I Seem Stuck

I am 63 and male and I keep to a calorie intake of between 1700 and 1900 calories per day as suggested and walk a brisk 5 miles 7 days a week whatever the weather. I can't run as I have chronic lyphoedema in both legs but I easily exercise 2 hours a day but am not losing any weight now. This last week I haven't lost a pound. Can someone tell me what I may be doing wrong?

[albionjen]

From your description you sound like you are on track, with diet under control and plenty of exercise. So, you may not be doing anything wrong at all.

How long have you been "stuck" for? If it is just one week then don't worry. Weight loss doesn't always follow a nice linear pattern with losing 1lb every week. You are likely to see weeks with no change (or even an increase) even when you are doing everything right. On the opposite side you might see a weight loss even when you know your week hasn't gone to plan!

I have lost 23kg in total and week by week my weight has sometimes gone up, sometimes stayed stable and sometimes gone down. I try to compare over a longer time period, like since the same time last month, to get more perspective on whether I am on track or not.

If you have been "stuck" for several weeks, then it is time to have a good look for reasons why the weight loss has stalled. Do you note down everything you eat? Even oil used for cooking or salad dressing and sauces like mayo or ketchup? Do you weigh your portions or just "guesstimate". Little extra calories here and there can quickly add up! Also have you checked the calorie content of your drinks? I was shocked at the number of calories in a latte, bottlegreen cordial and fruit juice! As a final suggestion, even though I don't know anything about chronic lyphoedema, it might be worth checking with your GP to make sure there is nothing about your condition (or any medications) that could make weight loss harder.

Keep up the good work and I'm sure you will start seeing some results!

[Hidden in reply to albionjen]

Thanks for all the reassurance. It has only been three weeks so perhaps I've got stuck on the pound a week mantra. My lymphoedema wouldn't play a part in my intention to lose weight. It's just congenital swelling of the legs and all my GP can do is keep prescribing compression hosiery. It's a congenital condition.

Yes I'm scrupulous about weighing and measuring everything and the only drinks I have are sugar free apart from a glass of wine with my main evening meal - in which the calories are over-estimated if anything. I just seemed to have done so much better 4 years ago - though come to think about it I didn't weigh in more than once a month.

Thanks again for responding so positively.

[Penel]

You might like to look at where your calories are coming from? Some people find that increasing their protein and lowering their carbs can work for them.

This link may be of interest to you. huffingtonpost.com/robert-l...

[Hidden]

Thank you Penel. An interesting article which makes it worth reconsidering my diet.