I would suggest sticking with 1400. If you stick to that every day, no cheat days, you should be fine. Trust me, I can be perfect 6 days/week, exercise every day but just one day of going over my calorie limit will mean no loss for the week.

Okay, then, I will stick to 1,400 with absolutely no cheating. Lower my carb intake and keep on Making the Cut, and walk to the gym every time I go - hopefully that will get the scale moving. I really hope to show progress soon!

Nelie - do you find that you can work things into your calorie allowance, and you are okay, as long as you don't go above 1,400? For instance, I am going out tonight to celebrate my sister's birthday. As it stands, I have eaten around 600 calories today, which would mean that I have about 800 calories to play with at the restaurant. I was thinking about getting a big caesar salad with no dressing, and grilled shrimp on it, which would put me at around 400 calories. Would it be okay to have a glass of wine too? I mean, as long as I stay beneath my 1,400, I will be okay, or do I have to eat clean for the whole 1,400?

Sorry I am sounding neurotic and overthinky!:dizzy:

When I am not hungry in the mornings or too tired to eat, I grab a banana. They tend to jumpstart my metabolism without making me feel sick; sometimes I have morning nausea.

Just keep chugging away! Regardless of what the scale says, you ARE living a healthier lifestyle. Sometimes it just takes awhile for the scale to catch up to it. ;)

Jillianfan, as far as I have read, alcohol is not recommended. I think I even saw Jillian say no to it during The Biggest Loser show, but I could be wrong. I think it's important to really mix things up. I'm sure you will see some progress with the fact that you will be walking to the gym in addition to everything else you are doing! I know how frustrating this journey can be...I have been stuck at this weight for a month now. It has to change eventually, and as you said, I am also feeling a whole heck of a lot stronger.

One last thing, just remember that V8 has a lot of sodium, so I suggest getting the low sodium one.

Where my calories come from really, really matters to me. In order to achieve weight loss, we've got to create a calorie deficit. We do that by taking in less calories then we need (burn), so that we can use our stored fat as energy. So we really are restricting ourselves somewhat. So since I am on a calorie budget, I've got to really make my calories count. I need to get the most nutrients possible from them so my body will run will properly ( vitamins, minerals, etc.). I also need to be full from them, so I can't eat empty calories - like the cakes, cookies, 100 calorie packs and so on. If I'm not hungry, well then it makes it MUCH easier to stay on plan. If I stay on plan consistently, I lose the weight.

But for a once in a while event, such as you described, that should be fine. On an every day basis, I personally wouldn't want to bank those calories for one evening meal. But again, every now and then that should not derail your efforts.

After spending the summer basically maintaining I got back to clean eating on the 3rd of October at about your weight. I am currently eating 1300-1500 calories per day walking 5 miles - 6 days a week and hiking 5-12 miles on the weekend. Since getting back to it I have lost 10+ lbs. One of the things that I have had to do is increase my protein again. I am most definitely a "Protein Type" and do much better if 40-50% of my calories come from protein while trying to lose weight. I will also say that I feel my best with the higher protein.

Try this test: http://www.natpro.net/metabolic-typing.html

If you are a "Protein Type" like many here it doesn't mean you have to do Atkins or south beach it will just take a little work to get your numbers right but it could make a difference. I could be way of base but I'm thinking you are a "Protein Type" that is eating too many carbs.

http://www.progesteronetherapy.com/p...type-diet.html

I just wanted to add that I have excluded NOTHING from my diet; however, not all calories are created equal. When I said I basically maintained over the summer it was on about 1400 -1600 calories but many of those calories came from beer and crap (and only about 25% protein). What can I say I enjoy a few beers out by the pool in summer.

Cruise, you might be right - I could be a protein type who is eating too many carbs. I did Atkins a time or two, and I actually felt awesome while doing it...until I got, ahem, backed up, and had to quit it. But, then again, I did a commercial program here in KC that called for hardly any carbs and I remember feeling very depressed and withdrawn. So, really, the verdict is still out.

