Why can't I loose pounds?

Avatar for dmm11730
iVillage Member
Registered: 04-06-2003
Why can't I loose pounds?
8
Tue, 09-16-2003 - 10:28am
Hey just got back. Decided to get on the scale for the heck of it. I am up to 143lbs. How fustrating is this. Five out of seven days a weeks I am so, so good. My carb count has been about 60 and my calorie count has been about 1200 to 1300. It does not make any sense to me. I have been doing a workout 5 to 6 days a week. On my bad days I may go over a bit but not that much. Heck I have even stopped having a drink on the weekend and when we go out. It just does not seem fair to me!!!!Argh!!!!!!

Deb

Debbie

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-03-2001
Tue, 09-16-2003 - 10:36am
Hang in there Deb!It will happen.I think the 50 min workouts you've added will soon show you some results.And weren't your jeans alittle looser?That's as good as pounds on the scale.

Miss P




 

Avatar for imthebigsister
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Tue, 09-16-2003 - 10:45am
Hi, Deb - You sound so frustrated, and maybe rightly so. Has your doctor ever done a thyroid test on you? Hypothyroidism can cause your metabolism to slow down and affect your ability to lose weight; hyperthyroidism speeds it up and affects your ability to gain. Are you indulging in more high carb food than you want to admit to? Are you weighting /measuring portions? It sounds in your posts like you're at least trying to do all the right stuff. Are you writing down what you eat? Personally, I hate doing that - it seems kind of an obsessive thing to do - but if it can help you truly keep track of what you're eating and when, you can start to see patterns developing and learn ways to change them and give yourself other food options to replace any "bad" stuff that you may be using.

Just some ideas if you haven't already thought about them. If you have, hugs coming your way - I know how frustrating it is.

Donna




iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Tue, 09-16-2003 - 12:17pm
Hugs, Deb! I know what you're going thru! I may be one of those with stubborn fat, but unless I eat according to my plan 7 days per week, I don't see any loss on the scale right away. Other people's metabolisms may be faster than mine, but I've learned how my system is thru trial and error. I spent about 4 months losing over 25 lbs. earlier this year and I had to do it by sticking to the plan every single day.

However, as I noted earlier, each person is different and I think that since you don't go overboard that you will eventually see results. A 1 to 2 lb. loss per week is healthiest I've read, although some weeks I've had a 4 to 5 lb. loss & then go for 2 weeks with no loss! Hormones probably decide those calculations! There are very few people who can sustain a 2lb. loss each week until they meet their set goal.

Don't get discouraged - keep up your healthy quest. You are getting stronger and healthier!

Hugs,

Kat

Katherine (Kat)
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Tue, 09-16-2003 - 12:30pm
Deb-

I hate to say this but, 5 good days out of 7 will just about keep you at the same weight. Believe me, I was the master at doing this. Out of 6 weeks, I've cheated only twice and its really paying off for me. I've cut out ALL starchy carbs. I still have more weight to go but, scales are starting down. No Dunkin munchkins..lol. I believe Kat did the same thing and that's what worked for her. She also does a lot of cardio. Upping the cardio has always worked for me as well.

Donna talked about portions. I don't know if that's an issue but its certainly something that I would look at. Quality of the food that you are eating could also be an issue. Try measuring out your food to see if portions might be the problem.

It'll happen. Keep with it!

Phyllis

Live With Passion!

Phyllis

Avatar for ive_got_five
iVillage Member
Registered: 11-11-2001
Tue, 09-16-2003 - 1:04pm
Sending some big huge hugs your way Deb! I think I'm the queen of doing it right and not losing weight! I went from January to April of this year, working out consistently 5-6 times a week, at least 1/2 hour cardio 4-5 times a week, weights, etc. I was eating healthy and I don't think overly large portions. In the 1200-1400 calorie range. The only thing that tipped the scales in my favour was going on the South Beach diet and cutting carbs out for two weeks. I managed to lose 9-10 pounds and I'm maintaining that loss at the moment. I still have about 15-20 to go and am considering doing the first two weeks of SB again in the very near future. I'd like to do it and get it out of the way before the holiday season is upon us!

The thing is, I'm not gaining any weight, so I think that my overall eating plan is good. I just need something like SB to lose the weight and I'm okay with cutting the carbs for a couple of weeks if that will help me achieve a healthier weight.

I wish I had some wonderful piece of advice to give you. I know how frustrated you feel. I've been there. Just don't give up! Even if you haven't lost weight, you are still much healthier than you were.

Shar

Avatar for bootywhompus
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Tue, 09-16-2003 - 4:18pm
It isn't fair is it? It seems like you should get at least SOME recognition for the hard work you've done. And you will, it just takes time. Probably longer than you like. You are doing good, healthy things for your body in the meantime and you are getting stronger every day. Hang in there Deb, we're all in this together.

Lori

Lori

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-06-2000
Tue, 09-16-2003 - 4:50pm
Frustrating, isn't it? You seem to be doing all the right things, but scales and measurements don't reflect it. Take heart in that we all go through that, and it's often because our bodies ain't what they used to be.

One thing that I read a few months ago in the ChangeOne diet is that people often *underestimate* their calorie intake, and often quite seriously. I can't find it, but it sticks in my mind that folks who thought they were having 1600 calories a day were eating more like 2100. Do you journal everything, even the little snacks? A few things here and there can add up quickly. Also, from the Mayo Clinic Family Health Book, a bit of good-news, bad-news:

"If you binge in the form of a single big dessert generous in calories and carbs, you may well find your weight up 2 or 3 pounds the next day, mainly because of the increase in glycogen stores. This might lead you to the disheartening conclusion that a single meal or dessert can wipe out a week of dieting. Not so. If you return to your dietary program promptly, most, but not quite all, of that increase in weight will disappear during the next day or two. The weight loss will be behind schedule by the amount of calories in the big dessert, but it usually amounts to wiping out no more than a day or two of previous dieting."

So yes, you're doing the exercising, and I sure wouldn't stop, but that "going over a bit" on those two days could be sabatoging your efforts to lose. You're moving ahead 5 days, but if you go over a bit for two days, that could be setting you *back* as little as 2 but as much as 4 days.

I agree with some of the other advice you've gotten, that you might need to jump start and really stick with a plan for several weeks. You might have to examine your habits a little closer, writing down not only what you eat, but why you are making certain choices. You might find that it doesn't have to do with food, but the setting you're in (social so you want a drink, deadlines making you antsy, etc.).

Cussette

C

iVillage Member
Registered: 02-27-2001
Wed, 09-17-2003 - 10:55am
Deb, I know how frustrating that can be. I know that I can exercise and exercise but if I don't really watch what I eat, I cannot lose weight. My body just loves to hold onto it as long and hard as it can. You've gotten some great ideas from the gals above so I won't add anything else....just sending you hugs and good wishes. Nancy
Nancy

"Make Choices that bring you joy"  cl-Patty