ok! I've decided to come up with a new game plan since I STILL have no weight loss (i've been back on the healthy eating bandwagon for a month now). What's different about this time than all other times I've dropped weight? I wasn't walking every day then (have have RA and dr. says no weight training, only walking or swimming). I started walking 1.5 miles every morning 4 weeks ago and taking in on average about 1300 cals a day. Thinking the walking would excelerate the weight loss. wrongo.
I had decided when i got up this morning that I was just going to quit walking for a couple of weeks, keep eating around 1300 cals a day, and see what happens. So this morning when i went over to the executive office to get my fake butter spray out of the fridge, Sandy says "are you loosing weight again?" and i'm like, "NO! i've walked and eat healthy for going on 4 weeks, and I've not lost one danged pound!" she said, "well, you DO look trimmer through the middle." well, I guess that's because I have lost 2 1/4 inches off my waist. and thats a good thing, right? right! I agree. that means i've lost fat, and gained muscle. But WHEN i ask you, will the pounds start coming off??? I've got to start dropping some pounds very soon, or i'm afraid i will not have the motivtion to keep going forward. So, the new game plan is to cut back on the walking. for now. instead of walking 1.5 miles every day, i'm going to walk 3 days a week. and just see if i can start dropping some poundage. i am so frustrated i could spit. time is running out! I've got to drop at least 20 pounds by september! every other time i've ever dropped weight, by the 4th week, i'd have been down at the very least 7 pounds. this has never happened to me, and i just don't know what to make of it. every time i've set my mind to eat right and cut back, i've lost weight. Everytime! I mean, everything I've read, everything I've heard, tells me that exercise is sapposed to BOOST weight loss, not stall it. and the walking every day (burning on average 150 cals each time) is the only different factor. so anyway. I walked and got good and sweaty with a steep incline (well, as steep as my stupid knee joints will let me go) on the treadmill yesterday. My plan is to not walk again until wednesday, then I'll weigh again on Friday and see where I'm at. If I'm not down at least a pound, I swear I think I'll scream in frustration. so anyway, that's the new plan. I'm open to any thoughts or ideas, 'cause I tell ya, I'm about ready to give up the walking completely and go back to the old routine. At least I know it works. grrr....
2 1/4" off your waist is amazing!! While it is frustrating not seeing the scale move you should be focusing on the fact that you are getting thinner. After all it really doesn't matter what the scale says if you pants are getting baggier.
I wouldn't scale back the walking, in fact I would increase it. Or if you do decide to cut back your walking you might want to think about adding some other types of physical activity. The consistent exercise will help!
on your inches lost, that to me is MORE important than scale weight...
I agree with Shayz, you need to exercise... It's just all around healthier for you. Have you considered adding weight training to your routine along with the walking? Or maybe increase the intensity of your walking by walking faster or doing hills?
Be patient and persistant eventually the weight will come off, don't despair
Because of my Rheumatoid arthritis, my knees and shoulders are not in good shape, especially my knees. My rheumy said "no weight training. period." and because of the knees, i can only go so high on the incline with out excruciating pain for days afterwards, and swelling in the joint. I tried doing some laps in the pool, and it made my shoulders ache for 3 days after wards, so i got kinda scared off that. walking seems to be my only option. I understand the trimming waist is a good thing, i whole heartedly agree! but so far, thats the only thing that is trimming. my thighs, arms, boobs, butt, have not changed, there fore, my clothes are not fitting any different with the exception that the waist band is a bit more comfortable. with out dropping some serious fat pounds, i dont think my clothes size is going to change much. i dunno what to do really. I love love love the way i feel after i walk. and its not my plan to give it up entirely, just scale it back and try to give the weight loss a kick start. i sooo wish i could do aerobics or something! but it's not worth having to take steriods for a week to get the swelling out of my joints afterwards. **sigh**
I see , but I still would not scale back on the walking... I think that with your condition it's the best thing to continue walking DAILY if your doctor permits it...
yeah, when i went for my remicade infusion last week (gosh i hate that, but its a "life thing" and i just have to suck it up. I'm hoping that eventually they'll come up with a pill form, and i wont have to do the I.V. anymore) she and i talked about the walking. she looked at me and said "dont. stop. walking! Just don't over do it, you're body will tell you when you're over doing it. listen to it." i'm just so desperate to see the scale move. even just an itty bitty bit would be encouraging. I'll take your advice and keep it up daily. DH and I are going on a carribean cruise in september for our 20th anniversary (we were too poor to go on a honeymoon, then the kids came along...) and I so want to be able to wear my "special dress" that's a size 12. I want to not be embaressed to be on the beach in a swim suit. I guess I'll just persevere and keep moving in the direction I'm going.
I say keep walking, and play with upping your calories or staggering them day to day... or even try mixing up your diet, say more protein and veggies than carbs.
