Hit the Wall

M

mark0824

New member
Hi,

I have hit the invisible wall as far as wright loss goes. In the past 4 weeks I have lost about 20lbs. I am 37, 5 11" and now weight 235.

As was laid off about 6 weeks ago and found it to be hte perfect opportunity to foucs on lsiung weight (beach trip is on 5-6 weeks). I am able to exercise 3 hours a day. I have an in home elliptical that i will burn about 2500 calories a day on (it accounts for my current weight etc.. when doing calorie calculations).

I have been eating about 1600-1800 calories the past 4-5 days (i am adding more fruits, veggies and protien to my diet and getting rid of pacakaged or processed foods).

I should have lost another 2-3 lbs according to the numbers (2500 calories base metablic rate using sedintary, 2400-2500 Exercise calories burned and 1800 calories consumed per day). This gives a 4-5lb a week loss but I seem to be stuck the past 4 days or so on 235.

I have thrown in some weight training with dumbells every other day and pushups every other day. Maybe with the inntroduction of better snack foods like fruits and veggies (replacing the granola bars and cheese) will help.

I know my schedule is aggressive but I have a lot of time on my hand and I might as well exereice and get into better shape while I an. Any ides and suggestiosn are appreciated.
 
This gives a 4-5lb a week loss but I seem to be stuck the past 4 days or so on 235.
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I suspect the reason you're stuck is because your goal is too aggressive and therefore unsustainable. Ideally you should aim to lose about 1% of your overall body weight per week. For you, at 235, that would be 2.3 lbs a week on average to be a healthy and sustainable rate of loss.

Your body simply isn't going to allow you to sustain anything faster than that without continuing to make drastic changes that aren't healthy. Remember that our bodies are conditioned for survival ... our metabolism is conditioned through generations to adapt. So when you ramp up the exercise, cut back the food, and your body starts shedding weight too fast your metabolism goes "WHOA!" and slows everything down to make sure you're not going to die.

That's a simplified explanation, but it's fairly accurate.

The more you freak out your body that way, the more you're going to have to work to lose fast ... and then your body will freak out more ... and then it becomes a vicious and unproductive cycle. As you're seeing now.

Keep your calories around 1800, keep working out a REASONABLE amount (i.e. not 3 hours a day), and keep your expectations at a reasonable level. Like 2ish pounds a week.
 
Water weight fluctuates drastically from minute to minute much less day to day, and often disguises fat loss or even makes "fat" magically appear, espcially when it fills up the muscles after weight training. So 4 days really isn't a time period to judge what's happening. Try being on a 2 year plateau and you'll know what I mean. Best to you :).
 
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