3 lbs - 3 weeks

I have been slowly losing weight since July. So far I'm down 27 pounds but I stopped working out and have still lost more. I think it's because now I can watch my food intake better. But believe me, don't give up, because that'll only take you backward. Although you aren't seeing the loss you want to see, you maybe losing in inches, as they say.. and trust me in no time you'll see results. Stay positive! You can do this!

I have actually found that when I shop and buy fresh fruits and veggies and things I spend less than when I buy junk and processed foods.... If you plan ahead and make a good list before you go to the grocery store it helps!

keep it up. your're on track.

Make sure you are drinking lots and lots of water! Otherwise your body will hold onto the water if you dont drink enough which causes water weight. Also, take your start weight into consideration. If you dont have a ton to lose then its not going to come off as fast as it would if you had quite a bit to lose. Just keep up the good work and the results will come. One day when you weigh in and you least expect it you will see a crazy loss and be like "Where did that come from????" All in good time...

One thing I don't think was mentioned yet is that you should take at least one break day from exercising to give your body time to repair itself.

From http://www.momlogic.com/2009/05/weight_loss_mistakes.php

2. TOO MUCH EXERCISE: Exercise is an essential part of maintaining long-term health and weight control. However, there is in fact such a thing as doing too much exercise, or exercising too intensely. Exercise is hormonally depleting, especially for women over 40.

If exercise is experienced as stressful, this can stress the adrenal glands. Adrenal glands make cortisol in response to stress. When there is too much cortisol release, the body goes into the "save" mode I mentioned earlier, and will retain weight, especially around the midsection. This is one of the most tricky subjects for me to discuss with my patients who are over 40, are healthy eaters, exercise intensely, and are frustrated by lack of weight loss or even weight gain despite all their efforts.

You have to exercise smarter, not harder. For example, exercise programs that include weight-lifting will build muscle mass, which in turn raises the overall metabolic rate. This makes a person burn more calories, even at rest! In other words, it's not just about burning calories by exercising harder. If your best efforts at weight loss are not working well, you may be over-exercising.

3. NOT ENOUGH SLEEP! When you understand the work done by the adrenal glands, it becomes clear why not getting enough sleep, or good enough sleep quality, can cause weight retention or weight gain.

We talked in the last section about excess cortisol release caused by stress. Cortisol is released when we are tired and don't rest -- it's what keeps tired women from falling asleep at the wheel while they are ignoring their fatigue and running around doing all the things they have to do every day. Perimenopause and menopause-related symptoms can also interfere with good sleep quality. Depression (which is not a "natural" part of menopause) can also disrupt sleep. Stressful life events, such as the loss of a loved one, also cause cortisol release (both by interfering with sleep and from the stress itself).

Chronic lack of sleep leads to cortisol release, which also leads to craving junk food -- all of which of course leads to weight gain. Because this kind of weight gain is mostly around the abdominal area, we feel "bloated" and uncomfortable.

Poor eating habits related to fatigue and stress make this a vicious cycle that prevents reaching and maintaining a healthy weight.

So, what everybody "knows" about how to lose weight leaves out some crucial information. These top three mistakes that people make in trying to lose weight are especially costly for women over 40. Yes, you have to eat well and keep fit, but you have to keep a balance, and you have to get enough rest!