Help with weight loss - frustrated.

[chocolateforthewin]

I’m hoping someone might be able to offer some insight.

I’m 5ft 1, weigh around 62.6 kg, and my BMI is about 25. I am wanting to be around 58kg which I know I can get too as been there before although this was during a point of intense stress. I’ve been tracking my calories and eating roughly 1,400-1,500 a day. I also exercise about four days a week, usually running or doing reformer Pilates, and I’ve been keeping this up for around six weeks now.

Recently I’ve also started eating three proper meals a day, including breakfast, after years of skipping it. I’m vegetarian and try to have a cooked meal in the evening, with something like a pitta and Quorn for lunch.

What’s frustrating me is that my weight doesn’t seem to be trending down. It might drop slightly for a day or two, but then it jumps straight back up again and I feel like I’m stuck around the same weight.

It’s gotten to the point where I’ve even thought about the weight-loss injections, although I doubt I’d qualify for them and I’m not sure they’re really right for me. It just feels like my metabolism needs a bit of a kick-start.

One thing I don't do at the moment is drink enough water but that's because there is currently an issue with the toilets at work. Once sorted I will be trying to drink more.

I'm getting frustrated as seeing everyone else dropping. Does anyone have any idea what I might be doing wrong, or what I should look at changing?

I suspect you'll need to reduce your calories (the joys of being short!).
I'm 5ft1, now 54kg and very inactive due to disability (so that will make a bit of difference) and my maintenance is 1300, I had to drop to 1000 to loose a lb a week. Have you put your stats into a calorie calculator?

I would try and have one day a week where you fast and just eat 2 light meals soup/veg & protein, sometimes the one day makes a huge difference if you eat well over the week.

You're not reducing your calories enough.

If you do not want to eat breakfast, don't. That will add intermittent fasting to your day, which can really make a difference. Also think about tracking what you eat in terms of nutrition, using a tracker or app, like Chronometer, as well as calories. Vegetarians can easily miss out on getting enough protein on a day to say basis and also certain vitamins and minerals too.

Best wishes and good luck!

Its an annoying place to be, I've gone from being super strict with myself - no breakfast/lunch, to being told I need to eat more - PT and now I need to eat less again.

What are you eating for breakfast?
What are you eating for lunch? A pitta bread is about 165 calories. How much/what sort of Quorn?
What does a cooked meal in the evening look like calorie-wise?

"I’ve been tracking my calories and eating roughly 1,400-1,500 a day" - how carefully are you tracking the calories?

This is depressing. I’m exactly the same OP. I’m stuck at 10st 3lb and want to be 9st 7lb (am short too) and being strict. Need to be more strict 😬

Breakfast - 150grams of greek yoghurt, 30grams granola, bit of honey and cinnamon.
Lunch - One Pitta, lettuce, 2 quorn fajita fillets, low fat mayo - yesterday as we were out I had a falafel wrap from M&S.
Dinner - Last night I had a Tofu and rice meal which was around 500 calories. Had cauliflower and quinoa, miso and tahini in it.

Meals are generally around the same calorie amount every evening if I am cooking them. Sometimes after reformer its a soup tin with two slices of bread, probably need to cut down on the bread as it generally upsets me.

Im certainly getting better at tracking calories, although the weekends have been a bit ad hoc if Im out and about. The last couple I have managed to do consistent tracking.

I dont track my coke zero in take, have probably a can a day.

Coffee - have a latte in the morning with sugar free syrup and a 2x coffee with milk and a sugar a day... this I have been tracking as well. Maybe I take a sugar free syrup into work with me...

@catin8oot5 I know, its a line between wanting to be a certain weight and also trying to enjoy life. I admit I enjoy food so eating just to survive has been a restrictive journey.

I have a larger bust and all weight seems just to go there - for many people this would be a joy but for me it really effects my mental health which is why I am intent on being a lower weight. When I am on my period my whole chest just hurts, especially when heavier.

I would ditch the Coke Zero and and sugar free syrups and replace with water. I would look at your protein intake - you seem quite carb heavy?

