I think it's over..

2

Replies

  • cessnaholly
    cessnaholly Posts: 780 Member
    Don't give up. I was stuck for several months but switched up some stuff until something worked. I'm losing again (thankfully). You can lose that last but you want to.
  • skm4jc
    skm4jc Posts: 62 Member
    I gave up sugar about three years ago and I actually don't miss it. Now, I still allow myself an occasional treat, but I don't eat anywhere NEAR the amount I used to. Part of my drive was when my little godson, who was 2 1/2 at the time, was diagnosed with diabetes. The doctors at CHOP (Children's Hospital Of Philadelphia) actually RECOMMENDED giving him Crystal Light to help curb his cravings for sweets - since all kids have those cravings, but diabetics even more so. I figured, if Crystal Light is okay enough to recommend for a diabetic toddler, it's okay for me! It really does help, although I now try to find more natural alternatives that are simply low glycemic impact (stevia, agave nectar, etc). You don't have to give up sugar completely for life, but try cutting back and try substituting things. You may be surprised how much it helps.

    PS - I don't drink soda any more, either. I used to be a 3-soda-a-day girl (20 oz bottles), and now I just drink water. I don't miss the soda.
  • Rhea30
    Rhea30 Posts: 625 Member
    I just looked over a week in your diary and you're over quite a bit in varies areas. Try to focus on staying under for a couple of weeks and see if it helps. You could probably cut back on your calories a bit as well, the days that hit over 1500, cut back by a 100 so its not to dramatic, like if it says 1800, do 1700, 1900 do 1800.
  • WhitneyAnnabelle
    WhitneyAnnabelle Posts: 724 Member
    I'd try to stay away from the Cinnabon. I mean...you've got to live and all, but having it every day can put a crimp in things. Maybe pick something less carb dense? Make something with cinnamon? My suggestion would be to try to cut out as much processed stuff as possible, but I know that's not always easy. And I do believe that a person shouldn't give up everything just to lose weight...like everyone says, it's about moderation. But every day of something will add up after awhile.
  • JaimeBrown5
    JaimeBrown5 Posts: 324
    I'd try to stay away from the Cinnabon. I mean...you've got to live and all, but having it every day can put a crimp in things. Maybe pick something less carb dense? Make something with cinnamon? My suggestion would be to try to cut out as much processed stuff as possible, but I know that's not always easy. And I do believe that a person shouldn't give up everything just to lose weight...like everyone says, it's about moderation. But every day of something will add up after awhile.

    Ha ohhh the Cinnabon... Those aren't actual Cinnabon buns - they're Mennonite ones from the farmer's market (so I figured they have to be just as bad). And I PROMISE I only get them maybe once a month, every other? We buy 2 of them and I eat half at a time usually. I SWEAR TO GOD.

    And whichever person mentioned the juvenile diabetes - funny you should say that. My bf is a diabetic (since he was 9) so I don't drink anything with calories in it. And together we're working on cutting out diet pop and just having water or crystal-light type drinks if needbe.
  • JBG1987
    JBG1987 Posts: 71
    Have you reassessed your goals? As you lose weight, MFP slowly takes calories away from you.

    Alternatively, are you set at 2 pounds a week for weight loss? You may need to back that off, because the closer you get to your goal the slower it's going to get.


    YES! I noticed right away that when I lost my first 10 lbs my daily calorie limit went down by 10. I'm really glad I noticed that. It didn't do it when I updated JUST my weight, I actually had to resubmitt my goals...
  • tjphelps73
    tjphelps73 Posts: 171 Member
    At 1200 calories your carb count should be under 100 each day. If you are way over your 100 carbs each day then it is time to detox and go through carb withdrawal (takes about three days) and then move forward. Depending on how far you want to go with weight loss your carb count may need to come down more, but you can deal with that later. If your calorie count is higher than 1500 then set your own goals and move your carb count to 100.

    It is hard - I love carbs but I also know that I want to live past 70 and I will not if I do not lose the weight.
    Also - try eating better carbs that work with your enzymes better - that may motivate your metabolism to get it moving.
    Apples, Pineapples, Oranges, Almonds, Greek Yogurt w/ fruit, and Frozen Yogurt for treat days. Yummy!!!

    Finally - just remember - simple math - if you eat more calories than you use in a day you will not lose.
    If you want pizza for dinner - then know ahead of time how many calories you need to burn (exercise off) to meal on that pizza. You burn so many carbs per one calorie.

