To think there’s no point being hungry if the weight isn’t coming off?

[Flaribeau]

The doctor has told me to lose weight because I’m at risk of diabetes. I’m absolutely starving but virtually no weight is coming off! I haven’t had a single biscuit or packet of crisps, no takeaways or alcohol at all, I’ve cut right down on carbs, I’ve started walking for an hour a day, and I’ve still only lost 2lb in an entire month.

AIBU to think being hungry is absolutely pointless if I’m not losing weight? Everyone says you lose loads in the first few weeks but I haven’t. I was expecting to have lost half a stone by now. I’m suffering for no reason because the weight isn’t coming off 😭

I was told I was pre-diabetic about two months ago.

I haven’t eaten gluten for 10 years and gave up all processed gluten free products starting from reading the “Ultra Processed People” book earlier this year and then realising that they were just all too high in sugar/refined carbohydrates after the pre-diabetic blood results.

I have lost around 10lbs in the last two months following the high fat/low carb system which many diabetics are now recommended to follow. This recipe book has some lovely recipes The hunger is honestly so much less if you cut out refined carbs and eat fresh unprocessed foods.

Also as per previous posters if you only have a little bit to lose it is so much harder. I did Slimming World many years ago and a lady who only wanted to lose half a stone took ages despite staying on plan.

@Thatladdo ,@Milkkbottles , in terms of how many calories you use up, it's negligible, but healthwise will do you good. It's not difficult to walk for an hour. You can do the walks as part of daily life.

I have a tracker watch and it tells me a 28 minute brisk walk (covering 1.5 miles) I took today burned 93 calories.

Bearing in mind it takes a 3,500 calorie deficit to lose 1 lb, it can be seen that without cutting calories, walking as exercise isn’t going to lead to fast weight loss (or often any weight loss).

I do it for cardiovascular health and to tone up not to lose weight.

Unconnected to your comment, according to Google, the average calorie count for 2 pieces of gluten free bread is 188 calories. That’s without spread / fillings. If the OP is eating 4 pieces of bread with toppings / fillings a day, it’s not surprising she’s not losing a lot of weight.

Add in the fact that two of her example evening meals have sauces and are therefore likely to be higher in calories, the lack of weight loss may well be a simple case of not realising the food she is eating is still high in calories even though the portions are smaller.

Also, add in the fact that if I have toast for breakfast, I’m starving by lunchtime, while if I have omelette or porridge I don’t feel hungry for hours longer (and other posters have said similar), the OP’s choice of foods means it’s not surprising she’s hungry all the time and that she’s not losing weight.

And in the OPs case, most importantly, regular exercise means that she’ll be minimising the storage of unused carbs as sugar.

I don’t suppose you have PCOS?

Can I ask if you are diabetic or not? I know you said to prevent diabetes but people don't always understand what they mean by that. To me that would mean you are not diabetic but your Gp has said, you are overweight so at risk of diabetes.

However if you have been told your are boarder line or low numbers and it can be treated with diet alone, and weight loss.

If you are diabetic some people can not loss weight. I was hungry all the time craving sweet foods and even when I tried to lose weight I didn't I realised I could be diabetic and since then have been started on metformin and have lost 8kg in 6 months and I no longer feel hungry and sweet stuff tasted disgusting to me again (prior to my symptoms I never had a sweet tooth and I was slim)

I notice rice in the mix, I have found I just can't eat rice now, it spikes my sugars and I feel hungry.
Pasta I have to eat less and whole meal but fortunately I did that before the diagnosis and I prefer it, start by half and halving it if you don't like it.
Whole meal bread, and potatoes I find I am fine with
I do have white bread but only as treat for things that are just wrong with brown bread... also sour dough bread I am fine with, I think because it takes a bit of digesting? Who knows.
I eat sugar free musli or porridge in the morning.
I can't even eat corn flakes, fruit and fibre, crumpets, muffins, it is a bit difficult to manage but not impossible.
Basically cut out the very processed carbs.
I expect if I eat whole grain rice I will be fine but it is such a faff to cook.
My numbers where high and even then they suggest diet alone but I knew my hunger was related to the diabetes so I went straight to tablets, I am still not well controlled but I am hoping my weight loss, diet changed and the medication will eventually reach my optimal level for control.

Did they offer professional help, you should eat roughly 0.5-1g of protein per pound in body weight to keep you fuller for longer but my guess is they’ve given you ridiculously low calories.
I can be in a calorie deficit at 1850 and still lose 1lb per week.
I worked out my calories burned naturally by my body using a tdee calculator, this will tell you how many calories you burn a day naturally, even if you were in a coma and didn’t move and then imputed my average movement and it gave me a figure between the two.
the fact you’re hungry suggests you’re eating no where near enough, the wrong foods and not enough protein.
people lose weight on a calorie deficit alone but it’s about knowing how to do it properly and the figure incorporated with exercise, id highly recommend team RH fitness who can work it out for you for £6.99 a month and you calories won’t be ridiculously low.

OP,

I've not read the full thread but there are two things I noticed about your post...

1. You are losing weight for the doctor not yourself ("my doctor told me I have to lose weight..."). You need internal motivation to loose weight. What reasons do you want to do this? Or is it just because the doctor told you to? It won't work if you r doing it reluctantly.

1. The only times in my life when diets have worked is when you track everything you eat.

To lose weight you need to take in less calories than you expend. It's as simple as that, but also as hard as that! So, to loose weight you need a calorie target that you can't exceed everyday. Then you have to write down everything you eat or DRINK and add up the calories in it all. If anything, overestimate the calories. So if a McDonald's chicken salad has 260calories, write down that it was 300. If a tea and milk is around 30caloriew, write down 45.

You can use a tracker app on your phone like 'lose it' or noom. I've used lose it before and it worked well.

You have to be honest with the calories though. Never underestimate. Always over estimate a little. You will lose weight.

(For me to lose weight I have to stick to under 1200 calories a day. Less when I'm slimmer. For you, you will need to find out what calorie target you need. Often an app will help you work this out).

Negligable effect on weight loss. The 200 calories you might burn extra would be more than cancelled out by the choice and amount of salad dressing you chose to overlook/be honest with yourself about consuming while suffering a salad, feeling cheated because its not a takeaway.

Count the calories, round thing up and not down, drink lots of water and stop obsessing over food your not having.