Hey guys. I'm pretty sure this will be the best place to post this as I am looking for technical help, but warning --- I will be venting!
A little back story for you; been overweight since puberty, graduated high school at around 275lbs, got married at above 350lbs, highest weight during pregnancy was 367lbs, have made it down to the current neighborhood of 290lbs. Prior to March of last year, I tried many times to lose weight through conventional methods, obviously none of them successful. I began low carbing last March at 317lbs (I'm 5'5" btw).
I believe I did Atkins induction in March, ended up traveling for a few weeks, and I know I did induction again on May 3rd. So let's say I've been doing this since May of last year. I tracked my food religiously, kept my calories at around 1800, climbed the carb ladder, did everything right. Had to travel again at the end of September, had reached my goal for our trip home of 285lbs. So basically a 32lb loss over the summer is not too shabby.
So while away, I did pretty well, but was slipping closer to the end. I wasn't concerned as my slips are largely situational. I don't drink alcohol at home, I certainly don't over eat at home... because I am strictly LC - at home. So I had a harder time getting back on track because a few days after we got home, we received a phone call that we had to return for a funeral. Well then it all just hit the fan. My 32lb loss was out the window, and my body and metabolism was all out of whack... I began induction again on January 10 of this year at 307lbs. I thought for sure I would never see 300lbs again ever in my life. I felt like crap. But I lost 5lbs overnight (water weight), and lost another 2 the second week of induction.
So things have been going along swimmingly and I hit a low (this go 'round) of 288lbs last week and shot right back up to 291 this morning. So this is my problem.
I hit 288 and then bounce up and down and all around there. This will go on for potentially months. This happened last year before we headed home and then I had a miracle "whoosh" before we left.
It's frustrating as hell to do everything "THEY" tell you to do, and not be able to lose weight, but through my own research and re-education I feel that I now know the truth. Do not fear fat, do not eat foods that will increase insulin production, no wheat or grains, and do your best to eat whole, healthy, real food.
So now at 290(ish), knowing what I know, doing what I'm doing, shouldn't it be falling off? I mean, we see people smaller than me losing 2 and 3 pounds a week and I gain and lose the same damn 2 pounds for weeks. I've seen the article about fat cells retaining water, and that the scale doesn't tell the whole story... this I know. But DAMMIT! No one wants it more than I do. My husband keeps harassing me to get on the treadmill but I KNOW that chronic cardio is not the friend of fat loss, so I refuse. I do more of a Primal Fitness type thing.
I guess I just want to scream I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT I'M DOING! I HAVE NO IDEA IF WHAT I'M DOING IS RIGHT! Hell I don't even want to be skinny, I just want to look good. I've been a big girl all my life, there is so much extra skin and stuff that I honestly believe that 175-200lbs might be a good weight for me, we'll see when I get there. The thing is I am not a happy fat person. I can embrace my size and my curves and all that jazz, but there is no way that 290lbs is healthy. 200lbs can be healthy and that's where I want to be.
I have no problem eating this way for the rest of my life. I like it. I like eggs, butter, steak, cheese, and I've always been a veggie lover so that goes without saying. I WILL be eating this way for the rest of my life. But I feel like it should be quicker. If I am creating a calorie deficit, eating seriously lc (like 25g a day), why am I not losing a pound or 2 a week?
And on a little bit of a separate tangent, I almost can't go grocery shopping anymore. If I see one more 110lb skinny mini with a cart full of Michelina's frozen pasta dinners, chips, pop, processed junk foods, cookies, and chocolate milk, I am going to FLIP OUT! I eat eggs and mayo, big a$$ salads, greek salad and steak for dinner, broccoli with melted cheddar, cucumber and blue cheese dip (all delicious!), and am nearly 300lbs! And these skinny little things walk around the store eating a bag of cheetoes, drinking a coke, and I'm judged because I'm fat! Seriously. ARRRG!
Anyways... so any suggestions would be appreciated, words of encouragement, kick in the butt for being silly... bring it on. I need it. I need SOMETHING!