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1612720 tn?1298346909

Eating well and NOT losing weight

I weigh approximately 205lbs, and am 40 years old.  I have been overweight now for about 17 years (the age of my oldest child...) and decided that I can no longer stand to be this heavy.  I am 5'4", and I would like to weigh about 125-ish.  My issue is this:  I am a classic undereater who tends to binge because I'm starving.  The binging may have only been once a week.. or twice a week, but apparently it was enough to keep me in this state of "fat".  

Since deciding to journal my food intake over a month ago, I have noticed that I barely break the 1200 calorie mark almost every day.  Keep in mind I am not trying to starve.. I am eating what I consider to be healthy; a lot of fresh veggies, and a lot of lean protein with a few healthy carbs mixed in.  I haven't had but maybe one sugary or fatty snack in over a month.  

This is a typical day for me:  
Breakfast:
2 egg whites or 1 boiled egg, pear/apple, coffee or water

Lunch:
2-3 small cucumbers
Garden salad with 2-3 Tbs. of dressing
Tuna (1 can or pouch) plain
1 can (2 servings) of Healthy Choice Soup

Dinner:
This will vary, but often does not exceed 300 calories

I am averaging 1100-1200 calories a day, and for the life of me cannot understand why such a deficiency isn't creating more of a weight loss.  I understand that at my weight, in order to maintain 200+lbs, I should consume approx. 2700 calories/day.  I have now restricted drastically with little to no results.  In my estimation, I should be losing at least 3lbs a week.  I have also been moderately exercising when my work schedule allows.  Can anyone tell me what I am doing wrong?  I am making healthy food choices, and cutting calories.  This with added exercise for nearly a month should be fairly effective, but it's not.  What am I doing wrong?  
4 Responses
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1620257 tn?1306321772
As a couple of other people have said, the main thing I'd recommend is upping your exercise.

If you find it difficult to fit in, you could try purchasing some dvd's that you can do at home.

In regards to your diet, it does seem odd that you wouldn't be losing weight. However it is possible that your body has gone into 'starvation mode' and is holding on to everything you eat, because you are actually eating too few calories.

Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Hello!

Along with the diet plan you have to go for regular cardio such as running, jogging, cycling, skipping, swimming, treadmill, elliptical or cross trainer.

It is all about controlling your input i.e. your diet which you are doing along with a proper output to lose all the extra calories you have put.

Take a target for a year and if you follow these two things then you sure will lose all the extra pounds.

Take care!

Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I'd suggest that you speak with your primary health care professional before altering anything with your diet or exercise program.  I am not a health care professional but have been successful in losing about 50 lbs in the last 6-8 months.  

I'd suggest perhaps you aren't eating enough, or eating enough at the right times.  Small balanced breakfast, low on carbs...(carbs tend to make us more hungry) healthy snack before lunch.... balanced lunch..... healthy snack between lunch and dinner, then a healthy balanced dinner.  I'd also suggest drinking plenty of water and making exercise part of your daily routine just like brushing your teeth.

And as for what you should be losing per week??? How did you come up with losing 3 lbs per week?  That really isn't too realistic.  I know that the first week I dieted, I blew 6 lbs in one week, then about a pound each subsequent week.... it bummed me out.  A friend who is a trainer told me 2 important things.  Weigh in at about the same time, every time.  #2 Weigh in about once a week.

Exercise every day, and get used to doing different exercises.  Varying the routine daily does not allow the muscles to adjust or become familiar with the routine and supposedly makes for burning more fat.  (I just thought of this too, and it is the case in my case)  You may be gaining muscle mass.  Instead of losing weight, you are staying the same by developing muscle mass. (I actually began to gain weight because of my training routine.  I was training like a body builder which is really all I knew.  Now I concentrate on cardio, cardio, cardio!  The treadmill, the stationary bike, the eliptical machine and the stair stepper are my best friends  in the gym.  (Train at your own pace, and when that becomes too familiar, crank up the effort)

What will be happening in that case is your clothing will begin to fit differently.  Muscle is obviously smaller than fat, and with that being the case, your clothes will fit differently.

You can do this, but please... check with your health care professional.  That is your best start.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
How much water are you drinking?  Are you getting 64 ounces.  We need the water to flush out the fat.  

Maybe add some snacks and eat 6 meals to create a burning metabolism.  
Helpful - 0

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Arlington, VA
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