Simply CANNOT lose FAT or weight, what to try?

[tivoboy]

AKA, is it starvation mode? (**WARMING LONGISH POST!***)

okay, howdy.

I'm new here (actually signed up quite a while ago) but have been reading through about what, FIVE years of posts from people.

Why am I here? I simply cannot lose weight. I don't even know where to start, but here is the overview. I'm looking for help, I'm looking for some guidance, i'm pretty much at my wits end here and wonder if a community of this size might be able to lend some insight, experience and guidance on how best to break down what I apparently cannot understand and get me though this.

I'm 42, 6'5" and currently weight about 244lb. I've been trying to lose about 15-20lbs for about FOUR years now. Here are some details about my recent (read last decade) weight gain.

In 2002, I weighed 210lb. That is about what I weighed for the previous 15 years nearly. I had weighed more in the late 80's, early 90's when I was a professional windsurfer but that was DEFINITELY more muscle. It was about 225-230, but honestly I never tracked it. I was on the water 6-8 hours a day and just ate ate ate.

In 2002, I was living in south america for about two months. In that period of time, apparently I lost about 15 lbs, in those two months. This was mostly due to not having ACCESS to enough food, and being at 11K feet and walking about 4-6 miles a day at altitude. I thought not much of this, getting a little leaner was fine, and when I returned to the USA the weight came back on in normal fashion in about three months. I was at 210 or so for the remainder of 2003 and 2004. Then, the weight started to go on. (this happened during the period that my mother was dying, I wasn't sleeping or eating much)

In the Summer of 2005, I was at about 225, and thought I'd try to do something about it. I upped my game, working out with an excellent trainer and trying to control my eating. Mind you, I never really tracked my eating, but I KNOW I was eating LESS than I had in the past already. But, I upped the workout game (totally killer workouts) and controlled my eating.

A comment on my eating. I always ate what people might consider clean. Whole grains if I ate bread or pasta. Yogurts, fresh fruits, lean meats, salads, fish 1-2 night a week. Not a lot of sweets, no colas, not a lot of alcohol, no chips (okay, maybe a couple times a MONTH) legumes, vegetables, not a lot of butter, no white breads, etc. I LIKED eating this way. When I went to "control" the consumption, I just reduced things a bit.

In the first TWO WEEKS of starting my new weight training program (mind you, I was already DOING 2-3 days a week - now it was 1 normal day and TWO killer days) I managed to GAIN nearly 10 lbs. I thought this was pretty much impossible. I mean, I KNOW I was hitting the weights hard, core training, circuit training, but I figured there is NO WAY I can gain 10 lb of say muscle it TWO WEEKS.

Since then, I have been trying to get it off, just back to the 225 that made me start in the first place. But, the 235 went to 240, then to 245. Nothing I did worked. I added cardio to my workouts, if one hour is good, TWO is better, right? I kept my consumption straight lined, but increased the USAGE. That didn't work.

In the summer of 2008, I went to the doctor. Might it be a thyroid problem, might it be a hormone problem, might it be diabetes, might it be a tumor somewhere, NOTHING came up. I had so many tests, blood, pee, caca, xrays, ultrasound of the thyroid, nothing showed up.

Okay, what do we do now? So, I had my body tested. I had a hydrostatic BF test done (30%) and I had my RMR (RESTING) tested. What the resting rate showed was that my body was using 2600cal just RESTING. I was pretty much EATING 2600 or less daily, so the nutritionist suggest UPPING my consumption a bit, over time in order to get my body back in line with NEEDS/vs. USES. Well, in the two weeks that I added about 250 cal a day, making it like 2750-3000 (I was using fitday at this point to track EVERYTHING) in those two weeks, I gained 12 LBS!!!, that is when I hit 248 and said WTF I gotta put a stop to this.

So, I searched for alternatives, and that is when I found TNT (targeted nutrition tactics) I like the idea of the low carb, HIGH fat, HIGH protein diet and the logic was sound. It was HARD to eat so much FAT and get calories up while eliminating carbs with exception of Veggies at every meal. But, over the course of the first 12 weeks, I went from 246 down to about 231. That was a good move, certainly in the right direction. But, to be honest, the final 2-3 weeks of this diet I DID eat carbs since I was traveling and trying to do a lot of cardio (swimming, diving, windsurfing, etc.) and without any CARBS I had essentially NO energy.

