Ask Jonny Bowden

Hi Jonny,

Ok, this is gonna be a lil long and I'm sure repetitive but please hang with me because I really need help! :'(

I've always been "chubby" but 3 yrs ago I hit the gym, ate 1600 calories a day and went down from a 150 to 127lbs in one year. I'm 5'2" with a medium size frame (figured out by wrapping my thumb and index finger around my left wrist) and I carry all extra fat right in the middle of my body. When I was at 127 I was a size 2-4 and everyone was saying I looked sick and anorexic. I had a nervous breakdown, got on anti-depressants and put on 7lbs in only one week. A yr after the fact I'm at 138 wear a size 2-8 (varies with brand) and I can't get down and I'm off the anti-depressants. For the last 8mths my routine has been like this:

Work Out;
-Day 1- 30-45 min of interval aerobic training (cycling, jogging, running, hiking,)
-Day 2- 30-45 min of lower and upper body strength training (no mid section exercises) 3 sets of 8 rep with as heavy weights as I can (I can't stand the 10lbs weights, I like a challenge)
-Day 3- REST
-Day 4- 30-45 min of interval aerobic training
-Day 5- 20-45 min of nothing but abs.
-Day 6- 30-45 min of lower and upper body strength training
-Day 7- REST

I take in 1600-1200 a day (lately more 1200 than 1600). I eat about 1800-2000 calories one day out of the week and maybe 2 days at the most every other week. I take vitamins like B-1 and Pantothenic Acid to help with my anxiety/depression and Omega 3.

I work out WAY more than anyone I know and eat WAY healthier than anyone I know, but my body won't budge! I have noticed very small strength gain because I had NEVER in my life had been able to do ONE push up and now I can do TWO (lol) but that's all. Clothes fit the same and body feels the same. I'm really tired by the end of the day like around 7pm. I'm asleep by 11pm and get up at 6am to do it all over again. I work out in the mornings and have soy protein before I go to the gym. Stress level is from none to low depending on the day.

What am I doing that is sabotaging my hard work? Am I eating to little? I don't eat fast/junk food, no soda, and I might eat like 4 cookies (35calories) like 2-3 days out of the week and I count those calories in my daily calorie intake. I really really like lifting weights and I want to do body sculpting competitions in the future (I'll be realistic and say like 2yrs from now) but it's so hard for me to build muscle or lose weight. I'm very dedicated and like to work hard for what I want but this isn't working. PLEASE PRETTY PLEASE HELP ME. SHARE YOUR WISDOM :)

Thanks in advance and I hope you read all of this. Warm wishes and happy thoughts!