Why Can't I Lose Weight? What Am I Doing Wrong?

Stop dieting for at least a month and give your body time to recover from the constant dieting.

Calculate estimated calories required to maintain your weight, cut that value by 10% and start there.

Adjust based on results.

Agree with Barry here; routine is your enemy. You have to do different things all the time to keep your body from adapting to your activity. Variations on your problem are pretty common and the only solution is to mix it up. Try doing sprints instead of a mile run. Swim. Ride the rowing machine.

You may have to accept at some point that your genetics won't allow you to be wraithlike, just as I'll never be a hulking dude no matter how aggressively I persue a muscle building routine.

Talk to a professional.

Two likely reasons:
1. You've lost fat and gained muscle, which is heavier than fat.
2. The calories aren't being counted correctly.

Illness is another possible answer. Talk to a professional.

It's impossible to gain (fat) weight over time without excess calories.

You've been on a restricted calorie diet for THREE YEARS? And you're eating less than 900 calories a day?

Of course you can't lose weight. You've put your body into starvation mode and lowered your metabolism to the point that there's no way you'll lose weight.

Do you do any exercise at all?

You're going to have to start eating more, healthy foods and you're going to have to start exercising - especially some form of weight lifting or body resistance work in order to build back the muscles that you've destroyed by starving yourself.

Do some research on the topic. I'd strongly suggest reading through Lyle McDonald's blog and really paying attention to the articles about nutrition and muscle loss.

Ballet requires anorexia. There's no other way. My advice, ditch the ballet and go into modern dance.

I suspect errors counting calories, or a metabolice disturbance such as an underactive thyroid gland.

-Steve

Disclaimer: All matters regarding your health require supervision by a personal physician or other appropriate health professional familiar with your current health status. Always consult your personal physician before making any dietary or exercise changes.

There are a few things to keep in mind.

1. Metabolic rate decrease as you lose weight.
2. The body goes into starvation mode.
3. Muscle is heavier than fat.

With your constant diet I would suggest to have a normal eating day once or twice a week. Eat 1500 or more calories, then go back to your usual routine. On these high calorie days, stay away from starch.

Rather than jogging, try swimming or other cardio exercise that you enjoy. It will help to use other muscles as well.

Why does everyone still think that muscle weighs more than fat? One pound of muscle weighs the same as one pound of fat! Muscle just takes up less space. Please stop using that expression, it is very misleading.

Because of your severely calorie restricted diet your have lost muscle mass and your metabolism has slowed way down. It is important not to cut calories too low and often anything under 1200 calories is too low for women.

Also, it's a good idea every now and then, at least one day a week, to eat more calories to trick your metabolism so it doesn't slow down.

Also, make sure to incorporate some weight training in the exercise routine to help build muscle tone, especially for your upper body which probably is lacking with all the lower body stuff you are already doing with dance and running. Using a light weight with 15 or so reps will tone, and not a make you look bulky. Muscle keeps the metabolism up so you burn more calories at rest.

STOP TRYING TO LOSE WEIGHT.. you are probably at your biological limit in terms of a healthy wieght.

For esample, sust because someone ORDERS me to lose 100lbs doesnt mean that i can do it... its insane that you are trying to achieve something that may be harming you in the long run... although, for me, my bosses doesnt give a shat what i weigh, so there may be huge pressures on you.

btw, 130lbs at 5.4 is PERFECTLY FINE (assume you eat healthy).

I have been involved in ballet for 25 years as a student and a teacher. I cringe every time I hear a teacher talk about weight or dieting to students. I have had an eating disorder for 20 years and I would never want another person to go through what I've been through. Not everyone has the ideal body for ballet and no teacher should EVER say the "F" (fat) word in front of students of any age. They don't realise the damage that word can do. Never restrict the amount of calories, it will slow your metabilism down (I've learnt that the hard way). Make sure you get enough protien or your muscle will waste quicker.
GOOD LUCK

I have recently discovered the wonders of meal delivery for weight loss. I had researched all types of companies from the bargain Nutrisystem to gourmet systems often used by celebrities.

I decided to go with Jenny Craig Direct and I am pleased with the food (cheesecake, pizza, etc) and the knowledge that as long as I am eating their food I can relax and enjoy because it is all on plan.

Better still I have heard very little unsolicited advice from the many "armchair nutritionists" in my life. If you are on a professional program with food good enough to stick with, what can they say?

It may sound contrary to everything else here, but I think it would be best that you start some weight training so you can eat more but still lose weight. Mostly you'll need it everywhere with ballet. You don't need to be a certain weight you need to be a certain shape. However, not everyone should be pressured into this type of mentality and ballet should be banned.

Try getting outdoors and exercising, whether it be jogging or even walking. Anything can help you in the long run. Sometimes dieting can add to the trouble and in often cases, people fail to maintain their diets.