Frustrating, 4 months work, hardly any result!

[Neoshoegal]

I've been going to the gym since January in an attempt to get fit for our vacation in October and to loose weight (needed to loose about 8kg to reach my target) .
So 4 months on and I've only lost about 2kg. I know I'm slimming down as certain items of clothing fit better again. And I know the whole theory of muscle weighing more than fat. But it's getting a bit too frustrating. I've been eating more veggies and fruit, cutting down take aways and sugar. I do slip up every once in a while (last week was a week of pure sin: 2 take aways, pizza meal out, Ben & Jerry's ice cream, too much cola and only going to the gym once... oops).
I need to loose the weight because of what we'll be doing on our vacation. We're going horseback riding and when we booked it they needed to know how much we weigh... I said my target weight, figuring it would motivate me (and it did), but now I really need to get to it!

Motivate me! Tell me it's going to get better. Please...

I should go to the gym this afternoon... but is it really worth it?

 

[carolfoy]

it'll definately be worth it, I know it seems like a slow start bit keep going, you're obviously toning up and its this thats making the difference. It may be worth doing a slim fast week or something to give you a real kick start but if you've got into the habit of exercising don't give up now, I'm too lazy to even start exercising but its what I really need more so than the healthy eating side. Please don't give up so early, If Florence, (Minniespal) was here she'd be good motivation - she's our goddess when it comes to dieting.
Well done so far keep it up.

 

[angel659]

Some people take a little longer before the weight really falls off. For me it does not take long, but I easily put it all back on. I think its because I am heavily overweight, so any weight loss is quick to start with. I would consider Cambridge Diet, you can lose three stone in 3 months. A little drastic I know, but they also change your food style when you start eating normally again, so you dont put the weight back on. Its excellent it worked for me, but I have not been able to start again, due to my work and being able to go and see the counsellor. You basically have three food supplements instead of eating. Hard, but well worth it. Or as Carol suggest slim fast.

 

[Stick People]

...remember muscle weighs much more than fat. You are definately losing fat if your clothes are fitting better. And besides, think of all the positive things your doing for your body that you can't see - your heart is healthier now as are your bones, teeth, hair etc.

Don't give up - We're doing WDW in October too - I'm exercising too and yes I'm frustrated too (but I'm not giving up) so at least you're not alone!!

PEACE

 

[AliceGardner]

Motivate me! Tell me it's going to get better. Please...

I should go to the gym this afternoon... but is it really worth it?

Hi, I am a gym regular.

Definitely go to the gym this afternoon - don't give yourself the choice.

Yes a "week of sin" is not good, but the worst thiong would not be that week itself, but not getting back on the wagon afterwards.

May I ask what your current weight and what your target weight is?

How often do you go to the gym? Do you have a gym instructor at the gym? Does he/she think that your weight loss goals are realistic? When did they re-evaluate your gym programme? If you have been there for 4 months, you should have had a re-evaluation and upfated programme by now (to stop you getting too bored). Do you do classes and/or other activities to keep things interesting?

Do you feel the other benefits that working out tends to bring? You said that your clothes fitted better. Do you also feel more toned, firmer, more confident, healthier, sleep better, do you feel the adrenalin buzz, maybe even s*xier? Do that help to motivate you?

Have you thought about doing something like weight watchers in addition to the gym? Have you tried "swapping" your favourite foods/drinks for "lower calorie/fat" alternatives: i.e. "Skinny Cow" for "Ben & Jerry's" and "Diet Coke" for "Coke" etc.

Motivation has to come from you. I saw another thread on here recently about people being a little overweight, but really happy with themselves. You don't have to loose weight to be happy - so some people just don't have the motivation to do it. That is ok, it's your life and only you can choose how to live it.

Saying all that, I hope that you go to the gym and enjoy it (and how much better you feel afterwards).

Good luck
Alice

 

[Neoshoegal]

Current weight: 69kg
Goal: 63kg (would prefer 60kg, but would be very happy at 63)

I usually go to the gym about 3 times a week. I have had updates with a trainer (next one due soon I think). I try to take at least one class a week (body balance), and possible also the core class, pilates or conditioning (if I manage to get out of bed early enough!).

I won't switch to Diet Coke as I don't like it and my dentist told me not to go for diet drinks! Anyway, I normally only drink it about once a week, I tend to stick to juice and water. Haven't tried Skinny Cow yet, Ben & Jerry's is just so yummy (thank goodness there's no stone cold creamery around here!).

I usually am motivated to go, but this morning my weight was 69kg again (after being 68.4kg 2 weeks ago) and it just got me down!

Off to the gym, will talk again later!

 

[AliceGardner]

69kg is not bad at all! How tall are you (if you don't mind me asking)? I have known incredibly fit, athletic people who weighed more than you.

From what you have been doing (sounds like a great balance and being looked after by your gym instructor), the weight should have been budging better than that (you should be feeling fit and great infact). How much cardio do you do per session? I assume that you do a selection of weights/resistance training each session too?

Tooth decay normally comes from the acidity and/or sugar content of drinks. Diet Coke shouldn't be much worse than normal Coke (although some pathologists have linked the sweeteners used in diet soda to short-term memory loss, that is a different matter ). Even fruit juices are terrible for your teeth. But in moderation with correct brushing/flossing/mouth-washing a little occasionally shouldn't be an issue. The best regular drinks for your teeth and diet are water, skimmed milk, green/herbal teas etc (unsweetened black tea and coffee are fine also, but can stain your teeth).

