New ideas?

Black_Blaze

Black_Blaze

New member
I'm about half way in my weight loss goals, and have found myself floundering for about a month now with no real change, and am in need of some new ideas to kick start my program again.
A year ago I moved, and told myself I was starting completely over, including food choices. Turned out to be easy since no one in the new household bought sweets. In a year I lost 30 pounds though better eating and working at a job that keeps me busy (not to mention a hotter environment that keeps me sweating!). A coworker of mine suggested a diet at one point, which I followed (and still follow, just not quite as strictly) that lists 3 meals, 2-3 snacks and all the amounts and ingredients. It included lots of good food, and I actually felt like I was eating MORE then I do usually, but still dropped another 15 pounds in about 6 weeks.
I went from 215 when I first moved, and now see 167 almost daily on the scale (which I still do a happy dance over!), but want to continue moving towards my goal of about 135. I'm 5 foot 2 1/2 inches, and according to all internet places, large framed.
I eat healthy... Breakfast is usually good cereal, yogurt w/fruit, or eggs. Lunch is more commonly a turkey sandwich with no cheese (lactose intolerant here) and lots of dark leafy greens, some times low-sodium soup, a salad, or twice a month thai food. Dinner varies, usually because I'm not very hungry by then, so I might have chicken w/veggies, or a small healthy snack.
I break "diet" off and on... I eat small amounts of chocolate or sweets, drink some alcohol, etc... but I'd rather not cut them out entirely and enjoy life, then crave foods and go on huge binges (done this many times in the past years - doesn't work). I drink no juice, mostly water and black coffee with some crystal light off and on. A diet soda makes it's way (more common recently) and I bought V8 for when those cravings hit.
My work keeps me very busy, and I'm on my feet walking for 8 hours a day, 5 days a week... not to mention some of it is very labor intensive and I sweat every day. I also clean a building once a week, and that is also a pretty good workout.
I don't have the energy or will to do much by the time I get home exercise wise, and my food amounts are already restricted.
What else can I do? I really want to get to my goal, and am starting to lose enthusiasm considering this is the first time in over a year that I haven't dropped ANYTHING in a month.
It would be awesome to get some advice or other tips/tricks to try.
 
First, a quick question.

I know you said you run around and are on your feet most of the day (I have the same type of job), but do you do any kind of exercise besides what you get while you're at work?

I can relate when you say you have no energy when you get home sometimes, but you should really try to do something intensive for a solid 30 minutes. That would be my advice :]

As for the diet your friend gave you, can you give a little more insight on that? Maybe you're not getting enough of the nutrients to keep your energy level up for when you get home? Plateaus happen. Don't lose enthusiasm or get discouraged :( When you start feeling like that, just remember that you will succeed as long as you don't stop. Just keep at it! Picture in your mind a year from now how good you'll feel when you step on that scale and see 135.

Like someone said before, a year is going to go by no matter what, so why not utilize it to make the rest of your life better? We're not getting any younger, so don't waste the time you have now! :)

And congrats on your awesome weight loss so far :D
 
I dance twice a week (once is an hour and a half class, the other is a 3 hour class), and go once or twice a month to social dances. That's my main form of activities outside of work, but I also go on my wii (bought primarily for this purpose! lol) and play the sports games and dancing games about once a week.
The diet was from a gym in california, which kept track of calories and the like. It made sure to keep up on healthy fats, protein, etc. The list itself it quite extensive, but it outlined everything to eat every day (6 day rotation), as well as encouraging to munch on "free calorie food" (mostly veggies) and drink lots of liquid. I did feel a bit off at one point (not sick or weak, but just not "right"), and went out and got the 1-a-day women's vitamin, which seemed to help.
I know part of the reason my energy levels are low once I get home is just plain due to my crazy schedule... I'm up at 6 every morning (due to insane neighbors and loud grandparents), and no matter how hard I try I'm not getting quite enough sleep. I'm moving to a new apartment in a few weeks, which I hope will help. I drive 2 hours every day (which new location will help as well), and my job is taxing. I'm a coach for the mentally handicapped, so not only is it labor intensive, it's also mentally intensive. I work 6 days a week, get home after 10pm 4 days a week, and still like to have a social life on the weekends.
I know plateaus happen, and had quite a few 2 to 3 week ones, but this is the longest yet, so I'm wondering if my body is accommodating the exercise I'm already getting, so I'm not burning enough any more. The problem is, I already am eating restricted amounts... I'm not hungry at night once I'm off work, but if I even skip a snack at work, I'm starving, and no amount of water helps.
 
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You sound very taxed indeed :(

Overdoing it is no good. I injured my foot a few weeks ago because I hadn't been taking the proper rest. So, I took a week off from exercising as a result.

I put on 7lb that week, even though I followed my usual diet. However, once my foot recovered and I gradually got back into it, I started dropping more weight per week than I had been for a while (2-3lb/week as opposed to the 0.5-1lb/week I'd been stuck losing for a while). I now take Sundays off completely from doing any exercise :D

Maybe you just need a vacation to reset yourself :) Perhaps you could take a week off from the stress of your job/diet? You may gain a little on the scale, but that's to be expected.

Everybody needs a break sometimes :]
 
I can't take any time off work, sadly, or I'd happily go on vacation! I do the same thing you do, though... I take sundays for myself, and usually spend the day lazing around and relaxing before starting another week.
It's just so frustrating! I really want to still lose that last 30 pounds, and am pretty against taking diet pills or anything, so I'm doing everything the "old fashioned way", but sadly can't think of anything else to do other then what I'm doing. Ugh.
 
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