[ferguskatz]

Arg, I'm stuck at 150 for about 3 weeks now. Been keeping it generally between 1200 and 1400 but to little avail. I've been using fitday to record what I eat and how much I exercise. I should be around 1000 calorie defecit per day but the weight just isn't moving. Maybe I'm gaining muscle, who knows. How ha eyou all dealt with the dread plateau?

[aphil]

What is your current weight? What kind of exercise are you doing? Are you measuring your portions or estimating them? What is a sample of what you eat in a day-including drinks, etc?
This will help me to see where you could make some changes.

[srmb60]

Like Aphil says, ferguskatz ... spill the beans. Tell us all about your intake and your output and we'll see what we can do for you.
If you're a little more computer savvy than I am, you can link your fitday to your signature even. My son helped me

[cacmsc]

Hello everyone and newbies welcome! I tried to catch up on some of the last couple of pages. Sounds like everyone is on the right path to reaching their goals. I have been part of 3 fat chicks for one year now. The support and ideas shared by others has really helped me to be able to maintain my loss and to continue to work on my goal. I have 9.5lbs to go. As of last fridays scale reading anyways. I only do the scale once a week and never on the week Tom comes to visit. I have shifted my calorie intake around a bit now trying for 1300- 1400 on most days. When there is a special occassion I up my calories for a day but try to preplan for that day. Then the next day try to adjust again a bit. It seems to be working for me. I need to get back into the gym and wed. is going to be my first scheduled day for that. I slacked off going to the gym in the summer as I am so busy and quite active. But the weather is changing and now it gets dark earlier and time just goes by without as much activity. So time for some changes. I feel so much better making the changes in my health and lifestyle. Thank you everyone that has shared their knowledge, experiences and given support during the past year. I look forward to continuing to work on my wt. and healthier lifestyle with all of you! Have a great day!

[Sarah27]

What kind of scale do you use ? How accurate are the ones that show our body fat percentage ?

[srmb60]

I've been hanging around on the internet almost all day. I've been out biking and I had coffee with a friend, did some laundry ... But mostly I've been hanging around doing nothing. And I still can't think of anything to post here.
I guess I'm eating better this week ... it's only Tuesday. My exercise is pleasing me very much. So I guess all is good ... for a lazy day.

Sarah? I'm not sure how those body fat scales work. I've been pretty much programmed to believe that dunking under water is best, after that calipers ... so I just don't know why they would work. My scale is just an ordinary dial style from WalMart ... about medium priced. So far it's OK with me.
Tell us some more about you. It's good to have you here.

[Bev]

I know I need to drink more water but I really don't like it, so does anyone have any tips for getting my water in.

bev

[srmb60]

Hi Bev ... I'm not all that good at drinking my water either. I don't really feel that it fills me up instead of food like some folks say. I have found that if I do drink lots of water, I eat less but I think it's a mouth action thing rather than actual satisfiedness.
Have you tried a straw? Very cold with ice cubes? Hot in a cup like sipping tea? With a spritz of lemon or lime?

[diamond_girl]

Good morning everyone. How was your day? Yesterday I made BAD food choices. But since I ate what I really wanted (in a small quantity) I didn't do that binge thing where you just keep eating because what your eating isn't really what you want.

Bev, I just always have a bottle near me that way if I get thirsty, Idrink that rather then having to get up and then getting the easiest thing (usually a diet coke).

[cacmsc]

Bev try to keep a bottle of water in your ref. Always nice in cold when you need it I think it helps me to drink more. I also like to put fresh lemon slices in mine. It crunches my thrist and helps keep me healthy. I drink about 80 oz. a day. It seems to be a routine now. Anytime something becomes a routine my life gets better of course it has to be something healthy. I have had some bad habits. Once you do something for 10 days it becomes easier and part of you day.
Yesterday was a high fiber and good calorie day. I made veggies cuban blk. bean soup. I also managed to get some walking in at work going to another site and using the stair case 20 steps each way. Take care and keep up your good efforts.

