I need help ladies

[kitkat929]

So, I am new to the forums. I am at a point of frustration to be honest.

Long story short, 5 years ago I had a c section and lost son at birth and it has been tough losing weight ever since. I got depressed and gained a whole bunch of weight. I went from 135 to now being 170 pounds. I am only 5'5 so you can imagine that most of the weight gathers in the middle. Then, about 2 years ago they found a mass on ovary and I had to go into surgery which was really hard getting back to normal. I pretty much gave up lol until I saw myself naked in the mirror and I was disgusted.

So, the very next day I went out and bought some small weights. I bought 3 Jillian Michaels work outs because I was not really sure where to start to be honest. I used to drink so much pepsi to the point when I would go grocery shopping I would buy 2 24 packs of soda and I would be out within a week in a half. I stopped eating fast food and ordering out for pizza, mc d's and burger king. I eat alot of frozen veggies and fruits as well. I drink water like it is going out of style.

work out schedule was 30 minutes of cardio a day but, when I was not losing weight I stepped it up and I have not lost a dang pound. Maybe I am doing too much, I have become addicted to working out and I think that might be hindering weight loss. However, clothes fit better though. I even have one pair of jeans that I can pull off without unbuttoning or unzipping the pants lol. ultimate goal is a size 10 pants. When I started I was wearing an 18, however I can fit into 16 comfortably and 14 pants but, it is tight around the middle. But, the scale has not moved in a month in a half.

Here is current work out with work out tapes I bought: 6 week 6 pack, no more trouble zones and 30 day shred

5/21: 30 minute abs and 30 minutes cardio
5/22: 30 minue abs and 30 minutes cardio
5/23: 30 minute abs and 30 minutes cardio
5/24 :30 minutes cardio and 40 minutes of circut training
5/25: 30 minutes abs and 1 hour of cardio
5/26: 30 minutes abs and 1 hour of cardio
5/27: 30 minutes cardio and 40 minutes circut training
5/28: day off
then it starts all over again

I am really at a point of frustration because I do not know what I am doing wrong. The one thing I have cut out of diet completely is meat. I am wondering if I should add some fish to diet. If that is problem. Maybe I am not eating enough. I have noticed I am not as hungry since I have been working out. I am not sure to be honest. You are probably laughing at me but, that is okay. I am laughing at myself because I am confused. How is it that some people can drop weight fast and I am busting butt and I have not lost a pound lol

I am so sorry for the long post, I really am. I am not going to stop working out but, dang something has to give at some point.

[fitoverforty]

Hi & welcome! First of all, I want to express sympathy at the loss of your son. I have gone thru something similar ( pregnancy didn't go to term, tho') and I know that kind of pain. It is a hard road back to any semblance or normalcy. I went thru a major depression, put on extra weight too.
I know that feeling of giving up.....but I congratulate you on finding your way back to your life and the decision to take charge and get yourself healthy again.
This is a great place to find advice, help and support. We all are trying to find our way, what works best for us.
It sounds like you have hit a plateau - your body has gotten used to the demands you are putting on it and has adjusted. Adding extra workouts will only last so long, til your body adjusts again.
advice would be to take a closer look at your eating. What you are eating and what times you are eating in relation to your workouts is important. You may not be eating enough. I know that sounds crazy, but if you are cutting back too much on food your body will hang onto every calorie for dear life and you won't lose weight.

If you could list your meals, what you eat, what time you eat then we could break it down and look at ways to help you. There are alot of folks here who know so much more than me that can help you with forming a workout/eating plan that will work to get you off that plateau.

Congrats on what you have done so far - down two pants sizes is great!

[kitkat929]

Thanks for responding. I feel dumb honestly because I feel like weight loss should be cut and dry and I should know the rules. Thank you for your sympathy for son. It does mean alot.

As far as eating, I do not have a plan honestly. I have cut out meat entirely not because I want to but, just because I have not had a craving for it. I work at home from 5:30 pm to 2am. I wake up around 9:30 am, but that is without an alarm. body is just ready to wake up. I have read you need 8 hours of sleep and I have tried to sleep longer but, I just become restless really.

I do not have specific times I eat. Sometimes I will work out without having breakfast and just get straight to it. Then sometimes I do eat but, I wait about 2 hours before I start working out. I eat when I get hungry basically. I used to be hungry all the time before I started working out but, now I am not really hungry that much so I munch on small things like peanuts and cashews.

