Why the f**k aren't I losing more weight on my diet?

[saveoursleepplease]

I only wanted to lose 1/2 stone(ish). Five weeks I started (on advice of my trainer) this diet:

10 portions fruit / veg
3 portions lean protein
3 portions essential oils (e.g. half avocado, seeds/nuts/olive oil)
He gave weights and sizes e.g. a handful of cherries is a portion, a slice of melon, a medium sized orange etc etc
2 litres of water

Week 1, I lost 3.8lb. Week 2 - put on 1lb!! Week 3 - lost 1lb. Week 4/5 - combined as week 5 I had flu and didn't go to exercise - nada. Stayed the same

I do Power Plates with him twice a week (vigorous with kettle bells). I then go to the gym and run 2 x a week for 35 minutes.

I thought I was doing enough and I still am not losing more! I'm 43 and perimenopausal so maybe that doesn't help - and to be honest, I do sometimes nibble at say DC breadstick or have a piece of dry pasta, a few bits from the muesli - but nothing much! Or is even that going to scupper my chances?

So - my questions a) what do I need to do to pull off those last few llbs? I've got weigh in on Monday and I've love to trump myself

It's fucking me off - it's totally boring and I'm still not losing.

Thanks!

xx

I'd write down what I've eaten in a couple of those days, then use one of the sites available (I like my fitness pal) to work out how many calories you've been eating. Then I'd compare it to my bmr and see whether you are eating too much.

Hi 2kidsintow
What's bmr?

Could you be losing fat but putting on muscle which weighs more than fat? Has he measured you? You may have lost inches but not pounds.

You have probably put on muscle do don't worry too much about weight- go by body fat % or inches instead.

No, I didn't get measured - that's a good point

If I'm trying to keep low carb, should I not be eating fruit? Could it be that?

I reckon just keep on and you'll get to your target in a few weeks.
But try to stop the snacking, only because its so so easy to underestimate how much extra you're eating. If youre certain its only the odd mouthful here and there its going to make barely any difference but all too easy to forge how many little mouthfuls you are actually having.

Second using my fitness pal to double check calories consumed.

BMR=basal metabolic rate, what your body requires just to function. Google it to find out how to calculate.

Okay, just Fitness Pal. Interestingly - my smoked mackerel salad (had for lunch quite a lot, made at home) is very calorific. Hmmm.

Think I'll cut it out for a while. I take oils. I eat fish at night. Maybe I'm overdoing it,

And yes the snacking is something to watch.

But it's so boring! I'm not even having cottage cheese or something with a liquid texture

10 portions of fruit and beg is alot for a low carb diet.
If you are eating just the right amount of calorie, those little bits will put you over.
It could be muscle though. Kettle bell exercises strip out fat but build muscle.
Go do your clothes fit?
My pt gave me a much simpler eating plan to follow.

Fruit and beg? I meant fruit and veg. :)

Don't cut out carbs. Not sustainable especially if exercising

My pt gave me a much simpler eating plan to follow.

What was it?! I'd be interested to know.

Do my clothes fit? I don't feel very different in my clothes. When I've lost weight before, I've really felt in jeans, for example

but I don't want to lose a load of weight on a diet that means I'll put it back on once I start reintroducing food

Sorry, DanteV - that was for you - '
My pt gave me a much simpler eating plan to follow.'

Bump

firstly I am not suggesting anyone cut carbs completely, my pt is very against this. But has taught me how to eat carbs more sensibly.
So I get up 6am and from 6.30 eat every 3 hours. He ideally recommends porridge, eggs, Weetabix etc for breakfast. However I don do well at eating a proper breakfast early so I do this
6.30am fruit
9.30am breakfast (porridge)
12.30 lunch (usually a salad, homemade soup, omlette)
3.30 snack (yoghurt, fruit, eat healthy bar)
6.30 dinner. Meat and veg/ salad.

I have cut out pasta and bread. But 2-4 days a week I have a jacket potato at lunch.
The rules behind it are that your muscles need protein to repair and protein keeps you full for longer. The later in the day the less carbs you need. So no potatoes/ pasta on the evening. I also don't eat after my dinner.
I still eat all my food with sauces on. So still have gravy, or curry.
carbs are best for morning and should be not be refined carbs such as bread.
Also I have gone from 8 litres of fizzy diet pop a week to none.
eating every three hours keeps body going.
After a week I didn't miss bread or past and felt loads better.
Myvother advantage is that dh owns a restaurant so last night I had some lovely Greek beef stew. No carbs.
I also am allocated to treat a week, which works fab for me. So Sunday is curry night.
Actually it doesn't seem that straight forward now i have typed it, but it is.
There are more food options for each meal or snack, they are just examples.
he recommends lots of protien. after working out for muscle repair.
I also do kettle bells, circuits, sparring, zumba and do my routine in the gym 3 days a week.
I can type up and pm you it how he has written it, if you want.
In four weeks I have lost 10lbs (but i have more to loose than you) i have lost and inch on each arm and 4 on my waist and tummy. 2 inchs on my legs.
i was asking about clothing a muscle takes up less room than fat, so if it was muscle replacing fat you would feel slimmer.
Like i said its all about eating the right foods at the right time.

Do you actually need to lose this weight? I only ask as I can only imagine if it's such a pain to get off it will be a nightmare to maintain.

I am allocated a treat a week.

Olive oil, butter is also allowed and encouraged.
Also green tea, which I don't like, helps burn fat.

Thanks Dante! Really helpful

Crocodile - I prob dont 'need' to lose it but I really would like to get back to pre baby weight

I am v small and any extra weight is noticeable (to me)

Calories are calories. Doesn't matter what time of the day you eat them. If in 24hours you burn off more calories than you consume- you will lose weight. It's that simple.

Your body does not metabolise a carb any different just because it's eaten at 8pm rather than 3pm.

Yes carbs are good in the morning as they give you the energy you need. Likewise protein will keep you fuller longer.

It is what and how much you eat- not when.

Remember as well, that if you are near your target, its harder. If you loose it, will you sustain it as pp said.
Maybe you should work on tonning more than fat loss? The power Pilates will help, but maybe more focus on tone on your gym visits.

Fruit is full of sugar, so I would reduce that because 10 portions a day is a lot. Try to stick to green veg.

The answer is very obvious. For years, some people have pretended that you can lose weight without doing any real training...you can't (unless you starve yourself).

Get on the rower or cross trainer and go until utterly exhausted (over 30 mins) 4 -6 times a week. The weight will fall off. I lost 4 stone in 2 months.

Kettlebells are a waste of time...and cause injury.

Lara you are incorrect. If you eat carbs at night, anything not burnt off will store as fat. Any protein not burnt off will not turn to fat.
Carbs are designed for fuel, if you are going to bed you don't need it.

Out of those ten portions (seems a hell of a lot), how much of that is fruit and how much is veg?