“I just don’t understand. I’ve tried every diet under the sun, I hardly eat anything, I’m exercising, but I just can’t lose weight. There must be something medically wrong with me!”
This is an all to common complaint and a question that baffles many people on a daily basis. “I Can’t lose weight Doctor” is something I hear on a daily basis. Maybe you feel this is applicable to you and if not I can guarantee you that you will know someone to whom it is. You must have heard people complaining that they have a slow metabolism, or blaming all their issues on an undiagnosed thyroid problem. I personally couldn’t count the number of times I have been confronted with this issue, which is why I want to spend some time addressing it in detail. If you haven’t done so already you should begin by reading my piece on Energy Balance, as this will familiarise you with the basics as to why we gain or lose weight.
The body is an incredibly amazing piece of equipment. It has the ability to adapt itself to best suit it’s current situation as well as being able to ensure we are prepared for the future. When we eat food we digest it and after a while all this broken down food finds its way into the bloodstream as carbohydrate (sugars), amino acids (proteins) and fats. Virtually all of what you eat will find its way into the body. Some people are under the false impression we can only absorb so much food at once through the gut, and that after a certain point, it doesn’t matter how much more we eat during a meal as it will just pass straight through. This can lead to them indulging in large binges as they believe this results in no more damage, but the only thing it results in is weight gain.
Once in the blood the body has to decide what to do with these molecules, as they can’t simply float around the blood as there is no room. It’s solution is to use what it wants and store the rest. After a meal the body will use the sugar to provide it’s current energy needs and pack the rest away as glycogen in the muscles and liver for later use. Protein is either used up or oxidised for energy, and very little is converted into fats or sugars. Fat on the other hand is ALL diverted to storage, no questions asked.
Later, after we have eaten, the blood levels of all these substances normalise as we have put all the excess into storage. We no longer have any food coming in, so to supply us with our energy needs we call upon our stores. This is mainly in the form of sugars and fats, and as we use them up we continually pull out more. This process continues until we eat again, replenishing our stores, and the cycle starts again.
“Even Though I Diet I Can’t Lose Weight Doctor”
So why is all this important? Well what I want you to understand is that we only use or store what we eat and drink. There is no other source of energy for the body. If we don’t eat it then we cant store it. We cannot pluck weight from the air we breathe, it all comes from the food we eat. If we regularly eat more than we need to replenish our stores, we gain weight. If we consistently eat less than we need, we do not shut down, but instead take more and more out of our stores, and as a result we lose weight! It is important to realise this when trying to understand why you can’t lose weight.
The body has a constant need for energy to function. It is like a motor that is constantly running, so has a continuous need for fuel. This is the case even when you are sleeping. The rate at which we use energy is known as the basal metabolic rate (BMR), and varies between different people. In general however your BMR will remain fairly stable but will change as you put on or lose weight. Contrary to popular belief, the BMR isn’t really significantly effected by dieting. I make this point as some people will go around saying that when you diet you go into starvation mode and slow your metabolism as a result. This may be the case in extreme starvation but shouldn’t really noticeably effect you.
If you did as suggested and read my piece on Energy Balance, you will know that you can top up the energy you use per day by being more active in daily life and by doing exercise. This does not add a huge amount (for most people BMR will still form the bulk of energy used), but is very important as it is often what makes the difference between staying static or losing weight.
So if you are dieting and consuming less calories than you are using on a daily basis, YOU WILL LOSE WEIGHT. There is no reason why anyone on a diet can’t lose weight.
So this brings us to the question of why those people who tell me they are dieting and exercising can’t lose weight? Well now you know the theory you can probably answer this question for yourself. It is because they are eating more than they think they are. This is not necessarily their fault as they are often not aware, or have been incorrectly educated on the contents of the food they consume.
It is amazing how much people can underestimate what they eat on a daily basis. If you secretly write down all the food a person consumes on a daily basis, and then get the person to recall all the food they think they have eaten at the end of the day, you will often find there is a significant discrepancy. This is why studies involving recall diaries are often not very useful.
There are very few medical conditions that cause somebody to be unable to lose weight, and they are very rare. Occasionally medications can result in weight gain and if you are still concerned that you suffer from one of these, visit your physician and they should be able to fairly quickly exclude them, allowing you to concentrate all your efforts back on losing weight.
