Struggling!

[Disconfigured]

Hi everyone,

not sure what to say here.. I guess info about me?
My names Jenny, I'm 24, 5ft 2 and around 11st 11. I've been "dieting" for close to 6 weeks now and appear to be getting no where! Rather disheartening.
I have a wedding to attend as bridesmaid in a years time, and have allowed myself this time to lose 2stone. However after 6 weeks and literally getting no where, I need help! Just some reassurances really Feel like the world is telling me to give up and go back to the chocolate and biscuits!

Any tips and advice would be appreciated

Thanks,
Jenny

 

[Fisher Fitness Club]

Hi everyone,

not sure what to say here.. I guess info about me?
My names Jenny, I'm 24, 5ft 2 and around 11st 11. I've been "dieting" for close to 6 weeks now and appear to be getting no where! Rather disheartening.
I have a wedding to attend as bridesmaid in a years time, and have allowed myself this time to lose 2stone. However after 6 weeks and literally getting no where, I need help! Just some reassurances really Feel like the world is telling me to give up and go back to the chocolate and biscuits!

Any tips and advice would be appreciated

Thanks,
Jenny

Jenny,
I just recently got married, and I totally understand the pressure of wanting to look amazing in your bridesmaid dress! I've actually been in the weight loss industry for a few years now, and I've been able to help hundreds of women with their goals. Let me ask you a couple of questions to get a better idea of how I can help you:

1. When you say you're dieting, what do you mean by that? Low carb? Low calorie? Paleo? Adkins? Watching what you eat?

2. On a typical day, can you describe what you eat? (Be completely honest here - I'm not judging, I just want to help). This will help me determine if you're eating enough (yes, you can actually gain weight if you're not eating enough) or if maybe there are a few simple tweaks I can offer you that will boost your weight loss.

3. Have you ever tried to lose weight before? If so, were you able to lose weight quickly in the past or was it more difficult? What did you try in the past to lose weight? How much weight would you like to lose this time? 5-10lbs? 10 or more? 20 or more? This will give me an idea of your body type so I can best assist you.

Don't give up, Jenny! I know this process takes a little bit of time, but if you keep going, you'll never have to worry about starting over again! You'll have the body you want and look back at how you're feeling right now and realize that it was the best decision of your life to keep trying.

Sincerely,
Ericka
<link removed>

 

[Disconfigured]

Jenny,
I just recently got married, and I totally understand the pressure of wanting to look amazing in your bridesmaid dress! I've actually been in the weight loss industry for a few years now, and I've been able to help hundreds of women with their goals. Let me ask you a couple of questions to get a better idea of how I can help you:

1. When you say you're dieting, what do you mean by that? Low carb? Low calorie? Paleo? Adkins? Watching what you eat?

2. On a typical day, can you describe what you eat? (Be completely honest here - I'm not judging, I just want to help). This will help me determine if you're eating enough (yes, you can actually gain weight if you're not eating enough) or if maybe there are a few simple tweaks I can offer you that will boost your weight loss.

3. Have you ever tried to lose weight before? If so, were you able to lose weight quickly in the past or was it more difficult? What did you try in the past to lose weight? How much weight would you like to lose this time? 5-10lbs? 10 or more? 20 or more? This will give me an idea of your body type so I can best assist you.

Don't give up, Jenny! I know this process takes a little bit of time, but if you keep going, you'll never have to worry about starting over again! You'll have the body you want and look back at how you're feeling right now and realize that it was the best decision of your life to keep trying.

Sincerely,
Ericka

Hi!
Thanks for the reply.

1. low calorie, low sugar. roughly stick to 1200 a day.
2. on an average day - breakfast is 2x weetabix with semi skimmed milk, lunch is a tuna sandwich on wholemeal bread, some celery, baby tomatoes and cucumber. I usually also have some kind of "snack" of either nuts, a banana, or a yogurt. dinner varies massively, when I'm home it's soup or rice with baked beans. However, when I'm out (as in at a friends) it could be pasta, pie, or sausage and mash!
3. I have tried, but never stuck at it long enough to notice a difference. So I guess the answer would be not really. I'd like to lose at least 30lbs. But if I lose 20 and I'm happy with how I look, I'll stop there healthy weight for my height means 30lbs+ loss.

