Plateau

SparkPoints: (4,178)
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Posts: 260
7/25/12 1:15 A

Well, the month of July isn't over yet, and if it's only been since the 1st, just keep up the good work you have been doing. I didn't get a chance to read your blogs. My clothes are falling off, too, especially my pants, but I can't afford new ones yet, so I have to get a belt. Hang in there, just keep your routines and the weight loss is bound to happen again!

Good luck!

current weight: 134.0

149 142 135 128

121

SparkPoints: (21,819)
Fitness Minutes: (7,536)
Posts: 1,149
7/24/12 7:40 P

Measured today and bad news there too....it appears that I have gained in some places and lost and stayed the same in others..... all since 7/1/12. My clothes don't fit, they are now falling off.
Oh well.. my blogs tell the whole story.

Pounds lost: 18.0

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SparkPoints: (4,178)
Fitness Minutes: (6,141)
Posts: 260
7/24/12 1:24 A

Have you done measurements? I was at a point when I stopped losing (but also did not re-gain) and my trainer did measurments and found that I lost inches on my hips and waist, but that my upper arms, forearms, thighs and calves grew a bit (maybe a half inch here or there), but still showed up in the measurements. I don't weigh on the scale all the time, but I go by how my clothes fit and by the measurements.

And then soon after he did that, I weighed on the scale, I dropped another pound. So maybe you will start to drop again when you least expect it. =)

Edited by: MARIAX11 at: 7/24/2012 (01:26)

current weight: 134.0

149 142 135 128

121

SparkPoints: (21,819)
Fitness Minutes: (7,536)
Posts: 1,149
7/24/12 1:12 A

I guess I am just totally ignorant and maybe just plain stupid about all this and have false hope. I know there is a change in my body and lots more definition so I guess my body is projecting falsities to me as well. But all the same, I did not start a totally new program I added to what I was doing.

Pounds lost: 18.0

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SparkPoints: (43,260)
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Posts: 8,277
7/23/12 11:18 P

I know; it really does take a long time to build muscle, and you have to be eating at a calorie surplus... it's very difficult to build muscle quantity while eating at a deficit, if not impossible. I know it's comforting to say "I'm building muscle" as an explanation for why you aren't losing weight, but it's usually not true. :)

YOu started a new program... one that is presumably higher in intensity. THat means you can still have the effects of water gain as your muscles adapt to the new routine. I'm experiencing that now, after a one month layoff, as my muscles re-adapt to the exercise that before was fairly easy for me.

current weight: 187.4

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155

SparkPoints: (21,819)
Fitness Minutes: (7,536)
Posts: 1,149
7/23/12 8:00 P

DRAGONCHILDE

Thanks for the reply. I have not been only working out for weeks.... I have been working out for 3 months now, I just recently changed my routine. I have been on a plateau since about June 12....

Pounds lost: 18.0

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SparkPoints: (43,260)
Fitness Minutes: (12,716)
Posts: 8,277
7/23/12 7:24 P

It's not building muscle; it takes months to build muscle, not two or three weeks. ;)

Here's an article that explains what happens when you gain weight after starting a new exercise program (or adding intensity):

www.sparkpeople.com/community/ask_the_expe
rts.asp?q=68

current weight: 187.4

211 197 183 169

155

SparkPoints: (21,819)
Fitness Minutes: (7,536)
Posts: 1,149
7/23/12 9:29 A

ADARKARA

Thank you for sharing. I am truly hoping with all my heart that it is a gain in muscle. I am no where near a visit from "Aunt Flo" *LOL*. I have been doing shred itself since July 1st.... I got sick and had to take off just about 4 days and restarted. However I have exercised consistently since April 24th. My food is good and healthy and I eat within my calorie range so I really don't know what the problem is. So lets hope it is gaining muscle.

