it's been a month of tracking and no weight loss..

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2/20/13 6:43 A

sharing and giving away leftover chocolate is the way to go! I can't have it laying around, or I will eat all of it!

I got excited because I was keeping in the lower range of my calorie allocation, so I weighed myself, and still not much of a loss. I measured, though, and found I lost an inch around my thigh - hurray!!

Have a great day ladies!

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2/16/13 4:22 P

It sounds like you did well by sharing - I know in the past I would have eaten the entire box of chocolates myself and might even have gone looking for some more. Sharing with friends is an awesome way to have your cake (candy) and eat it too. One day and making imperfect choices will not kill you - or derail your progress - QUITTING will however. Hang in there, get back on track and don't obsess over the things that are already OVER with. Going for a walk and sharing is a GREAT way to get back on track. Have a wonderful weekend too. Wine and chocolate can fit into your plan - relax and I hope they were really good and you ENJOYED them.

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2/16/13 1:03 P

Sounds like you both are doing well. I got a little off-track for valentine's day - chocolate and wine... but I'm back on track now! Sharing the rest of the chocolates with a friend and went for a walk this afternoon. Have a great weekend!

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2/15/13 9:55 P

When I go to WW I wear the same clothes, that way I get an accurate weight. I take off all my jewelry, glasses and shoes every week. There was one man who was .4 shy of his 100 lbs weight loss. They make him take off his heavy cross and low and behold he hit his 100 lb mark. I think I would have done that too. His mother passed away a year ago and he was her sole support and care giver, now that she is no longer there he seems to have lost the weight, but wait. He now is dating and the weight is now coming back. I told him, neeener, neeener, neener. bev

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2/14/13 6:51 P

I know what you mean. I DO know I wouldn't have done that - but then, I can't even SEE my goal weight from here - I can't imagine the weight would make THAT much difference in who I am that I would consider it even then.

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2/14/13 6:43 P

so very true. When I gain at WW, I tell them they need to recalibrate their scales. Because you do know it is the scales fault. I have been know to try all three scales and trust me they were all different. I sit in the very back row and last week a lady dropped down to her panties and bra to weight in. LOL Thank goodness there were no men in the back to witness this. It is somewhat secluded, but when she stepped back to dress, that is when we saw her. We figured she was at goal weight and didn't want to show the extra lbs. At goal weight you don't have to pay. I don't know if I would have done that. bev

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2/14/13 5:49 P

S C A L E S can be really moody and hard to predict.

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2/14/13 4:54 P

The days I think I did really bad, I get surprised and it turns out pretty good, the days I think I did good I fall behind. Go figure. I think it is the scales fault LOL

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2/14/13 4:45 P

Good job on your decisions. It seems you are doing better than you expected to do - I KNEW you could do it. Great job.

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2/13/13 9:56 P

Good job on the Pancake Breakfast. I weighed in after my Pot Luck and a very active food week and gained .2 so I was pleased with that because I know It could have been so much worse. I make sure I get in line first and it was hamburgers and hot dogs. I took a hamburger patty and put it on a lettuce leaf with tomato and onion. One T baked beans, one T potato Salad and 1/4 C salad with a trip to the dessert table for a sliver of cake. It is choices and I think I did pretty good considering how much I could have downed. Some people had mountains of food on their plates and took that much if not more home. I brought nothing home because I would have eaten it.

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2/12/13 10:00 P

good job!! That's great. It's really hard to restrain your portions when other people are going nuts.

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2/12/13 9:37 P

I did okay tonight at the pancake supper - 2 pancakes - with about 1 T of syrup and no butter, 4 sausage links, and a cup of fruit cocktail - water to drink - not bad if I do say so. It was hectic and within half an hour of starting, they had served twice as many as last year and total was about 3 times as many - being busy kept me from eating - I got roped into the kitchen with Ed and my stepbrother and step-nephew.

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2/12/13 4:03 P

Thanks for the wonderful support ladies, I just have to stay focused and I know I can do it. Here it is 1 pm and been up since 8 am and not hungry, I think I need to eat some protein to keep myself from eating too much tonight. The Pot Luck starts at 4 pm and we all socialize till 5 pm and I will be out the door at 6pm. If I can stay away from the dessert table, I will have it made. I can bring the dessert home for my son, if I know it is for him, I will not touch it. Keep your fingers crossed for me. Wed night going to dinner with girls, new restaurant and nothing on the website yet, so will be winging it. Bev

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2/12/13 7:04 A

so true! I love that - don't let food distract you from the party. I attended a progressive dinner last night, and I did really well. It helped that I can't eat most of the food because I am gluten, grain and dairy intolerant. I did have one glass of wine and a small serving of coconut ice cream, but I tracked it all and it wasn't really that bad.

You will do fine at the park potluck, Bev! Congratulations on sticking to what you ordered at Outback. That would have been so hard for me! I love steak.

