why after 5 months of eating healthy and working out 6 days a week arent i losing anymore and it seems as if?

Question

iexercise 6 days aweek. i do 3mile power walk daily 30 min. weight every other day and pilates at least 4 times a week. since march ive lost 24lbs but about 3-4 weeks ago the scale wont move. i increased my exercise and it almost seems that im gaining a lb and added and inch what is going on? im very upset because im working very hard. most of the weight is in my stomach and i feel heavy. i approximate my caloric intake to be between 1200 and 1500 a day. 6 small meals of vegetables,fruits, whole grains chcken and fish. i allow a day of anything since i want to make this a lifestyle change and not just a diet. help. i am also 51 years old.

Answer 1

Don't focus on the scale go off of how you feel and how your clothes fit. The scale is your enemy and doesn't necessarily tell you what is going on in your body. IE. Muscle weighs more than fat.

Answer 2

These may be some of the factors affecting your weight:

1. Generically, as we mature in age, our metabolism slows down, meaning that we burn (and therefore need) less calories.

2. Your body has got used to the lifestyle and has become very efficient at getting by with 1200 calories a day, and those extra 300 you take (1500 in total) on some days goes to produce fat.

3. You may want to asses how much calories you are taking on your 'sin' day. If you eat anything and everything you may be eating 4000 calories or more without realising it.

4. Try reducing carbs and replace with vegetables and see if it makes a difference.

5. Make sure you are calculating your calorie intake accurately.

Overall, keep up this positive life-style. Even if you gain a pound or two in weight, you are doing a good thing that will keep you healthy for a long time. Keep it up.

Answer 3

Your body has adapted and is used to your routine. Basically it's more efficient now, so you're not going to see as significant weight loss. Another thing to consider is that you may still be losing body fat, but are making up for that weight loss in muscle gain.

You need to change your routine every once and a while when you hit a wall. Try doing something other than walking. Change activities, try other foods with similar nutritional value (i.e. try red meat or pork for protein on occasion instead of chicken). Work out in different ways (i.e. if you use free-weights, change some of your exercises to a cable system or a machine).

I've personally found a better way to measure success is by waist measurements instead of depending soley on the scale. Like I mentioned, if you are gaining muscle while you lose fat, you may zero yourself out on the scale, but you're still losing weight.

Above all, the most important thing to consider is if you feel healthy!

Answer 4

Hi, you didn't say anything about your water intake, drink water, water and more water....


Stress may contribute to abdominal fat, according to several studies, including a recent one at the University of California, San Francisco. "When you're stressed, hormones like cortisol stimulate your appetite, slow your metabolism down and encourage fat storage inside your abdomen," explains Shawn Talbott, Ph.D., director of the Nutrition Clinic at the University of Utah. So what's a frazzled girl to do? "Find an activity that reduces stress for you, whether it's listening to soothing music or taking yoga, and do it daily,"

Get your thyroid checked:
You might have hypothyroidism, or an underactive thyroid gland, which afflicts about 25 percent of American women — many of whom don't know they have the condition, according to the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists. "The thyroid gland controls your body's metabolism, so one of the first signs that it may be off is an inability to lose weight," explains Peeke. Your doctor can determine if you're suffering from hypothyroidism by running a blood test. If you do have an underactive thyroid, you'll be treated with a synthetic thyroid supplement, which you will need to take for the rest of your life (it will return your metabolism to normal, so it should be easier to lose weight).

I hope this helps you.

Answer 5

Here is what you need to do, if you are serious about losing weight and keeping it off. Eat 6 small meals a day about every 4 hours. Here what that will do for you, your metabolism will increase (i.e. Loose weight) and you will have more engry. If you go on a diet and eat less, your metabolism will slow down and store to fat. That is why diets dont work. Only the size of your fist, carbs (examples:baked potato, pasta, oatmeal, beans, corn, melon, apples, fat free yogurt, whole wheat breads)in one and protien (examples:chicken breast, swordfish, shrimp, turkey breast) in the other. You can also eat vegetables and salads with any meal, they dont have none or little fat). 30min cardo exercise every day. Any of these(examples: walking, jogging, swimming,running, biking, ect), Monday cardo, tues upper body (arms: curls, tricep extensions,pull ups, front press)(abdominals: leg pull crunch, leg raises), (chest: bench press, butterfly, pullover)(shoulders: front press, arm pullover, cross county skier machine)(back:seated row, lat pull downs, back extension)(YOU DONT HAVE TO DO IN ONE DAY, mix it up) wed cardo, thurs lower body (legs: leg pull,leg press, squats, lounges) fri cardo, sat upper. Sunday eat anything you want and dont exercising, you do this on sunday so your body doesnt go into starvation mode. YOU NEED TO TAKE SUNDAY OFF. If you stilck with this you will have a great body. also drink aleast 8oz of water daily! Stay away from Mcdonals, Wendys, ect because there is nothing good for you on the menu's even the salads are bad (beaon bits, cheeze, dressing, ect) Good Luck :)

Answer 6

because you are probably putting on muscle now .....muscle weighs about 3 times as much as fat does so you might even begin to gain weight as your body puts on more muscle. If your still not sure go see an nutritionist and pick his/her brain

Answer 7

Donna, my first thought was to suggest you have your doctor check your hormone levels. If you are pre-, post, or in menopause your hormones could be a factor. I would certainly check your thyroid levels, too. Please discuss this with your doctor. My second thought is you may be at a plateau with your work-out regimen. With the work-outs you will build muscle which weighs more. Either way I would "first" check with my doctor...then with your "trainer" at your gym.

Answer 8

You are building muscle. Try lifting weights if you would like to tone your body. Try bicycle crunches to firm your stomach muscles. Eat high protein foods to build muscle also.

Answer 9

You may have it a plateau....change your routine. Increase or decrease your calories. Get a different activity...like water aerobics or swimming. That should help kick start your loss again.

Answer 10

probably gaining muscle weight which is heavier then fat