Ugh. Not again. Stayed the same.
I've spent the day reflecting and looking over my calories for the last two weeks. The things that have changed are:
1. I've been eating less
2. I've been exercising more (last week)
3. I've added more veggies
I'm pretty sure the veggies aren't the problem so I need to look at the eating and exercise. My thinking is that I'm not eating enough. This has happened to me in the past but is especially frustrating this go around because I'm working my a$$ off (sorry) and not reaping the benefits (scale wise) for all my work. And yes, I realize I shouldn't live and die by the scale; I know that I am more than just a number on the scale. It's just especially frustrating this week seeing as my weekend was so emotional. I needed a little boost but didn't get it.
Goals for the next week:
Consume no less than 1800 calories (I've been closer to 15-1600)
Continue my 3X at the gym and 2-3 days at home on the treadmill.
Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate.
Onwards and downwards.
Hi Jenn! Most of the time, people *are* eating enough calories. 1500 to 1600 is definitely enough for you.
ReplyDeleteSometimes a body doesn't give up weight every week. When I started working out in 2007, I didn't lose any weight, despite eating much less, for at least the first month. But then, the next week I lost about 7 pounds. And the week after, I lost about 5 pounds. That is a lot in 2 weeks, which I believe was the result of many less calories I had eaten in all of those weeks.
So definitely *don't* up your calories in order to lose more weight.<<That is not the issue.
:-) Marion
Thanks Marion. My nutritionist (I haven't seen her in a while) would beg to differ. She wants me at 1800 on non-workout days and 2000 on workout days. When I was working on WL with the hospital guided program, I was on a 12-1500 calorie diet and went over a month with no loss. When they bumped me back up to 1800 I had one success but by that time I was burned out from all my hard work with no return. This is why I give up. I have to listen to my gut and go back to what was working.
DeleteHi Jenn, Well, before this, I've *never* heard of a nutritionist or medical research say that 1500-1600 is too low of calories for a woman who works out to lose weight.
DeleteThere are probably (increased) calorie exceptions for expert athletes, who work out several hours per day for top competitions.
I would *definitely* GAIN weight by going up to 1900 calories, even though I am quite physically active.
I do believe you that your nutritionist said that to you--because *you* are a very honest person.
But I don't believe that any medical research would back your nutritionist on this point that 1500 to 1600 calories per day isn't enough calories for you to lose weight. I suggest that you Google this issue and see what research you can find for the current consensus of top researchers, such as Mayo Clinic. If nothing else, it would make an interesting post. :D
:-) Marion
So I looked up Mayo Clinic guidelines. The Mayo Clinic Diet actually recommends as low as 1,200 calories per day for women under 250 pounds who want to lose weight. Link: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/comments/MY01903_comments#post.
ReplyDeleteI've been cheering you on for a long time now, Jenn. I want you to succeed. So you need good information for that to happen.
:-) Marion
I appreciate your feedback Marion! By no way am I being confrontational. I'm taking what you have to say and knowing what I know and research I've done on my own. I weigh more than 250. Significantly more. Based on my height and weight, the recommendation is 18-2000 calories. The nutritionist, a bariatric physician and my primary all agree on those figures. I dropped my calories based on advise from one of my trainers (he told me to drop by 100) and I wasn't all that hungry. And if I was hungry at night, I would ignore it. If I drop too low now, what's to happen when I finally get to 250 and hit a real plateau?
DeleteI think it's time for a post. Just need more time in my day. :)
And I DO appreciate your feedback and your cheerleading!!! I hope you know that!
Your plan sounds very promising Jenn, we've got to keep at it. Eventually the results will show up. Onward and Downward!!!
ReplyDeleteThanks JD! You are right!!! No giving up for us.
Delete