I can totally relate to this post. What helped me lose those last 5-8lbs was to actually tone down on the intensity. Naturally I always thought more=better. So when those last few lbs weren't budging, I thought more intensity. So I did HITT, plyos, heavy weights, etc. If i wasn't completely dead by the end of my hour workout it didn't count. I started researching the web about the stubborn last bit a weight and came across a few articles that recommended doing the opposite of what i was doing (decreasing the intensity). The articles would state that doing so many high intensity workouts signal to the body that it is under severe stress. When this happens all of those stress hormones get out of wack and your body actually holds onto weight. So i decided to lighten up a bit. I did steady state cardio most days with pilates or yoga at the end of each cardio session. And low and behold, withing 2 weeks I was down 3 lbs and after a month i had lost those last stubborn lbs. If i do high intensity workouts now i don't do more then 2 per week and i always make sure to have a light exercise day after. Not to mention, my appetite was out of control with all of the intense stuff. Now i can maintain a calorie deficit easily. I hope this helps some.
Frustrated about my lack of measurable progress
- Thread starter Bobbi-B
- Start date
jennifermaria
Cathlete
Meredith: I had a similar experience recently. I'd been trying to lose the same 5 pounds for two years now, only to lose 2, gain 2, lose 2, gain 2, etc., etc. Then three weeks ago I got the stomach flu and couldn't keep anything down. I ended up losing all those 5 pounds and when I started eating again, I was able to maintain (for the most part). I gain 2 pounds after I got healthy again, but I was expecting that, because I was finally eating again, but I didn't gain all of the 5 pounds back, and I've been able to keep within a 2 pound fluctuation, which is big progress for me LOL.
I'm not sure what insights to glean from that, other than listen to your body and pay attention to your hunger cues--and don't deprive yourself. All easier said than done, unfortunately!
I'm not sure what insights to glean from that, other than listen to your body and pay attention to your hunger cues--and don't deprive yourself. All easier said than done, unfortunately!
Bobbi-B
Cathlete
Meredith, Kariev, and Jennifer, thanks for sharing your experiences. Now I wonder if my intense workouts (similar to what you described, kariev -- my thinking has been more=better, Hiit, heavy weights, etc) are signaling my body to hold onto fat. I definitely feel like my body is always in recovery mode, and I try to push my limits in every workout. It would be an interesting experience for me to decrease the intensity of my workouts for a few weeks and see what happens.
And knock on wood, I certainly don't want any stomach flu (and I'm sorry you both had to suffer with it!) but I have wondered, as you both did, if losing this last bit of fat would be harder than keeping it off. So it's heartening to hear that for both of you, that has been the case. I don't want to undermine my metabolism, and I certainly don't want to permanently live on a calorie-restricted, hungry-all-the-time diet, but I could do it temporarily. All so interesting, it's all a big experiment, isn't it?
I've said earlier in this thread that my goal isn't to lose weight; my goal is to decrease body fat. But now I think that might require me to lose a few pounds. But just a few. If I gain that weight back in increased muscle, that is better than alright with me.
And knock on wood, I certainly don't want any stomach flu (and I'm sorry you both had to suffer with it!) but I have wondered, as you both did, if losing this last bit of fat would be harder than keeping it off. So it's heartening to hear that for both of you, that has been the case. I don't want to undermine my metabolism, and I certainly don't want to permanently live on a calorie-restricted, hungry-all-the-time diet, but I could do it temporarily. All so interesting, it's all a big experiment, isn't it?
I've said earlier in this thread that my goal isn't to lose weight; my goal is to decrease body fat. But now I think that might require me to lose a few pounds. But just a few. If I gain that weight back in increased muscle, that is better than alright with me.