I'm stuck!

Hi, everyone.  This is my first time posting on this forum, but I was hoping I could get some advice.  Last year, I developed some really bad eating habits.  I've always been sort of heavy, but I gained about 15 pounds in a short amount of time in the spring.  Fun, right?  Anyway, I am about 5'2" with a small frame.  At the end of the summer, I weighed 150 lb.  I went off to college this fall, and I decided that I would start eating in a more healthy way and trying to get in shape.  I knew that what I wanted was a lifestyle change, not a stupid crash diet, because I am done with yo-yoing.  Anyway, since then I have lost 18 lbs.  I feel much happier, particularly because now my BMI is within the healthy range for my age and height, which was my primary goal.  Even though I am happy with the weight I have lost, I would really like to reach my long-term goal of 125 lbs.  However, for about the past month, I have been absolutely stuck at 132, and I can't figure out why.  I eat between 1200 and 1400 calories a day, spaced out in small meals.  I make sure that I get a good balance of protein, fiber, fats, and carbs.  I also go for 2-3 miles (20-30 minutes, approx.) on the elliptical between 4 and 6 times a week.  Although I usually don't have time in my schedule to go to the gym for longer than that, I have been slowly increasing the resistance level on the machine so that I continue to challenge myself and build muscle in my legs. 

Sorry that ended up being so long, but I would love it if anyone had any advice for how to get to my goal.  Thank you!

i forget what its called but i learned that if you're stuck at a weight for really long time, you can:

pick a day in the week and consume about 300 calories less than you usually do. this causes like a little 'push' in your body. Your body senses the sudden change and reacts.

i don't know much about it, but i read in other posts that this works, search around for more info!

You are most likely just muscle heavy.  What you need is a little cross training.  Your body is just used to the usual food & exercise routine.  You need to mix it up. 

Prevention.com has little snippets of different dance video's or yoga & pilates stuff that they have for sale.    If you can view them online and then just put on a great radio station and do the moves to the music, you can create a whole new cardio workout that could stimulate your metabolism.

Just like our minds, our bodies get bored with the same old thing all the time. 

P.S.   You are doing a great job!  Keep up the pace.

jevousaime756

Welcome, you will find a great group of people here willing to help you in any way that they can.

You have come to the right place :)

It sounds to me that you have hit a plateau and I have been there and done that. It is very discouraging, like posted above you need to try something different. Your body has gotten used to what you are doing and the results have come to a stop. This does not mean your body will not change anymore, it just means that you have to find a different way of making the change.

Also if getting to the Gym is hard look for a cardio program that you can do at your house. Being able to work out at home actually saves you a lot of time because you don’t have the travel time to get to the gym checking in putting your stuff in your locker etc, it all adds up. At home you can just put in the DVD push play and get it done.

To minimize equipment I would try and start doing cardio workouts at home they usually require no equipment and you can keep doing your resistance training at the Gym.

If you would like some recommendations for at home cardio workouts shoot me a message I would love to help you out.

Chris R

It sounds like you need to eat more not less to boast your metabolism again.  Maybe have a cheat day twice a week and see if that helps.  Don't go overboard but maybe 200-300 calories more.  I've been told that your body will stop losing when it feels its not getting enough. So it holds on to everything you do give it. Hope this helps. Your certainly working out hard enough to have a few extra calories.