Medical Condition Preventing Weight Loss?

Hi, you've been reading official data on how many calories you can consume, those guidelines are not correct for most women. I have never lost weight unless I spend at least one day a week at 500 -800 calories.

I completely understand how you are feeling. I know that there are many factors that contribute to weight loss and gain, and if you stay true to SparkPeople and working out, the weight will eventually come off. It does take longer on some people than others. Good luck.

Here is what I know:

http://liveitdontdiet.isagenix.com/us/en/company_associat...

B.
Family Success Coach

Updated

Here is what I know:

http://liveitdontdiet.isagenix.com/us/en/company_associat...

B.
Family Success Coach

I had the same issues back in the 1980's. My doctor put me on a diet of 700-800 calories per day. More than that I gained or maintained, but didn;t lose. Yes, I also worked out 45 minutes per day on that starvation diet. It took me over a year to lose 55 pounds only to gain most of it back by 2003.
I'm now working with a Certified Nutrition Therapist and have lost about 11 pounds in 3 weeks. Kaaren emphasizes inches lost rather than pounds, but I couldn't resist checking the scale. My husband and I have been on maintenance for several months now and doing great. Her "diet" plan is simple and is adjusted according to blood work results and an individual's metabolism. Kaaren's program is an eating plan for life and it really works...painlessly too I might add. There is no counting calories. You eat real food from the farmer's market or grocery store. No liquid replacements and no starving. She's located in San Jose, but manages clients in numerous states via conference calls. You owe it to yourself to give her a call: Kaaren Chinello office: ###-###-####, cell: ###-###-####, email: ____@____.com
Good Luck!

I have to echo the other poster that suggested that you're not eating enough. 1200-1500 calories/day, while doing cardio 4/week is not enough. 1200 is the MINIMUM that the female body needs to sustain health, so you're on the low end there. You may have sent yourself into starvation mode, so your body is hanging onto every calorie you ingest as a result.

I would also agree that adding in weight training is important. Muscle burns more calories than fat, particularly while resting. So if you add that in, that will actually be a catalyst for your weight loss. One thing to remember here, is that it also WEIGHS more than fat. So don't be surprised if you start lifting regularly, and you don't see the scale budge right away. Your body's natural response will be to retain water in that muscle for the first 2-3 weeks, before everything starts dropping off.

Overall, I would add 200-300 calories into your diet each day. This can be done with a healthy snack quite easily. Rice cakes/peanut butter...handfull of almonds...any fresh veggies...any apple, etc...

You should notice a change in your body in the next couple of weeks with these adjustments. And PS: Stay off the scale! Judge by how your clothes fit instead. It's less maddening, and a better indicator of fat loss.

There is some type of blood test you can take...(I read something about it on the internet and I think it was on Dr. Oz they were talking about it). It can tell you the right kind of diet you need to be on based on your body chemistry/makeup. I have never personally done it, but the sister of a friend of mine had been doing one of those..Adkins, South Beach and didn't have any luck losing weight. She did the blood test and found out which diet she needed to be on..ending up being something like the diabetic diet (she's not diabetic) and the pounds started dropping off.

i agree about the calorie count. if you don't have enough, your body goes into "starvation" mode and you may actually end up gaining weight. I haven't seen it mentioned here yet, but my husband and i joined sparkpeople.com. It kinda figures it all out for you, according to goal weight loss, current age/height/weight and activitiy levels. it also has optional meal plans and such. did i mention it's totally one hundred percent free? :) also, not all calories are created equal. just because you keep in a certain range-even eating "healthy", you may still be consuming too many carbs, not enough protein etc (again sparkpeople gives target ranges for all nutritional needs)
btw: weight training DOES burn calories- and is a very important part of sustainable weight loss :)

I would go to www.facebook.com/wellnesscorner
The lady in charge of that group is an expert on weight issues and food and insulin and all kinds of things preventing weight loss.
She has good recipes and a lot of great ideas that could help you. It's really been a great resource for me.
You don't have to be a part of facebook to go to the page and read the articles and recipes, etc. I think you can even post a question without being a fan. She responds usually every day.
Good luck!
C.