That was Jan 2009. Since then, I have been able to lose nothing and have actually gained back 15lb. I haven't gone BACK ON CARBS, indeed I continued to work that diet for nearly six months with no loss and actual gains. Then I broke my foot and had to give up some exercise (shifted to swimming) and adjusted my consumption DOWN.

What has happened since then? I'm now about 244. I tried to do the TNT again, for about six week and lost not a single ounce. (normally doing a low carb gives one SOMETHING in the initial month) I've shifted to more cardio than weights, and had no movement. I tried to constrain or reduce consumption again, but that doesn't seem to do anything.

What I am THINKING now is possibly that my body hasn't been getting ENOUGH food? someone my size, when I try the regular online tools, it says my maintenance should be like 3500-4000 a day, especially if I workout as I do and my size. DAILY I get about 2500, SOME days maybe 2750, but certainly no more than that. I just don't feel either hungry, or that I need food.

What it SEEMS like so often though is, that I lose MUSCLE very quickly. I workout HARD when I lift and do cardio. I SEEM to gain STRENGTH, but after a few days I feel/seem weaker. When I get back on the weights, I'm pretty okay though, but it SEEMS I am losing muscle.

I work out, about three days a week with weights and about 4-5 days a week of various cardio for 45-60 min. Cardio might be walking fast on a treadmill, doing HIIT on same (for half the time), doing mountain biking, playing tennis, swimming, hiking, etc.

When I do weights, I workout about 45 minutes, rarely less. I get in about 8-10 discrete exercises and try to target the whole body. I stopped doing the BI/TRI/BI/TRI back and forth about six to seven years ago. When I lift, I lift to move the weight. I move it clean and don't try to get an "11th" rep. if it is going to be done poorly. I'm pushing myself, but keeping the movement clean.

My strength SEEMS pretty good. Incline BB push, 65-70lb each arm. Lat pull downs, 180lb, seated flys, with 50lb, or 190 lb on the reverse delt machines, bench 175 (long arms keep that sort of low) preacher curls 90lb bar, squat 185) things SEEM strong, so the workouts are hard and it seems there is strength there, but

Could I be in starvation mode? Is there ANY real way to tell?

My body just doesn't want to give up any weight especially FAT. Could there be something ELSE that I am missing? Could I have some deficiency?

What other tactics does anyone recommend?

I know this was a long post, and I thank you for reading it. I just felt that it required this level of detail for any of the local experts to have enough info to put a thesis together.

I appreciate your thoughts and responses.
tb

[ejthomp]

That long post and it all boils down to calories.....

You don't track calories so you don't know your maintenance level. An estimate from a test, isn't true until you verify it through diet. You don't know your maintenance level so you don't know how much to eat.

You can juggle food around for years(you have), but if you don't cut calories, nothing is going to work.

You ARE NOT in starvation mode. To be in starvation mode you have to be starving....people who starve....lose weight and die. You aren't even losing weight!

Make an, accurate, balanced diet containing about 2100 calories and 180 grams of protein and live on that for at least 3 weeks. Report back.

Guessing at calories doesn't work.....

If you don't believe me, I challenge you to write down every crumb (weighed) and every drop you put in your mouth for a week. Do an accurate calorie count. You and I have about the same lean body mass.... You are eating at maintenance.... I'd put that between 2500 and 3000. If you want to lose weight you need to go down to 2100 (where I am now) and live on that for 3 weeks with NO CHEATING. You will lose weight.

[budershank]

That long post and it all boils down to calories.....

You don't track calories so you don't know your maintenance level. An estimate from a test, isn't true until you verify it through diet. You don't know your maintenance level so you don't know how much to eat.

You can juggle food around for years(you have), but if you don't cut calories, nothing is going to work.

You ARE NOT in starvation mode. To be in starvation mode you have to be starving....people who starve....lose weight and die. You aren't even losing weight!

Make an, accurate, balanced diet containing about 2100 calories and 180 grams of protein and live on that for at least 3 weeks. Report back.

Guessing at calories doesn't work.....

This and check out the fat loss for newbs in my sig.

[tivoboy]

This and check out the fat loss for newbs in my sig.

THanks for the post!!

I guess I should have put it in more detail, I DO track calories, I track everything. out of nearly three years now, I probably have 28 months of data in fitday, for periods of 3-6 months tracked every day. Some months, when nothing works, one tires of it - but my consumption stayed about the same. I tend to get into a habit, and I can stick with anything as long as I have a plan.

