Plateau
Notice how I haven’t talked about Jenny Craig for a while? Yeah, that’s because I haven’t had anything to report. No big losses. No big gains. I’ve plateaued. And I’m not really sure what to do about it.
First, it was our vacation to Montana. The week or two leading up to it had me all out of sorts. Work was busy. We were running crazy amounts of errands to prepare for the trip. My eating was off. My workouts were way off. I blamed the vacation.
And then we spent 10 days on the road. And sure, we spent a lot of time outside. Hiking through beautiful, majestic mountains. And yeah, our eating wasn’t all that bad. But, we were also in the car for FIVE days. Two point five days driving out to Montana and the exact same on the way back. No exercise. No activity. Eating out of a cooler by day. And grabbing whatever was available in the small towns we passed through at night. Once again, I blamed the vacation.
When we returned to Chicago, I expected life to return to normal. But, it kind of, sort of didn’t. It took a week just to get readjusted to being back from vacation. Loads and loads of laundry. Organizing. Cleaning. Catching up with friends and family. And then we were off again, to go camping over Labor Day weekend. Another round of travel, eating out of coolers, not getting in as much exercise as I would like. I blamed the mini-vacation.
But, last week? Last week, I thought I had finally gotten it together. I exercised almost every day. Going at least 3 miles each morning we walked the dog over the weekend. Running during the week. Taking two kick-ass yoga classes. I might have splurged a little bit with my eating over the weekend, but I was very much back on track during the week. I thought I was deserving of Rock Star in Training status.
And then I weighed in. And my weight? Was the exact same as it was the week before. Like a needle in my balloon, I was deflated. I was so let down. And then I became mad. And frustrated. And when our consultant started to suggest to me I might not have done enough activity for the week, I jumped down her throat.
The whole thing with Jenny is they promote 30 minutes of activity each day. Not exercise. But, activity. Walking. Hiking. Lifting. Whatever it is, so long as you get in your 30 minutes of activity a day, you should be fine. And if I just stuck to walking the dog like I do everyday, I’d meet those activity goals. So, the super long walks? The running? The hot room, sweat my ass off yoga? Yeah, that’s supposed to get me under the mark. But, they didn’t.
And so, here I am. Almost 15 pounds down. 10 pounds to go. I’m not giving up. Hell to the no, I’m not giving up. I want to run a 15K race in 6 weeks. I’ve got to strategize how I’m not going to gain a thing over the holidays. I’ve got a BEACH vacation planned in 6 months. I will look good in a bathing suit by that time. I am that determined. But, it doesn’t mean I can’t be a little frustrated today. Because six weeks at about the same weight when I’m doing all these things that should equate to losses? How can it not get to a girl who is trying to lose??
September 22nd, 2009 at 6:15 am
Try not to get too frustrated. Keep doing the right things and the scale will catch up.
September 22nd, 2009 at 6:50 am
1.) Yay you for not giving up! You are doing really well and you can totally keep going!
2.) Sometimes our lives take us places that don’t allow us to do “perfectly” on our weight loss programs. Recently I have learned that it’s okay for that to happen once in awhile. You did the best you can and hi, you maintained your weight, which is amazing in itself.
3.) I quit going to Jenny Craig because the consultant gave me crap every time I maintained and one day acted as if my one pound gain, during my period, was the sky falling. Anyway, I am so not suggesting you quit…just saying that I get it.
September 22nd, 2009 at 7:51 am
Oh, I hear you! I’ve plateaued recently for WEEKS and did not even have any bad eating or lack of heavy exercise. I’m taking a break for now! And the crazy thing is I’m still at the same weight when I don’t try to diet!
September 22nd, 2009 at 8:12 am
i have no doubt with what you are doing that you WILL meet all of your goals, although the scale didn’t say the right thing this week. it is harder and harder to lose, the closer you get to your goal, so you may plateau. hang in there…
September 22nd, 2009 at 8:27 am
Sometimes I know that my weight takes about a week to catch up to whatever I have done, whether losing or gaining. I wonder if that is the case with you too and maybe you will notice your hard work next week? I can understand how frustrating it must be though to not see results recently when you clearly have been working hard.
September 22nd, 2009 at 8:38 am
Don’t give up and forget about the scale. Are you clothes fitting better? Do you feel healthier? In the end thats what matters. As someone who has been making a strong attempt at eating better, being healiter, and moving more I’ve learned that the number on the scale can go up and down regardless of what I do. So I stopped weighing myself. I can tell a difference in my clothes and how I feel. I know you will kick ass and reach your goals.
September 22nd, 2009 at 8:42 am
I hear ya. I lost 15 lbs when I took up dancing and you’d think after dancing my ass off for three days at the convention, I’d have marched right past my plateau. Nope. Same. THE EXACT SAME. I wanted to smash the scale.
