Why haven't I lost any weight ? I've been so good.

[PeridotCricket]

Since Christmas I've hardly had a drink, no snacks, been to yoga and pilates, or walked every day (and walked to work every day 4 miles return).

I've eaten loads of veg and cut down on carbs.

No Christmas choc, no left over Baileys....

"Wails to the sky!"

Weigh and count the calories of everything you eat for a couple of days. If you are genuinely eating less than you should reasonably need and not losing weight, get your thyroid checked. I couldn't shift weight last year, it took me a long time to get around to going to the GP, I regret leaving it so long as now I'm on thyroxine and the weight is coming off as well as numerous other irritating symptoms clearing up. Might not be your problem, but well worth eliminating!

Also, don't forget that if you're exercising more (and therefore turning fat into muscle), muscle actually weighs more.

How do you feel? Do you clothes feel any looser?

Log everything you eat into my fitness pal.
I am SHOCKED at how quickly the calories add up. Even a simple sandwich can be hundreds of calories, fruit is higher in cals than you think and even coffees -esp those bought out- can add up.
2000 cals per day is actually too high for the average person, MFP said I need only 1200 cals per day in order to lose weight! And my BMI is 22.5 so it’s not that I have a huge amount I need to lose.

Hi - I've done several big weight loss programs in my life to get back to a healthy weight. Always always always it has taken a good 3 weeks of perseverance before I've started to see the weight notch back on the scales. If you quit now, you will be back to square one and you completely undo all of your hard work. I'd say stick with it, be bloody minded you've come through the hardest part. It does get easier, particularly once your stomach shrinks a little and your system adjusts to the lower calorie diet. Have faith and don't give up!

....btw DO watch the sugars in fruits!

"fuck me im eating lard!" - ace, I had that realisation about nuts too!

It's only been 3 weeks - but as I'm eating and drinking far less than in the run up to Christmas and moving a lot more - you think something would have shifted!

I'm 50 and probably post menopause - so whereas 2 weeks of keeping an eye on what I was doing would probably have started to see the scales lift...I expect it will take longer now. Bastards.

I'm 13stone and 5 ft 7....that's bigger than I want or need to be.

Are you 'of a certain age'? I am and it gets so hard past 40, you basically have to starve yourself to lose anything (or thats my genes anyway!) My mum is large and I have no sodding intention of going that way. I personally dont think fruit or Alpen are a good idea - way too much sugar, but its horses for courses with this for sure

Thyroid?

Are you doing it just off of your own back with what you think is a healthy diet?

It might be that you need some support or help like the apps mentioned or a local SW/WW group so you get a clear idea of what to have, not to have and when etc.

I lost almost 2 stone last year and that was mainly cutting down carbs and substituting with veg. I didn't cut them out totally just probably had a 3rd of what I'd usually have. I cut out bread almost completely too and drank loads of water. I still had some chocolate, wine etc now and then in moderation. Just be careful with sauces etc as you'd be surprised how many calories are in things. If you can, make sauces (curries, pasta etc) from scratch. I found tinned tomatoes and/or passata a Godsend. Cut fats off meats, grill or fry in fry light and try to mix meals up so you don't get bored eating the same things all the time.

Good luck!! x

don't forget that if you're exercising more (and therefore turning fat into muscle), muscle actually weighs more.

It really doesn’t. 5llbs of fat weight the same as 5llbs of muscle but muscle is more dense so takes up less room. Second pic on this link illustrates.

www.fitfatherproject.com/fat-vs-muscle-truth/

@Bringbackthestripes

You're right, I didn't explain that very well! I meant she might still be the same weight but have lost body mass. You explained it much better!

yep, just trying to cut down like would have worked in the good old days of my early 40s...

CatG85 sounds like sensible advice. I'm sticking to actual portion sizes, stopped toast at breakfast - so an omelette on its own without a piece of toast. Home Made lentil and veg soup at lunch without bread. And then a fairly sensible tea with a load of veg.

I'm not starving, I'm not craving chocolate or crisps. But I'm not stuffing myself either.

Fairly sure there's nothing need checked out by GP just having to accept it's going to take longer now I'm old.

@Petalflowers, I can tell you now your not eating/ drinking the right things. Knock the Alpen on the head and have porridge made with water/skimmed mild instead or scrambled eggs. For lunch have something like veg soup, homemade with 2 pieces or fruit and have no alcohol at all.

Also start having a large orange at least once a day, they are very filling and I've found stop you snacking and overeating.

I'm the same! I'm doing red (run everyday) January, averaging 40 miles a week and dry January. Not a flipping lb off yet!

