A
female
age
30-35,
anonymous
writes:I am very overweight and i am extremely unhappy with my weight. I am 5'5 and currently weight 122.5kg, i have lost 2 kg but even with exercise and lowered calorie intake it wont shift anymore. When i started loosing weight i lost 3 kg, put on 4, lost 5, put on 2 and so on. i started at 124.5kg and i am now 122.5kg, it has been 5 months and nothing is happening. i need extreme help :( i hate living like this and i hate looking like this
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female
reader, So_Very_Confused  +, writes (6 May 2013):
 Losing weight at your age should be easy.
IF you are ACTUALLY taking in less than you are putting out (and do not fall into the trap of over estimating how many calories you are burning during exercise as it’s not all that many) AND the intake you have is high quality, then it may very well be time to seek professional guidance.
I would talk to a doctor to rule out medical problems first. PCOS for young women is often an issue as is depression medications or birth control medications.
I have lost over 100 pounds. I had to eventually have gastric bypass at age 49 to do so. I wish I had learned better skills and habits at 18 (but then I was thin)
You say you are exercising and have lowered calories.. can you give me details?
My best advice… 1500-1800 calories per day is plenty.. make it mostly veggies and lean proteins… good fats (nuts and avocados are my favs) low fat dairy (low fat yogurt with salsa is my fav dip and salad dressing) complex carbs (sweet potatoes are a fav) and one small treat a day… fruit is high in sugar and can be high in calories and make you hungry… are you drinking enough non caloric non caffeine beverages ( does not have to be water but does have to be no calorie and no caffeine I prefer iced herbal teas to be honest)
As for exercise… walking is fine… 30-60 minutes a day…. SIX days a week! And some strength training is good as well as flexibility such as yoga.
A
female
reader, CindyCares  +, writes (6 May 2013):
 I don't disagree with you , OP, surely lifestyle and nutrition have got a lot to do with being able, or not, to mantain an healthy weight : yet, as of now, isn't it a bit like deciding who was born first, the egg or the chicken ?. IF you have messed up your metabolic system ( not mandatory, but far from impossible, as you mention yourself ), now, beside adopting changes in food intake and physical activity, you also would have to try and repair it . For more effective weight loss and for general health as well.
I don't think it is exactly a matter of jumping to conclusions. It's only that , IN GENERAL, ( and if you are a very healthy individual case , that can't but please me, of course ! ) an exceptional or exceptionally fast weight gain or weight loss does not stand in a vacuum , it is the symptom, or if we don't want to call it a symptom because it's too " medical ", let's call it a sign, of some other disorder ( not necessarily illness ).
I'll try to explain what I mean with a bit of math :
to gain a kg. you need to assume about 7000 kcg ( calories ) more than you need. 60 pounds = 27 kg = 189.000 extra calories. 189.000 calories in 90 days = 2100 extra calories a day.
Now, at your age and leading a sedentary lifestyle, you'd still burn about 1600 calories a day , even doing nothing at all. So, for gaining 27 kg in 3 months, that you should have been taking in at least 1600 plus 2100 = 3700 calories a day. Of course I have no idea how much you eat and what, but for many women it would be difficult to keep this rythm consistently : even on purpose .So it's not absurd to think that you have eaten a bit more than due , but also BURNED a bit less.
But if you did your check ups , and there's nothing wrong with your thyroid etc.,and the weight gain comes just from overeating, I have another suggestion which I hope will be more helpful.
Someone I know had good results, and a lot of emotional support in following her weight loss plan, by joining a self guided self-help group for Overeaters. No, it's not like Weight Watchers :), the focus is not ( only ) on becoming slimmer , it is mostly about exchanging mutual support for the mental / psychological issues behind the overeating. You can TALK, in a non judgemental , empathetic circle of peers, of all the feelings and issues linked to your weight problem. You say that you got overweight just out of sheer gluttony and extra-lazyness, but, it would be interesting to reflect about what MAKES you be a glutton and superlazy, wouldn't it ?
