lbs just not shifting - what am I doing wrong???!

[curlyLJ]

I have been really good for the last 3 weeks - cut out all the crap from my diet, eaten healthily and smaller portions. No crisps, sweets, choc AT ALL and yet the scales tell me that I have barely lost a lb!

Am having 50% of my meal as veg/salad or fruit and have really cut back massively on bread as I know that can be bad.

Have even been out for a short run on average twice a week, nothing strenuous enough for me to think that the fat is burning off and being replaced by increasing muscle mass yet really though (surely not?)

I don't see what else I can do...why is it not shifting?!
DH says to give it time, but he has lost 5lbs at least, and has only been going a tad longer than me!
May as well have carried on stuffing my face with crisps

Are you eating enough? Maybe your body is going into starvation mode and storing more because you're not getting enough calories. I think you should be going for at least 1400 cals per day.

And I think you need to up the exercise.

More exercise! Men seem to lose weight more easily.
Maybe your portions aren't quite as small as you think too.

Are you on any medication. Some stuff can interfere with weightloss, even otc meds.
It can be surprising what people take without really realising, hay fever tablets, a few paracetamols, something for the time of the month, the pill, its worth checking with your pharmacist if this might be your problem.

If not on any meds please ignore.

I've come back with a more helpful reply!
Look really carefully at how little extra calories sneak in- butter, milk, jam, etc. I find bread (with butter) is one of the things I really have to restrict to see weight come off - so at breakfast I have cereal or porridge, but I have to resist the desire to have toast too.
Eat fruit when hungry - but keep that to no more than 4 portions and watch out for high calorie fruit snacks like raisins.

Not really counting calories, but I know I'm definitely getting at least 1400 Hercy

Yes maybe portions aren't that small Beamur, but compared to what I was eating before all this, they definitely are - plus none of the snacking etc (crisps are my biggest downfall, but I have had none!) so still would've expected some shift in weight...

Find it hard to fit in more exercise as I have a 3yo DD which means I have to sort childcare if DH isn't home in the evening or on my non-work days.

I am taking some meds, but I have taken them before and I don't think they have caused me to gain weight.

Also, (maybe TMI) but even though I have been eating tonnes of veg and more fruit, I seem to be a tad constipated. Haven't had any No2s since Monday which is odd... Maybe a big poo will give me a couple of lbs weightloss

On the bright side - if you weight is the same, you may have found the diet you mostly need to follow to maintain your weight.
I've been following a programme that is meant to give me 1600 calories a day and I'm not hungry, but it is restrictive - you get a treat allowance of 125 calories a day - which is the equivalent of maybe 2 plain biscuits, or a small bag of crisps. However, I have lost 17lbs following this. It has been a sobering experience to appreciate how differently I need to eat to lose weight and keep it off, from the food I would eat without thinking about it.

A big poo might help! Eat some apricots and drink more water

thanks Beamur you've been very encouraging and helpful

I have actually been drinking far more water than normal too, which makes this even more weird. I have cut down on tea and coffee and have been taking a full 750ml water bottle into work with me which I re-fill up at least once, if not more during the day...

I hate counting calories, but I have been loosely following the rules of the Slimming World Extra Easy plan - just from what I have gleaned from the forums - I haven't joined or got the books!

Is your period due? Perhaps with constipation and static weight this could be the case and in the next week you will suddenly notice a miraculous loss!

Eat 2 tablespoons of linseeds every day with your cereal or yoghurt
It'll get things moving in the bowel area
Then your metabolism will kick in & you'll see scales move

Have you much weight to lose?

It's very hard to lose half a stone for example

thanks.
This is (more or less) what I've been doing.
www.bhf.org.uk/heart-health/prevention/healthy-eating.aspx
You don't count calories per se, but you do follow portion control and have to meal plan on that basis.
I'm 'allowed' something like 7 portions of carbs (bread, rice, etc) 2 portions of protein, 4 veg, 4 fruit, 3 fat (or sauces) and 2 dairy plus 125 cals of treat and 1/3rd pint of milk. This was worked out for me on the basis that for my height/age/weight my basal metabolism burns 1600 cals a day - so if I eat that but do exercise, the exercise will help take off the extra weight. It does work.
I have been weighed in and given weight management advice for 10 weeks and now keep going for weigh in every 2/3 weeks, although I have got some scales at home now and weight myself once a week too. I've just had about 6 weeks 'off' as I was getting bored, but managed to only gain 1 lb in that time, so my newer eating habits are helping, but am back on it this week and finding it ok again. I'd like to lose another 20 lbs ideally.

You need some serious exercise to kick start your metabolism. Spinning or interval training ideal for this, also weights as muscle burns more calories than fat. Diet and light jogging alone won't produce sustainable results. You need sweat!

thanks all, I have about a stone to lose.

Captain thanks for that tip, I think I have some linseeds in the cupboard, so I can try that from tomorrow.

Beamer - thanks for that, I'll have a look at that link. I am thinking it might just be worth my while joining SW and getting all the books and info, but then either not going back, or just go back occasionally as I'm not bothered about the weigh-in - I can just as easy do that at home than pay a fiver for the privilege.

ChaCha believe me, when I am running I am definitely sweating! I wouldn't exactly call it light jogging - I do about 3 miles or so and work at pace that I wouldn't be able to chat. I do also do interval training on the treadmill at home, but I prefer being outdoors to be honest.

I also need to work in some toning stuff, so am going to give the 30 day squat challenge a go as my legs n bum need the most attention!

I think to worry about it after 3 weeks isnt a concern your not giving yourself enough time. If you were obese then you would have more lose but if its just a stone then its harder to shift.

thanks Bacon - I have now lost another 1-1.5lbs (fluctuates up and down) so I think slowly but surely is the key here...

I am now in week 4 and have been upping my water intake even more and that seems to be really helping too.