Why am I not losing weight

Thanks @LeeAase! I'm really looking forward to seeing my blood test numbers after my March 27 blood draw for my upcoming annual checkup.

Hi @dssko, I used to believe calories in vs calories expended (exercise, etc.) was the only way to lose weight and have spent many years with different diets and Weight Watchers with limited success. I weighed about 215 pounds when I got out of the Navy and over the years my weight got up to 330 when I decided I had to do something about it and tried a few diets before joining Weight Watchers. I was able to get down to around 240 and decided I could do it on my own. For the past 10 years I've bounced between 240 and 280 but have struggled trying to stay around 240. My diagnosis of PMR in 2007 and small fiber PN in 2016 started me on my journey of eating healthier which was the start to taking control of my weight. This was after reading Dr. Terry Wahls book - The Wahls Protocol. She has an amazing story - https://www.healthline.com/health/multiple-sclerosis/from-wheelchair-to-walking-how-this-doctor-recovered#3

Now thanks to reading how @LeeAase was able to take control of his weight I have a new perspective and think it may be the answer for a lot of people struggling with weight loss even though they are eating healthy. You can read his health journey here:
https://social-media-university-global.org/my-health-journey/. Feb 25 I started using the intermittent fasting he discussed. My starting weight was 239.6. On Feb 25 I did a 24 hour fast figuring I would do it every other day but I read a tip by Lee for just skipping breakfast and lunch on the fasting day (every other day) and followed the tip until yesterday when I did another 24 hour fast. This morning I weighed in at 233.5 which is the lowest I've been in several years. I expect to be up some again tomorrow but I'm hoping to keep the downward trend going. One thing I can say is that I feel a lot better and still try to avoid sugar, fast food and snacking.

Lee also had a great blog entry you might want to read on a calorie is not a calorie:
https://social-media-university-global.org/2020/02/a-calorie-is-not-a-calorie/

@mahnoorra
I have always found that if I’m gaining or maintaining a weight I don’t want is because I’m eating to much for my exercise level or eating the wrong kind of food.
I don’t believe in diets but in eating correctly. My Dad was overweight, in fact so was I and my mother. My Dad was paralyzed from the neck down and got zero exercise so needed less food than my mom and I. His doctor gave him a 700 calorie a day diet. Everything had to be weighed and measured. We all started dropping weight and ate everything from appetizers to desert. But better than that none of us were ever hungry nor did we have any cravings. Unbelievable to me since I only ate tsugar before.

Of course this is only my opinion but it seems reasonable to me. I don’t deny there are a few medical problems that may interfere with weight loss like thyroid, insulin issues etc but I believe these problems are few but frequently used as excuses. I once did something as foolish as it was dangerous, I fasted for 14 days. I have always found that if I’m gaining or maintaining a weight I don’t want it is because I’m eating to much for my exercise level or eating the wrong kind of food. When I swam 5 miles a day I could eat anything I wanted, whatever I ate then came from the bakery.
I don’t believe in diets but in eating correctly, now. My Dad was overweight, in fact so was I and my mother. My Dad was paralyzed from the neck down and got zero exercise so needed less food than my mom and I. His doctor gave him a 700 calorie a day diet. Everything had to be weighed and measured and was made or cooked from fresh food, nothing packaged, canned or frozen. We all started dropping weight and ate everything from appetizers to desert. But better than that none of us were ever hungry nor did we ever have any cravings. Unbelievable to me since I only ate sugar before.
I don’t believe in eating low cal or diet anything. Take a good look at what your eating and how much.
Jake

It is very hard to loose weight and keep it off no doubt about that! But I have to say your “using thyroid as an excuse for not loosing weight” is very hurtful! I have had thyroid issues for 6 years, then it “developed into cancer” and had to be removed. When it wasn’t functioning before cancer I was exhausted all the time, heart palpitations and felt foggy headed but managed to care of my family. It was a huge struggle, after getting put on medication 7 years now, I gained weight even though I was walking 8-12 miles, watching my diet (low carb) and exercising daily. 1 year post cancer surgery I struggle to maintain my weight, fatigue and stigma from weigh gain from medications.. I gained 10 lbs even while watching my eating, fasting, cutting calories down to less than 1000 and exercising after starting medication. I think the medicines work but they sure make it very difficult to loose or maintain weight.

@sophia07- When I couldn't lose weight, for another reason I wound up having to consume more calories than before I dieted. It is so very very frustrating. Just to touch on your weight loss 1000 calories a day is not enough calories to sustain weight loss at all. You need to eat at a minimum of 1200 calories a day. Pleae, I am not saying that the medicine doesn't make you gain weight, but if you are trying to lose it you actually have to eat enough to help burn off calories.

@sophia07- When I couldn't lose weight, for another reason I wound up having to consume more calories than before I dieted. It is so very very frustrating. Just to touch on your weight loss 1000 calories a day is not enough calories to sustain weight loss at all. You need to eat at a minimum of 1200 calories a day. Pleae, I am not saying that the medicine doesn't make you gain weight, but if you are trying to lose it you actually have to eat enough to help burn off calories.

Low Thyroid can be the culprit and some meds makes you gain