Losing weight as a GIRL!

Here's my question:

I'm 28, 5'4", currently weight 145lbs ( which may not seem like much for most people, but I've gained 20lbs in over a year). I went from working retail being on my feet every day to an office job, where I sit on my ass ALL day. So to supplement my non-active day, I have begun working out. My boyfriend, who I like to blame all my weight gain on, is a self procalimed nutrition know it all, and has given me all this advice for weight loss- eat more protien, eat more fiber, stop drinking pop, drink water. I have stopped drinking soda, have stopped eating red meat, eating only whole wheat pasta & bread, with tons of veggies. I drink water like a maniac, and try to stay away from candy as it is passed around the office. I will sporatically work out, on most weeks 3 times a week, at night. I work out for 30 minutes on the Eliptical, alternating every 5 minutes forward and backward. Then I run on the treadmill for 30 minutes. On the weekends, I go to boot camp, which is one hour of ass kicking- I usually cannot walk the next day.

I've started calorie counting, and I have found I ususally don't eat more than 1000 calories a day.

So- why am I still gaining weight like it's my job?! It's so frustrating! I have cut out everything I used to eat when I was so skinny- the main difference now is I don't go out binge drinking every night of the week. Shouldn't healthier = skinnier??

Can someone who is not a guy tell me what I am doing wrong, and give me advice from woman to woman? In my experience, guy exercise works for guys, not for girls. My boyfriend can drop 10lbs in a week eating the exact same thing as me!

I'm a woman! In my 20s, lost 75 pounds since last July, currently a cashier... So I think I can help you. First off, you shouldn't ever be eating under 1000 calories! You should be eating, if you do absolutely NOTHING, between 1200-1400. Keep a count of what you've eaten, and try to burn 500-1000 calories MORE than you've eaten. So, if you burn 3000, you should be eating 2000. (Of course, if you burn 1800, you should still NOT go under 1200 calories! It can put your body into starvation mode and you will not lose weight.)

I am probably not going to be the only one that is going to tell you, but weirdly enough, you are eating not enough!
This here post is very clear about all the do's and don'ts of weightloss and healthy nutrition in general, but the part that I am referring to is in section 4.1:

"The Mayo Clinic, as well as many other important sources point out that there's a line..  a bare minimum you need to intake every day or risk some ugly effects (metabolism slowdown, starvation mode, possibly malnutrition). For women, this line is 1200 calories a day. For men, 1500 calories a day. Please don't get hung up on these numbers. These are not suggestions for how much you should eat. They are meant to be bare minimums for the average person. Eat no less than this, or there could be so ugly consequences (malnutrition can get kinda ugly)."

I suggest you use the tool on CC here to find out how much you should eat and also please read the post I gave you the link of to find out more about the right way to lose weight, it is really going to help you.
Happy losing !

[edit] see told you I was not going to be the only one, LOL, novileigh was already ahead of me, haha

Eat more??!!! Seriously? But why am I gaining when I am eating less. Okay, if I have a protien shake after I work out- will that make everyone happier?

Does it make a difference that I normally do not eat until 10ish at night?

Because it puts your body into starvation mode. You're not eating the amount of calories your body needs to function properly, so your body thinks you're in a famine and therefore stores every tiny bit of fat that it can, because it doesn't expect to get any food. At first in starvation mode you may lose weight, but you plateau quickly (sounds like that's what happened to you) and suddenly, the girl next to you eating brownies is losing weight but you're not.

Many people would say that eating that late is bad because your body doesn't have the time to burn off the calories, which is debatable, so we won't get into that - but are you eating most/all of your daily food intake at that one sitting? That could really mess up your metabolism (worse than starvation mode already has).

Now, protein shakes are good - I have one after every workout (120 cal) and one every night an hour before bed (300-ish cal, protein and good fats). In the past month I've lost 2% body fat, and 4.25 inches total. But its not about the shake for you, its about getting into a healthy calorie range with a healthy defecit.

I'm not trying to sound rude, but you eating more would not make me happier.  It is not like I have a personal stake in your weight loss, and I am not trying to sabotage it either.  Ultimately how much you eat is your choice, but most people on CC would agree that you need to eat more than you are now.  (Oh, and I do not think that it makes a difference mostly eating at night because you burn calories all day long.)

This is not about making US happy it is about making YOU happy!
Please read the link that I gave you and try to understand everything about nutrition and how your body works, we are not saying this to make you feel bad, but to help you to lose the weight you want once and for all in a healthy way.
I have to warn you though that depending on how long you have been eating this small of an amount your body needs to adjust itself and if you will start eating more you will probably in the beginning gain some weight, until your body is convinced you are feeding it properly.

