Weight loss AW and ? with PIP

[deanlicker78]

So  I started running at the end of January and by March had lost 25 lbs.  Then the day after Easter my boss and I started the Insanity workout.  I have lost an additional 5 lbs since then.  I am on week 7 of Inanity now and I have flat out hit a plateau.  My scale will not budge beyond 30 lbs.  I try to run at least 3 miles 3 to 4 times a week and we do Insanity for at least an hour 6 days a week.  I've tried eating more, eating less, everything.  What can I do to kick myself over this plateau? 

This is me last summer, large and in charge.



This is me at weeks 4 and 6 of Insanity.  I'm not flashing gang signs, I'm awkwardly trying to be cool.  lol

[partiallysunny]

Great job! I have no advice on the plateau. I'm stuck on one myself.

[ax2]

Wow, no idea how to help since I'm a chubster, but you looks FANTASTIC!

[Deleted]

You look awesome! Could it be that you're not losing weight because you're actively putting on muscle? Perhaps consider changing up your diet a bit? Stay away from your go-to foods and mix up what you're eating. I'm not saying eat less or more, just eat differently. I have had success with that.

[Kit]

I've no advice on the plateau (though I agree with the PP who said perhaps you're putting on muscle and not fat, and that's why the scale isn't budging).

But damn, you look great!!

[sherbanator]

You look great. I keep starting insanity but fall off the last week of month 1 due to vacations and then being too lazy to start back up. How much harder is month 2? Is it crazy?

[bania]

WOW! You look amazing! Seriously good for you! Maybe drink more water & cut out simple carbs to kick start it again? Maybe you already did that I don't know. You look great though.

[deanlicker78]

May 14, 2013 13:27:10 GMT -5 hungrycaterpillar said:

You look awesome! Could it be that you're not losing weight because you're actively putting on muscle? Perhaps consider changing up your diet a bit? Stay away from your go-to foods and mix up what you're eating. I'm not saying eat less or more, just eat differently. I have had success with that.

I have gotten into a routine with food.  I have certain foods that I know are healthy and I stick to them like glue.  Maybe if I scrap all that and change all the foods I regularly eat that would help. 

[cheeseandcrackers]

You look awesome!!

[snipsnsnails]

You look great! Is the plateau on the scale alone or are you not losing inches either?

[luckyval]

No advice, I just wanted to say that you look fantastic!

[venice2007]

You look fantastic!

[deanlicker78]

May 14, 2013 13:29:32 GMT -5 sherbanator said:

You look great. I keep starting insanity but fall off the last week of month 1 due to vacations and then being too lazy to start back up. How much harder is month 2? Is it crazy?

It is stupid hard. I was kind of bummed the first week of month two that it was so hard for me, like I had spent the first month just twiddling my thumbs.  I hadn't, but it felt that way.  Now during week 7 I'm starting to feel better about it again.

[calledout]

I'm impressed:) Have you been "eating back" all of your exercise calories? When I got stuck on a P90X plateau, I stopped eating all of those back and it put me back in gear. Also, everyone always talks about weight-lifting being key. Would you consider switching out some Insanity workouts for weight-lifting workouts?

[iheartvino]

You look great! Ditto pp about mixing up food, but I would also focus on inches more than the scale. I have a happy weight that I cannot go below, no matter how hard I try. When I hit it, I really just try to focus everything on what shape I'm in vs. what the scale says. I'm not sure how much you weigh/what a healthy weight is/where you want to be. For me, my happy weight is right in the middle of where my bmi says I should be, so I don't worry too much.

[deanlicker78]

May 14, 2013 13:31:39 GMT -5 chilerellanos said:

I can vouch for deanlicker. I met her for lunch last week and she looks great! I'm guessing you're putting on some muscle. You're much more lean. Good job and I need some of that motivation! I did go walking today...in the 97 degree heat and all!

Thank you.

That's awesome, this heat sucks so good for you for getting out anyway! 

[Deleted]

Congratulations!! You look amazing!! You are probably in a muscle building phase. Start paying attention to your measurements, not the scale. I had to do this a few months ago, it was hard but I am still seeing results. I've put on 3 lbs but continue to loose inches and that is all that matters. Evaluate your diet and make sure you are feeding your body enough protein and complex carbs to fuel your workouts.

This page has some good links to figure out how much you should be eating each day as far as protein, carbs, etc..

muffin-topless.com/resources/
Also, she has a great meal plan that I am currently following and like:


muffin-topless.com/muffin-topless-summer-challenge/meal-plan/
Good luck!!

