Is it possible not to lose weight on a diet?

[Startofschool]

I'm 10 days into a diet. Been exercising, dutifully logging calories, drinking water, eating fibre, not indulging in some of the self-deceiving behaviour that has characterised previous attempts to lose weight (!) and yet have gained a pound and not noticed any change in the way my clothes feel.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not expecting instant results, but I'm really losing heart that anything is going to make a difference and perhaps, at 46, I just have to accept that I'm going to disappear into a big fat hole, which I really don't want to do.

Anyone else had this experience? Any words of encouragement? Or any methods that worked?

Keep going, its only been 10 days! 10 days is nothing. You can do this, you will do this! Don't worry about the 1lb gain, if you have drastically changed your diet you may be experiencing water retention or constipation and you may experience a bit of a woosh downwards any day now once that resolves. Bodies are weird things, mine holds onto weight for weeks sometimes then suddenly 'gives up' and loses 2 or 3lb at once, no consistent explanation in terms of what I've eaten or done exercise wise.

At your/our age unfortunately it isn't easy, it will take time and unfortunately I find it just all a bit boring, you have to consistently do the right things and eat the right things day after day and slow improvement will come, unlike in my younger days when I could very easily 'run off' the effects of too much hard living in a few days of swift brutal detox - not the most healthy but it used to work for me, alas no more!

I think the only thing to do is to find a 'diet'/eating plan that fits well enough into your life and allows you enough pleasure in food that you can cope with the idea that this is it for life. If you are in the mindset that you can 'diet' for a few weeks/months then go back to 'normal' you are just setting yourself up to yo-yo. For me 'way of eating for life' is the 5:2/intermittent fasting, as although you need to be fairly controlled all the time, you can eat pretty close to a 'normal' diet most days and it allows for some treats and things like eating out - I have to plan my treats now rather than just having whatever I want when I want it but I can at least still have some. For others something like low-carb works well for similar reasons, you can eat a fair amount of food every day (albeit of the right kinds of food, not anything you fancy). Also, I do think psychology comes into it and you need to find non food replacements for whatever role food was playing in your life, whether that's something to look forward to at the end of a long day, a stress-buster/emotional crutch or simply boredom in the evenings, or the temptation to slip back to old ways will be overwhelming!

Good luck!

Don't be disheartened. Losing weight isn't as straightforward as some think.

Firstly, look again at your plan. Are the calories right with your tdee?
Secondly, remember that it's not a sprint. What really helped me was to remember that: in 2 months I will feel it, in 4 months I will see it, in 6 months I will hear it.
Thirdly. Weight in day. It took me few weeks to find my weight in day. My weight moves a lot, I think it's about salt and holding water. For example on Mon I would be 20kg, on Wed 23, on Fri 22, on Mon 19. And some weeks I am the same as before, but week later it drops 2kg. My body is odd🤦

You will get it. Do you want to share some of your data like calories and weight? There are many knowledgeable posters on here who can help

Thank you both - that's really helpful and encouraging. I don't have loads to lose. Currently 10st 12 at 5ft 6 and would definitely like to drop a stone. I've been using Noom - so, 1200 calories a day or thereabouts - and I try not to have breakfast. I think I may swap to MFP as that seems cheaper and I'm not finding the support stuff on Noom that helpful.

I've always done a lot of exercise, which is why I'm slightly surprised to find myself struggling. It must be age! (another thing to add to the list of age-related indignities).

Remember that it's much harder to lose when you have just little bit to lose compared to when you have a lot to lose.
Give it few more weeks and see. If it doesn't budge, re evaluate and change.

I use MFP, am happy with it but can't compare as never tried noom.

So long as you are sure you are in a calorie deficit then just keep at it. You may be having hormonal fluctuations and just picked a really bad day to start! If there's no progress in 6 weeks then consider changing. Good luck.

Definitely. Years ago I diligently followed Weight Watchers for 2 weeks & didn't shift a pound. Utterly demoralising.

Did Atkins some while later for a few weeks and the pounds fell off from week one. Same starting weight.

Thanks! Yes, I suspect there is a bit of a formula for each person. I think I have to face the fact I'm not going to get anywhere while I still have refined carbs, no matter how tiny the amount.