Its it ok to take a break?

dolphin21
dolphin21 Posts: 301 Member
edited September 28 in Fitness and Exercise
I like to know if its ok to take a week off of exersising? I do 5 days a week or 6 and burn 400-500 calories. Im not loosing weight as i was befor and im just stuck! I gain 1-2 then goes back where im stuck at. I want to loose my last 7 pounds and i can't!!! I eat under my calories and aways have bout 200-300 left , so am I just exercing alot or not eating enough?? I don't want to eat extra if i don't need too, so do I go easy on my workout or change my calorie intake? Im at 1400 a day!!!! Help

Replies

  • stanvoodoo
    stanvoodoo Posts: 1,023 Member
    Eat back the calories and change up the exercise instead of taking a break. You need to get your body to let go of the fat and it gets harder when you are so close to goal. If you take a break it can be hard to get re-started! Eat more, change exercise and be patient. Make sure you are getting enough protein, fiber and water!

    It will happen!
  • snakegoddess_3
    snakegoddess_3 Posts: 83
    I am by no means an expert on this but it sounds to me like it could be two things. One that you need to eat closer to your calorie range. At the end of the day eat some greek yogurt that should make up the difference. You have to think the closer to your goal you are the harder your going to have to work at it and maybe your body needs those calories. Second maybe your body is use to the work out. Every so often I believe you need to wake up your body. It gets used to being in the same routine and maintains. So maybe you need to figure out how to shock it. Just a few ideas..
  • snakegoddess_3
    snakegoddess_3 Posts: 83
    I am by no means an expert on this but it sounds to me like it could be two things. One that you need to eat closer to your calorie range. At the end of the day eat some greek yogurt that should make up the difference. You have to think the closer to your goal you are the harder your going to have to work at it and maybe your body needs those calories. Second maybe your body is use to the work out. Every so often I believe you need to wake up your body. It gets used to being in the same routine and maintains. So maybe you need to figure out how to shock it. Just a few ideas..
  • kylakesgal
    kylakesgal Posts: 952 Member
    The thing is when you are exercising hard your muscles retain water. I've also noticed that when I workout really hard and push myself, I'll always weigh more so it's normal. I don't think I would take a week off of exercising though. Maybe just a day or two and when you do, your weight will more than likely go back down. I'm also down to my last 8 lbs and it takes some tweaking to shed those last few stubborn pounds but you can do it. Change up your exercise rountines and try upping your calories a bit. I know I was at a plateau for a few weeks and upped my calories from 1200 to 1390 and the next week lost 1.6 lbs. I'm still losing with the higher calories. That's an idea you could also try:) Good luck to you! What type of exercise are you doing?
  • dolphin21
    dolphin21 Posts: 301 Member
    Kylakesgal I do the elliptical every other day and T.V. exercises of different workouts. Like ab, cardio and weights all together for 35mins workouts. If i go up on my calories im not going to eat all of the calories!!!! Im at 1400, where at should i be then?
  • Sasha_Bear
    Sasha_Bear Posts: 625 Member
    It is okay to take a break, and don't let anyone make you feel guilty about doing so as long as your maintaining your eating goals you will still loose weight. Take a few days off from the working out and see if it makes a difference. If it doesn't then try something else this is all about trial and error if one thing isn't working move on to something else!
  • dolphin21
    dolphin21 Posts: 301 Member
    It is okay to take a break, and don't let anyone make you feel guilty about doing so as long as your maintaining your eating goals you will still loose weight. Take a few days off from the working out and see if it makes a difference. If it doesn't then try something else this is all about trial and error if one thing isn't working move on to something else!
    Thax thats true!!! i will try it out:wink:
  • kylakesgal
    kylakesgal Posts: 952 Member
    I do the elliptical too....sometimes everyday and that is a heck of a workout! I always expect to weigh more the next day after doing that lol. If you feel you need to take off a week, you will be fine as long as you are staying within your calories. How long have you been at 1400 calories and you don't eat even 1400 do you? So probably wouldn't do any good to up them lol. I was like you when I started, terrified to eat my exercise calories back but now I eat nearly all of them and for me I lose more that way. Everyone is different though. You just have to find what works for you but if what you are doing isn't working, I'd say change things up:)

    PS. My diary is open if you want to take a look. It's not perfect by any means but I try reallly hard:) Also, yesterday was a bad day for sodium for me. Usually try to keep that under 2000 mg. Do you track your sodium btw? That dang stuff can make you retain water!
  • dolphin21
    dolphin21 Posts: 301 Member
    Kylakesgal, no i don't eat all my calories. I've been on it for about one month. I was at 1200 at the begining of jan when i started this and then i went up to 1400 like a month ago. So should i go back to 1200?
  • kylakesgal
    kylakesgal Posts: 952 Member
    Well you have lost 13 lbs so you are doing something right:) Well if you aren't eating the 1400, you could go back to 1200 but seriously I think if you ate more, you would lose more. I know it's crazy but it works lol. Especially with the big workouts you are doing, your body needs fuel.
  • Nikiki
    Nikiki Posts: 993
    Kylakesgal I do the elliptical every other day and T.V. exercises of different workouts. Like ab, cardio and weights all together for 35mins workouts. If i go up on my calories im not going to eat all of the calories!!!! Im at 1400, where at should i be then?

    try something completely different like bellydancing, zumba, kickboxing ect... your body can easily become used to one kind of workout/toning routine so doing something completely different for a week or two can shock it. See if any local gyms offer a free trial week if you don't want to pay for a membership or look on youtube for workouts (you have to filter through a bunch of junk and commercials to find them but there's quite a few real workouts on there)

    also I know you dont WANT to eat more but it might be what your body needs, do you ever allow yourself "cheat days" or anything? often a day ior 2 of eating well over your calories (especially since you make a habit of eating well under) can shock your body out of a plateau
  • dolphin21
    dolphin21 Posts: 301 Member
    Nikiki, yes i have a cheat day here and there. I say once a week or a halve of a skinny cow or a halve of any sweet u can say.
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