jay---We can say healthier. :-) And I truly am healthier than I was 7-8 weeks ago.

I'm not vegetarian, I honestly have been trying to eat more meat in the last few weeks. I do eat a lot of dairy. I actually eat less cheese and sour cream than I used to! I've been eating a bit of chicken, eggs, or a hamburger steak. But still not enough. I'm tracking protein because I know I don't get enough. One reason for the shake. I made the bean dish Monday night and then ate on it three more times this week to make it disappear!

Eating more food is just going against everything that feels right. I know I ate too much before. I'm trying to eat enough to satisfy me. When I'm done with my meal, I'm full, but not stuffed. I don't go hungry. I'm not tired or weak. I have more energy than I've had in years. My ankle aren't swollen, I don't get winded. I really feel great.

I don't know how to share my sparkpeople or fitday food logs.

I've got an appointment with my physician on the 21st. I guess we'll see where I am at that point, and what she says. I gained two pounds this last week. Part of it could be that time, but no, I don't think it's muscle mass.

Packgirl, I am sure that you are going to succeed. There are tons of different approaches folks have taken and those are the glasses through which we 'analyze' what others do. You are feeling good and that is such a blessing and achievement. Keep working through this. You are on a roll.

I completely understand the frustration. I've been there/am there. I was really hoping that once I focused myself completely on these changes that I'd get healthier and lose weight during the process. And I truly believe that my body loves to hold on to the fat. It just doesn't like to let it go. But it's such a tricky formula. And it's different for everyone. It's not just cutting back on what you eat. It's also making sure that you're eating enough. It's not just working out and upping the exercise, but also making sure that you don't over due it and get yourself burned out. It all seems so conflicting to me sometimes. If I could just lose weight by reducing what I eat then I'd be happier. But I actually have to make sure that I'm eating enough. And some days it just gets overwhelming.

But you're making all the right changes. And it looks like you're sticking with it which is really hard to do when you don't see any changes. It definitely could be a lot of things. But it's a discovery process for you to figure out which thing. I think everyone here has given you a lot of good suggestions. And see what your doctor says. A lot of us have medical issues that we don't even know about. Good Luck!

aliasihaya is so right-on!