Cant seem to lose weight

[hugefailure]

I dont know if anybody has the same problem, im 20, on a good day i eat around 1,500 cals a day and most of the time less, but i cant seem to ever lose weight..

[fitmissjen]

Hi @hugefailure and welcome to the community.

Are you combining a healthy diet with exercise?

[SunsetRunner]

Hi @hugefailure

Do you weigh all foods or guessing how much it is?

Actual eaten foods can contain more calories than a package says or less, it's impossible to know (our bodies are complex and mysteriously know how much have been eaten previously & currently, knowing when not needing more in the moment.. or sending out appetite / hunger signals when it needs more nourishment). It's also possible that the foods eaten contain more nutritients, keeping your precious body satisfied for longer..

Eat until comfortably satisfied when hungry, not stuffed.. if feeling needing to force feed your body regardless of the time, wait until it naturally asks for more nourishment and needs more..

Even when there's calories left in the food plan, when not being hungry, honor your body not having more, your body can be perfectly satisfied with hundreds of calories left but having all nutritients it needs, not needing more.

Try aiming to eat foods provided by nature as minimal as processed (fruits, vegetables, meat, fish, eggs,..) containing nutritients your body needs, having lower calories overall, keeping satisfied for longer, and healthier for your body.

No foods of limit, everything in moderation.

When the goal is to loose weight, use the food plan to change food habits where required, listen to your body if it doesn't need more or which type of foods it wants & how much when hungry (if not so hungry, it can be satisfied with a piece of fruit (banana may look more appealing than a apple..), your body is giving signs which nutritients it needs and which food the nutritients have which it's missing..

When eating to eat, if wanting for example only a piece of fruit, and nothing but a piece of fruit when available if not being so hungry.. forcing to have something else instead first (which doesn't look appealing to have), going to eat the piece of fruit anyway..

If eating what your body truly desires to have first, it can be perfectly satisfied with having the piece of fruit, not needing the other food.. eating less calories overall..

Since logging food, set a larger deficit.. or when logging food, when logging (specially at dinner), put in a higher value of the portion eaten (if believing having eaten 100 grams of potatoes, log 150 grams..).. piece of meat could be 200 grams, log 250 or 300 grams.. to ensure staying in a deficit..

Try being in tune with your precious body to (honoring your hunger and satisfaction levels) (mostly on the foods provided by nature).. hard to overeat on those foods when eating until satisfied..)..

[jamrow38]

This is one of those things that is so based on body type, amount in vs. out, and what type of exercise. I am one of those guys who can literally lose or gain 5 lbs just by eating a meal or not. I do insane amounts of cardio and weights but still find it hard to lose weight in any significance. My doctor tells me that my BMI will most likely never dip below 29 just because of the amount of muscle I have. It sucks a bit since I would like to lose a bit more weight but I would have to lose muscle to do that and my doctor thinks that is a bad idea...it's a struggle. You are fine just the way you are...it's all about perception. It took me a while to learn that one.

[MustangMark]

Yep, jamrow38, hugefailure, I feel your pain.  I work out with weights and do cardio and can't get down to my ideal 190.  Just keep trying I guess.....

[SunsetRunner]

Don't focus on BMI, rather on body composition being in a healthy weight range, in a healthy body fat range, how you feel, how you look.. when looking lean, having lots of muscles, being fit & strong, healthy.. & looking awesome, that's what matters more than any number.

[Bobbinyc]

@hugefailure A couple of thoughts, if you aren't already overwhelmed.  You don't say what you eat, or how active you are, or what your weight is.  Did a doc tell you to lose weight?  Is it more a concern about your looks?  Are you athletic?  All of this makes a difference.  Most of us as young adults, especially women, get so very caught up in how we look.  We are bombarded with messages about how we are supposed  to look, that has nothing to do with anyone's reality. And then we place so much importance on it that everything else in life pales next to it.  It has nothing to do with our relationships, our work, our connection with community, etc. Perhaps you can share a bit more about what you eat and how active you are.  These forums are great for that. 

I do know one thing for sure.  I'd bet the house that you are NOT a huge failure.

[greenandgroovy]

I am sure you are not a "hugefailure" lol - you are here aren't you? Might be able to help you more with a few details. What does fitbit say your calorie intake should be? How many pounds a week to lose do you have it set for? How much weight do you have/want to lose? Is that goal realistic on height weight charts? How long have you been trying and monitoring every bite down to milk in your coffee and a taste off a spoon while cooking? A typical weight loss diet recommends about 1200 calories per day in addition to exercising approx 30 minutes at least 3 times per week to lose 1 pound per week.

