Hit a weight loss wall...Any tips?

BOB2412 · April 2010

I gained 20 pounds a few years ago after my mother-in-law died of cancer. For the last year or so, I've been working to get it off. The first 10 came pretty easy. The last 10, not so much. I CANNOT get past the weight I've been at for the last 4 months. It stays exactly the same! I eat moderately well and work out 3-4 times a week. Any tips on how to get past this wall? I just don't think working out 6 days a week is possible for me in my schedule and I cannot do early mornings...just can't do it! Any ideas would be appreciated because this is super aggravating!

Leigha12 · April 2010

What are your current workouts like?

ashleym32 · April 2010

I texted a health/workout nut friend of mine and he said it's probably diet. Try keeping a food diary for about a week so you know the exact number of calories you're taking in b/c it's probably more than you realize.

I'm the same way about early mornings -- Johnny Depp could be standing at the foot of me bed and it wouldn't matter, I am not getting out of bed crazy early to work out!

CollieJade · April 2010

When I reached that point in weight loss (and was working out a lot), it was actually because I wasn't eating enough. Depending on how strenuous your workouts are, that might be the case. Ditto keeping a food diary. Sparkpeople.com is free and is a great way to track your caloric intake.

ssinca · April 2010

are you mixing up your cardio? lifting weights?

BOB2412 · April 2010

I usually do 2 or 3 1-hour body combat (kickboxing/cardio) classes a week and lift weights once a week.

I do keep a food diary, but I don't measure/weigh my food so it's an estimate. I guess that's my next step. Ughh, who has the time or desire to measure and weigh all their damn food? Takes the fun out of eating! Maybe that's my problem Wink

ssinca · April 2010

BOB2412:

Ughh, who has the time or desire to measure and weigh all their damn food? Takes the fun out of eating! Maybe that's my problem

I agree, it's a PITA, but it works if you're anal about it! I'd do more weights if I were you...then again, it's really easy to judge from sitting on the couch with the computer. Tongue Tied

ssinca · April 2010

oh, oh - I just thought of something else my trainer would do with me (this was many, many moons ago). try doing interval training - i.e. 50 jumping jacks, followed by lunges, followed by bicep curls. repeat 2 times. then do another set of 3 different exercises, making sure one of which is cardio-ish.

BOB2412 · April 2010

Thanks everyone! I think it's that I'm either eating more than I think because I don't weigh my food, or I'm not eating enough. Now, I just have to figure out which one it is

It looks like I also need to lift more weights. Thanks for the helping hand!

ssinca · April 2010

GL, I'm much better at doling out the advice than actually following it. says the girl who's on vacation and is drinking a beer with lunch.

BUT, I ordered a scale online that is supposed to provide body fat % so we'll see what kind of frightening info is waiting for me when I come home. yikes.

Leigha12 · April 2010

My advice would be to kick up the cardio. My trainer tells me that I need to do 200 minutes of cardio a week to lose fat. Weight lifting isn't as important, but your body does metabolize better when you have more muscle.

bobcatsteph · April 2010

For, weight loss is mostly about the food. I would really tighten up in the food area (write down every single thing and measure and weigh everything) and count calories using Sparkepeople (or another site) to make sure I was getting enough.

OrangeFelt · April 2010

Do a triathlon! Seriously.

I was in the same boat before I started doing tris.. then, about halfway into the season last year, I dropped like 8 lbs (which is a lot for me - like 10% body weight) and gained a LOT of muscle. I think its the combination of aerobic, anaerobeic, changing everything up.. and working out that much (4+ times a week). Plus you get goals to work towards!

Seriously, best thing I ever did for my weight.

Leigha12 · April 2010

Speaking of tris...I just signed up for my first one. It's a true sprint tri for women in New Braunfels next month. I'm hoping the combo workouts will give me a kick in the butt, too. We'll see!

If you're interested in a small one, this may be a good one to start. It's a 300m swim, 11 mile bike, and 2 mile run, which to me is a lot more manageable than the Danskin numbers for a newb (especially the swimming portion). It's called the Skees Greets.

OrangeFelt · April 2010

Oh hey! I'm going to be volunteering for Skeese. Maybe I'll see you out there!

I'd be doing Skees or the Tx Tri series, but I don't like swimming at the Ski Ranch.

