So, recently I started doing the eating pattern where you eat smaller quantities, and have breakfast, snack, lunch, snack, dinner and maybe a small snack if you get hungry. I have also being doing squats and if I have time, leg lifts. I am really trying now, because I just want to be skinny.

But now that I am actually trying, I've gained weight! I am looking bigger and I have gained weight. It seems like anything I eat beyond a meal is going to be just another pound. No matter what I am gaining weight, and it's just so frustrating. I've gained at least 10 pounds in the past 2 weeks, and I have no clue what is going on.

I really don't want to be overweight anymore, and no amount of body positive things can make me feel any different. But losing weight seems impossible anymore. I just want to be able to eat yummy foods without feeling guilty and gaining weight.

Just, does anyone know what I can do?

I don't know if you like dancing but that seems to help me and keeps my mind off food. If you drink soda or anything sugary cut it out of your life lol I just stopped drinking soda completely and only drink unsweetened tea and water and even diet soda is bad for you. If you eat chips cut them out also and pizza and potatoes like those kill you and maybe cheese and d milk LOL sorry.

I'd take a moment to read this. But only the bottom half really applies. Sometimes it seems like you're going backwards, and maybe it looks like that too, but in some way shape or form you are getting healthier.

Do you do anything else besides the squats and leg lifts? If you're only working your legs out, they're the only thing that's benefiting; you'd probably get more out of working out if you did push-ups, crunches, jump rope, lift weights -- things that work your entire body, or at least more than just your legs. I do agree with , cutting sugary junk food and drinks out of your life will help a whole bunch. And it's alright to eat yummy foods!! But you have to also put in the time to work the calories off that you're taking in. Eating a reasonable number of calories will actually help, it gives your body energy (eating less calories actually lowers your metabolism, which doesn't help you any!) and something to burn off while you work out. :)

This is also a good article as well (have you noticed I keep going back to WeightWatchers? :P They have a lot of things that could help and even joining in a community of people all looking to stay fit and keep it could help significantly. I say that because I really can't say I'm any sort of work-out, weight-loss guru, I'm ~185lbs of body image issues and bitterness :P)

Oh, before I forget: do you know if you have any medical problems that might be contributing to the weight indifference? I have Hypothyroidism and -- unfortunately -- that lowers my energy levels, and makes it more difficult for me to lose weight and causes a shitton of other problems as well (makes my joints feel like I'm an crotchety old woman, for example). I don't know how many medical problems out there can contribute to weight loss problems, but it wouldn't hurt to maybe give it a look-see just in case. :)

I love dancing! I just haven't been able to because my school schedule wasn't able to accommodate the only dance class at my school and I've been in the process of moving, not much room in the house right now to dance haha :P I plan to hula hoop outside once the warm weather decides to roll around. It's been so disgusting outside where I live lol.

Ah thank you :) I sure hope that in a few weeks I will start to notice that difference with clothes fitting, as he mentioned. Also, I am 180lbs of body issues and bitterness, I feel you. I don't know if I have any health issues contributing, but supposedly, if I track what I am eating for 2 weeks and I am still gaining weight even when my diet is reasonable, my mom is going to set up a doctors appointment. Hard to believe, considering she is one of those people who doesn't think you should go to the doctor unless you're deathly ill.

You're welcome! :D And yeah, even if the changes are small, I'd take them as good things. It does mean you're making progress, it will just take some time and effort to get there. :) That's a good way to do it! And hopefully you'll see improvement too though even if you don't, going to the doctors to figure out why you aren't is a good step towards progress. ^_^

I feel you, completely. I'm trying to lose weight too and it is so hard that I'm beginning to think I have some kind of health issue (maybe hypothyroidism) that's stopping me. I work out at least 3 days a week at a gym (20-30 minutes on an elliptical or treadmill and weight machines for legs and arms) and sometimes I go in on my 'off' days and just do cardio (usually the elliptical again). Then I also cut my portion sizes way down and I'm eating better foods. I've cut out soda and I'm switching meals with a juice (keeping the pulp) when I can (once a day usually). I feel like I'm doing everything right. And the other day I weighed myself (which I hate doing) and found I had lost 5 lbs...but that took a whole month to lose. It's discouraging that I'm not doing better, but I guess we've both just got to keep trying. It'll be easier when the weather gets nicer and we can get outside and just walk or swim or do whatever. This winter has been hellacious.

Are you on any medications?

I find it easiest to stick to a diet that has minimal effort. Mine is just eating frozen diet food for now. Eventually I will put more effort into it, but after being on several medications that made me gain 40+ pounds I just want the weight gone with as little added stress as possible.

