New and disgusted with myself . . . help

I had a hysterectomy about 4 years ago, gained about 50 lbs, went to WW and lost it. gained it back, went back to WW and gained weight. Help! I've walked (fast) on treadmill every day for two miles and rode recumbent bike 15 to 30 min every day. Over two weeks and not one ounce gone. Breakfast: grapes and water: no snack; lunch: WW low carb meal; snack, a few grapes, a few wheat chips with a tiny bit of cheese; dinner; chow mein noodles with ground beef/low fat mushroom soup and no fat sour cream sauce over the noodles. snack: ww smootie. What is wrong with mee?????????

Sat. Aug 11, 1:04am

sounds like your not getting enough to eat. will show you a article a freind posted in our team. your body needs fuel to burn fat.. here is why. hope this helps. good luck and maybe try switching your routineup.. you may just hit a plateu.. I have lost almost 200 pounds now my weight is fluctuating for the first time . going up with slight gains.. you just have to reaccess what you do and mix it up a bit.. you can do this.. dont give up and dont be digusted with yourself.. your here. you want to get healthy. thats something to be proud of yourself about not digusted.

Not eating enough?

It's Not a Good Thing. Here's Why

By Greg Hottinger MPH, RD

A common pitfall of dieting is to not eat enough calories. Under-eating delivers fast but temporary results. Have you been on a low calorie diet before? As long as you can stick with eating TOO FEW calories you will see the scale move downward and sometimes rapidly. But then at some point, your progress fizzles out. Being too aggressive with weight loss makes it nearly impossible for you to keep your weight off. Here are FOUR reasons under eating doesn't work:

Reason #1: Eating TOO FEW calories causes you to lose muscle.
With muscle loss there is water loss which makes you think you are doing great when you get on the scale. As you lose muscle, your metabolism creeps downward making weight loss more difficult week after week.

Reason #2: Eating TOO FEW calories sabotages your exercise program.
Not getting enough fuel makes you feel more tired and less likely to exercise as much or as hard. You will be more successful by burning more calories through consistent exercise and strength training 3x week to maintain/build muscle.

Reason #3: Eating TOO FEW calories creates feelings of hunger and deprivation.
Low-calorie diets feel like punishment and are a short-term approach. When they are over, rebound eating usually follows. This is where the term "yo-yo dieting" comes from.

Reason #4: Eating TOO FEW calories makes your body slow.
Under-eating can down your metabolism by as much as 20% to prevent starvation. Your body will resist weight loss. The goal is to keep your metabolism happy by eating enough--a happy metabolism is your best weight loss friend!

Keep in mind that eating more can help you reach your ultimate goal, whereas, under eating will cause you to quit your program.

If you're hungry before meals and ready to eat, that's OK. If you're hungry after meals or have hunger pangs during the day, or are feeling extra tired, it’s likely that you're not getting enough to eat.

Greg Hottinger is a registered dietitian with a Master's degree in Nutrition from UNC-Chapel Hill. He worked as a nutritionist at the reknowned Duke University Diet & Fitness Center and currently co-owns a weight loss coaching business.

Copyright Rodale 2007.

Saturday, August 11, 2007, 3:16 AM

Under eating?

I heard so much about this under eating bunk I'm tired of it. Look, despite all our advances in technology, losing weight is still the same as it has been since the day of the caveman, you have got to reduce calories to the point you lose weight. If you're not losing weight, reduce your calories more. Eventually, your body has to lose weight because it would go against the laws of physics not to. Yes, your metabolism slows down. Yes, you will feel hungry. And, Yes, you will lose muscle IF you don't resistance train and make your diet a high percentage of protein. This is part and parcel of losing weight. We have to accept that it is a difficult thing to do and not freak out when we see our caloric intake going down to unexpected levels. Weight loss is not for the timid. We deserve a sense of accomplishment when we succeed. Keep pushing forward and stay strong!

