Health care professional in need of advice!!!

[ladyflo]

Hi, I began my weight loss journey 6 months ago after the birth of my second baby. I have lost 30+lbs and approx 10% body fat. I've been doing HIT 3-4 times a week and lifting weights up to 5 times a week increasing the weight when necessary covering all muscle groups. My diet is clean although I cheat once a week to drink wine, and i've been sticking to 1200 calories a day with a high protein, lower carb (eating complex carbs only) diet. My question is, I'm starting to plateau in my weight loss, I'm not too bothered about this but am starting to worry that my body fat loss is slowing. Do I need to eat more calories? I'm not sure how much I should be eating. Also not sure if my exercise routine is as effective as it could be?

The next issue I have is I'm due to return to work soon as my maternity leave finishes. I'm a staff nurse on a very bust medical ward and work 14hr days. Does anyone have any suggestions on how to eat enough and often enough when working in this type of environment particularly when breaks are few and far between?

Any suggestions greatly appreciated!!!

ps I supplement with whey protein, and have done a round of animal cuts.

Thanks

[Jeshi]

Have you recalculated your maintenance calorie level? If not you should do this, because your body isn't in the same "place" it was when you started this journey. (In case you don't know there is a great stickie in the nutrition section of the forum)

Now might also be a good time to switch up your routine. Maybe try out a new work out routine? I hear NROLW is good or Starting Strength. The human body is very adaptive, so you need to suprise it sometimes. Also, weight loss DOES slow as you start to become lean. I could be wrong in saying this (and someone please speak up if I am) but I would keep doing what you are doing until you don't see results for 2 weeks straight. Don't fix something that ain't broke right?

I can't really help you too much because a) I don't know how your body works and b) I am a beginner at this as well.

As for your second issue, you might want to try and get yourself used to eating in the schedule you will have at work. You will adapt and all will be fine. Just make sure you hit your calorie intakes and macro goals for the day. If you find you are hungrier in between your meals, then you might need to have "heavier" meals or more filling meals, this really varies between people. I seem to get "fuller" on half a chicken breast than I do a granola bar or salad.

Hope I helped :)

[Astazi]

The next issue I have is I'm due to return to work soon as my maternity leave finishes. I'm a staff nurse on a very bust medical ward and work 14hr days. Does anyone have any suggestions on how to eat enough and often enough when working in this type of environment particularly when breaks are few and far between?Eating on the go is tough but with a little preplanning it can be done. What matters isn't necessarily the number of meals but making sure you are getting the right amounts at the end of the day. Do you have a work station, desk or something of your own? Can you take in a small cooler or bag and keep it under your desk/seat?

If so...tally your requirements again as suggested and get yourself a ton of ziploc bags, the snack or sandwich sized ones. Cook ahead of time, dice and chop everything, several meals worth, separate it into small portions and bag them up. Throw in a couple of cold packs and you're set. You might have to graze all day/night taking just a few bites every hour or so. Everytime you buzz by that desk or work station grab a bag, munch and run. No need to wolf your food or eat tons of it at a time either. I like to keep my carbs, protein and fats separated and alternate between the three, but that's just me. It keeps me from having digestive issues. I'm having to graze all day myself (got super sick, no appetite so normal sized meals aren't possible yet) and it's really helping. :) Might just work for you too.

[ladyflo]

Thanks for the tips !!! I'm defo going to have to get organised or this is never going to work.

[bosgirlin09]

Hi, I began my weight loss journey 6 months ago after the birth of my second baby. I have lost 30+lbs and approx 10% body fat. I've been doing HIT 3-4 times a week and lifting weights up to 5 times a week increasing the weight when necessary covering all muscle groups. My diet is clean although I cheat once a week to drink wine, and i've been sticking to 1200 calories a day with a high protein, lower carb (eating complex carbs only) diet. My question is, I'm starting to plateau in my weight loss, I'm not too bothered about this but am starting to worry that my body fat loss is slowing. Do I need to eat more calories? I'm not sure how much I should be eating. Also not sure if my exercise routine is as effective as it could be?

The next issue I have is I'm due to return to work soon as my maternity leave finishes. I'm a staff nurse on a very bust medical ward and work 14hr days. Does anyone have any suggestions on how to eat enough and often enough when working in this type of environment particularly when breaks are few and far between?

Any suggestions greatly appreciated!!!

ps I supplement with whey protein, and have done a round of animal cuts.

Thanks

You should definitely go to the calculating calories/macronutrients sticky. 1200 calories sounds very low for someone with a training schedule like yours...well, for anyone really, lol! You have to find the balance between eating enough below maintenance to lose weight, but not so low you go into starvation mode.

[ladyflo]

Oh dear!!! looks like I am eating too little! and from what I can figure I appear to have lost muscle mass also. I find trying to work everything out quite confusing. Thanks for your input Its been very helpful! best get some chicken down me neck LOL!!

[rmcotter777]

I have hit a plateau myself and I have been at this for 10 months. It is frustrating but u are not eating enough. On my training day... with weights... I have anywhere from 1800 to 20000. And on non workout days or cardio about.1500. Up it and see what happens. You will be amazed. I also eat 6 small meals a day all having protein and carbon and healthy fat. Time consuming yes... disappointing no.

[dahlsteinm]

I too am an RN. I am a float nurse so I never know where I will be working from night to night. I dated a guy that was always on me about eating 6 meals a day and I would make excuses about not being able to at work...it was IMPOSSIBLE! With JCAHO and everyone else mandating where can eat, etc... (cant eat at the nurses station or in ANY patient care area). He used to say to me...if you want this bad enough you will make it work!

After he and I broke up, I got much more motivated! LOL! I decided I wanted this, I wanted to be healthy and I really wanted to build muscle! I decided I spent all day taking care of people and the only way I was going to do them any good is to take care of myself! I decided I was important...it made life much easier! I do graze most of the night like others suggested. I have things like lean turkey pepperoni, string cheese, a protein bar, an apple already sliced up with natty PB, and I make up meals on one of my nights off and freeze them. Before I leave home, I always have a protein shake RIGHT when I wake up, and then try to make something with a carb/high protein before I leave (protein pancakes, an omlette with Ezekiel bread). I also drink at least one bottle of water with my meal and drink one on the way to work, this gets me started with my water drinking for the day too! The combination of the two usually tides me over to get through those first couple or three hours where things are REALLY chaotic with ZERO downtime to eat.

Anyway I am NO expert and I have work to do myself. However, it is true, if this is what you REALLY want, you can make it happen! You deserve it!!

[ladyflo]

thanks for all the advice and support, I feel very motivated to make this work. Monday is D day and im armed and ready with plastic tubs and frozen left overs!!!!

[bonbeurrej]

...............if its universal health care you speak of, we cannot afford it.
The economic stimilus package will bankrupted us soon.

The US Treasury printing press can only run so long.

They cant run them anymore that 24 hours a day 7 days a week ....see ya mark