Feeling really down

[starshaker]

I have been on a diet for a few weeks now and have lost nothing. I was on 1300-1400 calories a day which i cut to 1200. I still didnt lose weight so ive been on about 800-900 and still nothing. I basically have yoghurt for breakfast, home made soup and sandwich for lunch and a different soup for dinner. Im walking everywhere. i know ive been told god knows how many times that walking isnt exercise but when you are walking up and down a big hill pushing 2 2 year olds it feels like it is. I am trying to do 30 day shred but i get half way though and feel physically sick. I am so tired all the time now.

I just dont want to be fat anymore but the weight is not going.

I have a food diary and am not missing anything from it

[swallowedAfly]

you're not eating enough. i know you want to lose weight and it seems logical to eat less and less but your body can't cope.

you are feeling knackered, you don't have enough fuel to get through the shred and you will also be risking depression and other issues from not eating properly.

can you forget calories for a while and just go with content? eggs for breakfast so you have some good protein to keep you going. soup if you like for lunch and a jacket potato loaded with tuna or cottage cheese and veggies on the side for dinner? you will feel fuller - you will have more energy to be able to exercise and your body will start trusting that it's not being starved so may burn some fat.

this really isn't the way to get your body to make changes. plus it really is more important for you to have energy and feel good and not be miserable.

[swallowedAfly]

also you'll find a jacket potato far more filling and enduring in terms of energy than bread and probably actually has less calories. definitely get the protein up - nowhere near enough protein in what you're eating.

the only times i've lost weight by actually trying (rather than a complete loss of appetite or change of climate or heath issue) has been when i've lived on big jacket potatoes loaded with protein and really filled myself up.

lots of good lean protein - eggs, fish, chicken i guess but i don't tend to cook meat and simple carbs - re: jacket potato not bread or pasta or such and lots of green veg.

[starshaker]

I dont feel hungry, the soup fills me up. Ive tried eating more and it didnt work so i started eating less. I have 2 slices of wholemeal bread a day so not having too much carbs. Im feeling miserable because its not working. If i lost 1lb it would be better than nothing. I have 7 stone to lose but at this rate its not gonna happen :(

[swallowedAfly]

you're not eating anything! where is the protein? your body is not designed to live on soup and yoghurt.

have you seen your doctor? might be good to get referred to a dietician and to get blood tests to make sure everything is ok with you.

[BistoBearWithBaublesOn]

You need to eat more! If you have 7 stone to lose I would advise going to see your doctor. Eating 900 calories a day is not healthy and could lead to future problems. Malnutrition isn't unique to those that are underweight, please seek professional advice.

[INeedThatForkOff]

I second seeing a doctor. I have a friend who put weight on after her DD was born and it turned out she had a thyroid problem. Once that was dealt with she was able to lose weight by watching her carbs, whereas before nothing had worked.

Personally I have PCOS, and can only lose weight slowly.

[starshaker]

The doctors here really arent much help. A while ago when i went before i was told to eat less and cut out snacking. That was the extent of the advice i was given. I dont want to diet i want to change the way i eat but thats not working either.

[RiceBurner]

Poor you.

Saw you on the AIBU thread recently, & tried to help. So was wondering how you were doing. (Not so good by the sound of it?!)

You must be constantly tired, (with twin toddlers), and it is really hard to lose weight when tired IME, but please don't give up!

What you are doing at the moment isn't working, so why not try my method? (What's to lose by trying it?)

Nb I just found out (today) that I am not the only one who only eats in the evening ... there's a book/following! (Who knew?! I feel a lot less weird now!)

It's called "Fast 5".
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fast_Five
www.fast-5.com/

It think it advocates eating only within a 5 hr slot each day. (Any 5 hr slot, but same each day & they suggest 5pm-10pm.) You can eat (more or less) what you like in that slot. Obviously don't over-eat, just eat enough to feel nicely satisfied.

Advantages: you can eat what you fancy. (No calorie counting, or focus on low fat foods. Eat anything which is good/wholesome food. Have a 'normal' meal. And enjoy it!)

Disadvantages: you might find it quite hard at first.

