Where am I going wrong?

Shmiley

I gained an extra stone during my last year of college and I decided to try battle the bulge over the summer with some healthy eating and lifestyle choices.
In the last two weeks I haven't lost a single pound and I'm feeling quite frustrated.
Although I didn't exercise in the past two weeks, I expected to lose at least something because I'm eating a calorie restricted diet (~1200 per day). I feel a little cheated because I've been very strict with myself.


Here's my typical food log:

Breakfast:
1/2 cup of porridge with low fat milk, no sugar. (~250 cal)

Lunch:
Tortilla wrap with rocket, green & red pepper, roast chicken breast (~350 cal)

Dinner:
Mushroom and pesto omelette with low fat cheese (~300 cal)

Snacks:
Apple (~100 cal)
Activia yoghurt (79 cal)
Sweet corn (~50 cal)

I'm wondering if anyone could give me some pointers and tell me where I'm going wrong?

I weigh 158 lbs and I'm 5'8 btw.

alltacht

You may not be eating enough. Google BMR and TDEE. Often when you dont eat enough its harder to lose weight, sometimes you have to change things up when you plateau

Shmiley

I don't think my calorie intake is unreasonable since I haven't been burning the calories through exercise. (My BMR is around 1600)
I usually would increase my calories on days that I do exercise (1 hour jog/walk or 20 minute strenght/cardio) to stop myself from being hungry. On these days I then allow myself around ~1450 calories.

I'd consider myself to be a bit of a slow-burner when it comes to my metabolic rate, my thyroid has been tested before and it's a little on the underactive side, but nothing serious.

Any suggestions as to what I should start/stop eating?

I am a lady who likes her bread, occasionally I have a cinnamon and raisin bagel with Flora light butter on it (~350 cal) as one of my meals, I'm wondering if that could be problematic? I'd probably have it twice a week.

Stench Blossoms

Have a look at the primal thread here.

SunnyDub1

Shmiley wrote: »

Although I didn't exercise in the past two weeks.

Not being smart but no pain no gain - don't expect results if your not going to work at it.

Here's my typical food log:


Breakfast:
1/2 cup of porridge with low fat milk, no sugar. (~250 cal)- Carbs
Try replace with eggs.


Lunch:
Tortilla wrap (carbs) with rocket, green & red pepper, roast chicken breast (~350 cal)
Try cutting out the tortilla and add more fresh greens and veg.


Dinner:
Mushroom and pesto omelette with low fat cheese (~300 cal)
This is a very little to be eating as a main meal ? I'd be having this minus the "low fat cheese" for breakfast. You should try cooking some fish,chicken,lean meat again with plenty of veg.



Snacks:

Apple (~100 cal) - OK
Activia yogurt (79 cal) - I'd try replace with natural yogurt. I find the likes of activa, muller light etc full of unnecessary sugars.
Sweet corn (~50 cal)



I'm wondering if anyone could give me some pointers and tell me where I'm going wrong?

I weigh 158 lbs and I'm 5'8 btw.

First of all op, imo you are not eating much good foods.
Calorie controlled diet works for some people, but for me I find it frustrating counting and tracking calories all day. I do keep a slight track of calories but I'd be more concerned about how much carbs, good fats etc I was taken in.
Also I find majority of people who calorie control are afraid of fats :rolleyes:. Good fats are essential for effective long term weigh loss and a healthy diet. My advice would be to base your meals around high protein, low/good carbs and good fats. Try snacking on nuts,eggs,berries.

alltacht

Shmiley wrote: »

I don't think my calorie intake is unreasonable since I haven't been burning the calories through exercise. (My BMR is around 1600)
I usually would increase my calories on days that I do exercise (1 hour jog/walk or 20 minute strenght/cardio) to stop myself from being hungry. On these days I then allow myself around ~1450 calories.

I'd consider myself to be a bit of a slow-burner when it comes to my metabolic rate, my thyroid has been tested before and it's a little on the underactive side, but nothing serious.

Any suggestions as to what I should start/stop eating?

I am a lady who likes her bread, occasionally I have a cinnamon and raisin bagel with Flora light butter on it (~350 cal) as one of my meals, I'm wondering if that could be problematic? I'd probably have it twice a week.

Weight training should help improve your metabolism over time. But eating under your BMR consistantly won't do you any favours. BMR is what your body burns approximately if you were to just sit down all day for your essential body functions. Don't be scared of eating this you should NET around your BMR every day. On days you excercise add around 100 cals to this. 1450 on excercise days is too little. But it has only been 2 weeks so if you want to stick to the 1200 for a while and see what happens, its just that if its a lifestyle change and you want to keep the weight off, its not very realistic to think youll stay eating 1200 cals every day from now on. Slow and steady wins the race.
Nothin wrong with your bagel either, like another poster said, keep an eye on your macros aim for high protein, veg, healthy fats and complex carbs in moderation. If you only have around a stone to lose it can take a while. I was in the same boat myself. What gave me the results I wanted was increasing my calories to above my BMR and lifting heavy doing low repetitions 3x a week, bit of cardio and that was it. Scale didnt move too much but the inches melted away. Stick with it and youll get results eventually.