Finding it a struggle

[Ladyscratt]

Hi

Lost weight about 2 years ago dropped from 10 and a half stone down to about 8 stone 9-10. Only 5 foot 4 so was really happy and knew my limits.

Recently started to struggle and cannot loose the weight put on over xmas. Now about 9 stone 2 and all my clothes are tight and I cant afford new ones.

If I don't starve myself then I don't loose weight by healthy eating, it just doesn't work. I am sick of starving myself and don't want to do it anymore but don't want to be bigger either.

I know this may be a trivial amount of weight for some of you but it is a big deal to me and makes a big diiference in terms of how my clothes fit me.

You probably need to increase the amount of exercise you do. Minimum half an hour a day, I'd suggest, of something active. Starving yourself (or chronically undereating) will ultimately make you fatter.... the body gets used to very low amounts of food and slows down the rate at which it uses energy. Starts to store it rather than burn it off. Healthy eating is important so carry no with that.... base all your meals around vegetables & whole grains and eat regularly.

You might also want to look at the salt content of your diet. People with excessively salty diets can be carrying 7lbs of excess fluid. If you eat many ready-meals, canned foods, things out of packets, prepared foods, shop-made sandwiches, restaurant meals etc., then they tend to be packed with salt, sugar and preservatives. A diet of home-made wholefoods washed down with plenty of plain fluids (ideally water) can make a difference to your shape and weight without needing to diet.

Low fat/calorie counting diets never worked for me either. I'd starve myself all week only to get on the scales and find I'd either put on weight or stayed the same. Then I'd get depressed and binge out on chocolate and crisps, then feel guilty, then eat through guilt ... it was awful.

Only thing that I've found to work is low carb diet. You're never hungry so you don't have to suffer with it to lose weight. I know its not for everyone but have you ever considered it? its the only way my extra lbs began (and continue) to budge.

Usual day consists of cereal bar for breakfast apple slimfast shake and then dinner.

My other problem is the weekends, come a friday I get the terrible urge to drink wine and then get the munchies and ruin it all.

It just seems to be getting harder all the time and I am loosing momentum.

I guess it is breaking what has become a bad habit again.

Sorry, I am under a name change atm but ...

You also have to be careful not to undereat. You need a certain ammount of calories for your metabolism to work. If you eat too little, your body will simply slow right down and store whatever fat it can get hold of.

Your breakfast is far too small. Eat the cereal bar but also have some yogurt and fruit with it, even a couple of slices of brown toast. I don't agree with slimfast shakes personally either. You need proper food.

Do plan your day better so that you're getting a more balanced and substantial breakfast and lunch. Slimfast products are really poor nutritionally, very monotonous and it's pretty much a given that you're going to be famished/bored rigid by the weekend if you stick it out all week.

If you're overweight and reasonably active you could probably lose weight on 1500 cals a day. That would allow you a 400 cal breakfast & lunch... a decent-size (500 cal) supper and occasional snacks. Get a good balance of vegetables, protein and carbohydrate at each meal as this makes them satisfying. Build in plenty of flavour and interest to your meals so that you enjoy the process rather than feel you have to put up with miserable 'pretend food' just to lose weight.

Will try the better breakfast thing, I don't get much excercise as I am desk bound (sat at it now) I am a little bit lazy too.

I need to get a grip on this really, worked too hard in the past to fail now.

Sorry... of course, you're not overweight. So exercise really is the key. Light people need to eat less than heavy people because their bodies need less energy to function. If you're inactive you'll need even less and then, to lose any weight, you'd be on an unhealthily low-cal diet.... bad idea. If you can get a brisk half-hour walk once or twice a day that's enough to make a difference.

The ideal weight range for a woman your height is 8 stone 4 to 9 stone 3. You're not overweight until you're over 10 stone 3.

I agree that eating healthy homecooked food and exercising are probably your best bet for improving your body shape. I can't imagine any health professional recommending that someone already within the ideal weight range actively diets .

Brolly, according to the guidelines I am in my healthy weight range. I'm 5ft 10" and weigh 11st. 3lbs. Thing is, I feel fat. I can tell I'm carrying extra lbs that I don't need to be carrying around my thighs, hips, stomach and even arms. Whilst some people my height would look ok at 11st, I don't think I do. I remember when I was 10st (dreams about better days ... ) and I'd like to get back to that.

I think it depends on the individual.

I know what I can carry and what In need to fit into my clothes, at 9 stone I am a small size 12 however at 9st 9 I am comfortably in my clothes. I am bordering on the line between 10-12 and if I tip over the edge I am not comfortable.

I was good yesterday and didn't eat bad stuff, lost about a kilo of water overnight and finished my period so feeling bit better today and decided to get my arse into gear and sort this out.

Need to be about 55 kilo really and am 56.7 at the mo. If I can be good over the next week or so then will be happier.

I know in terms of mega weight loss this isn't much but I still struggle to keep it off and face the same battles as those who are looking to loose alot.

Thanks for the support ladies.

Ooops I meant 8st 9 not 9st 9