I'm Stuck- Need pushed, pulled, bumped, banged, kicked....

72lori

Brief history: I’m 5’5”, started out at 200 pounds in September, lost on average 8-9 pounds per month up until December where I lost a pound or so, but basically maintained what I had lost, which was fine. I was eating 1200-1400 calories and my exercise was walking on average 3 miles a day most days of the week.

My weight on 1/12/09 was 163.4. My weight on Monday was 160.4. That’s 3 pounds in 9 weeks. I have bounced up and down, gaining and losing the same few pounds over that time. During those 9 weeks I did start going to the gym (1/26), I go at least 4 days a week. I jog for 20 minutes, walk for 10 and spend about an hour weight training. I realized quickly that 1200 calories wasn’t going to cut it, I had no energy so I upped my calories to no less than 1400.

I bought a heart rate monitor, I burn on average of 800-1000 calories at the gym. I subtract what I would have burned anyway (I figure 100 an hour) and then usually reenergize with at least half of what I burned. (So if I burn 800 in 90 minutes, I subtract 150, get 650, eat 325 more- so 1725.)

The scale is just not moving. I said after Christmas that I was so close to my 150’s I could taste it. I’m still so close to my 150’s but the taste gets old after all this time!

I did take last week ‘off’. I didn’t pig out, I still went to the gym but I didn’t count calories, I didn’t kill myself working out. I figured I needed a vacation from all of it and ended up gaining only a half a pound, no biggie. I got on the scale today and it was up another pound. Just frustrating!

My weight range for my height is 120-150, I’m shooting for 150 right now, which is the top end. I definitely still have weight to lose so if my body thinks it’s happy here, it’s wrong! How do I convince it to cooperate?

72lori

Brief history: I’m 5’5”, started out at 200 pounds in September, lost on average 8-9 pounds per month up until December where I lost a pound or so, but basically maintained what I had lost, which was fine. I was eating 1200-1400 calories and my exercise was walking on average 3 miles a day most days of the week.

My weight on 1/12/09 was 163.4. My weight on Monday was 160.4. That’s 3 pounds in 9 weeks. I have bounced up and down, gaining and losing the same few pounds over that time. During those 9 weeks I did start going to the gym (1/26), I go at least 4 days a week. I jog for 20 minutes, walk for 10 and spend about an hour weight training. I realized quickly that 1200 calories wasn’t going to cut it, I had no energy so I upped my calories to no less than 1400.

I bought a heart rate monitor, I burn on average of 800-1000 calories at the gym. I subtract what I would have burned anyway (I figure 100 an hour) and then usually reenergize with at least half of what I burned. (So if I burn 800 in 90 minutes, I subtract 150, get 650, eat 325 more- so 1725.)

The scale is just not moving. I said after Christmas that I was so close to my 150’s I could taste it. I’m still so close to my 150’s but the taste gets old after all this time!

I did take last week ‘off’. I didn’t pig out, I still went to the gym but I didn’t count calories, I didn’t kill myself working out. I figured I needed a vacation from all of it and ended up gaining only a half a pound, no biggie. I got on the scale today and it was up another pound. Just frustrating!

My weight range for my height is 120-150, I’m shooting for 150 right now, which is the top end. I definitely still have weight to lose so if my body thinks it’s happy here, it’s wrong! How do I convince it to cooperate?

angelinaz

You have done so incredibly well! I looked at your photos! I don't have any answers. I am very stuck myself right now yet I know it's because I am not doing what I need to do for myself. I hope someone has some good suggestions for you. I will read them, too!

sixtyinchesoffury

i think you should take a minute and truly applaud yourself for your accomplishment!!!

You are totally on the right track, you are just getting impatient. I am so guilty of this!!!

Let's make a pact to treasure what we have done and be patient,

we can push, pull, bump,bang and kick eash others' *kitten* into shape

good luck, ang

wonderwouldyou

Hey, you've done great so far! Don't get discouraged. You have just hit a plateau and that's normal.

Keep doing what you are doing except try everthing backwards.

What I mean by this is, at the gym, reverse all your grips during weight training. Reverse your direction on the elliptical. Walk sideways on the treadmill. It looks silly but you will train a whole new set of muscles you didn't know you had and you will break the plateau.

