Okay, so if you read my weekend post that wasn't supposed to happen, I weighed in. I know, I know but in the end, just like a teenager being told they can't see the bad boy, it only wanted to make me see it more. I became obsessed with it so we're just going to have to accept that the scale will be part of our lives once a week. I can't change up a plan and not know how it's affecting me. So back to once a week weighing in.
Speaking of the plan (increased calories/top of the hour activity), it only warranted me a one pound loss and it was losing a pound that was a rouge gain so I'm not overjoyed or touting the whole "a pound is a pound" crap. So after 2 weeks of the calorie increase, we're going the opposite direction. We'll cut about 200-300 calories. For me that's basically cutting out a morning snack and a little more. I can't give away one more week with a possible gain. So we tried that approach since our workouts were so much more intense and cutting calories hadn't worked for us in the past. But we'll try this approach and hope something comes out of it. I hate having to constantly re-tweak this program but most of the past 2 years has been spent trying to find what works for as long as it'll work, which has seriously been like 2 weeks and then nothing for 4. It is so irritating that you don't have control over your own body especially when you're doing everything right or implementing everything you have studied or know to try and your body rebels against you for no reason. It's beyond frustrating. Most people would've given up by now or proclaimed their weight had settled there but I'm NOT going to settle for just over 300 lbs. I WILL have a 2 as my start number on my weight and eventually a 1 so get used to it body. I'm NOT quitting no matter how much you resist me. This week has a lot of hard exercise ahead...so bring it on!
When you hit a plateau that lasts for months, how do you usually handle it?
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Usually, when I hit a plateau, I look at my form of exercise more than my eating. But, that's because I tend to get in an exercise rut and repeat the same four or five things weekly.
ReplyDeleteHave you tried a rest week? Kind of a reset for your body? I try to do that once every 90 days or so.
We have recently changed up our exercise routine so eating is the issue. Just have to find the right combo.
ReplyDeleteNo help here - it's not a plateau if you're not doing the right things and that pretty much explains my bad weeks.
ReplyDeleteI calorie cycle, alternating high and low calorie days. I found 2 low, 1 high works best for me.
ReplyDeleteWhen I hit this in year two I did everything everyone told me to try-more exercise, different exercise, add calories, reduce calories, totally change the kinds of food I was eating...and after 9 months of that? I gave up and have steadily gained back 30 pounds. Hindsight means I would have been happier had I just stayed there, but like you, I was not happy accepting that my body was 'happy' at 300 ish pounds. Honestly, who in their right mind would think that? I admire the path you and the Mr. have taken, mine was certainly the wrong one.
ReplyDeleteI have a hard time with the "eat more" philosophy. I know it works for lots of people, but eating more is how I got to this point in the first place. Now that school is in session and I'm too busy to eat and I've increased my miles in running I'm finally dropping again. Fewer calories in and more calories burned is what is working for me this round. We'll see how long it lasts. Fingers crossed for the new plan!
ReplyDeleteIs there any way you could afford to see a nutritionist or someone who could help you figure out new things that might work for you?
ReplyDeleteI would also like to point out that you upped your calories, but you didn't really give your body a chance to get used to it because you upped your activity shortly after. Isn't that defeating the purpose? Extra calories were to balance out what you *were* doing and then you burned an extra couple thousand calories. I'm concerned that you're going to start depleting muscle and end up hurting yourself. I'm not a dr, but I'm pretty sure there must be a "safe calorie deficit" that you shouldn't exceed.
The higher intensity workouts have been going on for months. HIIT training and circuits for 2 months. This is more than enough time for the body to adjust. I've studied to be a Lifestyle Management consultant through ACE at one point so I know some tricks o' the trade. I can't afford another week of gains after 3 weeks of upping calories. (1 unannounced, 2 announced) That's enough time for the body to adjust, it wasn't.
ReplyDeleteWe're cutting calories because it was the last thing we wanted to do. Kind of like try everything else before we have to 'go there.' By cutting calories, I'm not talking some ungodly amount. I'm talking going from 2200-2300 calories to 1800-2000 depending on workouts. We are nowhere near concern level but I thank ya for it! ;)
I have hypothyroid and pcos, so i pretty much live in a plateau. I'm constantly tweeking things and getting zero results on the scale.
ReplyDeleteI'm still an obsessive weekly weigher, despite the fact that sometimes I see a gain, and sometimes I see nothing.. but i've been learning to use my pants as a better guideline. Just because for me personally, if i did stick to the scale, I'd probably pull the glass off the scale top and slit my wrists with it at some point.
I've found the only thing that actually consistantly works is eating 1200 calories and working out 5 days a week.. and since that is unhealthy and a ridiculous way to live.... no way am I doing that.
Looking forward to you finding your magic formula and seeing the numbers drop a bit soon :)
Instead of changing the time spent working out or the calories consumed, maybe try a different form of exercise all together.
ReplyDeleteFor instance, instead of using weight machines, use free weights for the extra "effort" it takes to stabilize the weights.
And maybe instead of looking at calories, look at the types of food you're eating. It's one thing to eat 1500 calories of nutrient dense food, and a completely different thing to eat 1500 calories of higher-fat, processed, higher sodium foods. I'm not sure what you eat, so maybe this isn't something of concern... have you looked at the Eat-Clean diet or Body-For-Life? They both tout whole, unprocessed, fresh from the ground/animal foods as a way to maintain or lose weight. The additives that go into anything that comes in a bag or box can sometimes cause weight gain/undesired stabilization even if you're within your calorie count...
I hope you find a solution soon. I hate to see you struggling when you've worked so damn hard to get to where you are now. Keep your chin up! You are still an inspiration and motivator for me. <3
Jenn- We do all that. We don't do any one routine longer than 2 months. I eat more fruits and veggies 5-6x week than a garden can produce along with lean meats and very little processed foods. (Nothing I can't pronounce) I'm doing everything right hence the frustration.
ReplyDeleteOh boy, I'm in the middle of a ridiculously long plateau and am SO VERY FRUSTRATED! I did a lot of thinking about this while on vacation and looked over all the "tricks" I've done to change things up...with nada results. I'm at a very low point (obviously not giving up though) and have had to pull up the old drawbridge to give myself some mental space from it. The obsession with it is just the flip side of the food obsession that had me gaining 200+ pounds. Not in a good place.
ReplyDelete