In January 2013, at 265 pounds (female, 37), I had 100 pounds to lose. I decided to lose it the right way. I've always LOVED to exercise and have been going to the gym multiple times per week for years, even being 100 pounds overweight. I continued going to the gym but cut my calories down to around 1700 - 1900 or so per day.
At first I lost weight steadily, but as time went on, the weight loss slowed. Slower and slower, until it nearly stopped. I've heard of plateaus when you get close to your goal weight, but when you still have 75 pounds to lose??
I'm at 239.4 pounds now and it took me 6 months to get there, despite my best efforts. Weight loss has been nonexistent for over a month.
What am I doing wrong?!?
*I went to a doctor and had my thyroid/sugar levels checked.
*I went to a nutritionist, who told me to eat 25% fat, 25% protein, and 50% carbs through fruit/veggies/whole grain - CHECK.
*I cut my sugar down to 1 serving per week.
*I eat around 1650 - 1850 calories a day.
*I exercise a LOT - because I love it and it makes me feel good. I do 2 hours a day, 4 days a week, and 1 hour per day, once a week.* Exercise is not new to me so this is not a case of me 'gaining muscle but losing fat so the weight loss won't show at first'.
My BMR is 1825, so I wondered if eating too little was causing my body to go into starvation mode, especially with my exercise. For the past 5 days, I've upped my calories by 400, to 2100 calories...and gained a pound. Eating 2100 calories has been very uncomfortable for me. I don't feel hungry and feel satisfied in the range I was eating before (1650 - 1850), but if my BMR is 1825 and I exercise so much, that would definitely put me in 'starvation mode'. But can you be in starvation mode and not feel hungry? And why would I start gaining weight once I start eating the 'right amount' to lose weight?
I'm at my wit's end. I've tried everything I can think of and I just don't know the magic combination to lose weight. Can anyone give me some ideas? I've felt so discouraged. I'm not giving up - I'm in this for the long haul. But the thought of crawling through 75 pounds at 1 - 2 pounds lost per MONTH is almost unbearable! I don't want some fast gimmick...I want to lose weight at the doctor-recommended rate of 1 - 2 pounds per week. Please help!
*Exercise schedule, if it helps:
Classes are 1 hr long
Mondays - Yoga, Zumba
Tuesdays - Cardio/Strength Intervals, Strength training class
Wednesdays - Cardio/Strength Intervals
Thursdays - Boot Camp (cardio), Strength training class
Fridays - Boot Camp (cardio), Zumba