Needing encouragement and support

:flowerforyou: Welcome

I just wanted to say welcome.
Take it one day at a time.
It takes time to change,and learn to eat the right foods and make wise choices.
Make sure you are logging your food intake.
We are here for you.
cc:flowerforyou:

OK, this doesn't make any sense. I've been having such a hard time losing anything. I work out, eat right, always under my daily allowance, and don't lose. Yesterday, I had a normal breakfast and lunch, but ended up doing a fast food burger and fries last night because of time constraints, and even added a brownie later at night. And, this morning, the scale says I've lost a pound since this weekend! Hey, if THAT'S the secret ... eating fast food and brownies ... I can handle THAT! But, that just doesn't make any sense whatsoever.


Hey, how do I get my little picture thingie to show up on every reply I do? I went into my tools and made a weight loss ticker. Now, how do I get it to show up automatically?

I am wondering if you are not eating enough? Being under your daily allowance is not always a good thing, especially if you are significantly under on an ongoing basis. Do you eat any of your exercise calories? Your metabolism may be very low due to your body being underfed and trying to conserve each and every calorie.

Sometimes I do find having high calorie meal tends to kick start my weight loss again, but that can't be used as an excuse to eat unhealthy often.

Also, you said in your original post that you don't have much fat in your diet? Do you eat any healthy fat? People tend to equate fat their food with fat on the body which really isn't always the case. You need the healthy fats in your diet. I try to have olive oil every day and I often take omega 369 supplements.

Ok you basically answered my question. I think your body is in starvation mode and that is why you are struggling to lose weight. The fact that "your body is use to it" is the whole problem. It is use to being underfueled and thus works very hard to make the most of what it is getting. Yes, once you increase your calories it is very likely you will initially gain weight but once your body trusts that you aren't going to continue to starve it, your metabolism will increase and you will be able to lose weight again. I know this goes against intuition but it is true and besides being able to lose weight you will feel better too. I strongly recommend you slowely start increasing your calories until you are at least up to a net 1200 calories a day (that means eating your exercise calories). Don't discouraged by an initial weight gain. Try this for a few months and I am willing to bet you will see a drastic improvement. If you feel your appeitie is to low to eat 1,200 calories a day try eating healthy higher calorie food like nuts to make up the difference. And you do not need diet pills or appetitie suppressents. These things are garbage and unnecessary.

Also, I would be concerned about your lack of bowel movements. You really should talk to your doctor about that.

You say you really need to lose the weight as if it needs to be done "right away." But this is a lifelong journey, not a race and living a healthy lifestyle that you can maintain is much more important than reaching a goal weight. I'm not saying it isn't possible to have both, it certainly is, as long as your goal weight is realistic and you take a healthy approach to reaching it.

Good luck :flowerforyou:

SusyC I wanted to post my response to you so here goes

Drink 64 oz of water daily. I suggest you eat 1,250 calories at the beginning, take your vitamins/supplements, talk to your doctor before exercising/dieting, use extra virgin olive oil, eat wheat products: bread, spaghetti, cereal, etc., eat fruits and veggies, snack on "any" type of nut (walnuts, almonds, and sunflower seeds are best), drink skim/soy milk, eat yogurt, eat fish/chicken/turkey/lean meats, have salads WITHOUT dressing (use extra virgin olive oil), stay away from POPS/SODAS (drink diet sodas/pops once a day if not, once a week), don't eat "fried foods" (French fries, potato chips, etc), eat Baked Lays, air popped popcorn, go to www.pilsbury.com and buy a pizza stone ($29.99) you can create your own delicious homemade pizzas with Boboli wheat pizza crust (already made); veggies to your heart's content, one can of refried beans (protein), one can of whole kernel corn (drained), and lite mozzarella cheese...yum! You can eat the Oreda crinkle cut fries that you bake in the oven, stay away from the salt shaker, stay AWAY from processed foods, foods made with hydrogenated oils (cookies, cakes, pies, etc). For dessert you can eat a skinny cow chocolate w/peanut butter ice cream sandwich....yummy!

