[Sprinkles]

Hi, I just joined and I need bunches of help. I just turned 34 and I'll be graduating college in 3 weeks (go me!). That is where my trouble started. I gained about 70lbs while in school. I worked all day at a desk then sat all evening in lectures, never had time or energy to exercise. I started on WW about a year ago and lost 30lbs but then that stalled, I tried the low carb and that did nothing for me, I tried low calorie and that has done nothing for me. I have started exercising 3 to 4 days a week on an eliptical for 45mins a day. Still I'm stuck at 160lbs. I really need help to break through the plateau. I saw an advertisement for "Weightloss 4 idiots" and considered trying it but I wanted to see if anyone else had tried it.
My hubby is dieting as well, he did great on low carb went from 240 to 175 in a year!! He is very supportive and will help me in anything I try.
Please if anyone has any advice I would love to hear from you.

Thanks and I look forward to meeting you all!!
Stacy
10/6 163lbs
goal 125lbs

[almostheaven]

Stacy, personally, I think cutting calories AND daily exercise is the way to go. How much did you cut calories down to before, and for how long? And were you exercising as well?

[Sprinkles]

I tried the calorie cut for about a month between 1200 and 1600 a day...it was miserable! I worked out 30minutes a day Mon, Tues, Fri, Sat (Days not in school ). Plus I did silly things like hold my legs out at my desk during the day for as long as I could, I would walk down the steps from my office (once in the stairway the door would lock and you had to go to the ground level to get out) twice a day, park far from the door, take the long way around the office to the bathroom, etc. I mean no weight loss!! I would go down to maybe 159 and the next week I'd be 162 again. It is crazy. I try to make a 500calorie a day deficit every day which should = out to 1 lb lost per week but nothing! My hubby says I have metabolic resistance to weight loss and that I just have to keep trying different things until I find what works.

Any ideas? I've had thyroid tests and that is fine, I'm hypoglycemic so I don't eat sugar. I don't eat junk food. I eat lots of chicken (grilled), salad, small dinners usually just one item, no pasta or rice...lots of broccoli.

[almostheaven]

Well when I stay around 1600 calories per day and exercise around 45 minutes to an hour...I simply maintain. I actually have to cut my calories down to about 1200 and do "at least" one hour of exercise, if not more, per day in order to lose...at this point anyway. When I first started, it came off easier, but it's much harder at this point.

You may have to drop your calories just a bit more and pick up the exercise more. IE: Today, I've had 1100 calories and ran 2 miles in 19 minutes, walked 2 miles in 30 minutes, and did 45 minutes of situps, stretches, leglifts, weights, etc. After about 3 days of that, I usually drop a pound. It's tougher for some than others as everyone's bodies are different.

The chicken and broccoli sound find, but vary your diet. Try fish, turkey and eggs. Increase the protein and fiber which should make you feel fuller. Though it kinda sounds like my dinner tonight...turkey and broccoli. LOL But I had a couple of eggs and whole wheat muffin and milk this morning, and a Chinese chicken stir fry for lunch. Plus an Atkins lowfat/sugar yogurt and a couple pieces of fruit today...and still kept it at 1100 calories. It's as much what you eat as how much too.

[WannaGetInShape]

lifting heavier weights? this will help build more muscle & then you can burn fat more efficiently. I also like to mix it uo a bit...switch between elliptical, treadmill, stairmaster, etc. so my body doesn't get complacent. I've stopped looking at the scale ONLY. I measure myself once a weeks and that tells me if it's working or not! Another trick that I have used to drop 5-10 pounds is to cut out all extra sugar and salt (stop putting it in coffee and on cereal, or sprinkling it on food). You'd be amazed!