Why aren't I losing weight?

[quexi]

Just that really?

In the last four years over 3 stone of weight has gone on. We are halfway through the year. I've not had any alcohol this year and I was drinking far too much before. I don't have sugar in drinks. Four days a week I only eat an evening meal, no breakfast or lunch. I don't binge. I track my calories. And I am either staying the same most weeks or losing excruciatingly slowly. I am 38. I don't understand. At all. I was told that my TSH is within normal limits, they refused to check T3 or T4, but did say my estrogen is high. For the last year I've had a very full on job where I'm quite active for a lot of the day, but it's all made very little difference. I honestly don't think I can cut calories any further, I'm already on 1400 a day. I have coeliac so I don't eat gluten, but my stomach looks pregnant a lot of the time. My thighs and hips are the biggest they've ever been. 😭 And I know people say they track everything and they dont, but I really do! And I weigh my food as well. I am at a loss and so miserable. Please, if anyone's experienced and cracked this, let me know how you did it. I honestly want to cry looking at photos of me 4 years ago

What weight/height are you ? I was 10st and at 5ft 3 could only lose weight st 1300 cals a day and was super strict counting them. Anything above that and it didn’t shift

I'm 5ft 8 and I'm 15 stone at the moment and so horribly ashamed

I just want to be 11st 10 again.

Maybe try weight training. It will build muscle and burn calories even after you finish. Might also build your confidence.

What is a typical day's food (and drink) for you?

You might be retaining a lot of fluid.

Cut out salt.

Drink 2-3 litres of cold water a day.

Go for a walk and walk at least 5000 steps to stop fluid pooling in your ankles.

Cut out carbs like bread, pasta, altogether for 2 weeks and up your protein and fibre.

Remember fruit has carbs in too, so try to eat lots of veg. Some veg has carbs too just fewer of them.

See how you go after 2 weeks.

You probably need to exercise more, weight train and increase your protein intake. Also, most people grossly underestimate how many calories they’re consuming.

It's not about calories.

Read Why We Eat (Too Much) by Dr Andrew Jenkinson who is a bariatric surgeon. He explains why calorie counting - in the long term - doesn't work.

If you're on 1400 calories per day then no, chances are you're not losing as it's your TDEE amount

What exactly are you eating?

That sounds frustrating OP. I think as others have said it would be helpful to know what a typical day looks like.

How did you get a TDEE for that amount with the info given?

Typical day would be a work day, so I don't eat breakfast or lunch on these days. I would drink about three coffees at work, no sugar. When I get home I have a skinny whip bar (80 cal) and a banana, then dinner. Tonight was chicken risotto. I am not having massive portions, just typical serving size.

At the weekend, I don't normally have breakfast, I'd have a tuna salad typically for lunch, or an omelette, and I'd have dinner. I drink a lot of coffee, I drink sugar free squash but sometimes I drink Pepsi max.

I work with children and my job requires me to be on my feet for 95% of the day.

I've had success with keto before but my doctor scared the shit out of me because my family has an inherited thing with high cholesterol and she told me that a keto diet could send me to my grave before I was 60

There's some sugars and ultra processed stuff but there's nothing jumps out as to why you wouldn't lose on it - what is the portion size for dinner? Are they ready meals?

Do you track how many steps you are doing a day?
I was surprised by how little I did sometimes when. I was on my feet all day compared to how many I do if I go out for a 90 minute brisk walk

I'm not exceeding 1400 calories but some evenings when I get home, I'm so tired that I just have a snack. I don't understand, I'm baffled. I've been to the doctors about it twice and they have said that my thyroid stimulating hormone is still in normal range but my estrogen is high and my ferritin is low. My blood glucose is apparently perfect. I need some sort of key to the way to lose weight for me. A few years back, what I'm doing would have been adequate. But it's not anymore 😔

Follow the Glucose Goddess on Insta/ read her book. Eating something sweet as your first meal is a really bad idea! No matter what time of day you eat it

No ready meals, I cook.

Tonight I used 75g of arborio rice, some chopped veg, half a chicken breast, chicken stock, chilli and garlic.

No, that's one thing I don't do. I need to get a Fitbit type watch. I've got a dog that I walk but I bet you're right, I'm probably doing way less than I think. My phone tracks my steps but I don't have it on me at work.

Interesting. I will definitely check that out, thank you!

Have you done measurements/progress pictures? do your clothes feel more loose?

Just because the scales aren’t showing weight loss, doesn’t mean you’re not achieving fat loss.

I’m in the same boat but beginning to feel my clothes feel more baggy!

You are not eating enough - your body gets to starvation mode and conserves resources. Skipping meals is never a good idea.

One comment leaps out - you say you have “normal” portions. What does that look like for you? I think we’ve all lost the concept of proper portion size, partly due to bigger plate sizes, what we get served in restaurants etc.

I only maintain at 1400 cals per day. Yhose TDEE charts are pure fiction.

I read a thing about restaurant portion sizes now vs the 50s and our plate sizes too. I eat my meals on a small dinner plate and I have a good scale. I weigh based on the calorie calculations on my fitness pal

I do have clothes that are more loose but my stomach is so rounded a lot of the time, I genuinely do look pregnant :(