Ahhh! They've gotten worse!?!?

I know I've been starting a lot of threads lately, but I just got out of the shower and I'm about to have a breakdown.

My love handles have managed to get more jiggly and disgusting. I want to cry.
I don't understand how this happened. I just weighed myself and I'm still 112. Everyone says to get rid of love handles you need to lose weight. I'm not sure what to do though, because everyone tells me I shouldn't lose anymore weight for my height!!!

My sides are seriously jiggling when I walk, and it's not cute.
Has anyone successfully gotten rid of love handles before? What did you do?

Don't cry - that won't help you one bit - it will only put you in a bad mood and make you feel even worse!! :(

Do you exercise? If so, what do you do? For me, exercise plays a huge role in taking care of the love-handle region... I do a lot of cardio on a daily basis and every so often lift some free-weights.

When it comes to eating be sure to read labels and don't eat anything you cannot pronounce, or any trans fatty acids or high fructose corn syrup - those ingredients are known for their "staying" power (meaning staying on the hips - ha ha)...

For exercise I've been switching between the elliptical ( for 35-40 min) and the 30 day shred dvd about 5 times a week (sometimes both in one day). I guess I'm going to have to amp up my exercise...

My diet is mostly veggies, tofu, rice, and fish. When I check labels 90% of the time I just look at the calories. I'll have to start getting more intense.

Thanks for the advice!

Original Post by jblarghp:

 I'm not sure what to do though, because everyone tells me I shouldn't lose anymore weight for my height!!!

You don't need to lose weight but you need to firm up your muscles instead.  That means you stop reducing calories (weight-loss) and instead you take in your total energy needs and you increase your exercise. That's the first thing.

Second.... keep to as 'clean' and as varied a diet as possible.  That means you eat plenty of good, wholefoods like fish, vegetables, lean meat, low-fat dairy products, wholegrain pasta, bread, breakfast cereals, oats, beans, lentils, olive oil etc. ... not just tofu, rice and fish.    Avoid simple starches, sugars, alcohol, caffeine and heavily processed foods.   Reason for this... 'jiggle' in a very slim person is more likely to be fluid retention than fat.  A better diet reduces fluid retention

Finally.... stop staring at yourself.   The only person conscious of this 'problem' is you because you're now 'over-sensitised'.   By focusing on that area of your body too much it's all you can see.  You're making things seem 10 x worse than they really are.

Original Post by gi-jane:

  Reason for this... 'jiggle' in a very slim person is more likely to be fluid retention than fat.  A better diet reduces fluid retention

 I do have my period this week (sorry for the tmi), but I didn't think that would cause it. My tummy is still flat, but my sides have gotten larger. I swear my inner thighs even grew!

I feel like my diet is pretty healthy and varied. I don't even count calories anymore, but I am guilty of looking at the calorie content of certain things from time to time. Veggies, tofu, rice, and fish are staples in my diet because I'm a pescaterian (have been so since a young age), but of course I eat other things as well. I've never tried to figure out percentages or any of that stuff, but maybe I should? I do seem overly tired all the time, maybe I'm not eating as healthy as I thought...

Luckily my boyfriend came over tonight, so it stopped me from poking at myself in the mirror. He refuses to even talk to me about looking fat cause he thinks I'm crazy! So it at least took my mind off of it.

Anyways, thanks for the reply.

Original Post by jblarghp:

 I've never tried to figure out percentages or any of that stuff, but maybe I should? I do seem overly tired all the time, maybe I'm not eating as healthy as I thought...

 It's all connected.   Low calories and self-imposed dietary restrictions make it very easy to suffer from low-level malnutrition.  That is enough to cause mild anxiety & depression, fatigue, low energy-levels etc.  So you feel down, your perception is impaired, you start looking in the mirror and you think you 'look fat' when you're obviously nothing of the kind.

I would recommend that you try maintaining your weight for a while ... see your 'total burn' to judge what that means in calorie terms.   Boost your nutrition by broadening your scope of foods.  Supplement your diet with a daily multivitamin with iron.  Take some time out to smell the roses, sip a glass of wine, enjoy a piece of chocolate, listen to your incredibly senisble boyfriend ... relax.  

I haven't tried to lose weight in a while. I sort of always just end up around 112.

I've considered vitamins, but I'm scared. A few years ago I remember taking a multivitamin and it made me feel as if I was going to be sick. I feel like my body can't handle it or something. I'll have to talk to my doctor to see what she recommends.

Thanks again.

You don't need multivitamins to be healthy of course, they're just a safety-net.  You can get everything you need from a balanced diet - but vegetarian/fish-eating diets are particularly tricky to balance. The CC food log is a good tool to check the top-line nutrients.  If you keep the diary for a few days and then wave your mouse over the date in the analysis section you'll get your scores on things like iron, vitamin C etc.  1900-2100 cals a day is a good starting point for a healthy, active young woman.

hmmm...its probably ttom staring back at you and vitamins will make you sick if you take them on an empty stomach.

try tweaking your exercise, your body is less challenged every day you do the same thing. i dont know what 30-day shred is, but if you are picking up weights, go with heavier weights. if you arent lifting, definitely start. maybe do something different for cardio, maybe a class or run or skate or, just try something different 2 days a week. add some variety and go longer, maybe for an hour.

your diet sounds clean. if all else fails, you are just going to have to COUNT. seriously.

good luck. :)

((((((jblarghp))))))))))

dont stress out and don't cry. you have so many good things in your life and you are very pretty. :) just keep lifting weight and give your body time. see what will happen?

Ah! You have your period this week! You shouldn't be judging yourself in the mirror any weighing yourself or ANYTHING during the week of your period! Every perception of yourself is skewed during this week!!! Did today start you off on a new week??

When you relax and don't stress too much about your body, etc... you will feel so much happier with yourself! Keep your head up girlie, you'll be just fine!

Thanks for the replies/support girls!

I definitely think my period played a major role. I look much more like myself now.

I definitely need to intensify my workouts. Unfortunately, I've gotten sick over the last couple days :/
I'll get back into it asap though, and hopefully I'll see some results in my love handle/ inner thigh area!!!

Thanks again.