I didnt lose weight again this week. I stayed the same. This infuriates me as yes, I went over by 300 calories on Sunday but then more than made up for it with exercise, not having any treats during the week and eating between 1200-1600 calories for the rest of the week. Why isn't it working??
More than that, everyone I know who has lost weight, skip meals or only eat ONE thing a day. Carrot sticks on their own for lunch, if anything at all. Is that it? Give up all sugar and carbs or basically fast everyday or eat just one meal a day?! Can I really not lose weight by having three meals a day, exercising and counting calories??? If I eat a lemon muffin today do I have to not eat anything else for the rest of the day to ensure I don't balloon?
I feel like giving up. Even my partner has reached his limit and is furious on my behalf because he sees me trying so hard and how sad I am that it isn't working.
Don't know what to do
43 Replies
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How much are you trying to lose? And how long have you been trying? I find my weight only comes off very slowly, as I am not really what you might call very overweight. I only have 12lb I want to lose ( a dress size), and I know from experience it will take me about 4 months. If you haven't a great deal to lose, that might be the answer. And have you tried checking your measurements? Sometimes you will find you are losing inches, even though the pounds aren't coming off. Also you probably feel healthier and have more energy if you are eating healthily.
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I'm 14st 11.4 and I want to lose at least 2 stone. Just aiming for 1lb a week. Measurements aren't changing either I lost 2 stone from 2015 to 2016 with SW and then that stopped. Started calorie counting in October? And have lost 6.5lb since then but for the last four weeks have either gained or nothing.
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Oh poor you, Kinbun. It's tough. Maybe you need to kick start your regime in some way. You mention fasting in the subject title - is that a no-no for you? It's working for me at the moment, I'm doing the 5:2. Or maybe some other regime for a week? Cutting out carbs for a week, perhaps? Just changing things can have an effect. I can't think of anything else, but maybe someone else can come up with something. Don't give up yet, and try not to despair 😘
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I didn't manage well with 5:2 previously but maybe I shud give something a go just for a short time thank you
From reading your past posts the NHS bmi checker suggests a higher calorie target, I know it seems counter productive but it's true, eating too little can hinder weight loss. The other thing is look at what you are eating, perhaps increase the protein, or fibre, or increase exercise.
If you look up 'resources' in the Topics section, I shared a podcast about metabolic adaptation which may help. Especially as you have already lost about 2 stone I believe?
Don't give up. I'm the same weight I was in September, finally going down last week after a static few months. You will get there. Between us all someone will have the right solution ☺
It does help to know it isn't just me. It's so frustrating that so many people are giving advice regarding fasting or cutting things out entirely because I just can't believe that's the only way.
I will check out the resources section and maybe have a closer look at the types of food I am eating to see if that's the problem!
I found that if I ate below 1600 cals a day I stopped losing weight. Have you checked the NHS BMI calculator? That tells you how many cals you need to eat to lose weight, based on your current height, weight and exercise levels.
I'm supposed to eat between 1700-2100 ish and I did this last week and the week before but also didn't lose anything. So this week I aimed to just eat when hungry, make sure I didn't eat TOO little and not worry about making sure I got right to the top of it.
Well I have PCOS but I was diagnosed with this at 18 and told it was "harder" to lose weight but since I have managed to lose nearly 2.5stone I feel like this can't be an excuse. I have thought about going back to my gp but last time I went we got into an argument because they suggested I stop eating McDonald's and kfc and biscuits "so often", which I almost never do. So I don't feel confident in their willingness to help. I even took my food diary and calorie count with me previously and they referred me to SW.
Maybe it could be worth going back :/ I'm just not sure they'd help or believe me.
How rude of your Doctor, sometimes I think they see we are over weight and just assume we eat rubbish. Can you ask to see another Doctor, if you think that might be the way to go. When I did SW years ago I remember the leader telling us that we must vary our diet, she said if you always stick to the same foods you would find it much harder to loose weight. I don't know if this applies to you. Like many others I think you need to shake it up a bit. You have done so well, don't give up now. You have reached a plateau but give it time and it will start to move again. I haven't read all the posts, so apologise if I have repeated what others have said. I was so cross when I read what you said about your Doctor that I instantly had to reply. I feel your frustration, but the fact you have posted tells me your not ready to quit. Good luck.