So, when I say I am currently eating 2500 cal a day, it's 2500 cal a day. I have a scale, three sizes of measuring cups and everything I eat is input into fitday.

I tried eating between 1800-2100 cal a day for six weeks back in 2008, I didn't lose an ounce. weight stayed exactly the same, nothing change. that makes no sense. SIX WEEKS!

budershrank: I've read the thread in your footer as well, it was one of the ones I read from the past fives years of research I did here before posting.

[Fadi65]

You may want to have a look at this before we discuss eating: http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showth...hp?t=122616891


Fadi.

[ejthomp]

You may want to have a look at this before we discuss eating: http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showth...hp?t=122616891


Fadi.

Very interesting. I look forward to what you have to say about eating.

[PressEnter]

There's not much to say. It's a scientific fact: if you burn more calories than you consume, you will lose weight. End of story. Sure, there are things that can screw with your metabolism to make it harder to lose weight, but the principle remains the same. I might add that metabolic prolems are rare, and can only be diagnosed by a doctor. You won't find any fast answer here.

If you want some info on the real studies of metabolism and the so-called issue of starvation mode, check out the book "The Dieter's Dilemma" by Dr. William Bennett and Joel Gurin. The book is rather outdated, but so, in fact, are the studies on human starvation, which I don't think would be allowed today.

[DuLac]

do what ejthomp says to do, then report back in 3 weeks.

[KQguy]

Assuming you are doing everything you can as far as diet and exercise is concerned,I would ask your doctor to take another hormone test.Where did your testosterone levels check out at?If you are on the low end of what is considered "normal",that could be your problem.Some peoples test levels just need to be higher than others to feel normal.At your age,it is not uncommon at all to be having issues with low testosterone,go get retested,and discuss it more with your doctor.Again,I am only telling you this "assuming" you have done all you can with counting calories,and exercise.

[tivoboy]

Well, some reasonable responses.

I HAVE tried doing the calorie deficit, of course tracking everything I put into my body, that didn't work. As noted above, I've tried it at 1800-2000 steady rate, and 2300-2500 steady rate for periods of more than six weeks. Nothing.

I've HAD my thryoid tested, twice possible three times now. I know the blood work has been done at least twice. One time I had the tests read by one of the leading thyroid condition diagnostitions in the country. He said no, wasn't an either over active in under active thyroid.

I've had my pituatary tested, it seems normal. Indeed, ONE testosteron test was on the sort of low end, I wanted to grab at it, but again, national specialist (the kind who write the books) said, no and didn't think any testosteron treatment would be a good idea.

So, I KNOW what the math says. Calories in, must equal calories out or your either GAIN or LOSE weight.

Clearly the math isn't working for me and it clearly doesn't work for some people. There has to be something else.

[budershank]

Not sure what you are hoping for at this point. Doctor says everything is fine and you claim you are eating at a calorie deficit and it isn't working. It comes down to you aren't at a calorie deficit or your genetic freak who creates energy through the power of photosynthesis, like a plant.

[tivoboy]

I do weigh everything, and measure it out with measuring cups. Then, if it is a package of something, I put a mark on it. 1 serving, X times should equal the weight of the package.

The lowest I have tried to eat was the 1800 a day, I did that for two weeks, couldn't handle it. I couldn't get out of bed, couldn't work out, couldn't think. I put it up to 2000 a day. I did that for the remainder of SIX WEEKS.

Not a pound.

I also did 200-2250 for six weeks, although that was low carbing it, didn't lose a pound.

[tivoboy]

your genetic freak who creates energy through the power of photosynthesis, like a plant.

Funny, that's what my father the neuro surgeon said.

[FunAndSun]

I agree with Insight. I would have posted most of the same things.

If you truly track your calories this accurately, and you have several years of data, and have seen a doctor, then perhaps you should seek information elsewhere then our motley crew of internet fat warriors. We can't help you any further if all of the things you listed are true. Get a 2nd opinion from a physician.

[bikini_babe]

THanks for the post!!

I guess I should have put it in more detail, I DO track calories, I track everything. out of nearly three years now, I probably have 28 months of data in fitday, for periods of 3-6 months tracked every day. Some months, when nothing works, one tires of it - but my consumption stayed about the same. I tend to get into a habit, and I can stick with anything as long as I have a plan.

So, when I say I am currently eating 2500 cal a day, it's 2500 cal a day. I have a scale, three sizes of measuring cups and everything I eat is input into fitday.

