Is Difficulty Losing Weight Inevitable?

[loverofnaps71]

I've had difficulty losing weight all my life. My metabolism is so slow. I don't know where it comes from because no one in my family is fat or overweight...not even my grandparents. Well, in my early teens, I had problems losing baby fat. I finally lost weight in college, but only because I ran daily. I have to workout on a daily basis just to see any results. I also became a full fledged vegetarian. In my 20's, I struggled to maintain my weight at 130lbs. I'm 5'5". But, by my 30's, I gained almost 20 lbs and I don't know why. I was running marathons and working out like crazy. Still a vegetarian, I finally gave up all junk foods. Yet I still struggle.

Right now, I'm working out 4 or 5 days a week, biking, walking, running, tae bo. I changed my eating habits, watching carbs. I had success, albeit short-lived, with the South Beach Diet. I was 146 and managed to lose 8 pounds. As soon as I started back with the carbs (brown rice, fruits, whole grain breads), I gained back everything, even though I was watching what I ate and exercised fervently. I've tried all kinds of diet pills, detox programs, and starvation diets. I've tried all the exercise machine gimics. Nothing works.

Now, my weight is creeping back up to 150 lbs, despite all my efforts. I am extremely depressed and frustrated. I don't know what else I can do. I've taking blood tests. My thyroid is fine, my blood sugar is normal, I have low cholesterol and low blood pressure. Therefore, I don't know what's wrong with me.

I wonder if I'll just to accept the inevitable: that I will always have difficulty losing weight, no matter what I do. I have to accept that. I feel horrible about myself and won't go out and have fun because I feel so ashamed. I feel that people at church, my friends or any potential date will look at me and think I'm fat.

I just don't know what to do about it. I feel awful about myself.

[vevster]

Hey girl,

I was a vegan in my twenties and gained weight as a result. I'm not sure why you are a vegetarian but I found that my body needed lean animal protein. From what you wrote I think you body can't tolerate too much brown rice and starches....

I like my eating plan now. Weight watchers but the principles of the abs diet. Mini meals with protein throughout the day,smoothies--yum! focusing on toning workouts(building muscle & metabolism) mostly with some(not alot) cardio.

I've tried every diet and I love this way of eating.
HTH some!

[ReaLuvsAOxymoron]

I have a question...since you workout so much could alot of the weight be muscle? I can't imagine your body being undesirable with all the working out you are doing even if it isn't extremely slim. 5'5", 150 and very fit doesn't seem too bad to me.

Also you are not fat, no matter what you believe. I have never seen you but what I have seen is fat and at your size you are not fat. I am not saying you should give up trying to obtain the size you want, I am just saying that if you never lose a single ounce, you are fit and you are healthy.

Also take into account bone structure...is yours small, medium or large? If it's normal or large, take that and combine it with all the muscle you probably have from working out and you may get a more accurate view of your weight.

Also, if you haven't already checked into it, I have a friend that has difficulty losing weight because of polycystic ovarian syndrome (they usually have diffculties losing weight and irregular cycles). I don't know of anything else medical that could cause it despite what you've listed if you are still concerned.

[loverofnaps71]

Thanks ladies. I have cut most carbs, including whole grains and wheat. I have a tuna fish sandwish with whole wheat bread probably twice a week. I have brown rice probably once a week. I need to have some carbs, or I won't have enough energy for my workouts.

Oh, I've heard about the Abs Diet. Think I might give it a try?

RLO: I do, in fact, have some hormonal issues and also polycystic ovarian syndrome. I wonder if that's it. I've always had this "pouch" in my lower abdomen, no matter how many sit up and diet. I've given up drinking coffee; I might have 1 or 2 cups per week, but no more than that.

I was called "fat" by a Vietnamese woman who does my nails. It hurt my feelings so bad. I charged back at the woman, but that still didn't diminish the criticism. I was so depressed because I thought about how hard and how much I had been working and really putting an effort into my diet and exercise program. I am just quite frustrated, so pardon my rant.

Thanks again so much, ladies! I'

[vevster]

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RLO: I do, in fact, have some hormonal issues and also polycystic ovarian syndrome.

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Why didn't you say so? People with PCOS DEFINITELY have problems w/ weight. You definitely can't have those carbs.

[sunflower]

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loverofnaps71 said:
Thanks ladies. I have cut most carbs, including whole grains and wheat. I have a tuna fish sandwish with whole wheat bread probably twice a week. I have brown rice probably once a week. I need to have some carbs, or I won't have enough energy for my workouts.

Oh, I've heard about the Abs Diet. Think I might give it a try?

RLO: I do, in fact, have some hormonal issues and also polycystic ovarian syndrome. I wonder if that's it. I've always had this "pouch" in my lower abdomen, no matter how many sit up and diet. I've given up drinking coffee; I might have 1 or 2 cups per week, but no more than that.

I was called "fat" by a Vietnamese woman who does my nails. It hurt my feelings so bad. I charged back at the woman, but that still didn't diminish the criticism. I was so depressed because I thought about how hard and how much I had been working and really putting an effort into my diet and exercise program. I am just quite frustrated, so pardon my rant.

