any other not-that-heavy girls trying to lose more weight?

I guess this would apply to me! I'm 5'1, 107.7lbs last time I measured! Hoping to lose those last 7lbs! My diet's been a bit haywire this past week and I'm weighing myself in the morning, so we'll have to see how that goes... Good luck everyone!

Im 5'8 and 145 lbs....want to get to 138...was at 132 this summer but hubby said my collar bones and chest bones stuck out too much so I would just like to get around 138ish.

sorry, sparklew., I don't think there is anything to spot reduce any area, just overall lowering body fat it will have to come off eventually, and the only way to lower body fat is to eat at a calorie-deficit, whether through exercise or diet. Ab exercises are not doing any harm, strong core is good for lots of reasons, and when the fat melts off you'll see the muscle-or not! i will never had Jillian's abs! no matter what I do, what I weigh...

sorry, sparklew., I don't think there is anything to spot reduce any area, just overall lowering body fat it will have to come off eventually, and the only way to lower body fat is to eat at a calorie-deficit, whether through exercise or diet. Ab exercises are not doing any harm, strong core is good for lots of reasons, and when the fat melts off you'll see the muscle-or not! i will never had Jillian's abs! no matter what I do, what I weigh...

Oh I know spot reduction doesn't work (that's what I meant by "target" I just couldn't think of the term!) I was wondering if i would be quicker/more efficient to eat less, or go running, or lift weights, or swim, etc.

I don't know if it's true, but I've heard people say that "six pack is not made in the gym, it's made in the kitchen". So following that sense, diet would be more important. But pilate is a really effective tool to shed some inches around the waist, if you can keep doing it.

I have heard about intervals, there was this one girl who said she did treadmill sprints, I think 1 min run as fast as she could, one minute walk, and she only did 20 mins. I also tagged this on intervals-called "tabata" and says you can basically do anything cardio but do it in "intervals" and I have heard it is good for fat burning but I am in Week 5 of Gateway to 8k and that's all I can manage right now. I will try intervals when I graduate!
I can stay under my cals, but I have a hard time getting very strict with my diet, but I also read that 140 grams of protein, 100 grams of carbs, 30 grams of fat (daily) is ideal to lose fat.

I do intervals on the elliptical. I definitely burn a lot and have fun. Admittedly, my body type doesn't store as much belly fat, but I think eliminating things like alcohol (esp beer) and high fructose corn syrup - two proven belly fat promoters would help, as well as cutting down on other simple carbs. I think abs are 70% kitchen, you still have to engage them in almost everything you do to have great ones.

Ok, going to really push it this week while hubby is out of town. I can do this!

ugh, i'm trying not to be frustrated, and although I promised myself I would stay off the scale until Nov. 2nd, I hopped on it today and have not lost any weight in over 2 wks. My waist size has stayed the same too, so it's not that I'm gaining muscle.... Actually, the scale says I'm 126, instead of my 124 weigh in from a couple weeks ago. I am on my period, but it's almost over now.... so I really really hope that explains this. I'm sticking to my calories, working out almost every day too! I want to be 115 by Christmas, but at this rate, I'll never get there!

wth????

definitely gotta start doing interval training this week (not today - it's raining!), but what makes things really difficult is that I'm doing the 30 Day Slim Down challenge and right now we're doing a min. of 2 of JM's workouts daily until the end of the month. Not sure I have enough energy to also do interval training! I think in November and December I'm going to focus on cardio/intervals and maybe just do the 30DS a few times throughout the week...

Does anybody have any ideas? I"m not a SUPER clean eater, but I do make an effort. Part of my problem is 1) i have a major sweet tooth and I am not a big fruit eater, so I do tend to lean toward baked goods or candy... not that eat a ton of it, but i know i eat more than someone on a diet should. Also, I love my diet pepsi and i struggle w/ that a lot... and also struggle w/ drinking enough water half the time. Some days it's easy, other days it's hard.

I fail most diets because I lose patience when I stop seeing results, but I'm so determined this time to do it right and get it done - to reach my goals! I'm mad at myself that I even look the way I do and refuse to stay like this any longer... please give me any advice you can!

Welcome, Wytbyerdoc! You did it before and you can do it again.
cutmd, what's your plan for the week? I was two pounds over my goal weight this morn, I don't think I have ever been at goal weight on Monday, so I better swtich back to 1200 cals, instead of 1400 maintenance cals.
Jen, I know what you mean about the eating, while I can stay under cals I cannot do away with carbs or sweets, I budget for a piece of chocolate, and my diet, well, I had waffles and fried chicken on Saturday and even though it wasn't over on cals, it's not the best way to eat.
Maybe we should just pick one thing, could you eliminate the candy, or the baked goods, or the pepsi?
And give yourself a water challenge, if you had a 10 oz glass when you wake up and before every meal that would get you pretty close to having enough.
Could you pick one fruit that you do like and just stock up? have one for morning and one for afternoon snack?
I am confused about your slimdown challenge though-oh, wait a minimum of 2 Jillian Michaels? I thought you meant a minute of 2-so 2 minutes of working out! In a way, 30 DS is intervals, you do the cardio and then continue to burn through the ab and strength portions, right? I have not done any of her other workouts, but anything cardio can be altered into intervals! read this:
http://ezinearticles.com/?Tabata-Anything---Four-Minutes-of-Pain-to-Gain&id=348486
Maybe you could do that instead of 1 of the JM workouts?