It also helps if you can work exercise into your day, so you do it without noticing. The easiest way is to walk instead of drive. I miss living in a pedestrian-friendly city, that contributed to me gaining 20 pounds after being relocated for only 6 months.

10 pounds in two weeks is kind of a lot! It COULD be that there's something medical causing it, so going to a doctor about it might help. If you are taking medications, check to see if weight gain is a side effect and then discuss them with your doctor. That's what I recommend, since that seems kind of extreme unless you've been binge eating a lot or something.

As everyone else mentioned, cut out any soda and unhealthy snacks for now out of your diet. It's surprising how much various drinks can add to your calories etc per day. (If you drink alcohol socially as well, keep in mind that each shot/glass adds up as well!) Also make sure you are not overeating while doing the whole 'eat throughout the day' thing, since that's still possible.

5 pounds in a month may not seem like a lot, but it's actually really good! That's over a pound per week. To burn a pound you literally have to burn or take in 3000 less calories. Every time I'm on the treadmill and burn like 100 calories in 10 minutes -- well, imagine what an uphill battle that feels like to burn 3000 more, LOL. (Well, if you weigh like 300 pounds then you probably could have lost more, but you know.) ESPECIALLY if you are doing various weight training etc -- you might be gaining muscle at the same time you are losing fat, so while the losses on the scale might not seem so much, you are making gains in the best way possible for your body. C:

Ok, first I just have to say YOUR HA IS FREAKING BEAUTIFUL!! GAH. <3

And as far as weight loss goes, lol...yeah, I know 5lbs in a month is good, but I want to lose more, faster. I am not a patient person at all. Although things should be going faster for me now because in addition to doing three days of strength training + elliptical, I'm adding in some classes at another gym (yoga, pilates, zumba, core) a few days a week. I just had my first of each class this week and I have to say I think I'm in love with zumba. Granted, I'm not very good at it or very coordinated in general, but it's fun so I'll probably stick with it, and holy damn was I ever sweating at the end of it, lol.

Thank you boo. ❤️

I've never tried zumba (yet?) but my best friend loves it and does it at least once a week. I hear it's a great workout because it seems more like something fun you do for an hour or two but by the end of it you've been moving a lot. I'm not very coordinated either so I would suck at it, but maybe I should look into finding some classes near me? C:

And I totally know what it feels like about wanting to lose weight, as fast as possible. Unfortunately our bodies just aren't made that way. I gained a TON of weight in the past year or so and just now am working to shed it off. It actually kind of sucks because I used to run 5k three times a week back when I was at home with my parents and easily lose like 1lb a week, but I live in the city and not near a place I can run outside like that (ie near a park -- I don't like running on the streets) so I've had to go do weights etc at the gym instead and endure the stupid boring cardio machines and it just seems to be taking extra forever. Sorry, that turned into a random rant, haha. But it seems like you're doing all the right things exercise-wise, and you gotta stick with them. You already know you're getting results because you HAVE lost weight. My aforementioned friend who does zumba (and does stuff like running on other days) has definitely noticeably gotten slimmer since she started, so I bet with your dedication you are gonna get there too. I'm rooting for you, and for myself as well! <3

You should totally look into it. Maybe even go with your friend and maybe she can show you some of the moves beforehand? I want to lose weight because I want to start running, actually. My dad used to run marathons and he's always been lean and I want that for myself. I want to get to the point where I'm addicted to working out/running. Not like sick addicted, but addicted as in I can't wait to do it and I love doing it. I totally hear you on the 'stupid boring cardio machines' lol. I get sooo bored on the elliptical, but I keep at it because it seem to be working. Thanks for rooting for me. I'm rooting for you too. :)

Her zumba classes are at her corporate workplace so that's not happening, lol (although I'm sure if I asked her to do one with me somewhere else in the city she'd be up for it). She used to dance and stuff and she's pretty wild so I'd feel like an extra tard next to her, haha.

I used to not like running at all! I found it difficult and boring and blah. But my parents' place back home is very residential (we don't even have sidewalks, actually) and the terrain varies (it's various slopes/inclines/hills, which actually made it harder to start) but it's so much more motivating than a treadmill or elliptical. The way I started running was by looking up the "couch to 5k" program, which starts you off with really small intervals (like, first few times you run for a minute, walk for 1.5 etc for about 23m, eventually you progress up to just doing the 5k straight up) but I would definitely recommend finding a place/course outside. You don't even have to be super fit to start, I think, because ANYONE can probably motivate themselves to run for a minute and then walk for 1.5, right? C: