Recruiting weight watchers people please

[Jasmin416]

After a discussion with my mom it seems I have to consider going even lower in points to lose weight. 18-23 seems to be it even though I workout. I know its lower than 1200 calories for the most part... but I do have a desk job.

I have been steadily at 24-30 points 6 days a week with one cheat meal on the 7th day. That apparently can't happen since I'm only maintaining at this level.

Does anyone have anything besides the classic veggie soup that helps you maintain a lower calorie intake like this? I think I'm going to feel very hungry at this level but I am NOT losing and I eat clean foods. Any other veggie soups or ideas you can recommend? Gosh, I HATE this! Losing is so hard after 30 yo.

 

[carres1973]

Have you thought about switching from Flex to Core?

Carrie

 

[dorothyrd]

I lost 20 quite easily last year after having regained that from the original 40 I lost. The trick was absolutely no junk, eating every 2-3 hours. Having lots of fish, veggies, some fruit, and eating insanely clean. I am 47, so it can be done. Pointage, it was around 29 points a day, but the balance of food was the difference. The other thought would be to get checked out by a doctor to see if there are any other issues.

 

[Tamrahan]

Have you thought about switching from Flex to Core?

Carrie

I agree with Carrie. Try the core for a week or two.

Also, since you've hit a plateau maybe instead of decreasing your points/calorie intake maybe you should increase temporarily. I know that sounds counter productive but it sounds like maybe your body is in "stavation mode". Your body thinks there is a famine and it's holding on to everything it can for survival. Try increasing your calorie intake a few hundred calories each day for a few weeks, then go back to counting your points. Talk to your leader and other members of your group too.

I just don't think that going down below 1200 iis the answer. In the long run you won't be able to keep that up and be happy and I think it is unhealthy. Soon, your body will adjust to that lower calorie intake and pretty soon you won't be losing at that level either.

Also what Dorothy said about seeng your Dr is wise as well.

 

[Jasmin416]

I can't imagine I'd be in starvation mode at 1500 calories a day though with one cheat day a week.

I haven't started taking in 1200 calories yet. In all honesty when I let myself eat whatever healthy food I wanted I gained 15 lbs. Probably also from a change in medication but I can' t seem to lose...only maintain or gain at 1500 or higher.

Part of it is medication related but I NEED to lose weight. I really could easily cry over this, that's how frustrating it is.

 

[Tamrahan]

I can't imagine I'd be in starvation mode at 1500 calories a day though with one cheat day a week.

I haven't started taking in 1200 calories yet. In all honesty when I let myself eat whatever healthy food I wanted I gained 15 lbs. Probably also from a change in medication but I can' t seem to lose...only maintain or gain at 1500 or higher.

Part of it is medication related but I NEED to lose weight. I really could easily cry over this, that's how frustrating it is.

You didn't mention medication in your original post but your're right some meds could very easily be affecting this. Talk with your Dr.
Try not to fret about it and don't give up you'll get to where you need to be. It WILL happen.

 

[Jasmin416]

Thanks for the support!

 

[Tamrahan]

While I was out I've been giving this more thought.

Go over to the video and and DVd rotatation threads or PM Fitness Freak. She used to do WW. That gal knows her stuff. She can plug in your stats-age, height etc and tell you how much you should be eating to maintain and how much to lose. it's interesting to know.

Also, I don't know how often you workout or the intensity but I'm sure doing some of Cathe's workouts workout surely can burn at least 4 or 5 hundred calories in an hour long workout. If you are only eating 1500 calories a day then doing say an hour long workout and burning off 400+/-
calories then then you very well could be in "survival mode" (I find that term slightly annoying I don't know why). I do think your body may be rebelling. Or it may just be "recalibrating" meaning that its adjusting to this level.

I know I'm always hungry and never seem satisfied and after reading a lot in this forum and the fitnessathlete.com forums I'm thinking that I am not getting enough protien and I was not eating enough calories and I was working out too much. i'm now shooting for 1500 to 1700 calories per day which by WW standard would be roughly 30 to 34 points. Yikes. but I do feel lighter and I have lost little. Also rest and recovery time is crucial. I've cut down on my cardio to 2 videos per week 30 minutes each, throw in a walk here and there, get in 2 total body workouts per week and added yoga 1 or 2 times and I feel so much better than what I was doing-3 weight training days 1 hour each and 3 cardio days 1 hour each plus walking up to 20,000 steps on my breaks and lunch hour and sometimes after work. I was exausted.

Some of the WW members say to zig zag your points (it kinda sounded like you do this already)
Also my leader has said just because we weigh in once weekly our bodies are on thier own time tables. one week you may feel like wow I've done so well this week, I exercised, ate within my points, followed all the rules. I bet I lost a lot then step on the scale and --nothing. you go the next week and voila down 5 #.
I know some gals at the meeting have said thier plateaus have lasted a month but eventually the scale starts moving again.

 

[dorothyrd]

I have a WW friend who when she started taking allergy meds, she started to gain gradually. Nothing changed in her diet and exercise, but no matter what she did, she could not stop gaining. Well finally after 6 months of this, she decided to drop the allergy meds and see what happened. Within a month, the excess weight started to drop, and she is almost back into her thinner jeans. Another note, she had gone to the doc and the doc told her the meds could not possibly be doing it....yet it seems to be the case.

 

[carres1973]

I can't imagine I'd be in starvation mode at 1500 calories a day though with one cheat day a week.

I haven't started taking in 1200 calories yet. In all honesty when I let myself eat whatever healthy food I wanted I gained 15 lbs. Probably also from a change in medication but I can' t seem to lose...only maintain or gain at 1500 or higher.

Part of it is medication related but I NEED to lose weight. I really could easily cry over this, that's how frustrating it is.

I think it all depends on what your weight is now. 1200 just seems WAY too low for me. I imagine you workout quite a bit. As Tamrahan said, eating only 1200, or thereabouts, and working out burning 400-500 calories per workout is just not enough food. I have read in a lot of places that no normally active person should go below 1500 calories.

If you feel you have gained weight or plateaued since taking a new medication, talk to your physician. There may be a weight-neutral drug that accomplishes the same thing.

As for the Core program of Weight Watchers, maybe read up on it and see what you think. In your original post, you said you eat "clean foods" with one cheat meal a week. What do you normally eat for your cheat meal? I could pack a whole days worth of calories into one meal. Core isn't eating whatever healthy food you want. There is a specific list of "allowable" foods. You also have your WPAs and APs you can eat. Do you eat those now? ore also isn't eating as much as you want. Core is eating only until satisfied, not totally full.

Are you an online member of Weight Watchers? Do you access their forums? You might be able to find out more specific information there. You can PM me if you have any questions about my experience with Core or Weight Watchers in general.

Don't get discouraged. Weight loss is a slow process. You didn't gain weight overnight. You aren't going to lose it overnight. You said you NEED to lose weight. Since that is the case, you need to do what is best for your body to take the weight off slowly so that it is healthy and long-term.

Carrie