Why am I not losing weight?

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Or am I expecting to notice a change too soon?

Mid January I started c25k, along with healthy eating and in between run days I walk

I cover an average of 35km per week, 15km of that is running 3x a week.

I have cut out alcohol.
I generally eat mindfully and have never been an over eater or addicted to sugar.
I never add sugar or milk to tea or coffee.

But I’m still no lighter 6 weeks on.

I’ve got a stone of baby weight that needs to go so that I can fit in my jeans again. (Baby is now 9 months so it’s definitely about time)

Baby doesn’t sleep too well at night (wakes every 2 hours) and I’m still breastfeeding and those are the only 2 things I can think might have some effect.
But surly with all the cardio and walking I should at least see some improvement by now.

I’d hoped to be losing 1lb a week so I should be close to half a stone down by now but nothings happened and I’m wondering if I just give up if my body won’t change

This kind of thing is so bloody annoying.

I know others will have had different experiences, but mine is that exercise has never made me lose weight (although I expect that you are feeling and looking well?).

For me, only proper calorie reduction has made a difference - this doesn't have to be constantly counting calories, but starting that way definitely helps.

And wine has never made any difference whatsoever! I expect people to say it makes a huge difference for them, but seriously... Not the same for me.

Sorry - I just noticed the breastfeeding part as well. I breastfed my two and always held onto approx 10lb extra whilst feeding. I carried on anyway and both times within a month the extra 10lb had gone.

So be mindful of the breastfeeding and enjoy your new exercise and diet - once you have stopped bfing I expect you will see some good changes. If not, perhaps a little bit of boring calorie control or portion / snacking control, if you can be arsed!

Sorry - to be clear, I meant I carried on breastfeeding and then when I stopped, the extra weight melted off naturally within a month. NOT that I dieted to excess for a month whilst breastfeeding - def not a good idea.

What does an average day of food look like for you ?

I dieted when I was bf. I did WeightWatchers (as it was then called).

I suggest that you use something like MyFitnessPal to track everything you are eating, for a week or so. That will show you what's happening.

Almost guaranteed, you are eating more carbs or calories (whichever you prefer to track) than you think you are.

You can tell us what you eat, but unless you are tracking the size or portions, plus every little "extra" or "forgotten" thing, you'll be kidding yourself.

If you're not losing weight it's because you're consuming too many calories.

Thanks everyone, I’ve no idea how to stop the breastfeeding but I’m guessing there’s a way to go

My daily typical food intake is

Wake up - tea
Breakfast - natural yoghurt, banana and grape nuts

Mid morning black coffee

Lunch - 2 boiled eggs and toast

Afternoon snack - pineapple or a few cocktail sausages

Dinner - tonight it’s a smoked salmon stir fry with black rice, it’s typically a stir fry or a chicken with cous cous and vegetables type thing

Evening - a small glass of red wine at the weekend otherwise cup of tea.
Sometimes il have bowl of rice pudding if I want a pudding. Sometimes a bowl of jelly.
Il allow myself 2 squares of 80% dark chocolate some nights

(Don’t have a sweet tooth)

At the weekend I might indulge a bit more if DH fancies pastries for breakfast I might join him.
We might have a takeaway once a week. This could be sushi, curry, or anything available on Ubereats!

I’m a bit worried I couldn’t reduce this further if it not losing weight because of calories in being too much

I wake up hungry and feel mild hunger throughout the day. I’m never over full, and I don’t eat if I’m not hungry

You need to measure and count your calorie intake.
Just the takeaways and the odd pastry could be enough to tip you over.

Yeah, the takeaway, pastries, and doubtless other few little bits that you aren't including, are stopping you losing.

I would suggest looking at lowering your carbs and upping your protein and fat. Or at the very least, as I said before, actually track everything you eat. The takeaway and pastries will surprise you.

Basically, as someone once said, you can't outrun your mouth.

