[coad786]

Hi,

It's been a while since I've been on here. I had a baby last summer and I'm now trying to lose the weight.

I am trying to balance the food choices and counting calories. For 3 weeks I've been very strict about monitoring what I'm eating and have only eaten pre calculated foods.

I am keeping my calories between 1200-1300 daily. I have broken my meals into about 300 calories each with snacks in between.
I am a little active looking after the kids, cleaning, playing with them in the afternoons, etc.

Are you all sure the calories in vs calorie needs works? According to my height/weight I'd need about 2200 calories a day. So Ive cut these significantly. At this rate, technically I should be losing about 2 pounds a week. So I expected about 6 pounds loss and there's not a single pound lost.

I've not lost a single pound. So I'm feeling disheartened.

[seagirl]

I'd up your calories. Especially if you are still nursing.

Try 1400-1600 a day for a few weeks.

Can you post a sample menu, too? Sometimes playing with the carb/fat/protein ratio can help.

[coad786]

Thank you so much. I just weaned my baby and not nursing now.

Yesterday:

breakfast: whey protein shake made with fat free milk, 230 calories
snack: apple 100 calories
lunch: big salad of lettuce, cherry tomatoes, sauteed chicken breast 350 cals
snack whey protein shake with fat free milk, 230 calories
dinner: shrimp and veggies, calories 200
after dinner snack, 1 cup yogurt 120 calories

1230 calories from food
75 from my coffee creamer

total calories: 1305

water: 7 tall glasses

I pretty much balance my meals about like this daily. I haven't logged them anywhere, but I keep track on paper and it's working out ok this way.


I drink the shakes because it helps make sure I don't skip meals or snacks. Usually I take the kids to school and I don't want to wait too long before I have something. The shakes only have 4 carbs from the powder and 13 carbs from the milk. Plus there is some fiber it in and only 3 grams of sugar and all of the vitamins.

I don't see anything majorly wrong here....anyone else?

[ERHR]

You're barely eating any fat! And way too much sugar. Try replacing the apple with an avocado, lose the yogurt (and shakes if you can), add creamy dressing to your salad and cook your shrimp and vegetables in oil. I think your calories are somewhat low, too. If you can fit in some more intense exercise that would be great, too.

[magentadivine]

I have read several places now, that by drastically cutting down in your calorie intake you impact your metabolism - ie you actually slow down your met. by not eating enough. I think that might be the problem here - try cutting down 2200 to 1700, as several experts have said 500 should be enough, and then as you go on, you can lower it further.
- Quinn

[seagirl]

Originally Posted by ERHR

You're barely eating any fat! And way too much sugar. Try replacing the apple with an avocado, lose the yogurt (and shakes if you can), add creamy dressing to your salad and cook your shrimp and vegetables in oil. I think your calories are somewhat low, too. If you can fit in some more intense exercise that would be great, too.

I agree. More than 1/3 of your calories are coming from whey protein shakes. I'd cut those out, add in avocado (I eat at least one a day), have a little pasta or wheat bread somewhere in there, or some brown rice.

Try real food for breakfast: eggs, and a piece of toast. Or oatmeal with nuts and berries.
Add the calories from your second shake into your lunch in the form of oil and avocado on the salad and some beans or grain.

Up the dinner calories, add more substance and skip the yogurt snack afterwards.