Losing that last freakin 10 pounds!!!!

[Lauriebell82]

So I went on a diet about 4-5 months ago. I was not really "fat" just had some little chubby spots I guess you could say. Let's just say nobody would look at me and think "man she's fat, she needs to lose weight."

 

Now anyway, I have lost about 45 since then. Like I said, I was never real fat to begin with so it didn't come off THAT fast. I look good. Flat stomach, small legs and thighs, thinner face, ect. I want to look GREAT. I weight about 120ish right now and am 5'2. I know according to my ideal weight I should be 110 pounds. I do have a curvy build so if a 5'2 person weighing 120 pounds (and didn't have hips) was put next to me they would look thinner from the front. If I turn to the side I literally look like I have no stomach.

 

Okay so to my point: I want to lose "the rest" of the fat. The areas are mainly my legs (thighs) and hips. I have breasts which have gone down A LOT but those aren't going to go away completely, something I have to accept.

 

I recently realized I have plateued (sp?) running about 3 miles a day. For the past few days I upped it to 3.5 to see if that made a difference. It didn't really and now my thighs are starting to get sore. What should I do? Switch workouts? I'm getting frustrated that I stopped losing.

[Thaddeus]

Sounds like you're down to your body's natural size. At 120 lbs and 5'2", I personally think that's damn near perfect. Having not seen a pic of you, I'd still suggest that you probably look like a million bucks!

 

As I understand, there isn't really a proven way to "spot reduce" areas of your body (that is, ab crunches won't reduce belly fat, or hip exercises won't reduce flab around your hips).

 

If your thighs are getting sore after running, check your shoes. Placement of your feet on the pavement (or whatever you're running on) is critical and is highly influenced by the way your shoes are designed. Over- or under-pronation is common. A good quality athletic shoe store will be able to guide you.

[Lauriebell82]

If you look in my profile you can see a pic of me and my fiance. It was taken a few years ago but I did put on some weight since then. I'm probably back to that weight right now as I was in the pic.

 

I do look good I just want to look GREAT. Like thin legs and hips like some of the other girls I have seen. I hate my build, it's so annoying!!!

[Lauriebell82]

AHHHHH, my best friend just posted pictures of us when she visited last month. I look so heavy!!!! WTF happened? I don't get it!!!!

[Thaddeus]

I'm probably back to that weight right now as I was in the pic.

I'll stand by my previous note:

I'd still suggest that you probably look like a million bucks!

Cuz you do!

[Citizen Erased]

You're worrying about 4.5 kilos? Really?

 

120 pounds is not heavy Laurie. Come on.

[Trialbyfire]

Don't get obsessive about weight. Reliant on frame, type of diet as a child and genetic disposition, not everyone's body can be petite. If anything, losing too much weight can make someone look gaunt, instead of slim.

 

I've got friends who make me look stocky since they have bird-like frames!

[Devil Inside]

If you add some resistance training you may be able to carve off those last few pounds...however..I think you look great!

[Lauriebell82]

I don't know, maybe it's just me. I see something different in the mirror then in pictures. I can't believe this, my fiance thinks I'm nuts but I just don't think he understands.

 

I really don't think many people do understand how this feels. It's painful and frustrating, why couldn't I have just kept the weight off that I need a few years ago. I don't understand why I just can't maintain a small weight.

[Trialbyfire]

Lauriebelle, I'm a firm believer in maintenance, not fasting or dieting. It's got to become a lifestyle, if you want to keep your weight down. In other words, you have to convince your body that it doesn't want or need to junk out, where when it craves food, it's good, healthy food, rather than crap, which includes processed foods.

 

The slower you do this, the more likely it will stick, since it's about discipline, including a consistent exercise program, like brushing your teeth or having a shower. Next time, when you're grocery shopping and stop in the chips aisle, take a good hard look at the fat content on the package. When you see that it's a fat content of 20 - 25%, you know it's just a load of empty calories.

[Lauriebell82]

Lauriebelle, I'm a firm believer in maintenance, not fasting or dieting. It's got to become a lifestyle, if you want to keep your weight down. In other words, you have to convince your body that it doesn't want or need to junk out, where when it craves food, it's good, healthy food, rather than crap, which includes processed foods.

 

The slower you do this, the more likely it will stick, since it's about discipline, including a consistent exercise program, like brushing your teeth or having a shower. Next time, when you're grocery shopping and stop in the chips aisle, take a good hard look at the fat content on the package. When you see that it's a fat content of 20 - 25%, you know it's just a load of empty calories.

 

I'm def. a healthy eater. I do not eat junkfood or foods high in carbs. And I'm working out everday so I'm trying to figure out the problem.

 

A friend of mine suggested that I go through my daily routine and figure out my eating habits.