So if you have been stuck in this position for a while what should you do? Well I still feel the most important step is understanding that the most likely reason you haven’t lost weight isn’t because you can’t lose weight, but instead because you haven’t been going about things the right way. Once you realise this you can make positive steps to start a successful weight loss program.
First of all read my other articles explaining what is in the food you eat and on how to diet. Once you have this basic understanding, start a food diary. To get the most out of it, don’t change anything but instead just eat what you have always been eating. After a week sit down and analyse the diary. You should now have the insight to see where you have been going wrong. Only once you identify and understand your own mistakes (rather than just having someone dictating your errors to you) you will be rectify them and start losing weight. You might have tried taking phentermine or any other weight loss tablets and still looking struggling to lose weight? Read on.
There is no reason you can’t lose weight if you know what you are doing, and now you do.
I have been dieting basically for a year now. I have the Myfitnesspal app and I have been eating around 1200-1600 calories on almost all days. For part of the year (fall and winter 2014)I exercised (cardio/volleyball) for 2-3 hours every week day. Also, I did about an hr a week of strength. The next part of the year (winter and spring 2015)was about 1-3 hours every week day. There have also been around 30 minutes of strength training and body weight exercises twice a week. Recently I have been basically doing daily morning workouts (running and body weight exercises) for 20minutes to 1hour (hey it’s the summer). I do not understand how I Have gained weight from the start of fall 2014. Please help. There’s this little flab of fat on my lower abs that never! goes away despite all this. I didn’t start out needing to lose weight I just thought I could lose that stubborn little part but no. I am 5’5″ and 130-135 lbs, it fluctuates. Also I am afraid I am losing muscle mass. So doing this I think made my body eat the muscle instead of any fat!!! Unbelievable. In fact, it probably just replaced my muscle with fat somehow I’m so angry.
Sorry here are a few more details:
I’m 18 years old
Volleyball player, going to play in college
Waist in inches: 27 (what the heck???)
And my macros were always around 100-170g carbs, 20-50g fat, 50-80g protein. I used to shoot for 130g, 30g, 70g on normal, slightly active days and 160g, 30g, 80g on most active days but, again, fluctuations. Now I’m trying to get my body back to normal because this entire process as gotten me nowhere. 150g, 30-40g, 70-80g right now and slowly working my carbs back up so hopefully I won’t suddenly balloon. I always had high protein because I didn’t want to lose too much muscle but whatever, body. Do the opposite.
Hello
Listening to your story I think you may be dieting for the wrong reasons and that your goals may be unattainable. If you were a healthy weight to start with then you should not be dieting in an attempt to lose weight as you will sacrifice muscle and inhibit your sports performance as you will be starving your body.
The ‘flab’ that you refer to is likely a natural part of yourself. It is more common in women and you will most likely be unable to lose it no matter how little you eat. I would concentrate on a high protein diet with moderate carbs and fat but not get too pedantic about the exact amounts. If you are exercising like you say you are then your body will control it’s own composition.
i’m 16 years old and i was making wrong diet for 2 years i waa starving myself , i lose weight at first then i begin to gain wight i do exercise but i don’t lose weight if i eat or don’t eat i gain weight !! what can i do to lose weight ?!
You’re gaining weight because your building muscle and muscle is heavier than fat. The reason why you have that annoying piece of fat is that your so active and possibly under eating. so when you do eat your body stores what it can turn it into fat in case it needs it when you’re being active. Therefore I suggest increasing your carbs and protein and the part that is still fat should disappear within a month
my name is Linda mcCormick I’ve had for live birth 6 pregnancies total I’m currently sitting at 210 pounds 5 5 so this is where my problem comes in I’ve been eating about 550 calories a day running 3 miles moon full Jillian Michaels workout videos doing hundred situps 20 pushups 50 crunches a butt exercise video and mind you I’m doing the seven days a week I work out for about 3 hours a day and I gained 10 pounds I cut out all carbs so does energy drinks all sugars so now tell me what am I doing wrong because I’ve done everything that the doctor and physical therapist told me I have really high blood pressure I have pounds and pounds of extra skin and for some reason I’m continuing to gain weight please help because you’re telling me that nobody can fill out a diet and I’m telling you that I’m doing the on the extreme I’m doing everything I’m supposed to and tracking every single bit of it even my doctors astonished I’ve already had my thyroid checked my thyroid fine for not understanding what’s causing the weight gain
6 Months I’ve Been doing this
Hi Linda
Thank you for your question. After reading your story I would really feel the need to rule out a medical cause for your weight gain. If you are truly exercising to the extent you describe whilst consuming only 500 calories a day whilst still gaining weight then I would be concerned. You may need to look further than just your thyroid as this is not the only cause of inappropriate weight gain. I would want to get a full hormone profile and would be particularly interested in cortisol levels. You really need to see your Physician for further investigations.
