Why Can't I Lose Weight?

Question

I just want to lose 30 pounds and I could definitely stand to lose it. I'm getting frustrated. I don't eat cookies, cakes, candy, chips, white carbohydrates, sodas, red meat, or any of the other things that make you fat. Nor have I ever been a big eater of these things. A typical day of eating for me is maybe some honey nut bunches of oats cereal for breakfast, a sandwich on whole grain fiber bread, and a huge salad with protein for dinner. I do, of course, have a few snacks (nothing at all fattening or calorie laden, maybe a small handful of cashews or an apple). I exercise a minimum of six days a week on an elliptical, for 30-45 minutes on levels 5,6,or 7. I also work out with light weights and do lunges/squats/leg raises. I drink plenty of water, as well as use an infrared sauna. But despite the fact that I don't live like a fat person, I'm overweight. Why is this and what can I do about it? It seems like all my hard work and restraint don't count for anything!

Answer 1

I lost a bit of weight a couple of years ago by jogging. Its better than anything else, but it is what i used to dread. But i still did it. Maybe instead of going into the sauna you should jog a mile each day. It will be hard at first but its worth it. Try keeping your time under ten minutes. Eventually in a week or so, start jogging two miles each day, and slowly increase the distance as you go on. I find it better to not do it on a treadmill, but just have  a  stopwatch on my arm, and run laps. If your knees can handle it then i really suggest it. The time used on an elliptical trainer can also be traded in for this. When you feel that you are about to collapse, then you know you are losing weight. Also, if you cant do a mile , try half a mile. Hope i helped.

Answer 2

Your metabolism has probably adjusted to this regimen. You need to "kick it up a notch."

The best way to jump-start a faster metabolism is to increase the intensity of your cardio exercise on the elliptical trainer. Instead of a more-or-less steady workout at moderate intensity, start doing interval training every other day.

For your first try at interval training, alternate 30 seconds at 95% effort with two minutes at 60% effort. Repeat for 20 minutes.

If that's too easy, increase the length of the 95% effort segments and/or decrease the length of the 60% effort segments. You should be out of breath with a heart rate at least 90% of maximum toward the end of your last 95% effort interval.

This kind of training boosts your metabolism for hours after the end of your workout. It will really make a difference.

Answer 3

You may want to go to your doctor and have some blood work done to make sure your thyroid is functioning properly. I am currently taking prescription diet pills as well as eating only 1200 calories per day. You might want to start walking 1-2 miles per day or at least 3 times a week. Try to walk each mile in under 15 minutes. Remember if you have lots of muscle tone, you will weigh more. Good Luck!

Answer 4

Looks like a good diet and regimen.  The sauna, in my opinion, is only hepling you lose water weight, and I don't credit it for actual weight loss.  You might try taking vitamin supplements, as some vitamins and nutrients are responsible for helping turn fat into energy.

I would also suggest longer exercises.  It is a lot harder to turn body fat into energy to burn than it is to turn energy into body fat.  When you exercise, you draw energy from the calories you recently consumed, then move on to the stored energy - your fat.  So you generally need to work out long enough to burn calories so that your body starts using your fat stores for energy.  You might only burn about 400-600 calories on the elliptical.  Try mixing in running, swimming, biking, and more cardio exercises with weights to increase resistence and therefore requires more energy to accomplish.

Answer 5

Maybe you are just gaining muscle in place of fat? In terms of your diet, what is in your sandwich and what dressing or sauce do you use on your salad? How big are your servings? Those are the only areas I can see that may be preventing your weight loss. Always use a reduced fat dressing or vinaigrette on your salad and make sure it isn't filled with breaded chicken, cheese or other high calorie ingredients. Is there mayo or butter or fat filled deli meat on your sandwich? Swap them out for mustard and veggies. Also though cashews do have a lot of protein and are healthy, they are very high in fat and calories so should only be consumed in moderation. Keep up the good work and I'm sure it will pay off!

Answer 6

Your probably just gaining muscle, which weighs more than fat. You also put muscle on faster than you lose fat, so this might account for you not losing weight. It might also be that your not eating enough, with all the exercise your doing, you need more calories for energy and if your not getting enough your body will go into starvation mode and store fat. A lot of people get frustrated because they put on weight before losing it, hang in there and keep up the good work, the pounds will come off. If it's something that you want answers to right now, I would talk to a personal trainer or dietitian. Good luck!

Answer 7

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