[edit] and it would make a difference if you eat nothing ALL DAY and so only eat one meal a day, to keep your metabolism going you need to eat smaller meals spread out over the day.

Okay, I will try this and update as the weeks go by. I just updated my work out routine ( or really kicked it into high gear).

I am working out twice a day, in the am I am doing 20 minutes of warm up Eliptical, then lifing weights ( using the gym machines, not free weights) for 35ish minutes, walking for 10 minutes at an incline and then doing sit ups. In the evening I will be doing strictly cardio- either running/walking this awesome new golf course trail by my house that has killer hills, or hitting the gym and doing the Eliptical/Treadmill combo I spoke of earlier.

I gotta get my thighs back down to thier former selves- the former selves that do not rub together!

i have been having similar problem

i exercise on a daily basis i got a personal trainer for 2

sessions because that is what i could afford and i am doing the

exercices i have been losing weight but very slowly, i am at the end of my road

and i am going to fast the limonade diet

gisela

I was considering the laxitive diet- but someone told me that if you do that it completely stops your metablism. Did not want to deal with that...

So I am SUFFERING at the gym at 6am when I should really be in bed.

What!!!  Are you taking the above suggestions to heart or laughing them off?  The Laxative Diet, OMG.  You need to read more here because no one is going to support you on that one at all, nor diet pills.  Did you use the tools at all before you decided on 1000 calories?  Now that you're adding more exercise you need to readjust your activity level as well as your caloric intake.  BTW, your metabolism never stops, it just slows down with improper nutrition.

Of course I am taking them to heart. It will be a little difficult to swallow the idea of eating more, but at this point I am dumbfounded and I will take any suggestions and give them a shot.

I did use the tools, keep in mind I just signed up yesterday!! It originally suggested that I consure 1400 calories a day, but when I signed up for my gym, the girl who was my obilgitory personal trainer suggested to lose weight I should consume 1200 calores, so that is what I have as a mind set.

I want to lose weight nautrally, no diet pills, I have a heart condition anyways. I am taking to heart having to eat more, I will have a protein shake after all my workouts, and try and eat a little more. But do not think these suggestions fall on deaf ears, I will try anything!

You seriously need to consider the stress you may be putting on your body espeically with a heart condition AND working out twice a day AND not eating enough. Your body will begin shutting down to protect it from losing any weight if you eat too few calories. Think about it..when you eat like 1000 calories you probably aren't as hungry when you do up your calorie intake..this is because when your body does have sufficient food it starts up its metabolism at a higher rate. However, when you aren't eating enough it will shut down the burning of ANY food or fat to protect itself i.e. not feeling hungry if you go a really long time without food. Thats why its reccommended to eat 5-6 small meals versus 3 large ones. It keeps your metabolism running.

Really really take care of your body. With the more excercise you do, the more nutrition your body needs. Otherwise you're just doing more harm than good. Make sure you do not have huge daily deficits in calories burned versus calories consumed - shoot for around a 500 calorie deficit

A year and a half ago, I was 5'4" and 150 lbs., 32 y.o.

During the past year and a half, I barely exercised, ate around 1400 cals/day, and LOST weight.  And there were lots of splurge days in there with birthday cakes, ice cream, fatty red meat, etc.

I am now at 119 lbs and maintaining.  Along with maintaining comes increased calorie intake of around 1700/day.  About six months ago, I started lifting weights 2 - 3 times a week and jogging.  On those days I eat around 2000 cals.

Trust the advice to eat more.  Fad diets and pills will not lead to long-term, sustainable weight loss.

Due to possible damage you have already done, you may see a weight increase in the beginning few weeks.  Please, please stick with it.  Once your body adjusts, the weight will start to fall off.

I'm not a girl, so I hope it's okay for me to throw my two bits in, here :)

You mentioned that you don't usually eat until 10:00 at night.  This shouldn't be a problem, except in so far as it probably has to do with why your calorie intake is so low.

Like everyone says, eat more, get more exercise.  It works!

Also, healthier does not equal skinnier, nor does skinnier necessarily equal healthier.  While thinner people are often healthier, they can also be desperately unhealthy (and below a BMI of 19, most are). 

As lawyers, philosophers, and good scientists love to point out, correlation does not equal causation -- and I think that goes double where health is concerned, since human physiology is so ridiculously complex.

Also, WRT your personal trainer's advice: personal trainers are rarely nutrition experts, and while some of them are really great, many are also amazingly incompetent where nutrition is concerned.

Do a little research, listen to your fellow CCers, and (most importantly) make sure you work in a little enjoyment.

