Low carb, high protein, low sugar, low cal...Healthy eating frustrations

Bear with me as I just spill my thoughts in this post. I am frustrated and annoyed.

Why you ask? 

I've stopped losing weight. My first 55 pounds I lost was a combination of exercise and calorie counting. That was it. I didn't have to count my protein. I did keep my sugar in a normal range but I didn't have to agonize of why I lost weight. It just came off.

Enter in about six months ago. I just stopped losing weight. I am still building a little muscle but the scale isn't moving and it is frustrating. I've done high protein, low carb. That kept me full and I enjoy the high protein however, I didn't lose weight. I went back to what I did post-college and did calorie counting. It didn't work. I weigh and measure my food. Still, nothing. 

I refuse to take supplements, aka fat burners, since I want to keep it off. Plus I want to lose it healthy and not gain it all back after going off it. 

I really don't know what to do next. I am doing some more research and reaching out to some fitness gurus/friends who do this every day. Something has got to give. 

Sigh...one day I will start losing again. I just want to be healthy. I am eating well and hoping something will click again soon.

For now, I will keep doing what I am doing.

I don't want to be thin. I just want to be healthy.

Weight issues & a plan

It's no secret that I've been dealing with weight issues my whole life. I mean, I started counting calories and have lost weight. However, I plateaued for quite some time. So now I am on a modified low-carb diet but I refuse to call it "low carb" or "diet." Something about those two words make me turn off. I just don't like those words. 

So, I stick to healthy eating plan. To me, eating healthy isn't that horrific compared to dieting or low carb. 

I still count my calories on my fitness pal and workout. But I just wasn't seeing the results I wanted. So I am trying a new healthy eating regime. 

I will admit, it was tough at first. But, I am also trying to speed up my metabolism so I am eating six times a day. This is how to, apparently, per my guy I workout with. That was an adjustment to say the least. But I feel so much better on this healthy eating regime. I still eat low sugar, low carb yogurt in the morning and lots of protein throughout the day. I couldn't get rid of my raspberries so I am allowed to have my 3/4 cup raspberries with lunch. 

This is, hopefully, allowing me to be a better person and not lose weight just to gain it back. That's my biggest fear. I have struggled with ups and downs in weight and don't want to just gain it all back. 

A friend of mine said something that stuck and I thought I would share. "Weight loss is something that you lose. Some deal with their weight and its issues for life." I don't want to feel like I have to lose weight all the time. I like the way I look. I just want to perfect it and lose a little more weight. I've never had this much muscle or tone. 

So, I am just making some adjustments to my weighted issues. 

Happy being me

Life doesn't have a road map. It's not always black and white nor does it always make sense. But, there are lessons in each hurdle.

When I was first diagnosed with food allergies, I asked myself what will I eat? How can I survive without xyz? Then I discovered it wasn't the end of the world. Sure, I was not able to eat most, brand name foods but what did that really matter? I thought it was the end of the world but I was wrong. I ate different food. Who cares? Sure I get upset, some, when I can't have what everyone else is having but it's not the end of the world and I still have things I can eat.

 When I was 11, I went through some really rough patches and difficult times. I don't speak about it a bunch because it was one of my roughest times. But I got through and the people that helped me through that I am forever grateful for.

 To this day, I have lost 53 pounds and gained muscle that I've never seen before. Was I happy with those 53 pounds previously? Not necessarily with the weight but I was still me. I was still that person who smiled and was perky. Being THAT big was a reality and I can't believe I was that big. But was it the end of the world? No, I just took control.

Life throws curve balls but it's how you handle it is what proves most important. I've suffered but I am trying not to let it get me down.

Currently, I am happy being me with food allergies, sinus issues, more muscle, anxiety, asthma, and less weight. 

Life isn't a cakewalk but I'll take mine.

Then vs. Now: In my own skin {weight loss}

I shocked myself last night when I was looking through old pictures. I couldn't believe how "big" I looked from a lens perspective. I knew I was over weight but thought I hid it well. I was totally wrong. I could dress up and make myself look "good" but the camera sees a different side of things.

THEN

NOW

Between poor eating habits and not taking care of myself, it all started adding up. I would exercise every once in a while. But who was I fooling? I need to exercise most days or it will start creeping back without a doubt. I have been counting my calories with My Fitness Pal for over 15 months and log everything I put in my mouth. I am drinking more water and working on eating more protein. Still, to this day, I carry my weight in my face and midsection. It's a pain but a good reminder.

Right now, I've lost 50 pounds and still have more to go. It's been a S-L-O-W process but it is working. There are days/weeks that there is no weight loss but there is muscle growth. I can tell. I can bend my arm without "flexing" and see muscle. Slowly but surely my bat wings, under arms, are getting trimmed. I don't have the constant double chin that I position just right to avoid it captured on film. I am toning up my legs and feeling good in smaller shirts.

To this date, I am down three shirt sizes and still working on it. I still don't/won't do things that stick to me but love the way I look in the picture above. My hips have always been "big-boned" and I am not afraid to admit it. I've been told by my workout trainer that "I'm built" for heavier weight lifting and he usually gives me heavy weights to lift. ;) It hasn't been easy but I've learned to like working out with my workout trainer and enjoy staying under my calorie limit. There are splurge days, of course, but not as many.

I am finally happy to show that I can wear more than a sweater, smile, and feel good inside and out!