Lower calorie burn after 4 lb loss?

khollyk

So I've been on this healthier lifestyle for about a month and a half. My ticker says I've lost 12 pounds, but that's since beginning MFP about 2 years ago...I've gone off it a few times. But this time around I've only lost 4 pounds (kinda at a stand-still right now, but that's another story...). Anyhow, a month ago when I started really working out it seemed that I'd burn about 225 average (sometimes as high as 250) doing Jillian's 30 minute '30 Day Shred' and about 300 on the elliptical for 30 minutes. Now I'm lucky to get 200 calories on Jillian's longer 'Ripped in 30' and usually only 250-ish on a 30 minute elliptical run. Today I did the 'Ripped in 30' and then had to repeat a few of the exercises for about an extra 8 minutes just to reach the 200 calorie mark!

I do use a heart rate monitor and I'm wondering if maybe it isn't working as well these days, after being used fairly consistently for over a month? Anyone else have any experience with this? I know that when you lose weight you burn less.....but I've only lost 4 pounds, so I can't really see that making the big difference I've noticed.

susannamarie

My guess would be that your body is becoming more efficient at the exercise you're doing, now that it's more familiar.

atjays

That's easy to solve, check your average heart rate after you work out. If you're like most people, your heart is able to do less work and achieve the same results as you get healthier, meaning you won't burn as many calories. This is why work outs either get longer or get more intense. I'm not sure on the pace of the jillian michaels videos, but maybe borrow P90X from a friend and see if that's over your head or not, or at the very least you can do it at a reduced pace and work your way up.

I have the Insanity work outs, and by the 60 day mark, the starter work outs have gone from being "oh my god i want to die" to absolutely boring, don't break a sweat work outs...