Not only have I not lost, now I've gained a few pounds.

[wendibird22]

Update in #12


This is part BP part ask for advice. I'd love to lose 10lbs. Weight has crept up slowing over the past several years. In that time I've gone GF (for health reasons) and went on BCP. Since late Feb I started working out cardio (arc trainer or elliptical) for 20min 3-4X a week (all the time I could squeeze in before work). For the past month I started 30min of jogging 4-5x a week which burns about 200 calories per outing. Also a month ago I stopped BCP (DH got the V a few months back). I was tracking food intake via MFP and I was usually in the 1200-1400 calorie range. About 2 weeks after stopping BCP I dropped 1.5lbs. But this week I'm back up 2.5lb. Wait a freakin' minute...I'm off BPC and I've upped my cardio and I'm gaining weight? Nothing else in my diet has changed. Actually I've cut back on late night snacking, the weekly starbucks iced drink (I don't order the high calorie drinks), and diet soda (subbing sparkling water instead). Since I'm GF I don't indulge in treats at work and even when eating out (which is rare) my diet restrictions limit me to usually the healthiest things on a menu. What gives? I'm 39.5yo so I know metabolism is not working in my favor, but I would think that I'd be at least making a slow dent of a few pounds. I'm so frustrated.

I'm guessing I need to add strength training in there. Anything else?

[mikala]

Is it possible that you're gaining muscle mass and losing fat? How do your clothes fit?

[hillview]

I am in a similar boat (need to lose 10 lbs that somehow CAME BACK). When I need to do this here is what works for me.
no/low alcohol
focus on protein vs other foods
for sure I'd focus on strength and for the running or elliptical I'd do more high impact cycles (so sprint for a minute and then jog for 30 seconds) -- I think this all increases met rate

Honestly at our age (I am 43) I think taking off that last 10 lbs gets harder so I've had to really crack down on what I am doing to get to my goal.

[Katigre]

I'd switch up your cardio to include other exercises.

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[SnuggleBuggles]

Yeah, I'd add in weight training for sure. Focus, for a start, on legs, back and chest- large muscle groups- vs biceps and such. If you can find a class that combines cardio and weights, even better.

[wendibird22]

Is it possible that you're gaining muscle mass and losing fat? How do your clothes fit?

I wish, but nope. Clothes don't fit any different. Grateful they aren't tight, but definitely not looser.



for sure I'd focus on strength and for the running or elliptical I'd do more high impact cycles (so sprint for a minute and then jog for 30 seconds) -- I think this all increases met rate


I can easily do that.


Yeah, I'd add in weight training for sure. Focus, for a start, on legs, back and chest- large muscle groups- vs biceps and such. If you can find a class that combines cardio and weights, even better.

I live in small town USA and don't have access to any classes. I work on a small college campus so I have access to cardio and a weight room but these aren't open in the summer (no students) and during the school year the only classes offered are at light 10pm at night if offered at all. I used to live in a city and loved going to power lifting, step/combo, and spinning classes. LOVED it. I miss that.

[daisysmom]

I don't think that it is too much cardio. Weight training is good and will slenderize over time, but I am not sure that you will see real weight loss right away. And I think your diet and cardio shoudl be producing the weight loss.

My take on it is a few things. First, age... I am about to be 45, and it is harder to lose 10 lbs when it is all you need to lose. Really hard. I have found the intermittent fasting (the 5:2 fast diet plan) to help me on this. Our bodies just need change in routine and some feeling of hunger, and I have found that to be something that works. The reason for the weight gain tho... could it be salt? Anything that you ate that could have bloated you up the night before you weighed? I gain 3-5 lbs when I ovulate (leading up to ovulation, and I lose it the day after). I have read on the internet other people experiencing that. So now that you are off BCP, that could be it? And...regardless of my calorie count, I gain "puffiness"when I eat out. So I never weigh after I eat out (even if my dinner is a classic caesar salad). There is a lot of added salt in most restaurant foods.

If I were you (and I am... to a degree, wanting to lose about 10 lbs too), I wouldn't chnage my food or my workouts right now. I would just keep doing exactly what you are doing, MFP and keep up the cardio and see what happens in another 2-3 weeks. Let your body go through one full cycle and see what happens. Thsi could be entirely hormonal weight gain.

[onyx8]

I would add in body weight training if you don't have access to a gym. Check out You Are Your Own Gym by Mark Lauren

[Chitowngirl]

Have you seem your PCP? You may need your thyroid and/or other hormones checked.

[wendibird22]

Have you seem your PCP? You may need your thyroid and/or other hormones checked.

Well, I did extensively over the course of about 2yrs pre and post-gluten intolerance diagnosis. Thyroid was checked out a few times during that time. I have my annual with my OB/GYN scheduled for early Sept so if things haven't changed by then I'll definitely be discussing it with her.

[wendibird22]

I don't think that it is too much cardio. Weight training is good and will slenderize over time, but I am not sure that you will see real weight loss right away. And I think your diet and cardio shoudl be producing the weight loss.