I think you'll start seeing the weight come off, at a reasonable pace, soon enough :)

Edit: Just noticed your post where you said you're suffering at the gym at 6 AM when you should be in bed.

There is strong evidence in favor of a correlation between sleep deprivation and weight gain.  In other words: sleep is not only regenerative, it's very important for weight loss and regulation.

Likewise, if you're not enjoying your exercise regimen, you're unlikely to stick with it.

It sounds like you made need to rearrange your lifestyle in order to A) lose weight and B) reduce your stress load (which will help with weight loss) and be happier.

Good luck!  Keep us posted!

You have gotten a lot of great advice from everybody.  I'll tell you what works for me, as weight loss has been a struggle up until 2 months ago, when I did a lot of research, and have finally found what works for me.  (Since Feb 24 2009 I have lost 27 pounds) 

1. Eat aprox 1200 calories a day (3 meals and 2 snacks)

2. Try and have dinner between 6 and 630. 

3. No eating 3 to 4 hours before going to bed.

4. Get atleast 7 hours of sleep, preferably 8 hours.

5. Eat breakfast shortly after getting up for the day. (gets the metabolism going, is what I read somehwere)

6. Drink 80 ounces of filtered water every day.  (Not sure if the filtered water makes a difference, it's just what I drink)

7. Count the nutrition info of every food you eat.  (Pay close attention to the sodium intake.  I was shocked at the amount of sodium I was ingesting!  More foods are slowly becoming available with low to no sodium, thank goodness.)

8. Be aware that when you are exercising, you will gain muscle, so weight gain is to be expected.

9. Drink plenty of water while exercising.

10. Don't be afraid to take a day off from exercising.  Your body may need it.

11. If you don't eat enough, your body will take from your muscles, which burns the fat.

12. Let yourself have one free meal a week, without the guilt.  I think this is so important, because the last thing we want is to have cravings build up until we pig out.  Dinner on Saturday night is my free meal, so my kids and I typically have pizza.  Not once in 2 months has that one meal set my weight loss back.

Please be careful with your heart condition.  I highly reccomend making an appointment with your doctor, for a check up and to get advice for your weight loss.  You are still young, but that is no promise that you can't have a heart attack.  My husband died almost 2 years ago, at the age of 37 from a heart attack.  He was 6' 4" and weighed aprox 190 pounds, so he wasn't overweight.  He was, we thought, healthy. 

While your boyfriend may know a lot about nutrition, he is not a professional, so I encourage you to seek professional advice.  Your life may depend on it.

Wow guys- thanks for the advice. I will give you my breakdown of my day to see if you guys can find something else I need to change.

I work from 10-7 M-F. The nice thing about this is that I can get up early and go work out. I do hate to work out, but I like the way I feel. I have a very low rate of self motivation. I may get to the gym, and then when I get there all I can think about going home, especially if I am tired. I work out for about an hour, which consists of a new routine of weights and cardio in the morning.

I get to work at around 10am, and the first thing I do is have coffee. After that I usually have a banana or some oatmeal. I snack throughout the day, some crackers here, whatever I eat for snack- I can assure you it is something healthy. I then have my lunch around 3 or so, which is normally soup, a sandwich, some fruit, applesauce or yogurt and water. I drink at least 64 oz of water a day. At around 5 pm I have a snack- popcorn, whatever I didn't eat from my lunch, or rice cakes. I used to keep food in my desk, but I'm not going to do that anymore.

I got off around 7pm, and by 8pm I am at the gym. I cardio for an hour, 30 minutes on the Eliptical, 30 minutes on the treadmill. We normally work out 3-4 times a week, but I am thinking of bumping that up and trying to go for 5 nights a week.

When I get home around 9:30 I cook dinner for my boyfriend and I. We have a meal that consists of whatever I have planned- which is normally a meat, a veggie and some type of grain. We do not eat red meat or white flour. All over veggies are cooked fresh, and I do not use canned stuff. I make most everything from scratch. We don't eat fried foods.

Then I watch TV for about an hour and then we go to bed. Oh, did I mention I love wine? I will have a glass of red wine 3-4 times a week.

As for all of you that are worried about my heart condition, I should have specified. I have a sensitivity to caffeine, so I can't take any supplements or diet stuff. It makes my heart palpitate. It's not serious, I have been to the doc and it is well monitored. Heart disease runs in the family. But thank you for all the concern!

Please post any ideas for me!

No,No,and No.

I sort of agree with him with the Stop Drinking Soda and other junk drinks and Just drink water but you should also drink milk too.

Pasta is sort of fattening so You should try your best to avoid that.Eat things that are healthy and low on calories and sugar.

3 times a week for workouts isnt cutting it.Try working out 5 times a week,Even if those other 2 days are small exercises.Everything counts.

