What is wrong with my diet?

To clarify a few things...

I am 21, female and weigh 55 kilos. Trying to get to 50 kilos.

In the past I used calorie counting to get my weight down to what it is now. I only EVER drink water. I don't put any other liquid in my mouth besides the occassional black coffee with no sugar. My dinner servings are usually 1 chicken breast or 1 piece of lean steak or 2 small pieces of fish. I believe I am averaging about 1000 calories each day.

The tuna is tomato and onion flavour which I believe I can afford to eat because my calories are otherwise too low. The tabouli is a small store-bought tub. I snack on celery sticks occassionally with a little bit of low cottage cheese.

I follow this diet because I find that I never tire of the taste of any of the products, I am quite full because it includes a lot of protein and it is relatively low carb/sugar whilst being low cal too. Am also working out five days a week.

Oh and also, I would like to mention that I have made a complete lifestyle change. I watch and think about every single thing that goes in my mouth. I have not lived the sort of carefree "i don't have to worry about my weight" mindset since about 18 years old. When I say on and off dieter, I mean that I don't constantly restrict my calories and on occassions, I do endulge but I have always maintained my weightloss. I am just struggling with this last 5 kilos.

Originally Posted by bornentertainer

I have been an on and off dieter for many years. I have lost a total of 20 kilos in all and am just now trying to lose the final 5.

My diet goes something like this:

Breakfast: 2 eggs poached or scrambled occassionally with 1 slice of low-cal wholemeal bread

Lunch: Tin of tomato flavoured tuna with a small tub of tabouli

Snack: Another tin of tuna

Dinner: Some sort of meat or poultry (fish, steak or grilled chicken) with veges or green salad

I go to the gym 5 days a week for an hour and a half combining weights and cardio in the mid-morning. Usually I walk 5km on the treadmill, 20 mins on the cross trainer and half an hour of weights.

I have been doing this for 3 weeks and have lost half a kilo. Is there any reason for the slow weight loss? It is disheartening. Can anyone see anything wrong with this diet?

On Sat, 29 Oct 2005 08:43:12 +0000, bornentertainer
m wrote:


I have been an on and off dieter for many years. I have lost a total of
20 kilos in all and am just now trying to lose the final 5.

My diet goes something like this:

Breakfast: 2 eggs poached or scrambled occassionally with 1 slice of
low-cal wholemeal bread

Lunch: Tin of tomato flavoured tuna with a small tub of tabouli

Snack: Another tin of tuna

Dinner: Some sort of meat or poultry (fish, steak or grilled chicken)
with veges or green salad

I go to the gym 5 days a week for an hour and a half combining weights
and cardio in the mid-morning. Usually I walk 5km on the treadmill, 20
mins on the cross trainer and half an hour of weights.

I have been doing this for 3 weeks and have lost half a kilo. Is there
any reason for the slow weight loss? It is disheartening. Can anyone
see anything wrong with this diet?


Actually, I think it looks pretty good (though you're not getting your
'5-a-day' fruits/veggies?) How is your calcium and fibre?

Without knowing the particulars, I'd say that the slow weight loss is
probably because you're not eating *enough*, and that your metabolism
is slowing.

I'd try eating a little more (say 30% more calories) every-other-day.
Eat the above on the in-between days. That should help keep your
metabolism up (though certainly the exercise is helping too).

Sounds weird I know (eat more to lose weight??)

Also, don't forget that (based on your routine) you're replacing fat
with muscle which really negates a lot of the 'weight loss on the
scale'... so I'd suggest besides using the scale you might also want
to take before/after pics, body measurements, and maybe get a Tanita
scale which estimates your BF (body fat) %.

Good luck!