Why can't I lose anymore weight?

[Simply_Dana]

Hello all, thank you in advance for whatever help you can give!

I used to weigh 220lbs.  I started exercising with Jillian Michaels 4 years ago, and last year not only do I do that I also have a personal trainer.  I can run 3, probably more, miles.  I exercise 5 days a week.  I struggle with the dieting, as I grew up on fast food and I do not understand dieting and have lost patience with trying to learn.  I don't understand carbs, calories, whatever.  My fitness trainer says I probably do not eat enough and don't get enough calories but I'm not hungry.  

I am currently 180 lbs.  I am 5'9", tall for a girl I guess, and my goal is 150lbs.  I've had my heart set on this the last 4 years:(  But for whatever reason I have been on a year and a half plateau.  I honestly cannot workout any harder than I do.  I nearly kill myself.

What is wrong why can't I lose a mere 30 more pounds?  

I try to eat the right things when I do eat, I eat about twice a day.  I'm just not hungry...period.  I've gone from eating too much to not enough I think, but when I try to eat when I'm not hungry I feel sick.  Not to mention health food is expensive.

I want to lose the 30 lbs so badly.  What can I possibly do, or what am I doing wrong?  My fitness trainer agrees my problem is with my inability to figure out how to eat.  I have given up because I am so angry over trying to learn it and not understanding the science and always getting confused with "do this" "wait, don't do this" "do this instead" I am SO done. For whatever reason I am backwards, I exercise like a lunatic and can't figure out the eating (which I hear is supposed to be the easiest part).  

I am close to giving up a lot of the time.  I have kept journals all 4 years but I am slacking on my current one.  I am losing all hope.  I've started sliding back to drinking too much pop this last week which I clamped down on 3 days ago.  I'm starting to feel like since I no longer get results why should I kill myself?  And I do:(

Any help and comments and advice will be dearly appreciated, and thank you for reading!

Sincerely,
Dana

[Dalubaba]

Have you ever thought of yoga, meditation, visualization, hypnotism? Nor harm in doing as an adjunct therapy.It is claimed in youga, posture's efficacy increases if you do mulbandh(Contract root chakrs). Similarly with all work out if    root chakra is contracted , it may help too make your work out effective.That is just my ides. For knowing about mulbandh  Google the word. It may look quire and inelagant, still try to understand it.They also knon as Bandhas.

[GaryPrim]

You say you have kept logs, have you kept the same excercise routines too? Try switching every four weeks, and do both CV and weight training, for four weeks of CV try mixing running, rowing, cycling what ever but train smarter so a five min warm up then go balls out for one minute then slow right down for one min, alternate until 30 minutes are done then cool down, as your a female and I'm assuming you want a times rather than bulky physique, do weights but high reps and low weight to failure but probably no more than 3 of the same excercise and alternate body part. After four weeks change the plan maybe change your CV of choice and incorporate a swim rather than weights to keep flexibility then after a week get back into smashing the four week plan your body will burn calories keeping up. Also as previously stated measure body parts, I was close to giving up when it looked like I had only lost 7kg, but on looking at the tape arms and chest bigger, and I can fit into a pair of jeans I bought as an incentive earlier in the year. Hope this helps and not too confusing.

[jlr173rdny]

Not to sure about the diet pill recommendation... most of those deal with water weight - except the real prescription things and those aren't exactly safe either.  What does your doctor say?  Also, even if your weight stays the same, have your measurements shrunk???? Think about that.

As for healthy eating... I'm not a big fan of nutritionists, but they do know something.  Use the Diet Diary here, track your carbs/fat/protein.  I've had good luck with low carb, low fat high protein, but that probably doesn't work for everyone.  Ask your trainer what he or she uses - they're usually pretty conscious of what they eat.  Tracking what you eat also keeps down the munching (that's my problem).  

Worst case... read read read.... there are lots of books on healthy eating. Look for one that is middle of the road.  Or try Weight Watchers - not my deal, but it really worked for a friend - again they have lots of informaiton on healthy eating and they'll share.

[Simply_Dana]

I have tried them on and off but I have never stayed on them for any long period of time.  I guess it wouldn't hurt to try!

[TyandNoah]

Maybe you should try some diet pills. People use diet pills whenever they hit a plateau just like you, and it's only so that you can keep on losing weight.