Pounds lost: 18.0

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Posts: 480
7/23/12 8:36 A

I started 30 Day Shred last week and have also plateaued, and in fact gained 3 lbs. Of course, I was barely exercising before and am just pre-TOM, so that may have something to do with it. I'm thinking it's water weight from changing routines.

current weight: 184.7

275 246.25 217.5 188.75

160

SparkPoints: (21,819)
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7/21/12 2:19 P

ARCHIMEDESII,

I am on the spark people plan for my diabetes so my calories are between 1200 and 1500 daily.
The 30 shred is circuit training and I also do a power mile that does some weight training.. my bike is an elliptical type bike what also has moving arm handle bars and I use it daily. Do you believe I need additional strength training on top of that? The spark tracker says that I am burning 500 calories daily and on most days I am eating my 1500 calories that spark has me on. As far as what I eat.... lots of salads, fruits and veggies and very lean meat like turkey burgers, chicken breast and fish occasionally ( I don't like fish *LOL*)... again I have to be extra careful due to my diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and the list goes on and on....

Pounds lost: 18.0

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Fitness Minutes: (180,925)
Posts: 17,596
7/21/12 7:08 A

BMW9295,

You don't have your food log posted, so I can't see what sorts of foods you've been eating. Just because the scale hasn't budged in a month doesn't mean you're doing something wrong. Let's put a positive spin on this. On the plus side, you haven't regained any weight in a month. that does say you are doing something right.

Why aren't you losing ? Hard to say because we don't know exactly how many calories you've been eating per day versus how much exercise you've been doing. In theory, depending on how much weight you're trying to lose, how much you currently weigh, how active you are during the day and how much extra exercise you do... you might not be eating enough.

Eating too little can hinder a person's weight loss, not help it. Unfortunately, women have been spoon fed the notion we need to eat less to lose weight. This is as dietary misconception. In order to lose weight, a person has to eat. Eating less will not speed up a person's weight loss.

Also, other than the 30 Day Shred, what are you doing for strength training ? If you're not doing some strength training, I'm going to encourage you to start. Add lean muscle because muscle burns fat. the more lean muscle you carry, the more efficient your body will be at burning fat. Don't be afraid to lift a heavy weight or use a resistance band. It won't happen overnight, but increasing your lean muscle can help you change your body.

How many calories are you eating per day ? If you're eating less than 1000 cals per day, that would explain why you're not losing. you're just not eating enough to lose.

SparkPoints: (21,819)
Fitness Minutes: (7,536)
Posts: 1,149
7/20/12 8:28 P

Coach Nancy,

I track EVERYTHING via the SP tracker. I weigh and measure EVERYTHING I put in my mouth. As far as overestimating your calories expended I only once again use the SP tracker, based the time I put in and the amount SP puts in for calories burned. I don't know about taking a day off as even when I was sick and could not work out I did not gain or lose,

Oh sorry.... and yes very healthy eating. Only lean meats, salads, fresh fruits and veggies, fiber... the works.

Edited by: BMW9295 at: 7/20/2012 (21:00)

Pounds lost: 18.0

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Posts: 46,222
7/20/12 8:15 P

Beth,

Are you tracking your nutrition? Are you eating healthy foods? Are you meeting your nutrient goals--carbs, proteins, fats? Could it be that you are overestimating your calories expended?

Remember too, that your body makes the adpatation to the stress of exercise when you are not working out, so you may need to take a day or two off each week to see if that helps.

Weight loss can be very complex. I am currently reading a really great book by Gretchen Reynolds, The First 20-Minutes and she explains how too much exercise can actually affect the hormones that control our appetite which can affect our weight loss efforts.

Coach Nancy

SparkPoints: (21,819)
Fitness Minutes: (7,536)
Posts: 1,149
7/20/12 7:52 P

Since April 24th I lost 12 pounds... Now I have hit a plateau for about a month. I have changed my workout routine which is an hour and includes Jillian Michaels 30 day Shred(started July1st), Leslie Sansone's Power Mile and riding and elliptical type stationary bike ( I have walked and biked almost daily since April 24th when I started SP). I am staying within my calorie range with healthy eating. I closely watch my sodium intake due to high blood pressure and I drink more than 8 glasses of water a day in fact water or crystal light type drinks is all I drink. I have checked numerous places to make sure I am getting the right amount of calories and that they are in check with my SP recommended range.
What is going on and what can I do to change it?

Edited by: BMW9295 at: 7/20/2012 (20:10)

Pounds lost: 18.0

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