Walk backwards, try rowing, go hiking, walk on all fours upside down like a crab.

I know it sounds stupid but you have to change it up to break plateaus. Keep changing your workouts every 4 to 6 weeks, never let your body get used to a routine when you're in the gym. That's what causes stagnation.

Hope that helps. If anything you will get a few laughs when you try something as silly as crab walking.

Good luck and great job so far!

CassieNic

i agree, change up your routine.

cmriverside

I think you need to eat more.

When you are so close to your healthy weight range, you can't afford to neglect 300 calories a day.

I always ate all my exercise calories. I did have one plateau, but it didn't last 3 months.....

When you don't eat enough for 3 months and then add in "enough" you will gain a couple pounds, it is your body saying "Thank you!" Keep eating the exercise calories, eat all of them for a month and see if it doesn't help.

There are many threads about plateaus. Go to the link below my ticker, and scroll through it. There are topics added on whenever we find a good one from someone who is educated on either nutrition, or exercise or both.

Good luck.:flowerforyou:

havingitall

The people above me have given great advice. Remember that you have started working out with weights. While you are losing fat (YAY) you are also developing some nice strong muscles. (YAY again). Muscles are denser than fat and therefore your weight may increase. Give it time.

This is one of those things in which patience truly pays off.

72lori

Thanks for all of the advice. I have read alot of the old posts, over and over and over. When I first started this process, what I was doing was working, I was very self motivated so I didn't read the boards much. As my progress halted, I did start reading the boards and looking for suggestions. That's when I realized I may not be eating enough, so I have increased it. Maybe not enough still? I'm not sure.

Patience is hard to have for this long of seeing no results. I am still self motivated, I really am not giving up, just like I said, a little frustrated that I can't figure it out! My eating is better than it has ever been in my entire life. I do not have junk food cravings anymore, I stay away from it. I can be near it and it doens't bother me. One the occasion that I allow myself to eat something 'bad', it usually makes me feel bad (physically- blah) and I then realize it wasn't even worth it.

kerrilucko

I think this happens to everyone at some point. Just be persistent and don't give up, you've come so far and you look great! What I try to do is be proud of where I am NOW. You know, maybe I'll never make it to 140 maybe I'll be 145 forever. That's still amazing to me. And when I was at 150, 160, 170, 180.... I thought the same way. Everyone's different and for some of us this just takes a lot longer. Again, try to appreciate yourself as you are TODAY. Just think, 6 months ago you never would have dreamed you'd be this small now right? :flowerforyou:

lotusfromthemud

I got to that point. Here's what I'm doing.

First of all, step away from the scale. IMHO, and according to what my trainer says (this is a quote from her) it's "worthless" when you are in very good shape. Here's why: the BMI is a false indicator if you have more than the "average" (35% for women, actually on the higher end) body fat.

If you have the means to do so, get your body fat tested. I now don't even think about my weight. In the past two years, I've actually gained almost ten pounds, but I'm the same size. I weigh 20 more pounds than my best friend, and when we were dress shopping once, I was two sizes smaller than her. My goal is now to lose an additional 2% of body fat, and I'm not even worried about what weight that will make me. (mostly. . .I had to literally throw out my scale to back up this opinion)

Also, start measuring, and use that as a progress indicator.

As far as breaking a plateau goes, try changing what you're eating (I from time to time experiment sensibly with my macro-nutrients, upping my protein and lowering my carbs (sensibly! I'm talking no more than 10% difference) or spending a week getting almost all my carbs from vegetables/fruits rather than grains.). I find that the closer I get to my "ideal" the more what I eat (vs. how much) matters.

Also, change your workout. Try a new class, go longer or harder. The body is a magnificent adapting machine. The workout that worked a year ago will not work as well now. You might also try exercising less, and giving your body a few light weeks. Then, going back to the harder routine might shock it.

Whooo. . .that was a book. Hope it helps.:flowerforyou:

72lori

Thanks for more good suggestions. I am measuring and seeing some difference. I will start doing the body fat percentage, not sure why I never thought of that one!

I also do need to remind myself to be happy where I am. That's hard to do. Laying off the scale is another hard one. I say the number doesn't really matter, yet it does. I guess I use it as a sign of progress for all my hard work.

I have been mixing things up somewhat, but I will try to mix them up some more!