just about to give up...

renae5

I understand I have come a long way... I am very happy I am not the person I was years ago. I do not weight over 200 pounds, I do not smoke, I am more confident and healthier, but the fact is my body is no longer listening to me and the frustration level is ENORMOUS!!! I have not lost a pound in 70 days, in fact I have gained. I realize I was already in a plateau when I quit smoking 3 weeks ago, and I then gained 8 pounds... maybe not too bad for a newly non-smoker, but I upped my workout in an effort to not gain weight and to overcome this plateau. I feel like I have tried everything these pass few months to re-jump start my weight loss. I have eaten exercise calories, not eaten exercise calories, eaten 1/2 my exercise calories, upped my cardio to 1 1/2 - 2 hours a day, even added in rest days (which I do not like b/c I feel like crap on the days I do not exercise)... weeks of each, experimenting on my self to try to find the key to my slump, with NO avail. I know I will never go back to smoking and I know I will not allow myself to gain back 70 pounds, but I am no where near my goal weight and this lack of movement through great determination is really getting me Down! Thank you all for listening and letting me vent my frustration........
Cindy

elmct57

sorry to hear you are in the plateau/stall from hell. but looking at the ticker and reading your post--you've done an awesome job so far! is there any chance your current weight is one you were at before for awhile before you gained past it? There can be memory markers at past weights if ther were maintained for awhile. i'm heading for that danger zone now. what type meals do you do? low glycemic, low carb?

de1amo

my wife gained after quitting smoking and after a huge effort she is finally losing weight--it seems it makes it more difficult when you are an 'ex' but it does happen if you persevere--she gave up a year ago and gained for 9 months and it has took her 3 months to start reducing--she does lapse into periods of nibbling at things like nuts but i soon pull her up!

As far as i understand smoking speeds your metabolism and obviously when your retraining your body after a time of smoking there must be a period of adjustment to the new rate and intakes

renae5

I had never thought about being at this weight in the past but yes, this has been a past "comfort" weight many times. I try to stick to a lower carb (not Low) and lower fat, but closer to a balanced, I figure if I deprive my self of something That is what I will crave, I think it is close to 40:25:35 or something like that. I am still technically "overweight" and that is affecting my self-esteem. However, let me say a Great big "Thank you" for reading and replying to my post, it means alot.....

renae5

my wife gained after quitting smoking and after a huge effort she is finally losing weight--it seems it makes it more difficult when you are an 'ex' but it does happen if you persevere--she gave up a year ago and gained for 9 months and it has took her 3 months to start reducing--she does lapse into periods of nibbling at things like nuts but i soon pull her up!

I know I am not alone and should quit whining... It is awesome that you can be so supportive of her and help her in her stages whether it be Up or Down!

hamiltonba

Would you be willing to share your food journal? I think that would help in trying to figure out the problem. I too gained weight after smoking and it was a good 6 months before I lost the weight that I had gained. Please don't give up!

susanleasings

Your story sounds just like mine! I gained 50 lbs when I quit smoking (almost 2 years ago).......I shot up to 215 lbs - most I've ever weighed! Now, after working out almost every day since Christmas 2009 - I still weigh 195ish! Grrrrr!
I must admit, I feel much healthier and am trying to focus on the fact that I know I am doing the right things and getting more fit, but the inability to lose any weight after trying all the same things you have is very discouraging!!!
Let's try to keep each other motivated!!!! Stay positive and remember that weight is just a number! I'll keep reminding myself of the same thing.

renae5

Would you be willing to share your food journal? I think that would help in trying to figure out the problem. I too gained weight after smoking and it was a good 6 months before I lost the weight that I had gained. Please don't give up!

I Really don't want to give up.... REALLY just wish my darned, hard-headed body would cooperate! The thought of waiting 6 months for results is Really, Really a hard pill to swallow... but the thought of returning to my old weight is MUCH worse. Like I told my doctor, now that I have quit smoking I have the lung capacity and endurance to exercise more than twice as long... only to Not lose a pound. Also, I have to realize that I am not as young as I used to be, even if I feel younger than ever, at 35 years old my metabolism is not my best friend. My "normal" day (without experimenting with exercise calories ~ a comfortable day) is approximately 1200 - 1400 calories eaten and 600 - 800 calories burned, I am sure for many people this is not enough but if I up my calories at all I gain... 3 C-sections, cancer and a hysterectomy = NO METABOLISM! But I am open to suggestions and heck, if I am going to wait 6 months, then I guess I have time for more experimenting! Thanks

renae5

Your story sounds just like mine! I gained 50 lbs when I quit smoking (almost 2 years ago).......I shot up to 215 lbs - most I've ever weighed! Now, after working out almost every day since Christmas 2009 - I still weigh 195ish! Grrrrr!
I must admit, I feel much healthier and am trying to focus on the fact that I know I am doing the right things and getting more fit, but the inability to lose any weight after trying all the same things you have is very discouraging!!!
Let's try to keep each other motivated!!!! Stay positive and remember that weight is just a number! I'll keep reminding myself of the same thing.

Trying to remember the plumper (not Fat) and healthy should be better then skinny and Shriveled, leatherlike and unhealthy. My Dr told me that I should remember that my body actually feels like it just lost 50 pounds due to the amount of extra work that has been lifted from it through quitting... I told her I didn't see the need in it wanting to gain back the stupid 50 pounds!! Thanks!!

Clew

Maybe calorie cycling would help? Have you tried that? I've stalled out as well - was considering trying that for a few weeks.

Good luck! 15 years smoke free this month here :happy:

de1amo

My wife hates smokers now!! she has made her own mother quit and is a strong campaigner against smokers in our company--i live in a country where smokers still control places like bars and are free to smoke where they like--all apart from our school!!

i support her weight loss --she is short and she knows she doesnt look great with excess --i think she is about 120lbs but we live outside the western world and people are generally thinner. -they all smoke lol

RMX82

Well look at it this way, if you quit you will NEVER get to your goal weight. If you keep fighting you will eventually make it, just perhaps a little slower than you would like. But giving up is never the answer.

Eat some different foods, try to shake things up. Try calorie cycling. Eat more calories one day, then have less the next. Do anything you can to shock your system.

Clew

My wife hates smokers now!! she has made her own mother quit and is a strong campaigner against smokers in our company--i live in a country where smokers still control places like bars and are free to smoke where they like--all apart from our school!!

Ex-smokers are the worst about it - I'm one and I know I am! :glasses: Good for her

de1amo

she wonders how i ever put up with her smoking!! i always look at smokers and ask 'how big would you be if you didnt have your 'cancer stick'?

renae5

Anyone like to try to explain to me what is "Calorie Cycling" ??

Kath712

Well look at it this way, if you quit you will NEVER get to your goal weight. If you keep fighting you will eventually make it, just perhaps a little slower than you would like. But giving up is never the answer.

Eat some different foods, try to shake things up. Try calorie cycling. Eat more calories one day, then have less the next. Do anything you can to shock your system.

My thoughts exactly... don't give up! Your body needs time to adjust. You will be SO much healthier in the long run. Good luck!

RMX82

Anyone like to try to explain to me what is "Calorie Cycling" ??

Monday: 1,200 calories
Tuesday: 1,800 calories
Wednesday: 1000 calories
Thursday: 1,200 calories
Friday: 1,500 calories
Saturday: 1,000 calories
Sunday: 1,800 calories

Just an example.

renae5

Anyone like to try to explain to me what is "Calorie Cycling" ??

Monday: 1,200 calories
Tuesday: 1,800 calories
Wednesday: 1000 calories
Thursday: 1,200 calories
Friday: 1,500 calories
Saturday: 1,000 calories
Sunday: 1,800 calories

Just an example.

Thanks, RMX982, I just Googled it and got a bunch of information... guess it can't hurt to try, it'll be another "Experiment"!!

Clew

Sorry to leave you hanging on the explanation, renae. :blushing: Thanks for stepping up, RMX!