Want to join but......

[MBFergie]

Hi all,
I have been lurking on this site for awhile now. I would love to join but I am staying away from the scale. I have been dieting and exercising for the past 5 months. I have gone down drastically in my clothing size (size 20-tight). I went to the dr. before I started so I do know what I was at, just don't know where I am now. I just don't want to become a slave to the scale....so far it's worked great. In the past if I had been "good" and gained a 1lb I would binge eat...even though I know it's because I'm a woman and that's what we do. I feel great and everybody says I look good. Currently I wear a 12-14 and my ultimate goal is a size 8. I am 5'8".

Anyway, even though I don't weigh myself I know I am at a plateau and it's driving me nuts. I leave in 3 weeks on my DCL cruise and really was hoping to be a bit slimmer. I bought some clothes that are slightly tight and hoped for a better fit before we go.

I eat a very balanced low fat diet. Alot of grains and fibers, and alot of frozen meals for dinners so that I don't have the excess food around. (I'm italian and was taught to cook as if 10 extra people are coming over!!) I exercise 6x a week, about 40 minutes on ellipitcal machine (3-4 miles), do alot of stretching and do free weights.

Does anybody have a surefire plateau breaker.....(okay I know if you did you would be a millionaire but i will take any and all sugguestions.)

Enjoy your day.

 

[TigH]

Hmm, you sure are asking a tough question!

Is there any way you can change your exercise schedule a little bit? Just for a few weeks before the cruise... then if you want you can change it back. What if you bump up the time you exercise on the ellipitcal per day and then maybe exercise three days in a row, take a day off, back again three days, take a day off. Our bodies get to used to our exercise routines so it helps to change things up once in a while to make it a bit of a challenge. Or if you are already doing three on, one off, three on, etc. then maybe do two days on, one day off, three days on...

Or maybe try power walking outside and alternate that with using your elliptical machine every other day?

Are you lifting the same amount of weight every time you exercise the same body part? I have been lifting the same weight consistenly for the most part, but about 2 sessions ago I bumped up the weight I lift for my biceps. I did fewer reps per set (not by choice, it was just really heavy, ha ha!) Then I worked my back with a higher weight. After my arms had rested about 20 minutes from the first heavy weight bicep session, I put my regular weight on the dumb bell and did my normal routine. I'm trying to build strength to move up to the higher weight, but I have also read that it's a good way to keep your muscles from getting too used to the same routine over and over.

I'm the same height as you. Sounds like you have a great fitness/nutrition plan. Have you tried using fitday.com to track the amount of protein/carbs/fat you are eating? Have you ever looked through Muscle and Fitness Hers? It's a great magazine if you can ignore all the "Lose your gut in 6 weeks with this amazing pill" ads. I don't know why they put that junk in there (well, advertising money, but still...)

Congratulations on your loss - sounds like you are just melting away there!!! Hang in through your plateau! Your body is probably making some adjustments and you'll get a visit from the WOOSH fairy soon and your new clothes for the cruise will fit better.

 

[lmhall2000]

Kind of along the lines of what TigH said- I have always heard that the first 30 minutes of exercise is good for training your heart to get into shape and if you can add any amount of time onto that number you'll see that weight come off. I walked 30 minutes 5x a week- then bumped it up to 70 minutes 5x a week and my weight and inches have been coming off in spite of all the food I've been eating! Now this month I'm gonna try to cut back on the blooming onions and see what happens to the scale! It might help!
Tara

 

[Kabuli1]

Sometimes a small change can break break a plateau. You might try increasing your water intake. Also check the sodium on the frozen dinners - you may just be retaining water because they tend to be very high in sodium. Frozen dinners are notorious for hiding elements that might be contibuting to your plateau - hidden fats and carbs etc. Use fitday - it is a great tool for analying just what you're doing. Alternating lower calorie days with higher calories days might help, too.

The ladies above really know that they're talking about when it come to exercise!

Of course, the other thing is that plateaus happen and if you stick with it, you will get past it, it's just so frustrating in the meanwhile!

Good luck and hang in there! You're welcome here whether you get on the scale or not!

Karyn