Plateaus and Big Hills

I have received some fabulous feedback from my Weigh Down exercise and diet page.  Thank you for sharing your comments, stories and goals with me, please keep them coming!  They inspire me!  Because of the positive response, I decided to write an occasional blog post about my diet and exercise regimen, linking them to the Weigh Down site for future reference. 

In February, when I began my diet and exercise regimen, my body responded very well: I was eating very well and exercising daily, and the scale reflected my hard work.  I quickly lost 20 pounds in 5 weeks, and continued to lose steadily through the end of May, totalling about 37 pounds in that time. 

Since late May, however, things are going much slower – I saw very little loss in four week's time, and I self-diagnosed my first "plateau".  My diet and exercise were constant, if not more challenging than before, but the scale did not budge.  I got a little discouraged, but kept up with the regimen.  Unfortunately, my timing was not right.  We went on our beach vacation, and it was difficult to stick with my diet and regular exercise while I was away from home.  (Candy shops on the boardwalk did not help this situation!) To date, I have lost 45 pounds, and once again, that has not changed for about 2.5 weeks.

I am still struggling with the scale.  I actually asked Kris to hide it in a place I would not find it… I felt the need to weigh myself several times a day, and this was mentally unheathy, as I was more disappointed every time I stepped off.  I am planning to weigh myself with the properly calibrated scales at the gym, probably about two times a week, and maybe then the scale can come back out of hiding.  However, as the scale has stayed the same, I have continued to lose inches, and this is what has helped me through! 

So, how to beat this plateau?  I am a librarian (almost…) so my natural inclination is to do some research.  There are some great websites that support and offer advice for weight loss and wellness, and I found several that helped me answer this question.  My favorites:

• Break Free From Your Weight Loss Plateau - Eight tips to help
• Weight Loss Plateau: What to do When You Hit the Wall - offers information about BMR (Basal Metabolic Rate) and your body's need for equilibrium.  Also has seven tips on overcoming the plateau, linked at the bottom of the page.   

So, I stepped up my regimen this past week.  I am lifting more weights, specifically to boost my metabolism, and I also am training more on different machines: tackling the larger hills on the bike and treadmill, using more resistance, and going for longer periods of time.  On the diet track, I am working hard to cut out more sugars – relying on a a few choice fruits to curb my sugar cravings.

Most importantly, I think it is important to reflect, as well as plan for the future.  I have lost 17.3% of my body weight in the last 5.5 months.  While I still have between 70-80 pounds to get rid of, I am on the right track! and I can feel the difference!

Plus, I found a cool free tool to help me!  Have you played with My Virtual Model?  It is a tool used by several online retailers for customers to "try on" clothes from their stores; but it is also a great visualization tool and weight loss stimulator!  You can enter your measurements, and even personalize the model's hair color and eye shape.  I am a very visual person, so I had a lot of fun with this. It also helped me realize how far I have come – and it fired me up to keep on going with the regimen!

It isn't a perfect tool – because my thighs and arms don't look as good as my current model's do… and I can't help but think that I will never look like that Goal Weight model (in all honesty, that looks too skinny to me!) although that is right where I am supposed to be according to my height and build.  I also entered my starting weight – what I was in February 2006.

And see her purple swimsuit?  She is outfitted for Project Spectrum!  That is the closest you will ever come to seeing me in a swimsuit on the blog!