No idea if this method would work for you, but as you are currently stuck and demoralised, what not try it and let us know how you get on?

Avoid fruit juice, (or anything with any obvious sugars in it), during the fasting period. (As any sugars will break the 19 hour "fast".)

Suggest you try drinking plain hot/warm water or tea/coffee (with some milk) to get through till 5pm, and then try to really enjoy your evening meal when it's time to eat?

Good luck OP!

[jellyrolly]

That is such a horrible feeling.

I agree that you are not eating enough. Also, walking is most definitely exercise and good for your head too I think.

I think most people will agree that not all diets work for all people. Sometimes it's pot luck to find one that works for you and it seems to make no sense that one does and one doesn't. Have you tried any other diets before?

I tried a Tesco one and didn't lose a single pound in two weeks, it was about 1200 calories a day. I was so pissed off I ate a box of Maltesers and the next day I had lost a pound! I think the research linking stress and cortisol to the body hanging on to fat holds some truth. Are you making time to do things you like as well as eating soup and walking everywhere?? Just as restorative is to meet with other knackered mums and indulge in a coffee and cake once in a while.

[FlatsInDagenham]

Have you ever tried slimming world? No calorie counting at all - it basically encourages high protein, low bread (but plenty of other starchy foods) and low fat eating. So lots of lean meat, veggies, eggs, pulses, potatoes, rice, fruit and fat free dairy. I feel more energetic / less tired when I follow it properly AND I lose weight.

I do think you should be eating more ... More of the right stuff. Just yoghurt for breakfast is terrible - I bet your body has gone into starvation mode which is why you haven't actually lost weight.

[FlatsInDagenham]

And starvation mode is also why you feel so tired.

[Fluffy1234]

I agree with the others who have said you need to eat more protein. Add some eggs with breakfast or lunch and a portion of Keanu protein and veg for dinner and see what happens. When I went on my diet a while back I didn't lose any weight for 3 weeks and then it started to come of steadily. I think I was eating so much before at least I wasn't gaining during this 3 weeks. It will work but your diet will need tweaking to see what works for you.

[starshaker]

i cant afford slimming world. Im gonna try the low carb for a bit and see if that works.

[swallowedAfly]

at two slices of bread there's much lower carb you can try unless you live on soup alone.

eat more protein. a lean protein portion with every meal.

i suspect we're in yeah but territory though so time for me to shh.

[starshaker]

I have been pretty much living on soup. I would have broccoli, carrot, onion or lentil and pepper soup. It makes me full

[freerangeeggs]

I second everything that's already been said. You'll end up losing muscle, too, which you don't want as muscle burns lots of calories.

I'm amazed you've stuck to such a rigid diet for so long. Join a club - weight watchers, slimming world - they'll seem like an absolute doddle after this!

Seven stone is a lot, but very achievable. I lost 5st on weight watches and would recommend it.

[BillyBollyDandy]

Are you on any medication?

[starshaker]

I have been using tesco diets but whn it wasnt working it was easy to see where i could cut the calories out. Then i realised that soup made just from veg and blended was really low cal and very filling.

Not on any medication

[Rockchick1984]

Your body is trying to hold onto every last calorie - if you have 7 stone to lose you need to be eating an amount that you can maintain long term without causing yourself health problems. I would definitely suggest slimming world - I know you say you can't afford it, I'd said the same but then someone pointed out it's £5 a week - id been spending that and more on chocolate / crisps / wine whilst moaning about my weight!

Basically on SW you need each meal to be at least 1/3 veg and fruit , I aimed for 1/2 of each meal. So an average day may be:

Breakfast - banana, yogurt and a tangerine.
Lunch - veg or chicken soup.
Tea - roast dinner with loads of veg and dry roasted spuds, or a spaghetti bolognese.
Snack - grapes.

Are you taking your measurements as well as your weight? I've had weeks where I've not lost weight but have lost 1/2 an inch of my tummy so still feel motivated.