The way that I am going to tweak my diet is to cut the carbs, like a lot of you ladies suggest. I am going to have either an Ezekiel bread or tortilla a day and that will be it for my carbs and see if I can start losing with that. And no refined sugar. If I start feeling blue, then maybe add one more piece of bread into the mix per day.

I guess it really is trial and error. But I feel encouraged again by all the support here. So, thanks again, and I am taking everybody's advice to heart. I got a lot of great advice, so I hope that things start getting going soon! :carrot:

Nelie, as much as it stinks, I'm glad to hear you say that about going over one day and not losing even if you do well the rest of the week... i've been in a stall for the past two weeks, and i do sooo well during the week, but slack on the weekends, and and have been very frustrated plateauing at my 175... now i know why!! Weekends will be the death of my weight loss efforts if I don't get it in gear.....

Don't know why the scales aren't moving for you as I'm nowhere near down to your weight yet and don't know about the differences of losing when your weight compared with now (and I'm making up what I'm doign as I go along anyway :D) but I do eat below my BMR (except twice a week when I eat with parents). I've eaten below my BRM the whole time and my body's been happy with that and I've felt full, satisfied and had energy (as long as I've eaten the right kind of food) If that will continue I don't know but it's worth experimenting - maybe your body needs more calories because of the exercise, maybe less. I also try and avoid refined carbs and I guess I'll have to be stricter about that as I get to goal. Some people's bodies don't lose well when eatign some foods - for me I have to watch white bread, pasta, noodles etc. If I eat those foods I can expect water retention, weight loss to not show on the scales unless I drink a lot of water and cravings. I also drink a lot of water - for me the scales don't tend to move much if I don't.

at 150ish lb you will lose weight more slowly than someone 250lb so don't be frustrated by those of us losing 1-2lb per week - see what those nearer your weight and height are doing and how long it takes them to lose.

A lot of us also find calorie cycling works - so lower calories say 1200 for you for a few days then maybe 1700 for a couple of days. I unintenionally do this as I keep my calories lower 5 days a week to make up for all the food my mum will try and force feed us the two days we visit her!

FWIW ... I've cut my carbs way back too. The only overt carb I had yesterday was oatmeal late in the evening.
Breakfast? Last week I did ok with a hard boiled egg and two slices of turkey bacon. This week, I'm home in the morings so I've been having a shake.

Okay, day one of my new plan. I had a slice of Ezekiel toast this morning with an egg, and I am already dreaming about carbs. Specifically, there is a bar called Lara that is organic and non-processed, and they have a lemon flavored bar that is to die for (all their others are just okay, but that one is delish!). I am salivating just to think of it, and I feel kinda depressed that I am not going to be able to have more carbs today.

But I gotta try something, 'cause my prior plan just isn't working.

So lunch is going to be roast beef wrapped in a dandelion leaf with some cream cheese. Dinner will be shirataki noodles with Whole Foods marinara (shirataki noodles are made of tofu and have only 3 grams of carbs and 20 calories per serving. I highly recommend them!)

I guess snack will be cottage cheese and strawberries.

I don't know what else - this doesn't seem like a lot of food, and I am walking to the gym and doing Making the Cut. Maybe add some walnuts in there for good measure.

Any other suggestions for me if I am going low carb?

God this is hard! :p

Exactly what plan are you following? It sounds like you're cutting carbs too low. Even a "very low carb" plan has you eat up to 50 grams of carbs a day, and one piece of Ezekiel bread has only 15 grams of carbs... A regular "low carb" eating style goes up to 125 grams of carbohydrate.

Maybe look around at a few lower-carb diet options before you decide what you should be eating?

Jay

Well Larabars are pretty high calories and it is a bunch of dried fruit mushed together. You could have 2-3 apples for the amount of calories in a Larabar.