If you have time...

Please take a look at my diary. I had a baby 4 months ago, lost almost all of the weight (2 lbs to go still) but getting frustrated! I know my diary isn't the best but I'm working on it! I work out a lot (training for a tri and marathon) so I burn a ton of calories. I wear a heart rate monitor so I know how many calories I'm burning. I lose and gain the same 2 pounds over and over for the past 2 months. Now I do my measurements as well and I have lost over 17 inches in the same time frame. My problem area is definitely my belly and I'm still in maternity shorts which is driving me crazy!

I guess my question is, is my diary really that bad?! (I do eat some processed foods and I am a sugar person) I'm very picky so I am limited on what foods I eat (no yogurt, no fish, not too many vegetables) I know its just a mental thing to want to eat something yummy after the kids go to bed so I've been trying to just drink choco almond milk but I'm usually not satisfied and turn to a fiber one brownie mostly!

Any insight is fine. I know I need to cut back sugar, like I said, I'm working on it! Thanks so much!

Replies

  • Larisonlj
    Larisonlj Posts: 426 Member
    Haven't looked at your diary, but there is a formula on here to recalculate the settings on your HRM. Since you've lost weight you're most likely burning differently than when you set up your HRM. You should recalculate every 10 lbs lost. I'm 47 but recalculating after weightless and muscle I'm burning at the rate of a 32 yr old.
  • sadams137
    sadams137 Posts: 10 Member
    Yes, I've already changed my HRM. I've been using one for years so I always change it with my weight =)
  • ElyseL1
    ElyseL1 Posts: 504 Member
    Honestly I think its the sugar. Can you try to cut it down to one item high in sugar a day? You may want to add more protein to your diet too.
  • phoenixgirl81
    phoenixgirl81 Posts: 309 Member
    What I saw was this:

    * Chocolate muffins
    * Blondies
    * Pie
    * Cake
    * Chocolate

    I know you have a sweet tooth, but do you really need all of those sugary, fatty items on such a regular basis?

    As you've already identified, you don't eat vegetables. I saw a couple of peppers and some jalepenos. You NEED to eat vegetables. You're having grapes and the occasional other piece of fruit, but this is not enough. You could cut out half your vitamins if you just ate vegetables.

    Some days you are over on fat and sugar by a lot.

    What about replacing chicken nuggets with chicken?
  • Here are a couple of suggestions and given what you're training for it might be kind of tough but worth a shot.

    * With regards to sugar, it's something to be aware of in my opinion as it's very very hard to cut them out completely. Given your training regimen it's likely not that useful to track that Macro. Instead I would swap that out for Sodium. Just an example, the grapes you have is about 50% of the daily allotment of sugar. Not to many people get "fat" from eating fruit! Plus those carbs are good given the amount of training you're doing.

    * Sodium will cause you to retain water and you need to counterbalance it will ample water intake (shoot for about 1oz per lb of body weight) as well as lots of fiber. Add more fresh veggies and a fiber supplement such as Metamucil. Usually anything in a box or jar or can will continue lots of sodium so the more whole the food is the better.

    * Obviously, try to lay off the muffins, brownies, etc. and perhaps replace them with protein bars to your "sugar" rush and they also have the added benefit of additional protein. Add more complex carbs as well such as more sweet potatoes, whole grain rice, quinoa, legumes, etc.

    * I for one (and many others as well) don't do so well with high carbs. That's not to say I do low carb as I have them 30% of my calorie intake. That said, this is likely a double-edge sword for you given your workouts. You do need food to train but perhaps something to try is see how you do by adjusting your Macros a little bit. Go into your Goals and do Custom and change the Macros to something like 40% Carbs/30% Protein/30% Fat or 40%/40%/20%. It's still a lot of carbs and you might be one of those that do not lose weight with high-carb intake. You might be doing this already but I can't tell.

    * 2nd obviously, scratch the fried chicken and boxed mashed potatoes, etc. Make your own with olive oil and raw potatoes so you can control the contents. I know, I know, it's more work that way but once you track your sodium you'll see why.


    I hope that helps a little bit but just some suggestions based on what I reviewed.
  • I'll take a look - I personally dont consume dairy or anything processed for that matter. I want to eat it the way I see it. Like... paleo but not quite. Dairy does have a lot of disaccharides in the form of lactose. The fats not bad for you - your baby and you need it, but the sugars can be a bit menacing.

    Whats HRM? Not familiar with this acronym.

    Otherwise, subbed for answers.
  • good2bthaking
    good2bthaking Posts: 325 Member
    you know about the sugar, what are you drinking? I didn't see any water acoountability. are you getting enough? Other than that, You seem fine.
  • sadams137
    sadams137 Posts: 10 Member
    I will say this past week was definitely an off week! Lots of playdates so of course bad food!! I don't normally eat chicken fingers either but it was bogo the other day and I went grocery shopping hungry lol!

    If you go back to the following week and before that's more of my "normal" diet. I do tend to drink protein shakes and eat protein bars after working out (my trainer tells me not to but again I'm still trying to cut back!) I drink only water and it's over a gallon each say. I find it pointless to track that! I usually have maybe 1 crystal light packet a day and just in the past 2 weeks started coffee (thanks to my little one still not sleeping thru the night!)

    I guess sometimes I feel with all the working out its ok to indulge. I know I need to change my mental state so thanks to everyone who has responded! I love sugar! I've given it up for a week and nothing changed on the scale (yes I know I probably needed more time for any weight to come off but I love sugar! A week was brutal!)

    I'm going to continue my best to cut back and work out more an hopefully these pounds will come off!
  • sadams137
    sadams137 Posts: 10 Member
    Oh hrm is heart rate monitor

    My macros are 40 carbs and 30 30 for fat and protein (trainer told me to switch). I putt sodium to 2500 and trying to stay under that while my fiber is at 35

    I tend to eat the same fruits and veggies. Lettuce, spinach, banana, grapes, sweet potato, brocolli, green beans, carrots, apples and blueberries
  • sadams137
    sadams137 Posts: 10 Member
    Wow! Realizing I just make excuses on why I eat so much sugar some days. If nothing else about this post, it's eye opening for me! I really need to focus on my goals and lay off sugar. And that's it!!!