Still struggling with "Christmas" weight

KisaraKaiba · July 2015

Hi, MFP.

I am currently: F / 25 years old / 5'6'' / 146 lbs. In October 2012, I was at my high weight of over 215 lbs. I made (significant) changes. In October 2013, I hit my initial goal weight of 140. I ended up going down a bit more 135 "to be safe", and spent about a year between 133-139. I maintained that range successfully for about a year, until this past Christmas.

After the holidays, I was up at ~146. It had happened before after a vacation, etc so I wasn't worried. Normally, I'd just get back on the wagon, count my calories like I was still "maintaining" 135, and I'd lose the extra weight in a few weeks. And that's what I did. But it's July now. And I'm still at 146. I did manage to gain 5 pounds on top of that (honeymoon!), which I lost. But I cannot get rid of this 7-10 lbs I put on over the holidays. I track and weigh food religiously. I joined a gym in April and now get between 150-180 minutes of moderate exercise per week (cardio and strength training, before I was only focusing on diet). But I can't let go of this little... extra I put on.

I know maintenance is a process, but I did fine for a year and now I can't help but feel like I'm failing myself. I know in the grand scheme of things this is not much weight, but I'm worried I'm going to lose control of myself and end up gaining everything back.

Can anyone offer any advice/encouragement? Anyone else been here before? Thank you all for reading.

One more note: I know people will want to see my diary, but unfortunately I log elsewhere. And yes - I do mind my macros! I have a medical issue that requires it. No, the medical issue does not cause weight gain.

TimothyFish · July 2015

If you aren't losing weight, you aren't eating less than you burn. There is no other explanation.

kathyk519 · July 2015

I just read that 30 minutes a day of moderate exercise is for people who want to maintain what they currently have, so if you want to lose, you need to up the amount of exercise or the intensity.

carliekitty · July 2015

either cut your calories or exercise more. You should probably put yourself in the .5 loss a week range and just take the extra off pretty slow. I wouldn't want to carry that much extra weight either. Good luck!

Capt_Apollo · July 2015

at this point it isn't christmas weight. it's just your weight.

KisaraKaiba · July 2015

It is just frustrating that what was working before is no longer working. I have begun restricting more this week, so we'll see how that goes. It is possible I have overestimated my TDEE, although I'm not sure why what worked for a year suddenly isn't doing the trick.

Capt_Apollo wrote: »

at this point it isn't christmas weight. it's just your weight.

That's why it was in quotes. :P I'm aware.

scrittrice · July 2015

<<It is just frustrating that what was working before is no longer working.>> It's frustrating, but I don't think it's that unusual. Your body is always changing. You're a year older than you were last year, and though you say your medical condition doesn't cause weight gain, it's probably having some kind of effect on something. Maybe you've changed some habits that you're not even aware you've changed and it's making you slightly less active in your everyday life. Or you're experiencing portion creep. Or a combination of all of the above.

KisaraKaiba · July 2015

scrittrice wrote: »

<<It is just frustrating that what was working before is no longer working.>> It's frustrating, but I don't think it's that unusual. Your body is always changing. You're a year older than you were last year, and though you say your medical condition doesn't cause weight gain, it's probably having some kind of effect on something. Maybe you've changed some habits that you're not even aware you've changed and it's making you slightly less active in your everyday life. Or you're experiencing portion creep. Or a combination of all of the above.

All of these are very good points. I appreciate the reply. You may be onto something with habits that have changed without my awareness. Something to think about for sure.

Nanogg55 · July 2015

"Or you're experiencing portion creep". I love this description!

Debmal77 · July 2015

kathyk519 wrote: »

I just read that 30 minutes a day of moderate exercise is for people who want to maintain what they currently have, so if you want to lose, you need to up the amount of exercise or the intensity.

No.

