I've hit my glass ceiling... or is it a floor?

zophiel67

I have been using MFP since January. Not quite a New Years thing, but close enough. I've fallen off the wagon once already, and you can see from my ticker I haven't made much progress. An average of a half pound per two weeks. The problem is that all that loss came pretty much right at the beginning. I looked back at my graph this morning and have been bouncing off the glass ceiling at 198 for at least two months. I've broken through twice, but went right back up (without falling off the wagon) within a couple days. And one of those breakthroughs was when I had food poisoning for nearly two weeks. I've adjusted my calorie intake from the 1250ish MFP recommends to my BMR (closer to 1600) and it looked like it was going to help at first, but now I'm right back to where I was. I've added in more strength exercises (sit-ups and push-ups and I'm about to add squats) but have trouble finding time to fit in any reasonable amount of cardio. I had started walking at lunch and was doing well, but then this heat wave hit (anyone who lives in the southeast US knows what I'm talking about) and made it impossible. I work with the public and have to appear reasonable and trustworthy at work, and I have a terrible tendency to turn BRIGHT red after any real cardio. My work schedule is variable and long hours, so I don't like taking away from what little family time I get to go to the gym before or after work. I try to park as far away from work as possible and am on my feet all day, so I'm reasonably active. I'm just at a loss at this point. If I try to starve myself, I'll fall off the wagon again. I'm trying to get to Zumba classes, but between my work schedule and vacations I've made it once in the last month. I'm gonna go crazy! Any ideas or suggestion?

cbrown628

I have ideas: 1.) Now that vacations are winding down we need to work as a team and hold each other accountable for what we eat and try to persuade each other to increase exercise. 2.) Daily we should go walk around the track after work on days it is not raining, and also use weights 3-4 times a week too. If it is raining find a substitute for the walking. Those are just a few suggestions right off hand, but we can work together to formulate a plan as I am dealing with the same thing too! :-/

kris892

If it makes you feel any better my weight loss isn't going well either. I've only lost 5 pounds. I can't really do much exercise right now because of my knee. If I'm lucky I can swim a few times a week, and I have therapy 3 times a week. I always have a huge appetite. It's also very hard to cook for just one person. I feel like I have to keep trying though because the lighter I am the less work my knee has to do, so I would like to lose 25 pounds. If it means anything, I think u look great the way u are

cordianet

I hope you don't take offense, but as I read through you post, what I saw was a bunch of excuses for why you can't lose weight, both from an exercise and a diet perspective. If you rationalize this away, I'm sorry, but you're going to stay right where you are.

On the other hand, if you truly want to lose weight, you've got to make some sacrifices and change things up! Okay, so maybe family time suffers a bit. Or maybe it doesn't need to and instead of going to a gym, you go walking in the evenings and take the family with you (if they'll go). Maybe you all go for bike rides in the evenings. Maybe you try C25K. Why not start eating cleaner, because calories matter, but so does the quality of the food you eat? Perhaps it's time to try a workout video such as Insanity, p90x, etc. These seem to be pretty popular here, though I have no personal experience with them. Maybe instead of haphazardly doing "strength exercises" like you mentioned, you investigate some of the true strength training routines out there such as New Rules of Lifting for Women, or Strong Lifts that will truly activate your muscles and your metabolism.

diver71_au

+1

If you really want to lose you will make time. On average I work a 12-13 hour day ... yet still find time to spend with family AND work out between 1 and 2 hours a day .... and usually get my solid 7hrs of sleep

SpazzyMal

You have to make your own time and motivation. If you can't get outside to do cardio, try doing it while you watch TV at night, at least. You might be tired, you might be unmotivated, you might find it hard, but it's important to just do it anyway. And it gets easier the more you do it.

Are you drinking enough water? Are you cutting down on bad foods? Keep eating at your BMR, but eat good things. Give your body some time to get used to a routine and stick with it, that's where the progress is.

ColleenRoss50

I have been using MFP since January. Not quite a New Years thing, but close enough. I've fallen off the wagon once already, and you can see from my ticker I haven't made much progress. An average of a half pound per two weeks. The problem is that all that loss came pretty much right at the beginning. I looked back at my graph this morning and have been bouncing off the glass ceiling at 198 for at least two months. I've broken through twice, but went right back up (without falling off the wagon) within a couple days. And one of those breakthroughs was when I had food poisoning for nearly two weeks. I've adjusted my calorie intake from the 1250ish MFP recommends to my BMR (closer to 1600) and it looked like it was going to help at first, but now I'm right back to where I was. I've added in more strength exercises (sit-ups and push-ups and I'm about to add squats) but have trouble finding time to fit in any reasonable amount of cardio. I had started walking at lunch and was doing well, but then this heat wave hit (anyone who lives in the southeast US knows what I'm talking about) and made it impossible. I work with the public and have to appear reasonable and trustworthy at work, and I have a terrible tendency to turn BRIGHT red after any real cardio. My work schedule is variable and long hours, so I don't like taking away from what little family time I get to go to the gym before or after work. I try to park as far away from work as possible and am on my feet all day, so I'm reasonably active. I'm just at a loss at this point. If I try to starve myself, I'll fall off the wagon again. I'm trying to get to Zumba classes, but between my work schedule and vacations I've made it once in the last month. I'm gonna go crazy! Any ideas or suggestion?

Weight loss is 80 to 90% diet. If you don't have time for a cardio program, don't sweat it right now. A reasonable amount of cardio is great for cardiovascular health but not essential for weight loss.

I noticed you are a veterinarian so your day job likely keeps you on your feet and active throughout the day and you have been taking some other steps to increase your activity level outside of work. Even small steps are good. I noticed you have been doing some strength training and have increased it recently. That is great and you can do a lot of this at home with body weight exercises and using dumbbells.

I have lost all my weight primarily due to being very dedicated at accurately logging my calories and sticking with my calorie deficit and I am now close to my goal.

I do not have a cardio program. I have gradually increased my daily activity level in general. I have started doing a strength training program at home just doing body weight exercises and dumbbell exercises three times a week and I am gradually increasing the time spent and the variety of exercises. I do this to improve my body composition, not for weight loss.

This is a lifestyle change. Find something you enjoy and do what works for your lifestyle and what is sustainable for you. Find a calorie deficit that works for you and stick with it. You can do it. Adjust as necessary as the weight comes off. Log your calories thoroughly and carefully (log everything that goes into your mouth). I'm not saying you are not already doing that, but research shows that people in general tend to suck at counting calories and frequently underestimate them. I have also observed this tendency among many people on this forum as well.

Good luck. You can do this.