Thread: This is not working!!!

Originally Posted by andalee-oriental

As for measuring and weighing...I don't usually do that, but I did for the first time today. I counted out 20 pretzels and put them in a baggie. Then I counted out 10 grape tomatoes. Nice little snackie. I know all about portion sizes, but I am sure I often under-estimate.

I think the more calorie dense the food, the more important it is to accurately measure. I don't bother measuring non-starchy fruits and veggies. Things that must be measured/weighed are meats, fats, pasta, rice, bread, mashed potatoes.

TDP says I should eat 1527 calories a day to lose 2 lbs a week. Most days I go a little over my calorie allotment so I could expect to lose less than 2 lbs per week but not nothing...When I exercise (elliptical and walking) I eat anywhere from 1700 to 1900 calories per day. Less for days I belly dance because I don't usually get a lot of cardio.

Hmmm...this sounds like it should be yielding a weight loss. Unless you have occasional cheats (like on the weekend?) that negate your calorie deficit during the week.

As for fat...My fat is not that low. In fact, I think I am still getting too much. Yesterday for instance I got 110% of daily fat (according to TDP Gold Member nutrition label) and it said 33.4% of my calories were from fat. The day before I got 117% RDA of fat, which made up 35.5% of my calories. Could it be that I am still eating too much fat?

I don't think you are eating too much fat. Are they good fats? Olive oil, flaxseed, walnuts? I often go a bit over 30% and did even during my weight loss. What about protein? I think the traditional 10% recommendation is too low for some people. You might shift some carb calories over into some lean protein calories.

Okay here is the deal. The belly dance classes you take and teach are not the kind of exercise that really facilitates weight loss. I mean, they are better than laying on the couch, but they are not doing what an intense cardio or weightlifting sessions does. When you get proficient at the dance, the movements just don't take that much energy, unless you are practicing drum solos for a solid hour or something. So, you are essentially working out twice per week. Honestly, I would shoot for cardio and/or weights 6x per week, and settle for a min. of 4X per week.

Originally Posted by andalee-oriental

Yeah, I feel the same way...but I have a lot of issues with fatigue, so it is extra hard for me to work out. Plus I have a crazy schedule, so fitting in exercise routines is difficult.

Here is my routine:
Monday - 90 min belly dance class and 60 minute troupe rehearsal (not very heavy on cardio though, mostly muscle and technique work)
Tuesday - Gym for 30-45 minutes. Walking and ellipitcal
Wed- Break
Thursday - Teaching BD class for 60 minutes
Friday - Gym for 30-45 minutes. Walking and ellipitcal.
Sat - Break
Sun - Teaching BD class for 75 minutes

I could add workout on Wed and Sat, but I really think I need time off. I guess it wouldn't kill me to add one more day.

Originally Posted by ssipes

Okay here is the deal. The belly dance classes you take and teach are not the kind of exercise that really facilitates weight loss. I mean, they are better than laying on the couch, but they are not doing what an intense cardio or weightlifting sessions does. When you get proficient at the dance, the movements just don't take that much energy, unless you are practicing drum solos for a solid hour or something. So, you are essentially working out twice per week. Honestly, I would shoot for cardio and/or weights 6x per week, and settle for a min. of 4X per week.

Yup. I take or teach anywhere from one to four classes a day, 5 days a week, but I don't count ANY of that as exercise because I'm just not pushing my body at all. I'm rarely out of breath from it, never are my muscles sore/tired the next day.

I seriously dread that much exercise...part of the problem, I know.

Originally Posted by andalee-oriental

I seriously dread that much exercise...part of the problem, I know.

I understand. I used to feel the same way. Seriously. I was never a very active kid, and any tolerance I might have had for exercise was jolted out of me in junior high p.e. where I spent some of the most humiliating hours of my life. *shudder*

I know you're a lot younger than me -- but as I aged, I found that exercise was no longer optional for me. After 35, I couldn't keep weight off without exercise any more (though in the beginning, dance class was enough). By age 40, I was learning to love the feelings that came with exercise -- the rush of endorphins, the thrill of meeting new challenges, the feelings of strength in my body.

I still battle my weight, and it's a bigger battle every year as I approach menopause --after which I can only assume I'm doomed. But now I love exercise and only hate the dieting part.

Andalee, I still say that expecting to loose weight after two weeks is expecting too much... Drop the carbs. I don't know about you but when I hit 35, carbs (I loooove fresh baked bread, but it don't love me) hit my ass and waist line with a vengeance and I've had to battle with carbs ever since.

You could also include one that's simply instructional: Time for the guy in this relationship to go make himself real small.

My husband usually only realizes that it's *that* time (to go make himself real small) when he's already pushed my button (aka snarling b*tch reaction). It's kind of funny to watch a 6'2" 280 lb man try to shrink in on himself and scuttle out of my way. ..l;,

Originally Posted by Lauren_

Maybe make him up some cue cards? ..l;,

Hey Andalee,

Are you doing any strength training? Resistance training? If you build up your muscles just even the slightest bit they will work overtime for you, burning more calories even as you sleep. Not to mention how great weight bearing exercise is for your bones. If you totally concentrate on cardio you might benefit from a little weight training to jump start your metabolism. I know I see a difference when I build up a little muscle and keep my body guessing.

I'm not doing any weight training...other than the ab conditioning we do in dance class. LOL!

PS Boyfriend made almond cookies today...so yesterday was pears and ice cream and today it was cookies! He's not fair!

Are you sure your boyfriend is trying to help??!!

I agree with jasani - drop the carbs. Carbs love to hang out on my body, and I can only eat them in quantity if I am doing A LOT of hard excersise.
No bread, flour, sugar... you know what a carb is. Cut them down to a minimum. NO ice cream or cookies.