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2/11/13 8:06 P

You can do it Bevieg41 - have fun and don't let worry about the food distract you from the FUN. You are making better and better choices and I am sure you will do well.

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2/11/13 5:40 P

Fitness_Elle -- Congratulations for adding the Sodium, I know it will make a difference. I will take a "M" any day. Maintenance means not gaining and that is good in my book. I went out with the gals to Outback Steakhouse for lunch. I checked what I was going to eat before I went, ordered first not to change my mind. Had Grilled Shrimp from Appetizers and a small house salad w/dressing on the side. Ate all the shrimp and salad and left most of the dressing. Tomorrow is another challenge, having a Pot Luck here in park. They are having hamburgers and hot dogs. I usually get just the hamburger on a leaf of lettuce and tomato. I am bringing a salad, so if I don't get distracted by all the wonderful goodies, I might do OK. It is all up to me. Then on Wed night going to Sammy Haggar's Hawaiian Bar and Grill. No menu to check, but I will try to keep it simple. Bev

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2/10/13 9:40 P

Thanks, Nancy! I was thinking of you -- it really helps to have a team on your side :) My first goal is to be healthy and consistent. Then the weight loss will come... In the past I would have one day at 1200 calories and then blow it the next... That's why I started doing a weekly average on Sunday nights to see how I am *really* doing. Oh, and I took a Yoga class today - so relaxing!

and, Bev - my sodium has been remaining steady at 1500. I'm sure there is room for improvement, but I thought I would let you know I have added it to my tracker.

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2/10/13 8:41 P

That is awesome. Sometimes staying at the maintenance level IS success. Resisting the urge to go crazy when we have stressful days is important but recognizing we don't have to be too strict is ALSO important. Good for you and thanks for checking in. I always miss people when they have been posting and then disappear for a while. We all do it and for various reasons at different times AND it is okay to do, but please know you were missed.

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2/10/13 8:36 P

Hi everyone - just wanted to check in. I had some stressful days this past week, but I didn't blow it. My average for the week was 1700/day (right at maintenance...) better than gaining, right?

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2/5/13 6:28 P

Nancypat1 - What team is that? That is certainly something I would choose too. I tend to buy too much food and then feel obligated to eat it all. I guess I would be called a Food Shopaholic. LOL. Bev

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2/5/13 5:55 P

On one of my teams, there is a question about which of several items we would like to have if we could choose one and make it magically appear - one of the choices is even better than someone to shop for you - it was a fridge that automatically refilled itself. Many people chose thatt one.

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2/5/13 3:44 P

Not doing as good as I would have liked. On Super Bowl Sunday I had a 1/2 med pizza and then had the other half on Monday. So I guess I will have to add Pizza to my trigger foods with ice cream and chips. Went to COSTCO on Monday to buy litter for my cat and spent $104.00 on foods I will eventually eat but really didn't need. I did go in with good intentions, but they put the items you want way in the back so you have to pass everything to get to them. You would be surprised at how many things I did pass up. I need someone to grocery shop for me LOL

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2/5/13 6:59 A

Lynn,

As you can probably see from my posts, I had a similar experience... I started back on Spark People in November after a 2 year sabbatical. I didn't lose any weight, but it brought my attention to how much I was eating. Let's just say it was sort of a reality check, rather than an immediate weight loss solution. I guess the first step is becoming aware of your habits, patterns with food. Then, once you have all the information, you can start adjusting, then tweaking. For me, since I'm active and have always been a natural foods type - my problem is eating too much - even if they are healthy foods. It helped me to track other nutrients such as iron, calcium, magnesium -- I was able to see what I was craving in certain foods and to adjust.

I was excited to find out that artichokes and raisins have almost as much iron as red meat and dark chocolate (explained those cravings!) Also, my other temptation food is tortilla chips, and guess what - they have magnesium. Becoming more aware of my nutrition as a whole has definitely helped me.

It sounds like you are doing great! Having more energy and feeling healthy is a definite success - you should be proud of yourself. Let us know how the tracking and weight loss goes... I love hearing other people's experiences.

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2/4/13 8:43 P

I am with a challenge to lose 1 lb per week. I did great for three weeks and had a 2 lb setback, but hopefully I will do OK this week. I track everything even the BLT bits licks and tastes from COSTCO. It is a slower process than when I was young and was sooo active.

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2/4/13 6:00 P

My start was SLOOOOOOOOW and I had to keep on keeping on for more than 2 months before I finally saw a loss - then for two months in a row, I lost more than 10 lbs. Keep on keeping on. Are you tracking? Even if you don't change your eating YET, tracking will let you see things that might be easy to change or show you problem areas you never knew existed.

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2/4/13 2:23 P

I started with SparkPeople last Thursday and gained 5lbs! I feel great though! I've started drinking water and exercising. I haven't changed my eating habits yet and I did go out on the weekend. I'm trying not to let it get me down though. Now I have the motivation to cut back on my food.