I always ignore the scale - I gauge my progress by how I feel and how my clothes fit - especially the bra and panties - they never lie!
I am 5'-8" and "skinny" for me is 150lbs. I have to work my bootie off and starve to stay there - if you believe the tabloid mags I am a FAT COW at that weight.
Wieght lifting is KEY to burning fat combined with cardio for getting rid of the jiggly bits. ;) Muscle weighs a lot more that fat and if you didn't used to work out you will gain muscle weight before you start losing much on the scale - also, I find that the first month or 2 of working out my legs after a long lazy period the fat seems to float on top of the muscles in my legs for 2 weeks and look even jigglier before it starts to go away. You know the saying - it gets worse before it gets better!
2 weeks is no way to gauge your progress - you need to make long term goals. Ask your gym if they can to a BMI test on you and then check it again every 6 weeks to chart your true progress.
Give yourself the gift of a healthy body and your figure will show the results as well as your sense of wellbeing!

Hi Momma-
Let me say that you are in my boat.
I have a very hard time losing weight. I have not dieted up and down over the years, but my body is such that if I am not active ALL the time and working out regularly and eating SUPER healthy, I either do not lose or I gain. Fat gir body walking. ANyway, I got tested for everything under the sun. Turns out it's just a really slow metabolism. There are things you can do- vitamin B shots weekly, will help.
Also, you should not lose more than a couple pounds in a month.It's not healthy. What you should do is measure your body - around your thighs, upper arms, gut, but and hips, and chest area. I even measure around my neck. Next, take a photo of yourself- clothed- to see what you look like. Then set that outfit aside. Once a month, re-measure everything. You will lose more fat and inches than actual pounds. Measure your success by how your clothing fits and the inches gone from the heaviest parts of your body.
I hope this helps and inspires you. Good luck!
-E.

Good job on working so hard. As a run coach and avid runner, I can say that the weight loss results don't immediately show up. A person can work up to running 30 miles a week or more/less and may not start to see any weight loss results until 6 weeks or so. For me, after 3 babies, I didn't start to see dramatic results until 5 months and then you need to change up your fitness routine (your body will get accustomed to a regular routine and then level out). So maybe one day you run, the next day you bike, or you do circuit training and then as you continue to do that but increase the repitions every other week or add some cardio...as an example. If you were, say a runner, you could run the track one time at full speed every week, but then your body will stop losing weight so you then say the next week you need to run it twice, etc.

Good luck and good job!! Hopefully you are feeling better and finding you have more energy and endurance.

I replied and then saw your response, but would suggest that you don't give up. Really it just takes patience. For me, I love to eat and eat healthy, but I don't watch calories and just make sure I work out 5-6 days a week. Join a running club or a group of some sort. Trust me, it takes time, but if you keep at it you'll be healther, feel better and you will eventually start to see the weight loss.

I am not sure what your start weught is but it is possible that you are not eating enought calories. A good gauge is 10 calories for every pound that you are in order to maintain. If you weigh 150 that 1500 calories will keep you there. If you want to loose you may want to cut back 100 calories at first a decrease as needed. If you try to do too much too fast your body will go into starvation mode. Also at 1200 calroies a day there isn't a lot of room to decrease the calories. I love the website caloriecounter.com. It let's you factor in you actvity level and workouts so you can optimize your calories. Good luck and remember less is not more in this case.

I'm surprised no one has mentioned your age! I'm 48 in a week and weight loss is almost impossible. As you age your metabolism decreases. I was one of those people that could lose weight easily for most my life. Now, it's almost impossible and I'm gaining. I'm just trying to maintain at this point. I try to keep my calorie consumption at about 1500 and I still don't lose. You might want to do a "gaining weight as you age" search on google and see what you come up with. Good-luck.

