I just raced a half on Saturday and I had decided a few weeks ago that afterwards I would be taking a full week off of exercise instead of jumping along to training for a full marathon and another half marathon. At first I thought I would be freaking out, but since the scale ALWAYS goes down when I take a day (or two) off, I'm actually kind of excited to see what happens when I take multiple days off in a row. My calorie goal for this rest week is 1700-1800.

I *might* do a couple light bike rides...but that's it!

ETA: Unfortunately, running is going to take a backseat to losing weight this spring. They don't seem to go hand-in-hand these days

I'm here, I'm here :-D

Sorry Nita, I was running!

Hi everyone, I'm Jill or JillyBean, JB...whatever :flowerforyou:

Nita--sounds like joining a team won't allow you to reach your goal of reclaiming your body and really healing yourself. do what is best for you!!

jennie--hmmm..with that kind of workout routine your metab is definitely blunted if you're gaining on 2000 calories. what are your current stats? I would NOT encourage you to reduce your calories though--you'll never restore your metabolism if you don't wait it out.

My stats are 5'2", 31 years, 134 lbs.

I did wait it out, though... I mean, I have been eating 2000+ since December, it's not like I just tried it for a week, gained, and gave up, you know? I am seriously uncomfortable where I am right now.... I want to believe that eating more will help but never in my life, either at this activity level or below, have I been able to lose weight at anything over 1600 cals/day. I do have spike days once a week or so, though, where I eat maybe 2500.

I'm sorry you feel attacked elsewhere. I have felt that way a few times here. Everyone has an opinion!

nita--i wanted to lay out my plan in its entirety and it was being viewed as "too much" for no reason other than --well, hell..i don't know why. ((sigh))

jilly--yeah, it was tough. i just shut my eyes to it.

jennie--i see. well you know your body so if you tried it and it didn't work then you should definitely try something else.

Love - WALKING on the trail is a huge accomplishment. I seriously understand how hard that is. I would be fighting the urge to break out into a run the whole time. Way to go!

MR, wow, so I'm not alone! I have been feeling like such a weirdo. I mean, isn't 4 months long enough to have said you gave it an honest try? and yeah, here and there I have had losses, but I always end up back where I was, or higher. I wasted tons of money on a nutritionist who was adamant that I eat 2000+, period, and when I freaked out about gaining weight, she told me I had an eating disorder. Now, I'll admit to having some disordered eating habits and body image issues, but if a woman comes to you because she's frustrated and trying to lose 10 lbs that she's gained, and what you tell her to do makes her gain more, do you really expect her NOT to freak out and/or cry? /rant. So I ditched her. It became clear that my own research, and the support I get here, are just as good, if not better than her. Plus, she was pushy and treated me like a child. I'm no dummy!

I hate hearing you have the same prob as me and the BMF isn't even helping... I thought maybe if I got that and figured out my true TDEE, then I'd be golden. How much do you have left to lose? And at what point were you when you last lost successfully? I honestly was eating like 1300-1400/day, working out like I do, with one splurge day (which I used to feel super-guilty about but now realize was helping me hit a weekly average that worked for me, so I embrace it).

I don't want to hurt my body, and I'd LOVE to be able to lose and then maintain at more calories than I have in the past, but it's never worked.

Love-I hope you didn't take my frustration to be towards you... I have just done so much research and believe that I really should be losing at 2000, but I'm not, and none of my clothes fit right... it's just so hard. And don't take others' opinions to heart. There are a LOT of us who work out daily. Seems like the overwhelming majority here on MFP advocates comparatively little cardio in favor or more weights. And I do love lifting, but I don't get a high from it like I do from running.

I'm a victim of over training and overeating. My daily calorie intake used to be about 3000 to 4000 a day but my competitive dance training (and oriental metabolism) would manage fine. Then I retired from dance and gained 25 lbs in about six months, maybe less because I ate the same but stopped exercising!

Reading your posts I feel in the same boat as now that I'm back to training, I push thru injuries that I know I shouldnt . I have also cut my calories to 1850 which means my old diet of skittles and mountain dew had to change.

Let's see, I do hot yoga in the morning, strength train for an hour during my lunch, then after work I do 60 to 75 minutes of cardio bursts, plyometrics, inversions, etc. Lastly, I then do two hours of dance training. Argh, typing it makes it seem crazy.

Jennie---no i didn't. no worries. I understand the general frustration at the situation.

MR--I can see how that would be VERY VERY discouraging.