Let me start by saying Im 5'6" and at 132 lbs. I did strict ballet for 11 years and I have to say I was at my biggest at 135 just a few months ago. I got to my current weight of 132 and now I AM STUCK.
I am watching my calories and keeping it at an average of 1300-1600 cals a day, every day. Im in college so I spend a lot of time studying and not enough time exercising, although Im trying to squeeze it in. Being in college also means no money for a gym membership, so I have to get creative. I also do go out and drink a few nights a week and thats not going to change (i can't stop living...hellooo lol). The thing is, I have slashed my cals by about 600-800 per day but the scale doesn't budge!
What am I doing or not doing? I need help and I think I could stick to a regimen if I had someone to answer to! All of my friends scoff at me when they hear Im on a diet, then urge me to pig out with them :( I know Im not overweight, I just want to lose like 10-15 lbs but its the hardest thing...especially not having anyone to be supportive!
I am watching my calories and keeping it at an average of 1300-1600 cals a day, every day. Im in college so I spend a lot of time studying and not enough time exercising, although Im trying to squeeze it in. Being in college also means no money for a gym membership, so I have to get creative. I also do go out and drink a few nights a week and thats not going to change (i can't stop living...hellooo lol). The thing is, I have slashed my cals by about 600-800 per day but the scale doesn't budge!
What am I doing or not doing? I need help and I think I could stick to a regimen if I had someone to answer to! All of my friends scoff at me when they hear Im on a diet, then urge me to pig out with them :( I know Im not overweight, I just want to lose like 10-15 lbs but its the hardest thing...especially not having anyone to be supportive!
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Hi Everyone!
I'm new here but I'm just going to put my nosey little two cents in here and hope I don't offend anyone.
When I was in school (2+ years ago now) I worked in a restaurant and my fiance worked at a pizza place...good lord how I packed on the pounds. It took a long time to get off but what really helped was walking (which doesn't cost a thing) and practically drowning myself with the amount of water I drank (oh and finally quitting the food industry).
Yes, I did do weight watchers and counted calories/points but what made the most difference was the walking and water. I also noticed that the walking helped with the stress of school (was taking 18 units, held a full time job and VP of my Business Fraternity). A lot of time hitting a plateau can be not only about the food you eat but the level of stress you're at. Also, when you go out to party/drink: Make yourself drink two extra glasses of water for every 1 alcaholic beverage you drink. It will not only help you cut down on the amount of alcahol you intake without really getting in the way of hanging out with your friends and socializing, but will also help minimize the effects of the alcahol on your body.
I've kept the weight mostly off for the past 2 years (fluctuated here and there during the holidays but am currently at graduation weight). I've also started working out a LOT more than I used to and have replaced some of the "jiggly parts" with muscle. This hasn't changed the scale but it has changed how I feel about myself in shorts season :) Whever I start to see a change in either how my clothes fit or what the scale says ... I break out the water.
I'm new here but I'm just going to put my nosey little two cents in here and hope I don't offend anyone.
When I was in school (2+ years ago now) I worked in a restaurant and my fiance worked at a pizza place...good lord how I packed on the pounds. It took a long time to get off but what really helped was walking (which doesn't cost a thing) and practically drowning myself with the amount of water I drank (oh and finally quitting the food industry).
Yes, I did do weight watchers and counted calories/points but what made the most difference was the walking and water. I also noticed that the walking helped with the stress of school (was taking 18 units, held a full time job and VP of my Business Fraternity). A lot of time hitting a plateau can be not only about the food you eat but the level of stress you're at. Also, when you go out to party/drink: Make yourself drink two extra glasses of water for every 1 alcaholic beverage you drink. It will not only help you cut down on the amount of alcahol you intake without really getting in the way of hanging out with your friends and socializing, but will also help minimize the effects of the alcahol on your body.
I've kept the weight mostly off for the past 2 years (fluctuated here and there during the holidays but am currently at graduation weight). I've also started working out a LOT more than I used to and have replaced some of the "jiggly parts" with muscle. This hasn't changed the scale but it has changed how I feel about myself in shorts season :) Whever I start to see a change in either how my clothes fit or what the scale says ... I break out the water.
Pinthin:
Sorry if you think I??m overly ??blunt? ?? I thought it was ??adamant? - the perils of not being able to inject vocal inflections in a text medium and all...
And, while it hasn??t happened yet, if I came across an overweight person that was determined to engage in unhealthy habits and trying to get down to an unreasonable weight, I would be just as adamant, as I am also an overweight person. To stand by and say nothing while someone actively does something that will harm them is, well......rude (IMHO). If a person doesn??t want being told otherwise, going to a forum where opinions and advice on healthy habits are supposed to be encouraged will probably be uncomfortable for them. Your experience may differ.
Sorry if you think I??m overly ??blunt? ?? I thought it was ??adamant? - the perils of not being able to inject vocal inflections in a text medium and all...
And, while it hasn??t happened yet, if I came across an overweight person that was determined to engage in unhealthy habits and trying to get down to an unreasonable weight, I would be just as adamant, as I am also an overweight person. To stand by and say nothing while someone actively does something that will harm them is, well......rude (IMHO). If a person doesn??t want being told otherwise, going to a forum where opinions and advice on healthy habits are supposed to be encouraged will probably be uncomfortable for them. Your experience may differ.
I fully agree with santonacci. The calories to which you are restricting yourself are classified as 'Severe Caloric Restriction', which is something that doctors would only recommend in extreme cases of overweight individuals. Six hundred - Eight hundred calories a day is basically anorexia, as you are eating LESS than the bare minimum to survive. For women, caloric restriction should not fall below 1200 calories except in extreme cases! By puting your body under so much strain, you are putting yourself into starvation mode. What this does (in the long run) is eats up all available fat tissue, then moves on to the muscle tissue in your body. Not only will this not help lower the 'jiggle' of your body, but it will make it worse. Muscle is required to hold you together, and without it, your skin will severely sag.
Need some more convincing? When people restrict calories severely, studies have shown shrinking on the heart. Over time, this can cause many problems - all of which eventually show up in anorexic practitioners. You can go into cardiac arrest and will up your chances for stroke later on if you keep up what you are doing.
Listen - you asked for advice. If you do not like the advice that you are getting, then ignore it. However, I suggest that you consider seeing the campus dietician, if one if available. You may also wish to talk to a coucelor. Anorexic tendencies are not a good thing. Eventually you will find yourself waking up on the ground with no energy to move. Trust me, I have been there! You worry about food now? Try worrying about it when you are being force-fed in a hospital in order to keep you alive. You won't have control of what they throw into you, and there will not be nogotiations.
Do what you wish, but I advise you to change your plan. You are at a healthy weight as it is. Doctors set the healthy weight ranges for a reason - not to be taken as a joke. Being underweight will not kill you, but I prefer being reffered to as 'healthy' rather than 'lacking' in anything.
~Austin~
ok
Whoa, satanacci:
http://www.nhlbisupport.com/bmi/.
Go ahead, do it, enter in the stats. 5'6", 122. Dangerously underweight? HARDLY! it's 1.2 notches into healthy range, according to this, which incidentally is the NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF HEALTH's website. I'd have to be 114 before I'd dip just below normal range, which does not instantaneously plunge me into DANGEROUSLY UNDERWEIGHT, (IVs, pooping in a bag, etc.), especially since I'm in my 20s, and besides, 114 is not even my goal.
Please stop being so alarmist. This kind of advice is not constructive in forums like these. We are trying to shave off those last few stubborn pounds of fat. I personally love food, and love being healthy and have a pretty positive self image and healthy habits. I eat at least 1400 calories per non-exercising day. And AROUND 120lbs just happens to correlate with my personal physical best body comp. We all by now know about fat-skinny, but, no, seriously thanks for mentioning it. And gollygoodgrief, why do I need to justify this? I shouldn't have to because you shouldn't assume that I am ill. Perhaps you may look for those posts that begin with "I eat 500 calories a day and I feel STUFFED. By the way I have a really bad headache and I keep fainting, what's up with that?" Get up in their grills instead. Spread your gospel there, sister. word.
http://www.nhlbisupport.com/bmi/.
Go ahead, do it, enter in the stats. 5'6", 122. Dangerously underweight? HARDLY! it's 1.2 notches into healthy range, according to this, which incidentally is the NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF HEALTH's website. I'd have to be 114 before I'd dip just below normal range, which does not instantaneously plunge me into DANGEROUSLY UNDERWEIGHT, (IVs, pooping in a bag, etc.), especially since I'm in my 20s, and besides, 114 is not even my goal.
Please stop being so alarmist. This kind of advice is not constructive in forums like these. We are trying to shave off those last few stubborn pounds of fat. I personally love food, and love being healthy and have a pretty positive self image and healthy habits. I eat at least 1400 calories per non-exercising day. And AROUND 120lbs just happens to correlate with my personal physical best body comp. We all by now know about fat-skinny, but, no, seriously thanks for mentioning it. And gollygoodgrief, why do I need to justify this? I shouldn't have to because you shouldn't assume that I am ill. Perhaps you may look for those posts that begin with "I eat 500 calories a day and I feel STUFFED. By the way I have a really bad headache and I keep fainting, what's up with that?" Get up in their grills instead. Spread your gospel there, sister. word.
To the poster above: I believe we were referring to the OP of this thread. She mentioned only taking in 600-800 calories.
Yes, that is problematic, I certainly agree but refer back to her post of trashing my O reply, apparently CC is not the place for me? um...ok, wait, not ok. And I was typing my post when some of those other responses came in. I'm just saying there is NOTHING wrong with being 5'6" and 122 if that's where your wl method (transitioned into maintenance) and body and self image feel healthiest. Anyway I've never posted anything quite so inflamatory before so I'm going to retire from this post, talk about unhealthy! I just think people pick fights on here and I usually don't nibble at the bait, now regretting I did.
No disrepect meant - but I felt healthy at 100 pounds. Unfortunately, that obviously was not so.
Sometimes we fool ourselves into believing things, and we take those faiths straight to our grave.
Just be careful.
Sometimes we fool ourselves into believing things, and we take those faiths straight to our grave.
Just be careful.
Wait, WHAT? No, she didn't. She said she REDUCED her daily caloric intake by 600-800, deficit, not total intake, which is FINE. I mean I agree try eating a bit more if you've hit a plateau, but yikes people, relax. Average/healthy range weight people are entitled to lifestyle change and weightloss like heavy ones.
Dnealis0903
??Go ahead, do it, enter in the stats. 5'6", 122.?
I did ?? in the CC BMI calculator and this is what comes up for a 21 year female:
??Based upon your current Body Mass Index (BMI) of 19.7, you are currently classed as underweight.
A healthy BMI for your gender and age is between 20 and 24?
That??s a direct copy and paste. I checked out the NIH website, and you are correct, that does say 19.7 is a healthy weight. Perhaps we need to ask the website owners how they have their calculator set up.
"This kind of advice is not constructive in forums like these."
Advising someone to engage in healthier behavior is not constructive? Okay then...I??m sorry you took it so poorly, but there it is.
Did I ask you to justify anything? If you don??t want to answer my questions, then skip over them.
As as for the ??500 calories and I feel stuffed? posts, as has been noted in other threads, more often than not those are people trying to start a flame war and get attention. On the off chance they are not, I do observe them for a little bit, but it??s easy to tell when they??re over the top.
And if you have a problem with my ??gospel?, contact the site owners. They??re the ones who have the tools and library that back up everything I??m saying.
??Go ahead, do it, enter in the stats. 5'6", 122.?
I did ?? in the CC BMI calculator and this is what comes up for a 21 year female:
??Based upon your current Body Mass Index (BMI) of 19.7, you are currently classed as underweight.
A healthy BMI for your gender and age is between 20 and 24?
That??s a direct copy and paste. I checked out the NIH website, and you are correct, that does say 19.7 is a healthy weight. Perhaps we need to ask the website owners how they have their calculator set up.
"This kind of advice is not constructive in forums like these."
Advising someone to engage in healthier behavior is not constructive? Okay then...I??m sorry you took it so poorly, but there it is.
Did I ask you to justify anything? If you don??t want to answer my questions, then skip over them.
As as for the ??500 calories and I feel stuffed? posts, as has been noted in other threads, more often than not those are people trying to start a flame war and get attention. On the off chance they are not, I do observe them for a little bit, but it??s easy to tell when they??re over the top.
And if you have a problem with my ??gospel?, contact the site owners. They??re the ones who have the tools and library that back up everything I??m saying.
yeah she never said she was living off 600-800.
My mistake. At least my post got the point across though.
Thanks santonacci! We need more sensible people on these forums. Too often do people get into the mindset that they are huge, when in reality they could actually stand to gain. It is people like you that help people like the OP out.
Ignore the criticism! Keep promoting health.
Thanks santonacci! We need more sensible people on these forums. Too often do people get into the mindset that they are huge, when in reality they could actually stand to gain. It is people like you that help people like the OP out.
Ignore the criticism! Keep promoting health.
Dnealis0903
"Yes, that is problematic, I certainly agree but refer back to her post of trashing my O reply, apparently CC is not the place for me?"
Well, you expressed, very effectively, that you were tired of reading advice from people who said that people like yourself and the OP didn??t need to worry about losing weight. These forums are full of people where that is going to be their first response to situations where the poster is already at a healthy weight, because that is what most weight loss resources, including the ones on this website, are telling them. I??m just saying if you don??t like the advice, and you know that??s the advice you??re going to get anyway, you might be more comfortable where you're not going to get that kind of advice. Do as you will...
Peace.
"Yes, that is problematic, I certainly agree but refer back to her post of trashing my O reply, apparently CC is not the place for me?"
Well, you expressed, very effectively, that you were tired of reading advice from people who said that people like yourself and the OP didn??t need to worry about losing weight. These forums are full of people where that is going to be their first response to situations where the poster is already at a healthy weight, because that is what most weight loss resources, including the ones on this website, are telling them. I??m just saying if you don??t like the advice, and you know that??s the advice you??re going to get anyway, you might be more comfortable where you're not going to get that kind of advice. Do as you will...
Peace.
This thread was reported and has been reviewed by the volunteer moderators.
Ideas and exchange of information and discussion is encouraged. It is how we all learn and grow.
However, please respect the posting guidelines so people can post without fear of being bashed, ridiculed or flames for posting their point of view, thought or idea... Please, NO PERSONAL ATTACKS!
Also, please refrain from encouraging anyone to try eating behaviours or for weight goals that are considered unsafe and/or underweight.
POSTING GUIDELINES
thanks, united (volunteer moderator)
Ideas and exchange of information and discussion is encouraged. It is how we all learn and grow.
However, please respect the posting guidelines so people can post without fear of being bashed, ridiculed or flames for posting their point of view, thought or idea... Please, NO PERSONAL ATTACKS!
Also, please refrain from encouraging anyone to try eating behaviours or for weight goals that are considered unsafe and/or underweight.
POSTING GUIDELINES
We hate to lock down or delete threads... but will if necessary to keep things civil ~ with your help, we won't have to...Your post is subject to modification or deletion by our moderators. Repetitive, off-topic, and frivolous posts will be removed. Promotion of habits that exhibit signs of an eating disorder ("pro-ana", "pro-mia", etc.) is prohibited. Please avoid threatening other members, making inflammatory comments or posts, or using foul language.
thanks, united (volunteer moderator)
Here is some information and thoughts on bmi (body mass index) ~ just my own personal thoughts...
the last 10 or 20 lbs can be hard to lose and we can question ourselves about how low we should go; what is healthy and what looks good. Sometimes it's a good idea to get the objective opinion of a professional who can take into consideration our personal circumsances :)
Anyway, just thought I'd share a copy of a post I made on another thread about bmi...
although this site uses 20 to 25 as a healthy bmi range (pretty standard in the medical community and not at all unusual), other references show a wider range including the US government guidelines which show above 18.5 and up to 25. Also, many standard bmi tables use 19 through 24.
Here's a link to the US Government guidelines for adults (which has a link to an interactive calculator)
At nutrition.com, there are 2 bmi calculators; one for adults over age 18 and the other for children. Which is important to note that there are different standards for children because they are still growing; so they have different calorie needs and their bmi goals will change as they grow.
Here is a standard BMI table for adults:
the last 10 or 20 lbs can be hard to lose and we can question ourselves about how low we should go; what is healthy and what looks good. Sometimes it's a good idea to get the objective opinion of a professional who can take into consideration our personal circumsances :)
Anyway, just thought I'd share a copy of a post I made on another thread about bmi...
although this site uses 20 to 25 as a healthy bmi range (pretty standard in the medical community and not at all unusual), other references show a wider range including the US government guidelines which show above 18.5 and up to 25. Also, many standard bmi tables use 19 through 24.
Here's a link to the US Government guidelines for adults (which has a link to an interactive calculator)
http://www.fda.gov/fdac/features/2002/ld_bmi. htmlAt best, the bmi tables and interactive online calculators are estimates and guidelines only, and each person should look at personal factors to determine what is appropriate; preferably with the objective assistance of a Doctor or other professional.
At nutrition.com, there are 2 bmi calculators; one for adults over age 18 and the other for children. Which is important to note that there are different standards for children because they are still growing; so they have different calorie needs and their bmi goals will change as they grow.
Here is a standard BMI table for adults:
http://www.healthmonitor.com/BMI.htmHere is a bmi calculator for parents to use for their children age 18 and under:
http://www.keepkidshealthy.com/welcome/bmical culator.htmlHere is a calorie calculator for parents to use for their children age 18 and under with a lot of related information...
http://pediatrics.about.com/library/bl_calori e_calc.htm
Here is some information and thoughts on changing focus from weight loss to converting body fat to lean muscle ~ thought i'd post a copy from an post earlier today... just my own personal thoughts...
Trying to get rid of the last little bits of pinchable flab but you are already at a healthy weight??? In fact, it would be dangerous to continue to lose after you reach your healthy goal weight and go underweight for your bmi, right?
The last 10 lbs or so are the hardest and the slowest to lose. If you even lose 1 lb every 2 weeks or so is a manageable rate because it gets harder to get larger deficits... And the scale can be so aggravating. So... now is where the tape measure will begin to tell more of the story... and/or calipers to measure body fat...
but i digress...
Yes, the next step is to work on converting the overall bodyfat and abdominal (belly) fat that puts us at gr8er risk of heart disease to lean toned and conditioned muscle. If you get and stay toned and keep up with or improve our fitness through exercise; both aerobic (essential for heart and cardiovascular and lung health) and the strength and resistance that will be responsible for converting the body fat to lean tissue and is also essential to keep or increase your strength, to keep you from losing bone density, to improve stamina and energy, and a host of other wonderful benefits :)
Here are some of my favorite exercise links (although remember, altnerative exercise counts too and can alleviate boredom and spice up our joy of movement including classes of yoga or pilates or tai chi for older women all of which will help us strength and tone and also work on flexiblity, essential for lengthening muscles and keeping us out of the wheelchair as we age!!! :)
Trying to get rid of the last little bits of pinchable flab but you are already at a healthy weight??? In fact, it would be dangerous to continue to lose after you reach your healthy goal weight and go underweight for your bmi, right?
The last 10 lbs or so are the hardest and the slowest to lose. If you even lose 1 lb every 2 weeks or so is a manageable rate because it gets harder to get larger deficits... And the scale can be so aggravating. So... now is where the tape measure will begin to tell more of the story... and/or calipers to measure body fat...
but i digress...
