“Can't lose weight?”
I am a 46 year old male trying to lose weight. I weigh 275...well, now I'm 280. I have started the calorie deficit plan. I eat 1 egg with 2 whole-grain toast, no soda, just coffee in the mornings, almond milk, water, and flavored waters. Lunch is spinach with mixed greens and grilled chicken or a sandwich. Dinner is usually salmon with veggies or something similar but almost always something fishy. I don't smoke or drink alcohol. I play pickleball for 4 hours each weekend and for 3 days during the week, I ride on my Nordictrack S22i which I love. My base caloric need is around 2300 per day so I keep my calories intake around 1800 each day. When I bike ride I average burning between 300-500 calories and I'm not sure about how much I burn while playing pickleball, but I assume it's a lot since it's so intense, especially since I play in South Florida heat. I do everything right but my weight keeps steadily climbing. What's wrong? I'm perfectly healthy...just a little high on my blood pressure due to the weight I'm carrying around.
Male | 46 years old
3 Answers
Dietitian-NutritionistDietitian-Nutritionist
Hi! I know when you feel like you're doing all the right things and not seeing results, it can be so frustrating! May I ask how long you've been doing this and your motivations to lose weight?
Your body has a toxic load greater then it can eliminate. Dead animal flesh is too hard for you to digest and because it is cooked flesh it is void of nutritive value. The only thing that will give you is toxic byproducts from all the processing it requires to break it down and move it out of the body. You will fair greatly by changing your menu to a raw fresh fruit menu for 6 weeks to allow your body to “take out the trash”. I know that probably sounds too simple or backwards because you have been taught that “protein is key”. However, the truth is, “Protein” from flesh foods requires 7 processes to break it down for the extraction of amino acids before it can even be “used” by your body. Add the fact that it becomes denatured and therefore void of value when cocked and it actually does nothing for you. Raw fresh fruit however, is full of amino acids ready for the using upon consuming them. Simple, bioavailable “protein” designed just for your body. Do NOT consume anything besides fruit at any meal you choose to eat fruit. Choose only one type of fruit per meal. Eat as much of that fruit as necessary to feel satisfied and full. If you choose something other then raw fresh fruit for your meal do NOT add fruit to that meal. Never combine a carb and a meat together at any meal.
I think your activity level is great. It does not sound like you are eating 1800 calories per day based on what you included. Without knowing your height, it appears that your basal metabolic rate is about 2150 calories. Then you have activity on top of that. I would never recommend consuming less than the BMR if you desire effective weight loss.
