My frustrating story

Three years ago, I went from 204 pounds down to 140 pounds, doing (what I now recognize as) a way too-low calorie diet. It was impossible for me to sustain such a low intake and still function, and I gradually put on weight...I was between 155-160 pounds and pretty comfortable.

I'm a 31 year old female, 5'5" and I now weigh about 170 pounds. GAH!(Gah if for no other reason than that's 30 pounds more than my lowest!) 

Anyhow, the autumn is when I always have the best luck losing weight. Last year I found myself in the same boat (about 170 pounds) at the end of summer, and quickly dropped 10 of those pounds by eating around 1,500 calories a day and exercising pretty hard for 5 or 6 days a week.

For the past two or three weeks, I've been eating my 1,500 calories a day (admittedly eating a bit more unrestrictedly but not entirely crazy on the week-ends), walking 20 minutes in the morning and doing another 30 minute workout in the afternoon, and the weight just isn't dropping. Is it because I'm at that age when metabolism starts to change?

I realize I may have to start accepting that what used to work won't necessarily anymore. I just need some help figuring out the best way to approach this.

I'm a magazine editor, mom and wife, and I want to strike that balance of eating well (while still enjoying life), being active, and having a nice body. I don't even care if it's ripped and I'm wearing a bikini...I just want to feel confident about myself!

Sorry for the long post! If someone could jump in an advise me about the amount of calories and exercise I should have, and any other relevant information, I would appreciate it so much!

Thanks!

I would say that 1400-1500 is about right for someone your size/age with your level of activity but that you can't afford to be 'unrestricted' at the weekends... you need to be more consistent.  Make sure your food choices are good ones and that you're eating/snacking regularly, spreading your food out evenly during the day. Keep your food-log really accurately , weighing and measuring quantities rather than guessing.  Try changing your exercise programme around a little..... I find that some 'long range'  slow-burn exercise at weekends is very good, for example.  A long cycle-ride or something like a long hike are ideal.

There can be other factors that lead to difficulty in losing weight.  I'm thinking things like PCOS or thyroid conditions.  Should a more consistent intake not give you any results those could be worth exploring. 

Thanks for your input, gi-jane. I was hoping you'd say I should up my calories! LOL!

I know I need to get a handle on my week-ends. My small victory this past week-end was keeping the "fun" eating to two days only...not two and a half like week-ends past.

I do eat every two hours - very clean choices (during the week). I weigh everything...I don't even trust measuring cups anymore. In retrospect, my success last year most likely had to do with the fact that I would allow myself one cheat meal per week...not two cheat days!

I keep very up-to-date with physicals and blood work, and have had nothing but healthy reports. I think it probably just boils down to food-infested week-end.

Thanks again!

Contrary to popular belief I don't tell everyone to eat more.... it's just the way the questions tend to fall.      If you're going to go in for any recreational eating at the weekends it does have to be matched with 'Marines Try-Out' exercise regimes, unfortunately.  When I lost the bulk of my weight I'll admit that I treated weekends just the same as weekdays... I'd have a 'cheat day' maybe once every two or three weeks.  Alcohol was off the menu...  Thinking back, I didn't give myself much wiggle-room.  But it worked.

However, it sounds as though you've got the portion-control thing taped and your food choices are OK.  So maybe if you can reduce the weekends to one day of eating slightly more than normal it's just a question of patience and persistence?

Patience?! Persistence?! But I want it RIGHT NOW! 

Well, so do I but, as my mother would say, if wishes were sixpences we'd all be millionaires...  Thin millionaires, probably.

As with gi-jane, I also limited my cheats to occasional meals.  Not days, and not an entire weekend. 

If nothing else, at least log your calories on a weekend, so you can get a better idea of exactly how much of an impact it will have.  Is there a reason why you cheat for the entire weekend?  You might want to look at the reasons, and see if you can come up with an alternative (different activities or whatever).

Clint

Clint, the reason for the entire week-end is two-fold:

1. I love food and eating what I enjoy (which, unfortunately, isn't always leafy greens)

2. In the past, I've "gotten away with" eating what I want on the week-ends, and not gaining weight.

Moral of the story: it's not working anymore. I have to stick with one meal once in a while. 

Bummer on that... It was a bummer for my my family, when I started trying to make healthy lifestyle changes.  I had been doing baking for the family about once a week; my wife in particular, as she as a gluten sensitivity that means she can't enjoy 90% of store-bought baking.  I was getting pretty good, too, if I do say so myself.  :)  And then I stopped, cold turkey.

Since I hit my target weight, I've gone back to baking occasionally.  Like making cheesecake once, and chocolate lava cakes once in the last 2 months.  And even then, only when we've got company coming over, so I know there won't be leftovers or huge portions to continue to tempt me.

Ah, well, the price we pay to be healthy... :)  Good luck!

Clint

I have an idea--try lifting weights! Heavy like in The New Rules of Weight Lifting for Women. (group on CC) It revs up your metabolism and is fun and fairly easy to figure out. I saw results, maybe you will too!

If nothing is working, try looking at WHAT you are eating, and not necessarly HOW much you are eating. I have the same problem as you (though I am still at my high) and I have started loosing weight by substituting lunch for fruits and or veggies. I have been loosing weight doing that for about 7 weeks and it is working pretty well. Granted you will probably be hungry however it works!