Seem to have hit a wall

Been lurking here and benefiting from the knowledge gained about weight
loss.

I now have a question. Quick background:

57 years old ... healthy, but overweight for the last 30 years or so.
Visited the doc for a physical in Oct. and was shocked to weigh in at 260
lbs!
Blood pressure a bit high .... but not out of sight.

So, on Oct. 23, I decided to do something about it. Started a morning
exercise routine on the treadmill and light workout with weights, plus
started monitoring and recording daily calorie intake, calorie requirements,
deficits ... all that stuff. I average about 1400 calories intake a day and
have been increasing the exercise as my stamina increases ... up to 3.5 - 4
miles a day at 3.8 mph and a 3 degree incline on the treadmill. I also
radically changed my diet and eat only "good" foods, meaning small portions
of chicken, turkey, tuna, occasional beef, etc. along with small portions of
canned vegetables. I also have apples and citrus (tangerines) for snacks.
No bread, no potatoes, no cake, no donuts, no beer.

For 6 weeks (Oct 23 to about 5 days ago) I was dropping weight everyday,
for a total loss of 26 lbs so far. But I seem to have hit a wall. I
continue to exercise ... even adding time to the treadmill and weights and
continue to limit the calorie intake, but I seem to have stabilized, weight
wise.
According to the information I find on the 'Net ... I should still be
maintaining about a 2200 calorie daily deficit ... but I don't seem to be
losing any more weight.

Is this typical? I've never tried to lose weight before and was pleased as
punch at my progress until now. I can't imagine eating less everyday, but
if that's what it takes ....

Thanks.

RCE

RCE wrote:
Been lurking here and benefiting from the knowledge gained about weight
loss.

I now have a question. Quick background:

57 years old ... healthy, but overweight for the last 30 years or so.
Visited the doc for a physical in Oct. and was shocked to weigh in at 260
lbs!
Blood pressure a bit high .... but not out of sight.

So, on Oct. 23, I decided to do something about it. Started a morning
exercise routine on the treadmill and light workout with weights, plus
started monitoring and recording daily calorie intake, calorie requirements,
deficits ... all that stuff. I average about 1400 calories intake a day and
have been increasing the exercise as my stamina increases ... up to 3.5 - 4
miles a day at 3.8 mph and a 3 degree incline on the treadmill. I also
radically changed my diet and eat only "good" foods, meaning small portions
of chicken, turkey, tuna, occasional beef, etc. along with small portions of
canned vegetables. I also have apples and citrus (tangerines) for snacks.
No bread, no potatoes, no cake, no donuts, no beer.

For 6 weeks (Oct 23 to about 5 days ago) I was dropping weight everyday,
for a total loss of 26 lbs so far. But I seem to have hit a wall. I
continue to exercise ... even adding time to the treadmill and weights and
continue to limit the calorie intake, but I seem to have stabilized, weight
wise.
According to the information I find on the 'Net ... I should still be
maintaining about a 2200 calorie daily deficit ... but I don't seem to be
losing any more weight.

Is this typical? I've never tried to lose weight before and was pleased as
punch at my progress until now. I can't imagine eating less everyday, but
if that's what it takes ....

Thanks.

RCE

You have probably hit one of those dreaded plateaus. They are a normal
part of the process and can last several weeks. Keep at it and don't
give up. You may also consider trying to do something to "shock" your
system such as add or subtract vitamines, change up your food a little
(add or subtract dairy for example), change your excersize patterns,
etc.

"Noway2" wrote in message
ps.com...

RCE wrote:
Been lurking here and benefiting from the knowledge gained about weight
loss.

I now have a question. Quick background:

57 years old ... healthy, but overweight for the last 30 years or so.
Visited the doc for a physical in Oct. and was shocked to weigh in at
260
lbs!
Blood pressure a bit high .... but not out of sight.

So, on Oct. 23, I decided to do something about it. Started a morning
exercise routine on the treadmill and light workout with weights, plus
started monitoring and recording daily calorie intake, calorie
requirements,
deficits ... all that stuff. I average about 1400 calories intake a day
and
have been increasing the exercise as my stamina increases ... up to
3.5 - 4
miles a day at 3.8 mph and a 3 degree incline on the treadmill. I also
radically changed my diet and eat only "good" foods, meaning small
portions
of chicken, turkey, tuna, occasional beef, etc. along with small
portions of
canned vegetables. I also have apples and citrus (tangerines) for
snacks.
No bread, no potatoes, no cake, no donuts, no beer.

For 6 weeks (Oct 23 to about 5 days ago) I was dropping weight
everyday,
for a total loss of 26 lbs so far. But I seem to have hit a wall. I
continue to exercise ... even adding time to the treadmill and weights
and
continue to limit the calorie intake, but I seem to have stabilized,
weight
wise.
According to the information I find on the 'Net ... I should still be
maintaining about a 2200 calorie daily deficit ... but I don't seem to
be
losing any more weight.

