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Dear
Dr. Atkins,
I was wondering if you could please advise me on my weight
question as my doctor has not been a lot of help to me.
How will I know when I've reached an optimal healthy weight?
After being diagnosed with high cholesterol last year, I
opted for lifestyle changes instead of the drugs the doctor
recommended. I have reduced my cholesterol over 60 points
to 178 (115 LDL and 41 HDL) and slowly lost 21 lbs since
last November by completely changing my diet. I added daily
exercise about 3 months ago. I run for half an hour 5 days
a week.
When I began working out, my weight loss slowed down I assume
because I was gaining muscle. Now I have plateaued and am
no longer losing at all. I am 33 years old, 5' 1" tall
and weigh 120 lbs. For my height so many "charts"
say I could be between 105 to 128 pounds. I am not sure
if I should strive to lose more by adjusting my caloric
intake or if I should just maintain my current weight. Currently
I consume between 1700-1900 calories a day. I have a midsection
of tummy that just won't budge. I've had two children and
I wonder if I lost more weight if perhaps that would disappear?!
I'd really appreciate your input on this.
Sincerely,
Becky Suzik
Dear Becky,
Good for you! You took yourself in hand and tackled that
cholesterol issue through lifestyle change. You made healthy
adjustments to your life and have reaped the benefits. It
seems to me that you have achieved a laudable goal of creating
a healthy body and mind as you continue to gain control
of these important aspects of your life. You ask about your
weight plateau. At the beginning of a healthy weight loss
program, one that includes good nutrition and sensible exercise,
it is not uncommon for the weight to come off as you experienced…your
body builds muscle and over several months, the weight comes
off in a steady pattern.
And now, you are experiencing what many people who lose
weight experience. Your weight reaches a set point and your
body is getting used to this weight given the amount of
calories you take in through food and expend through exercise.
You are within the "chart range" but you need
to feel right in your own body. You may need to consider
whether your workouts need to be 10-15 minutes longer or
whether you increase the distance in the same half- hour
of running. You may also consider whether you need to include
some weight resistance training.
As you become more "fit" you will need to work
harder to take off weight instead of just working out hard
to maintain the weight you are. Having your midsection respond
the way you want is probably not going to happen unless
you incorporate some specific stomach exercises like crunches
and other variations of sit ups. Pilates-type of "core"
exercises will also work the midsection. If you are comfortable
at your current weight, are satisfied with the way you eat,
like the way your clothes fit and are satisfied with the
way your body looks and feels, have the energy you need
to live your life and still have some left over and if you
avoid exhaustion (even with two children), take time to
have some "quiet", reflective time, and sleep
well, there is a high likelihood that you may be at the
right weight for you. As you can see, given all that is
involved, only you can determine your "ideal"
weight. It is determined more by your overall health than
anything else. Good luck!
Dale
dratkins@kathleendaelemans.com
Dr. Dale Atkins' latest book, I'm
OK, You're My Parents: How to Overcome Guilt, Let Go of
Anger, and Create a Relationship That Works,
draws on twenty-five years of experience as a relationship
expert to present a comprehensive guide to repairing difficult
relationships, gaining control, and building a life that
you and your parents can live with for years to come.
Click
here for more info on I'm OK, You're My Parents
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Other
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Sisters
From
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Their Married Lives
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