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2/3/13 3:19 P

I agree that if you gradually cut back it will help, but I have tried to leave food in my plate and that is not going to happen. My problem is portion control. I have to fix my small plate and put the rest away ASAP or I will keep going. I know I probably mentioned this before but I don't get hungry nor do I ever feel satisfied, so unless I put the food away I can keep on eating. I eat because I get bored and not hungry, so I manage to do crossword and jigsaw puzzles to keep me focused away from food. Elle I saw your food menu and I hate to sound on a soap box, but your are consuming a ton of sodium and that retains water and prevents weight loss. I too try to keep my calories at 1200 but my sodium at 1500. When I did that, I lost 7 lbs. Start reading the sodium on what you eat and that might make a difference. Ham and Turkey Salad (if dressing too) would be sodium for the day. Keep focusing and we all can do this Bev

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2/3/13 2:34 P

What I did when I started was to LITERALLY just keep leaving a few bites, skipping the second helping, and TINY things and gradually I did exactly what you are talking about - believe me when I say that what I ate to get to and/or maintain 350 lbs is a WHOLE lot more than I am eating now to lose. There is NO WAY I could drop from around 3000 cal per day to 1500 in ONE leap. I first went to around 2500, then, 2000, and so on as I saw progress and got used to eating a LITTLE less but it took weeks and sometimes a month or more at each number so I could adjust and learn not to be starving all the time.

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2/3/13 11:41 A

Yes, I only need 1600 to maintain, more if I am working out regularly.

This week was an average of 1800, which would mean a gain. :( I'm trying to retrain my stomach to not get so hungry I guess... It's frustrating that I put so much effort in, and am not really getting anywhere... going to keep trying, though.

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2/3/13 8:43 A

Posting is a good idea if it provides you with the motiv ation you need. You might want to try entering a new goal of maintaining just to see what the recommended cals are to STAY where you are. Why? Because if you know that, you can see what your current eating is actually doing - slowing your losses or maintaining the wt you are at, or maybe even increasing it. You might find that you are currently right at/or about at the range you need to maintain. If that is so, maybe it will help you figure out what and how you need to make changes to get to your goals.

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2/3/13 8:28 A

So, I think I am going to update this once a week with my calorie ranges. I need the motivation - and it's sort of a reality check, once I average the numbers... This week I had some good days, and some not so good days. I wasn't able to go under 1400 calories any one day - I kept getting hungry. Maybe that will go away once I am consistent? I also had some days on the weekend where the numbers got pretty high. Friday was 1900, Saturday was 2200 (!) I was stuck waiting for a tow for my flat tire, and ended up relying on fast food that day. I ordered salads, but yeah... still. I would like to stay between 1100 and 1300 next week. Try, try again, right? I went to a 90 minute cycling/weights/stretch class at the gym on Thursday maybe that will help

Sunday - 1700
strawberries, sunflower seeds, almond milk
chicken soup
turkey chili
yogurt, protein smoothie

Monday - 1400
Orange Juice, egg white omlet
Chicken soup, spinach salad
Turkey Chili
Almond milk protein smoothie

Tuesday - 1350
egg white omelet
Turkey Chili, spinach salad w/ egg carrots
Chicken Soup
Sunflower Seeds and dark chocolate m&ms, oranges

Wednesday - 2000
Strawberry Banana Protein Smoothie
Ham, Turkey Salad, 1/2 a small bag of chips - Panera catered our office lunch
Turkey Chili, Pastrami Butter Lettuce w/ Cilantro dressing
Oranges, Sunflower seeds w/ Dark chocolate m&ms

Thursday - 1600
egg white omelet, apple
Chicken Soup, Spinach salad
Turkey Chili, artichokes, Butter Lettuce w/ dressing
Strawberries and Greek yogurt, dark chocolate, raisins

Friday - 1900
Mango Smoothie
Pastrami, Artichokes, apple spinach salad
Chicken Taquitos, Office Happy Hour drinks - vodka w/ soda, 1 glass white wine

Saturday - 2200
Waiting for Tow Truck, then car service
pear, banana, orange
wendy's cobb salad
steak & blue cheese arugula salad
1 glass of white wine, 1 vodka martini

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1/29/13 4:13 P

So happy to hear of your weight loss. I weigh in tomorrow and I hope I lose or "M" maintain. If I maintain that is still better than an gain. When you have food restrictions it makes it so difficult to stay on a plan. My problem is I don't get hungry. Bev

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1/29/13 7:32 A

I have some digestive issues. There is a medication for it that I recently started taking again. (I stopped for a while because my husband and I are trying to get pregnant, and it has been known to cause miscarriage in some patients.)

Not to be all TMI.... but, let's just say my digestion is slow... and my belly gets extremely distended... sometimes by as much as 8". Sometimes my weight gain is because of that, but luckily I keep it under control by eating super healthy.

