[LCD]

I have stayed at the same weight, since dx type 2 in July 2007. (I need to lose about 50 pounds.)

In Sept 2008, I really starting counting carbs. I eat <75 grams of carbs daily. Calories < 1400 and walk 2 miles 5 days a week.
My TDD was 20 units (Sept 1), has decreased to 13 units (by Sept 18) My BS are within 80 - 110 range. I am happy with the results BUT is there something I'm not doing? to help me lose some of the weight?

I don't think I am insulin resistant because that has decreased.
(same weight but less insulin)

If my sugar are within range, than it was "correct" to decrease my TDD? or could that be a "factor"?

More exercise?

Low carb dieting does give you more energy and you are less hungry

Am I just being IMPATIENT??? (I know, Rome wasn't built overnight, either.)

[Evermont]

I know that a lot of people underestimate the amount of work that it takes to burn a pound of fat.

For me, on a 3 week distance hike averaging 13 miles per day over rough terrain - I can lose 1 pound per day. It takes me about 13 hours, a bit less if I hit easier level ground for a while.

It's brutal. Exhausting. When you hear your heart pounding in your chest for hour after hour after hour, you get used to sweat soaking you from head to toe and you just keep going. It takes about three days before your body stops freaking out and starts to get into the groove. You can feel, almost hear your muscles soaking up every vitamin in your food. After a while that 35 pounds on your back starts to feel like it belongs there.

Under these conditions we can burn many thousands of calories in one day. For me it works out to just over 1 pound of weight lost per day. My appetite actually didn't change much oddly. I eat maybe 120% of my normal fairly healthy diet.

When I reflect on this experience, then I hear someone struggling with adding a few hours per week on the treadmill I think: Well, thats a good idea... but it takes so much work. Work work work. When people don't get the results they want after doubling their efforts its easy to understand why they get disappointed and even backslide. It's hard for people who've never done so much physical work to get a feel for it. It hardly occurs to then that if they multiply their efforts by 8 rather than 2, the results would appear. If they do realize it they may not be interested in or able to work that hard.

The other knob is to eat less. Some say that this is a much easier way to lose weight than burning 1000's of calories through vigorous exercise. Appetite can be freakishly difficult to master.

Strength training is a good long term approach to weight loss. Lean muscle burns body fat even at rest.

If you really want the key - here it is: Combine fair amounts of both strength training, and cardio exercise with a reasonable quantity of healthy foods. Get enough sleep. Be patient. It's that simple.

[patricia52]

You might try varying your exercise routine or adding something new to your routine. Your body may have adjusted to doing the same routine or you might need just a bit more exercise. Everyone is different. My son says it is better to exercise before eating. Also remember to drink 64 oz or water a day to help your body get rid of the fat you burn.

[notme]

Libby, I think you are very patient. Some of us have a harder time than others losing weight when you are taking insulin. I come from a family that tends to be weight gainers. My Mother and sister (were) and are obese. My grandmother was obese as was many of my uncles. We tend to gain weight easily and take it off hard. Others that have the family skinny genes, just don't struggle as much. Men seem to do better on insulin than women.

I have not had much luck losing weight. A few years ago before I went to Hawaii, I managed to take off about fifteen pounds eating low fat. I know....not the popular topic these days. But, that is how I did it. I also did not over do carbs either because of diabetes and blood sugar. It was really tough and the weight did not stay off.

I wish I had a better answer. I have tried it all, but my weight stays pretty stable. I am about 20 pound heavier than before I got diabetes. I wish I had the answer.

[owlyn]

I can sum up Evermont's advice in what I call the ELEMentary diet. ELEM -Eat Less Exercise More. Always works. Or, to put it another way- your body is like a bank account. You make deposits when you eat and withdrawals when you exercise. Do the math...

[ErikaA]

hmmm well there are lots of factors in weight loss.
It really is basic maths. You need to expend more than you consume. The more muscle weight you carry the easier it is to lose.
Your calorie intake should be based on your size and activity level.
I train 40hrs a week. My calorie intake is aimed at 1000-1200 calories a day. I'm 5'8" and 128lb. By aiming my calories a little lower i can afford the falls off the wagon that occur day to day and not be stressed by them. Most calorie diet plans are a blanket calorie amount without taking into account size and weight. This is not a weight loss diet, but my daily regime to maintain good fitness.

