What am I doing wrong?

Kathy02

Cathlete
Ok, for the last three weeks I have really been trying to be good. I have gained about 10 pounds a while ago, and it's just not coming off. I mean not even budging. I watch every meal that I'm eating. I eat a salad with chicken breast and fat free ranch for lunch. I sometimes will have a protein shake for a snack, and then for dinner, well, I eat whatever I make. Be it chicken helper, or whatever. But not too much. Granted on the weekends I eat pretty much whatever I want. Maybe I need to stop doing that. Last week as far as workouts go I was really good. I got a day on the stationary bike for 40 min, did Pyramid Lower twice, not in a row, Pyramid Upper twice and Rhythmic step. In all I got in 6 days, I never used to do that. It's not that all I have to lose is 10 pounds either, it's at least 20 that I should lose. But I just want to lose these 10 for now.
I am ready to just give up and go buy a whole new ward robe. I really don't want to do that though, I was starting to get some really sure clothes.:)
Do I just need to wait longer? I'm so frustrated, I really need some advice. One of my friends today mentioned to try to eat more veggies, and up the water intake. So, I will be doing that. But for now I just need some incouragement. Have any of you felt this way?

Kathy
 
:( I know just how you feel! I let myself go last year (because I injured my knee with too much and too high stepping). The lack of exercise and eating poorly put 15 lbs on me! Since the beginning of the new year 2003, I started out exercising and watching what I ate. I lost 15 lbs but I still am stuck 10 lbs. more than I want to be. I am at the same weight I was at when I hit 30, and I am 1 1/2 years away from 40. I eat well for breakfast and lunch and usually eat what I want for dinner (in moderation). I throw in a protein drink after I weight train. Those last 10 lbs will not budge no matter what I do. I am a picky eater and do not follow a strict clean diet, but do try to watch my fat grams and calories. I just recently stopped my awful peanut butter habit (which was packing on the calories), but I thought I was doing myself good by getting extra protein, WRONG! So, I guess I will give it time to see if the peanut butter was affecting my weight! I do think we need to give it time. I have only been weight training since the beginning of this year and I am finally starting to see a little definition creep in! I think my body is programmed to be at the weight I am at, but I don't like it, only because of the numbers. I look and feel good though, and even can fit into my high school pants size! Keep in touch and good Luck!
 
The first thing I'd suggest is taking measurements. If you are lifting, you may be building muscle and losing bodyfat which will not show up on the scale. The second thing I'd do is log your intake for a week into Fitday and see where you stand. See if you can make some tiny improvements, a little at a time. Often times I think I'm not eating too terribly but when I actually tally the amounts in Fitday I'm shocked at how it adds up.

Also hang in there. Remember how long it took to put the weight on.

Colleen
 
Well, I can say from recent experience that the thing that most helped me while losing weight was writing everything down. It's amazing all the "extra" calories we comsume everyday because we just don't realize we're doing it. Maybe you could try keeping a food diary for a week, just as an information gathering phase? You can find on FitDay.com for free the calorie/protein/carb contents of the foods you eat, and maybe seeing it in black and white like that will help you spot patterns or trouble areas, and give you an idea of what you might need to adjust. Water does indeed help!! WW recommends drinking half your weight in ounces each day. In other words if you weigh 120 pounds, you should be drinking at least 60 ounces a day. That's just one theory though, but drinking water keeps you cool and hydrated, and helps flush out the nasties that can inhibit weight loss. Good luck!!

Carol
:)
 
Well, I'm no expert, but IMHO I'm wondering if your body needs more cardio to shake weight. Looking at your workouts for last week, it looks like you got about 100 minutes total of cardio including warm up and cool down. I know that is not enough for me and I need more like 2 1/2 - 3 hours. Maybe if you replaced your second pyramid days with circuit max and another 1 hour cardio it would help.
-joy
 
Last week was alittle strange for me, I normally don't do that many weight days. I was just excited about those videos. But you're right I should encorporate more cardio. I did go onto Fitday.com today and started that up. Needless to say I am having trouble keeping with what I would like to have eaten for the day. Apparently my normal small bowl of Cheetos that I was sneeking in last week was doing something. I am craving junk food like mad today! I am finding myself in my office more than I normally am to avoid eating when I'm not hungry. I am just craving junk food, bad! Well, at least I have now figured out what I'm doing wrong, now to correct it. Do you think I could lose this weight in a weeks time? J/k! I just want to be done with the cravings so I can move on to something more fun, like fitting into my jeans!
 
Kathy,

Are you having any hormonal fluctations? Last week was the week before my period and I was craving salty things in an almost uncontrolable way. I only had to cave a couple of times to have my body start retaining water like crazy. For me, when I am PMSing, I naturally start to retain water. Couple that with my craving for salty things, and I am one bloated woman! Just a thought!
 
Hi Kathy,
Honestly I am not following you around on the boards on purpose:), but I keep finding myself replying to your posts. I am having the same struggle. I am post partum and for the first several weeks, I was losing about a pound a week, and now I have stalled and I am sort of freaking out, because I have 43 lbs to lose and I hate how I lookx(. I have found fit day helpful, although somewhat time consuming. I think that if I am still plateaued (is that a word?) in a few weeks I will get my thyroid checked just to see if that could be the problem. Anyway, hang in there and keep us posted.

Maggie
 
Ten pounds in a week? No. You were teasing, right? Safe weight loss (meaning you aren't losing precious muscle along with fat and water) should be no more than 1 to 2 pounds a week. It took me six months to lose 38 pounds. My average weight loss per week was 1.4 pounds. I was thrilled!! At the other end, I'm now down 40 pounds on WW, into my fourth week of maintenance and have lost those two other pounds since making my goal, and more importantly, I feel FANTASTIC. I'm close to size 4 - where I've never actually stayed as an adult - and my workouts are fun, they're motivating, and my muscles are getting SO defined .. LOL! Healthy living is about more than just the number on the scale. It's about making good food choices for life, keeping fit, and keeping your spirit and your mind fit as well. Junk food cravings are normal when we load up on high glycemic carbs. Give yourself a few days to a week of backing off on them, and adding more lean protein instead, and the cravings will diminish. They may never be gone. I'm a sugar addict, and I finally UNDERSTAND that and ACCEPT it. I know there will be days when I crave the Peanut M&M's like mad - no matter how healthy I've eaten all week - but I can live with that. One small bag every now and then will not hurt me. But THAT'S the key. Moderation, control, and making the healthy choice 99% of the time. If this 46 year old sugar addict can do it, anyone can!! I have faith in you!! You CAN do this!!!!

Carol
:)
 
I can certainly relate. I got a nasty flu last March. It knocked the wind out of me. I normally run for aerobics, and have often done Cathe's tapes on the days I don't run. I have achilles tendonitis now so I am only running 2 days a week compared to my usual 6 days. I'm 44 and it is so hard to keep your weight down. I followed the Zone diet for a few yrs and do now...just cheat too much. That is where I learned that peanut butter is really a fat and not a protien. My problem is carbos. Pringles are not really a good Zone carbo!! I will admit...I got the best defintion when I stuck to the Zone religiously. I also know that all of us here that are excercising are doing something wonderful for our bodies no matter what. I am not so lucky though...my high school pants are a bit tight!:). Keep up the good work...
 

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