Is this typical? I've never tried to lose weight before and was
pleased as
punch at my progress until now. I can't imagine eating less everyday,
but
if that's what it takes ....

Thanks.

RCE

You have probably hit one of those dreaded plateaus. They are a normal
part of the process and can last several weeks. Keep at it and don't
give up. You may also consider trying to do something to "shock" your
system such as add or subtract vitamines, change up your food a little
(add or subtract dairy for example), change your excersize patterns,
etc.


I agree. Stagger the calorie intake. Go just over your max then the next day
drop
10% less from the max.

Here's what I do. 1922 is my max calorie intake a day. One day I went to
2057 and the
next day I went to 1700. the next day I lost 2-3lbs. I was actually losing
weight too fast. You've done GREAT so far, so just keep going...and stagger
you caloric intake every once and a while. It's ok to eat more, even
encouraged,
every now and then.

"sirch" wrote in message
...

"Noway2" wrote in message
ps.com...



Thanks both for the advice. I'll keep plugging away at it, trying different
things.

RCE

RCE wrote:
Been lurking here and benefiting from the knowledge gained about weight
loss.

It's a good place to lurk. And to post.

I now have a question. Quick background:

57 years old ... healthy, but overweight for the last 30 years or so.
Visited the doc for a physical in Oct. and was shocked to weigh in at 260
lbs!
Blood pressure a bit high .... but not out of sight.

So, on Oct. 23, I decided to do something about it.

Good for you!

Started a morning
exercise routine on the treadmill and light workout with weights, plus
started monitoring and recording daily calorie intake, calorie requirements,
deficits ... all that stuff. I average about 1400 calories intake a day

Are you a man or a woman? If you are a man, you might want to increase
the calories a bit.

and
have been increasing the exercise as my stamina increases ... up to 3.5 - 4
miles a day at 3.8 mph and a 3 degree incline on the treadmill. I also
radically changed my diet and eat only "good" foods, meaning small portions
of chicken, turkey, tuna, occasional beef, etc. along with small portions of
canned vegetables. I also have apples and citrus (tangerines) for snacks.
No bread, no potatoes, no cake, no donuts, no beer.

For 6 weeks (Oct 23 to about 5 days ago) I was dropping weight everyday,
for a total loss of 26 lbs so far. But I seem to have hit a wall. I
continue to exercise ... even adding time to the treadmill and weights and
continue to limit the calorie intake, but I seem to have stabilized, weight
wise.
According to the information I find on the 'Net ... I should still be
maintaining about a 2200 calorie daily deficit ... but I don't seem to be
losing any more weight.

First, it's been only 5 days. I wouldn't get worried until you have
been stuck 4 or 5 weeks. It's nice to think of your body as a simple
machine, but unfortunately it's a complex one, and there are many other
factors influencing your weight - water retention, increase in muscle,
etc. Math generally wins out, so keep doing what you are doing, and the
weight will come off. Perhaps not when you want it, but it will come
off.

Is this typical? I've never tried to lose weight before and was pleased as
punch at my progress until now.

You should be pleased with your progress. And large losses at first are
not unusual. I myself lost nearly 30 pounds the first month. Then
again, I was 125 pounds heavier than you.

I can't imagine eating less everyday, but
if that's what it takes ....

I can't imagine eating less either.

Keep up the good work, and keep posting!

Neil
385/276/220

"The Historian" wrote in message
oups.com...


RCE wrote:

I average about 1400 calories intake a day


Are you a man or a woman? If you are a man, you might want to increase
the calories a bit.

Keep up the good work, and keep posting!

Neil
385/276/220


I am a guy. And thanks again to you and others that offered the benefit of
their experience/knowledge. I was beginning to get a bit discouraged, but
now feel it's normal.
Being an engineer, I tend to over analyze things and am compelled to
understand why things don't work like they are supposed to.

RCE

"RCE" wrote in message
news
Been lurking here and benefiting from the knowledge gained about weight
loss.

I now have a question. Quick background:

57 years old ... healthy, but overweight for the last 30 years or so.
Visited the doc for a physical in Oct. and was shocked to weigh in at 260
lbs!
Blood pressure a bit high .... but not out of sight.

So, on Oct. 23, I decided to do something about it. Started a morning
exercise routine on the treadmill and light workout with weights, plus
started monitoring and recording daily calorie intake, calorie
requirements, deficits ... all that stuff. I average about 1400 calories
intake a day and have been increasing the exercise as my stamina increases
... up to 3.5 - 4 miles a day at 3.8 mph and a 3 degree incline on the
treadmill. I also radically changed my diet and eat only "good" foods,
meaning small portions of chicken, turkey, tuna, occasional beef, etc.
along with small portions of canned vegetables. I also have apples and
citrus (tangerines) for snacks. No bread, no potatoes, no cake, no donuts,
no beer.

