Why am I not losing weight?

[fedupofnamechanging]

Would really appreciate some help and suggestions.

I started my diet a couple of weeks ago and have been eating no more than 1200 calories per day. I am 5 ft 2 inches and weigh nearly 12 stone.

I have stopped eating rice and pasta, have cut right down on the bread (3 slices of homemade bread in 2 weeks) and only eat potatoes as part of a homemade soup or as part of a WW meal (am not doing WW, just eat some of the meals cos the calories are counted out for you).

I can't say that I have given up chocolate completely as I am a total chocoholic, but have cut right down and if I do eat some I account for it in my calorie count. I have stopped drinking alcohol (but do drink diet pepsi). and only have one sugar in coffee (again, accounted for).

But, fuck all is happening to my weight. I am scared that it will never come off.

Have made appt with doctor for thyroid test.

Help!

I would suggest not obsessing about calories too.
I lost 3 stone doing the stuff in my previous post (have put it all on again after 2 pregnancies in quick succession, morning sickness requiring crisps as treatment and cake as a cure for new baby tiredness, plus being a lazy arse).

good luck at the doctors.

stick with the crosstrainer, it is excellent exercise. i got one when dd was little and dh worked away alot. it was great.

I have doctors appointment on Tuesday, because I am also very tired. I do have a 3 year old who doesn't always sleep properly though. Last year I started losing more hair than is usual in the shower and my hair seems thinner. And I have put on lots of weight in a short period of time. I have been eating lots of sugar, so it might just be that, but I am going to get it checked just in case.

Leonie, is the medicine supposed to get you back to an ideal weight or does it just stop you from gaining more. Forgive my ignorance.

Sorry, random italics

Okay, I will reduce the carbs and increase the protein. I have tried in the past to do a low carb diet and failed because I think my body is so used to carbs that cutting them out all at once makes me go all weak and wobbly. Will have to do it gradually, so I can actually stick to it.

Will get fizzy water today and ditch the diet coke and also cut down to 1/2 teaspoon of sugar per cup of coffee.

The yoghurt was ski, but I don't generally eat yoghurts. Was trying to be balanced and have some calcium, because I don't drink milk apart from a splash in coffee.

Thank you for all the tips everyone. I'm finding this really helpful

If you keep eating so many carbs and sugar/sweetners then you will not lose weight.

You could cut down to 800 cals a day but if you are getting them from carbs/sugar you will still not lose weight....your body will go into ketosis instead.

You need much more protein in your diet (the real reason you felt faint last time I am sure! Try an egg based breakfast!) more fruit and more veg. You really need to cut out the sugar and chocolate....I am not saying dont have deserts/treats (I would NEVER day that!) but instead of chocolate/biscuit based treats how about fresh fruit and some whipped double cream/scoop of good quality ice cream?? Not ALL fats are bad fats....eg. I use butter, not low fat spread and I eat good quality ice cream and have whipped cream on puds occasionally....better that than chocolate every day and biscuits which are full of sugar and processed fats.

You also need to drink decaf tea & coffee (I didnt think it would make a difference, but it does!) and drink lots of water - you can add slices of orange and lemon if you want to liven it up a bit.

I really think that calorie counting is pointless tbh...just makes you obsessed with food! Eat good quality food, cooked simply and lots of it.

eg:
BF: omlette/bacon and scrambled eggs/porridge
L: tuna salad/ham salad/jacket potato
D: pasta and sauce/veg stir fry/risotto
Snacks: rice cakes/oat cakes/piece of fruit/yoghurt
drinks: decaff tea and coffee with skimmed milk or black/water/fruit juice

Sounds a bit better than what you have been eating!!!!

Good luck!

Leonie, you have an awful lot to be dealing with. Really hope you manage to avoid the diabetes. Will your doctor increase your medication or would that be bad? (You don't have to answer if you think I'm being too nosy)

Why does the water have to be fizzy??

I dont eat much red meat (find it a bit difficult to digest) but I eat lots of eggs to get my protein.

Soup is a good meal, but it needs to be home made really as tinned soups contain lots of salt.

If you have plain greek style yoghurt you can add your own fruit (and even some honey!!) to make it taste better...much better than ready made yoghurts.

leonie I didnt know that re: diabetes link with underactive thyroid...am having bloods done to check mine tomorrow...gulp!

