i have struggled with diets over the years and got no or little results - and it was all eventually gained back cos the diets were just not sustainable for me.
now i'm doing 'fast-5' and that seems to be working so far - and is remarkably easy after the adjustment stage. if you are interested just google it and download the free e-book.

Thanks nougat, I will look it up. Im willing to look at anything at this point.

I just wanted to tell everyone thanks for the support and concern. Im amazed at how many people asked 4 more details to see wht i may be doing incorrectly, to see if they could help.

I was initially on WW and the boards there are terrible - i was called a Pamela Anderson wanna be, told not to be so whiny cause i looked fine to them and was probably anorexic (i just dont have as much to lose as some) and also told i l was probably "Rode hard and put away wet" because of the classes I taught - they assumed I was a stripper!

Ouch! Hang out with us. We're much nicer

I know - i can see that everyone is really great here! I love it. I left right after that all happened. I teared up when I read the thread and about 8 different people were attacking me based on what i looked like - but then I realized that these were mean hurtful people that i did not even know, who did not know me - so why did i care. (I am an emotional wreck since this weight gain)

Hey again, Blueyedblond,

Well... I've thought and thought... and the only thing I can see is that you may not be getting enough protein. Try to eat protein with every meal and snack. Perhaps a boiled egg with breakfast, a few almonds (say, 12) with your grapes, and so on. It may raise your calories a bit, but don't worry about that--you have some room to spare, given your sample meal. An egg and some almonds would only add around 150-160 cals to your day, and they are good cals.

Being depressed does tend to make the body sluggish--perhaps you'd like to drop in on the Dieting with Obstacles area of the forum--where I believe there's a Depression thread. You might find some ideas there.

Hang in there! Don't give up!

And I'm so sorry the folks on that "other site" were so rude. We don't tolerate that here. If anyone sends you a really disrespectful PM or posts a rude reply, contact a mod or an admin.

Jay

What about seeing a nutritionist? I thought I knew a lot, but I'm currently seeing a doctor/nutritionist who is fabulous and I lost 10 lbs the first month I went on her plan without being hungry at all. Anyway, a doctor may be able to order tests, etc and see what exactly is going on with your body.
Good luck and feel better - We are not a number on a scale, nor a number on a measuring tape!
Kim

First, I would like to say that you cannot convert fat into muscle. Fat and muscle is two different things. So one cannot convert into the other. You burn fat and build muscle, simple. Anyway a lot of the advice was good however, I wanted to comment about the people who were attacking you based on the way you look on the other thread. You look fine to pretty much everyone here. Does that answer to you why they maybe attacking you. Sometimes when you look a certain way and someone else DOES NOT, of course they are going to attack you. Especially if they do not see anything wrong with you and you see something wrong with yourself. Trust, I go through this a lot too. In person though. Immaturity is everywhere. But I never heard of such an attitude problem on a weightloss site.

I have problems with my thighs too . I have been working out and eating properly too and have not gotten results. I feel the same way you feel.

Good Luck with everything

Hey all!

Sepia, I understand that i cant turn muscle to fat and vise versa, i didn't mean it ti sound that way when I said i wasn't trading fat for muscle, hmmmm, i think to word it better would simply be than I know Im not building muscle at the moment ( i do know that to do so - burns more fat though)
As for the people at the "other site" Im over that! I dont really care, the truth is that they attacked almost every new person that came along (newb as the called them)

Jayell - you know, after I posted and I took a look at my menu, and went back to take a look at my Fitday percentages I thought the same thing about the protein - that maybe Im a little short on that. Im not so sure it would play into a complete lack of weightloss??? As for being depressed, I do suffer from depression, i have been diagnosed with it years ago, and I know that I feel worse becuase of my weight, i also suffer from insomnia (part of the depression) I will go check that forum out, thank you.

Ottoette - I would love to get with a nutritionist, however, at the moment I am unemployed, and dont have any $$ to spare. I don't even have med insurance, or I would definatly see the doc to have my thyroid checked, or try a more medical approach to my weight loss at this point.

Are you taking any new medications? Such as, birth control, or anti-depressant? These can make you gain weight.. or make it hard to lose it.. I hope all works out..

aymee - nope no meds I would have looked to that first definetly, but the only meds I take is an occasional one for migraines, but not even on a regular basis.

There is just no easy answer for my issue I think

However, i just read an article today that says, get this : Insomnia can CAUSE WEIGHT GAIN! OMG!!! Im sooo afraid of sleeping pills too. I dont get it though, should it still not be simple calories in vs. calories out??? How is my sleep going to completely cancell this out?

Oh my gosh - but everyone is sooooo great for trying to think of what it may me. I think after posting this and seeing that my thoughts are the same as others and realize that none of these things really should be a problem, I may just have to come to terms that it may not be possible for me to lose weight until I see a doctor and get some things under control.

Hey Blueyed, it sounds like you've gotten a lot of ideas, so try the ones that sound possible to you. I do think that you probably are your own worst critic. So, try to "lighten up" and enjoy yourself! We really are more than our numbers.

Hang in there!
Jay

Is there anyway that you can have your thyroid levels checked? It really sounds like you are doing everything right (tho I'd add more protein, too, as Jayell suggested) and you've been at this for a while.

Depression, lethargy, and insomnia are all symptoms of a thyroid problem.

The other subjective question is how intense are your workouts? If you've worked with a trainer and taught various aerobics classes, I'm assuming you are pushing yourself. 2/12 hours is a bit much, tho. If you are used to 2 1/2 hours of walking each day, your body isn't going to perceive it as exercise. But from what you've said, it doesn't sound like you're taking a stroll for your exercise.

to you...you have lot of patience to keep on program with no results.

Mel

Hey Mel - My bf's mother see's everything I do and is baffled too - she has a thyroid issue and suspects i have the same problem as her - i have no medical insurance, so i would love to have that checked but at the moment it is impossible till i get a job and get insurance As for my excercise regimine - 1 hour is intense aerobics, then the rest can be anything from fast paced walking, to tennis (i love that and do that because i love it - it is a great workout though) weight training - it just depends.

Jaell - i know i am my own worst critic - it is just soooo hard when i dont have any clothes to wear and to try and shop brings me to tears - but i will try Thanks for the support.

I'm thinking you might want to try to shock your system into a loss by changing your calories. Maybe either increase them a little or drop them every once in awhile, just enough so it registers a change. Because you gained and lost this before, your body may be used to the cycle and is bucking it this time.