Extremely Depressed...

J

JustMe

Guest
I am really frustrated, everyone. I have been plateaued at 165 pounds for well over a year now. This is after losing about 80 pounds. I am only 5'4" so I would really like to continue to lose about 15 or so more pounds, but the scale is just not budging. In fact it has begun to creep slowly up. I workout to Cathe 6 times a week and try to keep my calorie intake at about 2000 calories.

When I lost the main brunt of my weight I was consuming around 1500. I have tried to drop my calorie level to 1500, but with all the exercise I am doing it leaves me starving all the time.
How can I not be losing weight with all the exercise I am doing. This is really frustrating me!!!!! Thanks, Rae
 
Hi Rae :)
First of all, congratulations to you on losing 80#--that is very commendable and took a lot of hard work I am sure! Losing weight is such a tough battle--I empathize with you! Regarding your plateau, are doing the same Cathe workout or do you do different ones? The body is an amazing machine and it will adjust itself to the same workout performed over and over again. Have you been challenging yourself with those workouts--for example, lifting heavier weight when the weights you are using become easier? Upping the intensity of the cardio workouts? In terms of your eating habits, do you keep a food log? Are you sure you are eating around 2000 calories/day? If you really know how many calories you are consuming, try decreasing by as little as 100 calories/day and see if this doesn't get things moving---or should I say losing?! :) Or, on the other hand, maybe you are not eating enough for your activity level. You could try eating 100-200 calories more per day for a while and see if this does anything. I have done some rudimentary calculations based on your weight and height and they show that you should be eating around 2300-2400 calories/day. Are your clothes fitting looser? As you gain muscle, the scale weight may stay the same or even increase a little, but as long as your clothes are fitting better, you are on the right track. Another possibility is that you are overtraining with your 6 day/week workout schedule. Try throwing in another rest day or, if you don't want to completely rest, just go for a walk one day in place of a heavy cardio day. Plateaus are a tough thing and it requires a little trial and error to figure out how to get your body out of one--everyone is different. Good luck and don't get discouraged.
 
Hi Rae :)

I'm so sorry you're depressed, but lets look at some options.
I too was at a plateau, not for a year, but for a month until this week. Like you, I exercise daily, but when I took a hard look at the videos I was doing, I realized I needed to "shake things up some!" I invested in some really "intense" cardio videos, and even if I have to modify, I complete them. I've found, that in order for me to really burn fat, I need 45-60 min. of cardio. So, I invested in IMAX (thought my fat a** would drop dead on the spot the first time through it!), both Powerstrike Millenium Series kickboxing videos, Aaron Lankford's PowerKicks and Sherri Jacquelin's "Fit to Kick", all of which are high impact and 45-60 min. of cardio.
So for my 6 cardios, I do:
IMAX (once/week)
2-kickboxing (60 min)
1-hi/lo (45-60 min)
2-CTX cardios (30 min) (ones utilizing either intervals or 1 interval and power circuit)
So making the bulk of my cardio last 45 min or longer, it got the scale moving this week. My body must have become accustomed to my old cardio level of 30-45min, so adding even 15 min more made a difference.
But don't get frustrated, take a look at what you've been doing and (as my favorite t.v. Vulcan would say...)logically, there has to be an answer and a solution.
Do you keep a food journal? If you don't, then for a week or so, try logging everything you eat or drink. I personally don't drink juices or sodas, but I've had friends keep a journal for 2-3 days just so they can see how they eat, and they were amazed to see they drank anywhere from 500-1000 calories daily! Or absent mindedly munched on 500-1000 calories while at the office or while cooking or watching t.v.
Also, keep a workout log and log each workout, the length and what weights used, etc. Many times we get in a rut and don't realize it. If you've been lifting the same weight for your exercises for the last 3 months or so, up them all! That'll shake your muscles up! :) And keep a record of your weights so you'll know how long you've been lifting at a certain weight. Many times we can lift more than we think, and sometimes we just need to really challenge our muscles and ourselves.
So try a few things first and see if you can get a budge. But also, take your measurements, because even though the scale wasn't moving for me, the tape measure was, so the numbers on the scale aren't the "be all and end all" of everything~how we feel, and how our clothes fit are!
And in case you're thinking, "she's probably someone who doesn't have much weight to lose, or has had to lose much weight, so she doesn't understand!" PUH-LEEZE! I lost 175lbs and all of a sudden my weight loss made a screetching halt! I've been at "exactly" 200 lbs for a month, and losing my mind over it! But this week has changed that, and although I had to spend some bucks for some extra videos (not that I minded that part of it :)) it was worth it! I can't wait to officially weigh in on Monday morning~it will be the first time in over 10 years that the first number on the scale will be a 1! WOOOO-HOOOO!
Please let me know if there is any other info you may need, or ideas, or whatever. But don't give up, and don't get too frustrated.
If I can be of any help at all, please let me know :)
Donna
 
Thank you both for your replies and advice. I think one reason I am so fustrated is that my jeans are getting tighter. Even if the scale were going up and my clothes were loser I would not worry, but my jeans are tight...close to uncomfortable.

