Weight loss and stress

[ditzchic]

Hey guys. I used to be a real big girl. Like huge. I topped out at 303 lbs. I then lost 150 over a year and a half through a balanced low carb diet and busting ass at the gym. I'm 5'6 and with a medium large body frame so when I weighed 150 lbs I was a size 8. Not too shabby!!

 

Here's my dilemma. In July of this year I ran into some personal trouble. I was dealing with a breakup, financial stress, job stress, family stress all at the same time. I went a little crazy and ended up putting on 20 lbs over the last 4 months.

 

I feel horrible about it and I want to get myself back on track. I'm still dealing with all of the stressors except the breakup which I'm no over but I've been back on my diet and exercise plan for the last 3 weeks and the scale isn't budging!! I'm sure it has something to do with the stress I'm under and the cortisol and all that junk. But it's getting frustrating. I'm going to the gym for an hour every day and eaing roughly 1300 cals and nothing is happening! I've tried taking up yoga to counteract the stress, that's doing nothing either. Most of the weight I gained is in my belly which is common with stress weight. My stomach was so flat 20 lbs ago!! My belly wasn't this big when I was this weight on my way down. This sucks!

 

Has anyone ever been through something like this? Do you have any tips?

[betterdeal]

Hypnotherapy is good for dealing with comfort / emotional eating, which appears to be what you've been doing due to stress.

[Calutaxi484]

Well getting a good workout in can definitely get rid of stress. Personally I like to lift heavier, or hit a heavy bag if life isn't quite going my way.

[anne1707]

First of all, congratulations on how much weight you have lost. Just remember that when you are struggling - you can do this.

 

Weight loss does tend to be harder the less you have to lose - it makes sense because the average 300lb person will be burning up far more calories just to function when compared to the average 150lb person. So don't knock yourself for it being hard.

 

It may be that you and your body need a change of routine to give it a kick-start back in to weight loss. Are you tending to eat the same foods all the time? Try some new foods - get some variety e.g. not just another breakfast cereal.

 

As for the exercise. That may also need a bit of a mix-up. Is there a trainer at the gym you could do a couple of sessions with to get some new ideas. Working your body in a different way may well fire it up into weight loss mode again.