I too think you shouldn't lower down your walking exercise. Unless you haul rocks over very steep inclines while having extra weights attached to your limbs, it's not what will make you keep on 10 lbs of raw muscle from the beginning, and with your condition + wanting to lose weight, it's probably what's made it so that you've lost inches, even if the scale hasn't budged yet.
I know it's frustrating when you can't "see" that number change, but perhaps you could take your measurements and focus on that? (Myself, it sure keeps me motivated just as much as the good old scale.) Besides, from what I've read on these boards since I've been hanging here, usually when someone was plateauing, the solution to break it never involved diminishing exercise (though it could involve upping its intensity and/or not eating the same old amount of calories every day, that kind of things). That kind of exercise, all in all, is IMHO the thing you should not drop, especially if it also improves your RA.
So hang on. It will budge, sooner or later. Our bodies can sometimes play annoying tricks on us in that regard, retaining water and the likes. Andthen for what it's worth, they seem to drop like 5 lbs in one week. Sometimes, it's just impossible to understand what's going on.
Try taking in 1450 calories a day for a week, and see what happens. If that doesn't work after a week, then try calorie shifting for a week- Day one, have 1300 calories, Day two- 1450, day three 1375, day four 1400 and so on, to see if it jump starts your metabolism. I do calorie shifting, and it's been very effective for my weight loss.
Also, are you drinking enough water? If not, up the amount your drinking.
Keep on walking- that is one of the best exercises for losing weight and it helps trim those inches off the wasteline more than you think.
OK, I guess you've heard that you shouldn't decrease your exercise. More exercise, not less, is usually necessary to lose weight.
Now, about the exercise. What about the elliptical machine (or cross-trainer)? For some people with knee troubles it is much better than a treadmill. You'd have to try it on a low setting to see if it would work for you. And, don't try to go really really hard or fast on any machine. Most people tend to overdo it with exercise and that's not good.
I'm curious about how you track your calories. Do you use FitDay or some other computer journal? Because if you are just estimating as you go, it's easy to estimate wrong.
I am not a believer in "zooming" calories because the only thing that has ever done for me is cause me to stall in my weight loss. It is better for me to have a set target and try to hit it.
How tall are you? That would help us to suggest a calorie target for you at your current weight.
Do NOT stop the walking! That always happens to me when I bulk up on the walking again. I get really rigorous for like a month and it is like I lose 1 -2 pounds and it drives me nuts. But I take pics and see how my clothes are fitting. There is a big difference. If all you care about is what the scale says then go buy a broken scale that has a desirable number and weigh yourself with that.
If you are interested in losing fat then I would increase the walking. Now that you are already bulking up on the muscle push this thru and start losing the number on the scale. This always happens to me too and I know it is just a number on the scale! The more muscle mass we have the more we burn.
Mel--one of the symptoms of RA is edema (swelling), as you know. Swelling is fluid/water retention, basically. With RA the edema increases with activity. Your walking, while FANTASTIC for your flexibility and mobility (don't stop doing it!!!) is probably increasing the edema. And since you're doing it every day, your body never has a chance to cast off the fluid before you start increasing it again. So what to do?
Has your doctor talked to you about caring for your joints, about using heating pads and anti-inflammatories (like advil or motrin)? Ask him about it. Even if you can't see it your joints can still be inflamed and swollen. Your waist dropping but the scale not changing makes me think that's what's happening. No, you're not going to build muscle from walking, not significantly enough to offset fat loss.
As others have also suggested, make sure you're drinking water and watching your salt intake.
ROFL. Believe me I HAVE thought about that before! lol But what I care about the MOST is my health, what I actually LOOK like in my clothes, if I am LOOKING trimmer. I think on the weight lifting forum, can't remember what they call it but they have people coming to the gym who are within the "desired weight range" but it is all fat and no muscle. I think they call it "skinny fat".
The scale is just a number and it will move eventually the best thing is to get the fat OFF. Especially around the middle, that is the danger zone.
Also take into account that a month is like, such a short time. A month is nothing compared to how great you'll look and feel in six months or a year even. My mistake had always been quitting after a few months. - "What do you mean I'm not a size four?!?!..I've gone to the gym three times this week!!" LOL !I always wanted to see results after a month. That just didn't happen. Oh well.
You've lost inches too so that's cool! Nice work& Good luck!
green
if something doesnt happen soon.......
on your inches lost, that to me is MORE important than scale weight...
, but I still would not scale back on the walking... I think that with your condition it's the best thing to continue walking DAILY if your doctor permits it...
I'll take your advice and keep it up daily. DH and I are going on a carribean cruise in september for our 20th anniversary (we were too poor to go on a honeymoon, then the kids came along...) and I so want to be able to wear my "special dress" that's a size 12. I want to not be embaressed to be on the beach in a swim suit. I guess I'll just persevere and keep moving in the direction I'm going.
More exercise, not less, is usually necessary to lose weight.
Now why didn't I think of that??? 