I tried eating between 1800-2100 cal a day for six weeks back in 2008, I didn't lose an ounce. weight stayed exactly the same, nothing change. that makes no sense. SIX WEEKS!

budershrank: I've read the thread in your footer as well, it was one of the ones I read from the past fives years of research I did here before posting.

So up your cardio?
Also when you say your thyroid was "normal" did you get the actual number? Mine was normal @7/40 (hair loss, fatigue, fat,cold) my husband was LOW @6/40 he was needing meds me not so much as I was "normal" started a low dose synthroid(15mg)and voila-energy is up. I have to watch what I eat as I don't process some part of refined carbs these days...it's not a cure but it makes weight loss POSSIBLE if I'm clean and consistent...

[koppa]

I've noticed that the biggest factor in my weight loss is when I started tracking everything that went into my mouth. You will be SURPRISED at how easy it is to go over.

[myself600]

[I'm looking for help, I'm looking for some guidance, I'm pretty much at my wits end here and wonder if a community of this size might be able to lend some insight, experience and guidance on how best to break down what I apparently cannot understand and get me though this.]

I lost ALL excess of weight thru strict dieting.
The secret to weight loss is STRICT dieting. Overweight people experience blockage of fat burning. The blockage is caused by toxins or allergens
he/she ingest daily while thinking that the food is safe. Very little is safe in common foods from standard diets. The allergens that elevate Fat Storage hormone Estrogen are:
fructose
cassein
gluten

Therefore Diet that is effective in weight loss is FRUCTOSE,CASSEIN and GLUTEN FREE (this diet lowers estrogen - fat storage hormone).


With calorie counting and moderate exercise weight loss is usually 1kg per week.
First 3 weeks no loss. Therefore: 17 weeks needed to lose 14 kg


Now recipes:
breakfast - potato meal (it's low on fructose), use seaweed or spirulina as protein source (400 kcal)
lunch - fructose free pancakes (200 kcal)
dinner - fructose free pancakes (200 kcal)
late dinner - fructose free pancakes (200 kcal)

go to bed on empty stomach as a RULE. Support vitamins:
1 tablet of B complex everyday, fish oil tablet, zinc and magnesium before going to sleep.
Celery pills heal damages in colon.

[kikinz24]

As insight stated earlier you need to cut your cals. I dnt care wat the computer says is your maitnence. It says mine is 2650 beings I'm very active I tried cutting at 2k didn't lose much. I currently take in between 900-1700 a day. Usually 1400-1500 total on an average day . And I'm losing weight. Check my sig look at my pics. If 2k don't work for you go lower. There's 2 things your body will do either lose or lose. Its a guarantee.

[PressEnter]

One thing I don't think I've seen in regards to calorie counting is serving size. It seems like a dumb question, but are you measuring exactly? I used to dump cereal in a bowl and say "that looks like a serving," when it really could have ben two, or even three for some of them. Some other stuff really adds up. I was a little shocked to realize a PB&J sandwich can easily be 600 calories. If you eat out at all, it's very easy to underestimate calories. I had a nice chicken burrito from Chipotle grill the other day, then found a website to check the calories: 995. There went half my food for the day!

[ejthomp]

I tried eating between 1800-2100 cal a day for six weeks back in 2008, I didn't lose an ounce. weight stayed exactly the same, nothing change. that makes no sense. SIX WEEKS!

Try it again! It is 2010. Maybe you've changed measuring cups or something. Stick strictly to 2000 calories... Workout like a madman. If after six weeks, you haven't lost weight, well cut it to 1500 calories and continue for another 6 weeks. You've been complaining for 4 years.... This is only 12 weeks.

As much as you want to believe that your body defies the laws of physics, the only thing being broken is your DIET and your CONSISTENCY.

[FunAndSun]

Now recipes:
breakfast - potato meal (it's low on fructose), use seaweed or spirulina as protein source (400 kcal)
lunch - fructose free pancakes (200 kcal)
dinner - fructose free pancakes (200 kcal)
late dinner - fructose free pancakes (200 kcal)

What the fuuu I don't even...

[tivoboy]

so, couple points to add, I guess re-point out for some.

I MEASURE everything. I have a scale that I put food on, it is a digital scale, it tells me in grams or oz how much I am eating. I have three sizes of meausring cups, for liquids, solids, cereals, etc. CEREALS are WEIGHED on the SCALE, there is no over eating here. there is no mis-counting, there is no "grabbing a handful" here,

The only thing that could be totally wrong would be fitday, or the labels on the containers or the fda website,

But let me be clear once and for all, the amount of FOOD that I am eating is measured.

