What am I doing wrong?

[Anonymous]

I will be 25 next week and I am 5'7, 235lbs, shirt size L-XL and pants size 20-22. I am fat I know this, so please no fat jokes or telling me I might as well kill myself like some of the tools on here seem to suggest for everything.

I carry the weight somewhat well and my job is intensive labor. I lift 80lb boxes all day and then am constantly walking. I wore a pedometer for awhile and on average I was walking, on average, 9.8 miles a shift.

For the past 6 months I have been eating fruit, vegetables, grilled chicken or just plain low sodium chicken broth and a plain baked potato.

I don't know what else to do, my doctors have checked my thyroid but they say everything seems to be in order and that results from all of my tests show that I am healthy (I don't look like I weigh what I weigh).

I have tried Weight Watchers, Jenny Craig, Nurtisystem, Atkins, Hydroxycut, Slim Fast, South Beach, Cabbage Soup Diet, various pills and supplements. I had a personal trainer and a dietician for a year spent a crazy amount of money and never lost anything.

Im just very discouraged. My friends and family never see this insecure side of me I am always outgoing and the life of the party on the outside but on the inside I hate myself. I want to lose the weight. I just don't know how to do it. I have even thought about plastic surgery but I don't want to waste money on the chances it will come back even though I have changed my eating habits.

[nermalinda]

I'm gonna tell you what's up, but it's up to you to try it.

You're not losing weight because you're not eating enough.

Your metabolism NEEDS more food to function. It's like a fire, if you don't fuel it, it will die down and barely burn.

Eat real food. And as much as you want.

Avoid junk food and sweets (except maybe once a week at a treat), but otherwise, anything goes.

Breakfast could be a couple eggs with cheese and some toast with your topping of choice. Make it taste good.

Have snack, like a glass of 2% milk and a big apple.

Then for lunch have a big sandwich on real bread with some kind of meat, a little mayo, and some veggies. Drink some tea or natural juice.

Have another snack. Whole wheat crackers with cheese is tasty.

Then have a real dinner like spaghetti and meatballs. You can always use whole wheat pasta and turkey if you want to be healthier, but go ahead and use a little parmesan. Maybe have a side salad for veggies. Or some broccoli.

Getting your metabolism back takes TIME. This is not a quick fix, but it's the only one that works long term.

Your weight will fluctuate, then you'll feel your appetite coming back with a vengeance, that is a great sign that the fire has turned back on. Then your appetite will naturally fluctuate as your body adjusts to a healthy weight.

Eat balanced, don't cancel out anything, but try to use healthy ingredients.

The fact that you are very active only highlights your need for food.

You've tried every form of restriction, now try the opposite and watch "over"feeding do what everyone says is impossible.

[justme20]

are your periods irregular by any chance? see an endocrinologist. they will do a FULL hormone work upt. You hormones could be out of wack meaning FSH/LH factors (hormones that produce your period), to issues within the hypothalamus and pituitary gland all which make up all the hormones in your body along with the adrenal glands. There could be multiple issues that can cause you to not lose weight. I am also the same way so I am giving you advice from my expereience and I was sort of diagnosed with PCOS (the hormone aspect not the cyst aspect).. if you ever want to talk please feel free to add me.

good luck!

[Asker]

Cool, thanks for the information, I will definitely look it no seeing an endocrinologist!

[justme20]

thanks for best answer!

[Ubetiburn]

If you have changed your eating habits and exercise and it did not work, try again. If after a second revamp (go vegetarian for a couple months). Also your job seems to be like UPS and you are using the same basic muscle core groups that men work to bulk up. I would think that your job is not helping as much as it is hurting. You might want to counteract that, swimming is one of the best forms of exercise.

I am 6'1, 230-240# and a white male. My wife is 5'2-5'4" tall and wears a 24 so I can attest to the fact that there are men that either like or WANT bigger females, I hope that this is not all over a man or wanting one...

Weightloss procedures are a stop gap in that they are helpful but so many think that it is an end all that afterward they are/will be thin and they do not have to do nothing. I would rather be my weight then deal with all the problems people have with by-pass surgery. Skin hanging off the body where there was large fat deposits...no thanks. I would rather have a large stomach then a huge flap of skin hangging down towards my privates or beyond...yeah pretty sure that some would find that less appealing then my original weight...

You bust may also be a big factor in your weight not seeming to drop, if you are dieting and burning off enough calories, this is the first (normally) place that you see a little "reduction" in weight/size. If not your intake is still higher then your burning.

[Asker]

This started off being over a man and now its just because I want to be able to be comfortable with myself and where cute clothes without feeling discouraged.

[kheserthorpe]

How much fat vs muscle?

What's your body temperature in the morning?

Pulse? Blood pressure?

How do you sleep?

Any other physical issues beyond weight?

[Asker]

Idk fat vs muscle but I'm pretty sure I'm more fat in my stomach area although my arms and legs are actually quite toned.

Pulse 70 BP 120/76

I sleep okay I work overnight so my pattern varies.

Physical issues: ulcerative colitis other than that I'm good

[crookthings]

Just an idea: link

Also my similar story: I gained weight pretty steadily from age 13-18 despite my really healthy lifestyle (and a few irrational diet strategies). They checked my thyroid and everything was fine. I asked them to test my hormones and oh look, I have PCOS :P I got on birth control so I could have periods, and I stopped gaining weight, but never lost any.

To be honest, I feel really good the way I am, because I take care of myself regardless of whether or not I lose weight. If you only feel bad about yourself because of how you look, maybe it's time to change the way you think about what constitutes a "good" or "bad" body, as much as other people may violently disagree with you.

[nuccab]

When Ilost weight I put a trash bag around my waist and worked out as hard as I could till the point of vomitting sometimes. Water is one of the best of all resistance and will shape your body, roller blading helps with the insides of your thighs, Riding a bike with a heavy backpack on will give you core and leg strength Sit up are good too. Hula hooping helps shape as well. Always drink water keep eating healthy.