Leigha12 · April 2010

OrangeFelt:
Oh hey! I'm going to be volunteering for Skeese. Maybe I'll see you out there!
I'd be doing Skees or the Tx Tri series, but I don't like swimming at the Ski Ranch.

Huh? So, um, what's wrong with swimming there? Like I said, this is my first tri, and I'm not a swimmer at all, so this is all new to me.

BOB2412 · April 2010

bobcatsteph:
For, weight loss is mostly about the food. I would really tighten up in the food area (write down every single thing and measure and weigh everything) and count calories using Sparkepeople (or another site) to make sure I was getting enough.

I do use Sparkspeople and consistently stay within my 1200-1500 calories.

I should try a triathalon. I hate running but love to bike and swim, but surely I could cope with the running for 1/3 of the time...

OrangeFelt · April 2010

Leigha12:

So, um, what's wrong with swimming there? Like I said, this is my first tri, and I'm not a swimmer at all, so this is all new to me.

Well... its um, Stinky. Probably about as stinky as it gets for a little shallow lake - there is a little island in the middle where goats live, and they run boats on it periodically. I did my first tri there (The Rookie) and while it wasn't terrible, I decided it just wasn't my cup of tea (especially after doing more tris at Decker and Lake Pflugerville). Don't let that discourage you, though! You'll hear that from a lot of people, it doesn't stop everyone. :P

Leigha12 · April 2010

Thanks! I'll be sure not to wear anything too near and dear to my heart then!

Nessia · April 2010

BOB2412:
bobcatsteph:
For, weight loss is mostly about the food. I would really tighten up in the food area (write down every single thing and measure and weigh everything) and count calories using Sparkepeople (or another site) to make sure I was getting enough.

I do use Sparkspeople and consistently stay within my 1200-1500 calories.

I should try a triathalon. I hate running but love to bike and swim, but surely I could cope with the running for 1/3 of the time...

Those Body combat classes are great cardio. I know when I do them I burn 600-800 calories. Are you tracking your exercise also? Are you netting 1200-1500 calories or eating 1200 and then exercising and burning 600 calories which means you're only getting 600 calories?

BOB2412 · April 2010

Nessia:
BOB2412:

bobcatsteph:
For, weight loss is mostly about the food. I would really tighten up in the food area (write down every single thing and measure and weigh everything) and count calories using Sparkepeople (or another site) to make sure I was getting enough.

I do use Sparkspeople and consistently stay within my 1200-1500 calories.

I should try a triathalon. I hate running but love to bike and swim, but surely I could cope with the running for 1/3 of the time...

Those Body combat classes are great cardio. I know when I do them I burn 600-800 calories. Are you tracking your exercise also? Are you netting 1200-1500 calories or eating 1200 and then exercising and burning 600 calories which means you're only getting 600 calories?

The latter. Only eating 1200-1500 a day. I am somewhat tracking my exercise in Sparkspeope. I really wasn't sure how many I was burning from that class (had guessed around 600), and then the whole weight training part of the program is confusing.

Nessia · April 2010

BOB2412:
Nessia:
BOB2412:

bobcatsteph:
For, weight loss is mostly about the food. I would really tighten up in the food area (write down every single thing and measure and weigh everything) and count calories using Sparkepeople (or another site) to make sure I was getting enough.

I do use Sparkspeople and consistently stay within my 1200-1500 calories.

I should try a triathalon. I hate running but love to bike and swim, but surely I could cope with the running for 1/3 of the time...

Those Body combat classes are great cardio. I know when I do them I burn 600-800 calories. Are you tracking your exercise also? Are you netting 1200-1500 calories or eating 1200 and then exercising and burning 600 calories which means you're only getting 600 calories?

The latter. Only eating 1200-1500 a day. I am somewhat tracking my exercise in Sparkspeope. I really wasn't sure how many I was burning from that class (had guessed around 600), and then the whole weight training part of the program is confusing.

That might be your issue then. You need to be eating more on the days you are burning more calories. The first time I did Body Combat, it was on launch day so it was a little over an hour and I hit 1000 calories on my HR monitor. So yeah in a normal session I average 600-800 but a lot less on weight training days. I bet just having a protein shake or some more lean protein would help.

BOB2412 · April 2010

Thanks Nessia! I'll give that a shot!

Hit a weight loss wall...Any tips?

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