I am not in a stall...

I'm not in a stall. Apparently, I've reached some kind of empass/plateau.

I'm gathering information/data as I go.
I'm 5'4" tall, 143 pounds, size 6-8

Today I was called skinny (from a dear friend who was telling me straight up)

I "know" I am thinner but I still see some areas of fat that could go. I really want to be in the middle of the "good" numbers range. BMI and Fat %.

I started working out in Jan? or so. Gradually increasing how fast/far I run on the treadmill, lifting weights.
I eat anywhere from 1200 calories a day to 1800 (that's rare but it has happened).

I eat protein first and usually get about 80+ grams a day.
In an effort to switch things up I started eating more than 40 grams of carbs a day. Mostly adding salads greens/spinach/some tomatoes...not a big sweet fan.
It hasn't changed anything as far as the scale goes.
I posted before that my measurements show a decrease in some areas and an increase in others.

I posted on the exersize forum and the consensus was I have to eat more calories...if I want to keep up the running/weight lifting.

Very scary thought/theory.

I'm wrapping my head around this.
We will see.
I'll post my decision/results.

This whole thing is so far out of what I know, I'm lost but willing to consider being educated. (sigh)

donna

Donna,

Has your minimum intake always been 1200 or is it something that you did to try to get the scale moving again?  If it's new you could probably drop down to 800 for a minute and see if anything shakes?  1200-1600/1800 are maintenance numbers for most folks. 

I started adding calories when I started running. (figured I could afford it)
So 1200 is a fair average since Late Dec (after Christmas) till now.

I kept losing weight and actually lost more in Jan/Feb then in Nov/Dec.

I am more apt to try the 800 calorie a day for a week or two then upping the cals, just seems like I should to see if it moves the scale before going the other extreme.

It's really hard to change what/how much you eat at this point. I am a creature of habit.
I'm gonna have to get tough with myself to figure this out.
thanks Edelu

domma

If it's driving you nuts they drop them.  thing is you can always gain weight (don't we know) but if your goal weight is really something you want to get to then try it.  I've been doing 600-800 from the beginning and in March i dropped down to 600-650 because  i just got so tired of the pace of my loss.  i lost twice as much as i did in any month since the beginning so that was great but not sustainable plus i do not want to be someone who looks at every bite.  To be honest the food is easy for me but dang it to hell i want my ****tails back, even twice a week.  I never thought I'd be here.  so i get it, losing, living and still wanting to see what that elusive number looks like.  I'm fully prepared to get to my goal weight, which by the way has been my goal weight since i was 16, and decide I've gotten too old to be that low but i have to see it, to know that i can do it.  I figure I'm giving myself the year, until August 1st to re-evaluate, but **** a girl needs a ****tail every now and then. When i was looking at your therapy thread and organic tomatoes, i was thinking yeah, my therapy comes in a glass.  I never cut them out when i was on the band and my weight loss was so much better.  Ohhh, I'd better be ready for my closeup when this **** finally decides to go live in someone Else's ass.   

Oh, don't get me wrong. I get my ****tails but try to keep it within limits for weight loss/calorie purposes. but seriously? I either gotta take the advise and add calories or take the advise and lose calories to get the last 10 off.
And that might just mean cutting out all ****tails for a while.
I know, I know...it's tough but seriously, I'm just getting pissed that the scale isn't moving so I gotta go drastic.
I'm giving it one more week then Ima get seriously pissed off and crazy.

i don't know if my goal is a realistic one or not. What with people telling me I'm already skinny and what not. but i also know i'm not young anymore and my shape has changed a lot since I was 30. So, ima just keep doing this and see where I can take it.

I got the tool, so I guess I'm gonna just work it for a while longer.

I am having the exact same issues!!! Started lifting again and running about 7 wks ago.  I've increased my protein to around 100gms a day and my carbs to about 60 gms or so. The scales haven't moved even though I'm doing the c25k and lifting weights 3x a week as well.  I have noticed a slight change in the way my pants fit around the waist, but nothing like I would like to see in  this time frame,  My calorie range is about 800-1000 a day.  Seldom do I reach 1000 but on the days I run and do abs, I try to eat a little more.  I'm 2 yrs 3mos out  and have been at this weight for about 10 months now.  I am sooo greatful for my vsg but really want to lose about 15 pounds more. Any comments from vets who also are excercising hard would be welcome! 

I was there just a while back - so a big 'hug' to you!

Don't have anything good to say - this annoyed me too much and I let it get to me!

Ok, I'm good with a hug right now. trying hard not to cry....

What is your body fat percentage? Cut out the alcohol, if you are having ****tails more than once per week. It does slow your weight loss and the calories are stored as fat.

5'4" and 143 lbs isn't unreasonable, especially if your frame is medium. Aerobic exercise and weight lifting will help to change your shape and to build some muscle. Need to give it more time.

Increase the intensity and frequency of your exercise, if it is too difficult to cut calories. That is what I tend to do, and it seems to be working. I've been in maintenance for the past year, so that helps me to maintain. When I was in the latter stages of losing, my calories were a bit lower (I'm only 4'11"), but not lower than 800 cal/day. I also, increased the intensity and frequency of my exercise to get the last 10 lbs off. I am in the middle of my BMI range for my height. I am 58 years young.


gail

Body fat is at 29% per that little machine thinggy my husband got me.
And I'm 51 years young (except for that wrinkly part above my knees...just noticed that).
That sounds like advice I can work with. I HAVE been increasing the intensity and frequency. I've added  another 2-4 miles a day on the treadmill and increased the weight lifting to another 1/2 hour more with some extra and different things.
And yes I know the ****tails are an issue. I gotta wrap my head around abstaining as it's pretty much a mainstay in our house. (we make our own wine) (sigh). But I've done it before and can do it again. Like I said, just gotta wrap my head around it.

In the meanwhile, I have been logging food diligently and adding extra cardio and weights.

Wish me luck.
donna