Originally posted by Alicorn
Edit: I'm 5' 11"
Last year I was at my lowest in a long time of 219lbs... I didn't look any different than I do now. Which actually brings me to my second frustration: I'll usually swing between ten and twenty or more pounds, back and forth. Last year I was going to the gym twice a day and got down to 219. Then the weight loss stopped when I stopped going twice a day.
I've been doing it for about two months, but until last week I was only doing one hour of cardio a day. So you think I need to be doing it a lot longer? My goal is to lose 1-2lbs per week
Water mostly. Usually one cup of green tea a day, sometimes two if I'm sleepy. I can't stand the taste of "diet" sodas.
From what you are saying, I got an impression your diet is good.
And your gym sessions seem more than enough.
I conclude you were right when you ask the question about not losing weight.
There are many factors could play here:
1. Your genetics: you might be quite muscular naturally (even if you are fat), have large bones. Muscles weigh a lot even if your bodyfat is low. Therefore...measure your bodyfat in order to know where you are now in terms of your normal, optimal weight.
Since you are concerned about it, I recommend to buy either a portable body fat measuring device ($10, seen in Sears recently) or scales that measures bodyfat ($30 in Aldi, usually more).
If you bodyfat is 20%, you sure have some room for improvement.
But if you bodyfat is lets say 16% (mine is about 16%, but I am 5'10'' and 160lb now - obvioslu genetically i am skinny with little muscles), you may not worry much.
2. Amount of calories spent per day. You seem doing very good in gym, but it is not enough (from yoru own words). How about other activity? Do you walk? I personally walk everywhere I can: I alway go upstairs even if I am going to thes 8th floor.
You have to start doing some "pleasure walks": go to a mall and walk for pleasure, from a store to a store...don't force yoruslef to walk fast. Just walk for pleasure, spend a couple of hours in one session. This should be easy: just go to stores you likes... and spend there a couple of fours.
If you don't walk and drive all day, you body simply don't have a chance to use calories you consumed.
3. Sugar and Meat. These are weight gainers. Sugar gives a taste to food and meat helps ganing wieght. Do you ice cream, cookies? cakes etc? Cut it off completely. Switch to fruits: pears, apples, (dried) apricots, etc.
I recommned eating chiken and fish. If you want to seriously lose weight eat only fish (not in oil, in fact - not oil at all).
4. If you go to bed early 10-11pm, than do not eat anything after 7pm. Can just drink tea, water etc. But eat a good breakfast: don't eat just cereal. This is no good. Eat a decent breakfast, it should be the biggest meal in the day.
5. Try apple cider vinegar (it cost nothing, $2 per galon I guess). (not white vingar or wine vingar, these Are a bit different).
It is used to normalize weight. Every other day add a small spoon of apple cider vinger to half a glass of juice. The other half should be water. You can simply add it to a full glass of water. Make sure it is only slight more acid, so you feel fine drinking this.
Again, a small spoon of vingar with water juice or just water every other day. At least for a month. It makes you feel less hungry.
6. Do you eat fried food? Junk fast food? Cut it off completely!
No fries, nothing.
7. I don't think you should increase you gym sessions. No. You have to review your lifestyle, according to guidelines I mention for example.