Obsessed with the number, know it's stupid

lclicious

Hi ladies, I need some encouragement. I'm stuck - like over a month- at 143lbs. I'm 5;7", and would really like to be at 130-135. I know that I haven't been at the same 143 because my clothes fit differently, my BMI has gone down from 25% to 23%  and I work out like a crazy person. I know it's soooo stupid, but I just can't not be stuck on this number. Will my body just refuse to be any lighter?

I don't like to hide the scale because unless i weigh myself daily, I gain weight. Anyone else number obsessed?

MrsChasey

Yes, I'm number obsessed and I'm a personal trainer so I definitely know better. I don't weigh myself more than once a month because our bodies fluctuate so much. I am religious about using the same scale, and doing it nude, and after a visit to the restroom so it's consistent. 

I can tell you that the last few pounds are the hardest to take off. Eventually you will plateau but it doesn't have to be forever. What do you do for a workout? How long? how many times a week? Are you lifting weights? Muscle does weigh more than fat.

It's probably just time to change things up. If you only use an elliptical, take a spin class, aerobics, or whatever. Maybe you need to add in another cardio workout per week, or go a little longer. I find that only 30 minutes of cardio isn't enough to keep my weight from creeping up. I go for 45 minutes. 

How about a little positive reinforcement? For instance, if my goal is to lose 2 lbs this week, and I did it, I'd reward myself with something small, but non food related...like maybe a magazine I like, or a new workout top. The key is to not make it food related and to not give yourself the reward if you don't make it. 

Side note: I just ordered the Bridelicious Bootcamp series and I'm pretty excited about it. My mom has been working out with me. She wants to lose a little bit before the wedding.

lclicious

I usually bike to work (40 miuntes each way)

Monday- 1 hr weight class + 1 hour spin class
Tuesday- 30 minutes on elliptical, interval between height and resistance at random
Wednesday- 30 minutes weights, 1 hour spin class
Thursday- 1 hour spin class (if full then 30 minute elliptical interval)
Friday- 20 minute elliptical

Weekends- I bike a lot. I don't have a train pass anymore. I also do some lifting at home for my arms, but I only have 5lb weights.

How long do the plateaus usually last, I've never had one for this long?! Do you have any suggestions on what I should be doing differently.

raynes

Maybe your body is at a happy weight?  You're in a good range BMI wise, so maybe it's time to start rethinking your goals. 

A fit 143lbs with some muscle looks a whole lot better than a skinny fat 130 lbs IMO.

arf3420

I agree about the skinny fat!  Gross.

It's really hard not to focus on the number.  In the last year, I've gained about 25 pounds, but I've lost a ton of body fat and have gone down in clothes sizes.  It's just from gaining muscle from working out.  I weigh 165 now (yikes!), but I wear a size 4 or 6, and I look a thousand times better than I did when I weighed 140 and wore size 8/10.  You're probably better off to just stop weighing yourself and focus only on how you look and how your clothes fit.  That's a much more accurate way to gauge your progress than the number on the scale!   Don't get discouraged!

mikkiwin8

I agree with changing up your workout. I have 11 month old twins so it has been a battle finding the time and energy to workout which drives me crazy because I have played sports and been in shape my whole life. I am a big fan of the Jilian Michaels workout dvds at home. The" 6 week 6-pack" is amazing, it has a lot of cardio mixed into different moves. Also, I use the stairs in my house to run. I count up and down once as a rep and I do 10 reps-quick rest-9 reps- quick rest- 8 reps-quick rest, and so on until I get to one. If you're really brave you can work your way back up to 10 too. It always helps to add something new to the mix. Zumba classes are so fun too, and you definitely work up a sweat and pick up some dance moves!

breaness

Definitely don't obsess over the number. I'm 5'1 and I've been 115 most of my adult life. 2 years ago my weight got to 125 and I couldn't lose it no matter how hard I tried. Now I'm more fit than ever and my body is toned and feels and looks great. I'd much rather be where I am now, even though 125 is not light for my height.

