I have been dieting since July. I joined the gym in September and go at least three times a week some times four. I got on the scale today and I've only lost 13 pounds in all that time. At one point I got down to losing 18 pounds, but somewhere in there I gained five pounds back again.
It's KILLING me. I just don't get it. I look at food and put on weight. I work so hard with little results. I can't really afford a personal trainer at the gym so I'm coming to you guys. I need to know what you've done to lose weight. Try a diet that worked really well? Know a lot about working out and have any pointers for me on what I should be doing? Only cardio for now? Weights too? I need all the help I can get. It's so frustrating to work so hard at something with such little results. To get to a point where I would be semi happy with myself before summer I need to lose 2.3 pounds a week. It won't be my final goal, but I figured setting short term goals would be good in the beginning. I know you're supposed to lose weight slow, but I don't think two pounds a week is too many to aim for.
So, give it too me! I need all the help I can get!
9 comments:
I feel your pain. I really do. Lately, I've hit a wall in my own weight loss. It's frustrating because I feel like my husband loses weight way faster than I do and we're doing the same damn thing!
So, I started watching my portions closer. This has been the biggest help so far!
I've been eating lots more veggies and I'm staying away from processed foods.
I've traded up diet pop for water with lemon wedges.
Cutting back on how much wine I drink in the evenings and getting in some sort of daily exercise.
And I don't eat after 7pm.
I'm trying to lose weight, too. I bought a treadmill so I do my best gerbil impersonation every day except when I have my period. I don't expect to lose a lot of weight at once because that's very unhealthy and besides - I'd gain it all back and then some. When it warms up more I plan to go with my husband for walks on the beaches. Walking in sand is very aerobic.
I think you might be putting on muscle weight since you're at the gym. Do your clothes fit better? That's a big sign. Maybe see your doctor to learn a bit more about losing weight. And don't skip breakfast! From what I learned that's the most important meal of the day and dieters often skip it. I always have my cereal and milk for breakfast. It's my favorite meal, especially when I make Sunday brunch for myself and my husband.
This is going to sound a little silly, but use smaller plates. Smaller plates make your food portions look bigger. That's a trick I learned from my own research and it works. You psych yourself into eating less.
Elizabeth--I agree about the small plate! I do that too!
Anne, that's a big frustration for me. My hubby lost this weight right away and now he's gaining all this muscle and... I have to say... looks damn hot ;) but that in turn makes me feel worse. It seemed like he didn't have to work half as hard as me and that gets discouraging.
Elizabeth, the smaller plate thing is a good idea. I've actually heard that before, but forgotten about it. I know it's best to lose weight slow, but this seems EXTRA slow. LOL. Might just be because its me though. Thanks for the advice. I'm going to pick up some grapefruit for breakfast.
Alisha, I need to do squats. That machine sounds pretty cool. I'm going to have to look into it.
Thanks for the help everyone. I really apprecaite it.
So far, I have found the best diet to be liposuction ... just kidding!! Couldn't afford the procedure even if I wanted it!!
Sadly, men lose weight more easily because of their body mass and how it is made up. They have more bone and muscle than women. Not fair, but we do love those muscles!!
I am a fan of Crystal Light products. Keeps me away from diet sodas if I want something other than water with lemon or lime. Plus added vitamins and some minerals.
Eat foods with high density (oats, grains, veggies, fruits, etc.) since they will keep you full longer while ramping up that metabolic rate.
Make sure you don't have any health issues which may be causing weight loss/gain problems!
Don't be too hard on yourself! The more you focus on this and make it a "THING", then the more likely you will be to not succeed.
Good luck and know we are all with you ... cheering along as we grind it out on those treadmills chomping our veggies!!
That is SO me. After--no, even before--birthing 4 children, I've always had to work at my fitness. Now, of course, with my youngest only 1, I have a long journey ahead (about 80 lbs to lose). Two things I've done that have made a difference:
1. No eating out--and I do mean NO eating out. For financial reasons, my husband and I started planning our menu and my grocery bill has dropped from an average of $250-$300 to $100-$150. And I walk out of WalMart with more food than before! It's crazy. But the additional benefit is that we've ALL lost weight. Me, my husband, and my 8 year old who tells me I'm the greatest cook in the world--and eats like it. :) I take leftovers to work the next day and it's a win-win situation.
2. Portion Control--Do whatever it takes to achieve this. Smaller plate; small bowl; whatever. But it's a method that works.
3. I know I said two, but my mom, who recently underwent two strokes, was told by the nutritionist/dietician at the hospital that she needs to have for each meal 1 PROTEIN, 1 FAST CARB and 1 SLOW CARB.
The fast carb gives you energy for the day and the slow carb keeps the fast carb from turning into sugar--which we all know turns into fat!
My mom has followed this rule of thumb and has lost 22 lbs in 6 weeks! And she's 60. So if a 60 year old can lose that much weight by doing this simple food pairing, I certainly can too.
Hope this helped!
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