Hi! I’m super frustrated!! I am a 28 year old mother of 3 children (ages 8, 4, and 7 months). I have been actively trying to lose weight for the last 2 months by exercising 3 4 times a week (1 hr long spinning classes, a 1 hr long toning “bootcamp”, and or 45 minutes on the elliptical coupled with about 30 minutes of arm and leg weights). I am eating 1200-1400 calories a day and drinking at least 8 glasses of water. I thought I was doing everything right! My starting weight was 160 pounds about 2months ago, and I currently fluctuate between 154-156 pounds. I don’t know what else to do! My clothes do feel a little bit looser so I know I’ve lost a small amount of inches, but I truly expected to lose least 10 pounds by this point. Any suggestions, advice, or explanations are greatly appreciated. Thanks! Michelle. [via Ask Questions]
You are doing everything right. The fact that your clothes fit a little looser is a sign of progress. You are losing weight, the pounds will follow – you just need to be a little more patient. It is not unusual not to see a change in the scale weight for some time. People are different. Some start losing weight in days, but for some it takes longer, especially after three pregnancies.
Having said that, I think you are exercising too much. Reduce your cardio workouts to 45 minutes per session, and if you are doing intense cardio like spinning, do not exercise more than three times a week. In fact, try something different for a change, such as walking, for example. Walking is my favorite exercise for weight loss. It is easy to control the intensity of your walk by walking faster, slower, longer or by using V-Max Weight Vest any other weight vest you feel comfortable using. As far as manipulating the intensity of your walk, using a weight vest is my favorite solution.
As for your diet, the sugar detox might be what your body needs to start losing weight faster. Other than that, triple check your daily calorie consumption. It is very important to be consistent with your daily calorie intake. You do not need to obsess over every calorie you eat, but keep in mind that relatively small differences can add up quickly. For example, overeating by just 100 calories a day adds up to 700 extra calories a week, which is not a big deal, but if you are trying to lose weight, 700 calories could make a huge difference.
In addition, the composition of your diet is also very important. Try to eat fiber-rich vegetables and quality protein with each meal. By the way, you do not need to drink 8 glasses of water a day. It is a myth that you need to drink that much water. If you are thirsty, drink water, but if you are not thirsty, you do not need to drink water. Eat fiber-rich fruits, such as berries and apples.