The amount of food that you actually get to eat if you are healthy weight and moderately active is considerably less than people think.... lol in fact it's down right depressing if you are a foody like me.... but between lactose intolerance, diabetes and sport.... the whole food thing is hard work.

[Cassini]

You train 40 hours a week?? Omg, that is a full time job! I am aiming at losing my weight in about a year and am currently packing a BMI of approx 40.5, with different calculators I have found that I need to consume at most 1700 calories/day.

I am trying to focus on the carbs versus the calories, other than still trying to remain within that level. If I carry on at this pace, that is more than 500C less than needed to maintain per day (no way do I want to do that!!) so I figured if I am dropping approx 3500C a week I should be dropping around a pound a week.

That is not including any exercise at all, of which I am currently swimming 3 times a week, planning on pushing that to 5 days a week. For this I account another pound per week, thus dumping 100 lbs in the year.

The thoughts of only being able to have 1200-1500 for maintenance later just outright scares me. Scares me enough to think there is no way I could handle that, I too being a foodie.

No wonder I have just blossomed over the past years, for me, 1200 is pooo poood!

Sorry, this is by no means a personal attack, I am just aghast at what it looks like the future holds. Depression ensues.

Cass

[ErikaA]

lmao yes 40hrs is a full time job. But my point is more that I exercise constantly and I'm tall so people think that that means i get to eat huge amounts, but I'm also quite a slight frame so my calorie allowance gets cut to account for that.
My weight goals and exercise regime are quite likely too stringent for most folks (my BMI is about 20)... so it needn't be that grim. It's just a great wake up call to how much excess food we really do see as 'normal' that I can maintain weight with those restrictions.
I've seen a few mentions of losing weight rapidly and it's really not good for you. A goal over a yr is much more sensible and easier to face.

[davef]

Originally Posted by owlyn

I can sum up Evermont's advice in what I call the ELEMentary diet. ELEM -Eat Less Exercise More. Always works. Or, to put it another way- your body is like a bank account. You make deposits when you eat and withdrawals when you exercise. Do the math...

Unfortunately sometimes that math does not add up. Yes, the general formula is Move more, eat less or Eat Less Exercise More. However it is not uncommon for the formula to appear to stop working. For somebody like me, who has a lot of weight to lose it is fairly common to work along and lose weight for a period of time and then to plateau, this in itself can be considered to be good as it generally means that you are holding/maintaining your weight which many people who are/have been overweight is not easy to do.

When you do plateau, often it helps to:
- Change the type of exercise you are doing, for example if you are only walking add in swimming or something else. Keith's suggestion about the mix of type of exercise is very good.
- Sometimes, giving your a metabolism a bit of a shock helps. Instead of further reducing calories - increase the calories. What has worked for me (and others) is for about a week, alternate days with higher calories every second day and exercise a bit more that day.
- Also sometimes changing what you are eating can help.

The problem I have found is that your body gets to a point where it is can work well off the "new" lower calorie levels and does not burn more calories than you are eating.

The kicker is "Eat Less Move More" is simple, but sure as heck isn't easy.

[owlyn]

Originally Posted by davef

Unfortunately sometimes that math does not add up. Yes, the general formula is Move more, eat less or Eat Less Exercise More. However it is not uncommon for the formula to appear to stop working. For somebody like me, who has a lot of weight to lose it is fairly common to work along and lose weight for a period of time and then to plateau, this in itself can be considered to be good as it generally means that you are holding/maintaining your weight which many people who are/have been overweight is not easy to do.

When you do plateau, often it helps to:
- Change the type of exercise you are doing, for example if you are only walking add in swimming or something else. Keith's suggestion about the mix of type of exercise is very good.
- Sometimes, giving your a metabolism a bit of a shock helps. Instead of further reducing calories - increase the calories. What has worked for me (and others) is for about a week, alternate days with higher calories every second day and exercise a bit more that day.
- Also sometimes changing what you are eating can help.

The problem I have found is that your body gets to a point where it is can work well off the "new" lower calorie levels and does not burn more calories than you are eating.

The kicker is "Eat Less Move More" is simple, but sure as heck isn't easy.

I run into the same problem. When this happens, I stop exercising for maybe 3or 4 days, then start up again.