First thing is first, weight loss takes time and should not be measured on a week by week basis. Some exercise can create muscle and is very good but has a tendency of making shedding pounds harder to notice. Usually the waistline will improve even if the pounds haven't. Now that was said there are a few conditions that can make weight loss hard or impossible. Since you are able to workout and control your intake then I can remove a few from the list, which leaves an endocrine/hormone problem. Which usually stems from the thyroid gland, pancreas or ovaries. Keep trying to work on your weight reduction plan and if you come up clean for hormone imbalance problems, know that all good things are worth the wait.
Good Luck!!

I haven't read all the responses, but I wanted to tell you that weight loss is not necessarily going to be immediate. For me, it usually takes about 6 weeks to see any improvement! (Yes, really.) But once I hit that 6 week mark, it's like everything falls into place! I have always been this way. So maybe you need to give it some time, or it could also be that you've hit a plateau with your workout regimen and need to step it up a notch there. Also - cardio may not be enough. Doing some weight lifting helps, since lean muscle burns fat. I'm not saying you need to go crazy in the weight room; a pair of 5 pound hand weights might do it. Just a thought! =)

Don't worry about the weight - it's just a number! The key is, are you losing inches? If you didn't take your measurements before you started dieting, how do your clothes fit? Any looser or more comfortable? Don't give up!

Good Morning,

I have struggled with this problem for many years. Seven weeks ago I joined WW and it really does seem to be working. The hardest part for me was actually eating all of the "points" that I was supposed to. I also exercise every day and was totally restricting what I ate, apparently too much so. When I joined WW I decided I would really try to do what they say and see if it really worked and it does. I eat way more now than I have every eaten, I don't really know the calorie count because they do the points thing calories/fat/fiber, but it sure seems like I am eating all day long, it is just better choices I guess.

It sounds like a thyroid issue...I have this problem. The blood test say it is fine but really it is not. I would see a nutritionist because from what you are describing you should be able to lose at least a pound a week on your regiment. I am not in your area but get a realiable referal and go from there. Once I saw a nutritionist it worked wonders for me....14 lbs. :)

I would join weight watchers. Sometimes it is not just what you eat but how you eat it and when. I would also make sure that you are drinking lost of water. You may have gained a pound back in muscle. Remember that muscles weigh more than fat. I would keep exercising and eating right. I remember dieting and not losing more than one pound and the next week losing like two. You are just starting out so do not beat yourself up. I would join weight watchers and keep exercising. I am sure it will out work out.

I do MyFitnesPal.com which is very much like SparkPeople. While you wait for a dr appointment you may get some great advice from a post on sparkspeople.
I don't know your dieting history or how many calories you are going from or how tall you are, etc but I found this article very interesting: http://www.everydayhealth.com/fitness-specialist/fixing-r...
Best of luck,
C.

I'm a huge fan of Jillian Michales and I think she knows a lot.

Honestly, it could be anything, and we are all only speculating because we don't know your medical history.

Generally, weight can be attributed to endocrine conditions (hormones), stress, side effects of certain medications (depression medications and most diabetes medications are notorious for weight gain), edema (swelling) from cardiovascular conditions.

May I caution you against adjusting your diet down that low? Unless you can sustain those calories indefinitely, it will backfire and cause you to gain more weight in the long run.

Having been in the world of diabetes for most of my career, most dieticians recommend those few calories only for people who are immobile or bed-ridden. Your body will go into starvation mode, your metabolism will readjust, and you'll gain it all back when resuming normal caloric intake levels.

I'd agree that Weight Watchers is good. I'd also recommend a visit with a dietician to help you put together a meal plan for weight loss and weight maintenance.

If you're working out, you may also be building muscle which is preventing the actual weight from decreasing but building more lean body mass (which helps improve metabolism). My husband and I are both training for a 1/2 marathon on Saturday. I started training in early December, and have lost a total of 5 lbs. I would have thought I'd drop 15 by now, but I am so much leaner, clothes fit better, etc.

