Hi everyone...
stormieweather
Posts: 2,549 Member
New here, and jumping in with both feet. I tackle pretty much everything like that :laugh: .
So, the issues that bring me here are multiple...
First, I am uncomfortably overweight. I've never been too concerned with what the scale says, rather, I have always managed my weight depending on how my clothes fit. However, for the last 4 years, I have been in the 170-175 lb range, and I'm much more comfortable at 130-135 lbs. I am 5'5", by the way. But this extra 40 lbs is really uncomfortable. I can't bend easily, or move lightly (I seem to plod), and I tire quickly. Yuck!
The reason I have these extra pounds in the first place is that I had an unexpected (but ever so adorable) baby 4 years ago at the ripe old age of 44. In addition, the gestational diabetes that I had with each of my three pregnancies was much worse than previously and I had to monitor my blood sugar and self-inject insulin daily. The first two pregnancies were 60+ weight gains (and losses afterwards), but I managed to keep this one down to 32 lbs. The problem is that I never lost those 32 lbs. And due to the blood sugar issues that are becoming more and more serious, I must work hard to manage my sugar through diet so that I do not end up injecting insulin every two hours!
So, after my daughter was born, I started dieting. Low calorie, low fat, lots of whole grains and sugar free food. After 4 years however, I've not lost any weight. Actually, I gained a few pounds.
Finally, three weeks ago, I quit smoking after 34 years. Cold turkey, set a date and did it...no cheating. My biggest excuse for not quitting earlier was always that I didn't want to put on the extra weight, I'd quit smoking once i lost the weight and was feeling good again. Finally, I decided I'd rather be old and fat than skinny and dead, so I quit anyway. Part of my plan to quit smoking was that I would start working out, to try to prevent that extra weight gain.
One thing led to another and I ended up with a YMCA membership as well as here on this site to manage my goals more effectively.
So imagine my surprise when I discover that I've been eating approximately 800 calories a day for 4 years and my body is most likely in starvation mode. No wonder I haven't lost any weight! According to what I'm reading here, I should be eating no less than 1200 calories to stay OUT of starvation mode and lose weight. Yikes!
I've decided to go low carb/high protein with less emphasis on fat, to better manage my diabetic tendency as well as shock my body out of it's 4 year rut. I don't want any extremes (like Atkins) so I've researched what a reasonable carb level is in order to lose weight and settled on 90g a day. I'm working on increasing my calories to get them to 1200 a day, but without using carbohydrates to do it...fun, fun! Lots of veggies and meat, it seems. But it isn't easy, I'm finding! I'm still watching the fat since my body has been in starvation mode, I don't want to start putting ON weight due to increasing calories.:sad: No weight loss so far (it's been 1 week).
And finally, I've started working out again. Three times a week to the gym, with alternating upper/lower body strength training plus cardio (5+ miles on the cycle at vigorous intensity). Once a week I swim laps and three of the nights I don't go work out, I'm at least taking a 1 mile walk with my children.
Wish me luck, and feel free to let me know if I'm approaching anything wrong or if you have any suggestions on how to be more effective.
Thanks!
Stormie
So, the issues that bring me here are multiple...
First, I am uncomfortably overweight. I've never been too concerned with what the scale says, rather, I have always managed my weight depending on how my clothes fit. However, for the last 4 years, I have been in the 170-175 lb range, and I'm much more comfortable at 130-135 lbs. I am 5'5", by the way. But this extra 40 lbs is really uncomfortable. I can't bend easily, or move lightly (I seem to plod), and I tire quickly. Yuck!
The reason I have these extra pounds in the first place is that I had an unexpected (but ever so adorable) baby 4 years ago at the ripe old age of 44. In addition, the gestational diabetes that I had with each of my three pregnancies was much worse than previously and I had to monitor my blood sugar and self-inject insulin daily. The first two pregnancies were 60+ weight gains (and losses afterwards), but I managed to keep this one down to 32 lbs. The problem is that I never lost those 32 lbs. And due to the blood sugar issues that are becoming more and more serious, I must work hard to manage my sugar through diet so that I do not end up injecting insulin every two hours!
So, after my daughter was born, I started dieting. Low calorie, low fat, lots of whole grains and sugar free food. After 4 years however, I've not lost any weight. Actually, I gained a few pounds.
Finally, three weeks ago, I quit smoking after 34 years. Cold turkey, set a date and did it...no cheating. My biggest excuse for not quitting earlier was always that I didn't want to put on the extra weight, I'd quit smoking once i lost the weight and was feeling good again. Finally, I decided I'd rather be old and fat than skinny and dead, so I quit anyway. Part of my plan to quit smoking was that I would start working out, to try to prevent that extra weight gain.
One thing led to another and I ended up with a YMCA membership as well as here on this site to manage my goals more effectively.
So imagine my surprise when I discover that I've been eating approximately 800 calories a day for 4 years and my body is most likely in starvation mode. No wonder I haven't lost any weight! According to what I'm reading here, I should be eating no less than 1200 calories to stay OUT of starvation mode and lose weight. Yikes!
I've decided to go low carb/high protein with less emphasis on fat, to better manage my diabetic tendency as well as shock my body out of it's 4 year rut. I don't want any extremes (like Atkins) so I've researched what a reasonable carb level is in order to lose weight and settled on 90g a day. I'm working on increasing my calories to get them to 1200 a day, but without using carbohydrates to do it...fun, fun! Lots of veggies and meat, it seems. But it isn't easy, I'm finding! I'm still watching the fat since my body has been in starvation mode, I don't want to start putting ON weight due to increasing calories.:sad: No weight loss so far (it's been 1 week).
And finally, I've started working out again. Three times a week to the gym, with alternating upper/lower body strength training plus cardio (5+ miles on the cycle at vigorous intensity). Once a week I swim laps and three of the nights I don't go work out, I'm at least taking a 1 mile walk with my children.
Wish me luck, and feel free to let me know if I'm approaching anything wrong or if you have any suggestions on how to be more effective.
Thanks!
Stormie
0
Replies
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Sounds like you are doing awesome!!! I bet you take that weight off in no time. Congrats on quitting smoking. I hear that is one of the hardest things to do!!
Good luck on your goals!! You CAN do it!0 -
Best of luck. I love reading everyone's stories. My story is similar to yours in that I would be much more comfortable in the 135-140 range. I have a little bit is an advantage in that I am 5' 8" and can carry the weight, though I don't want to be 170 anymore! Don't deprive yourself and you will shed those pounds in no time! Donna:drinker: 0 -
Hello and welcome to the best website ever. You will love it here, I do. This site is so helpful, supportive, motivational, easy to use, and everyone here is so nice and friendly. I just wanted to tell you that I hope you have a lot of success on your weight loss journey. You can do this. :flowerforyou: :flowerforyou: 0
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