So fed up maintaining
Hi I have been maintaining for 6 years now. In that time I had 2 babies and for each pregnancy just gained 28lbs and lost it soon after babies birth.
My problem now is that any time I up my calories to 1600 I start gaining. I'm 5ft4 31 yrs old 125lbs. I have active lifestyle with 2 small childern. I work as a cook 5 days a week and I exercise 5 days a week running and doing weights.
I feel so unhappy at the moment. I try to tell myself that I am healthy and fit and so I should relax a bit but I am getting obsessed and stressed out about it.What can I do to accept my body?
You could get an overall exam, including things like blood pressure, cholesterol, iron, blood sugars, etc., etc. If it turns out that you are healthy at 135 or 140 or 145, then don't fret. Maybe you should not weigh 125; maybe that is too low. Being healthy is much more important than weighing light.
Just keep exercising when you can and have realistic expectations. Eat healthy foods and space your meals out throughout the day. Consider starting the day with a full, healthy, high protein diet.
Eating whole grains, fruits, vegetables, legumes, lean meats (if you eat meat), etc. are all good things to have in one's diet.
Well what are you maintaining on now? If you want to be able to eat more without working out so much, (I'm guesstimating what this is about) then maybe you could switch some of your exercise routine to strength training? Or try natural metabolism boosters or appetite suppressants? I'm not talking pills, I'm just saying a cup or two of coffee in the morning and green tea in the afternoon.
I wonder if you're eating enough. When you use the burn tool I think you could fill out at least light activity (since you're running after 2 kids all day long) - which is 1740 cals BUT you're also working out 5x a weekand that is 1960 cals.
Since you are so fed up with maintaining you could try to slowly add a little bit until you feel more satisfied again. Maybe add a full grain sandwich somewhere during the day.
The fact that you are not overly hungry doesn't say that you don't need more. I wasn't hungry but needed over 500 cals more than I ate.
Just a suggestion. You just sound much more active than 1600 cals to maintain.
It sounds like you have your weight under control and that's awesome. If you're 5'4" and weigh 125 pounds and working out consistently, you're probably in great shape physically. You should be extremely proud of yourself.
I'm 55 and when I was your age, I found that everyday stress made feel the way you're describing. Sometimes it has little to do our body or weight but that's simply what we tell of ourselves when we can't really pinpoint what else might be bothering us.
It sounds like you're a bit stressed out. I would talk to my Dr. about it and see if your stress level might be causing some type of slight depression.
Best Wishes!
Thank you mamasue
Your words are very encouraging. I need to stop obsessing about the scales. I was overweight as a teenager and sometimes I still feel that I have weight on when I know I don't have!
I am always afraid of gaining again. Every time I up my calories I gain and so I drop down again even though I will be hungry especially the days I run. I feel that I always have to be in control and the only way I can do that is by not eating 'too much'.
I eat very well always an A grade. But i do like chocolate and if I do have it it's a small bar 120 cals at the most.
I wish I could just relax and stop obsessing.
Debbie: Don't be so hard on yourself. In my opinion, as a mother who has had the chance to reflect on life at your age, I too can remember feeling stressed. I won't even go into the silly things I worried about!
Personally, I think it's great that you have found your balance in maintaining your weight. Hold on to that and always continue to make yourself a priority.
I was in control until my children became teenagers and it was then that I made the decision to put myself on the back-burner. Don't do that. That's one of the reasons I wrote the book. As women (I have two daughters who are now in their early 30's), we must always make ourselves a priority in life along with everyone else. We're also setting an example for all of our loved ones, so it's not a selfish thing to eat right and take care of yourself.
Keep doing what you're doing but relax in the area of seeking any type of "perfection". There is no perfection to reach. Simply try each day to maintain the healthy balance you've set up because it is working for you but shake off the silly obsessing. Take this advice from a long term obsessive type person who finally figured it all out at 55.
Tell yourself you are doing a wonderful job of taking care of yourself and take the time to pat yourself on the back each day.
You, above all know what works for you.
As far as everything else you're juggling right now in life, do as I tell my adult children to do: Give it your best each day in all areas of your life and that is all you can do, forget about the rest. There's no room for excess worry or doubt, it's wasted time and energy that can be used in a positive manner in other areas of your life!
