I bought a Gazelle after Christmas with my bonus check that I got from work. I didn't have a lot of money so I got the cheapest one I could afford. It did not come with a tape or anything except instructions which I have since misplaced. When I first started working out, all I did was work out for 30 mins a day 5 days a week on the Gazelle. I worked up to 45 mins a day within 3 weeks and seen some great results. I started to incorporate other exercises into my routines, like the body ball and ab sculpting exercises for 30 mins and cut the Gazelle time down to 30 mins a day. I lost a total of 12 pounds by my 14th week of exercising and a total of 10.50 inches in 5 different measurements (upper abs, waist, lower abs, hips and thigh). It is now my 20th week of exercising consistently every week for 5 days a week for 60 mins a day. I have been doing the Gazelle for 30 mins and Core Secrets with the weight training (30 mins)for 3 days and usually body ball for the other 2 days for 30 mins. I have struggled for the past 6 weeks to just maintain the 12 lbs that I lost. I can not seem to lose more weight or go below 156. Some days I have gained a lb, then I exercise and it is gone, other days I have gained 2lbs and then I wake up and most of it is gone, and so on and so on. I should tell you that I have hypothyroidism and high blood pressure, I am on meds for both. So I have a sensitivity to sodium and if I have more than 1500mg in a day I can gain 5 lbs that day and most of it will be gone in the morning when I wake up. Even though I have not lost any more weight for the past 6 weeks, I have still been losing inches very slowly, I have lost 13.25 inches now but can not lose my weight. My body is looking a little more trimmed but I can not seem to lose the fat around my belly, hips and butt. I only eat 75% of what I used to eat which isn't all that much in itself. I am not a big eater. A typical day is like this, I usually eat half a grapefruit for breakfast and a slice of cheese. A total of 8 glasses if not more of water throughout the day every day. 2 cups of decaf coffee and 5 oz of low sodium V-8 by 10 am when I usually have a snack. Which is usually 98% fat free yogurt, or carrots/vegs with ranch dressing for dip, or a 100 calorie snack pack that you can buy in the store, depending on the day. For lunch I will have either 3/4 of a deli meat (turkey breast or roast beef and cheese) sandwich on wheat bread, about a half a handful of chips, 2 pepperoncinis and a glass of milk, or 4 hotwings with ranch for dipping, or a salad, whatever I feel like that day. For dinner I usually eat a normal dinner cutting 25% of everything out. I don't usually eat dessert but will once in a while have a cookie to get rid of any cravings I might have for sweets. I am getting so desprate for help! I wanted to be at half goal by June and that would have been 20lbs at losing 1lb per week and by Christmas I wanted to be at my goal of 40lbs lost. I can't seem to get over the 12 lbs that I lost. Please help me know what to do now. I am getting so frustrated. I don't even know if I am doing the Gazelle right since I don't have a tape and can't find the instructions that came with it. Someone please help me. I was so excited in the beginning of the exercising losing 1lb per week, but now it seems as if it is all a waste of time cuz I can't get anywhere. I try to stay active other than my exercising when I am home from work, since I have a desk job. I will take an occasional bike ride after work with my husband for about 30 mins to an hour, or take a walk most nights after work for a couple miles. I have gone onto the Mypyramid site and according to it I should be able to lose 1lb per week no problem, but it is just not happening.
I want to be able to go hiking with my husband and kids again, and I want to be able to ride my bike around for 5 miles without getting too winded. I want my blood pressure to go down so I don't have to take any more pills for it. I just don't know what else to do.
Thank you for any suggestions that you might have!!!!