Most weight loss and diet bloggers do a lot of weekly update posts. I haven’t since going back to Weight Watchers earlier this year and starting on their Momentum Plan. You know why? Because reading that I’ve lost 1 pound here, or gained a few pounds back there, is boring.
Well, it’s beyond boring to me that is. In fact, it’s downright maddening.
I don’t know what it is this time around with my weight loss journey. I don’t understand that now that I’m sticking to an eating plan that I love and that fits in so well with my lifestyle, it’s harder to lose weight.
I don’t understand why I’m barely losing a pound a week when I’m exercising. I never used to exercise or I exercised on a few times a week. But I’m working out five to six days a week.
And the times I took my exercise routine to the next level? What a scale disaster. The first week when I joined 24Hour Fitness and worked with a person trainer AND the first week I started using EA Sports Active (you can read my review here) – I actually gained weight (3.5 and 2.5 pounds each of those weeks). Crap.
Shrinking? Maybe a little
After my 30 day trial at 24Hour Fitness, I went back in to get measured again by my person trainer. In five weeks I lost 1.4 pounds and only 1% of body weight. I lost 1 1/4 inches in my waist, hip and bust and lost fat on my back as well per the caliper measurements. Still after five weeks I was hoping for more.
I know I’m fitting into my clothes better. Since February, I’ve gone down from a 14 to a 10 and down a bra size. The size 10 shorts I got at Costco, which I’ve barely worn thanks to the cool summer we’re having here in Colorado, are baggy already. And that’s great. But I do wish the numbers were more positive.
Calories in – measuring food accurately
My personal trainer said I should analyze the calories I’m taking in rather than my POINTS. But since Weight Watchers has worked well before, I thought I should look at where I’m goofing up, like:
- The week I thought that 0% fat Greek yogurt was actually 10%.
- The time I though a glass of wine was 2 POINTS when it’s actually 4 POINTS.
- Using the labels instead of the Weight Watchers booklet and realizing that good chocolate (the fancy stuff from Switzerland) is actually 5 or 6 POINTS for 1 ounce and not 3 POINTS
- The incident when I realized that Greek yogurt comes in 5.3 ounce cups, which is 2 POINTS. And that a 8 ounce cup of Greek yogurt is 3 POINTS.
- And that I do have to measure out honey and not guesstimate that the drizzle I just put all over my yogurt is one teaspoon, when it’s more like two or three teaspoons.
OK, I haven’t been the most accurate, but it still sucks to gain several pounds the week you work your ass off.
Metabolism and working out
One of the reasons I may be having a tougher time losing weight now is because I’m OLD. Your metabolism slows down as you age. But that’s because older people aren’t as active.
Then I read an article in the Denver Post that quoted personal trainer Dan Lee of Big Sky Fitness,
"People think you should work out on an empty stomach, but the opposite is true," says Martin. If a morning exerciser hasn't eaten in 13 hours, instead of burning fat, the body goes into starvation mode. It preserves the fat and burns the lean tissue.
He recommends a small snack before working out. Since, I work out first thing in the morning before breakfast, I’m now taking the time to have a slice of whole grain flaxseed toast or a South Beach bar before starting my EA Sports Active 30 Day Challenge routine.
Still, I’m stumped on my slower than a herd of turtles weight loss. Any advice on how to speed things up? I’m getting impatient and frustrated with myself.
My five weight loss and exercise goals for 2008
Winding up my time at 24 Hour Fitness
Sensa Weight-Loss System update – month three and four
{ 7 comments… read them below or add one }
I know how you feel. This losing weigh ounce by ounce is not only annoying, its downright depressing.
But we have to keep at it. It’s the only way to go.
Wait, wait, what do you mean that a glass of wine is 4 POINTS?! Uh-oh, oh, no!! That must be a huge glass of vino!
Actually, wine is 2 points for 4 oz. _ I have always felt that I could do any diet, as long as I could have 2 cups of coffee in the morning and 2 glasses of wine at night!
Weight Watchers is one system that allows this.
The inches matter…seriously, I wish we could stop obsessing about the scale…you probably look better, feel better, and live better, so cut yourself some slack. Seriously…you are attempting to retrain your body and it has served you well so far…it will get you there. Having said all that, I’m 45 and miss the days when I could do said retraining in a few weeks!
I completely sympathize with you on the slow-going loss and being on Round 2 with WW! My Round 1 started back in May’06. I got off to a very slow start that time as well — granted, I’m not a cold-turkey kind of girl and it took me a while to fully commit. Cheating on the weekends was a huge hold-up for me! This time around, I’m on week 4 and same story – I am slowly converting to the better habits one or two at a time. As far as jump-starting your metabolism, it may help you to try to work in two workouts per day: a lighter 25 minute one plus a full-out sweaty 3 or 4 pt workout. Try to do this 4 days per week for the two weeks, plus your single work outs the other 3 days of the week. Remember, weight training and building muscle burns more fat than cardio alone. Other than this, just being honest with yourself about your portions and points will make a big difference, even when you really want to not acknowledge or record a point here or there.
I know we can do this (again)! Wish me luck and I wish you luck back!
P.S. Thanks for all the great recipes you share.
Well, this is encouraging. My weight loss journey has just begun and I wanna loose about 5 kilograms. I was at about half of “the way” but then sprained my ankle when playing basketball and then I had to rest for like 4our weeks. Now I’m starting again…
Best,
I know your frustrated. Just keep up the hard work! and you will get there! cheers Erin