This Is Really Hard!
This is a little bit of a rant, but any feedback is appreciated.
From January to August 2008 I had successfully dropped 41.5 pounds, and I was proud of my efforts. I was exercising almost everyday, eating as healthily as is possible on a college budget (cabbage is cheap and makes a good base for a salad). In January 2008 I weighed 198 and I saw 156.5 lb on July 29, 2008.
But from August 2008 to now, I've successfully gained twenty of it back. This morning I looked at the scale and saw that I was 177.4 pounds. Although I've been trying to keep it all up, somehow these 20 pounds crept back up. I am proud that I am still twenty pounds lighter than I began a year and a half ago, but watching these pounds creep back up has been... no doubt, a slap in the face.
I watch myself putting the appropriate amount and distribution of Calories in my body (1300 - 1600 depending on the day, with about 20% Calories from fat, 20% from protein, and 60% from carbohydrates) and exercising (down to twice a week but I work on my feet three days a week too). But I realize that it got much, much harder to lose weight and keep it off. I mean, what else can I do without wearing my whole body out?
The usual reason for gaining weight is 'eating more than you think'.... so make sure that you're measuring and logging everything you eat accurately. However, if you really are getting 1300-1600 a day and you're still gaining weight then it can also happen that your body has got used to managing on a lot of fewer calories. This is something of a peril for long-term dieters.
My suggestion would be to have a week where you get your full calorie needs. If you're over 21 use the CC calculator to work out how many you need to maintain your current weight with a 'light' activity level. I don't know your height but I think it's going to be around 2100-2200. Go with that for a week and let your body get used to having more energy. Then reduce to something like 1400-1500 to restart weight-loss.... logging the amounts really accurately.
Every two or three weeks have a day where you go with 2100-2200. This should make it easier to keep things moving.
As usual gi-jane is right, you may be eating more then you think. I would try out her advice too :)
Anyway just wanted to say that I've gone through a similar scenario. At the end of 2007 I weighed 173lbs (I was around 190lbs at my heaviest). By June 2008, I had lost 38lbs to be within the 'normal' BMI range. Having hit this target I relaxed a little on my diet. I think I was a little tired of watching what I was eating. I retained my healthy habits and was still exercising. But I put on about 12lbs altogether over the next few months.
I made attempts to drive it down but have had limited success. I've been stuck around the 147lb mark for a few months now. So I had to make a renewed commitment again. I've upped the exercise and reduced the calories and I'm seeing the benefits. Well so far anyway, its only been a week.
Good luck with the weight loss. Just don't give up!
Losing weight should be hard. Hard, but not impossible. :) At least being difficult will give you more of a sense of accomplishment.
Really the most difficult thing is avoiding foods that are just calorie hogs. Candy, doughnuts, pizza, cheeses, etc. Logging the foods here really helps; there are a lot of times that I assumed something I ordered from a restaurant or made for dinner that didn't have a box to refer to had a lot less calories than it ended up being. Thus I am exercising, eating right most of the day, and then the evening meal kills the progress I made.
Once you eliminate the mega calorie foods, you'll find that you really can eat a lot throughout the day and keep your calories in check. Eating a lot of vegetables is a great example. Although there are a lot of chemically 'calorie reduced' foods, I try to stick to the non processed, whole foods when possible.
Good luck and stick with it. Just like when you kind of 'wake up' a few months down the line and realize you've gained 20 pounds, the same thing can be true when you look back a few months from now and see that every little bit has added up into losing 20 pounds. It is hard, and it does take time. However I think everyone agrees its worth it.
Good luck :)
Kv
There is so much hidden fat and calories in the foods available today! It is so easy to drink a couple of pops a week or cook with a little more fat than you think or grab something on the go and suddenly you are gaining. I think throwing a curve at your metabolism or double checking your measurments are good ideas also, good luck!
Thank you everyone.
