Why isnt this getting easier?

brittbergh

Let me preface this with my history. I started at the end of June weighing 220lbs when I started I used a simple Biggest Loser cardio dvd and logging on here. The beginning of August I started doing Turbo Fire from BeachBody. IM down to 186ish now and at a stand still yet again, this is like the third time my weight has just stopped falling off. Actually Ive gained in the past week. Ive gained inches as well according to my recent mesurements so please dont give me the run around about muscle mass.

So I find myself wondering when the heck is my work outs going to get easier or at least when the heck am I going to be able to tolerate them without taking many water breaks and then on some days like today just end up stopping because I literally cant push myself any harder. I feel like I don't have the stamina I think I should have from doing something 6 days a week. I feel like a failure honestly.
My eating could always be better but it has come a huge long way since June when we ate fast foods like every other day. I do struggle with getting enough calories because Im so busy running after my kids I really forget to eat and most of the time I dont even feel hungry so I dont eat.

liftingbro

Have you decreased your calorie intake?

You've dropped nearly 30 pounds, so part of this could be that you need decrease calories for your new weight.

McKayMachina

As long as you continue to under eat, you will feel weak.

McKayMachina

Have you decreased your calorie intake?

You've dropped nearly 30 pounds, so part of this could be that you need decrease calories for your new weight.

This is backwards. Bad advice.

chicabean420

Judging by your diary, provided it's accurate, I bet you're not eating enough. Looks like you're working out a lot or at least, burning a lot of calories. Try eating more. Your body needs fuel to burn it. I know it's a weird concept, but I think you should try to eat at LEAST half of your calories burned for a couple weeks and see how it goes. And make sure you're getting your water in - not just tea or coffee but pure water. That'll help push the sodium out of your system...which could be what's contributing to your gain in measurements...might just be water retention. That's my suggestion! Good luck!

kellyscomeback

Have you decreased your calorie intake?

You've dropped nearly 30 pounds, so part of this could be that you need decrease calories for your new weight.

I'm going to say the opposite, are you eating enough to give you the energy to do the workouts? I eat about 1700-1900 calories when I workout (including TF) and the days that I don't eat enough is when I don't have the energy to do it. I have to eat back alteast 90% of my calories to maintain a 2 lb loss a week.

Try eating some quick carbs before working out like yogurt, fruit, or nuts. I even have some juice on hand for a quick pick up.

Don't worry about pushing yourself to the point of exhaustion but push yourself enough so that you are borderline uncomfortable when working out, meaning your feel the lunges in the front leg, extending your calf during the roundhouses and quick punches during hi-lo's or punch, cross, hook, uppercut combos.

lizsmith1976

Workouts should be getting easier - if not, you are overdoing it, or its ounds like from your post that you are not properly fueling your body with food before and after workouts. That lets you work harder and longer and helps you recover faster. Don't feel like a failure! Everyone hits plateaus doing this. Be proud for losing what you have and continuing to workout and for eating healthier. Find some healthy snacks and food for workout times and recovery period and keep at it. When I hit a plateau I switch up my exercise routine or add an extra hour for a week and see if that helps. So far it has, 3 times. Good luck and take care!

MissMaryMac33

Have you decreased your calorie intake?

You've dropped nearly 30 pounds, so part of this could be that you need decrease calories for your new weight.

I think what you mean is to re-adjust your goals on MFP as they change every time you lose 10 lbs.

not only do you adjust your weight, but you also have to adjust how many calories you want to lose a week.
The closer you get to your goal, the less it should be.

75lbs or more: Choose to lose 2lbs/week
40-75 pounds: Choose to lose 1.5lbs/week
25-40 pounds: Choose to lose 1lb/week
15-20 pounds: Choose either 1/2lb or 1lb
Less than 15/20 pounds: choose 1/2 lb/week


As for the original posters questions -- if you're having trouble eating enough, try adding some protein shakes, greek yogurt, almonds, avocado etc.... it looks like you're not eating nearly enough which is why your body is holding on to the weight now. Give it some fuel!

ReinasWrath

It may be a good thing that your workouts aren't getting any easier, I'm not sure what the DVDS are that you described but I do know a lot are designed to constantly challenge your body in new ways so it doesn't get used to it. (is beach body or turbo one of those that have new moves each section or the same routine?)
Its also true you may need to find a way to eat a little more, without your proper nutrition things will defiantly stay hard. In another aspect maybe the choice of workout was a little too advanced for you and that is why it is taking a little longer for you to conquer it? I've always heard start slow-shorter amount of time- smaller resistance- ect. so you can slowly build up as you go, Maybe you just tackled a little too much too soon?

ladybug1620

I agree with previous posters. Try increasing your calories by a few hundred a day. It shouldn't be hard. Have a handful of nuts, an avocado, or some peanut butter. You don't have energy because you aren't fueling yourself right.