Dr murtaza could i keed my food jurnal for a week and show it to you? please!
How much protein are you eating? Look up “protein deficiency” and you will see pictures of starving children who look extremely overweight. Eating too little protein will cause you to gain excessive water weight, and I doubt you’re getting enough on a 500 calorie a day diet. Minimum is 45 grams for females, more for people exercising. , ease back a bit on the exercise by walking instead, you maybe releasing cortisol, which will make your body hold onto its fat stores. Also maybe ease back on the obsessive calorie count and eat your goal weight/2 in grams of protein a day + 4 servings of vegies + 1 fruit + 1 good fat (alvacado, olive oil, or similar), fat surpresses appetite, and can help regulate hormones and blood sugar(which can both hurt weight loss). try to eat foods that are not processed very much as well, though I would suggest a protein powder with vitamin in it to nourish your body. Do this for a month, and see how it goes.
Other considerations. How much salt are you taking? Iodine is an essential vitamin that was added to salt years ago to prevent lower thyroid function, due to salt hysteria some people are now deficient in this vitamin.(plus electrolytes) Studies have since shown that lower(not higher) salt intake is more harmful for the hearts of people with normal blood pressure.
I’d also down a poweraide zero to make sure you’re getting enough electrolytes or maybe a salt tab. Then a shake or two of salt over your plate won’t hurt.(do discus this with your doctor though)
Where are you exercising? Probably in an expensive gym right? Try instead exercising outside, by being in an environment that is not controlled by ac and heater, your body will burn extra calories to maintain its temperature, this will not be much, but it will add up. As an added benefit this may encourage brown fat (read: good fat) to increase, which will raise your resting metabolism, even when you’re not exercising.
Calories in calories out, is true, to a point, but I liken it to a car. A gallon of gas is a gallon of gas, but every one expects a NASCAR car to burn through more gallons of gas going the same distance as any other car. Humans are more complicated than cars, of course its stupid to simplify dieting to a catch phrase.
Calorie needs vary wildly, more than anyone will admit. (Up to 800 calories) .
your body WANTS to be healthy, feed it better and focus on being healthy and happy FIRST, then the scale may begin to move.
Also most have it wrong. You don’t “have to lose weight to be healthy”, ” you have to be healthy to lose weight” the causality is completely wrong.
I don’t usually comment but you article is interesting.
so I have a question..i eat less than 1200 calories a day, exercise 3-4 times a week. I drink 3 liters of water on daily basis..and the results are either I don’t lose any weight or gain muscle weight as my body seems to build muscles easily.
few years back I had to be on a low calorie diet and exercise 2 hours everyday just to maintain my weight which wasn’t even my ideal weight
I even tried different diets dukan diet, atkins and more
I cut down carbs with no results, I added healthy carbs and still no results..i thought maybe it’s my cooking so I registered for monthly healthy meals plan and for one month I only lost 1.7 kg!
I don’t have any medical problems
Hi i’m 16 years old and I can’t seem to be able to lose weight, but I don’t gain weight either. I’m kinda just at a standstill and I don’t know what to do about it. I’m dieting and have been for at least a month, and I also exercise once or twice a day( depends how busy I am with school work ) for about 30 minutes. I’ve been watching what I eat, for example I cut out pop and drink 8 cups of water a day and sometimes i’ll have tea. I also don’t eat junk food, and my calorie intake is 1,350 or sometimes a little less. Please help me understand why I can’t lose weight
Hi,
I am 28 years old. I was diagnosed both PCOS and hypothyroidism in my early 20’s. I take Lo-Ovral to manage the PCOS and 90 Grains of Armour Thyroid to manage the hypothyroidism. My thyroid levels are tested every 3-6 months and consistently come back in the normal range. My labwork is generally normal, including blood sugars, with the exception of a persistent Vitamin D deficiency that I take a supplement for.
Before I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism at the age of 21, I was a healthy 140 pounds for my 5’7″ height. I gained thirty pounds in three months, which lead my doctor to test my thyroid. After going on Armour Thyroid, I managed to drop 20 pounds. I have spent most of my 20’s with my weight between 150 and 165. I am right on the edge of being overweight and would feel more comfortable if I could get down to between 135 and 145.
