I have been logging so many workouts. I've actually been working out twice a day for the past three days in a row. I spend so much time preparing menus and making sure I have the right foods. I make sure to drink at least 64 ounces of water a day. For all the working out and healthy food somtimes it really surprises me how hard it is to lose just ONE POUND! For all the mile I have done on the treadmill and spinning and weights and blah blah blah... it should at least be 2 POUNDS!

Does it ever surprise you how much work each pound is to get off?

IMO, if it was easy, we'd all be skinny. I guess, looking back, no it doesn't surprise me how much work it is.

I will toss out that you could be exercising too much. I've recently read a bunch of stuff saying that it is harder to lose with we exercise too much. I guess that's why when I was walking 10 or more miles I day I stopped losing but now that I'm down to three a day I'm losing again.

I totally agree!!! Considering how easy it is to put those same pounds on, I think it should be just as simple to get the off!!!! but alas we must work and struggle and watch our male counterparts eat piles of food and remain 145lbs!!! I blame Eve for eating that damn apple!

On a more serious note be careful with the workouts. Too much can do just as much harm as you are already on a reduced calorie diet your body will start to hold on to its reserves. And the smaller you get the harder it is to lose (I think that sucks too!!!). Damn plateaus Try drinking an extra 8 ounces of water a day, that's helped me kick my hydration levels up. A doctor told me for every 25lbs extra weight we need and additional 8 oz of water

You are kicking *** and taking numbers with your weight loss!!! You're half way there, can't wait till I can say the same!!!

When I think about it, yup, it strikes me as a lot of work for one little bitty pound. That's why I try to just be good and live the lifestyle and enjoy the surprise when I finally do step on the scale.

It's hard to do, I know. But the daily, minute-by-minute stuff can drive you crazy.

I try and make it easy for myself by doing things I enjoy. I do 30 minutes of strength training or circuit training followed by a 30 minute cool down walk, and then in the evening I do 30 minutes of pilates or yoga to destress. An hour and a half might sound like a lot to do in a day but it's really not. Try doing stuff you really enjoy and break it up. Getting the weight off is only half the battle, once its gone you are going to need to work hard to maintain it. If you don't find something you enjoy now you're going to regret it later.

I am constantly surprised by how much more difficult it is now as compared to just 3 years ago! Blah. Gone are the days when I could lose without effort. (kicking myself for gaining again...)

That said, i agree to the concerns about over-exercising. There is good evidence that shows that anything over 45 minutes of cardio and alternate days of full body weights reaps minimal reward. Of course, do what works for you- but consider that you may be able to lose without as much effort... might chagne the nature of this thread, really

Oh! I am not complaining about the exercise. I love working out... it is just surprising that this one pound is so hard to get past!

I have no symptoms of over training. I simply really enjoy going to the gym and I do a lot of different things. Again... it is just surprising that I have been fighting the same pound for over a week now!

•Washed-out feeling, tired, drained, lack of energy
•Mild leg soreness, general aches and pains
•Pain in muscles and joints
•Sudden drop in performance
•Insomnia
•Headaches
•Decreased immunity (increased number of colds, and sore throats)
•Decrease in training capacity / intensity
•Moodiness and irritability
•Depression
•Loss of enthusiasm for the sport
•Decreased appetite
•Increased incidence of injuries.

It's not about feeling burnt out, it's not about over-training, it's that the body will lose weight slower the more you exercise. That's why you are holding on to your weight. You can love to exercise, but you will lose at a slower pace.

Here from about.com called Understanding Weight Loss Plateaus

Problem 6: Over-training
Just like not eating enough can lower the amount calories you burn, so can over-training. When you exercise too much, there is a point of diminishing returns when an increase in exercise energy expenditure is negated by an equal decrease in non-exercise energy expenditure. In other words, when you increase your exercise intensity, your body responds by decreasing the amount of calories you burn during the rest of your day.

Solution:
Take time to recover. If you reach exercise burnout, this is a great time to take a break for a few days, or try something gentle like yoga or a stretching routine. After you've rested, get back to exercise but lighten up your original routine and increase your intensity only as necessary.

To be honest... it doesn't surprise me. I know how to lose weight faster, I've done it before. But I've never lost weight for this long, or set up a plan that is sustainable for the rest of my life. I know how to drop 30 pounds in 2 months... but I also know that it will not work in the long run.

Yes, it does surprise me and it's what motivates me not to pig out because I know how hard it is to get those pounds off again!

I say I will never gain the weight back once I finish losing it because it's been so hard and it's taken so long!

Try changing some of the things you eat. I've gotten in that darn rut and turns out I was eating the same thing over and over. Also try changing up the things you do or increase your strength training. And remember muscle weighs more than fat so maybe you are at a point where your body is balancing them. Or your body just needs to catch up to itself. You could be burning fat so quickly that your fat cells havent had a chance to catch up to you and are therefore retaining a bit of water. B6 can help flush some extra water. When I started taking 2 B6 in the morning and 2 B12 I not only had more energy (B12) but I felt the water weight go cause I didn't feel so bloaty. I hear ya on those plateaus though. Last one I had lasted a couple of weeks before that B6 recommendation came. good luck cant wait to hear you broke the plateau!