I have food intolerances including: wheat, processed foods, grains, milk, most dairy, beans,

My diet consists mostly of: 70% cooked vegetables, 20% lean protein, 10% fruit, nuts

Although, sometimes I get it turned around, and end up eating 30% nuts/fruit & dark chocolate, which is when I gain. Nuts are the only food that do not require elaborate preparations, and sometimes when I get back from the gym, I am HUNGRY.

I have been sticking to my calorie range so far this week. It has helped to be PREPARED

Sunday: 1700
Monday 1450

Weight today is down 2 lbs.

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1/29/13 12:10 A

Do you have any health considerations that could impede weight loss (since you already work out and take good care of your food intake)? Like PCOS for example?

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1/28/13 7:18 P

Trust me you can do it too. It is not easy and I have to watch everything I eat. But 1 lb a week sounded do able to me. Bev

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1/27/13 6:51 P

Well, Bev, You have lost 3 more pounds than I have!!! You are doing great, and you will get to you goals for sure. Thanks for all your tips and support

Hopefully this will be all of us soon:

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1/27/13 5:24 P

CHB1020 -- Lucky you, I wish I had only 20 lbs to lose. But I know how frustrating it can be, you have to stick with it no matter what and never give up or fall backwards like I did. It is too hard to get back up and start again. WE all can do it, we just have to stay focused and motivated. Bev

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1/27/13 5:07 P

CHB1020,

I just messaged you! I'm so glad my posts are helpful. I am enjoying the sense of community and support.

The 10-20 lb range is the toughest to loose. Especially since we're already pretty fit and eat healthy there is not much major overhaul to do... it's all about consistency, and some tweaks here and there.

We can do it!

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1/27/13 4:38 P

I have really appreciated everything in these posts!

Fitness_Elle, you and I are very similar-- I am only 5'4" and at 150 and, like you, I have been tracking diligently for almost two months and I have been unable to lose weight. I am also looking to lose about 20 pounds, and I work out "hard core" for 30 minutes 5 times a week. All of your posts have been so helpful-- about snacking before workouts, tracking different nutrients, eating unprocessed foods, etc. I wish I had some sort of advice for you, but I can say that reading your posts and learning about someone in a similar situation to me has been really motivating.

GOOD LUCK! Message me if you like-- we can share tips :)

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1/27/13 4:02 P

Fittness_Elle - looks like you have figured out your trigger food. Mine is chips of any kind and ice cream. I was craving pancakes, so I took out my Buckwheat Pancake Mix and made 4 - 4" pancakes, added walnuts and chocolate chips and used AGAVE syrup. I could only eat 2 because they are so filling, will have the other two for breakfast tomorrow. Do you have a Whole Foods or Sprouts store near you? They have lots of gluten free foods. I tried their gluten Free Spaghetti and it was very good. I also tried Sprout's Sodium Free Marinara sauce and it was outstanding, added onions, garlic and some red wine. I have an allergy to dairy products, when I eat them I lose my smell and taste. Oh well, I just keep going. Sounds like your food plan sounds very good. Just remember We can Do this. Bev

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1/27/13 12:13 P

so true about being kind to yourself. Thanks for the reminder :)

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1/27/13 11:37 A

On the nuts issue. I LOVE nuts. I have found that Brazil nuts are big so they take a while to chew. Also as soon as I buy any nuts or seeds, I measure in 1/4 cup or 1 oz servings (depending on whether I want to weigh or measure them) pack them in snack bagies so I don't overdo them. PLANNING ahead and having the snack pre-portioned really really REALLY helps me avoid the overmunching. The same is true for dark chocolate - put 1 portion in a snack bag and then you can savor it and be less likely to go over.

Planning for the whole week is great. Remember that you can make changes if you find yourself needing to - it is possible to take things off or add others. I always say a plan - even one not followed exactly is better than no plan. Remember the second part about being KIND and realistic with yourself - PERFECTION isn't possible but progress is.

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1/27/13 11:15 A

Nancy, Bev, Char, Ny, PirateTheCat, FitMomNJ, Bootylicious,

Thanks so much for your support. My mantra for now is "keep going" Love it. so simple, so true.

I created "groups" in my nutrition tracker of the meals I made this weekend that I plan to eat next week. This week's menu: turkey chili and chicken soup. I also put in my meals for each day, so hopefully it will be easier to stick to my range of 1100-1300.

sample day:

Breakfast:
1 egg / 2egg white omelette w/ veggies, black coffee

Lunch:
bowl of chicken soup w/ spinach salad, orange

Snack (pre-gym around 4pm):
protein banana almond smoothie
/or/
almonds, raisins and 1 piece dark chocolate
/or/
greek yogurt & fruit

Dinner:
turkey chili, tea w/ honey

This morning I went to get some breakfast and automatically grabbed this bag of sunflower seeds I've been munching on over the past week. I poured some into a bowl with slices strawberries and almond milk. When I went to track it, I was SHOCKED to see how much it added up to be: 500 calories!!! I think I have found the problem over the last week: nuts. I remember now why I stopped buying them. When I'm hungry it's so much easier to throw handfuls of nuts in my mouth while I'm preparing dinner, and then not eat enough of my healthy dinner. I am going to remember this for the future.