Dieting sucks, andalee, it's hard and it just sucks. If you eat icecream and cookies you are setting yourself up to fail. Accept that while you are trying to drop the weight you CANNOT eat that stuff. Later, you may be able to eat a little and not gain the weight back, but it's likely you really can't eat it much at all.

I feel for ya.

Ugh! Tell me about it. I am trying hard not to eat sugar (cake, ice cream, soda), next is bread >:(
All the while my boyfriend eats and drinks whatever he wants and all he has to do is walk a little and his weight drops! It's not fair!

Originally Posted by khalilaNZ

Dieting sucks, andalee, it's hard and it just sucks. If you eat icecream and cookies you are setting yourself up to fail. Accept that while you are trying to drop the weight you CANNOT eat that stuff. Later, you may be able to eat a little and not gain the weight back, but it's likely you really can't eat it much at all.

I feel for ya.

I personally believe that setting unrealistic guidelines of what I can or can't eat will set me up to fail. Not having some ice cream every now and again. If I stay within my calorie range and eat mostly healthy, I should be able to afford a little something. That's why I like WW. For me, the more I deprive myself of the stuff (food) I really enjoy in life, the more opportunity there is for me to relapse and get all crazy and binge.

My metabolism must have really halted recently. Anyone have this experience while taking oral contraceptives? They swear there is no corellation between weight gain and birth control, but I'm wondering...I've been on the pill since January and I've gained a lot of weight in that time period (I believe I was about 176 or so at my last physical in Dec and now I am at 190). I guess I could blame the boyfriend too...

But it's really my habits and body that are the problem. Sigh. ..cr.:

Okay, what I mean is, ice cream one day and cookies the next....
If I relent and eat it one day, I don't notice it on the scales. So, I think, great, no problem!! And i might eat something else the next day, and the next... and no change. And then SUDDENLY!!! BAM!! 2 kg goes on the next week!!! AARRRGGGHHH!!!
My best friend went on the pill and gained weight. And she's a skinny girl. I gain weight on the pill. Maybe a different type of pill would be better for you? Some are definately worse than others for weight gain. But it might be coinciding with other things.

Originally Posted by andalee-oriental

I personally believe that setting unrealistic guidelines of what I can or can't eat will set me up to fail. Not having some ice cream every now and again. If I stay within my calorie range and eat mostly healthy, I should be able to afford a little something. That's why I like WW. For me, the more I deprive myself of the stuff (food) I really enjoy in life, the more opportunity there is for me to relapse and get all crazy and binge.

My metabolism must have really halted recently. Anyone have this experience while taking oral contraceptives? They swear there is no corellation between weight gain and birth control, but I'm wondering...I've been on the pill since January and I've gained a lot of weight in that time period (I believe I was about 176 or so at my last physical in Dec and now I am at 190). I guess I could blame the boyfriend too...

But it's really my habits and body that are the problem. Sigh. ..cr.:

I'm the same way...if I forget to bring healthy, good snacks to work, I eat the Ramen and peanut M&Ms in the kitchen.

I loved WW for that reason: I COULD have the bag of M&Ms...but I just had to plan for it.

Be sure to watch your portion sizes and drink your water too. :)

You can do it!

I really thinking walking/jogging more might help. I teach bellydance too..and though it helps me tone..I dont know if I am burning enough calories......if I were you..I would up the walking..and try to build it up a bit faster like a slow jog

just my 2 cents....years back...I saw a dramatic difference when I started running

I would lean towards blaming the pill for some of it. Have you had your thyroid checked? You're probably too young for thyroid problems though. Hmmm, I would say your body is hanging onto calories because it's not getting as many as it was before.

I can relate to this. Something that helped me was substituting something else in place of the food. I am an emotional eater. But wait, that's not an apt term either becasue I like to eat no matter what the emotion. Night was my biggest downfall. I'd be good all day, then when the kids were in bed... I'd sabotage all my efforts of that day with snacking.

This is going to sound flaky but it helped me break my habit. I went and had a set of acrylic nail tips put on and I would put a new color on every other night. (on the off nights, just a coat of clear) I literally couldn't snack with wet nails. It helped me to break my habit. I don't have tips on anymore, but when I want to slip into that habit, I get up and get away from the kitchen. It is still hard.

Food can have such a hold on us. IT's not like any other habit like drinking, smoking, etc, that you can just cut it out of your life and be done with it. We need food to survive. Keep going, I know you can do it!! Maybe go work on that pretty pearl costume of yours? ;0

Originally Posted by khalilaNZ

Okay, what I mean is, ice cream one day and cookies the next....
If I relent and eat it one day, I don't notice it on the scales. So, I think, great, no problem!! And i might eat something else the next day, and the next... and no change. And then SUDDENLY!!! BAM!! 2 kg goes on the next week!!! AARRRGGGHHH!!!

Same for me. For me, eating no sweets is easier than trying to moderate occasional sweets.

Eating carbs sets you up to want more carbs. Thus, eating a little is actually harder than eating none.

Yeah, very slippery slope for me. WW dosn't work well for me - give me an inch I take a mile!! I finally figured it out a few years ago - JUST DON'T EAT IT!!! And if I do, I gotta pay the toll!!

Originally Posted by andalee-oriental

PS Boyfriend made almond cookies today...so yesterday was pears and ice cream and today it was cookies! He's not fair!

You think yours is bad? Mine brought home a 2 1/2 lb baklava assortment on Sunday!! ,m:: I think so far I've done very well to only have 3 pieces, but it's been VERY difficult. MEN!!

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