Stubborn weight

Question
What am I doing wrong why I can't I lose the weight? I'm never an overweight individual, I'm normally average weight, I am 5 8" and normally weighs 130 to 135 lbs. Since I had my daughter 4 years ago via c-section I have gained over 30lbs. I have dieted and exercised yet nothing, the weight is still here and climbing I might add. I don't eat high calorie food often, might have a pizza once in 2 or 3 months. My eating habits is just as it was before, I sometimes don't eat breakfast and eat one meal per day or sometimes just snack on crackers and tea. If I'm eating food I might have white rice and curried mutton or something like that or some cereal with soy milk. Oh I should mention that I'm on the pill now 2 years since I had my daughter. I really need to loose weight, I'm really depressed, I don't go out because I'm uncomfortable in my own skin, can you help me?

Answer
Dear Lorry-ann,

As we age, we lose our muscle mass and increase our fat mass. Muscle is the calorie eating machine in our body. 1 lb of muscle consume about 50-100 calories/day. 1 lb of fat consume 1-3 calories/day.
To turn back the clock and increase our metabolism, we need to do strength training exercise to increase our muscle mass.

Drinking 2-5 glass of green tea every day can also help you increase your metabolism.

When you cook curry, try to reduce the coconut milk as they are very high in saturated fat. Add more water and use cornstarch to thicken the sauce(mix cornstarch with cold water first before you add them to your cooking to avoid the lumps).

When you eat rice try to consume brown or white basmati rice which is high in fiber content. Try to eat healthily 2-3 times a day because when you don't eat, your metabolism slow down. Crackers are not very good because they are not filling and they are high in simple carbohydrate (bad carb). Instead increase your intake of food that are high in complex carbohydrate such as basmati rice and beans.

Best wishes,
Linda Yo
Certified Weight Consultant
Author of Asian Slim Secrets

"If you are ready to become slim, trim, energized &  
healthier using the ancient wisdom of Asia,
read this book & use it now."
- Mark Victor Hansen, author of #1 NY Times  
 bestseller Chicken Soup for the Soul  

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