About 6 months ago I decided to make a concerted effort to establish a healthy lifestyle and just lose the weight. I dropped my caloric intake to 1300-1500 calories a day. I log my food and weigh and measure every portion that I can. My macronutrients and fiber are within specified guidelines, but I do try to aim for the high end of recommended protein and the low end of recommended carbs. My diet is healthier than it has ever been in my life. In addition to the dietary changes, I upped my exercise from 1.5 hours a week (3 half hour runs) to 5-6 hours a week (5 moderate to high intensity HIIT’s that include both cardio and strength training).
Despite all this, I have only managed to drop five pounds in six months. Any thoughts to what is going on?
I’m somewhat nervous about talking to a medical professional about this because I feel like they will assume the problem is with me and that I’m underestimating how much I’m eating or overestimating how much I’m exercising. But I have checked and double checked to make sure that my calorie and exercise counts are accurate. I am at a loss and super frustrated. I try to focus on the fact that even if I’m not losing weight, I am still healthier. But to be be honest, it is really difficult to stay on such a restricted calorie diet and not lose anything. I never feel like I’m starving, but I do feel hungry at least a few days every week. And it takes a lot of planning and effort to stay in that calorie range. Sometimes I feel like my life revolves around it. I’ve skipped out on coffee with friends, restaurant dates with my husband, and drinks with co-workers just to stick to my food plan. When you are eating so few calories, it is an effort just to make sure you get all the required nutrients. There is no room for an extra cup of coffee, a glass of wine, an unplanned dinner salad, or any type of dessert.
You should take it to a medical professional and give them this explaination, i think you should be loosing more weight than that, because you are doing a lot. I dont know what else to advice you.
Good luck!
I have the same issues as you- PCOS and hypothyroidism and have done all of the low calorie/exercising/doubting/logging food etc. that it sounds like you are doing. I thought for the last 20 years that I must just have a slow metabolism because I KNOW I was below 1300 calories on most days and never was able to lose weight. I finally went to Kaiser and had a resting metabolic rate test done. It was 1754 calories. I was shocked. The nutritionist told me that with just normal activity and a half hour of exercise my daily caloric use should be around 2200. Like any person who has dieted for the last 20 years believing that calories in calories out BS I didn’t believe her. So she told me to go home and eat between 1500-1550 calories a day and check back in two weeks. I just knew I was going to gain weight because I couldn’t lose on far less. Well, I have to say she was right. In two weeks I’ve lost 2 pounds and I’m waiting for the fourth week to weigh again. You might try it because apparently we are not crazy- according to the nutritionist you can’t lose weight if you are eating to far below your resting metabolic rate.
Hi
I am tanya 33 years old and weigh 80 kilos. In school I used to be slim if not thin weighing 54 kilos. But in the last decade I have become huge I have a pear shaped figure which makes my weight look very odd all beneath the waist. My legs looks like thighs and thighs look like tree trunks. I have tried height intensity training eating sensibly and lost 1 kilo in 4 months of training. I tried intermittent fasting which too seems like I am losing but not loosing weight not inches not kilos. I did all the tests nothing is medically wrong with me. They said I have food intolerance to dairy I stopped that too and yet no changes. I am not sure what is causing this weight gain. If one day I eat out I seem to inflate like a baloon. Please help
Tanya
Hi,
My name is Eda, and i am 30 years old. I have been trying to lose weight for the past year or so (trying to prepare for my wedding Aug. 2016). I am 5ft tall and have had a steady weight ever since high school 100-105 lbs. Up until 3 years ago i was diagnosed with Hashimoto auto immune disease, and am taking Synthroid everyday. Since being on the meds. i have gained 20 lbs. and it seems that i cannot lose not even a half lb. My doctors say that it is not the meds that are causing me to gain the weight. I dont understand!!
I work out 5 times a week with a trainer:
Monday: Indo-Row Bootcamp for 60min.
Tuesday: Cardio on my own for 45 min and (7 – Seven App) – 7min
Wednesday: Elliptical steady pace 45 min and (7 – Seven App) – 7min
Thursday: TRX Bootcamp 30 min
Friday: Indo-Row 30 min
Saturday and Sunday i use the 7 – Seven App) – 7min
I also keep track of what i eat – through myFitnesspal and eat 1200 cal. day
I don’t know what I’m doing wrong.. I’m very frustrated, my clothes are starting to not fit. I dont want to buy a whole new wardrobe in the hopes that i would lose the weight back to my normal weight. Also my wedding is coming up and i want to be able to fit in my dress.