Thanks again so much, ladies! I'

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I hope your not still giving this woman your business, how rude.

[honeisos]

Girl don't let anyone bring you down and steal your joy ..

I was in front of Old Navy the other day and a chinese man came up to me .... I didn't know what he wanted ... I couldn't understand him , AT FIRST ... then what he was saying became very clear ..
this fool tells me: " hey I got something for you ... I say what?.... he says .. something for your fat... http://www.longhaircareforum.com/forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif http://www.longhaircareforum.com/forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif... I say no thanks ... i'm working on it .... he says oh IT won't work!"
Then I got very mad and tell him to beat it......
People don't even know you ...but assume they know who you are when they look at you ... he assumed I was a big fat slob with no hope!
But I know I work hard at this and ... and am getting the results that are good for my body ... sure I look a byeonce and wish ... but I will never look like her ... but I'm going to be the best me I can .. and that ain't to bad!

[loverofnaps71]

Honeisos, I LOVE your avatar! That's my baby's daddy! Sanaa is so beautiful!

[YOTEGRA]

I know exactly how you feel. Like the other ladies said, don't let others get you feeling bad about yourself. I'm well into my thirties and have expeienced the same problems. It'll get better. Just give yourself some time.

[Mariaat40]

There's a good article in this month's Self magazine. It's about being comfortable with the weight that you're at. They say that's it's unreasonable for someone in their 30's and up to expect to be the same weight as they were when they graduated from high school. Our bodies just change. They also say that if your BMI is below 25 (which would be below 150 pounds at your height), you work out, and you eat healthily, and yet you can't seem to lose weight, it may just be your body telling you that it's happy where it is.

[carrie]

If you are exercising alot it could be added muscle. That is why I always say to h*ll with the scale its how you look and how your clothes fit.

I'll prolly get flack for this, but I don't agree with cutting your carbs to nothing. You have to learn what works for your body. Like me, I can't lose weight eating yams, but my diet STILL consists of atleast 150g of carbs from other sources. When I cut carbs for a significant amount of time, my metabolism comes to a stand still.

[loverofnaps71]

Carrie: I think you're on to something. It was precisely when I cut out all carbs that I didn't have any energy to work out and my metabolism slowed down so much. I think it was precisely that South Beach Diet that did it. Sure I lost weight...about 8 pounds...but as soon as I began eating just the SLIGHTEST carbs (1 piece of fruit and 1 form of whole grains per day), I gained back the weight. I could eat a small apple and perhaps a piece of toast and my weight came back. I couldn't understand it. I'm realizing that my body is just different. Some people had great success on the South Beach Diet and have been able to maintain their weight even as they slowly added back those "good carbs." Not every diet is for everyone.

But Vev is right: I think my hormonal issues might be the culprit...

[carrie]

loverofnaps71, is there a particular spot you seem to gain weight in or is it all over?

I don't want to slam low carb diets, but alot of time the weight loss, when its a few lbs you lost (5-10) that seems to come RIGHT back when you add a little carbs, is usually water weight. Carbs do indeed cause you to hold more water weight. I know I bloat like a big dog if I eat a lot of rice in a day.

Just keep in mind you want to lose fat, not just water and certainly not muscle.

Just my $0.02

[loverofnaps71]

My lower body is the first place where weight comes on. In fact, my thighs and rear end holds a lot of fat. I am also a little wide-hipped. I know a lot of this is genetic, but again I don't where it comes from. My family on my Dad's side have NO hips and NO butt. None of my aunts, uncles. They all have flat butts and no hips. They do, however, have HUGE breasts. I got my breasts from that side. On my mother's side, my mother is very thin, never had big legs or a big butt. My grandmother is also well-proportioned, not fat. None of her brothers, my cousins or aunts are fat or overweight. That's the most frustrating thing about it. Where am I getting these genes from? It's weird...and disheartening...

[carrie]

Hang in there loverofnaps71. Hopefully you'll find what works for you.

BTW. I love your avatar. I just saw him here in Philly.

[loverofnaps71]

Awww...I'm so jealous of you, Carrie! Was it the show where Jill Scott opened???

[honeisos]

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loverofnaps71 said:
Honeisos, I LOVE your avatar! That's my baby's daddy! Sanaa is so beautiful!

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Thanks ,loverofnaps
I luv me some Denzy!
And I just loved the way Sanaa hair looked in the movie.

[honeisos]

I get so sad sometimes about myself ..... it's not easy to lose wieght ... I see all these women with great bodys and you start to really hate yourself.
But , I 'm trying my best to really lose my weight... I've have a 2 yr time frame to do it I want to lose 130pds and so far so good .
I just don't want to have all these health problems late in life ... I see to many women in my church who are older and fat and many of them are sick .
Why does a peice of fried chicken have to be so bad!

[lunalight7]

hone...check out the WW thread...let's do it together! That way, we can have us some fried chicken (in moderation)!

[carrie]

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loverofnaps71 said:
Awww...I'm so jealous of you, Carrie! Was it the show where Jill Scott opened???

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I like Jill, but it was even better...The Time opened!