PLATEOFSTARS's CalorieKing blog
Monday, Mar 8 2010 - New revelation
View PLATEOFSTARS's food & exercise for this day
So,
I'm stuck. I haven't been able to bust through this 3 pound barrier between 182-185 for more than 3 weeks. It's not a plateau and I'll tell you why.
I'm eating too much!
Darn!!!!!
It can be such a delicate balance when you increase your exercise level to then find out how much you can increase your food level. I've been totally not diligent at all with my food intake since I've been increasing my running and doing more weight training. Which is ridiculous because at the end of the day I might be burning, on average, 150-200 calories more per day than I was before and I can tell you that I am definitely eating more than 150-200 calories more per day than I was before.
This of course, was not apparent to me until I sat down this morning, after another disappointing weigh in and had a little "big girl panties" conversation with myself.
What's going on!???
Opening up my food diary from the past 2 weeks and you can see it. I am consistently over my calorie target EVERY day... and this is only what I logged! Not that I don't log food but I think I have been overly conservative with what portions I have actually been eating when logging.
I have been listening to this voice in my head that keeps saying "If you are working out so much more, you deserve to eat more, and you never fully log exercise calories, so don't worry too much... you'll be fine"
But this has been true all along!!! I only ever let myself eat back 200 of my exercise calories per day. And if that worked like charm, which it did, for 2 lbs/week weight loss BEFORE... and I am letting my rules slide NOW... I'm in trouble!!!
Why? Because I weigh less. I need fewer calories now. Before there was such a big gap between what I was consuming and what I needed for maintenance and that gap is a lot smaller now. I need to be ESPECIALLY diligent now that I "need" fewer calories (to maintain weight).
Of course it makes sense now that I have been maintaining these past few weeks.
It's going to be a tough love week while I put on my big girl panties and deal with this. I am absolutely NOT going to stop losing weight here. There's too much work left to do.
I CAN DO THIS!
I'm stuck. I haven't been able to bust through this 3 pound barrier between 182-185 for more than 3 weeks. It's not a plateau and I'll tell you why.
I'm eating too much!
Darn!!!!!
It can be such a delicate balance when you increase your exercise level to then find out how much you can increase your food level. I've been totally not diligent at all with my food intake since I've been increasing my running and doing more weight training. Which is ridiculous because at the end of the day I might be burning, on average, 150-200 calories more per day than I was before and I can tell you that I am definitely eating more than 150-200 calories more per day than I was before.
This of course, was not apparent to me until I sat down this morning, after another disappointing weigh in and had a little "big girl panties" conversation with myself.
What's going on!???
Opening up my food diary from the past 2 weeks and you can see it. I am consistently over my calorie target EVERY day... and this is only what I logged! Not that I don't log food but I think I have been overly conservative with what portions I have actually been eating when logging.
I have been listening to this voice in my head that keeps saying "If you are working out so much more, you deserve to eat more, and you never fully log exercise calories, so don't worry too much... you'll be fine"
But this has been true all along!!! I only ever let myself eat back 200 of my exercise calories per day. And if that worked like charm, which it did, for 2 lbs/week weight loss BEFORE... and I am letting my rules slide NOW... I'm in trouble!!!
Why? Because I weigh less. I need fewer calories now. Before there was such a big gap between what I was consuming and what I needed for maintenance and that gap is a lot smaller now. I need to be ESPECIALLY diligent now that I "need" fewer calories (to maintain weight).
Of course it makes sense now that I have been maintaining these past few weeks.
It's going to be a tough love week while I put on my big girl panties and deal with this. I am absolutely NOT going to stop losing weight here. There's too much work left to do.
I CAN DO THIS!
4 comments so far.
4.
a decade ago
You gals are right - there's definitely some composition changes happening in my body as I start running more and lifting more weight. And I am happy with a slower pace as long as it keeps going down. Yes, I am possibly the most IMPATIENT person I know, but I can honestly say with this, I am ok if it goes slower.
BUT, I also don't want to get into the same situation I was in the last time I lost a lot of weight which is that the weight loss slowed and I lost interest and eventually gained a lot of it back.
I want to keep pushing myself and I can definitely see where I can do a bit more work in the food dept.
That's a good point Rachel, I do tend to eat the same foods a lot. I should get a vegan quick meals cookbook to get some new ideas.
by PLATEOFSTARS
3.
a decade ago
You're weight loss is going to naturally slow the less you have to lose, happens to everyone I've seen here so far. What about trying new foods in conjunction with hitting your calorie targets? Or trying a new exercise in general? Or drinking more water? You're a whoosher though it seems, every couple of weeks BAM 3/4 more lb gone. The numbers Will drop, you're doing an incredible job.
Also, it could be you're going to drop more inches for a little while do to all the exercise. You could definitely be Gaining muscle, and those muscles might be swollen. So you're probably dropping fat, but gaining a bit of muscle here and there which wouldn't show a big loss on the scale.
by CALYOPI123
2.
a decade ago
Consider it a 'break' and move back into weight loss mode. You know how to do what works for you. Shrug off the self-flagilation-talk. Youve analyzed and considered what you werent doing. No biggie. Once youre back on track, youll be back on the down-slide! Vee
by VEELACAILLE
1.
a decade ago
I am right there with you.. I could have written this myself. This week I will not go over my calorie count.. I have planned out thru Thursday already and am going to print it out and carry it around with me at all times in hopes that it will help me stay on track. Best of luck.. may this be the week that you continue your fabulous downward trend.
by SPMADISON