One year later and only a couple pounds lighter... how long did it take you?

I'm all for slow and steady, but that's a bit low even for me. How are you measuring your foods, and have you had a physical recently to rule out any metabolic issues?

If you’re in a healthy weight range already I wouldn’t be so concerned with weight but the measurements not changing is a sign that maybe you need to change your approach. You said you exercised pretty regularly for a while- what type of exercise? Like others have responded I highly recommend weight lifting- it changes your body in a way no amount or cardio or being “active” can. I also suggest you track macros, not just calories, and try to get about 0.8 to 1 grams per pound of protein each day (multiply your current weight in pounds by 0.8 and make that your minimum protein intake goal). It also helps to cycle between phases of fat loss and muscle gain so you put in more muscle and lose fat over time - body builders call this “cutting & bulking”. Don’t be afraid of using techniques that body builders use- you won’t end up looking like a professional body builder unless you go to extremes and really know what you’re doing and are trying to get that look.

Also I can relate! I tried to lose weight and get healthy for almost a full year (10 months) and thought I was doing well with exercise & eating healthy foods til I weighed myself and looked at pictures and realized I hadn’t changed at all or lost any weight the whole time!! That’s when I started tracking macros and getting more serious about weight lifting and I finally dropped weight and got to a healthy weight and have a more fit looking shape due to the muscle.

Don’t quit just change your approach. And look into some natural body builders and workout programs like Thinner Leaner Stronger or Strong Curves... those come with books that explain what your diet and nutrition and training should be. Or try bodybuilding.com, that has lots of info and program options. Good luck!

Increasing my protein intake made all the difference in my recomp. I gained 10lbs but dropped 2 dress sizes.

How many calories were you eating and how much weight do you need to lose? The tricky part is the lower the weight you need to lose, the slower it comes off and the less calories you need to consume to lose weight. This is likely part of the issue if you're already at a healthy weight.

Also, it isn't necessarily clear how consistent you've been from your post. It says you did a few exercises for a little while etc. But consistency is key. Even if you eat well all week and then eat a whole pizza on Sundays (just as an example) you won't be at a calorie deficit any more and you won't lose weight.

Also, strength training is great exercise if you're looking to change your body composition. I would also say that if you're struggling to get in night time workouts do morning ones. I know some people hate that. I hated it until a few weeks in. Now I wake up at 5am excited to workout. I do 30-50 minute workouts at home (Beachbody) so I keep preworkout beside my bed and jump into my workout clothes right away. I even wear headphones for music so I don't wake anyone up. But I burn calories in the morning, I'm energized for the say, I feel productive, and that one healthy choice leads to a lot of other healthy choices.

Why are you sedentary? To feel alive you must move!

125lbs seems like a pretty good weight. So thats probably why you aren't losing especially if you are of average height or taller. I'd focus on finding time to work out because at this point you are in maintenance and working on changing composition.

First of all pat yourself on the back for being an amazing woman! Seriously...commuting, working with kids at home - that is such an incredibly challenging juggle. Good on you for seeking to live a healthier life and please do NOT give up on yourself. Just keep trying to do what you can as often as you can...You asked how long it has taken others to lose weight so I will share with you that a few years back now I was struggling to lose weight and was running, weight lifting, eating a vegetarian diet (and a healthy one) and just not budging a pound for months and months and MONTHS...so I can really relate to where you are at in this regard, and I know how frustrating it is, and it feels like what you are doing is pointless...Nothing you do towards eating healthier or exercising will ever be pointless. It all counts! For me personally, one of the reasons (which I only found out a couple of years later) was that I had hypothyroidism. Fast forward a few years after starting treatment and my weight has continued to be my struggle, but at least I know why. However, I press on and keep working out and eating healthy because I know it's best for my health. (regardless of what the scale says) I have had yoyo weight loss (at times got down to a pretty ideal weight) but it was usually at times when I had nothing else to do but work out! My body really requires constant physical activity to stay fit, so that's just how my body is...What I would encourage in your case is to do the weight lifting as others have suggested at a time that will realistically fit into your schedule (Maybe you might have to do leg lifting on Sat and arms on Sunday, and the rest of the week is for the kids)....Be realistic so that you can be consistent!!! On the days when you are not lifting, perhaps consider doing some yoga at home before bed. Yoga has been the most amazing change I ever made to my life. It helped me find acceptance too for where I am at and what my own limitations are. Lastly I do highly encourage you to take a look at what benefits you might find from a plant-based diet. All the best to you and do be encouraged that you are NOT alone!

It took me about 8 months to lose 25 kg (55 lbs):
16 weeks to lose 15 kg.
1 month diet break.
16 weeks to lose 10 kg.

