[kellypet3]

I have worked out consistently for 20 years and NEVER fought my weight. In the last year I've gone up to a size 6/8 from a size 2! My usual weight was 120 lbs at 5'4 and now I seem to be hovering around 138-140 pounds and although I don't really care what the scale says, I DO care what my clothes are saying. I'm currently starting my 3rd week of CLX(Chalean Xtreme) and liking the results so far, but am feeling a little bit puffy, possibly due to the intense weight work and new style of training. I've always trained with weights, but in the past have usually used lighter weights, up to 15 pounds(for bicep curls). I'm desperate to kick start my metabolism again and regain my nice figure. I'm hoping that whole "muscle burns fat" will work! I'm 38 now and have had 3 children, the youngest being 4 and lost the prego weight with all 3 and got back into my clothes, don't know what has happened in the last year and a half. Trust me, I've gone to all kinds of Docs, had my thryoid checked, swore it's Perimeno, but docs say no, been checked for Celiac via an upper endiscopy. The only thing that was found was that I was having some active Epstein-Barr about 6 months ago and was very tired. I have had a stressful couple of years, don't know if that caused it. I'm taking Holy Basil now to try to counterract any possible Cortisol from stress. My weight is hanging around my whole mid-section, even though I have visibly strong obliques and lines to prove it. I would love some suggestions too. Here is an example of a typical day eating-wise for me.....

Breakfast...1/2 cup greek yogurt with 1/4-1/2 cup mixed fresh berries (black/Rasp/Blueberries), about 1T if Omega 3 granola (from TJ's) and about 1tsp of chopped walnuts....

I try to have a handful, or about 20 almonds as in between meal snack.

Lunch.... usually about 1/2 Quinoa, with some lentils or black beans (1/4 cup), chopped tomatoes, fresh basil, sometimes some fresh chikcen (cooked plain) about 1/4 cup to 1/2 cup, red onion, drizzle of Olive Oil and squeezed lemon and some Adobo seasoning.

Snack... Opt Nutrition Whey protein 1 scoop with 1 cup of Almond milk, sometimes add 1 big T of Peanut butter and 1/3 of a frozen banana.

Dinner... something like what I have for lunch or maybe grilled chicken with a slice of provolone cheese, tomato, roasted pepper ect.

Yes, I do have a lite dessert. Sometimes a small piece of a GF brownie from TJ's.

I drink coffee in am and about 3 cups of tea, usually green or decaf green tea.

I take the following supplements...

AM
Carlson's Fish Oil ...about 3 tsp daily
CoQ10 100mg... 1 daily
Vit D 3 ...1 daily
Rainbow lite women's multi vitamin ...1 daily
Jarrow's Probiotic ...1 daily
Ester c, 500mg....2-3 daily

PM
ZMA...2 a night
Tranquil Sleep (3mg melatonin, 200 Suntheanine and 30 mg 5HTP)


So, based on all of that info, what in the heck am I doing wrong? I feel like I'm fighting a losing battle!

Someone had suggested that I have about 3 servings daily of the Whey Protein powder so that it insures that I am getting 75-85 g protein just in that, not counting my food.

Do you think the fact that I am only using 1 serving of the Whey is not enough protein for me now?

Do you have any suggestions, I sure could use the help.

Thanks.

Kelly