I'm just feeling disheartened after doing this for 6 weeks and seeing no solid change! I was feeling positive when I lost the first 2lb and then they reappeared just as easily for no real reason! I've been told it could be where my body is adjusting to the change (I didn't eat awfully before, but sweets and biscuits were pretty regular along with fast food/takeaways once a week) so it's harbouring calories and fat thinking it'll be starved.

Thanks again

 

[Fisher Fitness Club]

Hi!
Thanks for the reply.

1. low calorie, low sugar. roughly stick to 1200 a day.
2. on an average day - breakfast is 2x weetabix with semi skimmed milk, lunch is a tuna sandwich on wholemeal bread, some celery, baby tomatoes and cucumber. I usually also have some kind of "snack" of either nuts, a banana, or a yogurt. dinner varies massively, when I'm home it's soup or rice with baked beans. However, when I'm out (as in at a friends) it could be pasta, pie, or sausage and mash!
3. I have tried, but never stuck at it long enough to notice a difference. So I guess the answer would be not really. I'd like to lose at least 30lbs. But if I lose 20 and I'm happy with how I look, I'll stop there healthy weight for my height means 30lbs+ loss.

I'm just feeling disheartened after doing this for 6 weeks and seeing no solid change! I was feeling positive when I lost the first 2lb and then they reappeared just as easily for no real reason! I've been told it could be where my body is adjusting to the change (I didn't eat awfully before, but sweets and biscuits were pretty regular along with fast food/takeaways once a week) so it's harbouring calories and fat thinking it'll be starved.

Thanks again

How much do you currently weigh? I only ask to determine how many calories you should be taking in. 1200 might be too much or not enough depending. Also, what is you activity level like - do you exercise on a regular basis? If so, what kind of exercise and how long you you exercise?

I've lost weight and put it back on before, so I know that's not a great feeling. But the good thing is that it sounds like you're on the right track, we might just need to make some slight adjustments to your diet (nothing major). Just based off of what you told me so far, I think you could benefit from a protein shake in the morning.

Protein is the hardest type of food for you body to digest, which means you burn more calories digesting it. If you eat protein first thing in the morning (before you eat anything else), it actually helps kickstart your metabolism after a long night's sleep. Whereas, if you wake up and immediately eat a carbohydrate that's easy for your body to digest, your metabolism can be a little more sluggish.

I drink 1 scoop of Beast protein power every single morning about 30 minutes before I eat anything else, and I've noticed a BIG difference in my weight. I highly recommend it.

Glad to help,
Ericka
<link removed>

 

[Disconfigured]

How much do you currently weigh? I only ask to determine how many calories you should be taking in. 1200 might be too much or not enough depending. Also, what is you activity level like - do you exercise on a regular basis? If so, what kind of exercise and how long you you exercise?

I've lost weight and put it back on before, so I know that's not a great feeling. But the good thing is that it sounds like you're on the right track, we might just need to make some slight adjustments to your diet (nothing major). Just based off of what you told me so far, I think you could benefit from a protein shake in the morning.

Protein is the hardest type of food for you body to digest, which means you burn more calories digesting it. If you eat protein first thing in the morning (before you eat anything else), it actually helps kickstart your metabolism after a long night's sleep. Whereas, if you wake up and immediately eat a carbohydrate that's easy for your body to digest, your metabolism can be a little more sluggish.

I drink 1 scoop of Beast protein power every single morning about 30 minutes before I eat anything else, and I've noticed a BIG difference in my weight. I highly recommend it.

Glad to help,
Ericka

Currently 166lb. At 5ft 2. and 24yrs old. I do squats twice a day (roughly 100 total) and I'm starting swimming from next week ,twice a week hopefully. But currently my only exercise is from walking to/from work, about 1 mile a day.
I have dealt with protein shakes before, and not a fan of the calories which they require. I understand the benefits, but unless it will keep me full enough to cut out the required amount of calories from food, I'm not too sure. My current breakfast only comes in at around 120 calories.

Thanks

 

[Fisher Fitness Club]

At your height, weight, age, and activity level - I'd recommend 1,500 calories per day. 1,200 is too low, which causes you body to hold on to everything you eat and store it, causing weight gain.

I know eating more to lose weight sounds counterproductive, but it's a scientifically proven method that has worked for hundreds of my clients in the past (including myself).

The key to eating more to lose more is eating the right types of foods and eating those foods at the right time. I know you said you don't typically like to drink protein, but you could even drink a half scoop in the morning (roughly 60 calories) before you eat anything else. Honestly, you need protein with every meal if you really want to lose weight.

A good eating timeline for weight loss would be something like:
8am: protein shake (or half shake)
8:30-9:00am: weetabix
11:30am-12:00pm: lunch (your lunch sounds on target)
4pm: snack (greek yogurt, almonds, banana with almond butter for protein source)
7pm: dinner (make sure you're getting enough protein here. Baked chicken, turkey, tuna, etc.)

Eating every 2-4 hours helps keep your metabolism revving. Your body KNOWS it's going to get food (aka fuel) in a few hours, so it won't store the food as fat for later use. It'll burn off the food instead! Also, you don't want to eat within 2 hours of bedtime. You become sedentary while you sleep, and your body won't be able to burn off the food as it does during the day.

Hope this helps!

Ericka
<link removed>

 

[Disconfigured]

At your height, weight, age, and activity level - I'd recommend 1,500 calories per day. 1,200 is too low, which causes you body to hold on to everything you eat and store it, causing weight gain.

I know eating more to lose weight sounds counterproductive, but it's a scientifically proven method that has worked for hundreds of my clients in the past (including myself).

The key to eating more to lose more is eating the right types of foods and eating those foods at the right time. I know you said you don't typically like to drink protein, but you could even drink a half scoop in the morning (roughly 60 calories) before you eat anything else. Honestly, you need protein with every meal if you really want to lose weight.

A good eating timeline for weight loss would be something like:
8am: protein shake (or half shake)
8:30-9:00am: weetabix
11:30am-12:00pm: lunch (your lunch sounds on target)
4pm: snack (greek yogurt, almonds, banana with almond butter for protein source)
7pm: dinner (make sure you're getting enough protein here. Baked chicken, turkey, tuna, etc.)

Eating every 2-4 hours helps keep your metabolism revving. Your body KNOWS it's going to get food (aka fuel) in a few hours, so it won't store the food as fat for later use. It'll burn off the food instead! Also, you don't want to eat within 2 hours of bedtime. You become sedentary while you sleep, and your body won't be able to burn off the food as it does during the day.

Hope this helps!

Ericka

Oh. Okay. Could you tell me how you figured this out? 1500 seems too high for me, although I'd be happy to eat the extra!
I'll have another look into shakes and see what I can find.
Thanks

 

[Omega]

Oh. Okay. Could you tell me how you figured this out? 1500 seems too high for me, although I'd be happy to eat the extra!
I'll have another look into shakes and see what I can find.
Thanks

There are all sorts of pinned threads on about calorie intake in the different sections... eg. https://weight-loss.fitness.com/thr...f-pin-pointing-an-exact-caloric-intake.39078/

In those threads you will also see that there is no boost to the metabolism by having many meals - that is just a diet myth. Science disproved it a decade ago.
https://weight-loss.fitness.com/threads/the-importance-of-meal-frequency.26335/

 

[Omega]

I've had a glance above and didn't see mention of what you were drinking through the day... I think that a key thing is to start aiming for 2 litres of water a day.

Eating at a friend's house can be fraught with difficulties - but certainly pies are not going to do you any favours if you are going to do this very often at all... If you are at home - try to avoid food like that - and if you know that a friend is likely to provide something like that - maybe have a pack of lean cooked meat and some salad in a bag and say something about being on a health kick.

I would be trying to cut out (or severely down on) the rice and bread... Vegetables are much better for filling you up than starchy carbs...

Make sure yoghurt is low fat or fat free and you will probably get something more satisfying by mixing some fruit - eg blueberries or raspberries with some plain low fat yoghurt compared with having the fruity kind.

You mention having soup for your main meal at home... If that is home made - keep an eye on how much sodium is in any stock cubes you use...

The squats and swimming are both good ideas... So is walking every day to work and back... I suggest you try and walk more... Maybe a walk at lunchtime or in the evening...

As for your walking - I strongly suggest that you get a pedometer and wear it for every step of the day... Allow it to challenge you to walk more steps than the less fit you of last week... Log your steps so you can compare yourself to the comparatively sedentary you of a month ago or two months ago - and feel good about all the hard work you have done.

I credit daily walking with having been a major benefit for my big weight loss project.

