Anyone struggle with this????

Hi ferfer,

I have 20 ibs to lose and am starting on a diet called SMD (scarsdale medical diet). It's usually always worked for me as long as I stick to it. Have you heard of it? Because it works quickly I tend to be encouraged and stick to it.

Keep in mind muscle weighs more than fat. It could be a lot of what you preceive as excess weight is muscle.

I know it is a tough way to go but try counting calories and adding some stength training.

Sometimes when we change our diet we have not changed caloric intake. Or sometimes a change in diet = and increase in calorie!

I recomend strenth training because muscle requires more calories to maintanin than fat. It burns calories. Arobic training does not increase muscle mass, and does not use as much calorie as strength training.

by all means keep up the cardio but it generally (at least after a certain cardio fitness level) does not do much to help reduce wt. though continuing it may keep you from gaining.

oops! after rereading I see you already use weights. Maybe you need to increse reps and sets, and possibly increase the wt.

Sustained activity is very benificial. 20 minutes a day is good maintainence. However, in reality is not good for increasing strenght, muscle, endurance, nor is it much good for loosing wt.

Check out the calories you eat. Keep a strict food diary. You might be surprised.

Maybe your body is telling you that this IS a good wt. for YOU.

You can call me nuts, but sometimes it helps if you actually ADD a bit of food. Perhaps you are in "starvation mode". This happens when you increase activity alot and don't eat enough. I don't mean go eat 5 bags of Mand M's(ummm), but maybe eating 6 small meals, add some lean protein, and a bit of fat too. It has helped me(I have 10 more stubborn pounds, so remember those last are the hardest to lose)

Suzanne,

Have you been able to read my post to you from today. (Nurse Anesthetist area). If you can respond, I would really apreaciate it. Thanks

Definitely agree with Sharann. You may not be eating enough and your body is in its hibernation mode. Try keeping a food diary for one week of everything that you eat, plus the times that you eat it. You may need to increase your amounts of food, actually.

Good luck :)

Read the Atkins book and you will understand perfectly clearly why you can't lose weight. I had the same problem, and was going to the gym 3-4 times a week religiously, and eating what I thought was sensibly. Until I read the Atkins book I realise I didn't have a clue about my body's metabolism. Now I live the Atkins way of life I am able to have control over my metabolism for the first time in my life. I have a waist and can wear tight jeans and tops, and my body shape has changed. It really works and I am never hungry!

:) Fefer,

I can totally relate to what you are saying!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I have been going through the very same thing over the past 2 months! I joined a diet center where they stress blood sugar stabilization....higher protein, less carbs (but not zero carbs) the right foods etc. I think I am stuck......I joined a gym, working out about the same as what it sounds like you are, and so on and so on. Obviously I have no words of wisdom but just wanted to let you know your not alone!!! I think my upcoming 40th has something to do with it. 15 pounds is all I want to loose!! Hubby did the Atkins thing...lost weight fast, gained it back fast. I couldnt deal with all that protein and no fresh fruit.....

Let me know how you do and if you find a miracle remedy!!:)

:) Thanks for the tips everyone. It is not like age plays a factor for me either because I am only 22! What the HE*******LL!!!!!!!!!!!

Oh well, I figure if I keep pushing it, it will eventually have to come off. I have heard that no-carb diets are very dangerous so I didn't either bother trying Atkins. In fact, I am not trying to go by a specific "diet". I am trying to do something that I can maintain as a lifestyle, but maybe that is my problem. Maybe the foods I am eating really do have more calories than I imagine! But, only 2 years ago I could eat whatever and never gain. Don't know what happened! Maybe being a mom- automatic weight gain that doesn't ever come off:chuckle

:) Thanks for the tips everyone. It is not like age plays a factor for me either because I am only 22! What the HE*******LL!!!!!!!!!!!

Oh well, I figure if I keep pushing it, it will eventually have to come off. I have heard that no-carb diets are very dangerous so I didn't either bother trying Atkins. In fact, I am not trying to go by a specific "diet". I am trying to do something that I can maintain as a lifestyle, but maybe that is my problem. Maybe the foods I am eating really do have more calories than I imagine! But, only 2 years ago I could eat whatever and never gain. Don't know what happened! Maybe being a mom- automatic weight gain that doesn't ever come off:chuckle

I am 21 and I know how you feel about busting your butt at the gym but not losing any weight. My advice for you is to get a body fat test either at the gym or maybe they do it at the school you attend or a local hospital. The health center on campus gives free fitness tests here that measures your body fat, endurace, lung capacity, etc. Before I started working out I went & got one and after working out for awhile I wasn't really losing any weight maybe a pound here or there, but when I went back to get my body fat tested again there was a big difference. It certainly made me feel like my work was paying off. Muscle weighs more than fat so you may just be changing your fat into muscle but also make sure you do keep an eye out for what you are eating.

Another thing....you may want to try and mix up your work out somedays. After a certain period of time your muscles get used to your workout and you don't get the same results you did when you began the workout. So try to mix in new things 1 or 2 times a week and that may help.

Hey Ferfer

It sounds to me like you are doing all the right things. I definately wouldn't recommend going on a 'diet', they only make you think about food. Grill instead of fry, try no butter in your sandwiches etc and remember like someone else said muscle weighs more than fat. I also think your combination of cardio and strength training sounds good. I know it's hard, we all want to see results fast, but stick with what you are doing and maybe do a food diary to keep track of what you are actually eating and drinking. Keep up the good work and you will get there. :)

Atkins is not a "no-carb" diet, it is low carb only for a short period (two week induction), and is a long term healthy eating plan. Don't dismiss something just because of gossip. Arm yourself with the truth by reading the book, instead of taking rumors as gospel. I'm sure many people miss out on many things by believing what they're told rather than researching the truth for themselves. If nothing else is working then obviously all the other things you are trying are wrong for you! I just believe so strongly in this because I experienced the same difficulty as you, and I couldn't have tried harder. I thought I was doing the right thing but it just didn't work, and everything seemed so hard. While everybody else seemed to be able to eat what they wanted and stay a normal weight, I ate "low-fat" and killed myself in the gym daily. It just got worse and worse. Now I know why, and being on Atkins allowed me to lose 20 pounds effortlessly, and actually keep it off easily, decrease my appetite, and give me choices to eat healthily on a day-to-day basis. Atkins is based on the intended diet for humans: meat, dairy vegetables and fruits, not processed garbage and high-sugar foods.

The Atkins book contains a list of things that you may find apply to you. If you find yourself ticking more than a few off the list then this is the plan for you. Atkins quiz

Atkins.com