Saturday, August 11, 2007, 3:58 AM

I'm not saying she should overeat.. but not eating enough can cause problems too.. I have lost 200 pounds and have kept a 165 off for 6 years close to now. shes eating grapes a few crackers light meals from what she said to me it sounds like shes not eating enough. yes we have to watch what we eat I agree, but we also shouldnt undereat. its not good for our bodies.

telling her to keep reducing calories can also be dangerous.. were all different . each of us need different things for our bodies determined by weight and height.

Im just speaking from my experience on my journey of weight loss over the years if you dont eat enough your body will feel hungry all the time. than sometimes when you do eat you can over eat.

its good to be able to get different opinions.. maybe lowering your calories works for you. I don't count calories never have.. I watch what I eat. I exercise everyday and thats how I have lost the 200 pounds.

we all have plateus and we all have set backs, but in the end the poster has to do whats right for them. I was just giving her my opinion. as you gave her yours..

have a great day!

op hang in there.. weightloss is a slow journey , but with perseverance and determination I know you will get to where you want to be.

Saturday, August 11, 2007, 5:24 AM

OP - you may think you are eating healthy, but you are not. Frozen meals are not good for you, no matter whatr anyone says. And noodles for diner anre going to get you nowhere.

Try these steps:
In the morning, have an egg with your grapes.

For lunch, eat a REAL salad with a lean protein (like fish or chicken breast) and a small amount of complex carbs (like brown or wild rice).

For snack, have a fat-free or low-carb protein shake and fruit.

For dinner, have vegetables (steamed), light protein, adn complex carbs.

Make sure you eat at least 1200 calories a day.

Incorporate weight lifting into your routine 3 times a week.

Good Luck.

Saturday, August 11, 2007, 8:18 AM

Thank you poster for the undereating article. I catch myself doing that and I see the results on the scale. It doesn't move. That is one of the reasons I love posting and I count my calories to make sure I am eating enough and the right foods. I enjoyed reading that and will cut and paste it to keep it as a reminder!

Saturday, August 11, 2007, 9:42 AM

Haha wow I have never "caught" myself accidentally undereating. Lucky.

Saturday, August 11, 2007, 10:28 AM

I actually think its surprisingly easy to eat too little. For me, my caloric goal at first was "as little as possible" because I had been eating 2500-2800 calories a day. But as I got used to eating less, I would get down to under 1000 some days. The 3:38 poster was right - cutting calories back that much will cause weight loss, and it can be done safely if you eat the right foods, exercise and are consistent. The consistency was the hardest, because the next day I might eat 1300-1400 calories. That is a very reasonable number but since I had eaten so little the day before, my metabolism slowed because my body thought it was starving and it wanted to conserve energy. You have to work WITH your body's natural processes, not against them. Give your body enough energy to keep your metabolism steady and choose a calorie range that you can stick with for the rest of your life, not just a few weeks or months. If you eat enough of healthy foods, your body will not think its starving, and the weight will slowly come off. Cardio can burn some calories but you will see the most results by combining cardio with strength training, because more muscle in your body means you will burn fat faster and have more endurance to keep exercising harder and longer, and burn even more calories.

Good luck! OP, even though you feel like you don't have any traction, you are moving in the right direction, so don't give up!!!

Saturday, August 11, 2007, 1:22 PM

response to 5:24

This is 3:38. To 5:24: I respect your opinion. Obviously you're successful and know what works. My experience is if I go over 750 calories a day I gain weight. I am always fighting hunger and just accept it as part of life. I take vitamins to help make sure my body gets what it needs and make sure I get enough protein. There may be others who need to get that low before they begin to lose too, so they need not be surprised.
Anyway, thanks for the input and congratulations on your ongoing success.

Sunday, August 12, 2007, 6:52 AM

Response to 6:52

This is not 5:24, but I agree with her/him.

You are eating way too little. Waaay too little. Are you a paraplegic? Are you anorexic? If you are neither, then you have something wrong with you, possibly thyroid problems, and need to get some medical help. Perhaps fixing a thyroidal problem will help you eat enough calories and still maintain a good steady weight-loss. I'm afraid that with 750 calories a day, you may lose weight, but slowly your organs and other vital tissue in your body will begin to whittle away until you may significantly reduce your life expectancy. Please look into this!

(Yes, I am a nutritionist)

Sunday, August 12, 2007, 2:32 PM

Hi! Disgusted with myself. I would love to help you get started at losing. You need to eat enough nutritious food to satisfy your body. If you would like to join my group at Eat to Live focus I would be glad to give you a food plan on there. I too did the weight watchers. The problem I had was I got tired of counting points and attending meetings. I wanted something I could do for life and not have to weigh, measure, or count points or calories. I believe I have found the answer for me.

Sunday, August 12, 2007, 2:56 PM

I am looking for participants for my survey on "How to Stop this viscious cycle of weight gain and Loss". This survey is for my doctoral dissertation. I would appreciate anyone who can help. You must have lost weight and kept it off for at least one year.

Sunday, August 12, 2007, 3:08 PM

oops forgot to put the website for that survey. www.weightclinic.info
Thanks to anyone who is willing. It is only 6 questions. There are no right or wrong answers.

Link

Sunday, August 12, 2007, 3:10 PM

sorry typed wrong site. this link will get you there. http://weightclinic.info

Link

Sunday, August 12, 2007, 3:13 PM

2:56 - I also am a huge supporter of Eat to Live. The book literally opened up a whole new world for me. I wish I would have adopted Dr. Fuhrman's plan a long time ago.

To the poster that eats 750 cal a day - holy cow, how in the world can you possibly get all your nutrients from that? Unfortunately supplementing with vitamins cannot give you the hundreds of nutrients, phytochemicals, etc that only come from consuming healthy foods. Just curious - no insult intended.

Sunday, August 12, 2007, 4:11 PM

To 6:52

I do not presume to know what is best for you and your body from the little you have posted online, but since you have shared information about yourself I feel compelled to tell you, as others have, that while you are losing weight eating that little, you do not have to fight hunger to lose weight! You should be able to eat at least 1,000 calories of nutritious food, combined with strenuous exercise 4-5 times a week, and lose at least 1 pound a week. Its just numbers. If you are doing that and not losing you should see your doctor because you might have a thyroid problem or some other problem - such as an eating disorder. You may not think so, but you may be to the point where you don't need to lose any more weight. Please discuss this with your doctor because eating that little for a prolonged period of time is very unhealthy, regardless of the nutritional measures you take.

Sunday, August 12, 2007, 8:04 PM

I don't think you are eating enough calories.

Sunday, August 12, 2007, 10:05 PM

Low Cal is a healthy way to live

A low calorie diet isn't always a bad thing, because it is proven that lower calorie diets actually lengthen our life....we eat too much, and we have to match our calories to our activity. We don't move much as a culture, so we workout. BUT if cravings are kicking in, it means you are undernourished. I have helped a few clients who are not very active to lose weight and control craving just by suggesting that they have some fat in the morning and make sure you don't skimp on protein or good fats (olive oil, etc.) all day. Fat and protein stabilize the blood sugar and the appetite. Take a good multivitmin and lots of water. Also, if your carbs can all be whole grain and full of fiber, that will control your appetite. Still, you can go low calorie and be healthy, and lose weight. Hopefully the following links will help.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/4875614.stm
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/41099.php

Link

Sunday, August 12, 2007, 10:10 PM

LOWER cal is a healthy way to live, sure. But only if you're getting proper nutrition...eating that low (the above mentioned 750) would make it impossible. We can get everything we need from veggies, fruits, beans & legumes, nuts & seeds...but even then it would be hard to go lower than 1000.

Sunday, August 12, 2007, 10:25 PM

5:24 poster here.. thank you for teh congrats on my weight loss.I too have read eat to live and fat smash.. amazing books.. I have been doing the fat smash this last two months and have lost 17 pounds. My weight is now fluctuating a bit, but after my losses for so long I expected this..

to the OP give eat to live or fat smash a try.. its great and you wont be hungry and you will lose weight . at least everyone on my fat smashers unite team has. its amazing to see the testimonials of weight loss each week by eating healthy , well balanced foods.. no quick fixes, or diet pills. just determination and will power and believing in yourself..

you can do this.. good luck on your continued journey.

Monday, August 13, 2007, 12:37 PM

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