I've come to a halt...

coraharrison1
coraharrison1 Posts: 3 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
Feb 2013: I started dieting at 189 pounds I was eating around 2,500 calories a day and doing no exercise. I made a number of small changes over the period of 10 - 12 weeks.

Apr 2013: Due to my small changes from Feb - Apr my weight is now down to 177 pounds. I started watching what I eat much more closely and recording it using Myfitnesspal. I managed to take my calorie count down to around 1,600. I purchased some fat burners from Holland & Barratt the Acai Triple Strength pills, in the first week or two I did feel results in my eating but I didn't see much difference in my weight.

May 2013: From April to May I've only manage to loose 1 pound, my calorie count is now down to 1,200 - 1,400 per day. I have continued to take the fat burners and I have now joined the gym... I am going 3 - 5 times per week I burn between 350 - 450 kcal per session and I account those kcal into my daily allowance for example... 1,200 kcal day allowance + 350 kcal burn at the gym = 1,550 kcal so that's how many I try and eat that day...

So now we are in June, I'm down to 173.5 pounds and I simply don't know what more I can do, I am wanting to get down to 168 pounds by the end of June & 161 pounds by the end of July.

Does anyone have any idea's as to what is going on here & what I can do to achieve my goal...

Thanks in advance,

Cora.

Replies

  • Geekyfatgirl
    Geekyfatgirl Posts: 164 Member
    I'm on the same boat as you. I dont know what it is about these 170's but they seem so impossible!
  • jlapey
    jlapey Posts: 1,850 Member
    First: DITCH the pills, they really don't do anything.

    Second: figure your TDEE and subtract 20% to get your daily calorie goal for weight loss. ( lots of online calculators)

    Third: do some sort of strength training 3 times a week to maintain your current muscle. You can still do cardio if you like it and are concerned for your heart health, but hours of it a day is not recommended.

    Fourth: BE PATIENT, it takes time for your body to adjust to any program and weeks (if not months) for real results to show.

    Fifth: Stop relying on the scale for proof of results. Take pictures, measure your body in many places and continue to try on smaller clothing to see how it fits.

    Good luck.
  • amytag
    amytag Posts: 206 Member
    You're losing 4 lbs per month on average...that sounds great! A huge portion of that early weight was water, now you are steady. Just be patient!
  • coraharrison1
    coraharrison1 Posts: 3 Member
    I was hoping to loose more 7 pounds per month until I was down to my desired weight of 147 pounds I guess and I've been stepping it up and stepping it up to try and achieve that. I didn't know if I'd stunted my body with the calorie drop being quite significant.
  • steveko89
    steveko89 Posts: 2,223 Member
    I agree with Jlapey; ditch the pills and change up your routine. Though it does take some time for our bodies to adapt to changes in habits they adapt extraordinarily well; changing up your routine will essentially keep your body on its toes and the results will keep coming. I also agree with her last point vehemently. I have a coworker who's wife has gone from 270+ down to ~235 over the last year or so. Though she really got frustrated about a month ago when the numbers on the scale stopped moving. She kept with it though and then she realized that none of her clothes were fitting right, ones she'd just bought. Something key to remember, muscle is more dense than fat, you might just be in a stretch where you're body has burned the low-hanging-fruit fat and replacing it with muscle, keep it up and look in the mirror and not just down at the scale for results.
  • coraharrison1
    coraharrison1 Posts: 3 Member
    My work outs are 70% cardio and 30% strength... Although the strength is something I am going to cut down even further as you're probably right I have noticed my arms are getting significantly bigger and that's not something I am looking for haha.
  • jlapey
    jlapey Posts: 1,850 Member
    My work outs are 70% cardio and 30% strength... Although the strength is something I am going to cut down even further as you're probably right I have noticed my arms are getting significantly bigger and that's not something I am looking for haha.

    Have you measured your arms? Are they actually bigger or is it that you've lost the fat covering the muscle you already had so that it is now more visible? You will NOT gain muscle while eating at a caloric deficit. (not that much, in any case) I would actually do 70% strength to maintain my current muscle mass and 30% cardio because you seem to like it and it is good for your heart. Fat loss will come from your diet.

    This would be some good reading for you (and everyone):

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/833026-important-posts-to-read

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