Weigh everything, do you use my fitness pal? It makes it really easy to keep track of intake and also forecasts how much you should lose eating that amount if calories. I have 3 meals a day + snacks and have lost 2 stone calorie counting, it does work.
I weigh and record everything. I do this on paper and then transfer to my fitness pal which suggests I should lose roughly 1lb a week (well 5lbs in five weeks) and it's making it twice as frustrating that I'm not! I'm even counting the drops of milk I have in my tea and coffee.
It helps to know that eating three meals a day is working for someone! Thank you.
I can go weeks without losing, in fact I haven't lost any for the last fortnight. I have hypothyroidism so can gain easily, and am quite used to not losing no matter how hard I try.
I know it can be disheartening, but don't give up.
Why not try shaking things up by doing a completely different diet for one or two weeks, then go back to what you are doing now, it is a proven technique to get your metabolism going. Wish you luck. Jp.
hi... when I 1st started it took me 6 weeks before i started to lose anything.. very frustrating but although the scales didn't move my dress size went down. I suggest you take some measurements and also log your weight on mfp and you might see a pattern to when in the month you lose weight... I only seem to lose 2 weeks of the month and the other weeks I stay the same or sometimes it goes up... I now set myself a monthly goal of 7lbs rather than weekly to stop me get disapointed when the scales don't move.. I just look at the monthly loss instead and ... Ive lost 7lb in Dec and so far in Jan I've lost 5.5lbs and I'm very happy with that.. I dont starve myself either and have 3 meals a day.. .. don't give up.. your obviously making the right changes in your life to lose weight and everyone's weight loss is different... keep going x
Hi don't panic I am similar to you I started last May and did I well for 6 months since then. It's either a 1lb a week or maintaining again. Normally I would have given up but now I don't want to loose everything I have achieved so far.
At the moment I am experimenting with stopping/dropping foods I think bread has a weight gaining effect on me so I have reduced that I am trying new foods if nothing alters I may try the 5/2 diet I was inspired by Pineapple27 post on how she changed to different diets when things started to plateau so I am hoping it will work for me too.
I have asked my doctor to refer me for a 12 week weight management course that gives you cheaper gym/exercise classes plus a coach to advise you it's been 2 weeks and I still haven't heard anything yet so I will post when I eventually try it.
If it's really making you unhappy why not have a few days breathing space don't go mad but relax it a little then regroup your thoughts after looking for advice on the net.
You mention that you have been diagnosed with PCOS, this is likely to mean that your body isn't coping well with glucose/insulin and perhaps this has got worse over the years. You probably need to cut down on your carbohydrates and choose low GI/GL carbs. The kind of food you eat is as important as how much you eat. Counting calories may not work if you are insulin resistant because different foods have different effects on our bodies.
The Blood Sugar diet might be worth looking at. Good luck.
I wonder if you are going into a weight range you haven't been in for a while. I got stuck at 11.13 for 4 weeks and I feel like it was my body saying I don't like this I haven't been here for 3 years. Right now I am stuck at 10.13. Going backwards and forwards by a .5 and again it's a real kind of break through stage I haven't been there for over 4 years. I don't know but I feel like there are these sort of barriers that we have to break through with just a hope and a wish that if we are counting and exercising it has to come off at some point ?
This is the point at which I traditionally give up - I can't cope with a plateau of longer than 4 weeks! I just need to suck it up and grit my teeth and maybe ignore the scales for a couple of weeks! I'll be moaning non-stop on our fitbit thread!!
Sorry, at cross purposes EllaMidlands - not their profile - just their name. I meant what people have posted not what is written on their profile. I'm sure everyone on this forum, myself included, wants to help but occasionally you need to read about what has been posted beforehand before you can make an informed response. Perhaps, reflecting on a forum members' previous posts constitutes a way forward.
