Why are you not an ideal weight?

[Anonymous]

Vegetarian and eat too many carbs. Also don't lift weights often enough. I'm active but am a cardioholic. Lifting weights helps me drop fat more easily. Wish I had access to a semiprivate or women's only gym where the weights area isn't as male dominated.

[Anonymous]

I was an ideal weight and fit until I got sick with a chronic illness that led to fatigue and cognitive fog and all my routines changed. I have a sedentary job now and spend all my free time sitting and snacking. I eat way too many carbs - mostly sugar and white simple carbs. I just don't seem to care enough to get myself healthy. Other than going for a walk most days I do no exercise. I am generally unhappy in life at the moment. I feel disgusting but somehow still unmotivated to change.

I too have hypothyroid and that makes me tired as well. Adding to my reasons why it is just easier to sit and eat.

[Anonymous]

Snacking after dinner. At least after reading this thread I feel a little better since I'm obviously not alone in this!

[Anonymous]

For all those who have issues with evening snacking, here's what worked for me:

I eat a breakfast with some protein but only about 100-200 calories total (homemade buckwheat pancake with 1 tbsp peanut butter (200 cal) or a banana with 1/2 tbsp peanut butter (150 cal), or 1/2 hard-boiled egg and a slice of toast with butter (150 cal), or handful of berries and glass of unsweetened hemp milk (100 cal).

Then I do a small mid-morning snack (carrot sticks, broccoli, etc., maybe a tbsp hummus or low-fat ranch)

Then a salad with low-fat dressing for lunch.

By 6 when I get home I have consumed 300-500 calories all day (only drink water), and then I eat dinner and still have calories leftover for late-night snacking (although I try to stick with popcorn, rice cakes, etc. so it doesn't get so out of control).

I'm too busy during the day to feel hungry or deprived and I can relax a bit during the time of day when my willpower is tapped.

[Anonymous]

I'm about 10 lbs overweight. I'm overweight because I love food and don't constantly deny myself in order to be thin. I watch what I eat about 75% of the time. I exercise a good amount and have a bmi of about 22%.

[Anonymous]

I've always been overweight. Even when I've worked out six times a week and eaten carefully after three months of that I'd lost like two pounds so I gave up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I've always been overweight. Even when I've worked out six times a week and eaten carefully after three months of that I'd lost like two pounds so I gave up.

Have you been tested for any autoimmune disorders? PCOS or Hashi's might explain this, or some kind of metabolic issue. Otherwise if you really were eating healthy and in moderate portions and working out 6 times a week you would lose weight. I'd be a bit concerned about a medical issue.

[Anonymous]

Thanks, 15:30. I never thought to reduce my caloric intake or exercise regularly in order to lose weight. I will have to give that a try. Asshole.

[Anonymous]

I like wine and I'm part Italian.

I am a real foodie.

I eat well Mon-Friday, but all hell breaks loose on the weekends.

[Anonymous]

I have no problem exercising and do so 6 days a week. I also walk 8 flights of stairs 3xs a day at my office to combat being sedentary. I pack a lunch and eat very well....until 5PM hits and I get a carb attack and go crazy. I most definitely crush it between 5-7PM.

If I could control myself during these hours I would look amazing and drop the last 10.

[Anonymous]

Boredom and loneliness.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thanks, 15:30. I never thought to reduce my caloric intake or exercise regularly in order to lose weight. I will have to give that a try. Asshole.

Hey there, tone it down. In reality, the PP's statement about her body "hanging on to every last pound" was what was at issue. It isn't possible, as in it is literally impossible, for your body to "hold on to" weight if you're eating fewer calories than you burn, unless you have an underlying medical condition. Everyone can be whatever size they want and people can be healthier at higher weights, I am just saying that people who torture themselves trying to lose weight, but sabotage the effort and lie to themselves about it aren't really getting anywhere. I swear, it's why people hate dieting.

[Anonymous]

The reality is that most ppl who state that they are exercising all the time and dieting but STILL aren't losing weight aren't being honest with themselves, assuming they don't have an underlying medical problem.

I know b/c I was like this for years (i.e., in denial about how much I really ate). Underestimating portion sizes, not including calories in drinks, etc. I even went to the doctor b/c I was CERTAIN I had a medical problem -- hence why I couldn't lose weight.

When I finally got honest with myself, and started tracking calories and really exercising, I've been able to lose weight. For almost everybody, it does come down to simple math (you need to consume less calories than you expend).

It may take some time to figure out what the magic number is for you, and what I realized for me, is that it is MUCH lower than it may be for others if I don't exercise (I have a desk job), but once I figured it out, I lost weight.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Vegetarian and eat too many carbs. Also don't lift weights often enough. I'm active but am a cardioholic. Lifting weights helps me drop fat more easily. Wish I had access to a semiprivate or women's only gym where the weights area isn't as male dominated.

Shop around different gyms, they have different feels. I am comfortable enough in the gym now that I don't mind going even in the most macho gym, but there are plenty that aren't as testosterone fueled.

I also find that most guys in the gym really don't care about you. I am 36 weeks pregnant and was in the free weight section doing my thing and no one even looked at me. (And now, I kind of want everyone to look at me and how appreciate how awesome I am!!) Get a buddy and get used to working out in the man-cave by yourself a few times a week. Faces will become familiar and you'll stop caring, I promise!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For all those who have issues with evening snacking, here's what worked for me:

I eat a breakfast with some protein but only about 100-200 calories total (homemade buckwheat pancake with 1 tbsp peanut butter (200 cal) or a banana with 1/2 tbsp peanut butter (150 cal), or 1/2 hard-boiled egg and a slice of toast with butter (150 cal), or handful of berries and glass of unsweetened hemp milk (100 cal).

Then I do a small mid-morning snack (carrot sticks, broccoli, etc., maybe a tbsp hummus or low-fat ranch)

Then a salad with low-fat dressing for lunch.

By 6 when I get home I have consumed 300-500 calories all day (only drink water), and then I eat dinner and still have calories leftover for late-night snacking (although I try to stick with popcorn, rice cakes, etc. so it doesn't get so out of control).

I'm too busy during the day to feel hungry or deprived and I can relax a bit during the time of day when my willpower is tapped.

I started tracking my food intake on myfitnesspal and had the opposite effect. Calories constant, I seemed to lose more weight when breakfast was 500 calories or so.

Also, with thediet above, there is no way I could fuel my workouts...I like to work out late morning (before the lunch crowd hits the gym), and if I am hungry going in my workouts are terrible. I usually eat a big breakfast around 8 am, right when I get into the office, and then lunch after my workout. And since i've been satisfied all day, I don't have willpower struggles at night. Some fruit or a bowl of cereal or whatever isn't going to break the diet bank if you have a good routine going, I just account for it.