CICO. Exercise is not necessary for weight loss.

triinityz · July 2015

Similar issues here; I quit smoking in December and that on top of the holidays I put on weight as well. I've had a HELL of a time taking it off too. What I've found is that I'm sabotaging myself in some area's so take a really good look at your lifestyle and what you are doing. For me it's alcohol.. no matter how "good" I am with diet or exercise, if I drink my body burns it first and my losses SLAM to a halt. Not saying that's you obviously; but looking at all aspects of your life, not just the cals/burns might help. Good luck!!

brisingr86 · July 2015

I totally understand where you're coming from. I hadn't reached goal, but I put on about 10 lbs between being home for the holidays (Christmas) and a vacation with the bf for Valentine's Day and can't seem to get it off. To be fair, I'm not consistent with my exercise or diet (I blame work, but it's also just me). It does feel like I have to work twice as hard to see half the results as when I originally lost the weight 2013-2014 and it is frustrating. I don't have any great advice since I'm not getting anywhere, but good luck!

Lleldiranne · July 2015

Have you taken any other measurements besides weight? How are your clothes fitting you? You may be doing a bit of recomp since you starting some exercise (especially the strength training).

I do suggest tightening up your food logging for a while - weight and measure everything properly. But remember that the scale is only one way of measuring your progress. One could, potentially, be smaller and have less fat at a slightly higher weight because of variations in muscle.

KisaraKaiba · July 2015

mathjulz wrote: »

Have you taken any other measurements besides weight? How are your clothes fitting you? You may be doing a bit of recomp since you starting some exercise (especially the strength training).

This is possible, and I have *not* been taking measurements... but I'm certainly going to start. As far as clothes go, I still fit in the same clothes and they don't seem any tighter, but I was chalking that up to the fact that it was a (relatively) small gain.

I also agree that a re-doubling of focus is in order. I do always log, but as others have suggested, sometimes other habits creep in that we may not consider. Thanks again, all.

cwolfman13 · July 2015

KisaraKaiba wrote: »

Hi, MFP.

I am currently: F / 25 years old / 5'6'' / 146 lbs. In October 2012, I was at my high weight of over 215 lbs. I made (significant) changes. In October 2013, I hit my initial goal weight of 140. I ended up going down a bit more 135 "to be safe", and spent about a year between 133-139. I maintained that range successfully for about a year, until this past Christmas.

After the holidays, I was up at ~146. It had happened before after a vacation, etc so I wasn't worried. Normally, I'd just get back on the wagon, count my calories like I was still "maintaining" 135, and I'd lose the extra weight in a few weeks. And that's what I did. But it's July now. And I'm still at 146. I did manage to gain 5 pounds on top of that (honeymoon!), which I lost. But I cannot get rid of this 7-10 lbs I put on over the holidays. I track and weigh food religiously. I joined a gym in April and now get between 150-180 minutes of moderate exercise per week (cardio and strength training, before I was only focusing on diet). But I can't let go of this little... extra I put on.

I know maintenance is a process, but I did fine for a year and now I can't help but feel like I'm failing myself. I know in the grand scheme of things this is not much weight, but I'm worried I'm going to lose control of myself and end up gaining everything back.

Can anyone offer any advice/encouragement? Anyone else been here before? Thank you all for reading.

One more note: I know people will want to see my diary, but unfortunately I log elsewhere. And yes - I do mind my macros! I have a medical issue that requires it. No, the medical issue does not cause weight gain.

if you're doing that, your margin for error is nill...your maintenance calories at 135 and 146 aren't going to be a whole lot different...if you're counting as to maintain 135 it really isn't surprising to me that you're just maintaining 146...if you want to cut then do a proper cut...pretty simple.

schandler1011 · July 2015

What works for me to break out of a plateau like that is I spend a couple of days not counting calories and then I get back on track. It seems counter productive, but if your body gets used to the same thing over and over it won't change. Just my experience.

brenn24179 · July 2015

I needed this. I am dealing with similar. Gained 10 pounds since Christmas. Maybe got complacent, couple pounds up then couple more and you know. I figure if we keep on it has to come off sooner or later, have a cheat now and then to stay sane but I don't want to gain any more even if I stay the same.

KisaraKaiba · July 2015

cwolfman13 wrote: »

if you're doing that, your margin for error is nill...your maintenance calories at 135 and 146 aren't going to be a whole lot different...if you're counting as to maintain 135 it really isn't surprising to me that you're just maintaining 146...if you want to cut then do a proper cut...pretty simple.

This is very true. I have returned to full cut mode (no more "try to eat at desired maintenance"). I'm also - in the future - likely going to have to pay much closer attention to where my maintenance numbers actually are... Thank you for the straightforward input, it's helpful.

Still struggling with "Christmas" weight

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