Why am I not losing weight?

Quick Question: I am a woman in my mid-thirties, and I have struggled with my weight pretty much as long as I can remember. I am about 60 pounds overweight for my height. About eight months ago, my fitness trainer put me on a strict diet that restricts my starchy carbs as well as over-all calories from fat and sugar. My intake is close to 1200 calories a day. After exercising four times a week and being on the most boring diet ever, not only am I hungry all the time, but I've lost less than 10 pounds. Why am I not losing weight?

Quick Answer: First of all, I commend you for your attempt to use diet and exercise first for a lifestyle change that normally should encourage weight loss. Weight loss is a more complicated field than most of us imagine. We can't simply abstain from food like one can from alcohol or cigarettes. We need food, and we need it regularly, in order to function efficiently and effectively.

From the get go, the diet you have been placed on sounds not only too restrictive, but unsustainable. Even if you were to achieve your weight loss goal, you would not be able to sustain this level of eating. Normally, you must actually eat more calories - and the right ones (fiber, protein, and good fats) -- to lose weight up to 3 - 5 pounds a week on average. Since you have lost less than ten pounds in eight months, I would hazard a guess that you have a problem with your metabolism. Find a doctor you trust, and run a battery of tests for everything from thyroid problems to Metabolic Syndrome. I am 99% sure that if you followed that restrictive diet for that length of time with little weight loss, something will come up in these tests to show you WHY. From there, a nutritionist will help you create a more sustainable diet. You may find your workouts to be more comfortable, and you may sleep better as well.

On the mental health side: there is a lot that goes on inside about food, eating, and appearance. My background is rooted in working with people with Eating Disorders and Eating Issues. I would recommend talking to a therapist with this kind of experience to help you determine what a healthy relationship with food and a realistic body size would be for you, if you haven't done that already.

Best of luck to you!

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