Like you OP, I have put on weight and am losing my hair...my skin has also gone very odd. I wont even mention the tiredness, as thats a given!

When I ate as I have stated above the weight fell off...

Will add decaff coffee to the shopping list.

Becaroooo, I like all the things on your list. I'm quite good at not snacking, but think I will struggle to give up the chocolate completely. Will certainly increase the protein, fruit and veg though.

Thank you

No particular reason for the water to be fizzy - I just like it and am trying to fool myself that I am not giving up everything that I love.

I used to have 3 sugars in my tea I could not drink it like that now...it would make me sick. Its about re training your taste buds I think...would also say that switching to a really good quality dark choc would be better than scoffing cadburys

My DH has 3 sugars. He is looking at me in horror at the idea of having decaff coffee.

Honestly, its fine!

When I look back at some of the things I used to eat I shudder! (fried spam fritters anyone????)

Yum!

Karmabeliever you've already got some good advice here. I just wanted to post here because I'm 5'2" too and have been calorie counting.
I'm on 1200 cals a day and when I've counted crisps, biscuits etc I've not lost any weight.
I lose weight really well if I cut down my carbs, eat plenty of protein, fresh fruit and veg and keep a treat at around 100cals a day.
You should also aim to drink 8 large glasses a day and excercise for 1/2hr 4 times a week.
Come and join us on the 'nothing tastes as good as being slim feels' thread if you want regular support.
Good luck

collision the IPD is a collaboration of most of the "high protein, low carb" diets around, also known as Pig 2 Twig.

It works for me, my taste buds have been retrained and it absolutely amazed me how much food I could eat and not feel like I was missing out on anything.

I wouldnt calorie count personally, it isnt accurate and is too much work for the average person.

Thanks Shaxx. Will join the other thread.

Am off out now to buy decaff coffee, mineral water, lemons, greek yoghurt and good quality dark choc (for when I am desperate).

Thanks everyone

Jax can I be really cheeky please and ask how much weight you hav lost please ?

laughalot of course you can!

I started on 1 Feb 2011 and I am 1lb off of losing 1.5 stone. Dont ask me what it is in kilos, I work in 'old money'

I am really pleased with myself just incase you didnt already know that.

karmabeliever I was diagnosed with an underactive thyroid in 2003, I'd put on around a stone... Within a week of taking the medication I felt better in terms of having more energy (enough to go to the gym again) but I did diet to loose the extra weight. I don't think you'd necessarily loose weight just by taking the medication, or if you did it would be very gradual.

Also IME doctors will not prescribe any medication if you are only very slightly underactive.

BTW my experience is not like Leonie's at all - I take 100mcg a day and I feel totally 100% fit normal & healthy. I have it tested every 6 months and dose hasn't been adjusted for nearly 7 years (other than pregnancy). I am a gym goer, currently training for triathlon, and feel great, always have enough energy for my training. Haven't had any symptoms since I started the medication in 2003. I also have pcos, but thats totally under control with diet. And I have been able to loose weight no problem (low carb works very well), and I have no belly fat at all (now BMI down to 22.5 and body fat at 25%), after 3 pregnancies tummy totally flat.

1200 calories is the recommended minimum calorie intake I read, and you need to adjust that to take into account your activity level. I find if I eat too few calories and little fat, I don't lose weight. I think you may be eating too little, and perhaps the wrong things.

My BMR (base metabolic rate) is 1500 calories, this is what I should burn on a day doing no activity at all. www.bmi-calculator.net/bmr-calculator/

This puts my total calorie needs at about 2000-2100 calories today, based on my being lightly active and exercising 3 times per week (beyond my usual activity, I don't include school run walking, only exercise that takes my breath away or makes me sweat).

For an easy to achieve weight loss, I cut 500 calories a day, which works out at losing 1lb a week through diet alone. You do have to be careful with measuring and recording calories though, it is very easy to get it wrong.

Increasing activity sometimes helps me to increase weight loss, but I tend to exercise to feel good and improve my muscle tone, because your muscles are what give you shape. So whilst I am exercising more, it's not because I am trying to lose weight quicker, so I stick to the -1lb weekly target.