im getting so disgusted and discouraged with the scale. ive been doing cardio for about 2.5-3 months and am now doing it 7 days a week usually 40-45 min a day.
I think my body is used to cardio of this type.. should i get a treadmill, or excercise bike? what can i do!? ive gotta see the low 120s im not happy here!!!!
Ashley I'm stuck right now too so I don't know if my advice is helpful :-/ I do know from an exercise perspective incorporating 1 day of rest each week is really important for your muscles to rebuild themselves. This step helps to protect yourself against injury and ensure your workouts are as effective as possible. I don't know if it will help your weight loss goals but it could possibly have that added bonus as well.
If you figure out how to get out of a plateau let me know.. I'm all ears for ideas!
Absolutely start doing strength training at least two days a week -- that can be pilates or flow yoga or a video, but SOMETHING.
And yes you should switch to a new form of cardio -- we tend to adapt to whatever we do. I'm doing elliptical for the first time ever today (actually I'm on the machine right now, kind of freaky experience) and that should burn some calories for me, whereas running (what i usually do) is less likely to burn as many calories because my body is more efficient at it. Cross-train!
so would a stationary bike be as beneficial? ellipticals are EXPENSIVE and with two kids at home, i cant take off and go to the gym. my hubby works 2000 miles from home so i am alone with them constantly... i do at least 2 workouts during the week using 10# of weight... 5# each hand.. should i up the weight? i dont wanna become bulky, im muscly enough! hmm, advice please lackadaisy!
@indiblue, i know girly i wish i could give you some advice maybe lackadaisy will give us some great info!!! stay strong! lets keeeeep on!
What are you doing right now as your cardio? I don't believe your post earlier stated. I agree with Daisy...gotta mix up the cardio...I use the treadmill, stationary bike, and walking dvd's...all depending on my mood and how much time I have. Then, weather permitting, I walk or bike outside when I can.
Yes....start increasing the weights...I started at 3 pound dumbbells, moved up to 5, then 8...now I can easily use the 10 pounds ones. I don't feel bulky...just more toned and firm.
Also...check your diet...are you counting calories? Maybe you need to decrease them a bit, or increase them, depending on how many you are eating daily. Increase your protein....will help you stay full longer and also helps with development of lean muscle.
Just my two cents...I am certainly not an expert...but have been where you are.
Oh gosh. I am so far from knowing what to do, don't listen to me!!
Ellipticals def are expensive -- I'm still a student and I just go downstairs to the dormitory 'gym' (it's tiny the way I like it, one room with weight machines and a half-dozen ellipticals/treadmills), I don't know how I'll afford it when I've graduated.
But as for breaking through plateau -- how much are you eating? What's your macronutrient ratio? Some people find that eating a little more for one day helps, or cycling calories (1500/1200/1800 for an avg of 1500, or 1300/1000/1600 for an avg of 1300, etc) helps. I'm kind of at a plateau now and trying to cycle, if that helps -- ate 1100 on Thursday, 1600 on Friday, and back down to 1350-ish tomorrow.
I feel your pain!! I have been stuck at 132.2 exactly for 2 weeks now. Nothing is working to shift the scale I have tried more exercise, less exercise, more cals, less cals, more water, less water, switching up my exercise. Absolutely nothing is working. I'm so close to screaming! Slightly melodramatic, I know, but its rubbish! But we mustn't give up girls! We can break through!
Ok for those of us who are stuck: I've decided to tighten the belt on my logging of calories. I am recording EVERYTHING I put into my mouth now. And I am NOT going over 1200 a day. Maybe that can compensate for some of the underestimating I think is inherent in the online calorie counter.
I really do try to count cals. But, for example, yesterday I tried to found out the cals in a Starbucks grande skinny caramel latte. One website said 130, another said 190. I find it really hard to count cals properly when there is so much conflicting information. boooo
Ashley, I also agree on focusing on your diet and food intake to try and break your plateau. Like the saying goes, losing weight is 80% diet and 20% exercise. Try upping your protein and lowering your carbs, or cycling calories.
You guys should join us on our "trying to get out of the 120's thread." We try and figure out what is working, what isn't, how to end the plateau, etc. Even if we don't succeed at first, it's nice to have people to help motivate you to keep trying.
I have kept a record of every single thing I eat/drink for a month and it really helps keep me accountable. I try not to go over 1200 cals especially since like you said, these online counters are not 100% accurate. However, I am short, so my intake has to be smaller than others'. Also, I have tried to incorporate a weekly "cheat" meal, both for my mental well being and to sort of kick start my metabolism so it doesn't get used to efficiently burning 1200 calories only. I hope that made sense. I live in NY and it's been brutal weather-wise, so I bought a bunch of exercise dvds, ranging from "boot camp" types to Zumba. Again, so my body doesn't get used to any one type of calorie burn. I also have some light weights and an exercise ball and I drink at least 8 full glasses of water a day plus a fiber supplement.
I am no expert, but this has been my routine and the weight loss has been slow but somewhat consistent. As women, our weight will fluctuate almost daily. It's our blessing and our curse.
I forgot to mention that I use Sparkpeople for my calorie counting and it's pretty good since you can track items that other people have added in. It really gets you very close to an accurate count. For example, someone added in Dunkin Donuts large coffee with skim milk and Splenda. I have that every day, so click on it and I add that to my breakfast. Sometimes, you have to double check. For instance, my low carb tortilla is 90 cals and 3g fat, meaning 25 of the cals are fat calories. Someone entered it into the tracker as 90 cals and 25g of fat. It's not even mathmatically possible! So you just have to be a bit vigilant, but for the most part, it's very good.
Finally broke my plateau now at 126.8.. I had a high calorie day and tons of water and idk if that's what done it or not.. I'm going to log everything and eat strictly 1200 a day see if I can lose the rest next month.. I do 45 min of taebo daily sometimes biggest loser cardio max w weights... I do need heavier weights.. For surrree. We can all keep it up ladies! I appreciate all your support
S T U C K @ 128
I have tried more exercise, less exercise, more cals, less cals, more water, less water, switching up my exercise. Absolutely nothing is working. I'm so close to screaming! Slightly melodramatic, I know, but its rubbish! But we mustn't give up girls! We can break through!
