stalled...

[burrito]

I'm sure there are hundreds of similar threads on here but I wanted to seek some advice on my particular situation. I'm 5'7 and currently 152lbs. I started my weightloss journey in Aug 08 and have lost around 30lbs. I was consistently averaging about 1lb per week and was doing great with my weightloss. I stayed between 1200-1400 cals per day and did moderate exercise (mostly cardio) about 4-5 days per week. In March I decided to up my workouts and started p90x. The first week I was still taking in the same amount of calories and soon realized that wasn't enough! My body was definitely in starvation mode so I upped my calories to 1500-1600 per day, sometimes a bit more. Those first few weeks I gained about 4 lbs but felt great with the hardcore workouts and could definitely see a difference in my muscle tone. I'm now on my 9th week of p90 and am pretty much stalled with my weightloss. However, since the 4lb weightgain I have basically maintained at 152 for a while now.

I did a lot of research and upfront knew that p90x was really more for fitness instead of weightloss... which I was fine with- assuming more muscle would mean more fat burned over time. But man its been almost 3 months and something is off. I'm now wondering if I started too soon with upping my workouts. I'm considering going back to my original weightloss routine with fewer calories and more cardio oriented workouts... (and starting p90 again once I've reduced some fat) it worked for me perfectly right up until I started going hardcore with p90 and eating more.

The number on the scale doesn't so much bother me as the fact that it's been almost 3 months of being at a standstill. Sure the slight muscle tone is nice but I'd still like to lose about 15lbs of fat!!!!

According to MCC for my weight, 2361 cals is my maintenance level. (3500 cals reduced per week=1lb of weightloss) So reducing by about 800 with my current 1500cal routine should set me up for about 1.5lbs of weightloss per week..... I've been doing exactly this for 3 months with these numbers and nada...

What do you guys think is happening with my body? I just want to jumpstart my weightloss again!

 

[ABBAgirl]

Well, sorry I don't have any stellar advice - but I totally share your frustration!!! My first 50 came off relatively easily, at which point it became almost impossible to budge that scale. My workouts were at least 5x weekly and fairly hardcore, and I was also advised I was not eating enough. When I increased my intake, I gained. And did not lose it again! Very, very frustrating.

There is something to be said with being satisfied with looking good, but it is so disappointing to have a particular weight goal in mind and NOT be able to reach it

So I hope you can find out how to remedy your problem, and reach your goal to be as healthy as possible! Good luck!
ABBA

 

[Jynus]

first thing to look at is your diet. what's it like? your typical dayly intake.

Second thing is the type of exercise you're doing. Once you start getting close to your natural body fat %, the only way to go lower is to either starve yourself into the ground, or to do resistance training. Cardio will burn off viseral fat, but once thats gone, reserve fat will need your muscles working hard or the fat stores there won't budge. To expand on this concept further, look at long distance runners vs sprinters. Sprinters have a way lower body fat %. Cardio will only take you so far.

 

[KaraCooks]

Yeah, I'm wondering WHAT your daily intake consists of. it's one thing to eat 1500 calories, or whatever, but another thing to make sure you're eating the right kind of food to stimulate muscle growth while encouraging weight loss. It's a balancing act ... that's for sure.