I should also note that I have 24 MONTHS of food data, with every detail down to the last PAT of butter and OZ or olive oil, and TEASPOON of salad dressing, etc.

So, starting a food diary in order to "understand and measure" what I am eating is just ridiculous since I already HAVE a food ENCYCLOPEIDA of the foods I have eaten over straight periods of four to six months, over the past three years.

[ejthomp]

The only thing that could be totally wrong would be fitday, or the labels on the containers or the fda website,

But let me be clear once and for all, the amount of FOOD that I am eating is measured.

Fitday and labels can be wrong.

So again, you insist that your body does not comply to the basic rules of physics...

Then dammit..... Make it comply.... If 1800 calories doesn't work, 1300 darn well will.

If losing weight is so darn important, do what you have to do and MAKE IT HAPPEN.

Stop complaining.

When I want to lose weight, I cut calories until it happens. I believe you are making mistakes somewhere, but that doesn't matter. CUT CALORIES until you find out what it takes to work.

Have you seen this video? http://vidreel.com/human/NTk0MDU0/ That guy did what it takes.... down to 1300 calories...

[tivoboy]

Is there anybody here who thinks that 1500 calories a day is too little for a guy 6'5", 240 who works out 5-7 hours a week?

[budershank]

Is there anybody here who thinks that 1500 calories a day is too little for a guy 6'5", 240 who works out 5-7 hours a week?

Typically I'd say yes but if you are never cheating at 1800 calories for 6 weeks and it's not working then, no, i don't think 1500 calories is too little.

Anyways, I'm out. No one here can give you advice aside from cut calories and see a doctor. Good luck, buddy.

[ejthomp]

Is there anybody here who thinks that 1500 calories a day is too little for a guy 6'5", 240 who works out 5-7 hours a week?

For anyone else, I would say 1500 calories is crazy, but based on YOUR calorie counting method it obviously isn't! You said yourself, you CANNOT lose fat or weight on 2000 calories. DO WHAT YOU NEED TO DO or stop bitching.

You can't have it both ways. You can't complain about no weight loss at 2000 calories and then call it crazy to eat at 1500 calories. There are no magic pills.

[Adrenos]

Originally Posted by myself600 View Post
Now recipes:
breakfast - potato meal (it's low on fructose), use seaweed or spirulina as protein source (400 kcal)
lunch - fructose free pancakes (200 kcal)
dinner - fructose free pancakes (200 kcal)
late dinner - fructose free pancakes (200 kcal)

that is my bulking diet.

[Fadi65]

Very interesting. I look forward to what you have to say about eating.

Okay, I hear what everyone here is saying however…

We can discuss the concept or rather reality of calorie in and calorie out and the speed of one’s metabolism versus the sluggishness of the other. I’d like to take a somewhat different approach here and look at the most anabolic of all hormones and my favourite: insulin, for without, one can not add any weight be it muscle or fat, (and yes, adding fat is part of anabolism the same way adding muscles is).

So let me just give you a sneak preview of how I think about food; some would say to me that peanuts are a fattening snack food. Or carbs (starch) or fruits are the devil himself and one only need to look at such a food macro to pack on the fat, (that would be the keto camp I’d say)!

I don't think it's so much the fruit or the starch that are in question here as it is the GI and GL component of that food and the timing of its consumption. Yes timing is so critical whether you want to pack on the muscle beef or lose that midsection hugging fat.

Basically what I'm saying is that it all depends on how that particular food stimulate your insulin release and the timing it does so. There are times when your cells are insulin sensitive and other times when they are insulin resistance; you've got to capitalise on the sensitive times and minimise on the resistant times. It goes without saying that a highly and finely tuned athlete not only has his metabolism revving and working in his favour, but his whole body is geared to a more efficient way of burning fuel thanks to his insulin sensitivity.

Coming back to blaming peanuts of being the enemy of one’s desire to lose fat, I say they (the peanuts) are the innocent party here and it’s inactivity, over consumption of calories and /or consuming the wrong type of calorie at the wrong time that is the main culprit here that one needs to ponder upon if one is to be really true and honest with one’s self.

Last but not least, once a winning formula, a working solution is found for your weight management issues, then you’d need to be so extremely consistent until the main objective (irrespective of what it may be) is realised. You all deserve nothing less than to realising your true and magnificent potential.

