I've been trying to lose weight to at least get me back to my college weight before the Thanksgiving season (college weight was 180, current weight is 189). I've bounced between 187 and 189 for almost 5 weeks, after losing the first 6 pounds. I'm one of those people that just look at a donut and I gain weight. Don't even get me started on pizza.

I'm pretty active. I weight train in a gym with weights once a week, do tumbling once a week for about 1.5 hours, and do a martial arts style called Capoeira twice a week for about 2 hours each time. Capoeira, while excellent for adding strength, isn't always aerobic (though it can be!) so I usually try and get aerobic exercise for about 30 minutes twice a week. I've been a member of weight watchers for almost 6 years; I had great success back with the flex/core and "bank" systems, but can't seem to stay on plan.

I've started counting calories (not highly exact, the way I eat, but still, I figure it's worth something, right?). I'm trying to stay within the WW points (for me 24 points a day) and I try and drink a lot of water/fluid (I make Splenda Lemonade a lot!).

All this is just getting me really really frustrated. I don't want to lose fast, I know that's an unhealthy way to do it, but even seeing a sustained 1/2 pound per week loss seems to be out of my reach.

Any advice would be most appreciated.

Thanks,
PF

are you eating enough to fuel all those activities?

I think the "can't seem to stay on plan" part is probably the reason your weight loss has stalled....while you are very active - losing weight is around 80% diet. I know exercise makes me feel better and look better, but if my food isn't on track, I don't lose much, if at all. Actually so far I haven't increased my exercise all that much (taking care of a 2 year old and a 6 month old doesn't leave me with much time - plus childcare is pretty active anyways!) - but just staying within my calories has seen a steady drop on the scale. Good luck!

I would agree that the issue is quite likely that you are by your own admission not exact on counting calories and that you are "trying" to stay on plan. Whatever weight loss method you choose to use, you need to commit to it. "Do or do not: There is no try."

You might want to use a food log. It can be really eye opening. It could give you a lot of insight into what "trying" means for you.

I should clarify: I'm staying on the WW track - I eat 24 points a day, and rarely if ever use flex points, as I've found that that does keep me from losing.

How can I estimate calories for dishes that I didn't create or had to eat on the run? Is there a good, tried website, rather than just whatever I can look up on the internet?

I have heard that Livestrong.com has a program that you input all the ingredients and it helps you figure out how much per serving. I think doing WW and staying within your points range should be sufficient though. Have you had your thyroid checked or asked a dr. what could be happening? I really feel for you. Another idea is maybe you could mix it up a bit with your exercise....do something completely out of the ordinary for your body....how about HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training)? It's a tough workout, but the results are usually great (you can Google it). How about Kettlebells? What about adding in some Pilates? I also think you could do more cardio. I do 1 hour of very intense cardio a day, about 6 fdays a week. I weight train every day, but only for 15 minutes. I also take my dog out for walks and try to keep very active running up and down the stairs at home with housework, etc., I also have a weighted hula hoop that I use. I'm not saying that I'm doing more or better at all....I just want to help and I thought maybe I'd give you an idea of what I do. I usually lose about 10 lbs. per month. Oh, also, once in a while, I binge. What happens when I binge is that I gain a lot of weight (after just one binge) but then, IF I get right back on track, a week later, I'll have a woosh....I drop a few pounds after being stuck. I'm not saying that I'd at all suggest a binge. It's a miserable, out of control feeling and I hate it a lot. What I'm saying is you could try calorie cycling (look it up on Google too). If calories are not right for you, maybe change your points every day. Do 22 points, then do 27 points maybe once a week or something? I"m not really sure how WW works or what is feasible for you....don't let yourself get hungry doing it....but it's just an idea. I wish you luck. Please don't give up! You'll figure it out!!!

There are recipe calculators out there, so homecooked stuff isn't a problem. The other alternative is simply to not eat anything you can't count--proper planning means that there is no "on the run"--you figure it out in advance and have healthy choices. This often means lots of packing lunches and dinners. A kitchen scale also helps tremendously--for $20, you get vastly improved accuracy AND it's cleaner than measuring.

Do you track your calories on line? It's very useful because it allows you to see your macronutrient ratios. You might try messing with those--see how much protein/fat/carbs you are eating now and tweak them. Many people here (myself included) find that limiting carbs helps with weight loss. This doesn't have to mean "low carb" -- it's just that a lot of people are on a "low protein"" diet and don't realize it. Tracking macronutrients also taught me that I ate virtually no fiber--now I eat tons, and I think that helps.

I was going to say what Shmead said - if you *can't* count it, than you probably shouldn't be eating it - if - it's steady consistent weight loss you're after.

And you *had* to eat it because it's on the run - I'm not exactly sure what that means either.

In order to get steady, consistent weight loss, you'll have to be steady and consistent with your food plan. No ifs, ands, or buts. You can't have it both ways. You can't have/expect that loss and be so-so with your food plan.

Our bodies don't require all that much to run effectively and efficiently. Points back to when we were created. We were meant to move a lot (no indoor plumbing, refrigeration, convenience stores..) and not only survive, but thrive on very little food consumption - to protect us during times of famine. So, even taking in a little bit over, or not sticking to plan even one day a week, is more than enough to not create a calorie deficit, which is needed for weight loss.

For me, planning ahead was and IS very, very important. I plan out my foods in advance, taking them with me, leaving nothing to chance.

I'd take a couple of weeks and be very exact with my food counts. Very.

Eventually it will be much simpler. You'll find a few breakfasts that you like, a bunch of lunches and dinners and snacks. They will be interchangeable and the calorie counts will all have been done for you.

I also stick to mostly whole foods. This way if I am off a tad, it's not going to derail my efforts. If I eat a 1/2 cup extra of roasted string beans, it doesn't have the same repercussions as if I were to overeat a 1/2 cup of beef goulash.

With a little more awareness and a tweak here and there, I'm sure you'll see the results that you're working towards.

Another thing to think about is where your points are coming from. Many say that a calorie is a calorie is a calorie, but for *ME*, I have found that I lose better if my calories are balanced correctly for my body type. (carb addict! )

If you are anything like me, if 15-20 of your 24 points are coming from carbohydrates there is a possibility that you just don't lose very well. When I made sure that my protein and non-starchy vegetables, (and good fats) made up more of my calories than carbs (breads, potatoes, fruits, sugar) I lost much more quickly and consistently.

Just a though.

Personally I do not eat things I don't know the calorie counts for. I have a few thing I can get at fast food restaurants (a 6" sub with no cheese, or one of the salads from McDonald's with 1/4 of the dressing) and I know their calorie counts so it's easy to eat on the run if I need to. Otherwise, I always have a healthy snack on me so if for some reason I was really stuck, I'd have something to eat until I could get home.