[FitRyGuy]

How many steps are you taking per day?  How many calories are you burning per day according to your fitbit?

[Gatorredd]

You are probably not eating enough to protein. You should half at least between 5 to 7 ounces of cooked meat or fish on your heaviest meal of the day and stay away from any carbs and sugar foods like fruit and deserts. You need to eat green veggies at least 1 & 1/2 cups of green with your heaviest meal. You should be eating at least 6 meals a day and drink 1/2 your body weight in ounces of water. A minimum of 80 ounces of water.

[emili]

Hi @hugefailure- which I'm pretty confident you are not. How do you know you eat 1500 a day? Do you measure and count or do you assume based on the type of food you eat? Reason I ask is because its so simple to overestimate or underestimate. To be completely honest, if there isn't a medical issue, eating 1500 calories a day, even without exercise, you should be losing about half a pound a week. If you workout, it should be triple that. At your age, your metabolic rate (without health issues) is at its peak performance. Whatever you decide to do, good luck on your journey and please consider changing your fit name 🙂

[Frostygirl]

hi, would love to chat sometime. I have exactly the same issue currently and no one can explain why. Not doctors or nutritionists. It is very disheartening working so hard to loose weight, doing everything possible, and still seeing the scales go up not down.

[meanone]

Frosty and Huge Failure -  from your pictures you don't look over weight.   Are you setting unrealistic goals for weight?    My advice is to cut the carbs, limit alcohol and eat more protein.   If you really need to lose some weight read the book Zero Belly.   I've been on it since August and I'm down 13 lbs (I'm over 55 and if I can lose anyone can).  What's so amazing about the so called "diet" (I call it eating lifestyle) is the inches you'll lose off your middle and fast!  Muffin top is going away.  Lots of energy too. Drink lots of water.

[Frostygirl]

Okay well first off thanks for the compliment but photos can be very deceptive. I have 30kg to loose. I already do everything you are suggesting. I rarely drink, I have lots of water, low carb, high protein, and every nutritionist and trainer I have dealt with, have never been able to explain it.

[HelenaFitbit]

@Frostygirl This may sound weird, but I know how sometimes diet and exercise don't work even if you're pushing yourself to the max. I suggest paying a visit to a metabolic specialist.

They are doctors who can run a couple tests and approach weight loss as a whole. I actually had to go to one for anxiety problems and turned out I was not processing cortisone properly and had an underlying metabolic problem.

So yeah, each case is different but who knows? Maybe you'll get an answer. 

Take care. 

[meanone]

Have your thyroid checked.  You might add a little fat like olive oil or peanutbutter

1 TBS to your diet for several weeks and see if that helps.  If you eat too little fat, that will kill your weight loss plus it's bad for your body.

[RJ2bfit]

Hi, 

I used to be like you....never seemed to lose weight.   I began a high protein, low calorie diet (1200 cal) and have lost over 25 pounds!  I am a true believer in high protein (lean protein diet).  Your body has to work harder to burn protein.  Good luck! 

[RJ2bfit]

How much protein do you eat per day?  I have 95-110g per day.  😉  

Also, just remember 80/20.  

80% nutrition 

20% exercise 

Exericse is important, but that alone will not do it! 

[newmon]

I'm one of those people who has lost/regained the same 20 lbs. over and over all my life, starting at age 15 til now (I'm 70!)  Have tried every diet, am active, done fitbit for 9 months (not so dedicatedly !!) and jumped into every diet/food plan -- you name it -- with enthusiasm.  I have NEVER reached my goal until I tried Dr. Phil's 20/20 diet (not really a "diet." )  I have an addictive nature, and that program has worked miracles.  I reached my weight loss goal over 6 months (25 lbs.) and have maintained it even though I have become lax and now vow to restart this program which is all about healthy eating, natural//clean food choices, and eating enough to allow my body to say, "it's OK to let go of those fat stores -- you won't starve!"  Slowly but steadily that has happened, and it's been painless because the foods that are suggested are so satisfying and helpful to metabolism and a healthy gut -- all off which contributes greatly to steady weight loss.  

I have found that exercise alone does little to shed pounds, but does a lot to get me into good physical condition, flexibility, and strength.  I have back issues and of course, age-related creaks, but all of these are helped with regular exercise, thus fitbit is a great motivator.  But the key is a good, healthy, natural diet with honey, maple syrup, raw nuts, healthy fats and lots of vegies and lean proteins.  So simple, but it works!  

[SimoneP]

Try picking a different username, hugefailure sounds so negative.

1500 calories intake doesn't say much.

how much do you move?

did you measure 1500 or is it a guess?

How is your sleep?

How is your stress?