EDIT:Also drink 5 or 6 cups of water a day,If you drink too much water then you will gain water weight.Try not snacking through out the day,I think thats your deciding factor here.If you are gonna snack then have 1 Nurti-Gram bar,They are pretty health and filling.

Wow, I pretty much disagree with everything poster #17 said. You will benefit from any level of workout. Nutrigrain bars hold the nutritional equivalent of a Snickers bar. Pasta, especially whole grain pasta is good for you.

Ummmm. Wow. Eat more, burn more calories than you take in (but not too much more) and you should lose weight.

I too disagree with poster #17.  Except that you should cut out any soda, and drink milk, in moderation.  (Can be high fat, carb and sodium) 

Also, drinking 5 or 6 glasses of water a day will get you nowhere, IMO.  Like I said before, I drink 80 ounces a day, sometimes more, and I am not packing any water weight.  The extra water flushes out any excess water in your body, and helps our bodies work more efficiently.  Google "how much water should I drink to lose weight" and you will find tons of info.  There was one thing that I read, saying that ice water helps burn extra calories, and that may be true, but it only upset my stomach, so now I put only a few cubes of ice in my water.  A few more when I'm on the treadmill.

One thing that I forgot to say in my first post, is that I don't drink anything with meals, either.  Which was strange at first, but I'm used to it now.  I read somewhere that drinking with meals affects the the enzymes that break down the food we eat.  Whether that's true or not, I'm not sure, but I do know that I have lost weight following that advice.  (I stop drinking water 20 to 30 minutes before eating, and don't drink anything for 20 to 30 minutes after eating)

Poster #18 is right in everything said.  A lot of the so-called healthy bars, are not healthy.  I watched a segment on Good Morning America about foods that are assumed to be healthy because of the packaging, but they are often worse than eating a doughnut or burger and fries.  We have to read labels, and be aware of portion size.  Alot of stuff shows as low cal etc, but that's because the portion size is 1/8 (or whatever) of the whole package.

Also, pasta isn't bad for you.  I use the Barilla Plus pasta atleast 2 times a week.  It's good and healthy.  Also, you can go to their website for info on portion size after it's cooked, which is info that's not on the box.  I believe it's part of Bob Greene's best life diet (or something like that). 

I also don't eat red meat anymore.  I cook only with boneless skinless chicken breast.  I make chicken spaghetti, that's really good.  Basically it's spaghetti with chicken instead of ground beef. 

Also, I thought potatoes were out, because of the starch, but then I found out that red potatoes are low in starch, so that's what I use now.  I dice them, give them a light coat of extra light olive oil, then bake them.  I also sprinkle Johnny's seasoning salt (lightly) over them.  My kids and I love them!

I really think that you should chose one time of day to work out.  I do an exercise video (30 mins), then the treadmill for 45 mins in the morning, then that's it.  Other than housework and whatever renovation project I'm working on, that's it.  I don't sit all day, but I'm not going at a pace that gets my heart rate up all day either.  If I was you, I would work out in the morning, then get home and cook dinner earlier.  I truly think that it would help your weight loss.  If your body doesn't have time to digest your food before you go to sleep, I don't think that it gets digested properly, and your body isn't getting the rest that it needs, because it's still working on your dinner.

I'm not any kind of expert, I just know what I've read, and what has worked for me.  I have a slow thyroid, so weight loss should be more difficult.  That's why I think that I have found a good routine and set of rules for my weight loss.

After reading your daily schedule, I really think that part of your problem is that you are starving yourself part of the day.  (Which totally screws with your metabolism)  I think that you should have the oatmeal shortly after waking up, then go workout (30 mins to an hour after eating), then have the banana when you get to work.  About 3 hours after eating the banana, have a healthy lunch. (Check the sodium on the soup you mentioned.  Unless it's low sodium, you will be shocked at the amount you are eating.  It is reccomended that we get between 500 to 2300 mg a day)  Progresso makes good low sodium soup.  Then about 3 hours after lunch, have a healthy snack, then dinner 3 hours after that snack. 

I also don't drink anything after dinner, so I'm not up going to the bathroom all night. 

These posts have been very helpful. I moved to Brazil in June last year have put on 12lbs since. I blame it on 1,000 new types of food. As it is about time to return to my old life I am eager to drop at least what I gained! 

I walk to and from my university 4x a week which is about 30 mins total of up/down hills, and then I usually do some sort of extra cardio 3x a week, and some light weights.

I eat pretty healthy, with about 1800 calories per day, but I feel I still have this slow creep of gain! How can I stop this? 

stats: 5'7 145lbs 21yrs old Female.