I’ve calculated my daily intake today which now includes a bit of chocolate to cheer me up and I’m just under 1200

I’m only 5ft 4, so I’m guessing I have a very slow metabolism

I used to be able to eat and eat and eat and not put on any weight just a few months ago. And it’s all just gone the other way despite the reduction in calories and increase in exercise

I can’t really reduce my carbs from today. The only carbs was one slice of home made bread with lunch and a spoon full of black rice with my stir fry

You need to burn more calories than you consume.

Use myfitnesspal and track EVERYTHING. Measure and weigh precicesly and include spreads, splashes of milk and drinks.

If you were truly eating less than 1200 cals a day you would be losing weight.

I don't think you're eating loads OP. It all sounds good. Honestly, breastfeeding makes a huge difference. It's great that it's been going well breastfeeding your little one, and I reckon if you continue how you are, after you've stopped breastfeeding you'll see a change. I don't know how old your child is or when you plan to stop, but obviously wouldn't advocate stopping because of your weight.

I thought I had lost my slim figure when I was still nursing but it really will be back, especially as it sounds like you're being balanced with your approach.

If you’re not losing weight then you are not consistently in a calorie deficit.

When I say consistent it means you are under your required calories across the week. Some days you might be at 1200 but with a takeaway and wine and the odd snack here and there you can easily push that up by an extra 2000/3000 across the week, essential wiping out your deficit.

Breastfeeding slowed my weight loss right down to be honest so that could be having a knock on effect for sure.

But the basics of thermodynamics is calories in - calories out.
If you’re over you will gain
If you’re balancing you will maintain
If you’re under you will lose

Try tracking for calories for a good couple of weeks to get a real sense of your intake.

OP are you actually overweight in medical terms?

I am not saying you must cut your calories if you are bf but to add my details in case it helps at all. I am 5 ft 3, if I eat 1200 I would certainly not loose weight, I am now down to my goal weight of 8st 3 it has taken since September to lose just over 3.5 stone. I went for a 2lb loss each week to begin with and more recently 1lb. I went for a 1000 daily deficit on average and did not count my exercise calories. I am running a similar amount to you OP.
Feel free to ask any questions, just don’t want to add too much to this essay.....😃

I hear your frustration!

I have stopped eating take aways and fried foods. If the family have fish and chips, I will opt for the oven cooked version with lots of salad. This is until I arrive at my goal weight. I feel better for it.

I drink three litres of water a day and have wine or juice with evening meal only.

Gordonsgrin
A 3.5 stone loss is great!

How much do you weigh OP and what's your goal? It may be that if you're very close to target your weight loss will be very slow as the last few pounds always take ages.

I can tell you now just on what you are posting you are unlikely to be eating the number of calories you think you are.

Losing weight is simply a matter of calories in vs calories out. If calories In is higher im you gain, if out is higher you lose.

If you want to lose the weight you need to be weighing and logging your food. Especially high calorie items such as grapes,nuts and rice pudding. Rice pudding especially could be anything from 100cal for small portion to 400cal for a tin. Even one slice of toast can vary dramatically 60cal -120 cal. Theres a real large margin for error

Calories in vs calories out is a broad brush approach and while true for many, it's not true for everyone. My DH has been on a restricted calorie diet since New Year and has barely lost anything despite having stones to shed.

There are hormonal conditions which can slow weight loss down (thyroid being the most obvious), I'd speak to your GP in the first instance although from personal experience they are not great with diet/nutrition conversations as they're not well trained in this area.

We've gone private and are already getting answers. DH has been fobbed off by GPs for years saying 'reduce your calorie intake'.

My DH has been on a restricted calorie diet since New Year

Does he weight everything? I mean literally everything. Is he close to his ideal weight? Is he overestimating to calories he is using (eg exercise)

CICO is basic science. If something isnt working it will most usually be the execution not the science or thyroid.

But have you lost any inches or toned up?? Weight is not the best measurement if you are gaining muscle loosing fat, you could weigh the same or more.

Take photos, measurements I bet you've actually physically changed you just won't notice as your on the scales.