    GOOD LUCK!!
  • breeanreyes
    breeanreyes Posts: 228 Member
    you really have to clean up your diet, and I know it's hard but you CAN NOT be healthy and lose weight eating the amount of processed food and sodium that you do... if it were as much fun to lose weight as it is to gain it we would all be skinny :) and your protein intake is crazy low for how much exercise you get, you need to shoot for at least 30g 4x per day to meet your goals, and try eating a better breakfast too, add eggs (i usually do 2 egg whites and 1 whole egg) and your carbs need to be whole grain instead of white/ nutrient-less processed carbs. i totally know how you feel, but the more you stick to it the easier it will be! good luck!
  • BSchoberg
    BSchoberg Posts: 712 Member
    I love carbs. I could eat a bag of pasta if I was left alone long enough. :frown:

    Have you tried a detox/cleanse week? You need to lay off the heavy workouts for that week, but you can take that time to give yourself a little pampering, which you certainly deserve! A detox will reset your body to not crave the carbs & sugars as much. There are dozens of plans to chose from, but the main point is to cut out the carbs and sugars and fats that tend to program us to want those foods.

    I love carbs, too - way more than sweets - so a detox every once in a while is almost mandatory for me!

    Good luck to you!!!
  • sleepytexan
    sleepytexan Posts: 3,138 Member
    This may sound radical (I would have poo-pooed the idea myself not long ago), but you COULD try to ease yourself into a Primal diet. I started doing this about 3 weeks ago, and am astonished that it is not that hard, and i LIKE IT.

    Basically, look at your macros and get that protein up and carbs down. You're eating very similarly to how I've eaten for ages--carbs 200-300 ish. Try to get those carbs under 100 per day.

    I read this article on nerdfitness:

    http://www.nerdfitness.com/blog/2010/10/04/the-beginners-guide-to-the-paleo-diet/

    It talks about the Paleo diet -- kinda strict; no dairy, etc. Then I did some more investigating into a bit more flexible version, PRIMAL - here's a short blurb, with lots of links:

    http://www.nerdfitness.com/blog/2009/07/28/going-primal-food-for-thought/

    I decided to give primal a try for 30 days. The first 3 days I started paying attention to carbs, I had about 150, 140, 130 carbs, then since the 4th day I have EASILY been able to keep it at 100 or fewer.

    I have lost 2.4 lbs in these few weeks, THE FIRST LOSS SINCE NOVEMBER.

    Interesting observations I have made for ME since trying primal:

    1. it is harder to make my daily calories without using carbs to get there.
    2. I am NOT tired with fewer carbs.
    3. I might not be lactose intolerant! I am eating dairy out the wazoo, without stomach problems! Maybe it was the grains, or the combo of dairy and grains that gave me problems!
    4. Everything tastes sweeter to me now. I ate a salad at Chipotle the other day (no dressing); I could not believe how sweet the romaine and peppers tasted to me. I ate part of a mango last night - it was actually too sweet to finish.
    5. I am not having ANY gas or bloating -- I would have problems frequently before, and usually thought that it was from some hidden dairy in my food if I hadn't knowingly consumed it.
    6. Yesterday at the gym, about 4 people commented that I must have lost weight and "that heavy lifting must be working" bc I look "so slim and strong". These are the same people that see me every day, and I have only lost 2.4 lbs. over 2.5 weeks.

    Anyway, something to consider . . . .

    EDIT: I found a yummy bar called POWER CRUNCH at Trader Joe's; 14 g protein (not the highest) BUT only 10 g carbs and truly delicious. Sweetened with stevia. These are a great sweet treat without blowing the carbs out of the water.

    blessings.
  • JaimeBrown5
    JaimeBrown5 Posts: 324
    Ok. Carbs and sodium have to drop. Got it. (Dinner is already pre-planned for tonight and it's a wash, so I will set this up for tomorrow. I promise. You can all stalk my diary, I will TRY VERY HARD).

    That said, I SWEAR I'm trying on the protein! I feel like I seek it out. Do you see how much chicken I eat?! I could live off greek yogurt. ...My desk ran out of almonds, so I'll replenish those.

    I'm a picky eater, so if you guys would bombard me with lists of low-carb foods and high-protein, that would help. Cuz a ton of what has been suggested is nothing I'll eat. I'd rather just NOT eat then eat foods I don't like just for the vitamins (I know, sounds awful). I will work on the sugar. Smaller doses cuz I know I can't kibosh it all. But yeah. Okay.
  • tinabell153
    tinabell153 Posts: 292 Member
    You need to restart your metabolism. Things that help: Green Tea, B vitamins, ginger, omega-3s, calcium, vitamin D, LOTS OF WATER, less sodium and sugar.