Food is often about compromise. Skinny Cow is nowehere near as nice as Ben and Jerrys (or many other ice creams), but it is ice cream and it is nowhere near as bad for you. It is like I really enjoy cheese, but rarely eat it (because I know it is basically a slab of fat). As far as takeaways go, I know I can cook something tastier, healthier and quicker than going to the takeaway to collect it . It doesn't mean that I don't have treats, but I recognise that they really are treats and work extra hard at the gym.

Don't let the 0.6kg weight gain put you off - it is only little and could be lost again quickly: use that weight gain to make yourself more determined to loose it and even more . Also don't forget that many women's weight can well fluctuate during the course of the month (you could have a bit of fluid retention at the moment).

After my little one, Lucy, was born I had to be more determined than ever to get rid of that "post baby weight" and get back into shape - glad I did though

Alice

Current weight: 69kg
Goal: 63kg (would prefer 60kg, but would be very happy at 63)

I usually go to the gym about 3 times a week. I have had updates with a trainer (next one due soon I think). I try to take at least one class a week (body balance), and possible also the core class, pilates or conditioning (if I manage to get out of bed early enough!).

I won't switch to Diet Coke as I don't like it and my dentist told me not to go for diet drinks! Anyway, I normally only drink it about once a week, I tend to stick to juice and water. Haven't tried Skinny Cow yet, Ben & Jerry's is just so yummy (thank goodness there's no stone cold creamery around here!).

I usually am motivated to go, but this morning my weight was 69kg again (after being 68.4kg 2 weeks ago) and it just got me down!

Off to the gym, will talk again later!

 

[CustardTart]

Hi. I've been going to the gym for a couple of years and weight loss has been slow but consistent and I've not put anything back on. Last summer, however, I decided to really go for it and worked very hard (with a Personal Trainer) to lose weight/tone up - TBH the results were totally unsatisfactory and I hit a plateau.

I was very disheartened so stopped going to the gym for a while but I bought a pedometer and made sure I walked more than 10000 steps per day. Strangely, my weight loss picked up again and I managed to drop over 3kg in a month or so. I returned to the gym but after losing a little more, I hit that flippin' plateau again.

So I've changed things once more. This time I've added running to my 10000 steps walking repertoire - just 10 minutes per day to start with as it's important to keep it achievable but I do it every day. I've been doing this for 1 week and I've already lost over 0.5kg. Next week I'll up it to 15 mins per day and so on. I'm still going to the gym but just once a week for something I really enjoy. I've signed up for a 10K run in WDW this October so I've got a goal.

So, my advice would be to mix it up. Try a new exercise combo and keep going. And every so often have a sinful week - life's got to be fun after all...

Good luck!

 

[Neoshoegal]

Alice, I'm 1m63. I tend to do about 25 to 40 minutes on the cardio machines (I do walk on the threadmill rather than running as I never was any good at that, but it is fast walking). Then I've got 4 weights machine thingies and some excercises for my abs and back. I know it isn't all bad my weight, far from it. I've just put on about 10 kg in less than 6 years (somehow it all went wrong after I got married...) and it would be nice to get rid of it again!

According to my dentist, diet drinks are worse because they have more acid in them, or something along those lines.

CustardTart, thanks for the tips. We used to do ballroom and latin dancing which I'd love to pick up again, but DH has a PhD to finish and just doesn't have any free time at the moment.

 

[AliceGardner]

Good work out? Feel better?

About 30+ minutes of cardio per session 3 times a week is good. How much of that is walking on the treadmill? What speed are you walking? What other cardio do you do?

I also don't like running on treadmills (see the thread about "falling on stairs" - I am just too accident prone! ). I sometimes (once or twice a week) run outside, but if I am using a treadmill in the gym I walk fairly briskly (5.5mph) up a 15% gradient. This feels more controlled than running (I am not scared of falling), but gives your heart and body a MUCH better workout and will burn more calories.

Do you use a heart rate monitor? You can buy them quite cheaply for £25/£40 and they help you to see whether you are really "working hard" - the more you put into a workout, the more calories you burn, the more weight you loose.

Maybe stay away from diet drinks then, but - if you get tempted to drink "full fat" soda regularly, look at alternatives (like herbal/green teas, milk, other unsweetened drinks etc). I very rarely drink "full fat drinks" because I see them as really "empty calories": if a can of coke has the same calories as a chocolate bar, then I know what I am going to treat myself with

Alice

Alice, I'm 1m63. I tend to do about 25 to 40 minutes on the cardio machines (I do walk on the threadmill rather than running as I never was any good at that, but it is fast walking). Then I've got 4 weights machine thingies and some excercises for my abs and back. I know it isn't all bad my weight, far from it. I've just put on about 10 kg in less than 6 years (somehow it all went wrong after I got married...) and it would be nice to get rid of it again!

According to my dentist, diet drinks are worse because they have more acid in them, or something along those lines.

CustardTart, thanks for the tips. We used to do ballroom and latin dancing which I'd love to pick up again, but DH has a PhD to finish and just doesn't have any free time at the moment.