My take on it is a few things. First, age... I am about to be 45, and it is harder to lose 10 lbs when it is all you need to lose. Really hard. I have found the intermittent fasting (the 5:2 fast diet plan) to help me on this. Our bodies just need change in routine and some feeling of hunger, and I have found that to be something that works. The reason for the weight gain tho... could it be salt? Anything that you ate that could have bloated you up the night before you weighed? I gain 3-5 lbs when I ovulate (leading up to ovulation, and I lose it the day after). I have read on the internet other people experiencing that. So now that you are off BCP, that could be it? And...regardless of my calorie count, I gain "puffiness"when I eat out. So I never weigh after I eat out (even if my dinner is a classic caesar salad). There is a lot of added salt in most restaurant foods.

If I were you (and I am... to a degree, wanting to lose about 10 lbs too), I wouldn't chnage my food or my workouts right now. I would just keep doing exactly what you are doing, MFP and keep up the cardio and see what happens in another 2-3 weeks. Let your body go through one full cycle and see what happens. Thsi could be entirely hormonal weight gain.

Likely not salt intake. We are very low sodium and hardly ever eat out...maybe 2x a month if that. Hormonal fluctuations is a distinct possibility. I've had one period since stopping BCP and should be ovulating sometime in the next few days. It'll be easy for me to watch for a before/after fluctuation of weight.

[wendibird22]

Update:
So it's now mid-November. Been running since April. In the past 2 months I've upped my frequency and mileage. I'm now exercising in some way 5-6 days a week. On weekend runs I run 3-4mi at a time (my week day runs are still ~2mi because of limited time). Weekdays I rotate running (outside or treadmill) with arc trainer or lateral X machine (which I LOVE because you can do squats with it). I've also added a weekly yoga class taught by one of my work colleagues she does for staff. Sad it's only 1x a week but it's a good mix of strength and stretching. And I'm happy to report I'm FINALLY losing inches and weight. I'm down to 129 (was 134 at my recent highest) and have lost 1in in my waist (though my waist is always tiny so I wish that inch was in my butt!) and my butt is more shapely than it's been in a long time. I'd love to get to 125. I think I was 114 or 117 when I got married but have no expectations of ever getting back there post-kids and 40yr old.

So a few small changes and 5 more months of sticking to it and finally some progress.

[Sweetsunshine]

Congrats on the progress! You have a lot of dedication to stick with it for five months!

[Reader]

I gain 3-5 lbs when I ovulate (leading up to ovulation, and I lose it the day after).

I am gaining weight around ovulation. Thanks for saying this. It makes me feel I'm not the only one.

Just realized this is an old thread. Sorry for the late bump up. Wish I could delete.

[wendibird22]

Ha ha, no problem. Since you bumped, I'll update.

So, only down to 128lbs consistently (I've hit 127 but haven't really stayed there). I've gone down one pant size from an 8 to a 6 and lost ~4% body fat (I have a Tonita body fat scale...so I'm sure there is some inaccuracy there but the 4% is using the same scale/method). I've also shaved 2min 30sec off my mile pace since when I started running last June.

I've got to admit that it is a bit discouraging that I'm running 5-6x a week, a min of 2.5mi a time (but almost always 3-4mi each run), week in and week out and I've only lost 1lb since I posted in November. And I ran all winter long. In 10deg weather in the snow!

That said, I will chose to celebrate that I went from being a person who never wanted to run, or thought I could, to being a frequent short distance runner and celebrate that summer shorts that were a bit snug last summer are big on me this year. Regardless of my weight on a scale I know I'm likely healthier than I was a year ago.

[daisysmom]

You aren't gaining weight like a lot of moms (at least the perimenopausal ones my age). Be proud of that.

[123LuckyMom]

It sounds like you've made tremendous progress! You should be proud of what you've accomplished. Might I suggest that now that you've got running solidly under your belt you add in a different form of exercise? The body adapts to exercise, so as running becomes less challenging, you might want to jump start your body with something new that follows a different rhythm and stresses the use of different muscles. Maybe try biking or swimming. Adding in weight training is a really good idea, too. Build your muscle! Muscle really helps you burn fat if you're looking to lose weight. The scale may go up a bit at first, because muscle mass is heavy, but you will burn more fat and become more toned as well.

[daisysmom]

I love running - have been doing 4-6 miles 3-4 days a week. Cardio is great for my mental health and good for immunity and a host of other things I am sure but I don't lose weight with cardio. I started beach body's 21 day fix dvd's 2 weeks ago and I am far more exhausted and sore from those than running twice as long. Those are great weight videos!

[wendibird22]

It sounds like you've made tremendous progress! You should be proud of what you've accomplished. Might I suggest that now that you've got running solidly under your belt you add in a different form of exercise? The body adapts to exercise, so as running becomes less challenging, you might want to jump start your body with something new that follows a different rhythm and stresses the use of different muscles. Maybe try biking or swimming. Adding in weight training is a really good idea, too. Build your muscle! Muscle really helps you burn fat if you're looking to lose weight. The scale may go up a bit at first, because muscle mass is heavy, but you will burn more fat and become more toned as well.

Yes, you are spot on. During the academic year (I work at a college) I have access to the gym and do some other type of cardio (lateral x or arc) 2x a week and 1hr of yoga 1x a week. But it's summer so I'm just going for runs on my lunch break and weekends. I did download a 7min workout app which has strength training and I've done that a few times. My goal is to be more consistent with that.