Good luck. I'm glad you're consulting your physician and encourage a visit to a Registered Dietician through your local hospital as well (chances are, insurance will cover it if referred by your doctor).

Others have been so encouraging, and I offer you the same - keep it up! You'll FEEL better with your fitness activity, and that's the most important thing, even if you don't lose inches or weight.

I had weight issues all my life, and then learned how to use food as fuel instead of a calorie count. Check out UltraMetabolism by Dr. Hyman, you'll learn about how your body uses the foods you give it to boost, or slow down, your metabolism.

You may also benefit from acupuncture and an HPA Profile test (acupuncturists give it, some nutritionists do) - this also helped me. I too was thyroid "normal" but had total adrenal fatigue, which impacted my wieght and my fertility.

Once I started eating the "right" fat-burning, metabolism-boosting foods, along with supplements and acupuncure, I thinned down, lost inches and weight, and felt the best I ever had.

btw, I was eating close to 2000 cals a day. And I sure wasn't excersizing... it was all about body chemistry for me.

Now that my DD is 20 months, it's time for me to get back on that program! with a little excersize this time, I am 43 after all...

Hope this gives you some other options to consider.

First of all, great job for sticking with it even when you're not get optimal results! I would recommend checking out a nutritionist and a trainer. A nutritionist can help you with your food intake as sometimes calories aren't everything - it's what, how much and when you eat, and a gym trainer can give you new direction with your workout to help you effectively burn calories and gain muslces. I myslef hit a plateau in my own weight loss goals and decided to go to trainer. She redirected me and it has totally helped. For instance, I would just jog on the treadmill like crazy, and she changed my routine to where I speed walk at a quick, but maintainable pace and then after three minutes, I hike the incline as far as I can handle it and do that for about five minutes and then go down to lower incline levels switching intermittently. It was kinda of pain at first, and although I felt the burn initally really bad afterwards, I was able to see results in two to three weeks! Good luck - I know its tough especially when you work so hard!

i'd give it more than two weeks before you start suspecting a medical problem. give your body a little time to adjust it's metabolic rate to your dif workout routine and your decreased calorie consumption. good luck!

I didn't read any other responses, but wanted to share. You aren't necessarily going to see instant weight loos; sometimes it takes time. You're currently burning fat but building muscle, and muscle weighs more than fat. Also, some people need more calories because the body has a survival mechanism. If you fall below the calories that your body feels it's needs, it will hoard calories. For now, wait to hear from your doctor, but I'd give it a solid month, then see what happens. You could also try a more realistic calorie intake of 1500-1700 per day, especially since you're doing cardio 4 days per week. You may hit the 1 month mark and all of a sudden see a 3lb loss and just keep on going! (my sister just experienced this same scenario and after 2 mo, has now lost 10 lbs in less than a month)

I would suggest adding weight training back into your regime because you need the muscle that you get from strength training to actively burn calories even when you are not moving. And, as you know, muscle does weigh more on the scale but wouldn't you rather be a slim, tight 150 pound woman fitting into a size 8 jeans over a flabby 150 pound woman fitting into a size 12?

As for medical conditions that can keep you from losing weight, an underactive thyroid can definitely keep the weight on. Also a sluggish lymphatic system (your body's natural detoxification system) can cause weight gain. As crazy as it may sound, jumping up and down on a rebounder (mini trampoline) and swinging your arms for several minutes a day will help stimulate a sluggish lymph system. Here's a website that talks more about what it's all about:

http://www.health101.org/lymph.htm

I don't know how tall you are or what your build is but you may also want to consider that, for the amount of cardio that you are putting in, a 1200 to 1500 calorie diet may not be sufficient to meet your energy needs and your body is naturally compensating by lowering it's calorie burning thermostat so that you are burning fewer calories during the day and while you work out.

Anyway, hope this helps. Good luck on your weight loss journey.

What was your TSH? Different doctors have different definitions about what is normal, thyroid-wise, even though there is increasing evidence that a "normal" TSH is between 1-2 mIU/L.