In summary: to me calories = energy, and energy = kick butt workouts, so why reduce calories more than you have to is what I’m asking? Would it not be better to pick and choose the appropriate calories for your body’s need and have more of them instead of less due to wrong food choices coupled with wrong timing. For example, one can have 1500 calories set out haphazardly with the only concern being the caloric count itself, versus 2000 calories that are planned and well thought after based on one’s insulin sensitivity and fitness level.

Over to you now and thank you for reading…


Fadi.

[FunAndSun]

Okay, I hear what everyone here is saying however?

We can discuss the concept or rather reality of calorie in and calorie out and the speed of one?s metabolism versus the sluggishness of the other. I?d like to take a somewhat different approach here and look at the most anabolic of all hormones and my favourite: insulin, for without, one can not add any weight be it muscle or fat, (and yes, adding fat is part of anabolism the same way adding muscles is).

So let me just give you a sneak preview of how I think about food; some would say to me that peanuts are a fattening snack food. Or carbs (starch) or fruits are the devil himself and one only need to look at such a food macro to pack on the fat, (that would be the keto camp I?d say)!

I don't think it's so much the fruit or the starch that are in question here as it is the GI and GL component of that food and the timing of its consumption. Yes timing is so critical whether you want to pack on the muscle beef or lose that midsection hugging fat.

Basically what I'm saying is that it all depends on how that particular food stimulate your insulin release and the timing it does so. There are times when your cells are insulin sensitive and other times when they are insulin resistance; you've got to capitalise on the sensitive times and minimise on the resistant times. It goes without saying that a highly and finely tuned athlete not only has his metabolism revving and working in his favour, but his whole body is geared to a more efficient way of burning fuel thanks to his insulin sensitivity.

Coming back to blaming peanuts of being the enemy of one?s desire to lose fat, I say they (the peanuts) are the innocent party here and it?s inactivity, over consumption of calories and /or consuming the wrong type of calorie at the wrong time that is the main culprit here that one needs to ponder upon if one is to be really true and honest with one?s self.

Last but not least, once a winning formula, a working solution is found for your weight management issues, then you?d need to be so extremely consistent until the main objective (irrespective of what it may be) is realised. You all deserve nothing less than to realising your true and magnificent potential.

In summary: to me calories = energy, and energy = kick butt workouts, so why reduce calories more than you have to is what I?m asking? Would it not be better to pick and choose the appropriate calories for your body?s need and have more of them instead of less due to wrong food choices coupled with wrong timing. For example, one can have 1500 calories set out haphazardly with the only concern being the caloric count itself, versus 2000 calories that are planned and well thought after based on one?s insulin sensitivity and fitness level.

Over to you now and thank you for reading?


Fadi.

I had a friend who swore by this.

He said "Plan your meals for what you are doing in the next 3-4 hours."

If you were going to be sitting at a desk for 4 hours working/studying, graze lightly, maybe 2-300 cals. If you new you were gearing up for a 3 hour run hike/jog/bike/basketball game, or a 1-2 hour weight session, knock up the cals and get in some fuel.

Overall I agree meal placement can have an effect, as long as the calorie deficit [or surplus] is within reasonable limits [ +/- 500-600.]

[sncre27]

something isn't adding up here and with the variations in the human body who knows what it is. I don't see dropping your calories below 2000 the way you should go. Maybe you should change up your workouts. 45-60 minutes of cardio on the treadmill sounds like you can cut back on the time and increase the intensity. Doing something an hour straight isn't weight loss thats cardiovascular health and heart strength, good for blood pressure but probably not doing much for your fat problem. Look for different ways to mix up your workout try boxing or a MMA class, get back with your personal trainer and have someone push you. You said your workouts are hard but you won't go for the 11th rep because you don't want to sacrifice form is well and good but maybe you're sacrificing intensity also. It comes down to burning more than your taking in and maybe your not burning as much as you think you are. Maybe you need someone to really kick your butt multiple days a week. There is a big difference in saying you train hard and actually training hard.

Also its probably not a bad idea like someone else here said to go and get your testosterone levels checked again. If they are low thats going to have an effect on your ability to lose weight. You're 42 years old, its much harder for guys your age to lose weight and you may need a combination of a kick in the a** and a testosterone boost prescribed by a doctor.

If you can't afford a trainer then find a person in your gym that trains harder than you and talk to them try to keep up with them and see how it goes. And please do not tell me you're the hardest training guy in your gym because there is ALWAYS someone who trains harder.