Need Advice from Stats Twin

bhalter

Ok, I'm 5'10", female, weigh 234 and have about 74 more pounds to lose. I have not been able to dip below 234-236 for a month now and am frustrated by this plateau. MFP set my calories for 1390 originally. I did some internet research, which said that was too little, so I upped them to 1700. I have a desk job, so I'm not really active during the day. I'm currently doing Zumba once a week, and got a bunch of workout DVDs for Christmas that I am planning on rotating through to exercise more throughout the week. I have an 8 year old and a fiance who works evenings, so I'm trying to find ways to squeeze extra exercise in.

Anybody roughly have these same numbers? What was your daily calories set at that gave you a pretty good steady weight loss? I'm not even looking for miracle massive weight loss, but the scale budging at least a pound every week would be awesome. I'm also revamping my diet choices now that I have calorie tracking and eating less kind of managed. Going to start working on less sodium, less carbs, and eating more calories on the front part of the day instead of having big dinners. Feel free to look at my diary (the numbers will be messed up since I've changed calorie goals a few times in the last week and tried calorie cycling, which just made me gain) and give me some tips. This past weekend was my birthday, so I don't normally eat like that all the time.

Any ideas or advice?

EDIT: Also, I know I need to work on getting more veggies in. I grew up in a home that we mostly ate cooked veggies, so while I love practically every kind of cooked vegetable, I'm not a fan of raw ones. Pretty much the only veggie I like raw is cauliflower. Celery makes me gag and feel sick to my stomach and I just sit there and chew carrots forever and can't swallow them. =(

eacatterton

I think that you are in the same boat I was in a few weeks ago. Sodium. You really need to watch it. I was going over day after day just like you have been, even while keeping my calories in check, but my weight was not budging. Once I started really watching my sodium, I have been losing the last few weeks. Also, I think you should definitely try to fit in at least 4 days of exercise a week. It seems like we are really close to each other when it comes to what we have to do to lose this thing. I am 5'5", started out at 220, I am down to 214 now, all of that lost since new years. I hate fresh veggies, but I am getting to the point where I can eat the raw carrots and celery (I can only do the celery with peanut butter). I love steamed or stir fried veggies though. Also, on the calories thing, I originally had mine set at 1200 and wasn't losing anything, when I bumped them up to 1380 and I eat all of my exercise calories back is when I really started seeing a difference. Your "calorie spiking" the last few days really confused me. Not sure how that would ever work to lose weight. I think that confusing your body with different exercises would be the better option. Just make sure to eat the calories back.

bhalter

Thanks hun - yes, sodium will be one of the things I try to work on. Most of mine comes from processed meats, so I'm going to stop doing deli meat.

I'm also going to try to start working out in the morning. I'm just so exhausted by the end of the day after I spend my evening running around after a kid and getting her into bed that I literally just want to sit there and zone out. But maybe getting up earlier and doing 20-30 minutes every morning would be beneficial.

eacatterton

That s what I have to do. When I come home from work I have my 3 year old son...and a very spoiled childish husband to take care of. And hubs is in school now and requires alot of my attention for that, so between cooking, cleaning and just flat out wanting to relax, I don't have time in the afternoons. I just have to force myself to get up earlier in the morning so I can fit 20 - 30 mins in. I did recently buy a used stationary bike, so some nights instead of flopping down on the couch to watch my shows, I jump on the bike and ride for 30 - 40 mins while watching my shows. I think that has helped me alot too.

bhalter

We are so in the same boat! My fiance is a full-time student too, and then works part-time evenings. We have ZERO space in our tiny apartment for a stationary bike, though I'd love to get something like that for something to do while I watch TV.

eacatterton

These would be excellent options for saving space and exercising while watching TV. And they seem fairly affordable. I have another friend that just got the mini stationary bike and she likes it.

http://www.google.com/products/catalog?q=golds+gym+bike&hl=en&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.,cf.osb&biw=1600&bih=770&wrapid=tlif132760608510310&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=shop&cid=12465925159470671245&sa=X&ei=ZqkhT4z0A4fYtwepmYmiCw&ved=0CFIQ8wIwAA#

http://www.google.com/products/catalog?hl=en&q=mini+stationary+bike&gs_upl=9251l11193l1l11395l11l11l0l0l0l2l186l1426l0.11l11l0&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.,cf.osb&biw=1600&bih=770&wrapid=tlif132760615145510&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=shop&cid=8110760395149137383&sa=X&ei=mqkhT6i8OcHatwfy_4miCw&ved=0CIIBEOYNMAA#

eacatterton

You could even try to save more money by buying used. I bought my bike on craigslist, paid about 1/3 of what it would have been new...and it works just fine.

bhalter

These would be excellent options for saving space and exercising while watching TV. And they seem fairly affordable. I have another friend that just got the mini stationary bike and she likes it.

http://www.google.com/products/catalog?q=golds+gym+bike&hl=en&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.,cf.osb&biw=1600&bih=770&wrapid=tlif132760608510310&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=shop&cid=12465925159470671245&sa=X&ei=ZqkhT4z0A4fYtwepmYmiCw&ved=0CFIQ8wIwAA#

http://www.google.com/products/catalog?hl=en&q=mini+stationary+bike&gs_upl=9251l11193l1l11395l11l11l0l0l0l2l186l1426l0.11l11l0&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.,cf.osb&biw=1600&bih=770&wrapid=tlif132760615145510&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=shop&cid=8110760395149137383&sa=X&ei=mqkhT6i8OcHatwfy_4miCw&ved=0CIIBEOYNMAA#

I've never seen anything like that before - thank you!!! I'll need to see about getting something like that. That would also be neat to have at work under my desk so that I'm doing something productive instead of sitting around on my butt.

paulamarsden

Weirdly, since we just became friends and stuff. im 5ft 10, weigh 236.... MFP set my cal goal as the same as yours, but i have mine linked into my fitbit....

i burned ALOT more today so i ate upto 1800, still under the goal it gave me including my activity and the live calorie burn feed from my fitbit...

i will let you know how i get on, but interesting that we are at similar numbers...

bhalter

Weirdly, since we just became friends and stuff. im 5ft 10, weigh 236.... MFP set my cal goal as the same as yours, but i have mine linked into my fitbit....

i burned ALOT more today so i ate upto 1800, still under the goal it gave me including my activity and the live calorie burn feed from my fitbit...

i will let you know how i get on, but interesting that we are at similar numbers...

Awesome! I'm glad we found each other today then. Most people I find on the boards or even on my friends list are all much shorter than me. I may just be trying to move too many things at once. When I first started and was eating 1390 and working out 4-5 times a week, I was losing. I may see how this next week goes and then adjust accordingly. I'll keep watch for your progress as well.