Am I doing this wrong???

Everybody is different - my weight loss is incredibly slow. I started with this site after losing about 50 pounds over a 2 year period. I had hit a plateau and I came here to try and work my way through it. When I lost the big chunk of weight at the beginning I was probably going a bit overboard. I'd wake up at 4:30 and do a 40 minute cardio routine. I'd eat about 200 calories for breakfast - an egg and toast. I'd pack a lunch that included a half sandwich and some fresh vegetables and eat it at my desk while working - then take a 30-50 minute walk during my lunch hour. Come home and have a dinner of broiled chicken, green beans, and spinach. I'd finish off the night with another 30 minute cardio routine and followed it up with a strength training or a flexibility training before bed. The only thing I would drink was water. I don't think I was getting enough calories to begin with during that period and my blood sugar would drop to 60 a lot. Not a good way to go. Be sensible. Eat between 1200 and 1400 calories per day. Get daily exercise. Cardio will take the weight off faster - but if you have more muscle mass it burns more calories at rest. Try to reduce your sweets gradually.

Just take your time its a process, very frusterating at first..... Im a sucker for sweets myself, When i first started leaving chocolate alone i would have to look at a pic of myself i had on my phone. Reminding me of my goal and the gut i wanted to lose, and your doing fine with going over your calorie count. Just keep it up with your diet even if you cheat you will eventually not do it as much and excercise, you will be ok

Oh, I get it now thanks for replying. Now I just have to learn to control overeating pastries. =( the struggle to be fit is real.

I don't know if this will work for you, but it works for me- I get really bad chocolate and sweet cravings. I've discovered that if I eat a square of dark chocolate with chili or something spicy in it it helps get rid of the craving. It's too rich for me to eat more than a square and since it's a small amount, it's not too bad calorie wise. Trick I learned from my step-mother who lost about 200 lbs close to 30 years ago and has been in maintenance ever since.

weight loss is 99 % will power
if you have to have sweets...log them first thing in the morning and then eat around them. nothing is forbidden..but sometimes i 600-700 calorie pastry will make you realize that in order to stay on track you will have a really low food allowance for the day. try making your own sweets--and make sure they are not in your home if that is your temptation!!!

agreed. all about the willpower. it's like a muscle, use it and it will become stronger!

Probably the best advice I can give is to get rid of your scale and go down to your local Y or health club once a month and weigh. I think weighing yourself every day is nuts. Too many fluctuations in the body with water. A person who is constantly weighing themselves on average is bound to get discouraged and give up.

Sweets are addictive. I used to suck on a bottle of juice to help the cravings when I was fasting. (Not actually taking in much juice, just kinda sucking on the plastic that had gotten wet by it..)

I've been told that carrots are a perfect sugar and will make cravings for sweets go away.

In general, once you break it, staying off of it isn't so hard (unless there's a lot of temptation). Just try cutting portions at first, and limiting yourself to a couple times a week, and weaning down.

And just exercise more

Good advice!!!:flowerforyou: