Expectations

banks1850

Banks, I had to read this again because I am completely frustrated!

Totally stuck in a rut. Been very good with my food intake (always below my daily goals), drink TONS of water, and have increased my workouts to 6 days a week on the XL Glider (20-30 minutes each time). Working up a killer sweat every day but GAINED a pound in the past week!!!

WHAT GIVES!!!!!!:mad:

This is truly what is keeping me going, Banks. Thanks!

Dunno, I don't know enough about your overall program to give you any kind of an answer. Could be water, could be sodium, could be building muscle, could be a slow thyroid, could be chemical imbalance, could be you have the settings wrong and are eating too much, could be you are miscalculating your exercise calories. :ohwell:

I know, it's a lot to think about, but you can rule a few of these out by
1) doublchecking your exercise and food numbers.
2) checking your sodium intake for the last couple of days
3)getting your thyroid checked
4)posting your numbers here (weight, height, activity level, and calories per day)

jenndf

Banks, I had to read this again because I am completely frustrated!

Totally stuck in a rut. Been very good with my food intake (always below my daily goals), drink TONS of water, and have increased my workouts to 6 days a week on the XL Glider (20-30 minutes each time). Working up a killer sweat every day but GAINED a pound in the past week!!!

WHAT GIVES!!!!!!:mad:

This is truly what is keeping me going, Banks. Thanks!

Dunno, I don't know enough about your overall program to give you any kind of an answer. Could be water, could be sodium, could be building muscle, could be a slow thyroid, could be chemical imbalance, could be you have the settings wrong and are eating too much, could be you are miscalculating your exercise calories. :ohwell:

I know, it's a lot to think about, but you can rule a few of these out by
1) doublchecking your exercise and food numbers.
2) checking your sodium intake for the last couple of days
3)getting your thyroid checked
4)posting your numbers here (weight, height, activity level, and calories per day)

Thanks for the feedback, Banks. Gives me something to start with.
:flowerforyou:

banks1850

Thanks for the feedback, Banks. Gives me something to start with.
:flowerforyou:

I just read your profile, high BP could have something to do with it. Sodium levels are probably messing with your chemistry. If you are on medication for it, or are just on a reduced sodium diet, that can play havoc with your chemistry for a while, it will settle though.

cinandchris

I believe I'm just hitting phase 3. I only had a big loss the first week, then little stuff, then nothing. Actually a gain this week, but pms struck, so that does not count. However, I have been making a lot of changes, and today, as the pms bloating and heaviness is beginning to lighten up, I notice that I am feeling a little smaller. Just a little. But I think that on Sunday (my weigh day) I'm going to finally start to have losses again. I am almost 40 and my body is fighting me all the way. But thanks to this site and all the wonderful info given, I have hung in there regardless of the scale for the first time in over 3 years. And I think it is going to pay off. Thank you banks for this post. :flowerforyou:

jenndf

Thanks for the feedback, Banks. Gives me something to start with.
:flowerforyou:

I just read your profile, high BP could have something to do with it. Sodium levels are probably messing with your chemistry. If you are on medication for it, or are just on a reduced sodium diet, that can play havoc with your chemistry for a while, it will settle though.

Good point - I never thought of that. I did just start medication and never thought of what effects it would have. You're the best, Banks! Thanks!!!!!!!

tlitzner

I am glad that I came across this post. I must be in phase 2. The first 2 1/2 weeks I lost 11 pounds, and for the last 3, NOTHING. I have been doing everything i'm supposed to; recording every morsel, eating every calorie, doing different exercises every time, blah blah blah. I was actually contemplating doing something drastic and unhealthy to get myself losing agian, and then I read this. I guess i'll just keep plugging along. I really hope you are right!

banks1850

I am glad that I came across this post. I must be in phase 2. The first 2 1/2 weeks I lost 11 pounds, and for the last 3, NOTHING. I have been doing everything i'm supposed to; recording every morsel, eating every calorie, doing different exercises every time, blah blah blah. I was actually contemplating doing something drastic and unhealthy to get myself losing agian, and then I read this. I guess i'll just keep plugging along. I really hope you are right!

The timing may not be perfect, but I'm pretty sure the stages are, I.E. you may last longer at one plateau, or take longer at a stage...etc, but most likely you will hit all these various points. Stick with it, and make sure you re-evaluate yourself and your goals as you become healthier, cuz what works at obese doesn't always work at overweight and what works at overweight, doesn't always work to bring you toward healthy and working towards less body fat.

beep

Bump

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skinnydreams

Thanks, I needed this today....I'm definitely in Stage 4 now, thrilled with how far I've come and happy with the way I look, knowing I still need and want to lose more.....I know I'll pick up the momentum soon, I'm still eager and excited!!!

Maribel

Banks, you ROCK! Thank you. I plan to print this and post it on our fridge. I just experienced that high that comes from losing the water weight and being 100% motivated and then the huge slump that comes afterwards. Your article has made a huge difference. Thanks for the wonderful posts. You folks really do inspire us newbies. Warmly and In-solidarity, Maribel

breda

thank u :drinker:
i am at stage 5- but am determined to get there.... :grumble:

beep

Bump

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jenndf

:bigsmile: Bump.

beep

Bump-ity-doodah

jenndf

Bump.

beep

Bumpagin

banks1850

bump

jenndf

Bump :bigsmile:

jenndf

Bump.

melissalynnlarue

Okies, I'll join in the fray and bump, too! Great information! I'm pretty new here, so I'm soaking as much info as I can! What a great community this is!

Has anyone noticed the 'google ads' above many of the pages/forums... I'm looking at one right now that says "10 Skinny Rules - lose 9 lbs every 11 days by following these simple rules - fatloss4idiots.com'. Like, are you kidding me? What a crock! Everyone knows that super-rapid weight loss never stays off!!

mrflibbleisvryx

This is great info!

BUMP!!

iluvsparkles

i re read this post all the time. Bump for more folks that can use it!

banks1850

yet another plug

Mags

Hi Banks

I'm between Stage 2 and 3; the weight has stopped dropping off and i'm considerably more toned; even fitted nicely into a pair of new trousers that I bought 3 weeks before hand and well... they weren't going over my hips; I'm still motivated but my own history is getting to this stage, losing size, gaining muscle, but NOT continuing to lose weight

I have never calorie counted before, am pretty much eating what I ate before, though a healthier version, eat pretty much all of my exercise calories, some days a little under, about 1 day a week I go over but not by too much and exercise the next day usually

I actually have a feeling I am exercising too much, walking and bicycling as I'm just starting to get fit again. I can't do aerobics or running and when I do yoga or pilates the muslce gain is more as my body aclimatises quickly and the workout hits my muslce hugely for the effort I put in. I do top up on low calorie protein drinks to help the muscles as I find it keeps my hunger post work out at bay and I don't need a sugar fix so much, etc. I drink alcohol 3/4 nights a week and have no intention of cutting this out.. so please don't even suggest it as it wont happen :drinker:

For weight loss its a stage I can plateau at for more than 2/3 months.

A couple of questions

Is it detrimental to go over calories, even once a week if not hugely?

Someone told me that you must eat NOT LESS THAN 10 calories BELOW YOUR DAILY ALLOWANCE or you body goes into crisis and starts storing fat; how true is this?

Alcohol - empty calories for nutritional value - but not detrimental to weight loss - correct?

Its not that I intend on giving up but do you have any SPECIFIC tips so that the next few weeks prove productive and not stale mate?

Mags


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banks1850

Hi Banks

I'm between Stage 2 and 3; the weight has stopped dropping off and i'm considerably more toned; even fitted nicely into a pair of new trousers that I bought 3 weeks before hand and well... they weren't going over my hips; I'm still motivated but my own history is getting to this stage, losing size, gaining muscle, but NOT continuing to lose weight

I have never calorie counted before, am pretty much eating what I ate before, though a healthier version, eat pretty much all of my exercise calories, some days a little under, about 1 day a week I go over but not by too much and exercise the next day usually

I actually have a feeling I am exercising too much, walking and bicycling as I'm just starting to get fit again. I can't do aerobics or running and when I do yoga or pilates the muslce gain is more as my body aclimatises quickly and the workout hits my muslce hugely for the effort I put in. I do top up on low calorie protein drinks to help the muscles as I find it keeps my hunger post work out at bay and I don't need a sugar fix so much, etc. I drink alcohol 3/4 nights a week and have no intention of cutting this out.. so please don't even suggest it as it wont happen :drinker:

For weight loss its a stage I can plateau at for more than 2/3 months.

A couple of questions

Is it detrimental to go over calories, even once a week if not hugely?

Someone told me that you must eat NOT LESS THAN 10 calories BELOW YOUR DAILY ALLOWANCE or you body goes into crisis and starts storing fat; how true is this?

Alcohol - empty calories for nutritional value - but not detrimental to weight loss - correct?

Its not that I intend on giving up but do you have any SPECIFIC tips so that the next few weeks prove productive and not stale mate?

Mags

I'll try to go over these as well as I can. Going over on calories won't kill you, as long as it's the exception and not the rule, and, as you said, it isn't by lots and lots of calories. I've never heard, nor would I put much creedance in that 10 calorie thing. The body doesn't use lines of demarkation, it uses "shades of gray". In other words, your body would gradually inch towards starvation mode instead of flipping the equivalent of a switch. At a certain point it becomes dangerous as the body starts to eat itself from the inside out, but at no specific point does your body switch from normal fat burning to lean tissue consumption (in fact, they both happen, to some degree, for just about everyone).
As to alcohol, I'll admit, sometimes I do partake in a few too many pops. But alcohol is deadly to weight loss for 2 reasons, 1st is that alcohol supplants glycogen for energy, so basically, once you start drinkin, any undigested carbs in the body (and they can stick around for hours after you eat them) basically are immediately stored as fat as the body instead, consumes the alcohol for energy (while I have read a lot on this, I still would like some confirmation that this is true, SongByrd, if you read this, can you confirm?). The second is that alcohol increases appetite, is a depressant (I.E. slows the metabolism), and lowers inhibition, which means you are more likely to eat bad food, and less likely to burn it off.
None of this means don't eat when you drink or never drink, it just means, moderation is better, and trying to keep weeks or, better yet, months between significant drinking is advisable (for all the reasons above as well as the obvious alcoholism that can result).

Mags

yeah my diet is high in protein and low on carbs naturally; its just what i eat; i rarely eat carbs in evening anyway and because of the exercise don't think my metabolism is slowing down particularly

maybe i should drink during the day and see if it burns the excess fat that never budges :drinker:

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flcaoh

Great informative post! Bump