Does anyone have any ideas on how to conquer a plateau?

[RoseAnn_M]

Hi All! 

Last year I turned 50 and was well on my way to gaining more weight. I was determined to lose weight but wasn't sure how to go about it. Then in January of this year, my workplace had a fitness challenges. I ended up loosing 9 lbs. My goal was 10 lbs. but I wasn't upset. I continued to loose weight and am now 15 lbs lighter than when I started. 

However, I have stayed at my new current weight for about 2 months now. Work is starting a new challenge on July 1. I am part of a team of 4 people. One of my teammates said that I can't lose any weight until that date. Jokingly, I hope.  But I am worried that I will be stuck on the plateau for a little longer. 

I am a member of Planet Fitness. I have been going 2 to 3 times a week depending on my schedule. I also like to walk (especially with my dog)  in the neighborhood. My absolute favorite place to walk is in and around Center City Philadelphia. I do have a bike but it is in an inconvient place for me to get since I live in an apartment. I really do want to start riding my bike, however, with the incovient place it is near impossible for the moment. Is there anything else that I can do to drop pounds in a healthy way? 

[SunsetRunner]

You got this way by eating too many calories, and likely the wrong kind.

Here are links to get the number of calories you should be eating, and your ideal weight.

Get your ideal weight, and then enter that into the calorie calculator.

http://www.calculator.net/ideal-weight-calculator.html

http://www.calculator.net/calorie-calculator.html?ctype=standard&cage=30&csex=m&cheightfeet=6&cheigh...

The diet (nutritional program) is always a contentious issue with everyone.

Get the Mayo Clinic Diet book (for diet and exercise), or visit a competent nutritionist.

Walking at a brisk pace is always the best exercise to start with.

http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/weight-loss/in-depth/mayo-clinic-diet/art-20045460

[linda75404]

if there is a building with stairs go up and down the stairs a couple of times for about a week this will get you started if not at least one time up and down try to do this every day it will help you.  I need to exercise every day.  about 5 years ago i exercised everyday for 7 days out of week and I lost a lot of weight. It can be done if we get strick with our selfs

[NY2TX]

A plateau? In my experience, I avoided any plateau by being compulsive about my exercise and making sure that I ate the right foods in the right portions.  IMO, it's effort and consistency. I've just finished a walk of 6.58 miles in 1:27:19 (13:17/mile) and this is slow for me, but I'm recovering from a foot operation and a recent minor injury.

[healthyme99]

Hi! Yarddog you couldn't be more right. Overeating and/or making unhealthy choices is what changes our weight. Exercise is all about fitness. Both are equally as important but to lose any significant weight I would recommend changing what you eat. It took me years, pounds and tears to figure this out, and also that for me I needed to be able to make an eating lifestyle change..no more "dieting" just commitment....without this, I failed longterm every time but I won't this time. Using Fitbit food log helps keep me honest about each day and helps me celebrate my commitment too! Figure out will work long term for you and do that. For me, I pack several snacks to work with me (and lunch as often as possible). These veg and fruit snacks also help curb my hunger and prevent me from overeating at meal time. Historically I was also a binge eater but now that my body is getting what it needs, I don't do that anymore. It just happens to be that as a result I am eating way less wheat items daily and noticed I felt so much better even when I had only lost a couple pounds. After years of dieting I made a conscious commitment to changing my life for good. Funny story: One day at lunch I thought I want a treat and ordered a tuna sandwich with lots of veg packed in for lunch. A few minutes later I laughed...that treat would have been chips/cookies etc. in the past. How I have changed lol Hope this helps... Keep at it! You can do this! 🙂

[RoseAnn_M]

@healthyme99 

Thank you for the encourgement!!!!   I am usually guilted in to eating more by my Mother. I come from a family of 6. Now it is just Mom and me and she still cooks like there is 6 to feed. If I don't have seconds, in the past she would get angry at me. Then she would say that I needed to lose weight. That would get me angry but I don't talk back in anger. 

But that is enough of blaming only Mom. Yes, I contributed to my own weight gain by eating well after dinner. Eating snacks that have no nutritional value and so much more than Mom and eating dinner.  It was in January that I stopped eating after dinner.   I walked more (though it was tough in PA during the 10 week period) and getting some indoor workouts in at home. It wasn't until after the challenge that I joined Planet Fitness. 

I will take your advise and those of others that are giving me encouragement on another discussion about making friends for encouragement and challenges. 

The picture is of my walking partner, Maya. She is timid and doesn't like to walk too far. But once I get her out of the comfort zone she is a very good partner. She doesn't like rain, thunder and snow. So I don't noramlly go out without her due to her nervousness. 

[RoseAnn_M]

@linda75404

I do have steps to get to my apartment. One flight. I was just walking up and down them today due to the rainy weather today. Maya (the photo in my original post) kept coming to the open door and looking at me. She has bad separation anxiety and was worried that I was going out. But It was good for me. I also have stairs (outside and 3 flights) at work going to the upper parking lot. The best thing about this set is that it is covered and I can even walk them in bad weather! My walking partner, Maya , does not like bad weather. 

I would go to Planet Fitness but there are flood warnings out. So I plan on doing a few more sets on my stairs. 

[RoseAnn_M]

@NY2TX

That is a word I have heard quite often when you are not loosing weight. I love your idea. I will have to do that what you suggested. However, today is not the best weather for going outdoors and there are flood warnings for my area. But as another suggested, walking stairs works well for me. Walked them earlier. Will do so at least two more time before bed. 

[RoseAnn_M]

@SunsetRunner

Thanks for your information. Yes, I know that the weight is my fault but it is also genetics on my Mom's side. Mom, her one brother and one sister took after her mom's side of the family. My Aunt was way over weight when she was young. Then after she left the sisterhood, to get married, she lost a good deal of that weight. So I know I can do this, even if I am much older than she was when she started.