For 6 weeks (Oct 23 to about 5 days ago) I was dropping weight everyday,
for a total loss of 26 lbs so far. But I seem to have hit a wall. I
continue to exercise ... even adding time to the treadmill and weights and
continue to limit the calorie intake, but I seem to have stabilized,
weight wise.
According to the information I find on the 'Net ... I should still be
maintaining about a 2200 calorie daily deficit ... but I don't seem to be
losing any more weight.

Is this typical? I've never tried to lose weight before and was pleased
as punch at my progress until now. I can't imagine eating less everyday,
but if that's what it takes ....


It's good to have you here. I ran into a plateau 6 weeks after starting my
new way of eating, too. It lasted for several weeks. I changed my diest
just a bit and ate more protein, fewer carbs for a week. It seemed to help.
The thing that kept me from getting discouraged wasn't the scale, though.
There are ways to measure progress that do not involve stepping on the
scale. The way your clothes fit is one way. Are your waistbands fitting
less snugly? Another way is a tape measure. Record some major
measurements--waist, chest, etc--and keep track of them every few weeks.
How you feel is a very important measurement of progress. Do you have more
stamina? Get winded less easily? Don't just count on one measurement--use
a combination of several to track your progress. Good luck! =c)

You have lost 10%.. that is very good.. Most of the physicians will ask
you to maintain this level for about 6 months at your calorie level..
Let your body re-establish new threshold values.

The other advises are very good.. after you have stuck a plateau the
only way out is to temporarily increase your calorie intake for about 3
days or even a week,, your body will start storing fat again ,, and
then you go back on diet

RCE wrote:
Been lurking here and benefiting from the knowledge gained about weight
loss.

I now have a question. Quick background:

57 years old ... healthy, but overweight for the last 30 years or so.
Visited the doc for a physical in Oct. and was shocked to weigh in at 260
lbs!
Blood pressure a bit high .... but not out of sight.

So, on Oct. 23, I decided to do something about it. Started a morning
exercise routine on the treadmill and light workout with weights, plus
started monitoring and recording daily calorie intake, calorie requirements,
deficits ... all that stuff. I average about 1400 calories intake a day and
have been increasing the exercise as my stamina increases ... up to 3.5 - 4
miles a day at 3.8 mph and a 3 degree incline on the treadmill. I also
radically changed my diet and eat only "good" foods, meaning small portions
of chicken, turkey, tuna, occasional beef, etc. along with small portions of
canned vegetables. I also have apples and citrus (tangerines) for snacks.
No bread, no potatoes, no cake, no donuts, no beer.

For 6 weeks (Oct 23 to about 5 days ago) I was dropping weight everyday,
for a total loss of 26 lbs so far. But I seem to have hit a wall. I
continue to exercise ... even adding time to the treadmill and weights and
continue to limit the calorie intake, but I seem to have stabilized, weight
wise.
According to the information I find on the 'Net ... I should still be
maintaining about a 2200 calorie daily deficit ... but I don't seem to be
losing any more weight.

Is this typical? I've never tried to lose weight before and was pleased as
punch at my progress until now. I can't imagine eating less everyday, but
if that's what it takes ....

Thanks.

RCE

Welcome to the group and congratulations.

As others have suggested, changing the eating and workout routines
often nudges us past the temporary weightloss stalls. Here are a
couple sites with information on the benefits of adding some short high
intensity exercises to our regular routines. You might be able to add
a few to your treadmill workout.

http://sportsmedicine.about.com/cs/c.../aa112701a.htm

http://www.trigeeks.ca/begin006.htm

"Beverly" wrote in message
ps.com...


Welcome to the group and congratulations.

As others have suggested, changing the eating and workout routines
often nudges us past the temporary weightloss stalls. Here are a
couple sites with information on the benefits of adding some short high
intensity exercises to our regular routines. You might be able to add
a few to your treadmill workout.

http://sportsmedicine.about.com/cs/c.../aa112701a.htm

http://www.trigeeks.ca/begin006.htm


This is a great group... glad I found it. Hopefully, when I succeed in my
goal I'll be able to help a "newbie" as well.

It's interesting that you provided those links. This morning, being a bit
frustrated with the recent lack of progress, I kicked the treadmill up to 6
mph and jogged for a while. I don't think I've run in the past 20 years. I
was surprised that I was able to keep it at that pace for about a quarter
mile before my legs starting turning to rubber. So, unwittingly, I was
applying the "Fartlek" technique discussed in the second link you provided.

Thanks again,

RCE