I'm BMI 25.7 and need to lose around 8lbs and my weight loss calorie goal is 1350. So, I'd aim for under 1400 if I were you.

Maybe cut out carbs in the evening, add a bit more protein.

God dammit, my small joys.

When you say carb heavy - and this might sound like a stupid question. Is it the obvious things like the pitta, rice and obviously bread when I have it? Is there something I am not seeing?

This is all very helpful, thank you. I really appreciate it.

Yes, bread and pittas and rice. Anything which has had sugar and fat removed will do your metabolism no favours. Whole foods, full fat, plenty of movement and exercise. These foods will satiate you when your body has genuinely had what it needs from them.

The carbs: 30grams granola, bit of honey, pitta, rice, sugar (all empty calories)
There's very little veg and no fruit in your daily intake.
Ditch the low-fat, sugar-free etc.

Your calorie intake IMO is too high for you to lose weight, but is not high enough to cause you to gain weight, but the absence of veg and fruit is a problem.

At 5'1" and 9st 12lbs, I'd guess you need to lose about a stone or so. You could do that if you cut your calories drastically for about a month - 6 weeks.

weight-loss injections - don't do it.

also exercise about four days a week, usually running or doing reformer Pilates
How far and how fast is the running?

I'm 5'4''and have to eat less calories than that to lose weight. You need to cut it further and/or increase your exercise

It sucks. I'm also short and big chested

I'd suggest skipping breakfast and trying to replace some carbs with proteins

Try OMAD for a week.
It always works for me.

You're nowhere near eligible for WLI.
It looks to me like you're consuming a lot of carbs and too few vegetables.

So reduce carbs and increase veg/protein - add fruit. Got it.

I've been following recipes for breakfast and lunch from a coach, looks like I need to rehash it.

So reformer is normally an hour and the run I am trying to get up to an hour full running but currently dropping for a walk every now and again during the hour - watching Farscape to keep me entertained.

Looks like I am going back to skipping breakfast, or maybe having some fruit instead. 😂

So previously was skipping breakfast and lunch and probably hardcore snacky, which is what made me change my ways as although lower weight it was very unhealthy. Now I am eating more regularly but putting on weight so need to find a healthier middle ground.

I’m the same height but almost 13st so my BMI is in the obese category. I’m tracking my calories with Noom now - I’ve had good results from calorie counting in the past, it’s surprising just how easily you can overreat if you don’t keep track. Sounds like you’re a healthy weight OP.

Good luck.
Given my bmi is 28 it seems a bit silly for me to give you advice anyway ;)
Hopefully small changes will see the scales move

Thank you @VividDeer and good luck to you too.

Its a continuous learning curve with it all.

My friend is the same height as me but absolutely tiny and she can eat for England. Im always super jealous.

So reduce carbs and increase veg/protein - add fruit. Got it.

Increase veg by a lot, protein a little. Ditch the granola and pitta.

Not bothered about fruit - don't really like it (despite eyeing up the medjool dates on my desk earlier)

Add a tiny bit of fat.

Your food looks like 'diet food' - miserable.

Your exercise looks ok.

I don't bother calorie counting but I don't really eat much that isn't of the veg+protein+fat variety. A friend said 'it's not fair you can eat what you like' but what she likes isn't what I like.
You can eat loads of spinach with a poached or boiled egg and it's delicious.
You can't eat shedloads of quality streets and not put on weight.

This is a really useful thread OP. I'm also short and larger chested - I've lost 3 stone over the last two years and I am feeling soooo much better but would really like to lose 6 more lbs. I've stayed the same weight for over 7 weeks in spite of staying on (my original) plan which has been really frustrating. The penny has just dropped that I won't lose more unless I eat even less - bit depressing but I feel better for the wake up call! Some great advice from posters - thanks all.

I'm wondering if you might be eligible for breast reduction surgery, I don't know the criteria but if they're very large, often hurt and are negatively affecting your mood, could it be something to look into?

As for diet, I'm short too and have only lost weight by reducing carbs to about 50g per day, alongside a lot of protein. Maybe it doesn't have to be that low, but that works for me better than counting calories.