 

Breakfast: Bowl of weight control oatmeal, apple, coffee in a mug on the way to work

 

Snack: low fat rice cake to tide me over

 

Lunch: I bring a bagged lunch. Ham sandwhich on 100 % wheat bread, apple, sugar free jellow cup, bag of carrots, fat free granola bar, can of diet coke

 

After work around 3:00ish. 2 slices of bread, some margarine spead on top, sugar free pudding cup

 

Dinner: usually something small, can of soup or green beans

 

Gym (around 8) then come home and go to bed

 

It doesn't look like I eat much so what is the problem? It might be that I don't get enough exercise during the day, I eat and sit around then bust my butt at the gym at night and go to bed. Maybe that's it.

[Trialbyfire]

Is this a consistent eating habit or solely when you're trying to lose weight?

[Lauriebell82]

Is this a consistent eating habit or solely when you're trying to lose weight?

 

Well even when I'm not dieting I still try to stay away from junk foods and foods high in carbs/sugar.

 

You may be on to something though, whenever I get real low in weight (which I have done over and over again) I decide I've lost enough and tel myself I can "eat more" or that I can eat something fattening because I'm at a good weight. Obviously that hasn't worked though. Maybe I am just one of those people who will have have to be strict about food in order to stay thin.

[Lauriebell82]

You also have to take into account that I'm only 5'2 therefore I can't eat as much as someone taller and maintain the same weight. That sucks.

[Trialbyfire]

This is probably something which you're aware of, but when you suddenly drop a substantial number of calories on a daily basis, your body can go into a form of shock, in that it slows down your metabolism, hoarding fat since it fears famine. This is why shock diets are so counterproductive.

 

Instead, reduce a little at a time, losing a pound a week and then, stay at a certain level. After an extended length of time doing this, your body will start to crave the good things, instead of the higher fat foods.

 

I eat when I'm hungry and what my body craves. I've learned to listen to it, as long as it's being reasonable. If it's being unreasonable, I ignore it.

 

I'm also only 5'2.5".

[Lauriebell82]

This is probably something which you're aware of, but when you suddenly drop a substantial number of calories on a daily basis, your body can go into a form of shock, in that it slows down your metabolism, hoarding fat since it fears famine. This is why shock diets are so counterproductive.

 

Instead, reduce a little at a time, losing a pound a week and then, stay at a certain level. After an extended length of time doing this, your body will start to crave the good things, instead of the higher fat foods.

 

I eat when I'm hungry and what my body craves. I've learned to listen to it, as long as it's being reasonable. If it's being unreasonable, I ignore it.

 

I'm also only 5'2.5".

 

Yeah, I have tried to lose it slower to stop that from happening and I have. I'm struggling with getting the remainder of the weight off. Maybe I'm just not seeing it as fast because I'm not as heavy.

 

You brought up an interesting point that losing weight fast can put it back on again..that's pretty much what I did the other times I tried to lose weight. I think it might just be coming off slower now so I'm worried it's not coming off at all.

[sb129]

Oh come on LB! You lost 45lbs, which is impressive and you are now griping about that last 10?

 

And speaking as someone who has GAINED nearly 30lbs during pregnancy, my sympathy levels aren't really that high for you!

 

The closer you are to your "ideal weight" the harder it is to lose any more.

I would say that if you lost any more, you will probably look far too skinny.

 

I have seen so many wedding pics of brides who looked almost skeletal on their wedding day and then ballooned afterwards because it was unrealistic to maintain that weight.

 

"Ideal" height and weight charts online are not good things to go by IMO. IN an ideal world, I should only have gained 20lbs throughout my entire pregnancy according to those charts, but in the "real world" the amount of weight I have gained is by no means excessive or abnormal- I still have my old "shape" and I think I still look pretty good.

 

Its about how you feel and how your clothes fit. Numbers on a scale just end up making you obsessive.

[Lauriebell82]

Oh come on LB! You lost 45lbs, which is impressive and you are now griping about that last 10?

 

And speaking as someone who has GAINED nearly 30lbs during pregnancy, my sympathy levels aren't really that high for you!

 

The closer you are to your "ideal weight" the harder it is to lose any more.

I would say that if you lost any more, you will probably look far too skinny.

 

I have seen so many wedding pics of brides who looked almost skeletal on their wedding day and then ballooned afterwards because it was unrealistic to maintain that weight.

 

"Ideal" height and weight charts online are not good things to go by IMO. IN an ideal world, I should only have gained 20lbs throughout my entire pregnancy according to those charts, but in the "real world" the amount of weight I have gained is by no means excessive or abnormal- I still have my old "shape" and I think I still look pretty good.

 

Its about how you feel and how your clothes fit. Numbers on a scale just end up making you obsessive.

 

HAHA, I can understand why you think I'm nutso. My fiance thinks I am obsessed (which I am).

 

My best friend was one of those "skeletal brides." You could literally see her ribs. She has gained some weight since her wedding but she is still way too thin. So maybe I am just down on myself and think I look bigger because I am in pictures with her. My fiance even says that she is gross looking.

