BellaOnline Forums Food and Wine Low Carb What is an average weight loss?

Oh!! I'm sorry then, most people in this situation are the sedentary ones. With all that exercise, you're quite unique that you're stuck in a metabolism problem! Having kids would maybe give you stretch marks but it shouldn't "naturally" make your tummy bigger. Also, many studies are now showing that people don't naturally gain weight as they age - it's more that they aren't moving as much because they're no longer playing sports etc. So with your relatively high level of activity still, those really shouldn't apply to you.

So if you're generally eating healthily, and drinking a lot of water, and eating your vitamins - *and* you have that kind of level of activity, it does seem odd that the weight is sticking on you. Have you talked with your doctor about checking out your thyroids and other common weight-sticking issues?

Hi LisaShea,

Agree whole heartedly you can not diet temporarily it has to be a change of life. My average meal size would be what Weight Watches suggest. A piece of meat the size of the palm of your hand and vegies or salad.

Have to say it has worked for my husband and myself, no health problems now and a average weight.

I have had the thyroid tests, and it all came back normal. Think what I'm gonna do is not worry about it. It's coming off about 1 lb a week, and I feel lots better, and my clothes fit way better, even with only 12 lbs. What about stress, you see on tv a lot that stress (cortisol?) plays a big part in the tummy flab thing. I do have a lot of stress, that isn't going to go away for awhile (I'm a caregiver for my father who has parkinson's, my son is in kuwait, and my brother just died from cancer)and I can't do anything about it. Other than meditate and get lost every now and then (the hay loft in the barn with a tin roof, when it's raining is the best place on earth!). But on the other hand, hubby says my belly is a lot smaller, so maybe it's just my view of things. Any ideas on the stress thing, or is it just a ploy to get you to buy those products?

Oh definitely I believe *strongly* that stress causes all sorts of medical problems for us, including weight problems! My son has exzema and that is made worse by stress. Stress interferes with sleep which is really important in body self-healing. Stress can cause muscle aches, which then mean you move less often, which then weakens your muscles and lowers your metabolism etc.

So yes certainly if you're under that kind of stress, that causes your body to think it needs to hold onto any fat stores it has to handle the emergency.

A measuring tape can help you track body size changes that happen - many times you are getting into better shape by reducing your body size, even if you stay the same weight for a while.

Meditation and stress reducing activities is *well* worth it, no matter what size or shape you are.