| feedback on my diet
Hi. I'm interested in some feedback regarding my diet.
About two months ago I changed my eating habits and began exercising. So far I have lost about 14 pounds. But in the last 3 weeks my weight has remained the same.
I eat about 15 or less grams of fat per day. I consume about 1600 calories per day. I rarely eat meat -- I might eat skinless chicken once a week. For dinner I eat either vegetable stir fry or pasta (no oil or cheese added). One day a week I "cheat" and can eat whatever I want, but usually I follow my normal diet for most of the day and "cheat" for dinner.
For the past two months I have only drank water -- perhaps a handful of times I have drank diet Coke or juice.
The majority of my calories come from carbs. Might that be the problem?
In the beginning of my diet I ate 1000 or less calories daily, but then I began reading about how a person's metabolism will slow down if they eat too little calories. I already knew of this idea but was never convinced until I read a convincing article.
My exercise consists of 20 minutes of cardiovascular exercise 5 days a week, including jumping rope, jumping jacks and some jogging. I also do sit-ups and push-ups. Even though I am not doing any weight training (several years ago I did weight training and did put on some muscle as a result), I know that it's possible to gain some muscle through cardio exercise.
I also know that eventually the rate of weight loss slows down but is it normal to remain the same weight for 3 weeks considering my eating habits and activity level?
Last summer I dieted and lost about twenty pounds, but then I got laid off and I went off track and gained all of it back. I intend not to let that happen again -- I've worked too hard to see it happen!
What should I do? Eat less carbs? Less total calories? More exercise?
Thanks.
|