Sorry EllaMidlands , didn't realise it was mandatory to complete your profile as 99.9% of forum members appear not to bother. Thanks for taking the time to point this out much appreciated
Despite the overwhelming sense of frustration felt, rest assured that starving and fasting isn’t the only way, Kinbun.
As you’ve no doubt guessed, I don’t suffer from PCOS. However, I’m married to a wonderful woman who does and, much like you, she’s struggled with the symptoms for much of her adult life, not least the struggle to lose weight.
In the early years, I witnessed her tears of frustration over the fact that nothing appeared to work.
Although I’d always been interested in nutrition, largely due to my sporting interests, my wife’s diagnosis a few years back proved to be my catalyst for beginning to examine nutrition in closer detail.
With regard to PCOS, I quickly discovered that increased presence of sugar in the diet not only increased the secretion of insulin, the increased secretion of insulin stimulated the production of androgens (testosterone), further exacerbating symptoms from which she suffered.
Perhaps more than most, the elimination of simple/refined sugars is imperative to your chances of over-coming the struggle to lose (and then maintain) weight with such a condition.
Although it’ll no doubt be a life-long condition from which you’ll suffer (the same goes for my wife) it doesn’t mean that some of the symptoms cannot be overcome.
When she chooses to apply herself (she’s currently lost 18lbs over the past 3 months), my wife does lose weight through consumption of foods that are high in fibre, in addition to undertaking regular exercise (which includes HIIT) and keeping protein intake relatively high.
As such, when considering carbohydrates, aim to avoid the consumption of cakes, sweets and pastries, in addition to white varieties of bread, pasta, rice and potatoes.
Instead, seek to include quinoa, oats, lentils and beans (kidney/pinto,etc), while also opting for non-starchy vegetables, such as broccoli, kale, spinach, peppers, lettuce and cauliflower, alongside fruit, such as apples, grapes, cherries and plums.
It wouldn’t hurt to consult the Glycemic Index, to obtain a greater idea of the kind of foods that are low upon the GI scale, since a low GI diet is far more beneficial to your cause. Those foods with a GI of 60 or above should only be enjoyed occasionally.
Although considered healthy by many, a baked potato measures in at 82 on the GI scale (food for thought).
Fat can and should still be eaten. Ensure that it’s obtained from fish, avocados, nuts and seeds, in addition to virgin olive oil, for example, while aiming to limit consumption of fatty/processed sources of meat.
Although, it’s considered a MCT, coconut oil is still a saturated fat, so it ought to be consumed in moderation. However, as I’m sure you’re aware, it’s fantastic for maintaining the health and condition of hair, skin and nails, so begin/continue to apply it.
As for protein, provided that it’s obtained from lean meat, fish, eggs and whey powder, it’s difficult to go wrong. Just ensure that it constitutes 30-35% of total calorie intake, ensuring that existing muscle mass is maintained as weight is lost.
Regardless of the diet plan followed, the most important thing you can do is to gain an appreciation of your numbers, allowing weight to be lost.
Although you may have so far implemented the minimum/maximum calorie allowances of the BMI calculator, it wouldn’t hurt to obtain BMR and TDEE, by way of the Miflin St. Jeor method, to see how the figures compare.
As for gym activity, on the assumption that you’ve developed a decent base level of fitness, the inclusion of HIIT will help to ensure that calories are burned both during and after the activity, in addition to raising insulin sensitivity levels for up to 48 hours afterwards.
While in deficit, HIIT is something that should only be undertaken twice a week.
However, by including two 20-25 minute sessions, whereby the heart’s anaerobic pathway is routinely exercised for up to 60s at a time, followed by a short period of rest, the uptake of glucose and fat will be far greater than compared to maintaining a set speed.
For example (StairMaster), as part of my HIIT routine, I’m currently turning my legs over at level 18 for 60s, before reducing the speed to level 1, as I recover for 30s, before repeating the process for as long as I’m able (not exceeding 25 minutes).
