Help me attack these last 20 lbs!

kini324

I'm getting discouraged even though I see light at the end of the tunnel. The scale (lbs) and tape measure (inches) are stalling this month. I've steadily been losing for almost a year, but this plateau is messing with my focus!

I work out 5-6 times a week, a combo of cardio (jogging, walking, kickboxing, walk/jog intervals) and toning (dumb bells, push ups, planks, etc) for 35-40 minutes each time. My diet is pretty good and I always stay close to my net calories, although I could increase my veggie intake!

Any advice on what I can do to shed the last 20 lbs? Keep on with what I'm doing? Try something new? Less cardio? No more guacamole and baked chips?

Thanks!

Coyla

What sort of weight loss goal are you at right now?

From everything I've read here, you're best bet is to slow down your weight loss for those last 20 lbs. Change your goal to lose 1/2 lb a week and keep up with the exercise.

If you have too high of a calorie deficit, it can work against you.

AZackery

How often do you weigh yourself and take your measurements? How much water are you drinking? You've said that you do kickboxing. Are you doing videos or going to the gym? Are you doing Tae Bo?

You may need to up your calories and also change up on what you are doing.

kini324

I try to lose one lb per week. I drink a ton of water; do all of my work outs at home with DVDs/on Demand. Very interesting that I might need to up my calories- I'm at 1400 right now (not including exercise calories).

Thanks for the input!

goodgollymrsholly86

Do Zumba.. It is a very good work out and it is sooo much fun. If you have a wii or xbox kinect they have Zumba for those. I play Zumba on the Kinect..A ton of fun..And of course you can do the dvds or take a class.

ItsLessOfMe

I'm right there with you! It is very discouraging because you just want to see goal. What helped me get the scale moving again is when I took all sugars out of my diet. I even tried no carbs after lunch. Everyone said that no carbs after lunch makes no difference but I lost for 3 weeks straight when I did that. I also did cardio 1 hr a day and a gallon of water. Just gotta keep your body guessing. But of course this week I'm back to my old habits so we will see

BenderFitness

Try mixing up your workouts. Maybe add some interval training. It sounds like you're right on with diet. I am a huge fan of guacamole and avocado so I think you're okay with that.

If you want to try some new workouts that are prob different from what you are currently doing check out: www.fitnessbender.com

I film all of my workouts, post them on youtube, and share them on my blog. I think there are about 50 different workouts on there right now. Sometimes just mixing things up can be great for your routine.

AZackery

I try to lose one lb per week. I drink a ton of water; do all of my work outs at home with DVDs/on Demand. Very interesting that I might need to up my calories- I'm at 1400 right now (not including exercise calories).

Thanks for the input!

The reason why I have said to up your calories, because the more intense we workout the more we need to eat. I like to recommend Tae Bo to people, because I know it works.

If you don't up your calories, at least bump up your routine. Do you do Boot Camp workouts? Supreme 90 Day is a good muscle confusion program. You get 10 dvds for $19.99, so places for $9.99. You can buy the program at Walgreens, Target, Bed Bath and Beyond, Ross, Walmart, Best Buy, The Dollar General Store, etc.

You can view Supreme 90 Day and the latest Tae Bo workouts on Collagevideo.com.

ninerbuff

I'm getting discouraged even though I see light at the end of the tunnel. The scale (lbs) and tape measure (inches) are stalling this month. I've steadily been losing for almost a year, but this plateau is messing with my focus!

I work out 5-6 times a week, a combo of cardio (jogging, walking, kickboxing, walk/jog intervals) and toning (dumb bells, push ups, planks, etc) for 35-40 minutes each time. My diet is pretty good and I always stay close to my net calories, although I could increase my veggie intake!

Any advice on what I can do to shed the last 20 lbs? Keep on with what I'm doing? Try something new? Less cardio? No more guacamole and baked chips?

Thanks!

Increase your intensity. Ways to do this is to increase weight resistance, move faster, rest with short time limits, and flat out bust your *kitten*.

A.C.E. Certified Personal Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 28+ years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

BobbyClerici

I'm getting discouraged even though I see light at the end of the tunnel. The scale (lbs) and tape measure (inches) are stalling this month. I've steadily been losing for almost a year, but this plateau is messing with my focus!

I work out 5-6 times a week, a combo of cardio (jogging, walking, kickboxing, walk/jog intervals) and toning (dumb bells, push ups, planks, etc) for 35-40 minutes each time. My diet is pretty good and I always stay close to my net calories, although I could increase my veggie intake!

Any advice on what I can do to shed the last 20 lbs? Keep on with what I'm doing? Try something new? Less cardio? No more guacamole and baked chips?

Thanks!

Increase your intensity. Ways to do this is to increase weight resistance, move faster, rest with short time limits, and flat out bust your *kitten*.

Well so much for trying to get in my 2 cents here - :glasses:

I could not follow this except to say that you and I are in similar situations. I have 12 more lbs to go, and it's hard. The above is EXACTLY what I have had to do with great results.

Good Luck!

momtozmc

This is me too! Been at it - 60 lbs down - with about 20 lbs to go and it's slow!!! I've been running everyday 3.25 miles or more to get to my 100 Miles in December... but I'm a lot hungrier lately and it's slow on coming off!!!!

Friend me and we'll commiserate!!!!! and give each other advice!

