Hi. I've been trying to lose the same 50+lbs for months now and it seems like its getting impossible just to lose 3 or 4 lbs. I am right back to the weight I started at a year ago. It is the heaviest I've ever been. I had gotten a one two-punch of severe cold followed by flu over the holiday season and it kept me out of the gym for the better part of two months. There have been other reasons too like a recent hand injury I suffered a few weeks ago and a bout of depression that kicked in after I finally got over my illnesses (the depression was triggered by some ridiculous drama).

Last week I went to the gym a couple times but could barely do anything because I lost so much strength and stamina over the last two/three months. I basically had to start from scratch. Yesterday I finally was able to do a decent workout (jogged/walked 3 miles on treadmill) but then tonight I got so hungry that I basically ate everything in sight and so I probably won't even bother to weigh myself this morning. This has been so frustrating.

If anyone has some words of advice or encouragement I'd really like to hear some. Thanks.

gabriel, have you tried cutting out carbs? It seems to be working for me. I know everyone is different and losing is so hard.

Thanks for asking. I've been using an online plate tracker to help me keep my carbs, protein and fats somewhat balanced. I use a whey protein powder to help balance my protein intake. I was borderline diabetic a couple years ago so I try to watch my carb intake and avoid foods with a high glycemic index. Yes losing is difficult. I should probably add that I am in my 40's and male.

Thanks for the quick replies.

Maybe you just haven't found the right weight loss strategy for yourself yet. Try cutting calories and eating healthier foods. If you feel hungry after a workout, go for some fresh fruit or low-fat yogurts instead of eating all the junk in sight. Normally when I get hungry or crave food, I'll fry or boil a plate a vegetables and munch then guiltlessly.

Good luck! And whatever you do, don't give up!!!

You weigh less than me, so that's a good place to be!

Watching when I eat has worked really well for me. I used to eat far too soon before going to bed. I have adjusted that significantly and, with eating more healthily, seen good results.

First, congrats on getting back to the gym!

I totally understand your hunger dilemma. When I first started working out 5 times a week, I would go to bed starving every night. It took all my will power to not get up and empty the fridge. After a couple of nights of this I realized that this was ridiculous, if I'm hungry I should eat right? So I started planning the snack I would eat after my workout and working that into my daily calorie plan. I think if you plan what you are going to eat after your workout and try to have it ready, that will help with your hunger.

Good luck!!

Hi gabriel787, (I'm a male in my 40s as well). I found that the first 2 weeks, and even more so the 1st week of my plan was by far the worst for feeling famished. You mentioned you are tracking things, but I don't know how many calories you are allowing yourself.

I give myself between 1600 and 2000 calories a day. In the beginning, I was maxing this out to near 2000 every day, and I would be famished at night. I saw so many people here reporting calorie intakes of 1200 to 1500, and I wondered "How am I ever going to do this??"

But after 10 days or so in, something weird happened. I realized I was kind of hungry, but I really didn't "care". I think 2 things contributed to this. First, I'm watching carbs and try to stay under 100g/day, but I really try to make sure few, if any, of those carbs come from white flour/sugar/corn syrup/potatoes. Those carbs are definitely a trigger for me. Second, I was typically eating over 1000 calories per night a couple of hours after dinner, and my body/mind came to count on it. Once my body/mind got the message "no, we're not going to do that any more, boys", it seemed like they finally gave up screaming for it.

As far as your exercise/workouts, remember - as soon as you step foot in that gym, you have achieved victory. It doesn't matter if you don't run or walk as fast or as far as you did before, it doesn't matter if you can or can't lift however much you did before. You are in that gym NOW, treating your body right, and that's what matters.

Keep it up and keep posting - there's so much support here.

Take it one day at a time. Don't be so hard on yourself. You can do this!

Thank you all. You've all touched on some very important points that I need to work on. I'm quite impressed with all the weight you all have lost! It feels good to be in such company. Thank you.

Keeping your macros balanced is all well and good, but what's your eating plan? Weight loss is about food, the working out is nice and it's good for you, but it's really all about creating a caloric deficit and you haven't mentioned how you're trying to do that. Some time on the treadmill isn't going to be enough. Have you sat down and really figured it out? Put pen to paper and commit to some finite nutritional goals, not just some nebulous idea of trying to eat less.

This is going to sound rude, and I really don't mean it to be, but your initial post is all about excuses. You were sick, you were injured, you were depressed and didn't feel like dealing with your weight. We can all do that, because life goes on for every single one of us and sometimes it kind of sucks, but to succeed you have to put your health goals above other things and come up with a plan you can stick to even when life isn't cooperating.

How well I know your pain. I had started my weight loss journey on July 17, 2012. I lost 19 pounds...then...on August 13, 2012 I was admitted to ICU with a O2 saturation level of 42 (I should have been dead or in a coma) and a serious cocktail of illnesses that left me in the hospital for 9 days and on an oxygen tank for two months. And on steroids. GODS how I hate steroids....I gain like crazy on them. I was told NO dieting or exercising outside of 5 minutes a day up and down my stairs to rebuild my stamina. I managed to more or less maintain the entire time...but it was grueling in trying to do such. I had/have serious injuries on my lungs that will effect me the rest of my life. I have been diagnosed with ARDS along with my asthma...not a good combination. The only thing that saved my life is I am not a smoker.

On December 30, 2012, my doctor gave the green light to dieting and exercise. At that time, my 19 pounds lost had turned into 15 pounds lost.

I was disgusted with myself. I had gained 4 pounds. I had lost ALL stamina that I had gained back in July and early August, plus some. I couldn't walk up my stairs with out heaving and coughing up blood. I couldn't sleep without an O2 machine as my levels would drop too low. How the HECK was I going to exercise?!?!

I started by going back on my plan January 2nd. Come January 23rd, I decided I needed to try and find a way to get active. I started by walking. It was hard. VERY hard. I couldn't walk from my car to my front door. But I pushed myself to do it 5 times a day. Then 7. Then twice in one go. And so on. Then I got a crazy bug up my butt and tried Jillian Michael's 30 Day Shred. Yep. I've been doing it for 30 days. And today is the first day I attempted level 2. I only got 7 minutes in. But each day, I get a little better, a little stronger, a little healthier. I can walk up and down my stairs...15 times in a row...without coughing. I don't sleep with the O2 machine anymore. I can lift my daughter again after months of not being able to. I can carry groceries. I can walk more than a mile at a time. I am not better. But I am getting there. It just takes time and patience and effort. Since my restart on January 2nd, I have lost another 20 pounds, putting my total loss at 35 pounds.

My point is, if I can do it...you can do it. As Norman Vincent Peale has said, “Stand up to your obstacles and do something about them. You will find that they haven’t half the strength you think they have.” And one of my favorite quotes of all time, “Whether you think you can or can’t, you’re right.” ~Henry Ford

You can do this. The only failure is giving up. Stumbling is not a failure...it is a learning point. Keep going. You can do this. I did...and I still am.