I am struggling so hard with this whole plan.  For the past two months I have been excercising and eating right and have only lost 1 pound.  I started excersing in June 6x's a week and have a heart rate monitor to make sure I am getting my "heart rate up" and then in July, I statred taking the Alli pill, and am still exercising 6x's a week and have only lost 1 pound. I am really starting to think their is something wrong. Any advice /suggestions?

Hi Astiens,

I think that the first step to take here is for you to take a look at what your calorie needs are. There are 2 ways to calculate your calories. The first is to use a set number based on your height and weight. That is used in many studies and on here. The second method is to use a calculation that gives you a more specific number based on your needs. You can do this using the Mifflin St. Jeor at http://www.freedieting.com/tools/calorie_calculator.htm. Get your maintenance needs and then subtract 500 to 1000 calories per day from that for a 1 to 2 lb weight loss per week. Stick to your calories and fat allowance for the next couple of weeks.

Let me know how it goes,

Betty Kovacs, MS, RD

Thank-you so much for the reply.  I really appreciate your advice.

Amy

Don't give up!!  If you keep trying, it will come.  I have weighed as much as 240 lbs and as little as 125 pounds in the last four years.  I am a 5' 9" 43 old man who weighs 194.  I have tried everything and succeeded an failed many times.

This is not a diet, but a way of life.  It makes so much sense to me.  Candidly, if you absorb less fat and watch your caloric intake, I cannot believe it won't work. 

 I have been successful in a low fat diet.  This actually lets you have more fat than most low fat diets simply because you are not absorbing as much.

 Please don't give up.  You will figure it out.  It really helps if you keep a detailed journal.

Clint

Clint,

Thanks for your reply.  I have been watching my fat intake, I eat a very "low Fat" diet on a daily basis.  I am a little confused on watching my calories, I know I should be watching my calories too, but do you know what guidlines to follow?

astiens:

Clint,

Thanks for your reply.  I have been watching my fat intake, I eat a very "low Fat" diet on a daily basis.  I am a little confused on watching my calories, I know I should be watching my calories too, but do you know what guidlines to follow?

Follow the directions in the Alli booklets. Perhaps you are eating too little fat. THere is a fine line between just enough and not enough... and your body will react appropriately. Your body has a genetic disposition for survival. Even if you are 400 lbs, if you don't have enough basic calories in order to function (you need a certain amt of calories every day for normal body processes, before exercise is ever factored in)... and if you don't get enough, your body will prepare itself for the famine that it believes is coming. You can repeat over and over in your head that this is just a diet and you want to lose weight, but this memo will never get to the area of your unconscious brain that dictates your core body functions. Just like you can't voluntarily stop your heart from beating on a whim, you can't control the normal processes in regards to weight loss. Follow the Alli instructions, read other diet books and add in stuff that you like... eat what they call for in fat and calories and see what happens.

Since muscle weighs more than fat, per area, you may be really resculpting--you lucky thing you!  Are you noticing more tone, less flab, better posture, more energy, looser clothes?

     In my ballet dancing days, I wore a 2 and a 4 different years at the same weight--guess when I was working out more?  (And obviously I'm no longer a size 2 or I wouldn't be here!)

Keep up the good work!

I was at the same point -working out hard and a lot - watching what I eat and nothing - I just started How the Rich Get Thin.  and have started droping - maybe you just need a change like I did.  It really cuts out processed food and carbs.  You could just be eating the wrong foods.  I am also going to start a pilates class next week in addition to my cardio. 

I started June 14th and have only lost a total of 2 lbs.  I actually gained a couple and then had to work to lose those before the 2 registered as a loss.  But, I'm sticking to it and here's the cool thing...I was at a meeting yesterday and while we were on break, a colleague came up to me and asked me what I was doing to lose weight.  So apparently my efforts show, they just don't show on the scale.  Let's keep pressing.  I love reading these message boards and knowing that there are others in my situation.  It's very motivating.