Why aren't I losing weight.

[wendywoo66]

I am very confused because I have put loads of weight on since I stopped smoking and as I am going on holiday in six weeks with my super skinny friend I started a diet in the new year. I have always been successful at losing weight but this time I just don't know what I am doing wrong. I am 53 so probably going through hormonal changes and I drive everywhere because I work in the community of a big city. I have been going to the gym once or twice a week. I have been counting my calories and consuming between 12 and 1300 calories per day. But the weight is coming of so slowly. in seven weeks I have only lost half a stone which is nothing to what I would normally lose in that length of time. I have cut out sugar and carbs and eating lots of home made health veg soups and chicken and fat free/ sugar free yoghurts. So am confused and do not know what else I can do to boost my weight loss. I have three jobs so I don't have time to go to the gym more than I do. My digestive system is also very sluggish and am struggling to empty my bowels regularly. I am eating loads of green vegetables.

[Tiggerr]

Hiya wendywoo and huge congratulations on your 7 months of no smoking, To me that's about the hardest thing to crack out of all the day to day vices.

You appear to be doing everything well and don't shoot the messenger but a loss of 7lbs over 7 weeks is pretty good.

I have a number of close friends who have given up smoking, Most people do put on weight when they stop smoking and its been my secondhand experience, that the body takes anywhere up to 18 months to readjust. I think that given the circumstances you are doing well to lose the weight you have and, skinny friend to one side, you need to take your rate of weight loss in your stride.

I hope that someone else here has something more helpful to offer you but if they don't, try and accept that you're doing a great job already.

Ps. you should be a minimum of 6lbs lighter by the time of your holiday.

Good luck!

[MotwCoop 1 stone]

Have you checked how many calories you need? 1200 doesn't sound very much and if you under eat it will slow down the loss rate. Having said that, I'm 52 and my loss has also been slow. It may just be that's how it is, but a pound a week is 3 stone 10 lbs in a year...

[Claz]

try eating more... i know it sounds crazy but i didnt lose anything for the 1st 6 weeks and then i went low carb & cut down on sugar. i now eat a lot more than i used to do without worrying about calories. stick with it... weight loss takes time and for your body to get over the shock of not having all the crap it used to live off.. if your feeling better in yourself then ignore the scales.. thats what i did and just go on meaurements now and feel so much better for it. you can do it x

[WinWeight]

MotwCoop I like it when someone reminds you what a pound a week mean in a year. Slow loss is actually the best.

Did you use the BMI calculator from the nhs site? It shows what your intake should be. The usual amount is 15000.

I started my day 35 minutes earlier and then for 30 minutes I walk with Leslie Sansone on YouTube or Dailymotion. If I walk in my living room I cut commuting time.

[MotwCoop 1 stone in reply to WinWeight]

WinWeight , I'm thinking you've got an extra zero there... wendywoo66 won't be shifting those pounds on 15,000 a day!!

[lucigret]

wendywoo66 < we are all going to start sounding like a broken record, but I agree with everything everybody has told you so far. Half a stone is a great loss in 7 weeks, you stand a much better chance of keeping it off this time. I'm 54 and have always struggled to loose weight, it has always been very slow and I don't even manage a stone a year usually because I find it such hard work. This time I took everybody's advice and upped my calories and I am finding it much easier to loose the weight. As Tiggerr said, you will loose another 6lbs before your holiday, that will be almost a stone gone. Maybe a bit more fibre in your diet to help the sluggish digestive system? Wishing you good luck

[moreless Administrator 7 stone]

Hi Wendy, as has been suggested by others, please check your calorie requirements on the BMI calculator, as under eating is counter-productive. Have a look at this for further explanation

healthunlocked.com/nhsweigh...

Having said that, I agree with Tiggerr that a loss of 1lb per week is absolutely normal and you shouldn't be worrying about it so much

[fosterdown]

Well done for stopping smoking, I do understand as I stopped myself just over a year ago and I put on a 20lbs, its better to lose slow and steady, everyone I know that has tried all the fad and crazy diets have lost weight fast and then put it back on

[Pineapple27]

I thought I would share one of my past posts with you: healthunlocked.com/nhsweigh...

A pound a week is a good rate of loss. I think your concern is that you have your eyes set on losing all of the weight you want to before your holiday.... but surely ANY loss is going to make you look and feel better by the summer.

You do three jobs and still manage to get to the gym! That's pretty impressive!

My view is that you are doing really well. Giving up smoking is the very best thing you could have done for your health, so congratulations on that wonderful achievement.

As per my linked message, losing weight does take time.... you just need to keep plodding away! Trying to lose too much too quickly will just leave you feeling deprived and you'll be more likely to give up.