Help!

[Ambrosia_Jade]

I am clinically overweight and gaining rapidly despite apparently doing everything right and it’s very frustrating.

• I burn on average 1500-3000 calories a week at the gym

• I drink plenty of water

• I eat on average between 400 and 800 calories a day (which I know is less than the required amount but I don’t have much of an appetite especially since I’m still gaining weight)

• I also eat healthy: I follow a vegan lifestyle and snack on fruits; cook using lots of vegetables; and have maybe one bag of crisps a week

I would really like some pointers to how I can get back down to a healthy weight without me having to restrict anymore.

[BridgeGirl Administrator 2 stone]

Hi Ambrosia_Jade , you're saying two contradictory things there: that you're apparently doing everything right and that you're eating 400-800 calories a day which you know is less than the required amount.

I'm sure you know it is waaaay below what your body needs. I think that's your starting point.

[Ambrosia_Jade in reply to BridgeGirl]

I know that but if I’m gaining weight on 400-800 calories a day surely eating more will make me gain more weight?

[BridgeGirl Administrator 2 stone in reply to Ambrosia_Jade]

This might help explain it healthunlocked.com/nhsweigh...

[S11m]

Diets or lifestyles can be deficient in some essential nutrients (including fat) and make you hungry... how long have you been vegan?

¿Do you count the calories in the fruit?

Fruit is not "empty calories" but some fruits are calorific.

[Ambrosia_Jade in reply to S11m]

I’ve been vegan for over 2 years (was vegetarian for several years before that) and I make sure to get all the right nutrients. As I said before I don’t get hungry and yes I do count the calories in fruit

[bikegrrrl 1lb]

Hi Ambrosia_Jade , I am truly scratching my head over this, it does sound very frustrating! I just can't work out how you could eat so few calories and actually gain weight.

To see if we can get to the bottom of this, how would you feel about listing in reply everything you have eaten on one day (maybe tomorrow?), including the weight of everything, amounts of any sauces, spreads etc (in tablespoons), and all the drinks apart from water?

[IndigoBlue61]

Hello and welcome to the Weight Loss Forum Ambrosia-Jade 😊

First of all, to help you find your way around, and enjoy all the things we have on offer, please read the Welcome Newbies Post here healthunlocked.com/nhsweigh...

Take your time to read it carefully as it has lots of information.

I have to say I agree with other posters and something isn’t quite adding up. Either your maths isn’t quite right or it’s the type of food you are eating. Please check your target calories using the NHS BMI checker, and then join the Daily Diary listing all the food you eat and then we can see where we can help you. Please don’t despair, between us a solution will be found 😊

For your own privacy and safety online we suggest that you to lock your posts by selecting ‘followers in my community’ when you write a new post. Please read our security post here. healthunlocked.com/nhsweigh...

For greater anonymity you may also wish to change your username

Out of interest, can I ask how you found us?

Best wishes for your weight loss journey

Indigo 😊

[Hidden]

Hi think that the advice you have got from the other posters is really good.

400 calories a day is way too low for your health. It's really not sustainable. If you are not getting hungry on such a small amount of food, it might be a good idea to go to the GP to check that there is not another reason for this.

If everything else is OK then you really do need to eat more calories.

[Binky68 Visitor]

Hi ambrosia, like others I can’t tealky understand how you can burn that many calories on that low a diet intake ?

What I can tell you is that as a lifelong vegetarian I have struggled with my weight as my body doesn’t do well with carbs . As a vegan you are very limited as most protein is wrapped up in a lot of carbs

Reduce your carbs to less than 100g a day and increase your calories to 1200.

[Hidden in reply to Binky68]

Hi Hedgehog1968 how are you doing? Hope you are still on a downward trend and loving the gym. Have you convinced the gym to lower the ambient temperature to 16degrees?

Whatever the temperature, O&D! xxxx

[Binky68 Visitor in reply to Hidden]

I am my love, 51 pounds off now in 15 weeks, hope to get to 60 by August 22 when we go in holiday for a week as that will mark half way point !!

And yes!!! To the gym!!! I now just turn it down when I walk in , down to 14 to compensate !!

How about you ? I just replied to your post about your friend

[amykp Visitor]

I agree #1 go see Dr. that being said, cut out the fruit!

Fruit is sugar, period, maybe packaged with fiber, but still sugar, and if your weight loss is stalled that can be a big culprit. Go back to green veggies, lots of healthy fat and protein. If you don't want to eat meat, will you eat eggs? They are really good for you. Or whole milk yogurt?

I've been doing a lot of reading on the whole intermittent fasting thing--I think there might be something to it. You can start just by NOT snacking at all. Eat three (better two) big and satisfying (plenty of fat and protein) meals instead. Only clear liquids between.

[Hidden]

Hi Ambrosia

I can say that cutting right back on carbs, and fruit togehter with trying to increase my caloriesis is working for me.

I have dropped a size and a half! and I feel so much better.

It all seems counter-intuative but it works.

pop over to the daily diary and see what others are eating and see what takes your fancy.

You can do this because this forum is a very strong force and everyone is on your side cheering you on.