Down 65 lbs, but needing some additional motivation & tips!

I just wanted to say you are an inspiration! You have made fantastic progress. Maybe the fitness board can help you figure out your calories needs and if you just need to do bulk/cutting cycle? Congrats on your accomplishments!

Excellent progress. you are gaining musclke at the moment so the "look" in the mirror is more important than what the scales say.
Take fotos of your "weak spots" maybe your abs or lower back and glutes.
As you ad weight these areas should be getting more toned or stay the same then you know that you are making good gains.

A few things that helped me break plateaus- tracking macros, increasing the intensity of cardio, adding intervals to my cardio routine and there at the end to lose the last 5 pounds or so I stopped eating back any exercise calories at all. I also do weights to help with strength, balance and muscle tone. I'm 5'4" and got down to 125 from 180 (trying to maintain now but the holidays just happened so I'm a little bit over my 5 pound maintenance range so I'm back to counting). Also no one asked but if you haven't- tighten up your logging- weigh all solids and semi solids and measure all liquids. Sometimes I would break a plateau because I would realize that I was too lax in this area and wasn't counting all of those BLTs (bites, licks and tastes). You'll get there- don't give up. It just might take a bit longer than you hoped. It took me around 5 months to lose the last 10 pounds.

Hi! First of all you've done an amazing job, and you still look great. We are always our own worst critics, so it is good that you seek opinions outside your own.
I am not an expert in the field (just to get it out of the way) but I only have a few specific suggestions.

1- Make sure to always take enough rest at night. It is that much important.
2- The golden rule to break a plateau is to challenge your body do something you haven't done. Our bodies are made to adapt. If your body thinks "this is as far as I get" you are there to prove to it wrong "no, you'll go further where I need you to".
3- Remember that transformations aren't only in the body. Your mind should follow too. Take a honest look at yourself to make sure you're not on the same habits as you were before.
4- Accept failures and move on. Staying overly discouraged won't help. If you feel like you're in a bad mood do this mental exercise. Allow yourself a time limit to let all kinds of negative emotions flow through you and flush out. Once that limit is reached switch your mind only on the positive side and move on to your goal.
5- and my final suggestion. It's not on the calorie count, gym, or pace of progress. It is working toward a goal that will give you the happiest feelings of self satisfaction and confidence.

Keep up the great work you've done so far!

Firstly well done! You have done really well and you should be proud of yourself. On the "gains" it could be muscle, but if you have gained 5lb I'd not worry - I have been on maintenance for nearly two years now and I allow myself a + or - 5lb "wiggle room", so I think your doing just fine. At the end of the day it up to you but I find that if I weigh myself every week, do my regular exercise, and eat a balanced diet it usually works out fine.

Also google weigh more look thinner and have a look at the images. Plenty of people on there who now weigh more but look thinner after getting to goal and finding they didn't like how they looked and started lifting/kept lifting

cassidyjd626 wrote: »

Hey guys!

I've been a part of MFP on and off for a couple of years. When I was young I was always very fit and in shape (115 lbs and a runner), but I got pregnant young and lost that quickly. I've finally taken the time to focus on myself, and I'm proud to say that I lost roughly 65 lbs from September 2015- July 2016!


I must have hit a plateau or lost my mojo, because all I've managed to do is put on weight since then! When I lost all the weight I was lifting light with minimal cardio and eating 1,000- 1,200 calories a day. Now I've been lifting heavy and eating 1,400- 1,600 calories counting macros (50p/30c/20f) and I feel like I just keep looking worse, so I'm looking for some tips!


How many calories should I be eating? Am I on the right track to start really changing my body? I love lifting and want to continue do so, but I need to burn fat as well. I would love any advice!

Because I want to end this on a positive note, seeing my gains is a great motivation!

You should be your own motivation, I mean really to loose 65 lb. If that not motivation then nothing will.
How much were you eating before?
I think your cardio needs to be change. If you were running and you know you were burning 800 kcal, then spend another 10min to get to 900 kcal. Or mix it up. Monday do running, Tuesday do swimming, Wednesday do elliptical.

Allot of people saw a difference when they did 2hr worth of cardio.

Try posting your specific questions in the fitness forum. You may get some help from the longtime lifters.