Can ANYBODY help me?

[sosurreal09]

This is all so hard, I just don't get it can genes alone play this big of a role in weight?

I have always been on the bigger side, I was 120lbs in 6th grade...but I also ate horribly. We had mac n cheese for lunch and past for dinner b/c we never had any money. My mom was big, my sis is big, my bro, my grandma..all BIG BIG people.

I eat really well. I eat a lower carb, high protein, veggie filled diet! I have been eating like this for 2 years and the weight still won't come off. My thyroid is fine, my BP is amazing 100/60 every single time, my blood sugar is usually low but healthy. I drink water all day long...

I am nursing a 21 m/o and am active (cleaning, cooking, chasing after DD) the majority of the day and I also do yoga, pilates, tae bo, and walk/bike on a regular basis. So for the most part I eat well and stay active.

If I eat ONE bad thing I explode! I had 2 regular size cookies a few days ago (at MILs house we have NO junk food ever here) and each day I have been working out at least 20 mins a day and I gained 4lbs and now weight more than I have ever weighed since after DD was born! TWO stinking cookies ruined all my hard work? I never lose more than maybe a 1lb a month anyway...

It just all seems so hopeless. IDK what to do anymore, I am not happy with how my body looks and I am not OK being this big but I just don't know what to do about it.

I'm not looking for some "quick fix" thing but I need some help. Anyone know how to fight genes? Am I missing something?!

[pacificbliss]

Hugs. I am so sorry.

The only thing I can think of is maybe portion size? Even with a good diet it is possible it's just too much. Maybe you can try tracking food for a while including weights and measures?

[sosurreal09]

Right forgot to address portions. I don't over eat either. I try to do 1cup of plain veggies with lunch and dinner. If I eat a carb it's like one potato or 1/2 cup whole grain rice. Should I be limiting meat? I usually only have meat @ dinner but sometimes as leftovers for lunch. I hardly ever snack and if I do it's either a piece of fruit, 1/4 cup of raw mixed nuts, or 1/4-1/2 cup of so delicious coconut ice cream (which isn't that bad and come on it's my only "bad food")

I don't eat any processed foods unless it is homemade bread or muffins (very very little sugar)

I just cut out coffee as well and we are dairy free b/c DD has a dairy allergy also so I'm not eating that.

I feel like I can't even live my life, I mean I'm not starving myself or anything but I feel like I can't eat anything KWIM?

[berry987]

Read "Why we get fat and what to do about it" by Gary Taubes. All the answers are there ... believe me, it will change your life!

Edited by berry987 - 7/20/11 at 4:35am

[midnightwriter]

HUGS Is it possible that you are eating too little? Have you tracked your calories?

[Katie T]

Are you getting enough sleep? That can be a big one! 

Also I agree with tracking your calories. I don't eat much and don't loose weight so I tracked them and with an active lifestyle and nursing I only take in 12 to 14 hundred a day. I just don't think that is enough but I am not a hungry person so have trouble getting more in.

Another thing is snack. When I am not nursing I can loose weight. I lost 50 lbs before my last 2 kids (genes here too, we don't loose weight while nursing) and I did a healthy breakfast and a small snack and a healthy lunch and a snack and a healthy dinner and if I are dinner early I would have another snack at about 7pm. Small portions and make sure that you are not going to small and too few calories. 

Hugs, I know how it feels. 

[sosurreal09]

I have thought I was eating too little before. I should count calories too. I did the whole spark people thing for a while and I was always around 1200 but that's what they recommended for me (but they didn't know I was nursing). I just feel like I have been going at this for so many years with nothing to show for it.

[berry987]

Seriously, read the book I recommended! I struggled with my weight for YEARS (from the age of 10), dieted, exercised, worked my butt off but stayed a good 20 to 30 pounds overweight (and that was success, because when I didn't completely diet and exercise I got to 60+ pounds overweight). I started to think it was the whole metabolism thing and somehow I was destined to be a bit chubby my entire life. But his book changed my life and its no longer a struggle. I'm pregnant now with my 4th child and all of my other pregnancies the weight just piled on even when I was limiting calories to 1600/day and swimming laps daily. I gained 50 to 60 pounds with my earlier pregnancies. But with this one, following what I now know are true healthy guidelines (not affected by the agendas of all the other health organizations) I have only gained 12 pounds and I'm 25 weeks. And I'm not dieting, I'm eating whenever I feel like it. There's a lot to it, so I won't go into details, but please look up the book on amazon for reviews. His earlier book, Good Calories, Bad Calories is more scientific (and amazingly interesting) than Why we get Fat, but less useful for someone trying to lose weight.

