I can't seem to lose weight?

[Anonymous]

I have been trying to lose some weight, I feel too big, too bloated, I want to be slender and slim and sexy (doesn't anybody)

I've been going to the gym, and over Christmas I was so busy it went a bit pear shaped and I had an operation so yeah, gymming didn't really happen!

I'm back in a routine, and I'm trying hard to lose some weight, I'm doing weights on my arms and legs to try and tone them. The thing is, I don't seem to be losing any weight, only gaining it...

I do keep an eye on what I eat, I gym with a friend and she has commented that I'm eating the right things (or so I thought), some of my problem is due to my job I'm eating at really weird times (e.g. I work a nighttime shift and if I eat before I go I'm eating at 4pm, if I eat when I'm home I'm not eating until 10:30pm. Both are bad times to be eating, but I don't have a choice :/ I stay up late to try and let my food digest but yeah...)

Can anyone explain to me what I'm doing wrong? I am 5foot6 and I now weigh 224pounds/16 stone (please don't comment with omg, you're fat, I know this, thanks) and I'm US size 12/14. People comment that my stomach is flatter and that I look like I've lost a bit of weight but if I go shopping clothes don't fit me, but exactly the same size at home does?! Help!

[Catie101]

you have to be very strict if you are very serious about dropping weight. you need to limit added sugars to 35 grams or less a day, if that means tracking it in a food diary, you need to do so. prepare your food for work ahead of time making sure it is healthy and will last you through your shift. eat on your break at work, or during your shift if you are allowed. if you eat when you are not hungry and you never let yourself be hungry or "full" you are being kind to your metabolism.

foods for work that are good would be salad (but limit the dressing as much as possible), nuts and seeds, fish, fresh vegetables (possibly with a healthy dip or just plain), sandwiches on whole grain bread (limiting things like butter, mayo, cheese and peanut butter). do not have any juices with added sugar since they are so unhealthy or carbonated drinks (soda). do not have fast food unless it is a healthy sub or something. limit the times you eat out. portion sizes in restaurants are much too large so its best to take home leftovers or even order a side or two as your meal instead (e.g. a soup and a salad). ordering water every time you go out will also help not only your body but your wallet as well. limit alcohol to once or twice a month but a glass of wine once a week is alright (red is especially good for you).

also don't workout every day or at the same time of day all the time. work out maybe 5 days a week so your muscles have some time to repair themselves. work out for 20 minutes in the morning before you eat because it is more effective. you can workout later also. mix between strength training, working on balance and doing cardio. cardio being most important for overall weight loss as well as heart health.

tips:

-you should take your height in inches and divide it by 2 and your waist (right where your belly button is) should measure less than that number in order to be considered a healthy size

- the average amount of weight loss to expect is about 2lbs a week. only weigh yourself once per week, and only measure yourself once per month.

-the time you are supposed to weigh yourself is in the morning before you eat anything and after you go to the washroom

-take your weight in lbs and divide it by 2 and drink that amount of water in oz a day

any other questions feel free to comment with them!

[Asker]

Food - I don't like nuts/seeds/fish/egg/butter on bread/most types of cheeses (I'm quite particular) hence why people comment that I eat well. I don't like the fatty things, too much grease makes me sick, and the foods I listed is because they make me vomit.

I don't work out everyday, I try and work out 3-4 times a week. I have work out, day off, work out, day off, work out, and then 2 full days of work.

I will do what you've said. I've researched an under active thyroid because I haven't...

[Asker]

slept properly for a year and a half, and its only been recently I've started sleeping. No amount of sleep is enough. I've gained weight. I'm depressed (I'm not proud of it, last time I lost weight I ended up self harming and I have recently started again without consciously clicking I'm doing it, both times I was going through awful periods in my life) my skin has got dryer, I have erratic mood swings... I don't pretend to be the worlds best eater or anything but I do keep an eye on it.

[Asker]

Thank you very much for your advice though, it's very detailed and in depth, I appreciate it hugely xxx

[Catie101]

auh sounds similar to me. I've had sleeping problems since I was young, I have an under active thyroid as well as depression. I also have a hypoglycemia and a slow metabolism but yet I am fit and healthy and I keep all my medical issues under control. also I am a very picky eater so I know how you feel.

[Asker]

I don't know if I have one but if I did it would explain a lot. I think its worth getting it checked out... I like being curvy but I don't like being as heavy as I am. I'm in proportion but I'm just... well as my ex said "your cute, dumpy and cuddly!" which isn't the look I'm going for... what were your signs for the thyroid?