Yes, the next step is to work on converting the overall bodyfat and abdominal (belly) fat that puts us at gr8er risk of heart disease to lean toned and conditioned muscle. If you get and stay toned and keep up with or improve our fitness through exercise; both aerobic (essential for heart and cardiovascular and lung health) and the strength and resistance that will be responsible for converting the body fat to lean tissue and is also essential to keep or increase your strength, to keep you from losing bone density, to improve stamina and energy, and a host of other wonderful benefits :)
Here are some of my favorite exercise links (although remember, altnerative exercise counts too and can alleviate boredom and spice up our joy of movement including classes of yoga or pilates or tai chi for older women all of which will help us strength and tone and also work on flexiblity, essential for lengthening muscles and keeping us out of the wheelchair as we age!!! :)
http://www.sparkpeople.com/resource/fitness_a rticles.asp?id= 267Hope this helps! Cheers, united :)
http://www.sparkpeople.com/resource/thirty_mi nute_workout.as p
http://www.realage.com/news_features/tip.aspx ?cid=17642&; #MI
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/strength-tra ining/HQ01710
http://exercise.about.com/cs/exbeginners/a/be gstrength1.htm
http://www.emaxhealth.com/43/1441.html
http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml? identifier=3038 032
Thanks so much, u2g! Very helpful.
santonacci, I wasn't asking if you approve of my goal, nor was vanvan21, the OP, so I don't know why you thought that was the advice we/I was/were seeking. I apologize for the confusion there. I think the OP and others including myself in a similar situation were looking for ideas and suggestions for keeping the motivation to boot the last stubborn 10 or so pounds, that's all, nothing drastic or life-threatening.
santonacci, I wasn't asking if you approve of my goal, nor was vanvan21, the OP, so I don't know why you thought that was the advice we/I was/were seeking. I apologize for the confusion there. I think the OP and others including myself in a similar situation were looking for ideas and suggestions for keeping the motivation to boot the last stubborn 10 or so pounds, that's all, nothing drastic or life-threatening.
denealis0903,
No harm, no foul...
There was most certainly a misunderstanding - from the information I was getting off the tools at CC, 5'6" and 122 is underweight. I was pointing the information at hand, sorry if it came off as anything else.
Although, I will say to go on a forum where there is all sorts of discussion about a lot of things, you're simply going to get people offering advice unless you specifically tell them you don't want it - the OP did not make such an indication, or raise an objection to what I posted directly to her.
Besides, is it not possible that advising someone that focusing on the last stubborn 10 pounds as a number is not really necessary to get rid of jiggles might be a little bit motivating? My advice on the pilates and Yoga still stands....
I've heard that the last 10 pounds are always the hardest, anyway. If you're already this far, just keep it up, and keep healthy!
Peace.
No harm, no foul...
There was most certainly a misunderstanding - from the information I was getting off the tools at CC, 5'6" and 122 is underweight. I was pointing the information at hand, sorry if it came off as anything else.
Although, I will say to go on a forum where there is all sorts of discussion about a lot of things, you're simply going to get people offering advice unless you specifically tell them you don't want it - the OP did not make such an indication, or raise an objection to what I posted directly to her.
Besides, is it not possible that advising someone that focusing on the last stubborn 10 pounds as a number is not really necessary to get rid of jiggles might be a little bit motivating? My advice on the pilates and Yoga still stands....
I've heard that the last 10 pounds are always the hardest, anyway. If you're already this far, just keep it up, and keep healthy!
Peace.
So today is the first day of Easter Break and I did amazingly well. I ate well at lunch and supper, and I also said no to ice cream from DQ...TWICE!!!!!! I was pretty proud. I also have a pretty much amazing new workout plan. My boyfriend bought Dance Dance Revolution for his Playstation 2 today cuz he knows how much I love it and he figured it would help me lose weight. Totally sweet! I dunno if yall have played it before, but it's good idea. It's basically like dancing. They even have a workout option and it'll time you and you put your weight in and it estimates how many calories you burn. Plus it'll keep a graph of your weight kinda like the thing on here. I'm excited! I don't even have to go to the gym! WOOT!
lilyquistj-
Awesome! It's great you have a boyfriend that supports you like that - you're right, totally sweet! :-)
I'm amazed, pleasantly, that a video game system has a program that encourages physical activity (I've seen Wii, but haven't heard of it with Playstation).
Keep up the good work!
Awesome! It's great you have a boyfriend that supports you like that - you're right, totally sweet! :-)
I'm amazed, pleasantly, that a video game system has a program that encourages physical activity (I've seen Wii, but haven't heard of it with Playstation).
Keep up the good work!
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