September 22nd, 2009 at 9:34 am
Every time I think, I like Nilsa about as much as I can like anyone I’ve never met you go and say something like: “Hell to the no, I’m not giving up.” =)
From what I’ve heard this is very much part of the process, but it sounds like a totally infuriating one. With your determination I’m sure you will totally bust through this, but in the mean time don’t get too discouraged. You’re doing so much good for yourself! You’ll see the results soon, I’m sure.
September 22nd, 2009 at 9:59 am
I attribute the plateau to muscle mass! I know numbers on the scale suck (trust me) but sometimes you have to look at how great your clothes are fitting, how wonderful you feel because you are attaining Rock Star status and that you are doing your damndest to keep at it! And frankly, my dear, I have no clue where you are going to lose another 10 pounds from.
September 22nd, 2009 at 10:04 am
You can totally feel frustrated. Plateauing is a pain in the ass and inevitable in any weight loss journey. I am there myself for the past 6 weeks. I’ve blamed travel and visitors and whatnot and while they have contributed to uprooting my routine, it’s also just me not being 100% committed and my body having adjusted to our new way of eating. That’s why I am back to Phase 1 of South Beach this week. I needed a restart button and this is it for me. Oddly enough, when I weighed myself I was down .5 lb in the past two weeks. With all the drinking I’ve been doing in that time, I was a bit taken aback (in a good way).
I think the most important thing is to stay committed to yourself and your healthy lifestyle. And I would bet money that you look smashing in your swimsuit already!
September 22nd, 2009 at 10:28 am
This is super frustrating, not to see results when you KNOW you’re doing well. But the thing is that you WILL see results. It’s probably hormonal or water retention or who knows what, but next week hopefully will make up for it and you’ll have more of a loss than you otherwise would have.
September 22nd, 2009 at 12:05 pm
omg i feel you. whenver i was trying to lose weight it seemed like the weeks i did the most i lost the least. and then when i cheated and didn’t work out, poof 2 lbs gone. SUCKS. i hate the weight loss game. BUT you are totally my hero when it comes to all you do and YOU CAN DO IT! i know it!
September 22nd, 2009 at 12:53 pm
I’ve always noticed that when I try to lose or gain, the results don’t show for a good week or two. Like, after I got sick with the flu last month — the results showed 3 weeks later. And I know I am eating more than usual this week and of course not exercising to compensate -- and that I will be reminded of it in 2 weeks from now (which, by then, the damage has been done and I have forgotten how great that 2nd cupcake tasted!). So maybe that’s the case with you right now?
Speaking of which, I am digging the idea of a jewelry party at your place. xie xie ni (thank you in Chinese) -- sign me up! Wahoo!
September 22nd, 2009 at 1:05 pm
like sizzle said, the inevitable plateau is part of this whole journey. you damn straight have a right to be pissed off though. it’s frustrating when you feel like you’re doing all the right things and yet, you don’t see a change in the number. i know personally, as i’ve experienced this before as well, that it has taken a bit for things to all catch up and match up. the overindulging doesn’t always show right away, and neither does the hard work. but after a bit it will get to a more balanced spot.
keep giving it your all like you’ve been doing. i think you’re amazing and inspirational missy!
September 22nd, 2009 at 2:55 pm
Good for you for not giving up! It is very easy to quit when things start to get frustrating. I have no advice because I am quite the quitter when it comes to forming better eating and exercise habits but I will keep my fingers crossed for a better week for you and more positive weigh-in.
September 22nd, 2009 at 3:41 pm
I completely hear you on the plateau. I’m there myself, actually. It totally sucks ass. I hope you break through it soon… just keep doing what you’re doing and it’s bound to come off. It usually takes me two weeks to see anything move down. Which is frustrating given all the self-deprivation we have to do.
Hang in there!
September 22nd, 2009 at 3:53 pm
You have every right to be frustrated but good for you for staying positive and not letting it get you down! So many people would see that and think “to hell with this!” and give up. Keep up the good work sista!
September 22nd, 2009 at 3:56 pm
ohhhh the exercise excuses…! i’ve been so bad. first i was at the beach for 3 days. then i was at another beach for 6 days. then i was on a work trip for 4 days. no matter HOW much you try to work out on vacation, there’s still all the travel time, and after 15 hours of travel i do NOT want to go running, you know!? and.. um… yeah. i never got back into the groove since then. so at least you HAVE! you’ll see the results.. they’re just taking their sweet time kicking in :-)
September 22nd, 2009 at 4:37 pm
You’re probably gaining some muscle mass with all that exercise. Nothing wrong with that.
September 22nd, 2009 at 6:04 pm
This is why I don’t trust the scale that much! When I ate like an angel and worked my butt off, nothing happened! When I pigged out I lost 3 pounds. Made NO sense!
You are doing the right things, just keep at it! :) Switch things up a bit, if you want to. I bet doing the new yoga class will help.
September 22nd, 2009 at 8:51 pm
Me too!!! Keep it up and the scale will show your hard work!
September 22nd, 2009 at 10:11 pm
sometimes a plateau is what you need to get reinvigorated!
YOU CAN DO IT NILSA!
September 25th, 2009 at 9:43 pm
i say more diet coke