Can you please give me any advise?
Thanks,
Eda
I’m a mostly vegan vegetarian (for 25 years) in my mid 50’s. I walk 20 to 25 miles per week and have been lifting weights for about 6 months. I eliminated high fructose corn syrup, fruit juices and preservatives 9 months ago. I gave up sugar 3 weeks ago and now I’m not eating any fruit because I still wasn’t dropping any weight. I started gaining weight at age 50 which is when I really kicked in the exercise program( I am now 20 to 25 lbs overweight). Every time I go and visit my kid or go on a short vacation ( 1- 5 days) and can’t get to the gym I gain weight. It goes on if I don’t exercise and doesn’t come off even with picking back up the exercise and even getting rid of all sugar except fruit. I initially dropped 3 lbs in 2 days when I gave up sugar but after 3 weeks I’ve gained the 3 lbs back even after dropping fruit as well this past week. I’m about ready to just stop eating and fast for a few days. I had a thyroid test done about a year and a half ago but it came back fine and I’m sick of hearing how it’s hormonal. Do you have any suggestions?
I am allergic to all grains. I fast 3 days a week for ministry reasons and eat fish, Turkey, fruits and vegetables. I work out 5 days a week. 10 years ago before my son was born I was a size 4 and was a fitness trainer I know how to lose weight. Over the last 10 years I have developed allergies to practically everything I eat very little and still gain weight and cannot lose any. I keep a journal and write down everything I eat my doctors are amazed everyone says I should be skinny because I eat like a rabbit and I drink a lot of water over a gallon a day exercise 5 days a week and I still cannot lose weight tell me again it’s because of what I eat.
.. i am lost in the weightloss world and my body is really working against me. I have had thyroid checked full cbc and everything comes back normal. I am exhausted most days. I dont know whats going on..when my family eats regualr food, im at the other wnd eating salad no dressing, and some lean chicken or half can of tuna. Per my nutritionist, i also started drinking 1.5 gallons of water a day. I have gained 10 pounds and dont know why.this is my current schedule
5am- workout hiit or cardio with weights 45 min to an hr.. always switching up..i lift heavy..
Breakfast is 2 poached eggs with spinach. I use my farm eggs
Lunch is half can tuna low sodium in water with 1.5 cups dry salad. Romaine, cherry tomatoes out of garden and cucumbers out of garden
Dinner is baked chicken or other half of tuna..2 helpings of dry salad with homemade salsa on top..
Snacks are maybe half a quest bar or carrots and celery.
I have actually been gaining weight
I workout mon-sat sometimes sunday. I stand up at work a lot so im not sitting and we are constantly on the go..
The only thing thats changed is i started taking biodentical progesterone in february i weighed 157 i am now 167 probably 170..im so pissed. I quit taking that in april so i dont know whats going on and i also just had t3 come back really low but endocrinologist said its normal in some women.please if anyone has any advice.
My body is so tired as of monday im gonna rest for a while.
I am in the same position, I am 41 years old, I am only 5’1, and weigh always between 180 and 190, even though I am vegetarian, and I eat very little most days, I walk all over the place because I have no car, and exercise often. I know it is not what I eat in and calories out. I take medications for lung problems and I got checked for hormone issues. It claims I have very very low testosterone, even lower than yours, which is NOT normal. And surprised me because I am actually very not feminine, deep voice, aggressive, and thick muscles under the fat. I don’t get it? Anyone else eating the way I do would be thin. Other people I know constantly eat fast foods and are not fat like me. I refuse to ever consume fast foods. I am at a loss and very sad. I did completely starve myself for a month and I did lose 5 pounds, but why should I have to eat nothing for 5 days a week every week just to lose 5 pounds a month and then to get down to 140 pounds Id be dead first. It is time for all doctors to start admitting that medications causing this obesity too, and undiagnosed illness which I am certain I have. Blood tests are NOT accurate with this. My blood sugar, Cholesterol and all that are perfect. Yet I am fat. I am very very active yet I am fat. And I eat no meat, no fast foods, yet I am fat. I take a small dose steroid for my lungs but am always told 5 mg or less does not harm weight and bones. I don’t know? I take inhalers too like albterol which speed you up even! Something is very wrong here. I think I may have a stomach chronic bacterium.
