Hi everynone!
I'm 5'6'', 23 years old and I weigh around 143 pounds. About a year ago, I've gained around 30 pounds, getting to 160 pounds - my usual, comfortable weight is between 125-130 pounds. From September 2014 to February 2015, I've started the usual "fad" diets to get rid of some weight - low carb/high protein, "clean eating", calorie counting/restricting, etc. With those I managed to lose about 15 pounds, but I always felt sluggish, hungry and binge eating was quite often (at least once a week I would binge on high fatty foods, like chocolate bars and cookies).
On February I discovered the Starch Solution - bought the book, started reading it and I totally made the switch to this high carb/starch, no dairy, no fat kind of lifestyle.
And I have to be honest - in terms of energy it has been awesome!!!
I workout 5 times a week (cardio + resistance training) and I've never felt so alive and full of energy. I wake up energised and I always want to go straight to the gym
I no longer feel hungry all the time - which used to happen to me before and I found that my life back then revolved around food and counting the minutes until my next meal.
However, in the last few months, it has become harder and harder for me to lose any additional pound
I follow the MWL guidelines, but nothing seems to be helping. I limit my fruit intake to 2 pieces/day, eliminated all refined flours from my diet (as well as oils) and I no longer cook with salt.
One of the things that has been getting to me the most is constipation
I still cannot figure out how it is possible to each so much fiber and not being able to go to the bathroom - sometimes for 3-4 days in a row! I feel bloated, have abdominal discomfort, gas, etc. And that affects the way I see myself in the mirror - as well as my weight on the scale, which fluctuates A LOT!!!
My usual food intake consists of:
BREAKFAST: 1 cup rolled oats + rice milk + 1 pear + cinnamon
LUNCH: 1/2 cup dry rice with 1-2 cups veggies and tomate purée (no salt added)
DINNER: salad bowl (2 cups lettuce + 2/3 tomatoes + 1/2 cucumber) w/ some lime juice as a dressing and 4-5 potatoes (around 1lb) with some tomato purée (no salt added)
SNACKS: depending if I'm hungry or not, but is generally between lunch and dinner, and 1 medium apple is generally enough for me to feel satisfied.
I don't know if I'm gaining muscle/not losing fat/gaining weight, and I'm clueless in terms of what to do. Any advice?
Thank you!!!