I can't get rid of my extra weight...

[eilz]

I am 16 and carry extra weight on my abs, abdomen and hips which won't go away. I have been working out 5 times a week for about a year now, I eat a calorie controlled diet eating about 1000 calories a day. I have seen my doctor who carried out some blood tests to check my thyroid, it came back clear.She checked for PCOS and it also came back clear.She suggested I eat more calories, but that just added the weight so I went back to 1000 calories a day eating mostly veg, salad, fruit, rice cakes and protein foods like fish, eggs and milk.  I avoid carb's found in pasta and I don't eat bread...I have tried everything from eating nothing to taking diet pills, to getting wrap treatments you name it I've tried it. But NOTHING has worked. I'm beginning to think I can never loose this weight, but I need to. For my confidence and because I've put so much effort into it and I need to achieve my goal. My doctor says I will loose the weight eventually but I don't fully trust her judgement to be honest so please help me....

[eilz]

Thanks for the feedback :)
I do cardiovascular exercise mostly, with resistance and weight training too. I do circuit classes and abs classes. I know I need to up my calorie intake but I don't know what to eat without risking putting on loads more weight. My mum was thin at 16, she was a size 8, I am usually a 12 because of my bust size, but  I am determined to get down to a size 8-10, surly it's possible if others can do it and reach similar goals?

[OytheGreat]

Wow, you need to eat more. And, yes, you WILL gain weight when you start eating more. In fact, you may gain weight for a few weeks, maybe even a month or two.

But then, as your metabolism adjusts, you'll start losing again. But you have to have the guts to stick with it.

Also, you're young. You're body is growing. Eat more. Seriously!

http://www.ehow.com/how_4470014_starvation-mode-trying-lose-weight.html

If you want to know why weight loss doesn't happen when you're barely eating anything, it's because the body doesn't have enough energy (calories) to actually use up fat stores. So it'll attack your muscle. However, you're exercising enough that you're building muscles as well. So you're body is consuming the muscle you're building in order to keep you breathing and walking.

Essentially, you've stalled your body out.

The body needs 1200 net calories a day just to sustain itself, that includes brain function, organ, liver, etc. For teenager girls, it's much higher than that. Since you exercise, you also need to eat more. (Watch for pre-mature aging, tooth decay, hair thinning, and possible brittle bones, because if you don't start eating more soon, that will happen.)

Your doctor knows what she's talking about.

I suggest you increase your food intake to about 1800 calories a day and keep with the exercise routine. This is still a VERY aggressive weight loss plan, but it'll also keep your body from stalling.

[lilith4507]

Well,

#1 You haven't said what kind of exercises you are doing, but 5 times a week sounds a bit excessive.
#2 I'm surprised at only 1000 cals a day that you're losing any weight because your body will retain if it is being starved.
#3 You didn't say what your weight or size is, so how are we to know that you aren't actually proportionate.
#4 Look at your parents. When I gain weight, I put it on just like my dad across the belly and my back -- which is where I can't get it off now (back boobs are no fun).
#5 You are only 16. When I was 16, I weighed 170 lbs and felt chubby all over as well. When I turned 18, I had lost down to 125lbs (a little too small) and all I changed was not going to fast food except 6"subs or a salad at Subway and that's when I stopped drinking regular sodas.

That all being said, congrats on wanting to get in shape/healthy while you are young and have the metabolism. I am 27 and just joined Weight Watchers b/c I know that my relationship with food is unhealthy. My metabolism isn't nearly what it was and this is really hard. I have lost 10lbs in 7 weeks and am proud of my progress. I have lost a lot of the fat pad known as my waist/stomach and can again see my curves (very curvy). I think the best exercise i have done is pylometrics -- using the core to shape the body. this includes tons of push-ups, sit-ups, planes, reverses planes, supermans, etc. Just engaging your abs while sitting at the computer or during class is a good way to tighten that area.

Good luck to you and remember that you ARE BEAUTIFUL!!!!!