when is enough enough?

So, I tend to battle in my head when am I good enough. I lost 92 lbs. Yes, I should be soo happy!! I have 15 more to loose. I am stuck and have been for a few months. I am deathly afraid of getting back to 5 foot 3 and around 225 again, I have worked my butt off and still do, but, I have plateaud, some people say, I'm not eating enough, im not doing alot of strength training, and so on... which is all very confusing. Its like my body said NO MORE WEIGHT LOSS PERIOD!! I have trouble staying hydrated! I think I eat ok, people say I look great, so my question then becomes...Will i have to double my exercise to stay or loose more weight? Expecially sense I am getting older? What about Thanks Giving and HOLIDAYS? WILL I NEVER BE ABLE TO EAT BREAD AGAIN? Because seense I have added it back I gained 6 lbs, I weigh every two weeks. help??

Replies

  • Melwillbehealthy
    Melwillbehealthy Posts: 894 Member
    I eat bread and have lost about 50 lbs. in 6 months. I ate everything I wanted for Thanksgiving dinner, but then got back to my usual, healthy eating patterns soon after. It takes time How long have you been doing this to lose 92 lbs.? I judge approx. how many calories I'm eating with a food, and try to eat between 1200 and 1500 or so every day. I lose weight slowly. I haven't cut out any foods that I want. Also, I am older and it's working. I have over 100 lbs. to lose and am 5'2" tall. I don't count on exercise to make me lose weight. It's just an added health benefit in my opinion. How long have you been at a plateau? I'm sure it will pass , and you will lose again, if you stay within your calorie goal.
  • goldthistime
    goldthistime Posts: 3,213 Member
    If you have been eating low carb but just added bread back, it may be that your glycogen levels increased and were accompanied by some water retention to boot. (An extra pound of glycogen brings with it 3-4 pounds of water). Ask yourself "Did I eat 21,000 calories extra?" (3500cal/lb x 6lbs). If the answer is no, then it is highly unlikely you gained six lbs.
  • middlehaitch
    middlehaitch Posts: 8,486 Member
    I had a look at your diary and the first thing I will say is - buy a digital food scale and weigh everything that goes in your mouth. Measure liquids, sauces, condiments with spoons and cups.

    Apples, and everything else, have individual weights, use weights and measurements that are from the USDA. They are accurate, you can click on them and adjust the serving size.

    I am advising the above, because as you get close to your goal correct logging becomes critical.

    Expect to lose no more than .5-1 lb a week. It may get even slower, just keep plugging away.

    Another thing, have you recalculated your calorie requirement lately? It may be worth doing now, and every 5 lb to your goal.

    In the few days of your diary I looked at, I noticed you are not eating back your exercise calories, and that they look rather high. If you do want to eat them back, you should to fuel yourself, eat between 50-75%.
    If you are eating 1200 cals consistently you really do need to eat sime exercise calories back. If you don't you are putting yourself in a VLCD category and this can have a long term detrimental effect on your health. Short term hair loss and lack if concentration.

    You have done really well so far. Just tighten up your logging, make sure you eat enough, and those last difficult few pounds will come off. It is just slow.

    Cheers, h.
  • breelinda
    breelinda Posts: 67 Member
    Thank you for your support, I have no money right now so I will wait, but will buy a measurer to measure my food better, also, I do guess sometimes at calories becsuse I do not own a fit bit, i guess by what thr treadmill has told me if I am out side, running, by the time it takes me. Untill I get a fitbit. :( but I have done well so far so I will buy those things.

  • ilovecereal1982
    ilovecereal1982 Posts: 1,194 Member
    OH MAN...So last night I was eating pasta which I flipping love...sooo anyways I am like hello french bread loaf..I will sample you...and oh boy...one sample turned into 2 slices...which turned into aggressive bread loaf ripping which turned into a full tummy with an entire loaf of bread and bowl of pasta in it...first off..I have said loaf way to much in this post....second off I am so lost now I forget what the point of my post was...I think it was relating back to my love of bread loafs...or loaves...
  • RoxieDawn
    RoxieDawn Posts: 15,488 Member
    OH MAN...So last night I was eating pasta which I flipping love...sooo anyways I am like hello french bread loaf..I will sample you...and oh boy...one sample turned into 2 slices...which turned into aggressive bread loaf ripping which turned into a full tummy with an entire loaf of bread and bowl of pasta in it...first off..I have said loaf way to much in this post....second off I am so lost now I forget what the point of my post was...I think it was relating back to my love of bread loafs...or loaves...

    this made me giggle.... win!!!!
  • CoffeeNBooze
    CoffeeNBooze Posts: 966 Member
    You can eat bread again. I was low carb for awhile and added it back... gained nearly 10lbs. Whatever. It's not real fat so I can deal with that. You have to find the way of eating that works best for you. It sounds like eating everything you like in moderation is the best approach. Your plateau relates to calories in vs. calories out. Now that you've lost some weight perhaps it's time to reassess your calorie goals so you can get back to losing.
  • ozgurvh
    ozgurvh Posts: 182 Member
    First thing first you should be calm down and optimistic. If you loose weight quickly its probably to get same weight again. Normally 4-5 kilos per month is ok. Dont too much pressure on yourself. It doesnt matter how much you eat, its important what you eat. Combination of good eating habits and exercise is a solution for maintain weight. Also sufficient sleeping is important. İf you eat less your body tends to burn less calories. You should eat in a balanced combination of proteins, carbs and fat. If you feel depressed you will loose energy for exercise and may start to eat more. You should find a way to be happy all the time :) So you did it well just need to maintain. :) DOnt give up:)
  • breelinda
    breelinda Posts: 67 Member
    Yes, I agree, but... people are saying my diary calories are too low, I am getting confused, and frustrated!! Ughhhh
  • breelinda
    breelinda Posts: 67 Member
    I " should find a way to be happy all the time" but...I find that I love to kick the crap out of myself, with to high of expectations, as a mother, as a daughter, as a worker, as a fiance, as a runner, as a eater, and so on.... all I know is I WON'T GAIN THE WRIGHT BACK NO MATTER WHAT...ME CALM??? LMBO!!! H AS G AS HAHAHA
  • pondee629
    pondee629 Posts: 2,469 Member
    Enough IS enough, otherwise it wouldn't BE enough.
  • tulips_and_tea
    tulips_and_tea Posts: 5,741 Member
    breelinda wrote: »
    Yes, I agree, but... people are saying my diary calories are too low, I am getting confused, and frustrated!! Ughhhh

    Don't listen to all the unsolicited (and generally, uneducated) advice of others, even if they mean well. You successfully lost 92 lbs. which is fantastic! So, you know the basic method, but now that you have less to lose you need to adjust your calorie goal a bit.

    No, you don't need to double-up on exercise. That is a waste of time and counterproductive. Definitely DO start lifting weights if you aren't already. Just be accurate with you logging and you will notice patterns and what works now and what doesn't. You can do it!
  • FeenixFlashfire
    FeenixFlashfire Posts: 21 Member
    Take a deep breath... It will be ok... Low carb diets do that when you come off them... But unless you are eating everything in sight... Most of it is fluid retention... Don't double down on exercise... It is counterproductive and will increase your risk of injury... Try adding some lifting... But remember 1 lb of muscle is more compact than 1 lb of fat... So look to fit of your clothes as well as the scale...
    Don't panic you are doing great!