Now, I’m not suggesting that you immediately attempt to ascend the StairMaster at level 18, but by opting to cycle, run or use the eliptical trainer at 2-3 levels higher than you’d usually operate them for up to 60 seconds, followed by a short rest period, you’ll hopefully gain far more in both fitness and weight loss, as opposed to maintaining steady state cardio.
Oh :/ I wrote a really long response in return to you and it seems to have not appeared here? Not sure where it went.
Thank you for such a detailed response, I really appreciate all the information you've given and the time.it must have taken
This was also mentioned above by someone, and I will have a look at low GI foods and see what I can accomplish. It's irritating to know I never knew my PCOS had such an influence on what I shud eat, or that I just didn't make the effort to find out.
You've given me such good information and I'm going to try to follow your advice. Gutted that baked potatos are such a culprit! (I'll have to find something else for dinner!) but it's important to know.
I'll definitely try the HIIT workout, but not on level 18 of anything! But it's very doable and sounds like a challenge I'd enjoy. I didn't realise it had such benefits
Thank you again for all your information, I will do my best to give it a go!
Just to add a voice re not starving yourself. I'm someone who really needs to eat regularly. Breakfast, snack, lunch, snack, dinner, tea/snack. I've done this throughout, partly because I exercise a lot, and partly because I'm very active. It's just how my body works. If I'm working evenings I even have to take a second packed lunch rather than wait til I get home and have a late dinner. So I felt my main option was to make sure everytime I eat it's healthy. I've played with 16/8 (early dinner, late breakfast) but I couldn't do 5/2. And I certainly wouldn't have considered the skipping meals route at all.
Some good filling but healthy items I rotate between are - baked sweet potatoes, brown rice, fresh fish, porridge, eggs, apples (surprisingly filling as a between-meal snack!), bananas, nuts & raisins. Also if you're interested in lower carb meal ideas, google lettuce wraps, loads of ways to adapt favourite meals to low carb via a few gem lettuce leaves My advice is to get the most out of your calories, and then knowing that everything you had was 'good' it will feel easier to be patient on the scales. Good luck
It maybe your carb sensitive and eating too many carbs you need to keep them lower under 80 grams a day
Also weigh measure absolutely every drink food item it's easy after a while to slip little extras in like sugar sauce drunks not log them
Last year I did calorie counting weightwatchers slim and save and obviously slim and save saw highest losses but ww you watch your carb intake
Be warey of exercise calories we don't burn off what we think we do only a hrm can show how much even then it's not accurate
In 2012 I lost 70lbs started at 16 stone and I ate 1500 calories and did 12 high intense Zumba classes a week gym 3 times c25k 3 times a week walked everyday 1-2 hours and had weeks I'd not lose
It happens it won't last just keep at it x
A weight loss plateau can be so frustrating Hidden ! I've also got PCOS and an underactive thyroid, and I find weight loss elusive at times too. I only found out about the PCOS two years ago and my doctor just gave me the diagnosis and moved on, so I've had to find out a lot on my own. I find I can lose weight consistently if I up my protein and fats and I have found alcohol, even within my allowance, stops weight loss entirely.
Both these conditions run high risks of insulin resistance, which does worry me a fair amount and I haven't had my blood sugar measured since I was pregnant, nearly six years ago, so it does prey on my mind somewhat.
My weight loss was good from October to December, about 1lb per week, but it is definitely slowing down to about 1lb every 10 days and it will soon stop entirely for up to 6 weeks (based on previous experience) and I will endure it for about 3 weeks and then I'll be complaining to anyone on the street who'll listen to me! I'm hoping this will be the time that I finally get past the plateau and continue to lose.
You are doing really well - try to stay as positive as you can and maybe make some of the small tweaks others have suggested - but definitely don't go down the route of the carrot sticks brigade - you can and will lose the weight on a sensible diet, but you just need to get yourself through this next few weeks!
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thank you 
Motivational Help!! 
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Back after summer break and my battle plan 
