Scales not budging!!

[Lj8893]

I started at 18stone.
A month later I am 17.13.

I have been consistently eating less than 1300 and trying to get 100g of protein in. My pre-diet daily calories sits around 1500-1700.

An example of a daily meal plan:

-iced coffee with almond milk and honey
-overnight protein oats
-salad with some sort of protein (I am a vegetarian)
-babybel light
-sugar free jelly
-frittata and veg
-protein shake on the days I workout

I have been doing at least 10000 steps a day, which isn’t much more than my usual steps anyway.

I have been working out 3 times a week, slow weighted workouts.

I have PCOS so am aware this makes it more difficult.

What could I do differently?

@Lj8893 reading this I was thinking PCOS and sure enough, you mentioned it! Have a look at kym Campbell; on her programme, I've lost 20 pounds in just over 3 months. It's designed for women with PCOS. Previously I'd eat very little and barely shift a pound - I also have PCOS. Basically, pcos can mean insulin resistance; so you need to cut any sugar/ sweeteners (within foods as well - it's hidden everywhere), cut gluten and cut dairy (except butter). Good fats are your friends. This enables your insulin to re-sensitise- if that's a word?! I also just fell better in myself; less tired, like a fog has lifted- that's meant more to me than the weight loss x

Thankyou I will have a look! It’s so difficult to get protein in without dairy as a vegetarian though!

I thunk metformin can help with pcos and weight gain, my gp has given it to me for weight

I might try it again, but last time I used it (several years ago) it made me so sick.
The same as Saxenda, although I may try a different type of injection like mountjaro.

How often are you weighing yourself?
Do you weigh and measure absolutely everything?
Have you measured yourself?

Much more cardio exercise.

I think 70g of protein is recommended isn't it? It does sound like you might be insulin resistant, I am too. I have lost 50 lb on fast 800 and semaglutide over the last year. Still have 50 to go but it's really hard without the appetite suppression

I weigh myself weekly, I have measured myself and also no change.
I measure absolutely everything.

Increased Cardio isn’t good for PCOS if it raises cortisol levels. Whenever I increase my cardio, it makes all my other PCOS symptoms much worse.

At least 70g yes.

You are right, I think a VLCD (800cals) is the only way to do it 😕 and I think I will need some sort of weight loss injection to manage that. Just made me so poorly last time (and poor!).

I am on a waiting list for NHS bariatric surgery but I reckon I will be waiting 2 years +.

Could you cut the baby bel and jelly? Also I'd like to respectfully disagree it's hard to get enough protein without dairy, I'm a vegan and eat more protein than you in a day so it's completely doable and healthier. Chickpeas, nuts, beans, lentils, hummus, certain vegetables, I could go on.

Keep at it.

I found when I've lost weight in the past it takes an age for the first few pounds to go and then when they do it goes quite quickly after that.

Look at it as the reverse of when you are gaining weight. You start eating more, the scales stay the same for a while so you kind of think you're ok. You then gain a pound or two, but that might take a little while to go on. Then suddenly the scales are saying a stone heavier and it seems to come from nowhere!!

oh I absolutely will keep at it. It’s just so depressing. it’s depressing when I have never eaten badly, and have always been fairly active yet still have got to the size I am and then see other people eating cake everyday or drop 100 calories to loose weight and it falls off.

The babybel and jelly come to about 50 calories so I don’t think it would make much a difference, and it’s a filling afternoon snack.

I definitely could be getting more protein in with those things you have suggested, thankyou.

It's still v early for me but I also have pcos and have lost 2kg in 3 weeks on 16:8 and oddly, I do feel different in terms of food cravings, getting full etc. I had read 1000 times that intermittent fasting is good for hormonal imbalances but didn't think I could do it so didny try before.

What's also reassuring is the relatively small loss is, I think, focused on my (typical PCOS) middle as I can already do up a pair of trousers I couldn't at the start of July.

I am not counting calories at all which I suspect t is contributing to a relatively slow weight loss, but that's partly because I am trying to see it as a lifestyle change rather than a short term diet. Having said that, between the eating window and some shifts in how hungry I am, there's no doubt my calories are lower than they were.

Ignoring the anti dairy team (I have never heard that with pcos - the inly other successful weight loss I have ever managed was low.carb at night with loads if dairy.. but my.cholestrol started looking a little dodgy so that had to end), I think there are lots of bean/pulse recipes that you can make with some added dairy for creaminess as a lovely higher protein veg option. We've been doing canelini beans with some cream cheese at the end... delicious.