Ok ladies...Please help me!

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-20-2003
Ok ladies...Please help me!
26
Fri, 02-20-2004 - 11:09am
Sunday will be my 1 month mark for this diet/exercise/change of life and I haven't lost any weight. The scale moved down last week, but it's back to it's starting position this week. I haven't been bad, in fact I've been very good! I've been better than usual. I've really pushed this week. What am I doing wrong???????? I haven't eaten out. I've cut my portions almost by 3/4. My normal menu is this:

Breakfast: Slimfast

Snack: yogurt

Lunch: slimfast or salad

Snack: pretzels, carrots

Dinner: usually baked chicken, veggies, and either potatos or macaroni, or something; sometimes just a salad and/or tuna.

*Usually throw in an apple and orange or 2 oranges somewhere. Usually dessert after dinner.

I've been exercising - I've done WATP for over a week now. Just graduated to 2 miles. But still, I've been faithful - except weekends. Before that it was TaeBo. But still, 4-5 days a week!! 20-30 min a day!!!

So what am I doing wrong? I thought I felt a change in inches in my stomach, but I don't know. I just bought a measuring tape so I can start recording my inches. Is it just fat turning into muscle since I'm working out? I've also been watching calories along with controlling portions. But I'm beginning to lose faith guys. Advice???

Sadly,

Jessica

:(

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Fri, 02-20-2004 - 2:09pm
Well even at 1500 calories per day, you should lose a little something.

  Shawna-- Proud Cl for 100 Pounds or More to Go 

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-20-2003
Fri, 02-20-2004 - 2:35pm
I will let you know Shawna.

As for Rainout... thanks so much for your brutal honesty. What's your story? Why don't you tell me what you're doing to lose weight or what you DID to lose weight? You sound familiar by the way. Been here before??

Yes, I do like the taste of Slimfast. So NO it's not torture. Sorry you don't like it. That's you.

I like pretzels and they're better for me than alot of other things. And they're ok for you in moderation. Sure if I sit down to a full bag of pretzels or a full shaker of salt that'll put a damper on my diet and health.

I know how to make a decent salad. I don't need to list every ingredient I use for people to understand me. Obviously if I'm dieting I'm not going to load the salad with junk and dressing.

I said an orange or apple for dessert.

I'm perfectly clear with myself. I don't need a website, I write things down.

Please though, tell me your stats and what you have done.

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-20-2003
Fri, 02-20-2004 - 3:12pm
I understand what you're saying can you please be more specific about what you've done.

How much did you weigh?

How much have you lost?

How many calories were you taking in?

What kind of exercise did you do?

What were your meals like?

Fitday helped. Ok. But how did it help? I can journal til I'm blue it won't take the weight off.

Thanks!

Avatar for jess9802
iVillage Member
Registered: 04-02-2003
Fri, 02-20-2004 - 3:23pm
People always ask me why my workouts are 90 minutes a day, four to five days a week. And the simple answer is that's the level it took before I began dropping weight on the scale. Three years ago I was working out 60 minutes a day, seven days a week, but didn't lose a pound for an entire month. I dropped a pant size, but otherwise, nothing. Although I knew I was building muscle, I was getting really frustrated with my lack of weight loss, so I added a 30 minute walk to my routine. Within a month I dropped about 10 pounds.

Maybe you could add something to your workout (walk up a hill, walk 1.5 miles instead of 1, add an extra day).

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-20-2003
Fri, 02-20-2004 - 3:35pm
Thanks Jess! By the way great name!! ;)

I just bumped up mine to 2 miles. I love the WATP and I think bumping up to 2 miles will help. I didn't feel like I was getting enough with the 1 mile tape. By the time I started sweating it was over..

90 min, wow! I can barely fit in 30-40 min. Dd and b/f are starving by the time we get home, we don't get home til 6-6:30 so dinner has to be made, homework has to be done...oh the list goes on and on.

I'm thinking though with summer coming it'll be easier. We'll be able to get out and walk, bike, swim, rollerblade, all that fun stuff. Right now I'm pretty limited.

Thanks so much for your advice. I'm really glad it's working for you.

Jessica


Edited 2/20/2004 3:35:52 PM ET by the_charmed1

Avatar for jess9802
iVillage Member
Registered: 04-02-2003
Fri, 02-20-2004 - 3:37pm
Mind if I jump in here?

My high weight was probably about 240, though I'd lost some weight when I officially began my plan, so my official high weight is 232.

Officially, I have lost 31 pounds since Oct. 1. Unofficially, I have lost 40 pounds since the end of August/first part of September. I stopped losing weight between Thanksgiving and New Year's, due to the holidays, finals, and an inability to keep my work outs up. The weight loss has resumed again at the rate of about 1-2 pounds a week.

I take in between 1700-2200 calories a day. Yes, really.

I work out about 90 minutes a day, four to five days a week. The first 60 minutes of my workout are two cardio routines (stationary bike, recumbent bike, stair climber, elliptical trainer, or rowing machine), and the last 30 minutes I walk on the treadmill or around the track. A couple of times a month I replace the walking with weight lifting.

My meals are pretty basic. For breakfast I usually have an English muffin, lowfat yogurt, an orange, or I'll grab a Luna/Odwalla bar, or even a small croissant. Lunch is a turkey or chicken sandwich on whole grain bread, some almonds, nonfat pudding or lowfat yogurt, caffeine free diet pop, an apple, and occasionally a couple of bite-size pieces of chocolate. Dinner could be a Lean Cuisine meal, a sub sandwich, spaghetti, a salad, baked chicken, or soup. It just depends.

I don't use Fitday, but I keep track of my calories on an Excel worksheet I created. I get out my measuring cups whenever I serve something and I follow the nutritional information on the label. The measuring cup is CRUCIAL in knowing how much you're actually eating.

Hope this helps (even though you didn't ask me!)

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-20-2003
Fri, 02-20-2004 - 3:37pm
Thanks for the info.
iVillage Member
Registered: 10-20-2003
Fri, 02-20-2004 - 4:01pm
No Jess I don't mind at all, that definately helps me. Your meals sound good!!

I just don't have 90 min or even 60 min a day to work out. But you're right, I need to step it up more. I'm going to keep track of the calories I'm consuming along with bringing that # down. Keep up with the 2 mile program. Maybe like you say do 5 days instead of the normal 4 days a week. I'm definately going to start measuring tonight (food and my body parts).

I guess, I thought I was doing good, but really compared to all of you I wasn't. So I'm taking all of what everyone has said and putting it together to come up with a plan that will work for me.

I so appreciate all of your input. A big Thanks!! I just love you guys.

Jessica

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-08-2003
Fri, 02-20-2004 - 5:13pm

Hey Jess....most doctors/dietitians recommend 220 minutes of exercise a week for weight loss.

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-06-2003
Fri, 02-20-2004 - 5:18pm
ok..I am gone for a couple hours and come back to a bunch of deleted messages..whats up with that???