[3boysathome]

Hi ladies Im not new to 3FC, but new to posting and new to this thread. Ive got to tell you, I would never consider myself a featherweight, LOL!!! At 137 pounds, I STILL see myself as the 203 pounds I was after my last child was born. Throughout my adult life I was in the 180-190 zone and have never been this small before but am still struggling every day. Ive made peace with healthy lifestyle and exercise and it being MANDATORY and my former tastes and preferences arent even appealing anymore. This said, I still struggle with body image and maintaining my weight. I question whether or not I am being successful every day and still, although I have been this size for a year now, feel like any slight gain is a reason to reconsider and reevaluate my lifestyle plan. Now to why I am here...SusanB over at Calorie Counters told me to come over here to test your brilliance, to help me with the following "new" problem!

Heres a cut and paste from what I wrote earlier:
<<<I am a veteran dieter, so with that said...yes, I weigh and measure all of my food, I use fitday to track my food each day and I range between 1200-1350 cals per day, 1400 is what I consider a really HUGE day once in a blue moon.

I eat oatmeal, brown rice, fruits,veggies, vegetarian soups, beans, egg whites, yogurt, soy milk and chicken maybe once a month when I see my calories are really low and I need something clean to boost my calories up. I dont eat processed food with the exception of brown rice cakes and maybe a teaspoon of dark chocolate mini chips if I am craving a sweet. I dont eat breads, pasta or red meats or meat at all except that chicken once a month or so.

When I plan out my day on fitday, I list everything out and sometimes am still below 1200 calories, which I know is a no-no, so I add more clean choices. I am rarely hungry and need to MAKE myself eat sometimes. Now,the scale is not only stuck, it has risen about 2-4 pounds over the last few weeks (depending on when I weigh). Heres what has changed..I was running 2-3 times per week (5 miles) which I havent done in 6 weeks (knee injury) and Im probably not drinking enough water.

My daily breakdown is usually 60% carbs, 30% protein, 10% fat and my fiber intake is usually between 40-50 grams...Im wondering if I am just bloating from too much fiber? Is this possible with this much fiber? I really dont see HOW the scale can NOT move, eating salads, soup, beans and a cup of steel cut oatmeal...its just not mathematically possible...so is it the large fiber intake?

Im ok to maintain a few pounds below what I am now, I just feel my clothes differently and I dont know if its just cos I havent been able to run...I just dont want the scale going in the wrong direction. Ive been as high as 203 after my last child (was 245 during) and am happy to have been in te 130's for a year now..just wishing I could stabilize a little lower and dont like how my clothes feel right now. Help me!!>>>

So, the general consensus from those ladies was that I need to up my calories..what do you all think? If yes, how much? I plan to get back into running slowly, maybe in the next two weeks...I am very active with three kids and a home business that keeps me up till about midnight every night, Im pretty non-stop (arent we all, LOL!)...HELP ME!!!

[Whittlin]

Hi, 3boysathome.

I believe you know more about diet than I do! So I won't advise you there, and will assume some more knowledgeable posters will chime in.

I'm just wondering - why does exercise have to be running only? I would think this moment gives you the perfect opportunity to investigate some different exercise. For instance, I love the convenience of workout videos, and there are some that are seated workouts or upper body workouts. Floor workouts would let you use your knee without any jarring impact. Also swimming comes to mind if you have the facilities nearby.

You mention that you struggle with body image. Varying your workout can help give your muscles some new challenges, and perhaps show you some tightening and toning. All the while, you'd be getting your sweating in , so the weight doesn't hang around.

As far as water - yes, yes, learn, find all the tips you can, and make that habit happen. I find it is one of the best things I do for myself, and gives weight-loss a boost. It was part of the chat in last week's Featherweights thread - there might be some tips there that could help.

Best wishes!

[sweet_talker]

I read your post in the calorie counters thread and didn't have much to add there but I agree with Susan (from the other thread) about adding more protein (like chicken) to your diet. And upping your fat content.

Your regular everday diet sounds so healthy I am jealous! I can't see how you could be gaining calories except for maybe 2 or 3 explanations:

1. you're underestimating your calories. How are you cooking your foods? Perhaps you're adding 9023 tbsps of butter to that healthy brown rice or plateful of veggies? Maybe not 9023 tbsps, but you get what I'm saying.

2. Your body is too used to what you're eating because you eat the same things everyday for the same amount of calories -- not to say you do this, or that this will necessarily equate to added weight -- but it might be good to change it up.

3. You have a thyroid problem or another medical issue resulting in weight gain (I don't know how someone eating 1250 could possibly gain weight), maybe see a doctor?

4. You are on a perscription drug that makes you gain weight.

5. You are gaining water weight because it is your TOM and you take it to be actual weight.

6. You've increased your sodium intake lately and are retaining more water.

7. You are gaining muscle mass and therefore adding extra pounds (a good thing! You still look slimmer and toned.)

8. You could be essentially starving your body so that it slows your metabolism down to such a state to conserve calories and fat in your body. I don't really think this is it, I'm just throwing it out there.

That is a lot more than 2 or 3 but apparently my mind went into overdrive? Regardless, I would recommend increasing your daily calorie intake to an average of 1500 calories a day if you are exercising and perhaps cycle the calories throughout the week. 1300 one day, 1700 the next, 1500 the next two etc. I would also talk to a doctor if you are actually gaining weight with your current diet and exercise.

Hope that helps

[3fcuser1058250]

See my response in the other thread

[3boysathome]

Originally Posted by sweet_talker

I read your post in the calorie counters thread and didn't have much to add there but I agree with Susan (from the other thread) about adding more protein (like chicken) to your diet. And upping your fat content.

Your regular everday diet sounds so healthy I am jealous! I can't see how you could be gaining calories except for maybe 2 or 3 explanations:

1. you're underestimating your calories. How are you cooking your foods? Perhaps you're adding 9023 tbsps of butter to that healthy brown rice or plateful of veggies? Maybe not 9023 tbsps, but you get what I'm saying.

For real, I dont use butter/margarine/oil. I take my rice plain with herbs, salsa or as a "fried rice" with a tsp soy sauce

2. Your body is too used to what you're eating because you eat the same things everyday for the same amount of calories -- not to say you do this, or that this will necessarily equate to added weight -- but it might be good to change it up.

Could very well be...I SO, do this!

3. You have a thyroid problem or another medical issue resulting in weight gain (I don't know how someone eating 1250 could possibly gain weight), maybe see a doctor?

4. You are on a perscription drug that makes you gain weight.

Nope

5. You are gaining water weight because it is your TOM and you take it to be actual weight.

Maybe...

6. You've increased your sodium intake lately and are retaining more water.

Very low sodium diet here

7. You are gaining muscle mass and therefore adding extra pounds (a good thing! You still look slimmer and toned.)

Not now

8. You could be essentially starving your body so that it slows your metabolism down to such a state to conserve calories and fat in your body. I don't really think this is it, I'm just throwing it out there.

Afraid this might be true, so I was thinking upping the calories might be the key, at least by a tiny bit. I just have this sick mindset that if I eat over 1400 calories, I have pigged out...I need to work on that!

That is a lot more than 2 or 3 but apparently my mind went into overdrive? Regardless, I would recommend increasing your daily calorie intake to an average of 1500 calories a day if you are exercising and perhaps cycle the calories throughout the week. 1300 one day, 1700 the next, 1500 the next two etc. I would also talk to a doctor if you are actually gaining weight with your current diet and exercise.

Hope that helps

THANKS !!!!!

[sweet_talker]

Yeah no problem, hope you figure it out! I'm sure you will