Been trying to lose weight for the last seven months and have gone up a dress size!!!!

[annalise95]

Hello,

So I joined the gym just after christmas and have been going to the gym ever since, my sessions mainly consit of 30-50mins cardio and about 20mins weights. I have changed this up a bit lately and have started doing more weights than cardio mainly due to not loosing any weight!!

I'm twenty two years old and two years ago I began gaining weight at a very fast speed, going up two dress sizes within 6 months, from a size 10 to a 14/16, due to this I had a lot of tests done as my diet hadnt changed and I was very active walking miles and exercising on a reg. The hospital finally put it down to a hormone imbalance told me to go on the pill (had very heavy periods with it) and said that I would have trouble maintaining a healthy weight but NOT impossible.

Since then I have been going to the gym, my cardio I always change up from doing treadmil, bike, crosstrainer, stepper, and rower. With weights I mainly focus on my legs as they are full of cellulite after putting on loads of weights, I also do my arms but not as much. When I first started going to the gym, I started off doing 3 days a week, now I am doing 5-7 days, as well as getting my 10,000 steps in. (have a fitbit which is very helpful for tracking)

Diet wise, I have a fruit smoothie for breakfast which consists of soya milk or water, lunch it varies daily from rice and beans, to seasoned chicken and veg or even a stir fry. Dinner is normally chicken or fish again with potatoes, veg or salad. I allow myself one cheat meal a week mainly because I am a massive foodie and I would fall off the wagon without one! Ive recently restricted myself to 1,000 calories a day and when I do have a cheat meal I will work it off in the gym.

Even after nearly seven months I have gained even more weight!! I am now nearly another dress size up to a size 18!!! I went shopping the other day and nearly came away crying because nothing fit me! And I'm starting to feel really deflated after working so hard and getting no where! I think the most change has been in my legs, they are more toned and I have lost two inches from my thighs but nothing else!! My stomach is my main concern as its very flabby especially on the lower half of it.

After seven months of no progress I have no idea what I'm doing wrong!! I know my doctors said it would be harder to maintain a healthy weight but not impossible! Ive already restricted myself to 1,000 calories a day and if I go any lower I will seriously put myself at risk of starving myself! I cant spend 24/7 in the gym, I'm already spending 6-7 hours a week in there! I'm just starting to feel really down and depressed about the situation, if anyone has any tips or any way they can help itd be much appreciated!

[moreless Administrator 7 stone]

Hi and welcome, Annalise

You're not eating enough, that's your problem! Read this for an in depth explanation

healthunlocked.com/nhsweigh...

Take a look at the Pinned posts section to the right of your screen (bottom if you're using a mobile), or in the drop down on the 'Posts' page (it says 'arrange by'). Read the Welcome Newbie thread, then move through to the challenges, where we hope you'll find at least one that will appeal to you.

Move down to the Topics, to find a variety of threads, collated into specific topics for ease of access and we ask that you also 'file' your own threads, so that others won't miss your important news.

Take a look at the NHS 12 week plan, as a lot of people have been successful with it, making sure to enter your details into the BMI calculator, to get a calorie allowance tailored to your personal requirements. Don't forget to take your starting measurements and a 'before' picture, as they can be very motivating on days that the scales refuse to co-operate.

We run a weigh-in every day of the week and you'd be very welcome to join one of them. The threads can always be found in the Events section, to the right of the HOME page, bottom on a mobile.

We also run a Daily Diary, where we share our meal and exercise plans for the day. It's a great place to get ideas and to keep us focused. The link can also be found in Events.

Be aware, that the HU app doesn't give you access to all of our important features, so we advise that you use the full website page.

We've found that to get the best out of this community, we need to be active on the forum, as it's where we exchange information, get motivation and inspiration and make friends. We hope that you'll join us here, regularly, too.

It's only left for me to wish you well on your journey

[Hidden]

Hi I totally agree with moreless. It might sound strange to eat more to lose weight but there is science behind it. If you eat too little you send your body into starvation mode, and it compensates by lowering your metablism. This is why you have put weight on. Eating healthily, portion control, and having enough calories will raise your metablism once more thus making it much easier to lose weight.

[Diana]

I'd seriously question this hormone imbalance, seems a bit oodd to me this pill,it could be doing more harm than good.