The trainer at the gym I had look at my nutrition suggested having a snack before my evening workout, because my energy level was so low... The snacking thing is new to me. I may have been eating more calories there than I realized, so it's helpful to have a plan now for my snack too, like it's another meal.

I have a lot of food intolerances: wheat, grains, milk, and beans which prevent me from eating "normal" it can be really healthy - it keeps me from eating pretty much all processed foods, but in the case of the almonds, sunflower seeds, walnuts, dark chocolate, I can also consume far more calories when I'm hungry without even realizing it!

I'll let you know how I do next week. I want to stick to my range this week!

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1/26/13 2:46 P

I agree, it keeps me motivated. Remember people often say motivation doesn't last, well neither
does bathing -- that is why we recommend it daily. LOL Just a bit of humor. If I don't track it sometimes it makes me feel I can cheat on eating. I went to a pancake breakfast this morning, and there were so much left over and people were going back for seconds and thirds, but after I ate, I washed my plate and put it away and then had a cup of coffee. Trust me, if I didn't feel like I had to come home and track what I ate, I would have eaten more. Because even if I don't put everything on the tracker, my body sure knows it. Bev

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1/26/13 10:57 A

Tracking in advance even if you don't stick to it perfectly allows you to kinda know where you can add or cut something if you choose to have an unplanned doughnut or whatever. It also helps keep you focused.

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1/25/13 9:19 P

Actually I do that too and keep to what I put down because it is too much trouble to go back and change things LOL. It works for me and I also added the Sodium and that is very helpful. Bev

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1/25/13 5:36 P

Nancy,

I love your idea of tracking before the day starts. I am definitely a morning person, and I think I will do better if I plan everything out ahead of time.

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1/25/13 3:28 P

Beating yourself up doesn't help. You need to change your mental attitude. Track, drink your water every day and you will see the results. I had lost 65 lbs and felt comfortable with myself and treated myself to a day of eating, and when I say eating I mean EATING. The scale showed the results and I was cocky and thought I will get back and do this, but alas it didn't work, I fell backwards every day and the more I went backwards the more I gained. So I have gained all my 65 lbs back and then some to realize I have to take control of my mind, attitude and actions. I am on the 13 week challenge to lose l lb a week. (That sounds reasonable and do able). I have lost 3.2 lbs in 3 weeks and I am still focused and motivated. I too get discouraged at times, but remember if you have a flat tire you don't make the other three tires flat. You put on a spare and keep going. That is what we have to do. When we have a bad day, so what, get back to the program.

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1/25/13 11:25 A

A lot of peo ple find they have greater success when they track BEFORE eating and PLAN the entire day up front. It avoids both the over and the under cal problems. Hang in there, the small changes WILL result in a change for the better over time. Be gentle and kind with yourself. I have gone through the same thing - sometimes for a couple of months before I got things settled down.

Edited by: NANCYPAT1 at: 1/26/2013 (10:55)

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1/25/13 7:50 A

thanks everyone. I'm so disappointed - I weighed myself this morning, and I gained (so much that I'm not even putting it on the ticker.) You can check out my emergency help button post for more info. I feel held back by so many things, mostly a hip injury from running, but also the occasional stress eating (even though it is healthy foods - nuts, dark chocolate)

this week I tried waking up at 5am to get in an extra workout before work. I thought it would help me, but now I caught a terrible cold! This is so frustrating. I keep telling myself - it's easy! calories in calories out, just keep trying. but it's actually so much harder than that.

back to tracking every bit of food for me. I stopped because I would get to the end of the day and see - oh I've only consumed 1000 calories, that means I can have a glass of wine and some chocolate. I don't think I'll have that attitude now.

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Posts: 995
1/25/13 5:02 A

Keep goin and you will lose

Pounds lost: 21.0

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SparkPoints: (16,369)
Fitness Minutes: (15,456)
Posts: 587
1/24/13 8:51 P

once you reach a certain age, your metabolism changes. I know when I was younger I had no problem losing the weight. Now it is a daily challenge. But we can do it.

current weight: 293.2

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Posts: 16
1/24/13 12:35 P

Tweeking should help you tremendously. I have found that lately since I am now just 50 pounds to my goal it is harder to shed the weight. Tweaking and changing things around several times is what it took for me. Good luck and you can do this. Just don't give up.

Pounds lost: 13.0

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SparkPoints: (1,710)
Fitness Minutes: (1,684)
Posts: 17
1/24/13 9:50 A

What I found works best for me is to monitor the composition of my calories rather than just the recommended calories and recommended carbs/protein/fat. In addition to the sparkpeople, I read Bob Harper's latest book and took his recommendations by eliminating carbs after breakfast (though I think he recommends after lunch) and increasing my protein intake to half my body weight.

current weight: 176.0

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SparkPoints: (23,375)
Fitness Minutes: (32,817)
Posts: 389
1/24/13 9:48 A

I stopped using the salt shaker, No Salt is a great sodium free alternative. I also cut my carbs, no starch after 2 pm . Also changing up what your doing exercise wise can really bust the plateau. I use a Polar heart rate monitor ,pushing it to 85 percent of my MHR , 60 minutes, 6 days a week.