[swallowedAfly]

then you have your answer - you are eating no protein - feeling full does not mean your body is nourished and can work well. weight loss re:burning fat actually takes quite a lot out of the body and bizarrely takes some energy. if you don't put in enough energy it cannot burn the fat.

all the right answers are here whether you choose to listen or not is obviously up to you.

you are 7 stone overweight - you are running a tank basically not a mini - you can't expect that tank to have the energy to burn, process, filter and eliminate fats on top of living if you are only giving enough petrol to run a moped.

[swallowedAfly]

if you seriously want to go radical in your weight loss eat fish and steamed veg. personally i'd add jacket potatoes to that but if you're miss full power no messing i want to starve myself thin then fish and veg is the way forward.

forget about processed, nutrient lacking soup. have salad and canned mackerel for lunch and fish and green veg for dinner. low cal, low fat, high protein, low processed/simple carbs.

and drink lots and lots of water.

personally i'd really recommend a jacket potato at least once a day too but i think you're ignoring that one there are actually studies i've seen that show why potato is important (i researched it when i realised that eating potatoes seemed to make me lose weight faster).

i'm sorry if i've been abrupt before - you're in a rut - you're doing something that doesn't work but seems suitably self punishing. weight loss isn't about punishment! it's about taking good care of yourself and i swear a lot of it comes from your head too so please try and do some non food related pleasurable stuff.

[starshaker]

Well today i went to the doctor and he was just rude. I explained that i had never been slim but when i stopped smoking in may i have put on about 4 stone. I told him about my diet and how it wasnt working and his reply was "what do you want me to do about it" i said i didnt know but thought he might be able to advise or help. He then asked if i "wanted a magic little pill that will stop me being fat". In the end i asked if there was a dietitian i could see. He said that referring me would involve a moderate amount of work on his part and he wasnt going to waste his time if i wasnt serious about it.

That conversation is the reason i dont go to the doctors about stuff i know i really should.

Anyway, low carbing will start on friday when i do my next tesco shop. In the meantime i think i will have 2 days of actually enjoying the foods ive deprived myself of for the past 3 weeks.

[RiceBurner]

Sorry the doc you saw was so blunt.

I've had that attitude from GPs once or twice too! It's very upsetting/humiliating. But then I try to imagine that they are having a terrible day at work, (eg people dying), and/or their own relationship problems at home, and I can see I appear to be wasting their valuable time with something trivial/non-urgent? (Like that, I don't take it so personally!)

However, the loveliest/best GPs somehow instinctively know when a few crumbs of genuine empathy, & some reassurance/support/hope, will work wonders? (Rather than a prescription/disagnosis?)

Anyway, brush that bad incident off. (It has happened to all of us.) Be strong, and just show that GP you can do it on your own, as he obviously thinks that there's nothing wrong with you/stopping you?

Good plan to have a break, (from the diet), for a couple of days. & to then start again tomorrow.

Agree with swallowedAfly that you should switch to protein & veg meals rather than soup and bread.

If you have yoghurt, hope you are using the natural (unflavoured/unsweetened) kind? (It tastes nice when you get used to it.)

Avoid cereals and anything sweet/processed.

Just eat enough meat/fish/egg with loads of (green) vegs and small quantity of fruit, & some dairy.

Avoid bread/pasta/white rice. (Small amount of brown rice mixed with veggies like peas, sweetcorn = good ... and makes you feel full a lot longer.)

Agree potatoes can be your friend if boiled or baked. I like to 'bake' mine in the microwave (until very well cooked inside) and then I eat them (incl the skins) with some butter and/or baked beans. (Really nice/tasty and filling.)

Mackerel is another good idea from swallowedAfly. I can eat one big fillet, (cold), it on its own, or with some tomatoes/salad. (That's a good meal.) Then you could have a generous helping of plain/natural yog or some fresh fruit (eg an apple/orange) for dessert?

Really hope you start to see some results soon!

[swallowedAfly]

i would write to the practice manager and complain and ask to be informed of what has happened to follow up this complaint. i'd also ask for an appointment to be arranged for you with a doctor who would be able to advise you without flagrant prejudice and assumptions clouding their professionalism.

[starshaker]

The practice manager is his wife. The other doctor would have made me strip to underwear to be weighed. I try not to go to the doctors