Stopped losing weight

TurboFireMama

Hi Everyone. I am 37 years young. I made a life change January 1st of this year and have dropped 30 lbs since then. I exercise 6-7 days a week doing Turbo Fire and I mix it up once in a while with running.

For the past 2 months, I have been diligent about logging my calories (came back to MFP about a month ago) and exercising. I can't for the life of me get below 144 and I fluctuate between that and 149. I am SO FRUSTRATED!!! My clothes are still fitting fine, but I still have body fat that I would like to lose...The dreaded under arm fat and padding around my hips. I had my BF tested with a caliper and measured about 22%. I would like to get down lower...My body has muscle tone, but not enough in my eyes...

Am I just to old to drop anymore? I have tried mixing it up a bit by taking a couple day break from working out and zig zagging my calories. I wear a body bugg so I know that I am accurate with my calorie burn numbers.

Does anyone have any suggestions? I don't know what to do. I will never stop exercising and eating right, but I am losing motivation to work so hard.... Please help.

DixiedoesMFP

If Turbo Fire is the only thing you are doing, I would suggest weight training. It will make you tighter and leaner and doing something different *should* jump start you again.

ratherbeskiing

OMGOSH ME TOOOOO!!!!! :grumble: I am stuck around 144!!!! this must be the scale "spite" weight... grrr.. let me know what works for you!

Lozze

What height are you?

If you're looking for a better body shape lift! That will help you strip fat and show those nice muscles underneath!

katcena

How many calories a day do you eat? And do you eat back all of your exercise calories? My first guess without knowing these answers is you aren't eating enough...that's usually why people plateau.
And yes, adding weight lifting to your routine will help too....but only if you are eating enough calories. And getting enough protein.

TurboFireMama

Thanks for all your replies! Sounds like I am going to have to add some weight training to my routine...I sort of have been thinking about it for a while now, but dread weight lifting...The cardio dance gives me a high....Maybe I will have to do both.

I am 5'7" to answer Lozze's question.

katcena~ MFP has me at 1360 calories a day (500 calorie deficit). I eat most of my exercise calories back in a day. The only time I don't, is if I burn 1000 or more...I might eat back 1/2 to 3/4. I go over on protein everyday and I am WAY under on carbs because I am Gluten and Dairy Free. Been working on getting more carbs, but is really hard...

Misiaxcore

I'm 5'6" and currently hovering around 144 as well Hope we get out of this rut soon !

Lozze

Based on your height you are smack bang in the healthy weight. (the website I did said 143!) So you don't really need to lose more.

Since its about body shape you have to life. Try 30DS it's AMAZING! My clothes are looser after nine days of it.

Just because u lift doesn't mean you can't do cardio. You can do both!

LorinaLynn

With only 22% body fat, you might be too lean for your body to handle a 500 calorie a day deficit. You have very little body fat for your body to pull energy from. Try switching it to 250 calories, or a half pound a week.

I was originally aiming for 135#, and switched to losing a half pound a week when I reached 140, and often lost more than expected. And once I reached that initial goal, I nudged up the calories a little more (sticking with 1500+exercise during the week, but playing it by ear on weekends and holidays) and easily lost another 5# in a month. Then another 5 in the following couple months.

TurboFireMama

Thanks for the tip. I upped my intake by decreasing the 500 deficit to 250. It is worth a try. A couple other people told me I might need to eat more. That is always scary to eat more...but I have heard how it can work. It upped me from 1360 to 1600 a day. Do you eat your exercise calories back? I do now, but just want to be sure that this is what you did with results. I will likely have 300-600 calories a day to eat back... How much water are you consuming. I heard that this is important to. I get anywhere from 8-14 glasses a day..

With only 22% body fat, you might be too lean for your body to handle a 500 calorie a day deficit. You have very little body fat for your body to pull energy from. Try switching it to 250 calories, or a half pound a week.

I was originally aiming for 135#, and switched to losing a half pound a week when I reached 140, and often lost more than expected. And once I reached that initial goal, I nudged up the calories a little more (sticking with 1500+exercise during the week, but playing it by ear on weekends and holidays) and easily lost another 5# in a month. Then another 5 in the following couple months.

katcena

Thanks for all your replies! Sounds like I am going to have to add some weight training to my routine...I sort of have been thinking about it for a while now, but dread weight lifting...The cardio dance gives me a high....Maybe I will have to do both.

I am 5'7" to answer Lozze's question.

katcena~ MFP has me at 1360 calories a day (500 calorie deficit). I eat most of my exercise calories back in a day. The only time I don't, is if I burn 1000 or more...I might eat back 1/2 to 3/4. I go over on protein everyday and I am WAY under on carbs because I am Gluten and Dairy Free. Been working on getting more carbs, but is really hard...

YES! You are not eating enough!! Not even close. Your body cannot build muscle on a calorie deficit. You need to up your calories....significantly. Start with 1600 now...but you MUST eat back ALL of your exercise calories. You may find that you will need to up to about 2100 cals or more. I just upped mine again by 250 because I had hit a plateau. And dropped 4 pounds in 2 weeks. But, I am also doing cardio and weight lifting every week too.
So, up your cals and start hitting the weights. You will start to see results. Just remember, if you try to build muscle and don't eat enough fuel (it's fuel, not food) your body will break down your muscles instead of the fat you are trying to lose. Plus, you are 22% body fat....you have a lot of lean muscle to fuel now...you need to remember that!

TNoire

Here is a post Ive done on Plateau's hope it helps

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/387166-questions-about-weight-loss-plateau-s-why-do-they-happen-w