May Minutes: 2,760

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SparkPoints: (18,963)
Fitness Minutes: (18,949)
Posts: 2,053
1/24/13 9:15 A

ive been tracking for a few days now. ( started back up again this month) and been logging EVERYTHING been exercising and I feel like I am never gonna lose weight again like before. ( over the summer I lost 25 pounds) its VERY frustrating bc I have a friend who is heavy and shes lost 30 pds in 2 months and shes walking 8 miles a day.. and im losing nada..
I feel a bit better about myself but thats it
suggestions? tips??
greatly appreciated

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1/24/13 6:58 A

wow, thanks again for all your thoughts on this!

re- BMI I agree I'm pretty much healthy, these are more vanity pounds I guess. My body fat percentage is around 26%. That said, I keep comparing myself to my 25-year old self, which is maybe a little unfair (I'm 31 now). It was just SO much easier to maintain and/or loose a couple of pounds back then. My energy level was really good, and, in general I didn't feel like I needed to eat as much.

I have started working out in the mornings again. I think I have a lot more energy at that time, and so can probably get more from my workouts. My eating is as healthy as is realistic. If I cut down any more, I'll just be cranky and difficult to be around (no one wants that, haha) So, working out more is my only option, I think.

I do remember a few years ago when I started lifting weights - working out more intensely - it was nothing, nothing, nothing for a few months (even some weight gain/ bigger pants size from the muscle gain) and then after 3 months - BAM! - suddenly I dropped about 10 lbs. So, I agree with everyone. Sticking to it and being patient is key. Thanks again! It's nice to read everyone's posts and realize, oh, I knew that to be true at some point.... I just forgot about it!

:) Thank you!

current weight: 155.0

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SparkPoints: (16,369)
Fitness Minutes: (15,456)
Posts: 587
1/20/13 4:56 P

Just have to stick with it. It will show up eventually. Just don't give up.

current weight: 293.2

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239

SparkPoints: (4,528)
Fitness Minutes: (302)
Posts: 163
1/20/13 4:49 P

I lost no weight for the last two weeks - this week I lost 4lbs. Everyone is different - if you know you're eatig healthily then you just need to be patient,

Total SparkPoints: 4,528

	4,000 4,374 4,749 5,124	5,499
SparkPoints Level 7

SparkPoints: (16,369)
Fitness Minutes: (15,456)
Posts: 587
1/20/13 4:25 P

Actually your body is in starvation mode. It thinks you are starving it, so it is stockpiling things. Once it realizes that you are not starving it, it will automatically begin to shed the weight. I was on a plateau for 9 months and never gave up and then all of a sudden I started to lose weight. Didn't change up anything, just kept a journal every day and exercised. You will see the results don't give up.

current weight: 293.2

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Posts: 796
1/19/13 11:07 P

Okay...and you DO know you're super-dooper close to a healthy BMI, right? It's at 25.5 right now...24.9 is the high end of the healthy range.

So, this could simply be a matter of your body thinking that "healthy" is a different weight than you do. Your body will start fighting your efforts.

current weight: 130.0

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SparkPoints: (16,369)
Fitness Minutes: (15,456)
Posts: 587
1/18/13 2:48 P

I find when I don 't track I gain. So back to tracking, especially my sodium. I was told to keep my sodium at 1500mg a day and figured that was a piece of cake as I don't have salt in my house and never salt my food. HA..the first day I monitored my sodium I had taken in 4500 mg of sodium. What a shock that was for me. I never do frozen meals or fast food, so my problem is portion control. I use unsalted butter, and low sod bacon, it all works for me as long as I stick to 1500-1800 mg of sod a day. I lost 2.2 lbs this week tracking, so we will see how next week does for me. I went to the store and bought a Kale, broccoli salad, asparagus, beets, spinach and Japanese persimmons and oranges. Lets see how that all works for me. Keep watching your sodium and you will begin to see a difference.

current weight: 293.2

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Posts: 154
1/18/13 7:07 A

Thanks everyone!

I have been monitoring my sodium, and I think it is helping. Also, adding more protein! I was surprised a hard-boiled egg has fewer than 10 grams of protein. I'm trying to make sure I get about 20 g per meal.

