Hit a speed bump

JMER41

Okay, the last couple of months I

JMER41

Sorry about the brief first post. My computer went haywire.

Anyway, the last couple of months I have been working really hard to eat right and exercise to lose weight and get in shape. I was doing really well up until about 3 weeks ago. I've lost 25 pounds and while I am really pleased with that, I'm not quite done. I want to lose another 30 to 40 pounds. The problem is that in the last three weeks, I've pretty much been floating in like a 3 pound fluctuation so essentially not losing any weight.

I've tried switching up my workout routines, I've changed intensity levels, what I've been doing while I work out to "keep my body guessing" like they tell you to but nothing seems to be working. I've even increased how much green tea I drink and started sprinkling red pepper flakes on my food and cinnamon in my coffee and tea to boost my metabolism. 

I just don't know why I am stuck in this rut and I can't seem to get out of it. Any advice? 

lovely_loser

 It is always hard when you hit a plateau. Don't give up! I am still learning what's good for my body (in the exercise and food departments). The only things I can think of, you are probably already doing....recording your food in some form of diary (myfitnesspal.com), watching when your carb intake (try to avoid carbs at the end of your day), take a day off (another way to keep that body guessing).

 The tough thing is that everybody is different and their bodies can react differently to changes. Just keep working at it! You can do it!

-Stephanie

jillmescia

I think Stephanie had some great points! What kind of workouts have you been doing so far? Do you have a support network? And how have your clothes been fitting? Sometimes the number on the scale is just a number, and measurements are a more accurate reflection.

vlagrl29

this is weird but every time I hit a plateau I would eat like crap for a day and then I would go back to loosing weight

JMER41

In the couple months that I have been trying I think I've gone over my calories maybe 5 or 6 times total and it's only been by 150 calories or so. 

I've been working with weights, doing come step aerobics and jogging as well as other things. I recently got my mother to get a My Fitness Pal account so we've been kind of helping each other out. A lot of people say I look really good with all the weight I've lost (which kind of makes me wonder if I was in fact even bigger than I thought I was) and I've gone down a size in everything. All of my favorite clothes from before I lost weight look like I'm swimming in them. Another good point is that I feel better. I know that people say exercising does a world of good for you but I just always thought it was only the physical aspects about. I feel healthier, I have more energy and surprisingly, I'm happier.

I think I look good on some days but other days I feel bloated and disgusting and I know that it's my body image and self-esteem issues rearing their ugly heads. The charts and whatnot say that a healthy range for me would be 125-169 and I know that if I actually weighed 125 pounds that I would look sick but I think I want to be in a happy medium at 140. My BMI is 26.7 and I know that it's still a little high but not by much.

I just don't if I'm concentrating on the number too much and psyching myself out. 

lovebug055

So, one thing I've come to learn- have you been measuring yourself as opposed to just looking at the pounds you shed? Sometimes if you actually measure your arms, legs, neck, waist line, etc. you will notice the inches will shed there the FASTEST. So you may actually not be coming to a stand still. It's just the fat turning into muscle and toning you up!