I do keep a food log, but I may be falling victim somewhat to absentminded munching. I have all of Cathes tapes so I rotate things around to try and keep my workout different. I may venture outside and do some walking mixed with bursts of jogging for something different. I think for a few weeks I will try to decrease calories slightly, by the 100 that beet suggested. If nothing happens, I will try to increase my intake for a few weeks.

I am going to try doing more cardio and less weights....I have just been worried that I will lose some of the strength gains.

I will keep you guys posted. When the scale starts going down again the whole world will hear about it!!!!.......Rae
 
Oh, and Donna congratulations on your 175 weight loss. What I lost is nothing compared to what you have accomplished!!!!!
 
Beets, thanks so much for the calorie calculation. I have often wondered how much I am really suppose to be consuming. I am really going to have to keep a TRUE diet log (every nibble) to see exactly whats going in my mouth!!!..........Rae
 
All of the above posts were excellent.

However, just one more thought.....have you had your thyroid checked? I am not a medical professional but sometimes a sluggish thyroid can be the culprit.

Go to your doctor and ask for the test. Just an idea. If it is not a thyroid problem you can set that aside. If it is, you may need some kind of medication.

Marlene
 
All the above posts were right on. To add to them, have you tried calorie intervals? I just made up this name. That is to eat 15-1800 calories fro 3-4 days straight, then one day eat 2100, then back down for 5-6 days, the 2100 again, then back down for 3-4 days.

That way your setpoint keeps going down because your body doesn't go into starvation mode. Plus you have some room for recreational eating. Everyone wins.

Keep a satisfying workout schedule. My own choice is 2 rest days: my day off (Friday) plus one of the weekend days. And one long workout (like Bodymax, or a cardio plus a PS, like 90 minutes max) per week.

Also attempting IMax with mods 2x a month is what I'm doing now. I pat myself on the back for doing IMax every other week. Just lost 7 pounds since the last check of the scale 1-2 wks ago, and those are some of the things I've been doing.

I eat about 6 times a day. Well take what you want from this, it's a work in progress.
-Connie
 
Connie beat me to the idea I just had but I was going to suggest eating a little bit more one day and the day before and the day after eat fairly low. This confuses the body and it doesn't have time to adjust to the different amount of calories.

I think interval training is another super idea.

Also, eating 4 to 6 times a day has been the best thing for me. I tend to actually eat less when I do this and I feel better and more satisfied this way!

Just some thoughts!!!!!

Kelly http://www.sgtfuzzbubble99.homestead.com/files/Smilies/De_Niro/eeyore.gif
 
Hey Rae, I hear ya girl. It is so frustrating when you feel like youre working so hard and not getting the results you want. I recently started my clean eating and it is making a LOT of difference. I was starving all the time too, and I love to nibble here and there figuring, oh, I exercise, I can have these chips, or cookies, or whatever and it is just soooo not true. I bought the Body for Life Book last week, and one thing I found very helpful is his recommendation to eat six small balanced meals per day rather than three "squares". You pretty much cut out all the junk but you eat something every two to three hours and it keeps you from getting to that point where your so hungry youll pretty much eat ANYTHING. I bought the myoplex mix to make shakes, and they are not bad. I aslo bought protein powder to make as a drink to have along with oatmeal or whatever. (He emphasizes to eat a protein along with a carb). I still have my cravings, but I promise myself I'll eat my "meal" (or shake) first and if I still want the treat, I can have it, but I am satisfied after the meal, and dont need the treat! Judy
 
Judy,
The "Body For Life" book is great isn't it?! I love it. So easy to follow. I was so confused on what to eat and when. I lost 15lbs in 3/4 weeks on the diet alone. I felt like I didn't need to exercise with this weight pouring off me. Well, I guess I shouldn't of bragged, cause now I am stuck. So, I just started the exercising last week and I am sure more results are right around the corner. I have never eaten so much on a diet in my life. Matter of fact, I have a hard time getting all the meal in, in a day.

Kelly

also check out the forum at www.muscleandfitnesshers.com Its another great place to get advice and tips. The girls are great there.
 
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