    Also, I love sugar too and I couldn't lose with it. So I started taking a cinnamon supplement and I started seeing loss because it regulates blood sugar! Take it with meals.
  • Crystal0827
    Crystal0827 Posts: 244 Member
    Do you have a stairmill (mini escalator) at your gym or spin/cycle classes?
  • gromithere
    gromithere Posts: 172 Member
    I've read a lot recently that a great way to break a plateau is a 2 week diet break (eat at maintenance) and a 1 week deload (lifting break).

    This worked for me. I ate ate maintenance for a week, then went back to the MFP goals and the weight started coming off again.
  • Tourney3p0
    Tourney3p0 Posts: 290 Member
    I would just concentrate on staying within your allocated portions. There are many days where it's not just 1 or 2 off.. you'll go over by 400% or more on sugar, for example.

    I know it can be hard, but in the end it's honestly going to come down to choosing between moderating the portions, or being fat. Only the lucky can avoid both, and we're not lucky.
  • allieward
    allieward Posts: 22
    I don't mean to be harsh but this is my opinion:
    If you want to lose weight, shouldn't you be doing everything you can to make that happen?
  • JaimeBrown5
    JaimeBrown5 Posts: 324
    You need to restart your metabolism. Things that help: Green Tea, B vitamins, ginger, omega-3s, calcium, vitamin D, LOTS OF WATER, less sodium and sugar.


    Also, I love sugar too and I couldn't lose with it. So I started taking a cinnamon supplement and I started seeing loss because it regulates blood sugar! Take it with meals.

    I take C&D, Flax oil and Omega 3, but I will add in cinnamon for sure! I didn't know you could get them as a vitamin! I'll try to up my water so more too.
  • JaimeBrown5
    JaimeBrown5 Posts: 324
    Do you have a stairmill (mini escalator) at your gym or spin/cycle classes?

    Yes, both. Though the stairmill is rarely free and I hate the spin instructors at my gym. They literally yell. I can hear them in the changeroom.
  • JaimeBrown5
    JaimeBrown5 Posts: 324
    I would just concentrate on staying within your allocated portions. There are many days where it's not just 1 or 2 off.. you'll go over by 400% or more on sugar, for example.

    I know it can be hard, but in the end it's honestly going to come down to choosing between moderating the portions, or being fat. Only the lucky can avoid both, and we're not lucky.

    I feel like the sugar thing was a long time coming. I started out watching it, then caved and now it's like I try to not even LOOK at it.
  • nymthiriel
    nymthiriel Posts: 42
    I would just concentrate on staying within your allocated portions. There are many days where it's not just 1 or 2 off.. you'll go over by 400% or more on sugar, for example.

    I know it can be hard, but in the end it's honestly going to come down to choosing between moderating the portions, or being fat. Only the lucky can avoid both, and we're not lucky.

    This is exactly what I was going to say, you just said it better. ;)
  • JaimeBrown5
    JaimeBrown5 Posts: 324
    I don't mean to be harsh but this is my opinion:
    If you want to lose weight, shouldn't you be doing everything you can to make that happen?

    Yup.

    I feel like maybe, given that it's close the year-mark, that the "newness" of this is wearing off and it's just easier to coast? I guess cuz eating like this (or close to) got 28ish pounds off me.

    I think I need a bit of maintenance time and then jump back in at a deficit. I need to make a plan.
  • nxd10
    nxd10 Posts: 4,570 Member
    I really know this is frustrating, but if you have stayed stable at that lost weight that is a huge achievement. Your exercise sounds good - and that's what you need to keep it off.

    Sugar binges are bad - they do bad things to how your body processes everything else. And if you're like me, if I go over - especially and fast dump things like sweets - I want more. I have to train myself to love those little small bites of sweets instead of reaching for the second one.

    But DON'T give up on what you're doing now. I know you're disappointed you're not losing. But you also haven't regained. And that, in and unto itself, is a statistical victory.
  • nxd10
    nxd10 Posts: 4,570 Member

    I feel like maybe, given that it's close the year-mark, that the "newness" of this is wearing off and it's just easier to coast? I guess cuz eating like this (or close to) got 28ish pounds off me.

    I think I need a bit of maintenance time and then jump back in at a deficit. I need to make a plan.

    Such a smart thing to say.
  • JaimeBrown5
    JaimeBrown5 Posts: 324
    But DON'T give up on what you're doing now. I know you're disappointed you're not losing. But you also haven't regained. And that, in and unto itself, is a statistical victory.

    I suppose so. Though somedays I think if the scale just went up, it would be the serious *kitten*-kicking I need.
  • JaimeBrown5
    JaimeBrown5 Posts: 324
    I had a serious slew of friend requests from this thread - thank you, to all of you.

