Hey all, I've been a lurker of these forums for years, now. I'm stuck and I'm hoping some folks might be able to help me out, or at least give me some inspiration! I'm sorry this turned out so long, but tips and encouragement would sure be appreciated.

I managed to gain nearly 25 pounds a few years ago and dropped most of it with very slight changes to my eating habits. I think my partner's vasectomy had most to do with it, however, as that allowed me to stop taking the pill. Man, did those first 20 pounds come flying off after that. TMI, I know, but there it is!

I've been struggling with the last 10 pounds for ages, now. It just wont budge, no matter wheat I do. I've tried starving myself, but that's really just no fun for me or anyone around me, for that matter. I just read GCBC and loved it. I still chuckle at the "semi-starvation" diets outlined in that book. I'm like, "Are you kidding me? 1800 calories? That's like a total binge for me!"

After reading GCBC, I decided I would try an experiment on myself; eat as much as I bloody well please, but little to no carbs. Oh my god that first few weeks was amazing. My partner stuffs down tubs of cookies and dozens of donuts in one sitting and still maintains a weight only slightly above mine. And a ridiculous six-pack. But I was chugging cream and not gaining a pound, so I suddenly wasn't bothered by all of his sweets. In fact, I lost 3 pounds after about a week and a half. I know, probably just water, but it felt so good to see the scale move! Until it just...came back. And here it stays.

I'm really hoping some of you folks can assure me this will work because I am finding it so tempting to slip back into my ways of trying to cut calories, and really, that's so miserable. Do we have some people that got all the way down to where they wanted to be? I do know that I might have to accept that this is a healthy weight for my body, but I'd really like to get rid of some of my jiggles here and there, particularly in my midsection. Anyone seen the Simpson's where the doctor jiggles Homer's stomach and times it? I'm thin, but it's still like that.

My diet; I think I'm doing everything right. A typical day goes something like this:

1/2c. cream latte (No, I will not give my coffee up!)
2 babybel cheeses
apple
tuna salad with mayo (Trader Joe's has great mayo without sugar)
handful of macadamia nuts
grilled meat of some sort (I get great pastured meats from a local farm)
veggies with a good bit of butter and maybe some cheese

I usually wind up with about 30g of carbs and 1500-1800 calories. In one month, I can count the number of cheats on one hand, and they usually consist of a bite of chocolate. I don't eat processed foods; most of what I eat comes from the local farmer's market.

I run 4 miles most days on my lunch break and lift weights (though not as routinely as I know I should).

So what gives? I'm thin, but I want to be lean. Why'd I lose 3 pounds just to have it come back and stick there? No, I haven't lost inches, either. I measure that too.

Oh, and this whole losing hunger business? Never happened to me. I could eat 5000 calories and never be satisfied. It is better on LC, especially with lots of fat, but I could still eat a mountain of food no problem.
Any supplements people can recommend?

Perhaps it's the wheat?

How old are you?

Oops! LoL!

Boy I saw that and typed out some frantic, furious reply about how dare you say I'm eating wheat and you must clearly not have read my post...guess I'm the one that needs to learn to read (and type) a bit better!

I am 29.

What fats are you eating?

and how much protein?

and what is the intensity of that daily run ? an easy jog, or all-out, or sprints, or ???

My fats mostly come from meats, cheese, cream, butter, and nuts.

My log for today:

Calories: 1554
Fat: 135g
Carbs: 33g
Fiber: 10g
Protein: 50g



Easy jog, mostly. I say mostly because it never feels easy, even if my running partner and I are chatting the whole way.

Well to me, it looks like you are at equilibrium and your body is reflecting that.

It's been a long time since I was THAT lean, but knowing what I know now, I would do the following.

Warning! these ideas reflect Kwasniewski thinking, which is to get your body what it needs at the easiest possible metabolic cost. :

Are you sure 50 g is enough protein for your height, muscularity, and exercise? (I would be concerned about you being hungry)

Increase the carbs up to 40-45. I think you're young enough and active enough to handle that many and you might feel less on the edge of ravenous, some of which might be the draw on your glycogen from exercise.

Decrease the fat to 75 - 100 g. That is 1.5 - 2x the protein. Just cuz I'm a Kwasniewski fan, but also, because it works for me, at least for fat loss. You don't have to worry about being hungry if a) your stored fat is flowing and b) you get enough protein and carb to cover your sugar-burning exercise.

Did you by any chance get your bodyfat percent done? If you are at 15% or lower already, as a woman you would be into bodybuilder or fitness-model kinds of things to lose more fat.

It seems to me that you are very slim already. If you want to weigh what you weighed when you were 17, you'll have to starve yourself, then sooner or later those pounds will come back and bring along some new friends. You will also lose muscle, which will make things jiggle even more.

Keep on eating low-carb, because it's good for you, and exercise, because it's good for you and will make you look even better, but if I were you, I'd just accept your current weight and move on.

Ok, I'll be radical here. If you want to get leaner, your best bet may be cutting out all carbs possible and eating only fatty meat. Preferably beef.

Thank you for the suggestions. I'm pretty short, hence the low goal weight. I know I'm thin, but my body fat is higher than I'd like it at about 25%.

I had increased the fat because I was often still feeling hungry and that helped some, but I think I will try to get a bit more protein.

Thanks again for the suggestions. I believe in this WOE for reasons other than weight loss and will definitely stick with it!

I think you're going to just have to experiment a bit. Maybe do less aerobic type of exercise, go more to resistance and high intensity, short duration. Trying going VLC. If that doesn't work, try raising the carbs "a little" and make sure they're good carbs like slightly starchier veggies, not cereals, not grains. Try adjusting the fat/protein ratio.

I agree with Nancy on the experiment. Why didn't I think of that. Perhaps you could do 2 weeks at a time, for one change. That should be long enough to show you something.

I also agree with Nancy LC on the exercise mix. You need more hard muscle work to get the hormonal response and all that. Like the weight training 2x per week and work hard, or talk your lunchtime run buddy into a day or two of Tabata sprints. it will help with the hormonal situation that favors fat loss afterward.

(i am laughing to myself already thinking of suggesting that to MY lunchtime walk buddies, but what the heck)

These ladies have given some very good suggestions. I will say, though, that the best way to attack the jiggle monster would be resistance exercises, like weight lifting or a simple program like T-tapp or Callanetics. It doesn't sound like you're overweight, just that you're frustrated with not being as toned as you could be. I actually gained weight when I started weight lifting, lol, but I actually started losing inches. Just a thought...

Why not be satisfied with your weight the way your body is comfortable with it. I've heard the weight won't budge when it's reached its ideal comfort level. I'd be thrilled to be at 120, but I would look incredible immaciated.

Maybe some circuit training to tone might help you, but feel good about your size and see if that positive reflection of yourself helps you see the beautiful woman at the weight you are.