Ugh...I've hit a wall.

[saltocoach]

The main reason for plateauing is due to the fact that your body is getting more efficient and adapts to the exercises you are doing. You need to change something in your routine whether it be diet or exercise. I would recommend changing the workout to something a bit more intense as well as slightly changin up your diet as well. What works for me is I do the interval training as prescribed in the body for life program and I'll also follow pahse 1 of the south beach diet. It only takes about a week and I see the plateau break. The other thing to keep in mind is that muscle weighs more than fat. Last year I was a size 4 but I weighed 130lbs. I use a tape measure to measure results instead of a scale. It lets me know that my body is changing for the good. The scale isn't always accurate. Especially if I ate a very salty meal the night before. Good luck with your workout! Please don't get discouraged. Keep in mind the great progress that you have made already! You are looking fierce and only getting better!

[jennierin]

Double post

[jennierin]

Thanks for all the tips!

 

I will check out those videos that you girls recommended. They look like they'd be hard but a ton of fun!

 

I am definitely gonna change my workout routine. I spoke with my trainer about it and she said she would come up with something "challenging".

 

As far as diet is concerned...I actually went to my local health food store to pick up some protein and started talking with a nutritionist there. She is going to come up with a meal plan for me that will guarantee 2-5 lbs loss a week.

 

Thanks Anita for reminding me that it isn't just about the number on the scale but that I should also be focusing on my inches lost as well. Sometimes I become so concentrated on the scale...that I forget to look in the mirror and see how much my body has changed!

 

Thanks again everyone.

[The Mandy in Chandy]

I wasn't able to break through my plateau until I got my metabolism tested and found out the minimum amount of calories I should be eating. I recommend it to ANYONE who is trying to lose weight. Many fitness clubs can do the testing for you. It's 10 minutes and all you have to do is sit still and breathe through a tube. Then you get a printout of your resting metabolic rate and a chart showing how much you need to eat to lose, maintain, or gain weight

[Vikki]

I have been there! Same thing, worked out twice a day, 6 to 7 days a week-lifting in the am then an hour of cardio after work-for 4 months. It was insane and totally impossible to keep up. I lost between 25 and 30 pounds doing it then I hit the wall. I couldn't figure out what it was. My diet was really strict-1400 - 1700 calories a day max.

 

So...I took a week off, I didn't go crazy with my food but brought my calories up to around 2400 - 2700 and didn't work out very much. (Maybe 5 times as opposed to 12 or 13).

 

After that week I kind of kept up the slower pace. Once in a while I'll hit the gym twice a day but it's more like 6 days a week now. I alternate lifting and cardio and spend about 90 minutes each trip.

 

It totally worked! My total loss is just over 50 pounds. I'll probably never drop that last 5 or so pounds - I seem to have a 7 - 10 pound range I move around in depending on what time of the month it is but I'm really at a great weight and size and if I did a body fat measurement I expect I'd be hovering around 20 - 22%.

 

My conclusion is that the closer you get to your goal the harder it is. When your body get's so used to all the hard work sometimes it just stops performing and you're overtraining. For long term maintenance it's hard to keep up a crazy workout schedule so eventually you'll want to find a routine you can incorporate on a regular basis in the future.

 

So don't beat yourself up-you've lost a lot of weight already girl!!! Just don't give up, you'll make it. Congratulations on the progress so far.

[Chanti]

I agree with adding yoga, especially power yoga (ashtanga).

Also, I've recently discovered the Wii Fitness Coach. I can't run anymore due to an ankle injury, and the Fitness Coach is great! It takes 30 minutes to set up a profile, and determines which area you need to focus on. You can do 15, 30, 45 or 60 minute work-outs depending on your schedule, and it changes the routine every time you do it, so adds a lot of variety. Maya, the fitness coach, asks you once in a while how you're doing, and if you answer "no sweat", she'll up the challenge the next time around. I got it yesterday and already have done 2 work outs. I'm loving it! Obviously, if you don't have a Wii, that may not be helpful, but if you do, it may be a good idea, just to help you add variety to your work-outs. While the Wii Fit is fun, I definitely did not find it helpful to lose weight, while the Fitness Coach is much more of a challenge. My girlfriend lost 35 lbs using it!

Good luck,

Chantal

[Barbo]

I second the Bikram yoga. It has REALLY toned up my arms midsection. You sweat all your stress away!

[super19]

I hate plateaus!

 

Whenever I hit one, I try to remember that it's my opportunity to dig deep and find out how bad I really want it. Hang in there and before you know it, you'll have a great weight loss week and be back on track.

 

Good luck! I'm sending good vibes your way.

[Kristin_And_Stewart]

I find circuit training fantastic, if your PT sets up a good circuit, and you have to go go go! No breaks! Its a little intense, but so worth the results. I also really like plyometrics (high impact exercise), but not so good for anyone with joint problems.

[KittenHeart]

I agree with the girls, I'm a 6 day a week exerciser and nothing broke my plateau like a severe change in my working out. I was running all the time, dieting and nothing changed for a good year.

 

I finally got so fed up that I bought P90X and enlisted my FI to do it with me - I've NEVER gotten results like this and so fast. People can't even believe it, I had abs visible within month one (I've never seen my abs before this!!!)

 

I heard Chalean Extreme is really great for blasting fat and since I finish my 90 days of P90X next week I'm going to buy Insanity by Beachbody, it's extreme exercising and burns up to a 1,000 cals be day!!!

 

Cutting out carbs a week before your wedding will help you slim down as well, don't cut out all of them, just have one 200 calorie serving per day of something whole wheat, grain etc.

 

Good luck, you've still got time, you can totally do it!