I am just so frustrated and upset with myself! I managed to lose about 90 pounds and kept it off fairly steadily for a couple of years w/light exercise and around 1800-2000 cals/day. Very doable. A few months ago, since my job changed a bit and I planned a move of residence and moved, etc., I have put on about 15 pounds. I know how it happened, I just don't know how it happened so FAST! I know I was eating too much (not like big time bingeing too much, but too much to maintain my weight.) and not exercising much at all. I've reigned in the overeating for a couple of weeks now and have been exercising a bit more (still not enough, but more than before) (cals prob between 1600-1800/day) and I was expecting to see a slow rate of loss, maybe 1/2 pound a week or so. But I seem to be gaining! I honestly don't understand it! I'm eating the same types of food I was eating to maintain my weight at around 143 and now my weight is barreling towards 160 and I'm very upset with myself. Should I try to change my routine foods? Has that worked for anyone? I eat a lot of oat bran, yogurt, fruit, vegetables, turkey, egg beaters, tuna, nut butter in moderation, and a frozen meal a few times a week.
I absolutely hate how unpredictable and what a PITA losing weight can be sometimes! Ugh, why the weight doesn't just come off when you're doing it right -- I have no idea. Your food looks pretty good to me (hey, watch how much canned tuna you consume; my brother ended up getting mercury poisoning from chowing on the stuff) so maybe shake up your exercise routine? I don't know what you're doing now but maybe incorporate some interval cardio into the mix. For ex: using the TM warmup for 2-3 mins; run at a very high speed (whatever is high for you) for 30-45 secs, reduce speed to 3.5mph for 1 min. Repeat 8 times or so. It seems to help shake things up w/your body as far as what to expect exercise-wise. Also, do you do any type of strength work? Try incoporating weights into your exercise routine. You may initially not see any wt. loss (perhaps a small gain from water retention) but as you progress it should help get that scale moving down again.
I think it's great, though, that you are stopping the scale now instead of regaining all that you lost. I've done that (gained it all back) - more than once - and whack myself on the head each and every time. I finally figured out that stopping it sooner rather than later is the way to go.
Thanks for your response. I've never done any strength work. My exercise has only ever consisted of walking briskly and running on my mini trampoline-very simple stuff. I can't seem to get back into it as routinely, though. I used to walk at lunch time but my job change has made it more difficult to get away. And I moved in w/my SO, therefore get VERY self conscious doing the trampoline thing. It's my issue and has nothing to do w/him. I'm just a very private person. But I have GOT to do something!
How are you tracking your intake? I'd say, get really strict with that for awhile and see exactly how much you're taking in. Get back to your trampolining, too!
And finally, be patient. For some reason, it's always easier to gain than to lose. Had I only woken up to this a long time ago... but there's always time to change.
It does seem truly unfair how hard we have to work to take it off, but how easily it can come back on!
Are you much older since you originally lost your weight? I know that losing a lot in my 20s was way easier than now in my 30s.
I hear you about exercising infront of your SO. I run on the TM down the basement and I don't like an audience either. And if I'm doing a video or tape, I shoo everyone away!
If your lunchtime walk doesn't work out you could get up earlier in the morning and walk. I know this seems like 'UGH!, way too hard' but once you get into a routine - and I think this is essential to sticking w/it - it won't seem so bad. Once you make it 'part of your day', like brushing your teeth, it just becomes part of you. You could shake up your walks by walking then jogging for 30 secs then walking for 5 min then jogging, etc. Gradually increase your endurance, speed, time. Work on one thing at a time and take it slowly; you will be surprised at the results.
Here's a link for ALL kinds of video reviews. Check them out and maybe buy a few and tell your SO that you need an hour (or however long) to yourself for exercise 5 times a week. You have to take the time to do it and again, just make it a part of your life. I find that if I don't think about it too much and just do it, it gets done.
You could also buy some 3,5,8,10 lb dumbbells and start some strength workouts. Ease into this; I started by thinking I could lift 5 lbs. for something like 30 reps -- and ended up in so much pain that I couldn't even extend my arms at all for 5 days. Ouch! Stability balls and exercise bands are also options to add into your routine. Checkout youtube for videos on some routines.
Wow, you are all so nice and helpful! Those are all great ideas.
I've never been one for complicated workout routines.
I feel like I'm the type who has to do something enjoyable like dancing around or making it part of my day, like walking somewhere. I have a really hard time making myself do all those other things. I've never joined a gym in my life, for instance. Well anyway, I took a first little step this morning, and I walked to work. It's not a very long walk-maybe about 25 minutes if I go the long way, but it's mostly uphill (though downhill going home LOL) and this means I have to walk home, of course! That was a big plus of my move-I no longer have a 50 minute drive to work and 50 minute drive home! It's a comfortable walking distance! If only I could be promised that it would always be about 65 degrees and dry all the time! Anyway, I'm going to do my best to do this as much as I can for a start. (or a restart) I'm one of those who believes that "slow and steady wins the race" and that if you try to do too much at once, it's not going to work long term.
good for you for walkign to work!!! I also "fight" with teh scale, and am always shocked when I think it shoudl go down and it doesn;t. r when I think I might have gained a lb, adn I lose a lb. I've decided that my scale must have a 2-4 week lag time, LOL
If you like dancing, get a Zumba video. You can order it either from www.zumba.com or get one on eBay (slightly cheaper). It's actually a set of 4 DVDs and it is quite a cardio!!!
Congrats on walking to work.
Tracking your food helps alot as I amsure you are a aware. I am having a hard time losing this time and feel like I am holding fluid, so I need to increase my H2O intake. Are you getting enough water?
Good Luck
Oh yes, I'm well aware of food tracking! That's how I know basically exactly how much I was overeating! I was even counting that! I'm a calorie counter. Yes, I drink a LOT of water. I have a feeling my biggest problem is lack of physical activity, coupled with eating just a bit too much.
And, at least you are catching it and getting back on track after *only* 15 lbs! (I know 15 seems like a lot but just think if you didn't catch it until you had them all back ). I know you'll be able to whip those nasty little 15 off in no time
I know you can do it and walking to work will help you a lot! It sounds like you are doing all that you can so just be patient and continue what you are now doing!
Frustrating stalling and gain
or making it part of my day, like walking somewhere. I have a really hard time making myself do all those other things. I've never joined a gym in my life, for instance. Well anyway, I took a first little step this morning, and I walked to work. It's not a very long walk-maybe about 25 minutes if I go the long way, but it's mostly uphill (though downhill going home LOL) and this means I have to walk home, of course! That was a big plus of my move-I no longer have a 50 minute drive to work and 50 minute drive home! It's a comfortable walking distance! If only I could be promised that it would always be about 65 degrees and dry all the time! 
Anyway, I'm going to do my best to do this as much as I can for a start. (or a restart) I'm one of those who believes that "slow and steady wins the race" and that if you try to do too much at once, it's not going to work long term.
(I know 15 seems like a lot but just think if you didn't catch it until you had them all back 
). I know you'll be able to whip those nasty little 15 off in no time 
