Frustrated! Busting My Hump... No Weight Loss

[Pagie 64]

OK, its been 9 months since my surgery and I'm down 106 lbs.

I joined a gym to do some cardio (treadmill and elliptical) and also signed on with a personal trainer (started about 2 months ago) working out with him 3 times a week (weights and core exercises). I've been doing cardio at the gym 2 X a week for about 30-40 mins.

In the last 2 1/2 months, I have not dropped 1 single lb. UGH!.

I bust my butt with the trainer and then do moderate cardio at the gym with NOTHING on the scale.

I've been struggling getting in my food per day, because now that I'm more active, I'm even less hungry. My trainer would like for me to get in 1200 calories per day, but that is very difficult for me. My surgeon is happy with my progress and says that eventulally my body will start to lose again. But at almost 3 months with no loss, I'm beginning to get really worried. I still have another 67-77 lbs to lose.

My trainer says that since I am building muscle, my weight loss may slow down initially, but once I build more muscle, the muscle will help me burn fat and I will start dropping weight again.

I've come so far to hit a wall like this.

Has anyone else been in this boat? What am I doing wrong? HELP!

[Gene1970 179]

I think you are doing all of the right things. Make sure you are getting enough Water, but your surgeon is right, you will start to lose again. Building muscle is the right thing to do. It not only weighs more than fat but takes a lot more calories to support so it will help you get rid of that fat. It sounds like you have done an AWESOME job of getting the weight off so far so I would just keep doing what you are doing.

[Pagie 64]

Thanks Gene - for the support and vote of confidence. I almost wish I'd not started the personal training and gym stuff yet until I'd lost more weight. Things have literally come to a grinding hault since I started working out.

[Ms skinniness 3,003]

I have not been losing weight for quite a while and I'm really close to goal (personal goal) and have passed my surgeon's goal. This is a time when your body is resting and restoring it's glycogen stores for the next round of weight loss. If you are keeping your body at high Proteins and veggies, then there is no other recourse but to drop more weight. It will happen. Meanwhile, you might switch up your exercise routine and eating routine. Get out of the habits you have developed so far so that you can keep your body guessing to promote more weight loss. Keep it up, it will come off.

[KristinaRN 54]

I think you have done amazingly well, and should be so proud of yourself! My advice: you really need to hit that 1200 calorie per day goal, especially if you are working out that much. Taking in too few calories can halt your weight loss; sometimes you actually need to increase your calories to lose weight, especially when exercising. Otherwise, your body will hold onto everything, thinking it is in starvation mode. I know it can be hard to get more calories in without eating junk, but there are a few things you can do. Try a handful of almonds or cashews, a tablespoon of Peanut Butter, Protein Bars, an extra Protein Shake after a workout. Also, make sure you are getting a minimum of 64 oz of Water per day, more on days you exercise. Good luck to you! I for one think you are a rockstar!

[aroundhky 1,174]

Hang in there and stay the course. This happens when you add resistance training. You can add a cubic inch of muscle and lose a cubic inch of fat, and you will gain a slight bit of weight since muscle is more dense. But the main thing is, you are losing fat and I'm guessing that's the goal of most people on this board, if not all of them. If so, "body composition" (body fat %) is more important than a number on the scale. You're doing great!

[Pagie 64]

Kristina -

Thanks so much for the suggestion. My workouts are actually really tough lately and I think its

because of my diet (lack of calories). Its hard to get the calories in having had the mindset that I have to eat less and really cant eat that much in a setting. Who would have thought that I'd be struggling with eating more (and eating more of the right stuff). It's just nuts!

I just keep remembering a quote, It's not the race, it the journey...

Happy Monday everyone. Let's rock it out this week!

[Pagie 64]

Thanks Around... Losing the Fat is the goal and the fact that my clotes are fitting looser, should be an indication that something is going on. I'm just so motivated by numbers on the scale. I have to reprogram my self for what successful weight loss is all about. I feel great! I'm stronger and my cardio training is improving each day. That's progress the scale cant measure...

[Wheetsin 714]

scales are crap.

I think your trainer is correct. Muscle is a lot more dense than fat. If you're building muscle and losing fat, your weight can actually go up. It's pretty common for people to not lose weight when they begin a muscle-building workout plan, although their measurements will change. You said your clothes are fitting looser - there's your proof. It's also proof that things are not "grinding to a halt" - just that something is going on inside that is keeping your overall weight stable. But remember that your weight, and your fat, are maybe like distant 3rd cousins twice removed. They are not bosom buddies.

Below is a represenation of 5lbs muscle & 5 lbs fat. Look at how much more volume the fat takes up. With a difference like that, who cares about the scale?

Also, the more muscle mass you have, the more calories it takes for your weight to maintain. More muscle = higher caloric requirements. So as you build muscle, you're basically increasing your calorie defecit (assuming you aren't offsetting it). Muscle = calorie furnace.

[Pagie 64]

Wheetsin - You broke it down so plainly. I got it! I'll keep working on building muscle so that It can help me get to the fat.

A "calorie furnace" = fat burning machine. Just what I need.

Thanks for the support and info.

[thinoneday 445]

Pagie! You better believe someone else was like this just like you! And that someone was me. . .i hit a stall which lasted 7 MONTHS!!!! Pure bloody hell if you ask me. . but then it moved again slowly. . .that was 3 years ago and I'll never forget that. . now i'm maintaining and love myself again. I will never see 350 lbs ever again! Be patient, it'll move, actually put the scale away and just be you for a while. . . nothing is better then livin life and lovin yourself without having to be a slave to the scale. . . good luck!

[Phillipsweightloss 4]

I have been at 167 for 2 weeks at a stand still just started walking again about 2 days ago. So hopefully I will start losing weight again because I want to lose at lease 30 lbs by Sept. Because these extra pounds are getting on my nerves.

[Pagie 64]

Pagie! You better believe someone else was like this just like you! And that someone was me. . .i hit a stall which lasted 7 MONTHS!!!! Pure bloody hell if you ask me. . but then it moved again slowly. . .that was 3 years ago and I'll never forget that. . now i'm maintaining and love myself again. I will never see 350 lbs ever again! Be patient, it'll move, actually put the scale away and just be you for a while. . . nothing is better then livin life and lovin yourself without having to be a slave to the scale. . . good luck!

WOW a 7 month Stall! I guess I have to shut my pie hole about my 3 month stall! LOL

Getting rid of that scale for a while would probably help me immensely. I'm planning to do that today! Thanks for the support and advise.