Working harder but not getting results.

Hi. I'm a 39 year old male that is 6'2" and 240 lbs. I started at 270 lbs in Jan 09 and I have lost 30 lbs with this program. I was at 233 lbs but went on vacation and have not been able to get below thatsince. I want to be 200 to 210 but I'm not sure how. I run at least 5 kms/day x 5 days/week. I do some weight training but not much. Most of my weight is on my torso. I would just like a few ideas on how to defeat this barrier and continue with a successful weight loss.

when you run, do you run the same pace and same distance every time?  try switching it up and run hard for 1/2 mile with 1/4 mile recovery.  If you have a track near by that's even better.  Mixing up your run workouts will kick start the weight loss.  I like to run three different ways, interval training, which i just described, tempo runs which are mid length at race pace and long runs, about 1 minute slower than race pace.  This will burn more calories and keep your body guessing.  It has worked for me.  Hope it helps.

Jackatar2009, what's your daily calorie intake target (your eat meter)? From the sound of your public journal entry ('cabbage soup for a week', 'tired all the time', lost 30 lbs in about the first 27 days) sounds like you may be under-eating and your body has entered into a "starvation" mode.

I'm 4 inches shorter than you but am fairly active. So far I've averaged a 0.3 lb per day drop (a hair over 2 lbs. per week) since late July. That's about 20 lbs in the last 10 weeks (only 60 lbs. to go). My calorie target is 1875 a day but I try to keep this in a range from 1600 to 2000. My daily average since I started counting calories is 1725, with a one time low of 1225 and a one time high of 2533. Currently my 5-day running calorie average is 1677.

Jff131 mentioned 'switching it up'. I think this works in your eating habits as well as your exercise routines.  The occasional above average calorie intake day (I try to keep these to less than once a week) will keep your body from entering into that starvation mode and the weight will (hopefully) continue to come off in a steady healthy manner. (Think prehistoric man... low cal, high fiber most days from the gathering and the occasional high cal, high protein splurge when a hunt was successful.)

Both you guys are right. Thank you. I'm going to try adding a lot more weight training to my workout but also ensure that I am getting enough to eat. I have to cut out the "large double double" coffee in the mornings and switch to an herbal tea that still gives me my caffene but does not require cream and sugar. I'm going back to basics too. More veggies and less potato / rice / pasta. I love fresh fish and boneless skinless chicken. I'm gonna make a real effort to get below 230 lbs by Halloween. Wish me luck.

I had the same problem...

I started using a Neoprene Waist Trimmer since I needed some back support when working out my torso... (10 bucks on line plus shipping)

It has been great...

I then expanded to all day 1 or 2 times a week.

Support and heat on the torso has firmed up the abs and helped melt away the "love handles"...

It has taken several months but I even run with the extra support and it made a big difference and now I run several times a week w/ a 15 K once a month.

38' were (Very) tight on me now 34" are loose...

I am only 13 lbs away from my weight loss goal...

Do those waist trimmers REALLY work? I work out four days a week doing all major muscle groups and some abs that are really excruciating with little results. My diets OK but would like some more help. I was always told by my gym rat buddies that they were a scam. Now that I'm in my early 40's and my gym rat buddies are gone i'm willing to try anything.

Be careful, as desperation is the crack in the armor that gadget makers crave.  Most gadgets are crap, and the way they're marketed trades on desperation and the public's insane desire for a quick fix (which is why all those pills that promise drastic weight loss in an insanely short period of time get marketed heavily for a month or two on late-night TV then get pulled once it's discovered that they're all scams).

The REAL waist-trimmers are within ourselves.  We have to commit and make the decision to change our lifestyles.  It's not a quick fix, it's not a temporary solution.  Most of us spent a lifetime building our beer bellies and addiction to fast food, so it'll take what seems like longer to get rid of it.

But good old fashioned exercise and sensible eating (I hesitate to call it "diet" in some circles because of its negative connotations) are the sure-fire, time-tested, and proven ways to slim up, tone up, and get healthy.

The phrase "six-pack abs are made in the kitchen" is simple but very true.  A properly balanced diet are critical to losing the gut fat that we've all struggled with.  Exercise and nutrition go hand-in-hand.  At first, tracking everything you consume and regulating portion control is hard.

Even for me, where I've gotten physically to where I want to be in terms of weight loss, it's still hard to this day.  I'd love to be able to just chuck it all and order a large greasy pepperoni & sausage pizza, and wash it down with a pitcher of Sam Adams :)  But I can't -- it's a sandwich of 2 oz. of lean roast beef on 100 calorie whole-grain bread for me. :)

It takes time, and it will be hard, but if you do this for yourself knowing that your changing your life and not just aiming for a short-term fix, the journey is worth it.