[loveangel]

are you taking proper sleep?

[sosurreal09]

Originally Posted by loveangel 

are you taking proper sleep?

NO. IDK how to get more sleep though! I have a nursling and a husband to care for and I have always had sleeping issues. Some nights I will lie there with songs stuck in my head and I won't sleep for hours!
 

Originally Posted by berry987 

Read "Why we get fat and what to do about it" by Gary Taubes. All the answers are there ... believe me, it will change your life!

So I didn't read the book but I watched the documentary "FAT HEAD" does that count? LOL Does he basically support the primal diet? I am thinking of going primal over here (although I think I almost am anyway...almost)

So what do you all think would going full fledged primal help?

[APToddlerMama]

Maybe a thyroid issue? 

[sosurreal09]

Nope the thyroid is fine had it tested.

[weliveintheforest]

Have you seen a naturopath?  If not, that might be helpful, they could look at your history and diet and make some suggestions.  I've also read that thyroid tests don't always find the problem... so having someone look into that some more may help.

[APToddlerMama]

Originally Posted by weliveintheforest 

Have you seen a naturopath?  If not, that might be helpful, they could look at your history and diet and make some suggestions.  I've also read that thyroid tests don't always find the problem... so having someone look into that some more may help.

Yes to all of this.  If you search within MDC, there is some info on thyroid tests not necessarily being read correctly by doctors. There seems to be some discussion about where the cut offs should really be, versus where they are now.  Some are treating for thyroid even when numbers aren't in the current range for most doctors to treat.  Not that this is your issue, but it might be worth searching around a bit. 

[Love_My_Babies]

How did Sparkpeople figure your calorie intake?  Did they ask you for your weight and the number of pounds you want to lose per week? 

How many times a day are you eating?

Also, you should consider increasing your workouts to at least 30 minutes.  If you are training at a moderate to high intensity (meaning your heart rate is at a training zone), for the first 20 minutes your body uses the energy stored in your muscles.  At the 20 minute mark is when your body starts tapping into the fat stores in your body and burns fat as fuel. 

And, you should consider adding some resistance or strength exercises at least twice a week.  Jillian Michels and other big name trainers have some fun resistance band and kettle bell stuff, which you could buy in a kit at major stores.  You do not need to bulk up on muscle!  But, you do want to overall tone your body.  Lean muscle burns fat even at rest, and overall increases your metabolism.  Plus, it makes us look a little better, which is great for the mind and spirit.

[berry987]

So I didn't read the book but I watched the documentary "FAT HEAD" does that count? LOL Does he basically support the primal diet? I am thinking of going primal over here (although I think I almost am anyway...almost)

So what do you all think would going full fledged primal help?

I don't know much about the primal diet, so I can't speak to that, but I can say that the great thing about the book is that he really paints a clear picture of why some people get fat and others don't. For me, that was a missing piece in so many diet books (because we all know tons of people who eat crap and stay thin and fit). I always felt like it meant there was some kind of genetic defect or I was doing something wrong. And I think what was so motivating and freeing was the realization that carbohydrates and sugar are basically poison to our bodies (and that includes thin people) and just because someone doesn't get fat eating them doesn't mean they aren't going to see consequences. People are dying of cancer and heart disease and don't know why because they've always been slim and thought they ate healthy. So in some ways I am lucky that I get fat eating that stuff because it was an outward sign that something wasn't working right and now I had the time and knowledge to change it before I get chronic diseases. Anyway, it's not a diet book, it's a book you should read for the health and well being of you, your kids, your spouse...anyone you love and want to see live a long time.

[sosurreal09]

Yeah primal says that too! We have gone primal for 5 days now. I had a carb "flu" for 3 of them but I have been sticking to it. I feel so full and satiated all day! I already lost 4lbs!!!!! woo hoo!