[Catie101]

i had a lot of health issues so I ended up getting absolutely everything checked. mainly I was tired all the time, got sick a lot and got headaches a lot but my tiredness also had to do with the fact that I had iron deficiency anemia and the headaches from the hypoglycemia. but yeah you can get a blood test to test all your levels to make sure everything is up to par because any deficiency can hinder weight loss

[Asker]

I suffer from sleep deprivations, nosebleeds, headaches, depression, weight gain, mood swings, skin problems (periodically) bladder infections, muscle aching (but that's probably working and gymming) so its worth checking... if I could give you a hug I would... x

[Catie101]

yeah I would get everything checked like I did it is very beneficial. if a blood test doesn't inform you enough you can go to a special health doctor and get a hair tissue analysis done which is decently expensive but very worth it and you can go to a sleep clinic for a night to figure out those issues. it takes a while to get an appointment with sleep clinics also as far as I'm aware.

[candlewax]

Your first problem is that you're trying to lose weight by lifting weights. You can't really get any significant weight loss from weight lifting.

Two, there is no such thing as "toning" muscles just by lifting weights. Muscles are already "tone." Spot reducing does not exist. You can't pick and choose where weight is lost. So you can lift weights with your arms and legs til the cows come home- it won't be significant.

If you want to lose weight, you have to do some cardio. 60 minutes every day, moderate intensity. Hop on the treadmill, exercise bike, elliptical, stairmaster, etc. Get that heart rate up. This is assuming you don't have any health risks to be concerned about. If you do, maybe talk to the trainer at the gym and get their feedback.

[Asker]

I already do 40minutes of cardio, I know you can't just lose weight from weight lifting but I'm unhappy with my flabby arms, hence gentle weights. I only do 12kg on my arms, its simply to give them a bit of exercise.

[candlewax]

Again, that won't do anything. Your body decides what fat goes first. You can work your "flabby" arms all you want. It won't do anything because that layer of "flab" is still covering up the muscle. Also, 40 minutes of cardio does not equal 60 minutes does it? Up it to 60 minutes and you'll start seeing weight loss. 60+ minutes is what encourages weight loss, so bump it up a bit. But hey, if you want to argue, despite asking the question, go for it. You're the one who ultimately suffers.

[Asker]

I wasn't trying to argue... I was merely saying that I do 40minutes at the gym already, it's not like I do no cardio was all I was trying to say... sorry you took offence, it was meant to be more justification of why I thought I should be doing weights, not a retaliation to your advice... :S

[candlewax]

Gotcha. Again, 40 minutes isn't enough. :p An hour + is the weight loss zone. The only way that weights correlate to weight loss is gaining muscle mass. Greater muscle mass increases metabolism and you burn more calories if the metabolism is higher. But overall, cardio is the weight loss exercise, not lifting weights. Combining is quite okay though. Just make sure cardio is daily and weights are every other day.

[Asker]

I have quite an active job (I work in a busy coffee shop and on the checkouts, granted, not as active) and do my gym work. I do try and keep active and no I don't do weights everyday :) Just don't want the old bingo wings haha. I have very strong legs and huge boobs though which doesn't help the old weight situation sadly :(

[glamphotog]

If you've gained weight even while working out, it means you've eaten more calories than you've burned every day. So you have to workout for harder and/or longer and/or eat significantly less so that your body starts burning your fat instead of the calories you've eaten throughout the day.

It's not so much what you eat as how much you eat (specifically calories). So I always recommend to people that want to lose weight (aka. reduce their body fat ratio) to start counting calories.

[Asker]

I don't eat huge amounts anyway. I'm quite a fussy eater so I don't indulge in things like butter on bread, mayo, nuts, anything like that. I eat a lot of meat. I've always struggled with my weight, but I generally eat 2-3 meals a day, and I don't eat massive portions - compared to friends and family, I seem to eat less. I work out for about an hour and a half 3-4 times a week, onto of work (I work in a supermarket in various sections about 20-25 hours a week and I'm on my feet all day)

[glamphotog]

Couple of things... it's technically does not matter what you eat. Like someone could eat pure fat all day and still lose weight just as long as they burn more calories than the pure fat is in calories. Of course, that wouldn't be very healthy to your body.

Shouldn't compare how much you eat to your friends and family. Depending on their body type, age, routine, etc - their body will have different metabolism than yours.

[Asker]

This is very true... I had eating problems as a child (I used to be REALLY fat and then I kinda had anorexia and bulimia) I eat - no breakfast or if I have anything 2 pieces of toast or cornflakes. A sandwich for lunch. Dinner. Maybe a piece or two of chocolate/hot chocolate in the evening an hour or two before bed.

I wouldn't say I'm eating huge amounts...am I?! I thought I would be cancelling out the food but apparently not...