You cant 'turn fat into muscle'. That's nonsense.

Keep a food diary and see how many calories you're eating, weigh everything. That should give you an idea of whether you are eating too many calories. Yoga and Pilates dont use that many calories - though they are of course great in many other ways. Also, could you up the pace walking maybe? That's great for toning.

Depends on portion sizes, but 'breakfast- enough so I'm not hungry, sandwhich, snacks, meat and veg for dinner" - that just sounds like a normal menu for me. I would not expect weight loss eating like that, just maintenace.
As others have said, use MYfitnesspal or similar and count every bite. It's amazing how it adds up. On some days when I feel I've barely eaten a thing, the app says very differently.

Also, don't forget that if you're exercising more (and therefore turning fat into muscle)

This is a persistent myth. Sorry, you are not building significant amounts of muscle by walking 4 miles per day. An average woman actually doing weight lifting and specifically trying to gain muscle can still expect only about 1 pound muscle gain per month. If you're not losing weight while walking, it is not because of massive added muscle mass.

@GreenFingersWouldBeHandy

A pound of muscle will weigh exactly the same as a pound of fat, just like a pound of feathers will way the same as a pound of lead!

As other PPs have said, list out what you've been eating, see if we can help @PeridotCricket

@PetalFlowers

My observation is that your diet is too carb-heavy - but as a long term low carber I would say that! You need more protein, and to avoid things like cereal at breakfast (and ideally sandwiches at lunchtime as well), and try snacking on veg rather than fruit.

Nuts are not as bad as you all think, yes they contain a lot of fat but our bodies don’t actually absorb most of it as we don’t break nuts down enough (they tend to come out the other end looking the same as they went in), it’s ok to eat a small amount as a snack.

For me I can only lose weight through exercising, my diet is pretty good anyway though I do eat too much sugar.

Stick too it, you will see a loss soon, it’s best to take your time, if you lose too quickly it’s easier to gain it back just as fast.

@BWI yes I know, you can see my admission of stupidity a mere 6 comments above your comment. Thanks!

find out your honest tdee

track your calories accurately and honestly with the lose it app (or mfp or similar)

there's no escaping the science

consume fewer calories than you expend

people often think they have done enough to lose weight when really it was just maintaining, estimating isn't good enough and very few people manage weight loss on exercise alone (also exercise trackers often include the calories you would have burned anyway just existing to take it with a little pinch of salt)

When you start walking loads all of a sudden it causes slight inflammation and you end up gaining a lot of water weight. It’ll fade in a couple of months.
Say what?

PeridotCricket you are my body double and very similar in age too.

I've low carbed since Christmas, stepped up the exercise and it feels like bugger all is happening for me too. However, I know that this isn't totally true. My clothes feel a little looser, my energy levels have improved and my skin looks better.

I'm inching my way towards the menopause and every single piece of information I've read about it suggests that metabolisms slow down, so I'm expecting the weight loss to be slooooooooooooow! One way to help speed that up is by increasing muscle mass, so I'm doing some weights at the gym to try and help there.

I've resigned myself to the long haul and seeing this as a lifestyle change, rather than a short term fix.

Don't give up now - everything you are doing is better for your health, regardless of what weight you are.

I am trying to lose weight too and two weeks in I have lost 2.5lbs, as I'm 43 and post menopause I agree it is so much harder to lose weight.

I have a fitbit and have paired it with myfitnesspal to log all food & exercise. I'm doing 10k steps a day and 30-60 mins brisk walk each day.

Breakfast - Muesli or fruit & fibre, black coffee no sugar.
Lunch - Banana or scrambled egg on small wholemeal toast or salad with ham or cheese plus yoghurt and water.
Dinner - Chicken with veg/Risotto stuffed peppers/pasta bake and orange jiuce.

I have had sirloin or a burger for dinner, just reduced portions size and calorie counting. I eat around 1400 calories per day now but before Christmas I was probably eating 2500-3000 as I was eating all the time! I refuse to go up yet another dress size.

Stick at it OP, the weight will shift eventually if a bit slower than it used to.

Veg has more in it than you think, especially sweetcorn. I happily piled on some from a M&S prepared layered veg thing and realised I'd just blown 150 calories - just like that - on fucking vegetables! I could have nearly had a cornetto for that! :o

I'm over 50 too and you do need to be really disciplined. Cutting out crap just stops you putting more on not take it off.

MFP will never recommend less that 1200 calories by the way.

Also, to a previous poster, it's okay to be hungry :)