Stop eating 2-3 hours BEFORE you go to sleep. I learned from Oprah's Boot Camp you have to STOP eating 2-3 hours BEFORE you go to sleep because your metabolism shuts down (as everything does when you're in a REM (Rapid Eye Movement).

Go to www.prevention.com. They have yummy recipes and are another source of website for motivation. Did you know that if you pay for your subscription to Prevention they give you a free pedometer? One should walk/step 10,000 steps daily. Check them out! They have a free website w/the magazine there in front of you in case you can't subscribe just yet.

Don't drink COFFEE. Drink Chai black/green tea instead. Chew gum all day. It keeps your mouth "busy". I've also heard/learned that before you eat a meal eat your soup first since it helps fill you up before the main course.

Weigh yourself "monthly". Why? Because we women have PMS, we cramp, we retain water, and we have mood swings, etc., two weeks BEFORE we menstruate. I swear you WILL lose 3-4 pounds every month. If you do the "math" that's THE average of 1 pound a week. This helps you from NOT getting discouraged IF, if, you weigh yourself daily/weekly as allot of women in this site tend to do (weigh themselves daily/weekly and then get discouraged and give up on dieting/exercising). I have also exercised before/during/and after I menstruate. "They" say working out during this time helps w/cramps, burns more fat, and shouldn't deter you from working out.

Thirty minutes before you work out eat one of the following: one apple, OR one small box of raisins with a handful of walnuts, OR soup, OR yogurt. Why? "They are packed with high-quality carbohydrates, which provide a quick source of fuel for your muscles, but they have just enough protein and fat to help you maintain a steady, elevated energy level" (source: Prevention Magazine April 2007).

AFTER your work out, drink a protein shake (Slim fast, Special K, EAS Myoplex, etc). Why? "After a workout, your muscles need protein to repair microscopic muscle tears, plus another shot of carbs to help restock energy stores. Cyclists who drank it after a tough racing session had improved endurance and recovered fast than those who drank an ordinary sports drink (which supplies carbs and electrolytes, but no protein)" (Source: Prevention Magazine April 2007).

Stay away from alcoholic drinks (includes wine).

Set small goals for right now. Start with the FIRST 10 pounds. Later, the weight will be HARDER to lose. Remember, it's soooo easy to gain the weight, but hard to lose it. "No pain, no gain!" No worries if the weight is harder to lose since it means that it is time to "up" your exercise regimen (1 hour 3-4 days a week). When you've lost the weight, then you can go "up" to 1,500 calories (maybe for the last stubborn 10 pounds). If you closely watch "THE BIGGEST LOSER" they have to lose more than 50 pounds; their calorie intake is 1,000-1,100. Wow! Bless their for doing that!!! If you've watched the Diet Detective, he gets rid of all the "fat" foods in your fridge and pantry (cakes, cookies, pies, etc). He fills those places with veggies, fruits, wheat products, dairy products, low fat cheeses, olive oil, etc. I LOVED that show, but you can still check out his website: www.dietdetective.com/lose-weight.aspx

If you want more "tips" let me know as you know how to reach me. Blessings and good luck!

I began my weight loss journey a week and a half ago and have lost 4.4 lbs and 2.2 % body fat and could not be happier. What I have found very helpful is logging my food and changing my exercise routine. I am committed to my boot camp three times a week but in addition to that I take spinning, kickboxing and body works classes at my local gym. I have also found that knowing my boot camp instructor will review my food log at the end of the week helps me stay on track. There's something to be said about being held accountable.

Good luck to all who are taking the weight loss journey.


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I think everyones body is different and you'e got to find what feels healthy to you. I don't do well on carbs at all. But your brain does need them. So I stick to high fiber whole grain, and some brown rice. That's it. kc