Also - as a 24 year old lady - be aware that the scales can be a cruel monitor of diet results if you do not understand that when we weigh ourselves we are weighing so much more than the fat we carry. We are weighing our skin and bones and muscle... There is the food we have eaten which our body is processing and the liquid we have drank... Our toilet habits need to be considered.... "Have we been???" "are we regular????" Water retention is a key factor too... If we eat things that are too salty we will retain water... If we do not drink enough water we will retain water... Around the time of a ladies period she will retain water - maybe something near half a stone of extra water going on the scales with you and making you feel fatter than you deserve...

For this reason you need to not get disheartened... You need to focus on the hard work that you are doing and have faith that the results will come in time.

 

[Disconfigured]

I've had a glance above and didn't see mention of what you were drinking through the day... I think that a key thing is to start aiming for 2 litres of water a day.

Eating at a friend's house can be fraught with difficulties - but certainly pies are not going to do you any favours if you are going to do this very often at all... If you are at home - try to avoid food like that - and if you know that a friend is likely to provide something like that - maybe have a pack of lean cooked meat and some salad in a bag and say something about being on a health kick.

I would be trying to cut out (or severely down on) the rice and bread... Vegetables are much better for filling you up than starchy carbs...

Make sure yoghurt is low fat or fat free and you will probably get something more satisfying by mixing some fruit - eg blueberries or raspberries with some plain low fat yoghurt compared with having the fruity kind.

You mention having soup for your main meal at home... If that is home made - keep an eye on how much sodium is in any stock cubes you use...

The squats and swimming are both good ideas... So is walking every day to work and back... I suggest you try and walk more... Maybe a walk at lunchtime or in the evening...

As for your walking - I strongly suggest that you get a pedometer and wear it for every step of the day... Allow it to challenge you to walk more steps than the less fit you of last week... Log your steps so you can compare yourself to the comparatively sedentary you of a month ago or two months ago - and feel good about all the hard work you have done.

I credit daily walking with having been a major benefit for my big weight loss project.

Also - as a 24 year old lady - be aware that the scales can be a cruel monitor of diet results if you do not understand that when we weigh ourselves we are weighing so much more than the fat we carry. We are weighing our skin and bones and muscle... There is the food we have eaten which our body is processing and the liquid we have drank... Our toilet habits need to be considered.... "Have we been???" "are we regular????" Water retention is a key factor too... If we eat things that are too salty we will retain water... If we do not drink enough water we will retain water... Around the time of a ladies period she will retain water - maybe something near half a stone of extra water going on the scales with you and making you feel fatter than you deserve...

For this reason you need to not get disheartened... You need to focus on the hard work that you are doing and have faith that the results will come in time.

I drink roughly 1500ml-2ltrs water a day anyway. Rarely drink anything other than water.

According to the link you posted above, to maintain my weight I'd be looking at near on 2000 calories a day. So I guess 1500 would be about right for a loss.

The pie I was referring to was just once this week, filled with chicken and we had veg along side so it wasn't awfully unhealthy. Soup isn't homemade, just tinned. I'm thinking potentially batch cooking mince with veggies and having that as my evening meal? I hate cooking, always have and I think always will. Especially when it's just for me!

I have a FitBit which says I walk 6k steps a day currently. Unfortunately I changed jobs in the last couple months, from retail to office, retail meaning I was doing 20k steps I will definitely start getting out of the office at lunch times, I have a nasty habit of just sitting there rather than getting up and out.

I understand the scales won't tell me just fat loss and the exercise I am doing is potentially not going to help on the overall weight front being as muscle weighs more than fat, but I'm hoping although the scales may read one weight, I'll see a physical difference in myself to know it's working.

I haven't been weighing myself for a full month yet, so I haven't had chance to see how my weight varies during difference stages, all I know so far is nighttime is 2lb heavier than morning and the morning can vary by a couple lbs. I need to pick a day and use that as the official weekly weight too!

I'm just struggling to see how there is no result after 6 weeks. I get that during that time I haven't strictly stayed to the 1200 calories and I've had a treat now and again.. just terrible to think if it went to plan I'd have lost at least half a stone by now, if not more!

 

[Omega]

Pastry in pie can be horrendous... So can the sauce in with chicken - it really can make a high cal meal.

You want to get your steps up to at least 10K - preferably more.