*fixed my links

[Deleted]

May 14, 2013 13:29:59 GMT -5 deanlicker78 said:

May 14, 2013 13:27:10 GMT -5 hungrycaterpillar said:

You look awesome! Could it be that you're not losing weight because you're actively putting on muscle? Perhaps consider changing up your diet a bit? Stay away from your go-to foods and mix up what you're eating. I'm not saying eat less or more, just eat differently. I have had success with that.

I have gotten into a routine with food.  I have certain foods that I know are healthy and I stick to them like glue.  Maybe if I scrap all that and change all the foods I regularly eat that would help. 

Let me know if you need any suggestions. I eat a lot of nontraditional healthy food and can be of help if you need it. 

[deanlicker78]

May 14, 2013 13:31:01 GMT -5 snipsnsnails said:

You look great! Is the plateau on the scale alone or are you not losing inches either?

I've stopped losing inches too.

I was upset the scale wasn't going down during month 1 but my H pointed out I've lost 3 pant sizes.  So that kept me motivated even though the weight was not melting away like I'd hoped.  But now I'm just plain stuck with both weight and inches.

[deanlicker78]

May 14, 2013 13:36:29 GMT -5 hungrycaterpillar said:

May 14, 2013 13:29:59 GMT -5 deanlicker78 said:

I have gotten into a routine with food.  I have certain foods that I know are healthy and I stick to them like glue.  Maybe if I scrap all that and change all the foods I regularly eat that would help. 

Let me know if you need any suggestions. I eat a lot of nontraditional healthy food and can be of help if you need it. 

I would LOVE some suggestions!  I will take all the help I can get.

[Yankees21]

I don't have any advice, but you look amazing! Posts like this are really inspiring.

[AlpineSlide]

You look great!!

[deanlicker78]

May 14, 2013 13:42:56 GMT -5 chilerellanos said:

Are you getting enough protein?

According to the calculator in the link tarzanswife shared...No, not at all. I should probably be upping that.

[snipsnsnails]

I'd give yourself a month of being meticulous about tracking masurements and nutritional intake. Sounds to me like you're probably still losing inches, just not at the rate you were before. And if it really is a plateau, the answer is usually in what you're eating (or not eating).

[Deleted]

you look hot.

[Deleted]

May 14, 2013 13:43:02 GMT -5 deanlicker78 said:

May 14, 2013 13:36:29 GMT -5 hungrycaterpillar said:

Let me know if you need any suggestions. I eat a lot of nontraditional healthy food and can be of help if you need it. 

I would LOVE some suggestions!  I will take all the help I can get.

Snacks:
Seaweed (I know, I know, but I love it)
Mini quinoa bowls - I make a batch of mexican quinoa and throw some black beans on it with some salsa (this is my favorite afternoon snack. I make the quinoa and the blackbeans on the weekend so its quick. 
Raw energy balls: My favorite recipe: healthybliss.net/raw-food-recipe-for-raw-energy-balls-fast-easy/
Mashed avocado with tomatoes and lemon pepper
Strawberry oat bars: ohsheglows.com/recipage/?recipe_id=6001725
Chopped peaches with blueberries

Dinner ideas: 
Grilled veggie skewers
Barbecue roasted chickpeas (basically any roasted chickpeas are awesome) 
Crock pot 32 bean soup. (Again, make this on the weekend and have it for lunch all week)
Tabouleh, hummus, and pita

[nahoku]

May 14, 2013 13:29:59 GMT -5 deanlicker78 said:

May 14, 2013 13:27:10 GMT -5 hungrycaterpillar said:

You look awesome! Could it be that you're not losing weight because you're actively putting on muscle? Perhaps consider changing up your diet a bit? Stay away from your go-to foods and mix up what you're eating. I'm not saying eat less or more, just eat differently. I have had success with that.

I have gotten into a routine with food.  I have certain foods that I know are healthy and I stick to them like glue.  Maybe if I scrap all that and change all the foods I regularly eat that would help. 

You look amazing!  Way to go!

What are the foods that you have been sticking to so far?  I need ideas.  I've been in a rut all year so far and have been unmotivated to do much cooking lately.

[cleo29]

You look amazing!

[Saint Monica]

dayum you look good!

[deanlicker78]

May 14, 2013 14:27:30 GMT -5 nahoku said:

May 14, 2013 13:29:59 GMT -5 deanlicker78 said:

I have gotten into a routine with food.  I have certain foods that I know are healthy and I stick to them like glue.  Maybe if I scrap all that and change all the foods I regularly eat that would help. 

You look amazing!  Way to go!

What are the foods that you have been sticking to so far?  I need ideas.  I've been in a rut all year so far and have been unmotivated to do much cooking lately.

I eat a lot of greek yogurt with granola, grilled chicken breasts, low fat cottage cheese, fresh salsa, asparagus, protein shakes with almond milk, scrambled eggs, old fashioned oatmeal, bananas and apples, avocados.