HLG- Plateaus

MrsWhiteonWhiteSt

I am seriously ready to say f' this and eat a donut. I've been working out 5 days a week, eating carefully and the scale has not moved a single pound in TEN days. As soon as I saw this number on the scale, I knew it would be trouble, I always get stuck at this number My goal was to lose 19lbs for Mexico- I lost 10 in 5 weeks and now nothing for 1 1/2 wks... only 23 days til we leave. I'm getting so, so, so frustrated.

Anyone have tricks or tips for plateaus?

mrsoc

When I have hit a plateau in the past, I start really writing down what I eat.

I also try to change up the exercise part, to see if I have just gotten stagnant.  I say try the C25K, I think that you would like it!   

MrsWhiteonWhiteSt

mrsoc:

When I have hit a plateau in the past, I start really writing down what I eat.

I also try to change up the exercise part, to see if I have just gotten stagnant.  I say try the C25K, I think that you would like it!   

I'm so jealous of all the c25k ladies on here. I want to run, I do but I swear running in like 50% mental and I just get it in my head that I'm not a runner. 3 minutes of running feels like an hour. Maybe I will give it another try though.

NikCole

One of my best friends is a personal trainer and went to school for exercise science and nutrition, so I always turn to her for my diet/weight loss related ?'s!

One of the biggest problems she sees w/ weight loss and especially plateaus is that people don't eat enough calories. If you starve your body it will just hold on to every calorie it can... so it slows your metabolism and makes your workouts pointless.

wendyj

I agree with MrsOC's tips - track what you eat. Use something like MyFitnessPal.com to first figure out how many calories you should be eating, and then track your food intake and exercise to see where you're at. If you're exercising 5 days a week, you may actually not be eating enough calories each day to make up the difference, so your body is holding on to them instead of burning them off.

As for C25K, running, like any exercise plan, is mental. If you want to try running, try it. You don't have to go out and immediately be able to do 3 miles at an 8 min. pace. Heck, I can't even do that pace yet, and I've been doing this for 6 months already. I freely admit that some people could probably walk faster than I'm running right now, but I still enjoy getting out there and moving and pushing myself to new levels.

If you don't think running will be for you, then don't worry about it. There are lots of other ways to be active and get fit and strong. Hang in there! You're doing great!

meryltheresa

NikCole:

One of the biggest problems she sees w/ weight loss and especially plateaus is that people don't eat enough calories. If you starve your body it will just hold on to every calorie it can... so it slows your metabolism and makes your workouts pointless.

 

I was going to say this too.  Last year I was crazy diet girl, and all the sudden hit a wall.  Then I got pregnant.  I was still eating healthy, but started eating a bit more and wasn't really working out, and I started to lose weight again!  I realized I was giving myself enough calories.

I also agree with changing up you workout.  Your body gets used to what you're doing so you need to shock it. 

GlenLakeLove

*chiming in*

Are you doing any weight training? "Working out" is a loose term so I'm not sure exactly what you're doing (and am not trying to be rude/mean either!) but sometimes people do too much cardio and not enough weight training...muscle burns fat and if you are losing weight at a decent pace (which you were) then you can begin to lose muscle mass which can create a slow down.  I do about 30 minutes of cardio and then 20 of weight training (nothing heavy or too intense - I do light ~20 lbs of weights in many reps so as not to "bulk" up) and with WW, I've been having great success. I know that time isn't as easy to come by with kids but thought I'd toss the idea out there in case you could change up your routine!  

Also, WW recommends not eating the same things over and over. Again, not sure if you are, but changing your diet (same calories but different foods) can help spark your metabolism as it has to break down different foods in "new" ways. 

MrsWhiteonWhiteSt

GlenLakeLove:

*chiming in*

Are you doing any weight training? "Working out" is a loose term so I'm not sure exactly what you're doing (and am not trying to be rude/mean either!) but sometimes people do too much cardio and not enough weight training...muscle burns fat and if you are losing weight at a decent pace (which you were) then you can begin to lose muscle mass which can create a slow down.  I do about 30 minutes of cardio and then 20 of weight training (nothing heavy or too intense - I do light ~20 lbs of weights in many reps so as not to "bulk" up) and with WW, I've been having great success. I know that time isn't as easy to come by with kids but thought I'd toss the idea out there in case you could change up your routine!  

Also, WW recommends not eating the same things over and over. Again, not sure if you are, but changing your diet (same calories but different foods) can help spark your metabolism as it has to break down different foods in "new" ways. 

Hey I asked for suggestions so you're not being rude at all!

Yep I do weight training. I'm actually thinking the problem is not enough cardio. I take an hour long bootcamp class (cardio and weights) on Mon and Sat, an hour long Zumba class on Wednesdays and then I'll do a circuit training type DVD on 2 or 3 of the non class days for like 40 mins.

I do use myfitnesspal for cals but I tend to log everything in the morning, then slack off as the days goes on.

Telyco

I think everyone covered what I was going to suggest. I think the main thing is to just keep going and don't quit!

Good luck!