    If any of you are the brutal kind of thread who would watch my numbers and give me actual "what the HELL dude?!" comments, I would appreciate the assistance. I wont take it personally - but will..?
  • JaySpice
    JaySpice Posts: 326 Member
    Ok. Carbs and sodium have to drop. Got it. (Dinner is already pre-planned for tonight and it's a wash, so I will set this up for tomorrow. I promise. You can all stalk my diary, I will TRY VERY HARD).

    That said, I SWEAR I'm trying on the protein! I feel like I seek it out. Do you see how much chicken I eat?! I could live off greek yogurt. ...My desk ran out of almonds, so I'll replenish those.

    I'm a picky eater, so if you guys would bombard me with lists of low-carb foods and high-protein, that would help. Cuz a ton of what has been suggested is nothing I'll eat. I'd rather just NOT eat then eat foods I don't like just for the vitamins (I know, sounds awful). I will work on the sugar. Smaller doses cuz I know I can't kibosh it all. But yeah. Okay.

    maybe try another greek yogurt? The one you eat only has 9 grams. I think Chobani has 16 or so. lately I've been seeing on the forums that nuts aren't that great for protein. Also fish has hella of a lot of protein! I ate some crabs legs and shrimp one night and was pretty surprised.
  • JaimeBrown5
    JaimeBrown5 Posts: 324
    Ok. Carbs and sodium have to drop. Got it. (Dinner is already pre-planned for tonight and it's a wash, so I will set this up for tomorrow. I promise. You can all stalk my diary, I will TRY VERY HARD).

    That said, I SWEAR I'm trying on the protein! I feel like I seek it out. Do you see how much chicken I eat?! I could live off greek yogurt. ...My desk ran out of almonds, so I'll replenish those.

    I'm a picky eater, so if you guys would bombard me with lists of low-carb foods and high-protein, that would help. Cuz a ton of what has been suggested is nothing I'll eat. I'd rather just NOT eat then eat foods I don't like just for the vitamins (I know, sounds awful). I will work on the sugar. Smaller doses cuz I know I can't kibosh it all. But yeah. Okay.

    maybe try another greek yogurt? The one you eat only has 9 grams. I think Chobani has 16 or so. lately I've been seeing on the forums that nuts aren't that great for protein. Also fish has hella of a lot of protein! I ate some crabs legs and shrimp one night and was pretty surprised.

    I can't find Chobani! My grocery store even had a coupon IN the store for a yogurt they don't even carry! (I'm in Ontario, Canada...) I've tried literally every other one at my store, but I either don't like them or they have way higher calories or sugar.

    I wanted the almonds for the good oils and fats, less the protein. And yes, fish! We were on a good kick with that for a while and haven't had any in a bit. I'm going to get some more salmon, haddock and shrimp!
  • PippaJo_
    PippaJo_ Posts: 233 Member
    Some great advice in this thread - just what I need, too. My scale isn't moving either, though I've upped my workouts and am much better at watching my calories than I used to be.

    I think it's for similar reasons, too - I'm just not getting enough protein, and I'm finding it so difficult that apparently I just don't know *how* to get more protein. (grew up semi-vegetarian, so although I eat meat now, I don't know how to cook it at home). Your diary looks similar to how I eat. (I also eat too much sugar - tried cutting it out over the last couple of months, but it didn't seem to make any difference, so I stopped depriving myself.)

    I'll be looking closely at some of the recommendations on this thread.
  • ctooch99
    ctooch99 Posts: 459 Member
    I have hit a couple plateaus. For me (good or bad) what seemed to get me over was going with a light calorie day, followed by a heavy exercise day - then back to my normal regimen.

    So for example - normal daily calories are about 1800 - 1900. Normal daily Exercise (cals burned) is about 700 - 800) - I do a light calorie day (by subbing with protein shake) get my intake down to about 1400 or 1500. The very next day a heavy workout session (like 2 hockey games in a row) burning say 1100 or 1200 calories.

    When I come back from my workout, I am super light - I then follow my normal eating regimen (1800 - 1900 calories) - my weight goes back up a bit, but slightly lighter than before my light calorie day and it seems to stay off after that.

    Might be all in my head, but that seems to break through my stick points
  • Jezebel9
    Jezebel9 Posts: 396 Member
    Everyone else knows more about this than I do (even if opinions vary) so I am just going to say this:
    Express your feelings of frustration, impatience etc fully in a full on rant if you like- to someone or something that can receive it.
    Take the tissues or broken things and put them in the trash.
    Take a deep breath
    make your resolve
    and continue kicking *kitten*.

    :flowerforyou: