Why can't I lose weight?

[TuftedLadyGrotto]

I'm 2 stone overweight, following surgery last autumn, and then Christmas.

I started on 1st Jan I gave up sugar, which I did for most of last year (and lost nearly 2 stone). I ran every day in January as part of a runuary challenge. And I've kept running 3-4 times a week.

But I've not lost anything. Not lbs or inches. I'm so fed up. I have very few clothes that fit, and I hate being this big.

I can't do 5:2 because of some medication I'm on, although it was successful when I did.

Any ideas?

[Solina]

Have you calorie counted what you eat in a normal day? I think that would be a good place to start to see if you are eating more than burning.

[ppeatfruit]

Well I lost weight without trying or CC ( 2 stone isn't that much) when I gave up a daily coffee and tea, just had nice herbal teas (2 tbag mint and green etc.) and water, . Also ate fruit on an empty stomach and stopped mixing protein and carbs at the same meal.

I dropped about a stone or so. Easy! Without any extra exercise too!

[Twoweekcruise]

What about the meds you are on? Are they contributing? Are you eating many carbs? What about portion sizes? I always eat my meals on a side plate, it really helps to keep the weight off.

[MagicNumbers1234]

Try using a heart rate monitor band. When exercising, your not burning calories if you're not sweating. Depending on the the heart rate, you can burn fat or build muscles during a session. Muscles weigh more than body fat.

[TuftedLadyGrotto]

I haven't done calorie counting for a few years, that would be a good start.

It could be the meds, although I've been on a combination of them for years now, one has recently increased. They make me hungrier and crave carbs (not helpful!) but I've always been able to overcome it before.

I try not to eat too many carbs, certainly limit my bread intake.

I think I'll start logging everything.

[RavenLG]

Losing weight is science. You need a calorie deficit to loose weight and that’s it. I’m not saying it’s easy as cake is so delicious, but start calorie counting. Opt for low GI foods such as vegetables instead of pasta etc. Lower calorie count and have a high satiety complex so will keep you fuller for longer. Protein also keeps hunger pangs at bay, so eggs for breakfast is great (if you’re not vegan)

Well ppeat, please take your miraculous discovery to the nhs I’m sure it will stop the obesity crisis since it’s SO EASY

[TuftedLadyGrotto]

If I'm giving up cake, there's no way I'm giving up tea and coffee ;)

[Bluntness100]

Could you post honestly your last two or three days menus inc what you drank?

It's really hard for folks to say without seeing this.

[TuftedLadyGrotto]

Yesterday:

Porridge with banana (no sugar)

Peanut butter on toast (no added sugar, whole nut)

Small apple and pear

Jacket potato with homemade veggie chilli and cheese.

2 squares of 70% chocolate.

Tea, coffee, water.

Weds:

Porridge and banana (no sugar)

Chopped melon, handful of mixed nuts

Home made butternut squash and carrot soup, with two slices of bread with butter

Roasted veg tagine (roasted parsnip, carrot, pepper, courgette, onion with tinned tomatoes and spices) with 1 or apricots. With cous cous.

[ppeatfruit]

You can mock Raven But it's quite true, The NHS don't give a shxx about proper eating. They just enjoy pouring money into the coffers of big pharma .

[Bluntness100]

Your diet looks fine on paper, as such I'm inclined to beleive it's your portion size which is not creating a deficit for uou to lose weight.

As such I think you need to move to weighing if you can so you can accurately judge your calorie intake. Simply cutting sugar will not make you lose weight if you replace those calories with something else. You need to create a calorie deficit on this kind of diet. Note. Fruit also contains a lot of sugar.

[Slightlyperturbedowlagain]

I’ve discovered that reducing to 2 small portions of good quality carbs per day only has made a massive difference- I’m not getting the energy dips either. 1 portion of carbs = 20g raw oats for example, so very small but enough to keep going.

[TuftedLadyGrotto]

When I cut out sugar last year (added sugar, fructose - except if whole in fruit) I list loads. I replaced it with real butter, cream, cheese, nuts etc. Obviously not all at once.

I'll weigh. My portion size isn't massive a d I hardly ever finish everything cos I get full up quickly.

I'm going to keep a record of everything for a week and see what I can spot.

[Bluntness100]

That sounds like a good plan. You seem to have replaced the sugar with high fat items. Which is perfect if you are low carbing but you're not. It would be relatively simple for you to do though and would kill the carb cravings.

If you don't want to do that though, I'm afraid it needs to be calorie counting and weighing, Everything inc milk in your tea etc. You'd be surprised at how many calories can be in a handful of nuts for example, or too much peanut butter. It's also easy to over do things like cheese or butter.

You can also work out your daily calorie requirements as there are calculators on line, I think it's based on height, weight, life style, then you go below that to create a deficit and lose weight. If you're not gaining you're probably at the right amount you should be eating now. So to lose you need to cut.

[TuftedLadyGrotto]

I realise something has to change. I'm just a bit depressed at having to go back to weighing 28g of cheese or whatever. I wasn't eating blocks of cheese, but being able to have a nice amount was good.

[TuftedLadyGrotto]

I've never done low carb. I'm not sure about life without bread. Or pasta. Or potatoes. I need to read more about it.

[Bluntness100]

If you low carb you can have all those things like a good amount of cheese. Sadly you can't have both the fat and the carbs and lose weight unless you go below the calories you need.

So it's kinda the cheese has to reduce or staying as is. 😞

[TuftedLadyGrotto]

So is it no bread/pasta/potatoes? But I can have milk, cheese, cream, butter, nuts?

I realise this is making me sound cheese crazy, I'm really not!

[Bluntness100]

Yes that's exactly that, there is a low carb boot camp on here.

It's basically high fat low carb.

So breakfast, two or three cheesy scrambled eggs and bacon rashers.

Lunch, salmon salad, with avocado and mayo

Dinner, pork stir fry. Or chicken and veg. Or curry and cauli rice. Or cheese burger with mayo and salad, no bun.

Snack, Greek yoghurt or cheese triangles and ham,

It's that kind of thing. Have a look at the low carb boot camp thread. It's dead easy for some of us and you lose a lot of weight. The reason it's easy is you lose the carb cravings.

[Bluntness100]

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/low_carb_bootcamp

[halfwitpicker]

Does porridge make you hungry op?

[ppeatfruit]

Bluntness That diet would make me ill, we are all different and have to find what suits us , the way of eating I mentioned which is basically Food Combining works for most people.

I eat low carb but I do eat proper rye bread (no wheat) see Wheat Belly by William Davis MD. Also whole organic rice. With the Paul Mackenna chewing properly and mindfulness it works well for me .