I'm Not Losing Weight

[Meg888]

Hi. I'm hoping someone can offer some advice. I've been dieting since 05/01/15 and the very most I have lost is 7lb. I started off on a fat burning diet for one week where I lost the 7lb (just wanting to kick start a decent weight loss) then I switched to slimming world. This diet basically just maintained the weight loss I'd already shed. 6 Weeks ago I started the Juice Plus diet, convinced SW just wasn't working for me for whatever reason, and all this time later I've lost nothing. My weight constantly fluctuates between 11.13 & 12.1 stone, my goal weight is 9.7 (height is 5'2"). I'm so disappointed, aside from 3 weekend cheats where I had a takeaway (in which I gained either 5 or 6lb each time??) I've stuck to the diets strictly. I exercise 5 days out of 7, doing at least 30 mins Zumba combined with power walking & yoga. In addition to this I drink 3 ltrs of water daily. I've not lost inches, though physically I look and feel much better, I'm just not losing pounds nor dropping dress size. I'm so disappointed, and I feel the times I cheated the weight gain is way too excessive - could there being another explanation? Last year I lost two stone over 3 months on SW, dropping from 13 to 11, packed in smoking last November and gained 21lbs of which only 7 has been lost :-(

[soapnumpty]

I too strugglie with my weight and am a similar height to you. 7lb is too much to lose in one week and i wonder if your body was just trying to recover from that. It sounds like you keep switching diets too, so your body must be very confused! Why not just stick with SW as this has worked for you before, and try to lose 1-2lb per week which is much more realistic. It sounds like you are exercising excessively too in my opinion. I don't understand how you could gain 5 or 6lb in one week, just from eating a takeaway. Do you have any underlying condition which could be contributing to the problem? If not i would suggest pick a sensible plan such as SW or WW and stick to it

[Brinjal]

Watch the carbs.

[Meg888]

Hi Soapnumpty, thanks for your response. I did SW for 4 weeks with no results whatsoever, my weight never budged. As I mentioned I packed in smoking in November and I just nothing I do seems to make me drop and stay below 12stone.

[Old_Geezer]

Eat healthily rather than follow some miracle (or otherwise) "diet". Yes we can get into a plateau where weight doesn't shift long term. I've been like that more or less for about 18 months now. Monitor and list / total what you eat as you eat it or you will be convinced you have had less than you actually have. Try to stick to a daily limit that is not so strict as your body rebels. Watch the portion sizes, make sure you know what you are having so to total up correctly. Try to get accustomed to portions slightly smaller that has become your norm. Don't lose heart, and if you make a RARE slip during the day then shrug and get back to limiting energy input from that point. Reduce the high calorie foods, fill up on the low calorie ones. And stick with it; as said the body sometimes try to maintain a particular weight until it is convinced a lower one is better.

[tinkerbell23]

Speak to your SW consultant? Have u kept a food diary?

If you properley followed SW and have had no joy remember you are due your money back from the class too xx

[pastafreak]

The 'weight' gained from your takeaways is most likely water...and yes,its possible to put on up to 1/2 a stone...particularly if the food is very salty.
As others have said...you need to stick to a plan. Chopping and changing every few weeks does not allow your body to settle into a new way of eating. You are torturing your body. Instead it wants to hold on to whatever you feed it,especially if you are not feeding it much. There are online calculators you can use to determine what and how much you need to eat and reach a goal you are happy and healthy with.
Skip anything labeled "diet" and find a way of eating that suits you.
There is more and more scientific evidence that low calorie/low fat does not work. In fact,ever since the western world adopted that mantra,we've gotten fatter and fatter. Eat real food....cut out the processed rubbish. Cut down ( way down ) or eliminate carbs like bread,rice,pasta ... particularly grains. Grains are what farmers feed livestock to fatten them up fast...think about it.
Get any carbs from lots of leafy geeen veg,berries and low sugar fruit. The body will die without protein or fat...it will survive without carbs. Do not starve yourself...it is possible to eat well,and not feel deprived.

[ummmm]

The smoking might have something to do with it. Smoking is a stimulant so your body is probably still adjusting to not having that stimulant so your weight loss may be slower in the early days. Stick with it and it'll probably kick start again...

Well done for giving up smoking and as I once read...If you have the willpower to give up smoking you have the willpower to stick to a diet.

[Meg888]

Thanks for replies, I've noted what some have said about chopping/changing - I'm staying on the Juice Plus regardless now! I did SW last year so just did the diet on what I knew as opposed to attending the classes. I have never stuck so steadfastly to a diet as I have this year, I'm so disappointed. I had a goal weight to be 10.7 stone for my daughter's 18 in two weeks time, and 9.7 by July for a Florida holiday, I don't believe either are achievable now. I don't want to be over weight in such a hot place, it slows me down and I won't be able to enjoy the holiday as much. I'm just so disappointed, was at docs this morn they're checking my thyroid, and to see if I'm menopausal/diabetic. I eat very healthily, have done all year - it's been fruit, veg and lean meat & fish all the way. I was convinced the carbs on SW were keeping me overweight, hence the swap to JP.

[tiggerblue10]

I've been a yo yo dieter most of my adult life. I've tried Rosemary Conley, Weight Watchers and other faddy diets but I always put the weight back on. I started doing the Diet Chef diet on 5 Jan and I've managed to lose 1st 4lbs so far. I also keep a food and calorie count on Food Focus which is a bit like MyFitnessPal but I prefer FF. Another useful aid I have is a set of digital kitchen scales.

I seem to lose 1 or 2lb per week and I'm now 5lbs off my max BMI.

I know diet chef can be costly but it suits me with work as I'm too tired to cook in the evenings.

[dunnitall]

Cut down on portion sizes, have non sugary snacks to keep you less hungry and exercise as much as you can. It's portion sizes more than what you eat that causes the problems IMHO. Good luck.