[ferguskatz]

Thanks for the questions, yesterday I ate 1207 calories. Starting with a protein bar, followed by 2 cups of lentil soup for lunch, dinner was 2.5 cups of salad with chick peas, chicken breast grilled and salad dressing all for about 350 calories. Snacks were pretzel rods, 6 of them. I drank water with lemon and mint in it also cold cure tea (herbal) and mint tea. Had a 1 hour walk in the park. Took it very easy fighting a cold. That's a pretty typical day food wise except usually I have chicken beast and vegetables for lunch or a black bean salad with vegetables. I usually also have at least 30 minutes of intense cardio and some weight lifting most days. Thanks so much for the input. I really seem to be stuck. My scale is just a conventional one.

[srmb60]

Hi ferguskatz! I'm glad that you feel comfortable enough here to come back and spill the beans .... literally lentils and black beans
I had a couple of thoughts while I was reading your post ... one is that I'm not sure how tall you are. If you're 5'10" .... oooh I wish!
Another was that ... now I'm an old girl mind ... but I can plateau for 1 1/2 weeks or almost three over my period. I then drop a few pounds at a time ... like a post menstral swoosh.
Another was that you're being smart to protect your reserves to fight that cold. I'm not sure everyone appreciates that one of the functions of the fuel we feed our bodies is to fight infection.
Another was that I don't see much fruit in your food list.
Your exercise looks good.
Patience might be your thing here. Just wait until you feel some better and change up a few things ... tuna, eggs, cottage cheese, apples, peaches, some other form of cardio (actually, I don't know what kind of cardio you do so forgive me if you already do change up), heavy up the weights ...

Tweak, it'll come.

[ferguskatz]

Susan, Thanks so much for the input, I'm 5'9" but pretty small bones. I look best at 135-145 depending on how neurotic I'm feeling that day ; )
I've been stuck at this weight for about 3 weeks now before and after the odious period bloat. You're totally right about fruit, I'll give upping it a try. For cadio I alternate, step aerobics, running the steps at the park, kickboxing and cardio yaga for when I'm feeling low energy. Just upped the weigts to 8 pounds. I'll give a try to changing the protein in my diet. Thanks again
oona

[srmb60]

Oona, nice name! what does ferguskatz mean? There's a town north of here that's called Fergus and they have a big Scottish festival.

So you're close to goal??? I hear ya. It does slow down. But reshaping still happens.

Your aerobics sound great! Have you done any reading in the Ladies Who Lift Forums?

[lowfatfool2]

SusanB suggested i stop over here.

my story real quick:

I have to tell you all that it's been @ least 20 yrs since i was able to lose weight. i've been on every diet known to woman (as i'm sure all you have) but i recently found out that i have to have my gall bladder out due to stones. so i decided to go on a low fat diet, just so i can keep my GB under control until i have it removed...and low & behold i lost 9 lbs in 2 weeks!!!!

the moral of the story is...now this is just my humble opinion...if any of you ladies have trouble losing weight on Atkins, low carbs, etc, they don't seem to work on women...i was on atkins & low carb for 1 1/2 mon. and lost maybe 3 lbs. i've been on this low fat diets for now 2 1/2 weeks and lost weight without really trying...low fat is so much healthly for women...REMEMBER women are born with FAT CELLS, even the skinnest of women have fat cells.
i did change my eating habits drasically, because the pain was horrible and because of my GB.

i didn't make major changes, just laid off the fats, fried & dairy!! i still eat pretty much what i want with moderation. i've changed to skim milk plus which is pretty decent and i would never drink that "blue" milk. i used to drink half & half or whole milk in my tea/coffee.

i eat bread ladies!!! on previous diets wouldn't even think of eatting bread, i try to stay away from it as much as possible, i don't eat the bread as much as i did before but if i have to eat bread, whole wheat is the choice, and if i want a 1/2 of a hero or sub i do. i've had rice & pototoes not fried or with butter though...so you guys can do it!! take it from someone who never could lose the weight. oh i was also on the oprah no white stuff and didn't lose weight...go figure, everyone else doing it lost!!!

so let's all hang in there together...here's to success in whatever we do (clinkling of glasses)

God Bless...