Stuck...

[Schoska]

:help:
I put some weight on over the summer, and I cannot shift it. If anything, since trying to, I've put some on.

I have cut my alcohol intake by half, I've reduced sugar, fat, and simple carbs etc....
I'm also excercising more.

However, it is not working.
I spoke to my doctor and he said I should cut my calories down to around 1000.. but I've at around 1200-1400 a day (normally) and I still get very hungry..

ARGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
I don't want to die at 25 from a heart attack.

[lijahbaby]

First of all, you should never go below 1200 calories. I am suprised that a doctor would recomend that, although doctors usually have no nutrition training. It sounds like you are making better choices in your diet. It is very possible that you are not eating enough, especialy scince you are exercising. If you are not eating enough, your body will slow your metabolism because it thinks it's starving. I don't know if you are vegan or not but you should read Becoming Vegan. There is a really good chapter on weight loss that might help you. Good luck!

[CaptainSwab]

I agree with lijahbaby about the fact that maybe you aren't eating quite enough. Its a weird thing. I was at the same weight for a long time and then increased my calorie intake and actually lost a few pounds. I'm surprised your doctor told you to drop down to 1000 cals/day.

[NDvegan85]

1000 calories is not enough for anyone, whether trying to lose weight or not. Being hungry all the time sucks. I agree that you're not eating enough now, and your body is going to hang onto every calorie because it thinks that there is a famine or something. Are you doing any type of weight training? You can build up some muscle to increase your metabolism, because muscle tissue uses calories up even while you are not doing anything. Also remember that body weight is not always an accurate indicator of health. If you are eating right and exercising, I highly doubt that you are going to die of a heart attack.

[Schoska]

Thanks guys..
The thing is, my blood pressure is fine, and I am basically healthy. The problem is that I am SO heavy. I'm not really a *huge* clothes size - I hover between a uk 14-16 which isn't horrific. But my weight I find really scary :(

[zoebird]

the number that your weigh has little to do with health. My husband weighs more than a man of his size and bone structure, but he's all muscle. he's in excellent shape. Another friend of ours weighs less than my husband, is taller, and is in horrible shape. So, the most important thing is not what you way but how healthy you are.

[lvandok]

I've always heard that your basal metabolism is about 1200-1600 calorise aday. That is the amout of energy you need to take care of digestion, breathing and other constant bodily functions. Everything else you do each day is added to that for how much you need in a day.

That said it seems to me highly unlikely you are eating only 1200-1400 calories a day. Try carefully measuring and recording each thing you eat and drink each day and you might be surprised by how big your portion sizes really are or how much snacks you have and then forget to add to your daily calories count. A 400 calorie meal is small, if all your eating is three 400 calorie meals a day then you are eating a tiny amount of food.

examples of three 400 calories meals:

3/4 cup juice(or a piece of fruit)
1 cup oatmeal
2 Tbsp peanut butter

1 1/2 cup rice
1/2 beans
steamed or raw veggies without butter

1 cup split pea soup
1 WW bread roll
1 tsp margarine
Green salad with 1TBSP oil and vingar dressing

As you can see it doesn't take much to make 1200 calories. Instead of going to a 1000 calorie diet why don't you try a 1500 calorie carefully measured diet. Throw in a one hour brisk walk each day(200-300 extra calories burned off) and the weight is bound to come off.

[Virtue23]

Have you tried Weight Watchers? I heard a lot of ppl lost tons of weight on this program.

[Jinga]

Stupid question here ...

Are you exercising? A combo of strength training (to build muscle) and cardio (to burn fat) will help up your metabolism and burn calories. Exercise is an essential factor in achieving and maintaining health.

[Katt Fink]

I really don't have any advice to offer because I am in your same position. A while back, I started taking Satan's Evil Happy Pills of Death, aka Risperdal, which not only made me feel like a crappy zombie 24/7, but also made me gain 60lbs in 4 months (!!!!!)

Needless to say I ditched them without a second look back because they were causing me more problems than they were solving... Nevertheless, for the past 2 years I've been "dieting" and exercising my butt off (not literally, unfortunately) and here I am, still up 60 lbs. I joined a gym and went faithfully 4 times a week for 4 months and did not lose ONE ounce and my body fat percentage and lean muscle mass percentage stayed exactly the same, even though I followed the trainer's customized program to the letter. Been to the doctor a million times for every sugar/blood/thyroid/etc.. test you could possibly think of, all resulting normally.

So.. all I have to offer you is sympathy. Let me know if things work out for you so maybe you could give me some tips ;)

[Schoska]

Believe me, I AM counting my calories and I haven't been over 1400 calories for months.
I almost don't care anymore. I seem to stay the same whether I am starving, or not.

[bethanie]

Don't worry,
Be happy
Don't worry be happy now,
na na na nanana na na na na na na na
na na na na na na na
na na na na na...

this has become my philosophy towards my body, after eating well, treating it right and exercising moderately. I am still voluptuous...it is simply how I am built. Dont wish for what you don't have...learn to love what you DO have, and treat it nicely and with great respect, as you would your best friend.

B

[Schoska]

I don't *really* mind being the shape I am.. I am just having the thought drummed into me that I'm morbidly obese and I'm going to drop dead

[rainbowmoon]

Your body is NOT the enemy, to be starved, punished with excessive exercise and strict caloric intake and large doses of self loathing. :no: If you want it to do anything good for you, you have to treat it nice.
You're basically a size 12-14 in the U.S.- I was a size 12-14 when I was 17% body fat, and weighed 135 lbs. I was in brilliant shape, and yet I was so worried about weighing 115 and wearing a size 6 that I abused myself for a long time. Its a waste of your time- eat well, eat when you are hungry, exercise, and enjoy your life. There is more to life than being a size or weight.
Lovenlight, :kiss:
Linz

[Elena99]

Have you tried Weight Watchers? I lost about 8 pounds on it, it's not a bad system. I also found that sometimes I can get into a trap of eating too much after exercising, so if I feel like I want to eat everything (vegan) in the kitchen, I have a salad and water first and then see how I feel after that.

If you don't mind my asking, how tall are you? If 1200/1400 cal is really enough for you, you are probably around 5'0" (150cm), right? I'm 4'11", and I'm supposed to eat 1600 cal according to my activity level and such (I exercise often).

[Schoska]

I'm about..155-156 cm.
I'm just getting frustrated because I've quit the ciggs, I've cut my alcohol intake down from worrying levels to less than the allowed units. I'm drinking water like there is no tomorrow, and with the exception of this week (stuck in bed with flu) I get at least 30 mins excercise a day. I've started getting of the bus/train early and walking the extra stops, blaa..blaaa..

It is wierd..because when I was on my year abroad I was a total slob and lost 10kgs. so..yes I am confused.

I have thought about weight watchers, but I can't affor it - or anything else like it.

[Elena99]

There's actually a program online somewhere for weight watchers, it's free, you just download it. It's a trial version, I had it, it's UK. I'll see if I can find it, but it was about a year ago that I downloaded it, and I don't have it anymore. There's also http://www.fitday.com, which is free and tracks your calories. It's also useful because it tracks your nutrients, so you can know if you're getting enough vitamins and minerals, if you're getting too much sodium, etc.

How long have you been actively trying to lose weight? You need to keep at it, losing weight is a lifestyle change. It might take a month or more to really get your body to start losing. Some people even have to up their calories a little before they will lose weight.

Congratulations on quitting cigarettes, by the way.