Trying to drop 5 lbs

Hi everyone

Im new to this group. Ive been exercising for about 8 months on and off. I took all of Dec off and now have been back at it, exercising 4 days a week and TRYING to eat better (im doing okay)

I do the New Rules of Lifting program and its really great. I have done that since the beginning of January.

I haven't lost a lb throughout the whole time I have been exercising. I could have lost inches, but i havent been measuring- I am going to start to do that this weekend once I buy a measuring tape :)

I am 5'5, medium/athletic frame, pear shaped,145 lbs. I want to get down to 140 (I was between 135-140 for the last 5 years...)

I know its going to be really hard to drop this 5lbs because Im already considered as being at a healthy weight - but does anyone have any tips?

It's amazing how difficult 5 pounds can be.  I'm in the same boat as you.  Remember that muscle weighs more than fat and, while I'm not familiar with the New Rules of Lifting program, you may be carrying more muscle weight than fat.  I personally go by how my clothes fit and my darned pants have become too tight!  So I know I need to shed a few pounds as well.  Keep up the weight work and don't forget cardio!  Watch your sugar and fat intake and you'll be fine!  Good luck!

Hey!

I know where both of you are coming from: the last five lbs are by FAR the hardest ones to kick! 

I've been struggling to loose five lbs since the start of January and haven't lost a single lbs. In fact, I've gained some! 

Like dannajean said, it could be muscle in both of our cases. I sure hope so. 

I think we both have to remember that its about how are jeans fit, not what the scale says. Thats the best way to see if those 5 lbs are more than just water weight.

Well, after reading many entries into this Group, I'm convinced that there are so many factors (including the phase of the moon) that contribute to this illusive "just 5 lbs" that it's a crap shoot!  I'm a healthy weight and BMI as well, but just have a few little bumps and bulges and things showing up (I'm also a member of the "Over 40 group").

The "annoying 5" as I like to call them seem to show up (or fall off) with even the slightest change, like a particularly fattening week or a good exercise week, but then a good exercise week and healthy eating week could produce  no results at all!

We seem to be eating healthy, good quantity, a few little treats here and there, but alas...the scale is still broken!  It's the down and dirty adjustments that I think we're stuck with, like:

*  COMFY WORKOUT ROUTINE - Get out of our "comfy zone" in the workout routine (cardio) and pump up the volume on exertion.  I just read that once you get "efficient" in your workout, it's not working anymore.  Do intervals for 2 mins at a stretch at 90% of your ability, then back down to a comfortable pace for 2 mins, etc.  Do that 10 times and it should kick-start the old metabolism

*  LITTLE FAT AND TREATS HERE AND THERE -- I do it...a little piece of chocolate snuck in after a handful of nuts; cream in the coffee; one more cookie because they're small and I did run today, etc.

*  WINE -- Love red wine with dinner. Not giving it up.

Does this sound like anybody else or is this just me???

Yup! You're on the ball.

I am also in a healthy weight and BMI (5'5, 145lb, athletic/medium frame) which makes losing any weight quite difficult.

I have learned that the scale is not indicitive of results if you are doing weight lifting. I am following the NROLFW program three times a week- and we all know muscle weighs more than fat! (So I may have lost a couple but the scale wont show it)

I am going to start to measure when I get a good tape measure (soft one) tomorrow. Feb 3 will be my starting point measurements, then once I'm done Stage 1 of my program (3 weeks approx) I'll measure again and hopefully see a loss.

I certaintly could tighten up my diet and drop 5 lbs, but I think having wine and being bad on the weekends- keeps my MENTAL health (and social life) strong...so Id peraonally rather have that, then 5lbs off my body.

I used this simulator online (cant remember link) but it shows you your body at current weight, compared to goal weight- and it took about 8-10lbs off my "body" to really notice any weight loss. So if 5lbs basically looks the same- I want my weekend goodies!

I know how difficult it is to lose 5lbs when you're a healthy weight! I'm already at the lower end of "healthy" with my BMI (5'3.5, 112lbs, small frame & pear shaped). It's taken me almost a year to drop 6lbs, and NONE of it came off the areas I want (butt/thighs). Which means I have to keep losing to get rid of my fatty saddlebags.

I've upped the amount of exercise I'm doing, but as an ectomorph it's super hard work and slow going trying to add any muscle.

i dont mean to pry, but you should not be losing weight!! 112 pounds is barely anything for your height, i am 5'2 125 pounds and thin, i cannot imagine what you must look like. I'm sorry if this sounds rude I just am concerned for your health if you lose any weight

You're not prying at all, don't worry. I'm about 24% body fat so I do look bigger than you would think, not at all sickly or anorexic. I put on weight due to poor diet and lack of exercise, so I ended up being what people around here call "skinny fat".

My measurements are now 32-26.5-37.5, so I'm an XS on top and a Medium on the bottom which looks incredibly mis-proportioned. My butt no longer fits into any of my pants or even my underwear, and I don't have the money to buy a whole new bottoms wardrobe. All I want to do is lose that couple of inches off my hips so I can fit into my clothes again, but I can't spot reduce and my body stubbornly refuses to let go of them.

