I need help

michele040673

I have been at a plateau for about three months. I think it all started because I picked up a second job four nights a week overnight. I obsess about food more now because I am awake longer. I am not as strict as I was in the beginning but I rarely go over 1200-1400 calories a day. I try to walk for one hour four times a week and I joined a gym last month and have worked up to using the elliptical five times a week for about a half hour. I am wondering what I can do. I do eat to many snacks and I find I do lean towards carbs a lot of the day...mainly popcorn and "protein" bars. I tried to eat "clean" but when I did that I found myself obsessing even more about food. I am 39, 5'2 and weigh 145. I have lost forty pounds this past year but I am no where near where I want to be. I want to lose about twenty more pounds. If anyone could give me advice and peek at my food journal I would appreciate it.

MrsApprehensive

Girl, the best advice I can give is to steer away from added sugars and starchy, carby products. I did that recently and it restarted my weight loss really quickly. Now I'm back to losing consistently. Replace refined carbs with fruit and veggies paired with protein for snacks. Things like natural peanut or almond butter with celery, baby carrots and hummus with a little chicken, natural nuts with an orange (one of my favorites), or a boiled egg and a half banana. This helps with both the sweet cravings and the hunger. I used to do bars as well, but they always have added sugar and leave me with a blood sugar crash later on. These snacks are pretty inexpensive and easy to pack in a cooler for the day, just takes a little prep and planning. Hope this helps you!

auddii

Lack of sleep might be contributing, but the biggest thing I see is that you are consuming fairly minimal calories and you are incredibly active. I really hope that you don't have your activity setting as sedentary. Even if you both of your jobs are sitting at desks, the fact that you're doing two of them makes you more active. I would suggest maybe upping you calories a little. Perhaps try using In Place of a Road Map:

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/654536-in-place-of-a-road-map-2-0-revised-7-2-12

Because you mention becoming obsessed with food, perhaps you should also consider talking to a nutritionist or a specialist. You don't want to lose weight just to develop an unhealthy relationship with food or eating disorder.