[James40Cheshire]

I believe that Moreless is absolutely spot on. Try eating a bit more and I think you will lose weight. That doesn't mean feasting every night unfortunately! Good luck with it. James

[Jo8989]

I agree with the above. You are not eating enough. They say it's better to have 6 "mini meals" a day than 3 large but obviously it doesn't have to be meals just make sure you are eating more than just 3 set meals, going to the gym 7 days a week you shouldn't restrict yourself to 1000kcals a day. Up it to 1200-1400kcals make sure you are having protien and get the fibre in give it a few weeks allow your body to adjust and I guarantee you'll be getting them results. Good on you for sticking at it. Xx

[RG07 Maintainer]

I take it you are female? I would either aim for 1400 cals/day at the minimum which is what the NHS 12 week weight plan reccommends for women to loose weight (men I think is 1900). Or look at the NHS choices BMI calculator which works out your calories intake for weight loss including your exercise level so you don't have to adjust your calories intake based on exercise and aim for the lowest intake range. Try this for 1-2 months and see what happens. You are very active and only having 1000cal/day so your body is probably think you are suffering form starvation so is storing all the avilable calorie it can get as fat.

I was put on the contraceptive injection for heavy periods and it does make you put on weight however I am still on it and I have lost weight slowly but steady which is what is reccommended to make it more likely to stay off- aim for 1-2lbs a week weight loss

Good luck

[Hidden]

I think there are two things here. The hormone imbalance and your approach to weight loss. When I began this process it was also after a period of sudden weight gain. I had to address medication, possible food intolerances and general stomach issues. Check your hormone imbalance has been fully investigated. Why did it suddenly change? Will it change back? Have you had all available blood tests for this? The contraceptive pill is not the only option for hormone control. I had the mirena coil fitted, there are also hormone patches available, both options without weight gain side effects (as opposed to the pill). Do you have a nearby birth control centre where you could get advice on these sorts of options? Also consider asking your gp for a referral to find out if there are other options too, maybe to a gynae doc. It was a gynae doc who identified my food intolerances and it was through changing my medication that I started to take back control.

The second part, your approach to weight loss, is also something that needs addressing. You say you've gone up a dress size and measurements are reducing. Do you really want to gain muscle like this? There are different ways of exercising to lose weight. Strength and resistance exercises that use your own body's weight promote leaner muscle. Doing weights at the gym may have the opposite effect to what you want. Try a circuits class, or something for core strength. I would really recommend couch to 5k too. Mix it up a bit more. Exercise clever - quality over quantity. And as others above have said reconsider your food intake. Calculate your calories on the NHS BMI calculator and try following the NHS 12 week weight loss plan. Hope this all helps i think your attitude is very positive but a different solution to the hormone issues and a shift in your weight loss approach could make all the difference

[Minniewinny 5 stone Maintainer in reply to Hidden]

Beautifully written, I couldn't write it better. So I say "ditto" to all the above. Wishing you well annalise95 With more information from your professionals and exercise smart for your benefit.

[Hidden]

Hi and welcome annalise95

Please do the BMI check where it tells you what your calorie range should be nhs.uk/Tools/Pages/Healthyw... as it looks like you are eating way too little calories

Personally I would do the BMI check, eat mid range of the calories it says for two weeks and see how things are and then go back to your Dr

I use myfitnesspal to log my food and help with the calories, I am wondering if you are weighing your food or guessing and if guessing it could be a bit of portion distortion. I would go back to basics and weigh everything out before putting it on the plate to eat

Wishing you all the best on your journey

looking forward to hearing how you get on x x

[Fran182716]

Just another thought, people with hormone issues sometimes do better on a lower carb diet, it's still about using more calories than you take in but it seems to help people do that without getting too hungry. I'm not particularly low carb myself at the moment but quite a few folks here find it works well for them , might just be worth having a read about it to see if it might be worth a try 😀

[annalise95]

Hi guys,

Many thanks for the comments!

I did start out on more than 1,000 calories, was roughly on 1,200-1,300 but I wasn't loosing anything so I thought maybe I was still having too much, which is why in the last month I have reduced it! (Doesn't seem to have helped though, except I am hungrier!) will definitely check out the bmi calculator and see what I should be on!

Regarding the carbs I think you might be right, I track my food through my Fitbit and it breaks it into macros, while I'm still in the average percentage for carbs of around 40% I'm wondering if that is still to high for me trying to lose weight!

My dads a personal trainer so I speak to him regarding the fitness side of things and we do many HIT sessions as well as gym sessions, I sort of fall short on the diet side of things however, and as much as I try to cut down my carbs it's soooo hard! They seem to be in literally everything! If anyone knows where I could get some good recipes that are low in carbs it would be a great help!

Many thanks again for your comments!