My ideal goal is to be 32-26-35 with a toned and healthy body, it doesn't matter what the scale says at that point.

I can relate to the little bumps and bulges that SHOULDN'T be there for all my exercising and watching what i eat! it's definitely a 40+ thing. Frustrating as all get out. I need to do more cardio. I was doing zumba (dancing) 2 times a week but they shifted the time and it was too late in the evening. now i've only been doing the boot camp for 1 hour, yoga 1 hour and pilates 1 hour, and running 1 hour. each on different days of the week. but i know that's not enough cardio.

just bought the jillian michaels (biggest loser) shred dvd. Starting with it tonight after pilates. hoping it will help with that lower ab bulge that we "older" women get. i don't want it and i'm not stopping til it goes away.

Hello, 

I joined this group for the title, so yes am trying to loose some weight. Am 1.68 (5`6"), 54 kg (119 lb) and 24 years old. For as long as I remember and until fairly recently I had either a weight I was happy about or was actually very thin. Indeed for many years my problem was to gain weight rather than loose it. I really enjoy sports and have been doing them with discipline for all my life, especially mountain biking, soccer, swimming, running and mostly squash. Looking back I really prouded myself of my condition and now I miss it dearly. 

10 months ago, however, I moved to Holland to study. My field is theoretical so I spend a lot of time sitting in front of a computer; it is also a field heavy with guys so mostly I hang out with guys and have adopted their eating habits when we go out. To make matters worse, my exercise routine became erratic in the course of repairing my apartment and adapting to all things here. The result of all this is that I gained 5-6 lb, so that when I look in the mirror I can hardly identify with myself: wider hips, fatter arms and my breast size increased! Am not happy about that. 

My goal in joining caloriecount is to return to the weight I had when I arrived here 10 months ago: 114 lb (though I wouldn't mind loosing an extra one or two lb) I joined caloriecount and am trying to keep a 1,500 kcal diet and a daily exercise schedule to return to my weight by end of October. 

Any tips are much appreciated. 

All the best, 

Diana

hello all,

The best way to push off those few kgs is - Skipping.

Anywhere...anytime.

Just carry a rope along with u and skip atleast 500 skips..hardly takes 15 mins.

Try this. It works Great.

Hello all!!   Just joined :)

I have that "skinny fat" as well, rather annoying.

I just want to lose 3 more pounds, just 3!!!  But they are taunting me.

I'm 5'3"  115....and when I get to 112 I'm going to work on toning.

I like the idea of the skip rope...right now I cannot exercise due to an injury, but I may try this when I get better....

Hi!  were in the same scheme :)

5'3", 113 lbs, gained a few pounds from 111, also injured

When will you get better?  what do you do now for your weight?  I believe its 70% nutrition and 30% workout.  

Ive been prescribed to eat more and not move so much for the past three weeks. I gained only 2 lbs since im careful with what I eat (except for the chips).  My goal this week is not to eat any of these junkies.

It's  pain not being able to work out, isn't it?  Though I do admit...I kinda like the lounging....lol

My leg feels MUCH better today....I may walk the 30-40 mins to get to the Farmer's Market today....but I should probably be good and rest it more....I'll see how it feels through the day.

Tonight will be a challenge....going out with some friends for dinner, and I'm trying to swear off booze until Sept 21st...haha

It feels like suicide not to move around.  Im doing a 30 minute walk every morning now but slowly.  I dont think Im burning calories.  Heheh....

Good luck on the dinners

Even if the pigging out at the picnic...I lost weight!!  I am 112.1!!   Goal!

And even better,.....my leg is now 99% healed.....I can hike next weekend....

I did slight exercise yesterday.....I walked around the mall (and spent too much money...opps)

Now I need to maintain and tone.

Even 30 mins of slow walking beats sitting in front of TV, watching Maury (which I'm doin' now)

Wow! thats great hippiecat.  Spill how you did it in a short time!

Im going back to exercise today (tennis today, boxing tomorrow).  Its been 3 weeks since my prescribed don't-move-all-day and eat more food.

I'll also do 45 minute strength training MWF and add pole dancing just for kicks.  

Vanessarose gave me her eating habit which was not far away from what i used to eat.  Except the chips got me guilty pleasured.  Now, Im trying to ban it until i reached my goal..buhuhu...

I think it was because I wasn't movin' much at all the past few weeks....then I added short easy walking trips.  And of course using the calorie tracker :)

Though I may have jumped the gun...I need to weigh myself for a few days to see if I am maintaining or if I just lost water weight

I have been meaning to take up tennis....though I am so awful at Wii Tennis I dunno if its such a great idea

Tennis? go for it! wii tennis is so much different from the real thing.  Hmmm...maybe i should just walk more like you:)

Grrrrr...gained 1.5 pounds since yesterday....how annoying....and I have another picnic to go to today.....one of those events where it is rude to refuse food