To think losing weight is a battle I just can't win

[starshaker]

I am trying so hard and it's not working. If anything I'm putting weight on. I go to the gym 3 times a week and follow a meal plan. On the days I don't go to the gym I do exercise at home and will walk at least 4 miles a day with my dogs.

I have pcos and am on anti depressants. I feel like I can't win against them

^ OK, I've just read about you going to the gym - that would explain a reasonably high intake. Good luck, anyhow.

Weigh your food. Log everything. Be 100% honest. Calorie restriction gets easier after a couple of days at the new limit. I found that fruit tea (without anything added) really helped at the start of calorie counting for giving me something to go and make and consume in the evening after I'd used up all of my calories for the day.

I sympathize, I have PCOS and struggle to lose weight too. The one thing that works for me is cutting out carbs almost completely. No bread, no pasta, no potatoes, lots of protein and veg. It's expensive and depressing but it does work.

Do you have pcos?
If so try and get that in check before you even try to diet.
If I take metformin it isicj easier for me to keep to a diet otherwise I'm always always hungry and suffer such intense food cravings all the time.
Also, avoiding carbs and eating less fruit and more veg apparently help with pcos. Apparently our bodies deal with the sugar in fruit quite badly... Though these are tips I can't even keep to myself.

Yes, YABU. Losing weight is a battle you can win.

I've no advice, but do wish to express my admiration for your commitment to exercise. Keep in mind how much stronger and fitter you're getting. That's a good thing.

I know what portion control is. I don't eat huge amounts of food. I do measure what I eat. Yesterday I had less than 1500 calories.

It's not as simple as move more eat less. That is what I've been doing for 2 months. I don't cheat what would be the point? It's not like I'm doing this for anybody else. I will try breakfast without the toast

Please don't think because I'm fat I sit with a mountain of food because I don't. I'm also not stupid. Lots of things have contributed to my weigh gain but now I'm trying to lose it.

Good luck star. I am trying to lose weight too and it is hard.

The "eat less, move move" equation is not only a myth but completely wrong.

Try for one week starting today to ditch all carbs (no toast, flour anywhere, sugar), and do less sport. Go to the gym if you want , but only do 10- 15 min MAX high intensity workout. Walk on the treadmill for one minute than run like a crazy woman for 30 seconds, walk again, crazy woman again and so on for 5 minutes.

You are being given wrong 30 years old advice. New studies show exercising actually doesn't help you lose weight.

Continue with eggs in the morning, salad at lunch , ditch the pita and add smocked salmon, tuna or chicken breast, dinner, what about soups, or fish, a big nice steak and tomato salad.

Try this for 7 days. You tried the gym plan for 8 weeks and it didn't work. Not your fault

It's takes longer than eight weeks! You need to keep at it! If you lose weight too quickly, you will get much worse loose skin. Keep going. I was told it takes as long to get the weight off as it did to put it on! 4 years in my case! Argh!

First off make sure there are no underlying medical issues, besides your PCOs, that might be making it difficult for you to lose weight. Like gluten intolerance or lactose intolerance, or your thyroid. Because that will determine which diet may work for you.

Also, look into the side effects of your anti-depressent. Some do have weight gain as a side effect, others' don't. See if you can switch.

If you're all clear, then you can focus on what you're eating.

You should also consult a dietitian about what plan is best for you, as people who work at the gym generally just spout the same nutrition plan for everyone and don't consider individual needs.

Don't get downhearted. Weight loss can be tough.

I would say that you may need to eat more.

How does that work? Surely weight loss is a case of calorie deficit?

Op I really battle to lose weight and I don't have pcos or take antidepressants.
If I ate toast for breakfast, pitta bread for lunch and pie for dinner, I would not lose weight.
Cut out wheat totally and I think you'll find you're weight will start to drop.
You don't have to drop all carbs. A bit of carby veg and even some portion controlled rice would be ok but don't eat any bread, pasta or other wheat products.
Have your breakfast but without the toast. Or have an omelette.
Have a filling soup, protein and veg or leftovers for lunch.
Then try and do non wheat dinners so mainly no pastry pies or pastas.
Keep having a couple of pieces of fruit.

