Question:
I am near Goal but going CRAZY! Why???

OK, here is the deal. This is going to be kind of long so thank you to those who read. I am 10 months post op and at 163 Lbs. Down from an original weight of 334. But I havn't lost any weight in the scale for over a month. The reason this is so frustrating is because I work out more than anyohne I know! Especially the last few weeks. I have been joggin daily, doing weights and martial arts a few hours everyday. With all this excersise it seems like the scale should be moving!!! Am I eating to much. Here is a day of food- I eat about 5 small meals a day. Here are my meals. Small piece of low carb bread with cream cheese and a fried egg/ small bowl of salad with nuts and cheese ontop with light done right dressing/ 2 string cheeses and a handfull of almonds/ protein bar/ piece of chicken breast and baby carrots. Ok...so there is a sample menu. If I get sweet cravings which is like everyday. I have S/F hot coco.....or a S/f fudgesicle.....and sometimes...a few times a week I have a s/f low carb milkshake from the Low Carb Habbit Store. There ya go. Yesterday I was so frustrated I added some wheat thins and peanut butter to a couple of those meals. I didn't feel completly full till I ate them. What I am getting at is this. I am going nuts!! Weight loss slowing down at the same time I am able to eat more makes my mind go crazy. I don;t know whats causing the slow down in weight loss....me or is it going to happen anyway. Is my body just done loosing? Am I eating to much? I was so frustrated yesterday I didn;t work out at that is totally not like me! Help? I am getting about 1500 calories a day sometimes less. Exsept for yesterday when I added some foods I got even like 1800....but that isn't a normal day. Is it OK to eat more when you are HIGHLY aactive?? Ok....done ranting.....hope you guys don't think I am weird, just confused!    — Kicker (posted on July 16, 2003)

July 16, 2003
I am down 9 months and have lost a total of 114 pounds and I still have 60 or so more to lose so you are much closer to goal than me. During months 7-8, I only lost 3 pounds and I was very discouraged and last month the loss was very slow too. My point is that you have lost a tremendous amount of weight in a short amount of time and your body is adjusting. Remember that you are in this for life and whether you lose the rest of your excess weight over the balance of your 18 month window or sooner, the object is to just get it off and learn proper lifelong habits. I think you're eating fine and certainly exercising fine. I did notice that some SF products sometimes are high carbs so I stay away from them, but as long as your water intake is good, I don't see how you are doing anything wrong. Your body just needs a break.
   — Yolanda J.

July 16, 2003
I just wonder what your calorie in/calorie out balance is? It doesn't sound like you are eating all THAT much and working out intensely for "a few hours every day" has to be burning a bunch of calories! You may actually be putting your body into starvation mode. You might try either eating more or exercising less to jump start your losing. I know it sounds contrary to logic, but if you put too much strain on your body's resources it will rebel and hold onto every ounce it can. Good luck!
   — ctyst

July 16, 2003
I didn't see your protein supplement in there? I'm assuming you're doing at least 2 (60g). And then with those kind of workouts, at least another 90g (30g before, 30g after, 30g before bed). If you're cutting your body short on the protein, you will get carb cravings. You may be burning muscle you think you are saving by exercising. The trainer at your gym can help you, as long as you are able to monitor out the high carb recovery drinks they might recommend. Plan for that carb need by taking the good crackers & meat/cheese with you, OR a grain bread meat/cheese sandwich. Just don't work out, do no protein and " all roads lead to the 7-11 for Twinkies" route, ok?
   — vitalady

July 16, 2003
When I got closer to goal, I expected my weight loss to slow down, so I started increasing my calories but also increased the exercise. The exercise made me more hungry, and I was guilty and concerned about the extra calories (thought I'd gain). In fact, by increasing my calories, I started losing more. Scratched my head, and cut back on exercise (though every cell I had was screaming not to do that). Instead of 4-5 workouts per week, I did 3, maybe 4, but made those workouts more vigorous, thinking, that'll slow the weight loss a bit. Still, I kept losing. This made me scratch my head again (at this point, my hair loss had stopped, so it was safe ;P), and to wonder why I had beaten myself up so hard on fewer calories (and more frequent exercise) when I could lose just as well with more calories and less frequent (but more vigorous) workout sessions. I'd recommend mixing it up a bit with your food and exercise (and by that, I do NOT mean, "more exercise and less food"); you may find it helps jump-start your weight loss again, against all expectations. I also recommend using protein shakes too, to get your daily protein grams a bit further ahead of your carbs (better to increase your protein than cut back those carbs, at your stage). Just my 2c.
   — Suzy C.

July 17, 2003
with all your exercise, you may be putting on muscle. Muscle weighs more than fat. Don't be discouraged, just keep working out and remember how much you are helping your self!
   — Bob M.