MissMaryMac33

I just looked at your diary -- and assuming its accurate, you're truly starving yourself.
You have days where you are probably at negative calories after working out...
It seems like you've been doing this for a long time --- your weight loss deficit is laready build into yuor net calories -- you don't need to create an even bigger deficit -- especially one that is putting at 500-800 calories a day.
Your daily goal is 1440 and I don't see any days where you actually hit that....

If your diary is not accurate - disregard

PS you eat a lot of good things -- its good you're making your own protein shakes and stopped paying for shakeology.
PB2 is amazing.... fage is awesome (you might try the plain 0% though and add your own flavors - lots more protein and less carbs)

Gemnildy

I am no expert but I am wondering if you might be bordering on your body thinking you are in starvation mode. If you are doing those cardio routines (which I alos love but they are one hell of a workout) you might not be eating enough to do that much.

Personally, I have found that my body hits starvation mode VERY easily if I cut out starches and carbs too much. i have never been a crazy healthy eater but I am trying to do better and my body is still fighting me on it! LOL The more healthy I think I am eating, the more stubborn my body is in resisting! I AM gonna find the right psychological combination one of these days! LOL

As I said, no expert here but maybe food for thought,.

Good luck!

liftingbro

Sorry, didn't realize your log was public.

Looking at that you seem to be vastly undereating, unless you are very short.

foremant86

You are not eating enough, it's as simple as that.

You can't ask your body to fuel you through a tough workout and drop weight without giving it the fuel it needs to keep your organs working properly.

Eat more!!!

vzucco

I agree with everyone saying you need to give your body the energy to work out by eating more! But not just any food, you need nutrient rich foods, lots of fruits, veggies, nuts, lean protein, and yes even carbs! Your body going into starvation mode does you no favors.

janiedoe111

It can also take your body time to adjust to a new weight and you have dropped a significant amount of weight in a fast time. Be patient.

hrobinson416

Judging by your diary, provided it's accurate, I bet you're not eating enough. Looks like you're working out a lot or at least, burning a lot of calories. Try eating more. Your body needs fuel to burn it. I know it's a weird concept, but I think you should try to eat at LEAST half of your calories burned for a couple weeks and see how it goes. And make sure you're getting your water in - not just tea or coffee but pure water. That'll help push the sodium out of your system...which could be what's contributing to your gain in measurements...might just be water retention. That's my suggestion! Good luck!

^^ This. You need to make sure you eat your calories back or what is happening will happen every time you stop eating enough. Good luck!

Troll

at the risk of sounding like a total hoebag ill just say if you are doing it right, meaning pushing yourself past predetermined boundaries, working out never gets easier. Im on my 5th round of insanity, and i still hit pause, because now im getting 70 power jumps instead of 20. As long as you are determined to improve you should still be dead at the end of every workout. As for eating, i have snacks on my cabinet or in baggies with nutritional info written on them and i set alarms on my phone with the memo "time to eat. Grab a snack." mind you, i only eat home cooking 3 times a day, everything else is a bar, shake, or nuts and cheese type things. Now, why youre gaining? Could be water weight. Could be that you arent pushing hard enough in your workout. Could be something as little as too many carbs or too much salt for a few days. Change things up a bit with new workouts (something as easy as walking a mile after a dvd workout) and maybe try to alter your diet. (i noticed lowering carbs to no more than 90g for a week, then eating normally one week helps bust plateaus for me).

brittbergh

so basically just need to force myself to stop and eat something more often? oye! That is a struggle. Yes my diary is extremely on point to what I eat, usually I log right after Im done eating anything actually. And I actually like shakeology, just didnt pay for it this month and I kind of miss it. It is a lot of hype and what not but Ive tried several whey types and flavors and I like both green and chocolate shakeology but thats me personally.

ssdivot

Hi there, good job on your weight loss so far! I took a look at your food journals recent entries and it looks to me like you're not eating enough. I see a lot of days where you are 1000 under your calorie goal.

I am no expert, having started in July, but when starting I was using the MFP goal and not eating back any exercise calories. I'm also doing Turbo Fire. I lost weight ( I have a lot more to lose than you) but it was in fits and starts and then I actually went up 4 lbs and stayed there for a few weeks. In the middle of that I got a Bodymedia Fit that showed me burning a lot more calories than I thought. I had my MFP goals set to sedentary and based on the Bodymedia Fit changed that to lightly active and also started trying to eat more of my exercise calories. I had a lot more energy and was feeling more like this was something I could stick to. The weight started coming off slowly. Then a couple of weeks ago I pulled a back muscle and then had to travel for 10 days. I didn't get much exercise (did get two 9 mile walks in) and didn't eat too good, averaging only a 500 calorie a day deficit over the course of those days which included one mega-pig-out. Well when I got back from the trip, I was down 7 lbs.

Just the other day I ate over my calories and so carried some of them forward to the next day to "make up for it"..so that day I didn't eat much. The next day I went for my walk which includes one particularly long uphill stretch. I couldn't make it up the hill without stopping which is not normal. Anyway this is my anecdotal experience. If I eat less than my goal my workouts are not as effective and my weight seems to be more reluctant to come off.