Plateau Busters?

Ok, I need to be motivated here because July was a bust. I need to make some changes. I am 150 pounds and have 15 to go for my goal. I count points, I exercise. I'm doing the right things. What can I do to take this to the next level, short of starving myself?

Mon. Aug 7, 10:31am

Change everything about your routine. Our bodies adapt pretty darn quickly. Some folks change their routine every 4-6 weeks because of this.

Exercise: Add interval training to your workouts - jog on the treadmill? Add sprints. Make sure one cardio workout per week is over 60 minutes, preferably 90 minutes (moderate intensity is fine). If you're not already doing so, lift weights 3x per week (more muscle = higher metabolism).

Diet: Try to eat a larger variety of foods, if you eat 3x per day, switch to 6 mini-meals. Always eat the same breakfast, try something different. Eat more fish, eat less dairy, just try something different.

Try the Wendi Plan (if you're doing WW) - zig zag your calories, some days much higher, some days lower, with the average points/weeks remaining the same.

Whatever you do, don't starve yourself. It's the #1 guaranteed way to mess up your metabolism and make weight loss even harder. If anything, it's good to have one or two higher calories days per week to keep your body guessing.

Monday, August 7, 2006, 10:50 AM

Agreed--don't STARVE yourself-- it will lead to your body slowing down its metabolism!

Here's a good thing to do during summer--. If you have a vacation, try to plan in some physical activities, such as hiking, walking sightseeing tours, swimming, biking, etc. so that you're not just sitting around all day.... :-)

Try out a new sport or a new physical activity when you get a chance... Walk around and be a tourist in your own city-- you might find a lot of cool things around when you WALK vs. drive through your own city. ;-)

Enlist the help of a friend and make a "walking" or "work-out" date with them for once a week. If you have friends who hate to exercise, rotate the days with different friends-- If you make 4 "fitness" dates with your friends, you both win-- you get the exercise, WHILE having fun with your friends!

Tuesday, August 8, 2006, 1:09 PM

I would definitely mix up the exercise - your body gets more efficient as you do the same thing over and over again, so up the intensity, or try something new, or add strength training if you haven't already.

Tuesday, August 8, 2006, 3:41 PM

mix up your exercise routine or even do it backwards

Tuesday, August 8, 2006, 6:03 PM

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