Small Diet + Low Exercise = Not Losing, Yet Gaining.

Hi everyone.

I don't eat a lot and whn I do eat, it's typically healthy food save for ice cream (which is my 2/week vice).

I don't exercise enough, but am working on that by strolling my son, para para dancing, and random pilates.

My question is how the crap did I gain like 50 pounds in the past year (30 were after baby was born). I was on bedrest for a few months so I can see the 20, but how the crap did I gain that other 30 when I don't eat much? I eat when my husband comes home from work. I'm kind of afraid to start eating 1770 calories per day because it seems I'll gain even more weight instead of losing it and I really don't think I can handle that (emotionally or physically).

When you don't eat as much as you're supposed to (by a large amount), you put your body into a sort of starvation mode.  This causes it to want to hold onto the food you DO eat when you eat it.  Our bodies haven't changed much from when humans were all hunters and gatherers, and food wasn't in such excess as it is for those living in the world's top 15% (so, most first-world countries' residents).

Also, timing of meals is important.  Skipping breakfast is a bad idea for sure.  Eating when you wake up will speed up your metabolism for the rest of the day (as well as exercising earlier in the day -- it will also release chemicals in your brain which will make you feel happy!).  Try to spread your daily caloric intake across 4-5 smaller meals, eaten more frequently throughout the day, rather than 1-2 large meals.

Hope this helps!

50 pounds in one year means 480 extra calories a day. You had your baby September 2008, so pregnancy weight is REALLY tricky from woman to woman. With my daughter I gained like 30 pounds and 1 week later I was down 15 pounds prepregnancy weight.

So, since the baby you have gained 30 pounds in 13 months and that equals an extra 264 calories a day.

If your base rate for calories a day is even 100 less than you think, that means only 164 extra a day. Most servings of ice cream is about 150, for half a cup, and generally people eat at least a full cup.

Also consider:

The less active you are the more your muscles loss substance. The shrink essentially. The more muscle you have the mroe calories you burn in a day - the less... means less. Being inactive will lower your caloric needs for a day.

Avygyaru and Chubaka,

How nice to meet you both.

I have to agree with Chubaka about starvation mode.  So, saving your calories up for nighttime may be sabotaging your efforts, however I am curious about something.

Have you been loggin what you eat on the food log faithfully?  Even a small amount of calories over what your body thinks you need can add up over time.  I would think your exercise would take care of it, but I don't know.

Another thought is stress.  Your body doesn't lose well when you are stressed.  I remember very well the stress of having a new baby in the house.  Your body also doesn't lose well if you are not sleeping enough.

There are a lot of factors to consider, but I suggest you start by logging every bite you eat and aim at your calorie goal.  Continue your mild exercise.  Get more sleep (if you can).  Try to decrease your stress level.  Eat good fresh food. 

Are you nursing?  If you are nursing, talk to a nutritionist about what food you should be eating to support your body's health...especially protein and calcium.  Drink plenty of water.

Congratulations on the birth of your child, this is such a wonderful time in your life.  Enjoy your little one and try not to stress out so much.