The food I am eating is apples, bannanas, grapes, light and fit yogart, brocolli, carrots, peas, peanut butter with 100% whole wheat bread, almonds, unsalted peanuts, lightly salted cashews, sometimes I will eat white rice with broccoli. I only drink water and sometimes I will have crystal light if I feel a sweet craving coming on, i do eat sweet potatoes. Sometimes I will eat a salad but, I get all worried because everyone says salad dressing is bad for you. Since I work late at night, I started eating dinner around 5 pm or 8pm and then I will not eat until the next day. I am a picky eater so I do not like tomatoes, onions, mushrooms or peppers. I have tried to eat them but, they taste gross to me lol I have a feeling I am not eating enough and maybe I need to add more protein to diet.

I had thought about adding a meal replacement..one of those powdery drinks that you can get like from a fitness store while I am working until 2 am so that atleast I have something in system but, friend said it would make me gain weight so I decided against that. If anyone has a good meal plan to fit work outs I am willing to try it.

I have noticed when I do change work out plan and add more cardio body adjusts within 2 weeks and then I have to revamp it and add more.

[fitoverforty]

Meat is a big source of protein - something your muscles need for fuel and repair after a workout. Lean protein like chicken breast, lean steak, tuna from a can or fresh are good sources of protein.
What you want to have is a good balance of both carbs and protein in every meal.

I do not have specific times I eat

I think eating on a fairly consistent schedule will help, coinciding with your workouts. You need protein within 45 minutes to an hour of your workout to help with repair and strengthening of the muscle. I usually eat a banana and drink a protein shake for post workout meal. The banana is a healthy carb and it replaces potassium.

The food I am eating is apples, bannanas, grapes, light and fit yogart, brocolli, carrots, peas, peanut butter with 100% whole wheat bread, almonds, unsalted peanuts, lightly salted cashews, sometimes I will eat white rice with broccoli.

I would do away with the yogurt, lots of bad stuff outweighing the good stuff in that. I love peanut butter, but only the all natural kind (that has to be refrigerated) unsalted. The fewer the ingredients the better.

i do eat sweet potatoes

LOVE sweet potatos with a dab of butter and cinnamon on top. I will make it a meal by adding a grilled chicken breast, sliced 1/2 avocado and a salad. Try replacing the white rice with brown.

I get all worried because everyone says salad dressing is bad for you.

Alot of them are. I make own. It's super easy: 2 tbsps Extra virgin olive oil, 1/2 tsp. lemon juice, tsp red or white wine vinegar, 1/2 tsp of dried oregano and/or basil, 1/2 tsp of minced garlic, mix it all together and drizzle over a salad, top with sliced almonds - it is awesome! And the best thing is that I know exactly what is in it because I made it. I have the powah!!

I work at home from 5:30 pm to 2am. I wake up around 9:30 am, but that is without an alarm. body is just ready to wake up. I have read you need 8 hours of sleep and I have tried to sleep longer but, I just become restless really.

7+ hours of sleep is plenty. I usually only get about 6 hrs. And if you are staying up til 2 a.m. and your last meal is at 5p.m. that is a LONG time to go without eating. I would add a small meal at 10 p.m. protein based, no processed grains.
The more fresh, unprocessed whole foods you eat the better. Stay away from frozen, pre-processed meals as much as you can and load up on fresh veggies, fruits, lean meats - and keep up with your workouts. You are doing good!

[kitkat929]

Thanks so much! Tomorrow is grocery shopping day so I will be buying some boneless chicken and some type of fish since I love seafood. Maybe I can have half a chicken breast after work out and then the other half at 10 pm like you suggested. I knew not eating from 5pm to the next day was not good. I just am not as hungry as I used to be which is weird. I would have thought with working out I would be hungrier lol

I love veggies especially brocolli is favorite to eat. I have loved it since I was a kid. mom jokes everytime we go out to eat and I order brocolli, she always tells the waitress when I was a kid and she asked me what veggie I wanted it was either corn or brocolli so they bought brocolli in bulk practically. I think tonight I may try the sweet potatoe with cinamon and butter like you suggested that sounds yummy.

I am going to post back in 2 weeks with results. Wish me luck

Thanks again for your help, I really do appreciate it

[Trish0102]

Losing weight after giving birth is really difficult for most mom. Don't stress yourself too much as this is a big factor also why you can hardly lose weight. I suggest you enroll yourself in a fitness program so that a fitness instructor can guide you better with your goal of losing weight.