I did have a slow start ... I didn't lose a thing for the first 10 days. And then it started.

You got me thinking and I went back and was reading through some old blogs I had written and realized that I have been on my own personal journey for over 10 years now...I thought this could be encouraging to you, as well...That even if you have to keep at it for 10 more weeks or 10 more months or 10 more years it's TOTALLY worth it for the healthy life that you will have...From Dr. Yami "Regular physical activity decreases your risk of chronic disease, strengthens your bones and muscles, and it brings joy into your life. In my opinion, the mental health benefits are the greatest reward. A study in 1999 found that after a 16 week trial, exercise was just as good at relieving depression as Zoloft. Furthermore, of the group who exercised, those who continued to exercise were less likely to have a relapse. My plea to you is, don't use exercise as a punishment for your body, but treat pleasurable movement as a reward and a gift, and I guarantee you will be more likely to stick with it."

And of course we both hope that we will see some muscle tone and weight loss in there too!! All the best to you.

abbynormalartist wrote: »

bbell1985 wrote: »

abbynormalartist wrote: »

teniahhowell wrote: »

What I would encourage in your case is to do the weight lifting as others have suggested at a time that will realistically fit into your schedule (Maybe you might have to do leg lifting on Sat and arms on Sunday, and the rest of the week is for the kids)....Be realistic so that you can be consistent!!!

I love this idea! Two work outs a week is better than nothing!

If you're going to do a resistance training or lifting routine, do full body. That way you're hitting everything twice per week

bbell1985 wrote: »

abbynormalartist wrote: »

teniahhowell wrote: »

What I would encourage in your case is to do the weight lifting as others have suggested at a time that will realistically fit into your schedule (Maybe you might have to do leg lifting on Sat and arms on Sunday, and the rest of the week is for the kids)....Be realistic so that you can be consistent!!!

I love this idea! Two work outs a week is better than nothing!

If you're going to do a resistance training or lifting routine, do full body. That way you're hitting everything twice per week

Full body two days back to back? Not arguing, just clarifying. I don't work out much and claim no real knowledge but I always thought that to gain muscle you needed to rest a muscle for a day or two between workouts so it can rebuild (or something like that, again, I have no clue).

Currently i am doing Dr. Jim Stoppani's Full Body Burn program. Full body workout 5 days a week. He has phd and has done tons of research and beleives full body training is the best approach and helps with better fat loss and keep metabolism up and running. Read on more on his website www.jimstoppani.com.

abbynormalartist wrote: »

kshearer13 wrote: »

How many calories were you eating and how much weight do you need to lose? The tricky part is the lower the weight you need to lose, the slower it comes off and the less calories you need to consume to lose weight. This is likely part of the issue if you're already at a healthy weight.

Also, it isn't necessarily clear how consistent you've been from your post. It says you did a few exercises for a little while etc. But consistency is key. Even if you eat well all week and then eat a whole pizza on Sundays (just as an example) you won't be at a calorie deficit any more and you won't lose weight.

Also, strength training is great exercise if you're looking to change your body composition. I would also say that if you're struggling to get in night time workouts do morning ones. I know some people hate that. I hated it until a few weeks in. Now I wake up at 5am excited to workout. I do 30-50 minute workouts at home (Beachbody) so I keep preworkout beside my bed and jump into my workout clothes right away. I even wear headphones for music so I don't wake anyone up. But I burn calories in the morning, I'm energized for the say, I feel productive, and that one healthy choice leads to a lot of other healthy choices.

I've been eating 1500 calories (except the last few weeks and at 1700 when I was liftiing). I'm 125lbs and started at about 128lbs. I've been pretty consistent (last few weeks aside) but my plans and approach have changed over the year. I ate way less when I first started, more when I was lifting, I paid more attention to mircos at one time, etc.

I think I need to get back to working out but oh man... 5am sounds so rough. How do you wake up enough for that? Getting out of a warm bed is not something I'm good at. And, I was motivated when I went to the gym but I'm not sure about at home. My home work out have been very lack luster. I've got to find a way around that.

One little-discussed but super cool benefit of working out regularly is an increase in total energy reserves. You might be fatigued after a hard workout, but overall, day over day, you'll find you actually have MORE energy to spend on your workouts, your kids, your daily life. And the harder and more regularly you work out, the larger this reserve becomes.

I understand that you're exhausted at the end of the day now, and that adding anything else seems like it would put you over the edge, but regular exercise over time will actually have the opposite effect. And I agree that you'll probably get more out of a morning workout than an evening workout, at least to start. Hopefully, knowing that part of what you're working toward is actually more energy to spend on your family and your life can be the final push toward choosing and sticking to a program.