I can't seem to get this weight off!

[LizzyMary]

Hi!

Firstly, I want to explain that over the past two years I had lost 130+ pounds. I did so through exercise and clean eating.

Problem is, I started eating at night when I got hungry (usually an apple and one or two cookies before bed at 10:00) and began to pack on a good 30 pounds. I'm not 5'5 and 153lbs. I really don't like this. So I stopped eating as much at night (limited myself to an apple and maybe one home made cookie) and ramped up my workouts. I'm calorie counting trying to stay between 1,200 and 1,500 calories a day.

I don't eat any refined carbs or sugars and I don't drink any diet sodas or junk food like chips or chocolate bars. Pretty much the worst thing I eat is bread. (And even there I limit it two slices of bread in a day.) When I bake, I use whole wheat or spelt flour and coconut sugar.

Now, for my workouts. I alternate doing cardio workouts like using the cross-trainer for 12k or running and lifting. My cross trainer says that my hour workouts on almost max resistance burn 1000 calories. On days that I don't do cardio, I lift and row and use the stair master. I try to workout 6 days a week.

Anyway, my frustration is that I have clean bloodwork, but feel sluggish, cold, and really depressed because I can't seem to lose this weight no matter how hard a try.

Any suggestions would be me so welcome.

Thank you!!!

[moreless Administrator 7 stone]

Hi and welcome, LizzyMary

Firstly, well done for such an amazing loss!

Now for my non-medical input:

If you're hungry, then you should be eating more through the day, not waiting until bedtime to snack. According to the NHS BMI calculator, you should be eating a minimum of 1580 calories per day. Eating too little can hinder weight loss, just as eating too much can. healthunlocked.com/weight-l...

You may like to read this about calories healthunlocked.com/nhsweigh...

And about eating less and moving more healthunlocked.com/nhsweigh...

When weight loss is a struggle healthunlocked.com/weight-l...

Coconut sugar is virtually the same as table sugar healthline.com/nutrition/co...

I'm also alerted to the fact that you're feeling sluggish, cold and depressed and wonder whether you may have an underactive thyroid, which could make weight loss difficult? I recommend the Thyroid UK forum for really knowledgeable assistance healthunlocked.com/thyroiduk

I hope the above will help in some way.

All of the information you need about the forum can be found in Pinned Posts healthunlocked.com/weight-l... and we hope you'll be joining all the Events, Challenges and Clubs that we run, especially the weigh-in and daily diary.

We've found active participation to be key to successful weight loss and, of course, it's a good way to get to know people, find inspiration and share support and encouragement.

Wishing you all the best

[Languid_Lil in reply to moreless]

Sounds like you're working so hard! I know you said clean bloodwork but did they check Vitamin B12? Changed my life when they spotted that for me.

[TheTabbyCat Administrator 16kg in reply to Languid_Lil]

Tagging LizzyMary

[CheerfulDragon]

Hi, LizzyMaryCongratulations on losing 130lbs, and on being able to do so much exercise. I feel virtuous if I go for a brisk walk!

Now for the stern advice. Stop eating late at night. There was an item on Trust Me, I'm A Doctor some years ago. They looked at the effect of eating late at night and found that it messes with your blood sugar levels. They recommended not eating after 8pm, and even splitting your day so that you only eat during an eight hour period. Some people refer to this 16:8 split as intermittent fasting.

I don't know if eating late at night is causing your problems with weight loss, but cutting those snacks has to be worth a try.