How does that work? Surely weight loss is a case of calorie deficit?

The OP is 6 stone overweight, which means that she probably needs roughly 3000 calories a day to MAINTAIN her weight. If she eats below that, she will lose weight, however, if she eats too little, her body will react as if it's starving, create cortisol and try and retain fat. For a person with a normal BMI, the starvation effect occurs at less then 800 calories a day, so for her weight, it might start at 1500.

Obviously as one "brilliant " poster pointed out, there are no fat people in concentration camps (there are lots of fat people in prison FYI) that's because the body can't continue to store at starvation levels indefinitely, and you will eventually start losing weight, as well as developing a host of other problems associated with starving yourself. So not a recommended option.

The ideal way to lose weight is to initially eat less calories. So, for the OP with her current weight and doing exercise, that may mean 1700, 1800 or even 2000 calories a day. As her weight drops, she needs to readjust, so when she's 3 stone overweight, she may only need 1400 calories, or 1200. And so on.

If you look at WW or MyFitnessPal, they do use this sliding scale.

My antidepressants do cause weigh gain. I'm still trying to find the right one for me so doing lots of changing. The pie I had for dinner doesn't have lots of pastry. My portion would have less than half a sheet of filo. Low carbing doesn't work for me. I end up never being off the loo and I get quite sick. I react to foods that are fatty, rice and pasta bloat me and I'd much rather have different veg than potatoes

I know I have pcos.

star - just to wish you lots of luck and say keep going :)

Perhaps breaking down your weight target i.e. not thinking beyond losing half a stone and then moving onto the next half stone.

Anti-depressants, birth control, and other medications can cause weight gain. So it might not be anything you're doing.

My family has a history of thyroid issues. Medication for that can be a crap shoot. The right amount they lose weight, until it stops working and they gain it all right back. Though a few have found a good medium without medication.

Look at portion sizes too. If you're exercising you're going to be far hungrier than normal, including your off days. Weight loss is about 95% clean eating, good portions, and 5% strength training to tone up a bit.

Lostcat The people in concentration camps were starved and often died of malnutrition and other diseases from a low immune system. So let's not encourage anorexia.

I realized the portion sizing was unhelpful as you've tried that.

My family that has maintained healthy weight with thyroid problems are all vegetarians. It's worth a try if you think you can give up meat. :)

My antidepressants do cause weigh gain. I'm still trying to find the right one for me so doing lots of changing.

Well searching for the right anti-d is a battle in itself, and your body is going to react differently to everyone. And obviously low carb isn't going to work for you (everyone is different).

Have you tried WW online? It's pretty cheap and I found it really helpful.

I'm throwing all my spare money at the gym. I can't afford ww or any other programs like that. I'll look into it though and see if I can save money from something else

I believe they are offering a month free right now. I can send you the link it a PM if you'd like?

Bugger sorry, just realized mine is Weight Watchers Canada. So no good for you. But see if WW UK is offering the same deal. It's about 2 pounds a week?

Have a look at the threads on the 5:2 board. It's known for helping with PCOS and there are a lot of people successfully losing, or maintaining, on 5:2 after 'trying everything'.

Fitfatty I hope I don't sound argumentative, but you seem to contradict yourself in that post, where you say that fewer calories are what's needed to lose weight, when before you said she needed to eat more.

And obviously people living in situations with scare food aren't overweight. I guess people in prison have access to high calorie foods and comfort eating is an issue?

I do believe that weight loss is "just" down to maintaining a calorie deficit. All other diet ideas are means of achieving this, or making lots of money, or maximising health benefits whilst losing weight.

I feel for you star.

I did the 5:2 and it was the worst thing I could have done. I've also never lost an ounce from exercise and used to eat loads more without putting in weight. Medication also made me out weight on.

I hate myself for caring what the scales say, I ate how I can't enjoy food anymore. I am carrying a back and shoulder injury which makes just moving hard at times.

It's bollocks to say move more, eat less or you can do it if you really want. I exercised and ate to the right amount and still didn't lose a thing.

She probably means eat mor of the right thing? Like fibre rich vegetables?