Getting Frustrated Worried and Need Advice

What are your calories set to? I stopped losing weight after having my cals set to 1200 for quite some time. I upped them to 1460 (1 lb a week), and the weight started coming off again.

I have struggled with my weight all of my life as well. But the last 5 years have been the absolute worst. I have a endocrine disorder called polycystic ovary disorder. It is not just one problem but many all in one big heading. For starters it is insulin resistance and the inability to metabolize carbohydrates properly.
As much as I love fruits, I must eat more veggies then fruit because fruit being high in carbs is a no win situation. The same goes for breads,pasta,ice cream, ect. So I struggle to eat a combination lower carb foods with more protein and fiber. When I was with weight watchers I gained and lost the same 10 lbs eating fruits and salad. Until I met with the Endocrinologist I felt like a complete looser. He was not lying when he said loosing wt. was going to be a challenge.
Keep up the good work. Keep exercising and maybe keep a closer look at your carb intake. Carbs come in many different forms.

Hi TIA,

You are doing so well! Don't give up! I know how frustrating it can be. I think you have just hit a plateau and it will just take some work and determination to push past it. At each stage of the game your body decides to do its own thing. We (our bodies) are designed to adapt to whatever is happening. That is most likely what it going on with you. I have done this a couple of times myself. You have to keep up the exercise and the food intake and allow your body to figure out what is happening. You may have to change your exercise routine. That is what keeps your body guessing and always working to adjust. If you don't do the same thing all the time it will never have that chance to adjust.

Snacking at night is not a good thing if it is too late and if it contains sugar. You are right about whatching what you eat not just the calories you take in. They have to be good calories and not empty ones like sugar, i.e. ice cream. I found that Atkins or Slimfast bars are great treats for after dinner while my husband and I are watching TV. It makes me feel like I am cheating but I'm not! Also know that your body needs carbs if you are exercising and protein if you are doing any strength training. Just be careful how much because they will turn to fat if you are not using them. Also, your brain and nervous system need energy and the only source they use comes from carbs so please don't eliminate those like many diets want to. No matter what fad is out there the food pyramid we all learned about in school along with exercise is still the best and easiest thing out there!

You are doing GREAT!!! Keep it up! Don't let your husband fall back either. Find something you can both do together and keep encouraging him. You can do this...Please give me a shout if you need a push! My hubby is a personal trainer so I can get answers from him, too! Best of luck and God bless!

Try reading the book, "Sculpting Her Body Perfect". It is just for women and is a great way to learn what are bodies are doing!

You're going to have fluctuations in weight, its typical. whether its period, water, muscle, fat, bloat, its never really crystal clear, and it wont be. All you can do is make the lifestyle change, make it permanent, and I promise you will see results. You are doing awesome so far, don't throw in the towel because you are nervous. Here are some tips for success:

When you gym, make sure you get in strength/weight training as well as your cardio. This will help you burn more calories in the long run.

Ignore the scale: just stay strong and know what you're doing is AWESOME and GREAT for you. you need this to grow as a person and to be a better mom for your son. You already know this, don't let anything deter you! Take measurements if you really want to know, but if you must weigh, do not take the number that seriously. this is what causes most people to quit. The number doesnt define you.

Butt out the negative thoughts. You may want to think you have some kind of problem with insulin, or something that's hindering you, but my advice is don't focus on it. Fear is a negative emotion and it will keep you from feeling accomplished and positive about your lifechanigng journey. Never let negativity and fear control you. you are the boss.

DO NOT eat at night. preferably 3 hours before bed. But seriously, this is one of the things that is really tough on your body. I have the same problem but not nearly as bad now. If you are ravenous and have got to eat, try a protein and a glass of water. Like, a hard boiled egg, or yogurt, cottage cheese...something thats mostly protein. Eating before bed sucks, but the worst thing to do is eat carbs and sugar before bed. If you want your body to be healthy, put healthy things in it. You are what you eat could never be more true.

Stop relying on others. I know this may sound cold, but bear with me its a really important thing. Your life is your own, and in order to better yourself who do you need to take care of? You. That's right, YOU'RE number one, before anyone. If you aren't taken care of, how can you take care of others? You need to make sure you are number one on your priority list before you sacrifice anything for anyone else. If your husband would rather sit on the couch and eat at night, then let him. Let him be fat, and leave him in the dust when you make the big change. Its hard to be around people who dont care when you're trying to focus on health I know, and its easier if someone does it with you..but take it from me, you CANNOT make people change. They have got to want it as bad as you, too. If you try to impose it on others (especially if they're grumpy about it) you will be dragged right down with them in the negativity. It may happen eventually but nagging him wont help and telling him what he should or shouldn't do wont help. Instead, focus on yourself and he will see the direction you are going...it is his personal choice to follow or not. It is not your responsibility. You can only guide someone when they want you to. I don't know what the Big E is but make YOUR OWN CHOICE not to go. Its hard, but it has to be done. Break away and do what you gotta do.


Anyway, I hope this helps a little. Most important of all for you is to stay positive! This wont happen all at once. you are changing the way you live, and you will change A LOT as a person. Please stick to it, the rewards are so great in the end. Good luck!

You've made great progress so keep with it! Your pics definitely show the loss.

My SO is a big grumpy pants around food and any time he feels nagged or pressured into doing something he doesn't want to do. Even though he says he wants to lose weight. I let him do what he wants, as he says 'You're not the boss of me!' It's true, and it's enough work for me to battle my own weight issues. Best I hope for is that he sees me lose weight and that motivates him. Otherwise, I don't try to change him.

I do ask him to support *my* weight loss, which he doesn't see as nagging about his weight. That means supporting my food choices and not putting me in situations that make it difficult to make good food choices. That works pretty well.

I think you should plan your menu to keep your evening snack. I can't see your food diary, so I can't make any other observations. I have a piece of dark chocolate almost every night after dinner. I'm thinking about long term maintenance when I say, you've got to be happy eating the way you do right now or you won't be able to keep the weight off.

Sometimes I have a few extra calories because of exercise. If I do have ice cream, I get the single serving portions and I usually choose the sorbet because it has fewer calories than the ice cream, but that's a personal choice.

Plateaus in weight loss are normal, and frustrating. A common tip is to make a change in your activity level or food level. Do you drink 8 glasses of water a day? If not, start there. Yeah, your bladder won't be used to so much water at first, but after a few days you won't need to run to the bathroom quite so often. You'll notice you actually do get thirsty if you don't get enough water. Search the boards for 'plateau', there are lots of good suggestions out there.

Good luck and keep up the great results!