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A
female
reader, anonymous, writes (6 May 2013): @Cindycares, it is a lot of weight but I also was that weight when I was 20 by eating a lot of bad foods and being almost completely sedentary. I put on 60lbs in 3 months and there is nothing medically wrong with me, just plain old laziness and gluttony. People are too quick to jump to a condition instead of human behaviour and bad choices. BTW the more bad food you eat and the less exercise you do, the more the body and metabolic system becomes damaged so rge easier it is for the body to store energy as fat.
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A
female
reader, anonymous, writes (6 May 2013): I have lost 30kg by doing these 2 simple things...
1. Eat less
2. Move more
Use myfitness pal to track food and drink,and i literally mean everything, including how munch milk and sugar you have in your tea, exactly how much butteryou pit on your toast. A digital food scale is essential. Eat low GI foods so keep blood sugar levels stable (when insulin spikes, your body becomes a fat storing machine)
I walk over an hour a day and I lift heavy (60-90kg dead lift), press ups, planks, functional movements.
It's really that simple. You are not losing weight now because your daily calorific deficit is not big enough. Eat tdee -20%
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A
female
reader, CindyCares +, writes (6 May 2013):
Maybe you have thought of that already but, just in case, ...have you seen an endocrinologist ?
Not to turn the knife into the wound, and forgive me but a weight in the 120s for an height of 5'5 is quite some extra weight, to call a spade a spade it is obesity, and I doubt that at such a young age you can have reached this weight just by eating, unless you are eating all day long and only junk food. It is worth to see a doctor and investigate if it might have a pathological cause, particularly endocrine.
Also the ineffectiveness of dietary modifications, and the yo-yo weight/gain cycle, would make me think of some methabolism malfunction. Did you ever had your thyroid checked ? If you suffer from hypothyroidism, your metabolism basically grinds to an alt, and diet alone won't help too much, you need medications to rev it up . There may be other hormonal conditions too to make weight loss difficult for you, so...it's worth checking into it.
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A
male
reader, CMMP +, writes (6 May 2013):
If you haven't been losing weight then you probably haven't been too diligent about doing what you said you were doing.
Instead of reducing calorie intake, which can be difficult to maintain, just change your eating habits. No more fast food or processed food, use whole ingredients to make your own food. No soda, even diet. Fill your belly with fruits and vegetables. If you do that you won't have to worry about calorie counting.
Work out at least 4 days a week. Get some form of exercise every day (walk, etc).
Do all that and you'll lose weight. It takes a lot of self discipline, but many people do it. Every time you're about to do something you know you shouldn't, tell yourself if you do it you'll get fatter, if you don't you'll get thinner, because it really does boil down to those little decisions.
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A
reader, anonymous, writes (6 May 2013): Please don't become obsessed about weight. It is not a measure of self-worth or the reason for all your unhappiness.
You are very young, and in your search for ways to change, you have singled out your physical appearance as the primary source of what bothers you most about your self-image. Be careful about that type of thinking.
You have to love yourself before starting any regimen to change your outer appearance. Girls your age become susceptible to eating disorders; or damage their kidneys and physical health from over-dieting. They sometimes do permanent damage to their metabolism.
You should see your doctor to be sure there is no problem with your thyroid; or any other underlying physiological disorder that can accelerate weight gain, or make losing weight difficult.
You can't fix your body when your mind isn't right. That is what I was taught when I joined the Air Force. The mind and body have to be in sync. You have to realize that your physical appearance isn't the only thing that people notice about you. They care about who you are as well. No matter what you look like, they will treat you in accordance to your behavior.
Dieting is not always the only remedy necessary to regulate your weight. There may be other underlying causes that cause over-eating. There maybe an over-indulgence of sweets or sugar. Fast food intake and other foods that contain high amounts of empty calories.
You do best when a doctor has checked your body to find out whether there are vitamin deficiencies or other irregularities you may over-look trying to treat yourself.
Don't just look into your mirror. Look into your soul. Your body may still be growing and changing if you are under the age of 21. So developing your mind and enriching your personality will transcend your looks.
"I am extremely unhappy with me weight!"
This is not a healthy outlook. It tells everyone that you have problems with your self-esteem. You may be victimized by other people, especially cruel children and people in your age group. You have to develop a thicker skin, not just a thinner body.
People viewed as physically beautiful with perfect physiques are often disliked for their nasty personalities and narcissistic attitudes. They think their looks give them a right to be cruel and feel they're entitled to whatever they want or whomever they want, just by their looks.
They aren't always as happy as often presumed by girls your age. They get attention; but they may still have the same problems as anyone else. When it comes to making real friends or finding love; we all share that in common as human beings. There are no perfect people.
Don't get caught up in just losing weight. Make sure you give yourself credit for being a nice person. Make lots of friends who love you for who you are. Treat people with kindness and compassion. Ask your friends what they like most about you. Talk to your parents and tell them how you feel about yourself.
Selfishness, arrogance, and conceit are uglier traits than being over-weight. You can be a beauty queen; and if you don't like yourself, you'll become self-destructive.
Love yourself first, and you will find it easier to love others and people will not care about your weight. They will love you for the light that shines from within you.
You should loose weight with your health as the primary reason. Not the belief that looking thinner is going to make people like you any better than they do now.
Your self-confidence needs work and you should work on your attitude towards yourself as well as regulating your food intake.
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A
female
reader, fishdish +, writes (6 May 2013):
 Something I think is important, and what I am just starting to do, is continue to find different things that excite you (as much as exercise can be considered exciting!) a half hour bike ride, an hour dance session, a hike with a good incline, a ten minute jog, are all exercise. Pinterest has some great fit-spiration people, quotes, and routines that can definitely keep motivation levels high. Join a class with a friend so there's some accountability-someone else depending on you to come with her.
As for food-I don't know if this happens with you,but for me I feel like the pain I put in at the gym, I want to replace with what I want to eat, like I want to reward myself for doing something good that I actually undo what I just did. Buy the right things for your house so you won't be tempted. Something I've done although I haven't really used it as a results-thing more than a health thing, is to buy frozen fruits and blend them up into custom made smoothies. It's better than soda, and you could refreeze as dessert! try keeping a log of what you're eating-they say if you see what you eat it's more likely a deterrent to bad eating--so much eating can be unconscious. Another thing is you can still make really savory that act as comfort food in their fillingness but are also full of health--I'm thinking soups, veggie stews, and pastas. Good luck, keep trying!
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A
female
reader, anonymous, writes (6 May 2013): You can loose weight solely on a diet, without exercising , but of of course moving is always beneficial.
you reduce your calories but what are you eating. Is it still bad food, just less? I would suggest to you to look into raw food diet. It doesn't mean you need to become completely raw, but if you do you will lose weight very fast, no doubt. You can't keep on doing the same thing and expect a difference.
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A
female
reader, Dear Mandy +, writes (5 May 2013):
 HI
I know how frustrated you must feel, but you HAVE to be honest with yourself , you can't expect to lose weight if you have sneaky nibbles here and there and not exercise routinely.... two days on one day off three days on one day off, repeat for 4 weeks then four days on two days off, three days on one day off for another month. then 6 days on one day off for 2 weeks. Whilst doing so lower your food intake by 400 cal for 4 weeks, then 300. - 200 etc. Drink 3 litres of water a day, NEVER eat after 6pm. And if your SERIOUS about losing the pounds DONT EAT WHAT YOU KNOW YOU SHOULDN'T. it is a simple or hard as you choose for it to be, if you are REALLY unhappy about it then you WILL achieve your goal by sticking to it.
please don't weigh yourself every second either, measure yourself every two weeks instead. As when your exercising you will gain muscle ( not big ) but it will show on the scales, but when you measure yourself you will see the inches dropping off.
Good luck, and keep us up to date with your progress :)
Mandy x
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A
male
reader, peanut_gallery +, writes (5 May 2013):
Without doing anything extreme, you have to reduce your caloric intake and increase you level of physical activity. This is widely and generally accepted.
If you believe your situation is somehow unique or there is some underlying medical issue, speak with your doctor and see a dietician or nutritionist.
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