So Unhappy =(

So I've been dieting for about two years, with a lot of ups and downs in between. I lost 20 lbs and was very, very happy at my lowest weight, 118 lbs. But since then I gained it all back, then lost 10-12 lbs again, but now I'm stuck between 132 and 135 (highest weight ever was 145 ish, maybe 150 not sure.)

And now I'm stuck. I cant get back to where I was, and it seems like I'm hungry all the time. And I cant control it either, which is the most frusterating part. I'm very active and work at Lifetime Fitness, and work out (a nice mix of elipticals, rock climbing, yoga, zumba and walking, starting to try to run but I'm pretty abysmal at it) between 5 and 7 days a week.

CC's calorie meter has me eating about 1375 calories a day, and this seems to do me fine when I'm not in school. But in school, I cannot get my mind off of food. I find that I eat a good deal of my allotted calories for the day in school, but if I try to take many calories out of that figure I end up starving by the time I get home anyway, and its just very irregular and I hate it.

Basically, I feel like I'm eating too many calories, but I'm hungry all the time and cannot get food off my my mind. I haven't weighed myself in a week or two, but at my last check I was at 134 lbs and am 5'0. Should I up the amount of calories I should technechally allow myself-- already I tend to go over by 200-300 calories, which I feel is also the reason why I cannot seem to lose weight despite the fact that I'm trying very hard to eat healthily and exercise often and for a long enough time)-- and determine that I need the calories? Or should I just cut out the calories altogether and just be hungry? =(

I'm sorry, hon - this must be very frustrating for you. I'm sure you'll get some good advice here, from people who know more about this kind of thing than me. One thing that strikes me from your post though, is your calorie intake - are you SURE you're getting enough calories? 1375 sounds a bit low for someone with your activity level....

do not panic..

you have a weight issue and you have a body that is not happy with what your doing.  Time for a change. 

Keep a diary, get the measurements: neck, chest, tummy, hips and thigh, add your weight in there and check it a couple of times a week..daily is not such a good idea as it will be up and down like a yo-yo.  Last thing get your Blood Pressure and Pulse checked..try at least once a week.

Drink more water and less of other juices, coffees or teas.  Reduce your whites to zero..that is sugars, fat, flour and salt.  Cut out all alcohol and caffeine from all sources including chocolate.

Switch more to a Vegan diet as you go, but eat some fish and chicken to stay your ideal calorie range.    Help your body do a natural cleanse because the colon can hold a lot of waste..up to 40 pounds in chronic cases.  Means eating more veggies and colon cleansing cereals and grains...no pills or kits.

Now eating habits:eat slowly, chew each bite 5 to 10 times, take your time eating and watch the volume your eating.    When you are full..stop even if the plate is not cleared.  Eat more often than 3 times a day...but in small volumes.

=====> that is it..however your calorie level seems low..so try some or all of the above...let me know how you do.

good luck

Fortunately, your problem is easily solved.  You're only 17 which means that CC's numbers don't work for you.  You need to add 300 calories/day to whatever it tells you you should be eating.  It sounds like you're already doing that (almost) which is good.  Listen to your body!  Also, see what CC says you should be eating if you're moderately active (or even very active).  Add 300 calories/day to *that* number and you'll probably find you're not focussed so much on food all the time because you're feeding your body properly.

Good luck!

miso_soup

is right are you getting enough calories for what your buring?  if not sure then CC will give you min and max.

..I chose my own and it works for me.  Everyone is different.

thanks both of you! It is very frusterating =(

I already drink a lot of water and tea-- about 4-8+ liters a day. Unsweetened and without milk for tea, cold water. I'd say that thats where some of my caffeine comes from, but chocolate is definitely another problem for me. Like a lot.

Other than that I have a big chocolate tooth, I usually eat pretty well. I'm a pollo-lacto-ovo vegetarian-- I used to be a full vegetarian, but I found that it was really difficult to function without the protein-- and I eat lots of fruits and veggies and try to eat whole wheat products. Pasta is still white though-- gotta find one I like.

I do think I need to watch how I eat, though-- you've got a really good point there. Slowing down is probably a good idea-- time to build my self control again =S

Thanks so much again!

I'm a pasta lover too!  However, I do love the Healthy Harvest whole wheat pasta...it tastes just like reg. pasta or since my husband and daughter are picky about that I sometimes opt for the "plus" pastas.  They taste just the same and are yummy!

Low weight/high rep weight training will rev up your metabolism. Also, maybe you are being too consistent with your routine and your body needs a shock..? Try a step or spinning class.

As one poster said - you need more because of your age.  THEN there is the activity factor.  People often under estimate what they burn through normal activities.  (and the reverse is true).  But the real clue here is that your calories are fine when you are not in school but you think about food constantly when you are in school.  This sounds like you do not get enough calories on your school days!

I use a gowear fit and it gives me a pretty accurate estimate of what I burn in a day.  The day before yesterday was slow at work for me.  I had a 2 hour meeting and did not get in my usual exercise for the day.  I burned 2100 calories.  Yesterday, however, I was so busy I hardly sat all day.  Again I missed my walk because I could not take time for lunch.  But at the end of the day I had burned over 2700 calories. 

That is an illustration of how our NEAT (no exercise activity thermogenics) can effect calorie burn. 

So on slow days you need less - but on busy days you will need more.