I am taking a break from tracking for a bit, and focusing on more generally healthful choices. It's hard for me not to "play" with the numbers on the tracker. If I come in low one day, I find myself reaching for a dessert bc I've been so good all day. weird, right?!

current weight: 155.0

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SparkPoints: (16,369)
Fitness Minutes: (15,456)
Posts: 587
12/27/12 4:08 P

You have to remember to log EVERYTHING you eat. When I go to COSTCO I call all those tempting tastings my BLT's, Bites, licks and tastes and long them all as 4 points on WW, which would amount to 200 calories. Trust me, what you don't put on your log your body knows. Try monitoring your sodium. I know that will help. under 50 years of age it is 2400 mg, but 50 and over it is s1500 mg. Good luck.

current weight: 293.2

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Posts: 679
12/27/12 3:10 P

For me, I'm satisfied with no weight gain.

current weight: 146.0

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Posts: 679
12/27/12 3:06 P

For me, I'm satisfied with no weight gain.

current weight: 146.0

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Posts: 127
12/27/12 12:15 P

i hit a platue for 2 months..the scale didnt move. however the tape measure said i lost 22 inches!

current weight: 233.0

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Posts: 482
12/27/12 11:14 A

My weight gain or loss is directly tied to what I put in my mouth, and honesty is hard. I seem to "forget" putting that one candy in my mouth, or that one cookie, or another banana...small things like this add up to extra calories that I just don't need and they hinder my loss. I was struggling with the same thing, but I know that a huge part was holiday indulgences, a vacation, all within one month...I did not honestly did not track everything...I am thinking about doing WW again, but I really don't want to spend the money just to have someone weigh me. Maybe I will get the hubby to track and write it down...?

Pounds lost: 17.5

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Posts: 20,970
12/27/12 9:07 A

When I don't track I usually have those very same results. Tracking helps me stay HONEST, no tracking usually means eating mindlessly and without regard for the nutrients and calories.

current weight: 276.0

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SparkPoints: (17,799)
Fitness Minutes: (11,188)
Posts: 1,191
12/25/12 8:10 P

Happy to hear you're back on track and feeling more motivated!

current weight: 145.6

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SparkPoints: (16,369)
Fitness Minutes: (15,456)
Posts: 587
12/24/12 5:48 P

Have you tried monitoring your Sodium? When I began monitoring my Sodium I lost 7 lbs. I was told to keep it at 1500 mg a day, seemed easy, but really was quite a challenge for me. After the Holidays I will go back to tracking my sodium and going back to the gym.

current weight: 293.2

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239

SparkPoints: (38,671)
Fitness Minutes: (23,526)
Posts: 1,409
12/24/12 12:58 P

That's my goal.

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Posts: 154
12/23/12 2:26 P

Hi! This is FitGirl2000, I'm going by the screen name Fitness_Elle for now. Maybe I will switch back. It depends on my mood. :)

I wanted to give a quick update. I have lost about 3-5 lbs since re-starting the Spark. It was just hard to tell for a while there with all the fluctuations, but my weight has remained pretty steadily 3-5 lbs below where I started. So: Yay!

My fiber has also increased as I have made healthier choices. I'm at around 25-30 grams now, (naturally, so I'm not in need of supplements now after all.)

Also, I met with a trainer at my gym to determine body fat percentage, look at my diet, and figure out a work out plan: My fat percentage is at 27%, which is better than I had imagined. Hopefully I can get that down to around 19%. I will be so excited if I do. After looking at my diet (I gave him copies of my tracking from the Spark) he suggested moving some calories to make my snack and dinner more substantial. I work out in the evenings, so hopefully this will help with my energy level. I'm not naturally a big breakfast person, but I had read breakfast is really important, so I had sort of been forcing myself to eat more than I really need. I go to work and sit at my office desk all day. Not much calorie burning going on there. Hopefully this way I will burn the calories from my dinner and snack during my workouts and see better results.

Thanks everyone for the feedback. You have really helped my motivation :)

current weight: 155.0

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SparkPoints: (218,856)
Fitness Minutes: (128,887)
Posts: 18,763
12/16/12 1:38 P

Hello again FitGirl,

I do not take fiber supplements so cannot help with that, sorry.

I DO find these things to be most tasty way of including fiber in my diet:
-Barley (also very compatible with sensitive tummy) www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspic
e&dbid=127
-Nutritional Yeast bestnaturalfoods.com/nutritional_yeast.htm
l
-Beans (I do a mix of several types) commonsensehealth.com/Diet-and-Nutrition/H
ealthy_Bean_List_with_Bean_Nutrition_C
alories.shtml

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SparkPoints: (17,799)
Fitness Minutes: (11,188)
Posts: 1,191
12/15/12 9:03 P

How accurate is your tracking? Are you guessing on some things? are you tracking EVERY thing? If you are taking tiny bites here and there and not recording them because you feel that they may be minute....stop and take a moment to write them down because you may be suprised to see how much it adds up.

current weight: 145.6

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Posts: 154
12/15/12 8:25 P

REBCCA-

Thanks!

Yes, Fiber is so important, I agree. I have to be careful not to go over, since that can cause just as much stomach pain as not getting enough, at least for me.

