Great results and then a WALL

dylankight
dylankight Posts: 22 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
I have lost 60 pounds over a seven month period. Up until that point I did the dieting on my own. My trainer changed my routine every six weeks. Results were great. I was doing 3 days of lifting(ending those days with 20-45 minutes of cardio) and then two days of cardio only. He switched it to 4 days of lifting and reducing cardio on those days to 20-30 minutes. Then only one stand alone cardio day which was 30 minutes of circuit training. Then he advised me to up my caloric intake, which I did. In the two months since I have lost almost 7 pounds. My issue is that most weeks I'm not near my low in that seven week stretch. I'm somewhere in-between where I started two months ago and the lowest weight recorded in that period. Which is way different than how it was before when I lost and never looked back. For instance now I'll lose 3 pounds. Then next week when I weigh in I will have gained 2-3 back and don't go back to that low for another 2 weeks. I track everything I eat and eat plenty of water. It's just defeating to not see the results on the scale. My measurements are getting better but since I have 18% BF I know I need to keep losing. Anyone else experience something like this?

Replies

  • editorgrrl
    editorgrrl Posts: 7,060 Member
    Almost everybody's experienced that (or will one day). Weight fluctuates day to day (and throughout the day). And the closer you get to goal, the more slowly you lose. You've only got, what, 20 lbs. to go? (Congratulations!) Set your goal to .5 lb. per week. The smaller deficit will also help you transition to maintenance.

    Read this: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1080242-a-guide-to-get-you-started-on-your-path-to-sexypants
  • dylankight
    dylankight Posts: 22 Member
    I've never been healthy. I'm not sure where I will end up. I just created that goal because it was under 200. But by changing my goal to half a pound it will take longer to hit my goal, right?
  • beachgod
    beachgod Posts: 567 Member
    It's just defeating to not see the results on the scale.

    I know exactly what you mean and believe me when I say put the scale away for a while. How do you look? How do you feel? How do your clothes fit? Better than before? If so, screw what the scale says, you're doing fine. Seeing the numbers move can be a morale builder or killer depending on which way they go but they're ultimately just digits on a machine. Revel in the success you are having due to your hard work and keep it up.
  • editorgrrl
    editorgrrl Posts: 7,060 Member
    I've never been healthy. I'm not sure where I will end up. I just created that goal because it was under 200. But by changing my goal to half a pound it will take longer to hit my goal, right?
    The less weight you have to lose, the more slowly it comes off—no matter what goal you've set. That's just the way the body works.

    You should always try to find the maximum number of calories at which you lose weight, not the minimum. Some people call this "eating more to weigh less."

    The bottom line is weight loss takes trial & error to find what works for you—and a whole lot of patience. Did you read the Sexypants link?

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