L

pinkgigi

I've been stuck for a while on 3 kgs to go and last week dropped 2.5 kgs. It is a bit of a mystery to me, so I've got no clue except sometimes we work and work, and nothing to show for it, and then bang it drops. I find the progress graph here really useful for not getting discouraged when on a plateau, because my weight doesn't shift gradually like I expect it to.

GG

aquapussy

Please don't listen about upping your calorie intake. That is a complete old wives tale fantasy.

You are plateauing because now you are in better shape and your BMR is much lower. Your body is more efficient and needs LESS calories.

What you can try is starting a weight lifting or kettle ball routine. You have to "shock" your body out of it's happy place. Either shock it with exercise or with food.

FASTING OCCASIONALLY IS GOOD FOR YOU. EATING LOW CALORIES IS PROVEN SCIENTIFICALLY TO INCREASE LIFE SPAN.

I do a fasting split. I nibble fast Monday and Friday and usually eat at a "normal deficit for the rest of the week, except for one or two cheat meals. Before the fast I do an intense ball busting (well boob busting) workout.

Nibble fasting is eating a small amount throughout the day so you get the benefit of the fast without the stress of having nothing to eat.

Are you going to have to do this forever? No. It's a good way to get over the hump though.

EDIT: You really should add a HEAVY weight routine in there for no other reason than to maintain your muscle mass, muscle as you know burns fat. Free weights, not machines.

alexsmith01

Have you been increasing your weights? Increasing intensity of workouts? Your body may have gotten used to it so it's not working so hard anymore to do the same stuff

engineman312

I try to lose one lb per week. I drink a ton of water; do all of my work outs at home with DVDs/on Demand. Very interesting that I might need to up my calories- I'm at 1400 right now (not including exercise calories).

Thanks for the input!

The reason why I have said to up your calories, because the more intense we workout the more we need to eat. I like to recommend Tae Bo to people, because I know it works.

If you don't up your calories, at least bump up your routine. Do you do Boot Camp workouts? Supreme 90 Day is a good muscle confusion program. You get 10 dvds for $19.99, so places for $9.99. You can buy the program at Walgreens, Target, Bed Bath and Beyond, Ross, Walmart, Best Buy, The Dollar General Store, etc.

You can view Supreme 90 Day and the latest Tae Bo workouts on Collagevideo.com.

how do you know it works? what kind of results have you seen?

jwintonyk

Interval training for sure...If you haven't already look up Tabata workouts, they're wicked!

KandieLantz

I agree with everyone who says up your intensity AND your food intake! after losing 80 lbs I stalled, 5 weeks of nothing. I tried exercising more, or different, eating less calories, eating more fruits and veggies, NOTHING. Then a friend on here really urged me to EAT MORE...and add some strength training, even if only body weight... I admitted that eating more scared me to death, but I was getting so discouraged I decided to take his advice. The first week I gained .8 lb. I thought, here we go, I knew I shouldn't do this! BUT I had already told myself I would do this until the first of the year and then reassess, so I kept going and the second week, down 2.2 lbs, I have "unofficially" (not time for my regular weigh in yet) lost another lb this week. Try it out!

kini324

If I'm at 1400 calories now (before exercise), should I be eating more? I always eat with 100 calories of my total for the day.

Thanks so much everyone!

kini324

If I'm at 1400 calories now (before exercise), should I be eating more? I always eat with 100 calories of my total for the day.

Thanks so much everyone!

I mean, I eat within 100 calories..

engineman312

the calorie goal given here is a suggestion, and already at a deficit. if you go over or under by 100, no problem at all.

as you get closer to your goal weight, you should slowly decrease your calorie deficit. right now you should be at about a 1lb per week loss. when you get to those last 10, maybe to 1/2 a pound.

i don't know how you feel about 1400 calories a day. do you feel a little cranky, not so energetic? if so, maybe go up a little in calories. even if just for two weeks, just to try it. i suggested to a couple of female friends of mine here to go from 1200 to 1400 calories and they balked at first, but they have experienced a new drop in weight, and have more energy. they also tried strength training on my suggestion, and are really really liking the results and the routine.

try adding more protein to your diet too. on the weekend, grill up like, 6 pounds of chicken breast. makes it easy to put in a whole wheat wrap and take it as a snack.

KandieLantz

the calorie goal given here is a suggestion, and already at a deficit. if you go over or under by 100, no problem at all.

as you get closer to your goal weight, you should slowly decrease your calorie deficit. right now you should be at about a 1lb per week loss. when you get to those last 10, maybe to 1/2 a pound.

i don't know how you feel about 1400 calories a day. do you feel a little cranky, not so energetic? if so, maybe go up a little in calories. even if just for two weeks, just to try it. i suggested to a couple of female friends of mine here to go from 1200 to 1400 calories and they balked at first, but they have experienced a new drop in weight, and have more energy. they also tried strength training on my suggestion, and are really really liking the results and the routine.

try adding more protein to your diet too. on the weekend, grill up like, 6 pounds of chicken breast. makes it easy to put in a whole wheat wrap and take it as a snack.

Seriously the best thing I've done so far for my fitness routine is listen to him! I upped from 1200 cals to 1450 before exercise and protein protein protein. I feel so much better and the weight is coming off again.

katcod1522

I have the last 21.2 lbs to go...and things are really slow.