Hi. I was a 5’2″ and 112 pounds lady before. I went to Australia for a vacation and wanted to maintain/lose weight. So, I dropped my 2000 calorie/day diet to 1300 calorie/day diet. But what happened is that I gained 4 lbs instead of losing weight. Why did this happen? I strictly monitor what I eat and if ever I happen to exceed that 1300 calorie diet, the highest it will ever go to is 1500 calories.
I can relate! I have restricted my diet too. I use to eat everything yet be a size 4/6 and now, after two kids, I keep gaining and hardly eat anything. I’m still nursing. It seems my body wants to pack a lot of weight in my abdomen. I lift every other day and use my recumbent bike every other day. I have a farm, kids and business of my own and pets. I am always moving. But now I am a size 14! I do not eat fried foods, nor treats. I usually eat vegetables, nuts, seeds, lean fish, chicken and salads. I even make bread from sprouted grains, drink distilled water and cook from scratch with olive and grape seed oils. I’m very frustrated. It is hard to bend over with this much weight on my frame. Doctors assume I sit and eat all day. It’s very duscouraging. I think stress from a heavy workload is to blame but doctors will not hear me. They say restrict your calorie intake and exercise more. I hope to see more research on thus. Obesity is an epidemic here in the US. And like others with my issue, we are really trying with no results.
I am not a doctor or specialist and I do not claim to be. That being said, I am on a currently unsuccessful journey to lose weight. I have an undiagnosed and baffling muscle condition that resulted in my discharge from the military because my body literally stopped tolerating exercise over night, I have confirmed myopathies and even had muscle biopsies confirmed, so there is no question there is an issue. I also have the genetic mutation MTHFR ct677 which resulted in a very nasty pregnancy and delivery where I almost bled to death. I have aches and pains with even minimal exercise, but still I press on because as of yet, other than constantly elevated CPK levels, (ruled out polymyositis already). The doctors are stumped. I was just recently told by my doctor that he thinks I have a goiter despite normal thyroid levels, I had my neck ultrasound and am waiting to see my Endocrinologist for the results. I also have leaky valve syndrome in my heart that started with MVP then progressed. I monitor every single calorie I intake, not a lot of sweets, not a fan anyways, good fats, strong leafy greens and absolutely no fried food, truth be told over eating has never been an issue for me, so a healthy diet is easy and natural for me. I exercise regularly daily, mix it up with cardio, circuit and low impact as well as stretching and marshal arts. I used to be 135 to 140 pounds with about 6 to 8 % body fat.. 4 years ago for no reason I started gaining weight and it will not stop, I used to have a diet and a caloric intake that supported and maintained that weight, I’ve had to decrease that by 400 calories a day in order to lose weight the healthy way. I am very meticulous with my progress tracking, and still 4 years later I am 211 pounds and climbing. The reason for my post is that because of blogs like this, and a single mindset theory shared overall by the medical community mostly doctors, that people who are genuinely trying, will not be and cannot be taken seriously. I have been told repeatedly for 4 years that I am either lazy, in love with food, a diet cheater, a poor record keeper, or simply put I am offered anti-depressants and told that I am eating my feelings. I for once would like to not have my integrity questioned my intelligence insulted when I log on to the Internet to research what is potentially wrong with me, or step foot into a doctor’s office hoping for the benefit of the doubt and perhaps someone who spends a little more time listening and believing, than preaching, downplaying, and basically telling me that what I am saying is not possible. If I were not actually genuinely trying to lose the weight in every way possible to the point of exhausting every avenue and resource, why on earth would I ask for assistance?
What a fantastic response, Sue. This article written by this doctor is damaging to say the least. Full of inaccuracies and insulting. There are MANY women out there struggling with unknown rapid weight gain that stumps doctors so instead of using their knowledge to dig further they slap the lazy or ignorant badge on someone when they should slap it right across their own foreheads.
Absolutely disgusted with this article and the responses to these women looking for assistance.
Thank you! My thoughts exactly after reading this!
