Eating low cal, exercising & weight loss has plateaued. Help!!?

[MouseLove]

I think I need some serious help, ideas or suggestions of where I can get more information of how to change up my diet.

I'm currently eating the same thing for breakfast and lunch in the working week, with a healthy evening meal and not snacking. I work out at the gym, mainly cardio 2 or 3 times a week and try to hit my steps goal each day using my Fitbit.

Breakfast is 2 scrambled eggs
Lunch is 3 ryvita crackerbreads with a thin spread of light phily, carrot & cucumber sticks, plum tomatoes, beetroot & fruit, sometimes a light yoghurt (lettuce gives me belly ache despite me loving salad). I eat chicken most nights with the odd pasta or fish dish each week.

However, since I miscarried in February my weight crept up and has now plateaued with me going up and down 1lbs every week.

I've lost a total of 2 stones last year but put back on 8lbs after the miscarriage.

I am also hyperthyroid despite being classed as 'obese' (I'm 5'9 and BMI 33) and so I'm on medication which might be hindering my progress.

I eat around 1200-1500 cals a day.

What can I do to kick start my weight loss again, it seems like my body is stuck. If I eat more, I put on weight and inches.

Im NOT interested in diets & clubs. This is a serious lifestyle change for me.

Thank you so much for any help or suggestions.

Firstly, well done on your weight loss to date. I started following the Richie Howey Facebook page and whilst I didn't carry on with it (a bit too fanatical for me!) I have followed his approach to calorie counting which, to date, has worked. What you need to do is take your total daily calorie expenditure off your fitbit, add it over over 7 days and then average it so you get your daily average. Then deduct 500 cals and that's your daily calorie allowance. Apparently most of us set our calorie levels too low which can cause metabolic resistance.

I'd always tried to stick between 1000 and 1200 a day but actually doing it this way I've got 1600 a day. It's made such a difference because I'm not hungry any more and am therefore not tempted to pick. I've also stepped away from a lot of the low cal products as they are so carb heavy and instead eat full fat yoghurt, dressings etc. I'm steadily losing 2lbs a week which I'm very happy with. Might be worth giving a try?

It might be a good move to change your exercise to concentrate on weights or HIIT.

Are you a member of a gym, or are you exercising at home?

Thank you footballmum, I'm really trying to be as healthy as I can, we've been trying for our first baby, I'm 33 so not getting any younger, some really good ideas there I'll have a look at the Facebook page you mentioned. I cook a lot from scratch but tend to rotate meals so maybe I need to be a little more adventurous and try new things. The only thing I've not really skimpt on is cheese, I think that might be my downfall. And I'm actively working at drinking more water as I'm not really a thirsty person and forget sometimes.

AccioMerlot I'm a member of a gym, it has everything but a pool. Similar to pure gym. I'll have a look at hiit. At the moment I have to do low impact equipment so treadmill is out unless I'm walking. I usually do the xtrainer, it has a mode that I think would work though so I'll try that next time. I also cycle and then some sessions I'll do some weight machines but I admit, I'm not lifting a lot, I'm like a little old woman lol

I've just re-started my hiit sessions at home Accio and really noticed how much quicker I'm burning calories through the day (Iwatch addict!)

Are you tracking your cals Mouse? I know a lot of people use My Fitness Pal but I've got pissed off with all the US products and weights. I've switched to Nutracheck which I find is much more user friendly. Only downside is you do have to pay for it. Still loads cheaper than a Slimming club though!!

I use MFP but if I'm honest I've not done so for a few weeks as I eat the same kinda things I know how much I'm eating. I should try to get back to it again and try to be super accurate. Thank you. I'll have a look at the other app too, I don't mind paying if it means I'm feeling better. I just want to feel healthy and at the moment I just feel fat and unfit despite my effort. X

How many "cheat" days do you have, where you're away somewhere or its a special occasion so you go off your normal routine and eat/drink a lot more than usual? I am coming to the unfortunate conclusion myself that just one day a week like this where you consume an extra 1000 calories or so (v easily done) can really slow down weight loss...

Portion size could be another thing, and maybe things like butter and oil used in cooking/added to meals? Two tablespoons of oil instead of one is an extra 110 calories...

Also I'm a similar age to you and it is definitely not as easy for me to lose a few kg now as it was in my twenties...it takes so much longer.

You need to use weights if you want to lose fat, not cardio. Yes a bit to get fit but look more at weights. What about trying a body pump class to get you started? Or a couple of PT sessions to set you a programme up?
But it's 80% food /20% fitness with with weight loss. Start weighing and measuring to check your portions at night?? Good luck

Thanks sweetbitter I don't really have cheat days, I eat healthier all the time but don't really log my food at the weekends. I might consume a little more over those days so I'll start to be a little more careful. I also try to be a lot more active during the weekend when I'm not at work. I work long hours in an office and I know that's not helping. I don't cook with oil or butter so no hidden calories there but I do like a coffee now and then, didn't even think about the milk!!

I'm going to do some weights tonight at the gym, thank you for your suggestion fluffydogs my gym also does classes but if I'm honest they scare me a little as I know I'm not as flexible and fit as everyone else. I have hip and back problems and I'm not very strong but I do try my best. X

Be kind to yourself Mouse, what with miscarriage and hyperthyroid meds there could be other stuff going on in your body affecting your weight (let me say I know nothing about either of those issues though). 1200-1500 cals really isn't a that much for a 5'9 person. If you know you're eating a good, healthy diet and doing the exercise you can don't make yourself miserable going to extremes. Maybe go back onto MFP and faithfully log all your diet and exercise for a few months, and if you're still not losing anything you could see your GP and have "evidence" that you've been eating and exercising healthily so maybe something else is going on.