 

I do think I stopped losing weight because I kept running at the same routine everyday and my body got used to it. My fiance gave me some helpful tips on how to tone so I will give those a try. I really hate struggling with my weight.

[Lauriebell82]

Recent pic of my best friend and I in my profile..Im the one on the right and I know everyone will think i'm nuts that I think I'm heavy. But my best friend is a freaking twig so nobody looks skinny next to her.

[sb129]

OMG you look absolutely fine you plonker!

 

What I WOULD do if I were you is add some resistance training to your workouts.

 

That may not help you lose "weight" but it will give you more definition and tone in your muscles, and can help you loses inches too. (you DON"T need to lose any inches OR weight, just suggesting a different tack for you to try)

 

Its good esp if you are going to be wearing a strapless or halter wedding dress. You won't get "beefy" if you use lighter weights and do sets of 12-15 reps.

[MWC_LifeBeginsAt40]

Is zero the new 10? I swear, when I was 13 I fit into my mother's size 10 clothing, and I was 100 lbs. I'm 44 yrs old, 130 lbs, 5'2 and I also work out, and have had two kids, and I am ecstatic if I can fit into a size 4.

 

At 5'2 and 120 lbs, you are far from being overweight. And you look great in the pic. I bet it's not even fat but your natural curves you are trying to lose. Be happy with your health and keep busy and don't obsess over the last 10 lbs.

[xpaperxcutx]

Try HIIT for a bit and see if that change will help.

 

It's possible to be able lose another 5 or 10 lbs, but you might lose it slower at a rate of 1-2 lbs a week as opposed to 4-5 lbs when you first started.

/

Throw in a little strength training after your cardio with lighter weights ( 3-5 lbs) but increase your repetition. This will help you burn fat and gain a little bit of muscle.

 

Keep in mind that if you want to burn fat, cardio is the best workout especially if when done in the morning. Add in a little strength/ weight training, you'll tone up more and will more likely see a change in body size.

[Mr. Lucky]

I think you're over-thinking this. You look maaaaarvelous...

 

Mr. Lucky

[Lauriebell82]

Try HIIT for a bit and see if that change will help.

 

It's possible to be able lose another 5 or 10 lbs, but you might lose it slower at a rate of 1-2 lbs a week as opposed to 4-5 lbs when you first started.

/

Throw in a little strength training after your cardio with lighter weights ( 3-5 lbs) but increase your repetition. This will help you burn fat and gain a little bit of muscle.

 

Keep in mind that if you want to burn fat, cardio is the best workout especially if when done in the morning. Add in a little strength/ weight training, you'll tone up more and will more likely see a change in body size.

 

Yeah, that's how I lost 45 pounds. I have stopped losing though, which is why I'm puzzled. My fiance said that because I am running the same amount of time and speed everyday I just stopped losing, which probably may be the case. I did change my workout yesterday and tried running in intervals (higher speed for a period of time, then lower) and I can feel today that it helped. (and yes I can feel if I gained or lost weight overnight the next day)

 

Thanks for the compliments, I think that I may be trying to lose my curves because I feel like I look fat because of them. Seriously, when I stand to the side it looks like my ribs are popping out. I guess I look bigger from the front especially when I am standing next to my best friend.

[bean1]

Lots of weight training myths here!

 

3-5lbs and 12-15 reps won't make you beefy. Infact, they won't do a darn thing at all. Your grocery bag weighs more than that. Doing squats, lunges, bench press, military press, power cleans, etc. with a full Olympic barbell + 50lbs or more is how women really get in shape.

 

If you want to get into shape, get your diet in check. Your diet is not actually that healthy. "Weight control oatmeal" is actually higher in sugar than regular oats (read & compare the packages). Deli ham, sugar-free stuff, and can of soup is loaded with 2-3x the amount of sodium you need ina day (and preservatives) that will bloat you. TONS of sugar in that bar. You have no protein in your breakfast. 2 slices of bread with margarine is not a balanced snack. Your diet is composed almost entirely of carbs without a proper balance of protein (30-40%) or fats (20-25%).

 

I'm 5'4 and about 120lbs, I look like a girl who "works out" but not "beefy". Women do not get beefy without steroids and it takes a hell of a lot more work than the average woman could ever handle to get that way.

 

Here's an example of my typical diet. I recommend learning about the differences between carbs, protein, and fat, and how those need balance in a diet.

 

Breakfast: 1/2 cup oats (plain oats), 1 scoop protein powder or 1 cup egg whites, 1 banana, coffee with cream

Snack: 1/2 cup cottage cheese & 1/2 cup berries

Post workout: 1 scoop protein powder, water

Lunch: 1 chicken breast grilled, 1/2 cup brown rice, 1 cup plain broccoli

Snack: 1 small apple & 1-2tbsp peanut butter

Dinner: 1 salmon fillet, 1/2 cup brown rice, 1 cup plain broccoli