I am a 73 yo female who has yo-yo dieted for my entire adult life. Recently I decided to lose weight for good and no more yo-yoing. Here’s the problem I have quit losing. I keep my calorie count at 1100-1200 calories per day, exercise moderately most days a week. I am eating healthy with no sugar, bad carbs, etc. I have been on a plateau for a month now. It’s very discouraging and I am thinking (like every one else) that something is wrong with me. I am about 5’4″ (used to be 5’7″) and weight this am 173.4 lbs. I want to get down to about 135 lbs and I know if I quit now, I will zoom right back up in record time 200 plus lbs. I was gone over Thanksgiving and ate normally for 2 days. This resulted in a 10 lb. weight gain! I am still carrying around 2 lbs. of it a week later. I know a lot of it was fluid, but really 10 lbs? I am glad to hear the BMR does not change. I recently read an article that yo-yo dieting will change it permanently. I take an ace inhibitor and a statin. HELP!
Hi I’m Krystle , I am 18 years old I Am 5’3 & weigh 224 pounds Im basically obese. I have hypothyroidism & I want to lose weight . Ive become so depressed what would be the best thing for me to do .. Please write back .
I am on dialysis. I have been fat my whole life. I am 5 feet 8 inches 55 year old male. If I don’t lose this weight within the next year i feel I will die from it. It is literally killing me. It is involuntary suicide. I have tried everything in my control to lose it. I need to be put into a spy or hospital full time to lose this weight. I need someone to come to my assistance to take the financial part of this. I know and feel in my heart that I am going to be dead in one year. I am crying because I have no hope or faith that anyone will take a chance on me. I understand. I wouldn’t either but I am hoping that someone who has disposable income will come into my life to give me my life back. I will spend the rest of my life repaying back to the community for my chance at another life.
I’d like to reply to this article. I am sure for lots of people this may be true. But you cannot say there are those who this may not be true for. We may not know all there is to know about the processes the body goes through in our current culture of eating and high stress. That for all your efforts to lose the metabolism is that much stronger to thwart your efforts.
For about 10 years I ate under 2000 calories a day usually averaging 1500 but still did not lose. No McDonald’s no sweets or fast foods of any kind I skipped as many means as I could stand. Oh I was 300+ 6’5″ male. I joined weight watchers in 2008 at 360lbs I knew that I had to get it figured out. They were baffled over time. I ate under the points the women ate and still my weight would just go up and down. So after 5 mos. of let downs, I started a walking group. I would walk every weekday for 45min. to an hour through downtown, hills and everything. Then started to lose, eating the same amount of food. Finally, I found the solution? Well after about 4 months I had lost 30 pounds, but it slowed then stopped. Hmm so I took up climbing stairs in addition. I got up to 30 flights a day and a 45 min walk. I would skip meals but the weight then started to come back on. I chalked it up to muscle, but that wasn’t it. I couldn’t believe it. I was so devastated. My weight got all the way back up to 345 and I panicked. No matter how much working out or not eating I did it just wouldn’t go. Oh, side note there were a couple of times where I went to eat with my family, Old Country Buffet and Red Robin, oh I dreaded eating there. but guess what, in two days I had lost 5lbs each time. Another time at Red Robin I at the burger and a beer, the same thing happened within two days I had dropped 5lbs. Anyways for the last 9 years I have been tracking my weight, even four a couple of those years tracking every piece of food that touched my lips if it be a cough drop or drink of water so I know and have had others check my math. Believe me I don’t go to those efforts anymore, I don’t have the patience for something that doesn’t work for me.
I am not saying that I have something medically wrong, but I am trying everything I can think of find info on. I am up to 400lbs now. I’ve been to doctors they have told me eat like this like that do these kinds of exercises, had my blood-work done all normal.
I have developed a hate relationship to food. I hate the way it has devastated my life, but realize I need it to survive. For so many years I tried starving myself and up to recently have tried to change the way I feel and just accept eating balanced and healthy, but in doing that packed on the pounds back on.
There have been times I have lost a significant amount of weight, but it was always under drastic means.
– VLCD I did this 3 times, -35 -28, -15 lbs (I felt so good while doing this, but knew it wasn’t sustainable)
– Played basketball 2-3 hours a day x7 days a week. (I was going through a divorce and it was a difficult time)
– Started walking 5 mi. a day 10,000 steps till my hip had excruciating pain and had to slow down. -40
– Started eating only breakfast (huge breakfast, 1500 calories), -12, -8 lb both times in two weeks, but lost interest in breakfast and wouldn’t continue.
Only once was I able to keep the weight from coming back for about 4 months, as I wasn’t eating any carbs. If you look at my weight chart the more I tried to lose the more I would gain. When I just didn’t try anymore. my weight would go up but plateau. Had I not tried to lose in 2008 I’d probably still be at 360.
