Tired of losing the same 5 pounds

stubbornmm
stubbornmm Posts: 19
edited November 8 in Health and Weight Loss
So, I've been logging on this site for about a month now. At first, I thought it was really helping, as I lost my holiday pounds. For the last few months, I have been bumping around between 130 and 135. This month, I've gotten as low as 126, but I keep returning to 130. :-(

I've tried really hard to keep my calories below the "net". I exercise pretty regularly: running, yoga, tai chi, weights. I drink a beer or two each night, but only if it's in my calorie budget. My protein percent is always a little higher than the default goal, but pretty close.

I have heard that water retention is an issue when you are building muscles. I'm sure that I am building muscle because I'm sore after lifting.

Anyway, I'm just tired of feeling stuck. I'm sure there are some opinions. Let me have 'em.

Thanks!
MM

Replies

  • Helloitsdan
    Helloitsdan Posts: 5,564 Member
    How tall are you?
    Whats your waist measured below the navel?
    How often do you work out?
    Whats your current body fat%?
  • stubbornmm
    stubbornmm Posts: 19
    I'm a shortie. 5'1". I haven't measured my waist. No clue on the body fat. I just know it's higher than I want it to be cause my pants are tight and I have a little pudge on my belly.

    I usually run about 5 miles, 2-3 times a week. On a good day, I will run 6-8. I just started doing weights. I would say I'm doing that about 2 times a week. I do chest and triceps one day, wait till I'm not sore and then do the next set. My other sets are back / biceps and legs / shoulders. I try to hit tai chi 2 times a week, but make it at least once a week. Yoga once a week.
  • Helloitsdan
    Helloitsdan Posts: 5,564 Member
    At 5'1" you should have MFP set for 1500-1600 calories and eat back anything above 1400.
    Google Fat to Fit radio and get a body fat %.
    PM me:
    Age
    Height
    Weight
    BF%
    Waist measured below navel

    I'll run precise numbers for you.
    We will break this plateau!
  • Unknown
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  • KareninCanada
    KareninCanada Posts: 961 Member
    I've tried really hard to keep my calories below the "net".

    That may be a big part of your problem right there. Boost your calories so you're consistently around 1500-1700, increase your protein a bit - I'll bet you'll see results. Reducing your beer intake from twice a day to a few a week will free up 300 calories/day that you can invest in protein and fiber.
  • stubbornmm
    stubbornmm Posts: 19
    Age = 37
    Height = 5'1"
    Weight = 130
    BF% = 27.85%
    Waist measured below navel = 35.24

    My "fat to fit" ratio is .85. Waist is 33 and hips 39.
  • stubbornmm
    stubbornmm Posts: 19
    I'm not aiming for "way below" my net. Most days, I'm right around 50-100 calories under my net. It's rare that I'm going over it, but I do about once a week.

    I hate to give up the beer. I've cut back to the lower calorie beers, but not all the way to the diet beers. I don't see the point of drinking something that tastes like crap. And I'm thinking as long as my carb ratio is not out of control, it should be ok for me to have a beer with dinner.
  • monalissanne
    monalissanne Posts: 159 Member
    I'm not a doctor (well technically, I am, but not a medical doctor), but this is the way I understand it...when you drink your body converts most of the alcohol to acetate and then a small portion to fat. When your acetate levels rise, the body will burn that first. So basically, any energy consumption after drinking is burning off the acetate before it even starts to burn any fat. I like this article about it because it explains it well and cites reputable sources: http://www.valueoptions.com/spotlight_YIW/pdfs/articles/Pouring_on_the_Pounds_Alcohol_and_Weight_Gain.pdf

    On top of that, drinking makes you both bloated AND dehydrated, so if you are drinking everyday, getting an accurate weight measurement seems near impossible. I'm not saying don't drink. I still drink. I just make different choices about what I drink and how much I drink and how often I drink. It would be setting myself up for failure to say I'm NEVER going to drink again, so unless I'm someone who should be in AA, I don't see the point in doing that.
  • stubbornmm
    stubbornmm Posts: 19
    Thanks for the article. It seems to support the idea that 1-2 drinks is not so bad, but going past that could be cancelling out my efforts.
  • inlander
    inlander Posts: 339 Member
    I always have a difficult time losing weight if I allow myself to drink alcohol, even when I'm within my calorie range. I would advise that you try cutting back to only having a couple of beers on the weekend and see how that affects your weight loss.
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