What the hell do I have to do to lose weight? Huh? HUH???

[LunaNorth]

I’ve stopped drinking - 38 days AF so far, with no plans to restart.

I’ve completed C25K, three weeks ago, and have kept up running, three times a week since.

I go open water swimming once or twice a week.

I do an hour-long yoga class every week.

I have three dogs that get walked every day.

I have a Fitbit, and always make sure I do my 10,000 steps and always do more active minutes than the target.

I’m also coeliac, which curtails my options when it comes to eating out and takeaways. Lockdown put a stop to meals out, too.

All this effort, and I haven’t lost an ounce! I don’t have scales, granted, but my waist has INCREASED by an inch and my clothes feel exactly the same tight.

Wtf? I’m so fed up. Yes, I do eat a lot, always have, but it’s mostly good stuff, and with the not drinking, no gluten, tons of exercise, I had hoped I’d be allowed the odd treat. Clearly not.

Is this it, then? Does middle age mean living on lettuce and a dream if I don’t want to resemble a pit pony?

And please don’t take away my carbs. I thrive on them. I’ve tried low-carb and it gives me a headache.

I want to avoid all diets if possible. I’ve done SW and WW in the past, as well as 16:8. I just can’t sustain it.

Is anyone else in a similar position? What do I have to do?!

I mean, it worked for me, which is why I said IME - In My Experience. Yours is clearly different. Not sure swearing at me was required.

bollocks isn't swearing

@CodenameVillanelle

bollocks isn't swearing

Like fuck it isn't.

Anyway, I couldn't cope with a vegan diet, so props to you. Low carb has worked really well for me - I've gone from a 14 to an 8 and kept it off, so far.

no offence meant really
I am happy as a vegan and have no wish to eat differently so it's no hardship but low carb would be totally impossible. It's also unnecessary for people like the OP who love carbs. High carb (including lots of veg as a source of carbs) is a perfectly fine diet as long as it's fairly low fat and sugar. Neither is 'better' than the other but low carb does have proven benefits in satiety levels.

Also well done on that weight loss!!! I'm aiming for a size 12 cos well...carbs are life

@LunaNorth

I do feel better, yes. And I think I’ve toned up.

It’s the food then. Sigh.

I was hoping for a miracle.

It is the food sorry.

But! It's not all doom and gloom, I forgot to put in my last post that I am also mostly gluten free (partner is coeliac, but I sneak the odd real bread panini when I'm out and about).

I'm maintaining my 2 stone weight loss on roughly 1800 calories a day and a couple of bottles of wine a week.

Typically I eat lots of protein and veg and a small portion of carb on the side.

E.g. tonights supper is homemade Chinese spare ribs with a massive cherry tomato, spinach and red onion balsamic salad.

Breakfast was a couple of hash browns, a banana and a coffee.

Lunch a whole mozzarella, tomatoes and balsamic with some salami

If I feel hungry I eat an apple instead of a chocolate bar

Once you start getting used to smaller portions it gets easier and easier and you stop feeling deprived surprisingly quickly.

Also remember that lots of gluten free food contains a lot of sugar to make up for a lack of taste elsewhere.

I get it, and that's why it works for me - I couldn't cope with feeling hungry!

Sorry, that was meant to be in reply to @CodenameVillanelle

Thanks for all the replies! You’ve all definitely given me some things to think on.

To answer a few questions, I’m 46, a size 14, take daily vitamin D, magnesium, milk thistle and collagen. I don’t think I’ve got any health problems - since stopping drinking I feel great and am sleeping like a log.

And to the pp who’s interested in Open Water Swimming - I’m lucky enough to have a Lakeland park nearby that I can use. I highly recommend it.

All the exercise is mainly for my mental health - I’ve lost both parents in the last year and it’s helped massively. But I had hoped for a little side effect too.

IF and low carb for sure

You can't exercise your way out of a bad diet unfortunately!

However, the exercise is really good for you, physically and mentally. Losing weight is all about eating less calories though.

I'm very active (play hockey/run 6-7 times a week) and I was shocked when I got a fit bit how much I actually burn. I can run a 20 minute 5 k, so Im pretty fit.
Basically, you need to eat less. You just can't put run a bad diet.
Since realising this I have lost weight and have kept it off

I do zero exercise and when I hit middle age the weight started piling on. I still do no exercise but eat very little, partly through willpower and partly through sadness (which makes me lose my appetite). Back to thin, but saying no to lots of deliciousness...

And I realise it's not the healthiest way to go about things, but it's the only way I can do it.

20 minute 5k?!? Hats off to you!

There’s no getting away from it. I can’t outrun my fork.

Back to MFP then. That’s going to be my best bet, as I do like data and accountability, and I’ll be able to eat normal food.

I’ll have a look at the calorie log bit of the Fitbit app too.

@WeWantTheFinestWines

I do zero exercise and when I hit middle age the weight started piling on. I still do no exercise but eat very little, partly through willpower and partly through sadness (which makes me lose my appetite). Back to thin, but saying no to lots of deliciousness...

I’m sorry to hear you’re sad.

I'm 41 and have lost 4 1/2 stone during lockdown. I eat carbs at every meal. I use nutri check which is similar to my fitness pal. I've done ww and Sw, but have found good old calorie counting the easiest. As you put your activity levels, weight and weight loss hopes in the app, it will work out how many calories you should be having. I'm having occasional treats. It's worked for me, you should give it a try.

Try the Fast 800 diet (Michael Mosely) it's a really delicious selection of recipes and the weight will fall off.

Oh and I invested in a Fitbit too and linked it with the app.

You can track your calories on FitBit (enter the food you've eaten in ) and set a deficit target.

So I'd do that.

Then if that doesn't work look at more tweaks. Reduce portions of non essential foods to start with.

You need to burn 3500 to lose 1lb of fat, so you do need to calorie count.

A calorie is a calorie regardless of whether it comes from cake or apples.

So you say you eat a lot and that's probably the reason you're not losing weight.

Thank you Lunanorth. It's the only upside to heartbreak...

I'm similar, op. Nothing I do makes me lose weight. I have been to my GP for a thyroid test and she tells me my thyroid function is "normal". I don't actually believe her and am thinking of paying for a private consultation.

I have given up all alcohol for months at a time. I eat two meals per day with only one of those including carbs. I don't like sugar and don't have a sweet tooth. I've had gallbladder issues for a year and now eat a low fat diet.

I was one stone overweight for most of my 30s, 2 stone overweight for most of my 40s and am now 2.5 stone overweight in my 50s.

I'm thinking of just trying to accept it somehow? Even though I am 5'2" and size 16. Both of my grandmothers were fatter than me at my age, one lived to nearly 95 the other lived to 90.

I’ve been doing the fast 800, on week 7 day 7 and have lost a stone and a half. It’s hard going at times but this is the most I’ve ever lost on a diet.

Dieting does sound depressing. You say you eat a lot, maybe decreasing portion sizes would help? Rather than cutting down entire food groups.