Well enough of my complaining. Now I am trying a round of IF and Fasting, not eating at night and lower carbs higher fat, walking, weights. I know I can lose about 15 pounds that way but will it continue? We will see.
JN
Age 31, female. I cut calories to 1000 per day, I still gained weight, down to 500 per day now and maintaining. One slice of 45 calorie whole grain bread, 1 cup whole milk (I refuse to drink low fat or skim milk – might as well mix flour in water and drink it if skim or low fat is my only option.) 1 egg or 2 oz turkey sausage. OR 4 oz oatmeal, 1 oz rains and, a cup of milk for breakfast.
2 oz lean meat, 4 oz lettuce or celery or a mix of the two for lunch. Water or unsweet tea to drink.
4 Oz beans or lean meat, 4 oz steamed vegetable or fresh fruit for dinner. Water to drink.
Snack 2 per day. 1 oz of any nuts or one oz of cheese, or 1 tsp peanutbutter.
Been doing it for a year, I’ve gained 10 lbs !
My mother ended up eating only one apple and four celery ribs per day to loose weight, nothing else and, then she lost 2-3 lbs per week, took her a year to get her excess weight off and now she can eat small portions 1-2 oz of a normal meal twice a week, celery and apples the rest of the time.
I want a better way, I want to eat normal food and, be a healthy weight but, eating normal got me to 230 lbs, dieting made that 240.
And NO DOCTORS I do not believe they are helpful or honest. If God wants it cured, He put a cure in nature for it PERIOD.
You are not eating enough food to have an active metabolism. Start a very low carbohydrate, but nutrient dense diet. By that, I mean eat plenty of healthy fats, enough protein for body repair and building, and get your carbs only from vegetables. Ditch the starches. You can eat well, be lean, and happy/healthy eating a modified keto diet. Have your thyroid levels checked too, and not just a TSH. Tell your doctor you want a full thyroid profile, including antibodies. Many women have autoimmune thyroid disease (it’s common) and are never tested, much less treated for low thyroid. This makes weight loss impossible. Get a full physical, request thyroid labs, eat a sensical version of keto (as mention above), and you will be impressed with the changes your body is willing to make once it learns to burn fat for fuel (fat as in your thigh and tummy fat).
Synthetic toxins from these Franken chemicals in the food build up in our bodies over time if they are not excreted and are stored in our body fat, they are fat soluble and our bodies create a nice storehouse for them causing cellulite and excess water weight to appear on our bodies. They sap our energy and make us age faster, we feel and look older than we actually are because our bodies are working much harder than they should be. Once we’ve accumulated fat, fat begins to secrete its own hormones which ensures we stay FAT no matter how much we exercise or under eat.
Organic cane sugar is NOT the problem. High Fructose Corn Syrup is the problem. It’s in everything now. It’s chemical crack called “sugar” but it is NOT SUGAR!! IT IS POISON MADE IN A LAB AND IT HAS MERCURY IN IT! I call it “Franken Sugar”…I wish people would learn the truth and stop blaming “sugar”….nobody was fat in the 1950s- early 80s and they ate CANE SUGAR all the time! When these evil monsters replaced it with HFCS is when all the obesity began to sky rocket.
The reason people could eat bread and sugar in the 40s through early 80s was because it was NATURAL CANE SUGAR, not the chemical crack they use in everything today known as High Fructose Corn Syrup (HCFS). In addition, the bread back then was healthy NON GENETICALLY MODIFIED GRAINS, NOT SATURATED IN MONSANTOS ROUND UP and they added healthy, metabolism boosting IODINE to the bread back then as well. Today, these evil bastards who are pawns of satan add BROMINE instead of iodine to the mass produced bread products. This “bromine” is the main component in TERMITE POISON!!! This is why everyone is FAT because our bodies store the POISONS IN THE FAT TO PROTECT THE ORGANS!! THIS IS ALL DONE WITH MALICE AFORETHOUGHT. https://freshlightsource.com/endtimes/whyaretheytryingtokillyou.html
May your thyroid tank, may you grow an adrenal tumor, and we will watch as you gain 100 pounds. This article is that rare combination of ignorance and deep insensitivity, that can only be achieved by someone (always a man) who went to medical school.
No. Body weight is not as simple as energy in / energy out. Please do some research on metabolism, sex hormones and body fat deposition, macro-nutrients, food additives, and the human condition in general. Shameful.