thanks for the ideas... it's not that i hate fruit. i just tend to eat more of other types of sweets. but i joined a thread that has a challenge to eat 2 fruits and 3 veggies a day for the next week i think i'll make sure to keep that one ongoing.
i'm going to also try zig-zagging my calories throughout the week and see if that makes any difference... upping my cardio, upping my water... i might drop 100 calories one day a week too... but not until i try the other stuff first. if i still sit still then i will drop 100 cals and see if that makes any diff. and of course there is always carb loading as well.... not sure i wanna do that though - too much thinking!!!

i really wish dieting was simple and not so all consuming! i just want to eat my calories, do my exercise, drink my water and not think, but all i seem to do all day long is think about my diet!

thanks for the ideas... it's not that i hate fruit. i just tend to eat more of other types of sweets. but i joined a thread that has a challenge to eat 2 fruits and 3 veggies a day for the next week i think i'll make sure to keep that one ongoing.

........

i really wish dieting was simple and not so all consuming! i just want to eat my calories, do my exercise, drink my water and not think, but all i seem to do all day long is think about my diet!

That sounds like a good challenge! Looking at my food diary, it is VERY carb heavy and not so good on fruit and veggies :frown: I think I will challenge myself too!

Definitely feel you on the all-consuming part! But I think this is a real lifestyle change, not a "diet" you get on and off of. Eventually it will be second nature and we will naturally choose the healthy choice and not overeat... until then, mindful eating and exercising!

Jenjabbour - sorry you are struggling. Since you have a sweet tooth maybe you should try my new favorite - frozen grapes! Soooo sweet and yummy. I also use raw kale as my salad base instead of lettuce. Calorie cycling is a good idea, also make sure your numbers are correct by using a food scale and hrm if you haven't already. It is very all-consuming but that's what you get for pursuing the vanity pounds

Asjerven - ack, how could you have gained 2lbs on 1400 calories a day? Are you sure that's accurate? 1200 for maintenance seems kinda low.... My plan for this week is 3 sessions of eat stop eat and lots of cardio/strength training/calorie burn. I'm on my second fasting session now. I love food but ESE seems to be the only way I can lose weight these days. It is working so far

hey everyone, you wanna drop at least 5 lbs in 24hrs? it's true, it can work!!! get the stomach flu!!! bwahahahaha! ok, seriously, i wouldn't wish it on anyone, but i hope the 5+ lbs i lost yesterday doesn't come back, or at least not all of it! still not eating much today either... not moving much either, though. hope to be back to normal tomorrow. my tummy actually looks toned though! at least i know the muscles are in there somewhere!

I'm 5'4 and I weigh 133 so yeah I'm also just trying to lose "Just for Me". I'm in the normal range but have experienced signs of concern from not eating correctly. Myfitnesspal is new for me but I'm hoping it helps me keep track of my eating & help me maintain a good & healthy weight. My goal is 118. Oh, and I don't drink enough water and the water "reminder" is VERY helpful!!

jen, hope you're feeling better! Congrats on the abs

Welcome to newcomers xmaxine, keysr and martin! We can do this together!

asjerven, I'm sure you're fine, though I understand your anxiety, especially since your body probably isn't used to your new weight and it's plotting against you. Just eat at maintenance for a few weeks and it will become second nature :flowerforyou:

Worthy friends, if you don't already own one, please BUY A FOOD SCALE AND USE IT!!!! I got a cheap one from walmart for 5 bucks, and was dismayed to learn that what I thought was 4 oz of chicken breast was actually 6, my plum isn't 30 calories, it's 90 by weight, etc, etc. Since most of us are working with small deficits our true serving sizes can make or break us! :grumble:

I think starvation mode is very rare and most of us not losing need to triple check our energy balance.

Going to workout today to have a lot of calories available for an evening with my mom

cutmd, yay for the milestone! i know i want that too... mine rolls, not wrinkles...lol

I'm feeling better, but still not back to normal. i'm having issues even getting in 1000 calories. hoping today i'll be able to break 1,000. we'll see. still haven't gained the weight back. i might've went up a lb. i will weigh in next week and that should be a pretty honest weigh-in. i'm just ready to feel normal again. i'll probably hold off on workouts until next week too, just to make sure my body has time to fully recover. nasty virus! ugh!