Need help

lois4468

Not sure I want to do this but .. I have been on MFP for over a year and a half. IN the first 6 months I lost most of the 50 lbs lost. For the rest of the time I just yo-yo back and forth about 6 pounds. I am 62 years old, 5"4, and my husband and I do this plan together. I chose walking as it is something I can do long term. I don't want to add anything I can't do longterm. I went into this as a lifetime change not a diet and it is the first that ever worked. So right now I am at 184. I made it to 181 the other day but bounced right back up. We have a bad day now and then but not bad enough to gain back 3 lbs. I have tried more food, less food, more walking, nothing seems to let me go under the 180. So can anyone take a look and tell me and tell me what is wrong? Should I just accept that my body wants to be where it is at? Don't yell at me too bad for the bad days. I log all my food, even the quick add numbers are correct? OH I use a FitBit to track and burn about 2300 calories a day according to it.

faithdanyell

Dear Lois,
Please don’t get discouraged weight loss is a process of trial and error. I can tell you are on the right track because you have lost a lot of weight. It sounds like your body has adjusted to the routine you have in the way of food and exercise. My suggestion would be to incorporate different types of cardio and strength exercises I think it will increase weight loss. Walking is an exercise that the body adjusts to easily and the effects of walking to your body say 50 pounds ago are probably not the same now. In my own workout plan I do a mix of aerobic classes, gym workouts, aquatic workouts, and at home videos. I try to work the whole body and keep muscle confusion. Also check your food diary you may need to make adjustment there also; your body may be responding differently to the amount of carbs, fat, protein, etc. Lastly I would verify calories burned from exercise with more than one source, I know you use fit bit but it would be helpful to cross reference the information with another source. I pulling for you and wishing you all the success you desire

lilbearzmom

Your diary isn't open.

lois4468

Sorry, open now.

astartig

Since losing the weight you've lost have you redone your calorie needs? you'll need to eat less calories now than you needed to begin with because your original numbers were for a weight that was 50 pounds heavier.

lois4468

I re-adjust goals all the time... I did have it set for the 1200 cals and was staying well under that if you look at the net cals. Most of the time I eat about 1400 cals a day but my exercise has me netting between 800 - 1000. I have not lost any inches either. Most of the weight I have left is around the middle. Thanks for the help!

christinarayburn3

Hi Lois - I've been there myself where I lost a bunch of weight and then sat playing with the same three pounds for over a year. For me it took adding strength training to my routine as I was primarily using a treadmill. But like you say, you want something sustainable. That wasn't for me and as a result I'm trying to lose the 30+ lbs I put back on.

Since you and your husband prefer to walk, how about changing how you walk? For example, you could put ankle weights on while you walk. It will add a bit of extra resistance to your legs, but you push to maintain the same pace. Do you walk with a pedometer? If so if you have one that can measure distance, maybe try and set little mini goals to increase your distance, or change your route to include some hills or change of surface (hiking path vs sidewalk). These are little things but might be enough to change things up a bit.

Women tend to carry their weight in the middle, especially the weight gain a lot of us suffer from as we go through "the change" (I'm in the middle of that myself). One thing I've been advised to do is to watch my refined carb intake (white flour products). I don't know if it is going to make a big difference - I'm a baguette girl so it's not easy to give up - but maybe take a look at the quality of what you're eating in addition to the quantity. If you're seeing a big disparity maybe you need to increase your protein or change the type of carbs. Not a lot of help, I know, but I wish you luck. I know how hard it is to kick those annoying yo-yo pounds to the curb!

cadaverousbones

You need to eat back your exercise calories otherwise your body is going to lower your metabolism. That could be why your weight loss is slowing down.

missymakayla

I would watch your carbs and fat intake, see if that helps. And make sure you are drinking plenty of water.. Good luck..