I track fiber, as well as some other minerals and vitamins on sparkpeople. It has been really helpful, and I have started taking supplements because some of my nutrients were a little low.

My fiber has been around 20 grams a day. Do you have any fiber supplements to recommend? I know there is s difference between soluble/insoluble and bulk forming, but I'm not sure what?

current weight: 155.0

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Posts: 154
12/15/12 8:20 P

TULAA3 -

What would be the drawback of working out too hard? I am a hard core exerciser. I either work out until I get to my max heart rate, or I sort of skip the gym (bad, i know.)

I have been going 3 times a week, I work out for about an hour doing High Intensity stuff.

Recently I hurt my hip though, so my Dr. has me on PT and only doing light cycling and yoga. It's hard to get used to taking it easy, but I'm hoping I will still get results. Also, I am meeting with a personal trainer this coming Friday, so we'll see what he says.

current weight: 155.0

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SparkPoints: (9,835)
Fitness Minutes: (7,361)
Posts: 308
12/15/12 6:58 P

Are you exercising? If so, are you exercising too much/too hard (have you tried a heart monitor)? Search the site for other ideas, there is a wealth of information on here about many others who have also been in your position! Good luck!

current weight: 163.5

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SparkPoints: (218,856)
Fitness Minutes: (128,887)
Posts: 18,763
12/15/12 6:32 P

FitGirl,
On the clean eating.

Please let us know how it goes with your tweaking and progress.
You did not mention fiber. My experiences have shown me how plenty of fiber helps escalate weight loss.
Wishing you smooth and easy success....with fun along the way!

Edited by: REBCCA at: 12/15/2012 (18:50)

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Posts: 702
12/15/12 1:56 P

Yeah I think lowering your calories will definitely work. I am 5' 7 and 165 lbs, and am losing steadily at 1200-1500. When I was eating 1300-1700 I stopped losing, which is why I adjusted my cals. Good luck!

Pounds lost: 114.0

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Posts: 154
12/15/12 11:04 A

nope, no processed foods whatsoever. I was diagnosed with severe food intolerances about 10 years ago. No wheat, rice, grains, beans, milk or anything difficult to digest.

I eat "clean" - mostly vegetables, fish, almond milk, fruit. At first this diet guaranteed that I would not have trouble with my weight, but over the last few years I have noticed I am gaining about 10 lbs per year. I want it to stop, which is why I joined sparkpeople. I have a feeling the calorie range is really just too high. Also, I am wondering whether lowering my fat intake and raising my protein might help? I have more information below:

Protein intake is a little low (56-84 g.), so I ordered an egg-based protein powder that I plan to use in smoothies.
Calories have been between 1500-1800,
Fat: 60g (from olive oil and nuts)
Carbs: 200g.
These are all based on weekly averages.

Here are my stats:
I am between 5'6" - 5'7" tall and at about 155-160 lbs(ack!) with a 30" waist. I have put on a decent amount of muscle mass since starting to work out seriously in 2009, but I would definitely like to loose a lot of fat. I was at about 145-147 lbs. (27" waist) last year around this time. In 2009 I was 135, which is my ideal weight, but I'm trying to set realistic goals. Of course, I would love to be back at that weight, if that is possible.

Thanks for the feedback so far! I really appreciate the help.

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Posts: 6,644
12/15/12 10:12 A

Not just how much, but what you eat, which is why the suggestion of posting your trackers can help. If you are high in certain areas, you may need to adjust those areas, more than just the overall numbers. If you are eating lots of processed foods, you may want to go more simple. Each body is different, and you need to learn yours.

Pounds lost: 18.0

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12/14/12 8:23 P

thanks! I definitely have been at the high end of my recommended daily allowance. I'll tweak it :)

current weight: 155.0

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SparkPoints: (218,856)
Fitness Minutes: (128,887)
Posts: 18,763
12/14/12 7:22 P

If you make a SparkPage and share your trackers it would be easier to advise you. Sparkpages are fun too!!

We are all individual and the benefit of tracking is to show us where we need to adjust/tweak our 'numbers' to see results.

I tracked everything I ate for 9 years and even with an average of 45 minutes to 80 minutes of daily exercise I found I gain weight if I eat at the high end of my suggested range of 1200 to 1500 calories. It seems you are already fit and do not need to lose much weight. I definitely have found those last ten pounds MUCH harder to shed.

Think about the benefits of ingraining healthy choices and building a more empowered lifestyle as you acquire qualities of perseverance, consistency and patience. This is a process and takes time but it is worth the journey. Hang in here!

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Posts: 154
12/14/12 7:09 P

I'm feeling kind of unmotivated because I have not seen any change in the scale other than the normal fluctuation. I know most people gain muscle, but because I was already pretty fit, I don't think that is the case for me. I have remained in my recommended calorie range, except for the occassional off-day because of holiday parties and such. Even on holidays, though I haven't gone crazy. I need some tips! I'm tired of my pants feeling so tight, and I refuse to go up yet another size!!

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