Maybe I'm not eating enough?

[Hopin2Lose]

I am losing VERY slowly. I have medical issues which contribute I'm sure, but my gut tells me it's more than that. I've been thinking about it more and I'm wondering if I'm not eating ENOUGH. I thought about it all day today. I am working out harder than I ever have. I am noticing I am having less and less energy and really having to force myself to do the workouts. I am hungry often, but refrain from eating because I'm losing so slowly. Way in the past (before medical issues) I remember I ended up losing more when I ate more. I sorta forgot about that until now.

I'm not counting calories, but I am purposely not eating sometimes even when I'm hungry...or I make my portions really small. When I enter it into Fitday (every so often), the calories aren't low, but I wonder if they are low for the amount of exercise I do. What do you think? I'm thinking of letting myself eat more (only when hungry) this week and see what happens. It's not like my current plan is working great. It would be one thing if the inches were coming off, but that's not going anywhere either.

Anyone notice an improvement in results after increasing food? Last time I did Atkins I lost 13 lbs over 3 months with no exercise. I didn't eat often because I wasn't hungry much. I am more hungry this time, but I think it's the exercise.

I'm 4 weeks in, exercise 6 days a week (and walk on the 7th day) with two 25-45min walks daily, and The Firm workouts 6 days a week (cardio, sculpt, and cardio/sculpt videos ranging from 40-55minutes each).

Thanks for any advice or encouragement.

Bree

[chinadoll]

Hi Bree, to reference your other post, you only have about ten pounds to lose so you should only be losing 1-2 pounds a month if you are that close to goal. Also you are on meds that slow you down. These things are definitely playing a part in your slow loss.

You have not given a menu to indicate how much you are eating but you should not be eating less than about 1500 cals a day. You will not lose if your body gets too little food. It sounds like you are simply in too much of a hurry for your body to comply. I suggest putting away the scale and concentrate on doing everything right for a month or so without being obsessed by the numbers. That means continuing exercise, eating at least 1500 cals a day, lots of veggies and fat, drink your water. Then you need to ask yourself what your true goal is--being healthy and happy with yourself? or a number on the scale? If the goal is the number you will drive yourself crazy getting to it and may not be happy when you get there anyway. If the goal is to be healthy and accept yourself even with the warts you will be more at ease and things will likely go more smoothly if you aren't tweaking every few days.

[momtomany1]

You are working out a nice bit there, go you! That is not an excessive amount of exercise, and if your diet is not supporting your exercise yes, you likely need to eat more. Your food is your fuel, and you are noticing a lack of 'go juice' in the tank for your workouts.. obviously you need a bit more high octane fuel.

Your body is saying 'feed me' and you are saying 'no' because of a number as pointed out by Jill and so your body says 'you aren't cooperating with me, why should I cooperate with you?'

and hey... induction isn't for folks with 10 pounds to lose. Move up, girl! Slowly add in the foods... you never know what food is your 'wooshy' food until you try them out.

The last few pounds are just stubborn. But eat so that you FEEL and FUNCTION well, and don't obsess over the scale. Be your body's best buddy!

[JulieB]

Congrats on all of the exercise you are doing - that's fantastic! Have you been measuring? You may be losing inches even if you aren't losing pounds (muscle is heavier than fat, but smaller/denser).

Dr. Atkins said to eat when you are hungry - I think a big part of this WOE is to learn to trust our bodies (and for our bodies to learn to trust us). Feed the body when it is hungry, don't let it starve. Don't stuff the body full of crap, or stuff it when it isn't hungry. Choose the right foods to feed it, and this WOE will be a success.

I agree with mom...if you don't have much to lose, you should move to OWL - some people do lose more/faster on OWL rung 1 than induction.

[Hopin2Lose]

Thank you for all the replies and support. I appreciate it.

I know I only have a little to lose, but it's been almost 8 weeks since I started really exercising and I have so little to show for it (photos, inches, lbs, etc) that it's frustrating. I know 10lbs sounds like vanity weight, but it's not. It's the weight I gained over the last couple yrs while sick (actually I gained it rather quickly) and I'm just trying to get back to where I was. Then I might even want to lose more, but we'll see. My bf% is up from what it used to be and my clothes are tight. I'm not overweight, but I'm skinny fat right now and that's not healthy.

I was reading Sugar Free Shelia's site last night and she sounds similar to me. No diet really worked and she envied yo yo dieters because at least they lost weight before they gained it back. I can never lose. She was exercising regularly and counting calories anywhere from 1000-1800 per day (and she's only 5'3"). Although she doesn't count cals now, when she does, it's over 2000 every time and she does less exercise than I do and is 4 inches shorter. Not that I can compare myself to her in all ways since everyone is different, has different metabolisms, and different medical conditions, but still... Reminded me that maybe I should eat more.

My husband thinks I should. He said every time I eat, I perk up, am suddenly more talkative, and seem to have much more energy. That seems like pretty good evidence to me. So my plan is to cut out anything with hidden sugars like bacon, keep up the exercise, and eat when I'm hungry. I'll also start moving up in OWL.

Thanks so much!!!

Bree

[JulieB]

Your decision sounds very sensible Bree - sometimes its hard to make decisions like this because desires/emotions get in the way. I'm glad that you are focusing on improving your health as well as losing weight.

I'm sure the weight/inches will come off, but until then, consider your improved health 'progress'.

[Hopin2Lose]

Oh I definitely consider my improved health progress!!! I was unable to even go for a walk, work was impacted, and I was not myself for a long time. Just to be able to workout is AWESOME...and I'm doing it really hard.

Thanks again.

Bree

[chinadoll]

Just pace yourself. Find a middle ground with exercise that is sustainable and doesn't lead to injury. That is the best way to get the body you want AND keep it.

[ziggy]

in my opinion from the sounds of what your saying i think i know whats going on its the exercise you will not lose 10 pounds of body weight by doing it at the stage you are at

exercise mostly just helps with weight loss for people who have alot of fat to lose however you dont have much fat left to lose but it will do something for you thats just as good

you will lose 10 pounds of fat and gain 10 pounds of muscle and look and feel ALOT better and become sexy like toned and more healthy soo keep up the work outs and do not cut back on the food if you are hungry then eat cause haveing muscle rather than fat on your body has a higher upkeep so you need to eat more than you used too


and dont worry about gaining weight as long as you keep your carbs in check i have stayed the same 230 pounds for many years. but even though im still 230 pounds i must have lost a good 40 extra pounds of fat and replaced it with 40 pounds of muscle by going to the gym and as far as looks go i look Amazing ALOT better now than i did 1 and a half years ago! before i started going to the gym.
and before i started going to the gym i was still 230 pounds

[Hopin2Lose]

Ziggy, I appreciate what you're saying and know that to be the fact. However, that's not what's happening with me. If the scale went up or stayed the same, but I was losing inches, that would be one thing. I'm not losing bf%, lbs, or inches. I'm just going to keep at it and hope something kicks in soon. I'm doing everything right so I might just have to wait for my medical crap to settle down. sigh

Thanks.