Just worry about how you feel

lclicious

Thanks, ladies. Trying my best. I know I look good....but... it's never good enough.  

Milsey32

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_getting-shape_obsessed-number-its-stupid?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:238Discussion:3fafc010-bad7-49bd-84ef-7a20369be3f9Post:40706a20-0a0e-494f-9c77-d335ed851574">Re: Obsessed with the number, know it's stupid</a>:
[QUOTE]<strong>Maybe your body is at a happy weight</strong>?  You're in a good range BMI wise, so maybe it's time to start rethinking your goals.  A fit 143lbs with some muscle looks a whole lot better than a skinny fat 130 lbs IMO.
Posted by raynes[/QUOTE]

<div>This is what I was thinking...</div>

raynes

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_getting-shape_obsessed-number-its-stupid?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:238Discussion:3fafc010-bad7-49bd-84ef-7a20369be3f9Post:77918dcc-187e-4989-90fd-e5e1143e5ba3">Re: Obsessed with the number, know it's stupid</a>:
[QUOTE]Thanks, ladies. Trying my best. I know I look good....but... it's never good enough.  
Posted by lclicious[/QUOTE]

You have to take a look at where you are and what you're willing to do to weigh less.

You can absolutely lose more weight, but it will likely be really hard to maintain that loss.  You'll have to make a lot of sacrifices and probably be miserable.  But you'll weigh XYZ lbs.  Is that really worth it?  Or, you can focus on becoming a healthier, fitter person regardless of what the scale says.

firsttimersluck

I'm 5'8 and my bod doesn't like being lower than 140-145. It's just the way it is... I stopped weighing myself a year ago, because it just bummed me out. I work out about 2 hrs a day 7 days a week and can tell the difference big time.
 
Screw the number... If you have a scale in your house, I suggest you get rid of it. You're obviously doing incredibly well HEALTH wise. The number on the scale isn't what's going to keep you living a long healthy life, but it will bring you down when you should be secure and proud of yourself for how fit and healthy you are!!

firsttimersluck

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_getting-shape_obsessed-number-its-stupid?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:238Discussion:3fafc010-bad7-49bd-84ef-7a20369be3f9Post:1aaf971a-b3ae-40b4-9513-19d5af5fd44f">Re: Obsessed with the number, know it's stupid</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Obsessed with the number, know it's stupid : You have to take a look at where you are and what you're willing to do to weigh less. You can absolutely lose more weight, but it will likely be really hard to maintain that loss.  You'll have to make a lot of sacrifices and probably be miserable.  But you'll weigh XYZ lbs.  Is that really worth it?  Or, you can focus on becoming a healthier, fitter person regardless of what the scale says.
Posted by raynes[/QUOTE]

i so agree with this.. I'm a big-time hour glass shape and I would have to stop weight training and cut more food out (than I already do) to drop lower. the one time I was at abotu 125 at this height, I was miserable and eating <800 calories a day, which is horrible!! Please don't sacrifice your overall health for the model-picture.  :(

lclicious

thanks.. I work in fashion, i think it's totally warped me.

amyderrah

I'm 5.8 and I just dropped the last 10 lbs that I wanted to lose.  My body likes staying around 140 too, and I find that it will eventually go back to that weight and stay there with my normal lifestyle.  Now, that does include a bit of unsightly pudge here and there, but we need that for baby-making, right!?

However, I totally understand wanting to get down to that magical number for your wedding.  I seemed to hit a wall after only a few weeks of starting my diet.  I'd only lose .5lbs every two weeks or so and I thought it was because my body was fighting to stay at the weight it wanted to naturally be at.  This last month I read a few things about the proper # of calories needed to lose weight and I started to eat MORE food.  My calorie deficit was too big before and my body was trying to save the weight.  Now I only eat a deficit of about 400 to 500 cals each day and I lost as much weight this last month as the first two months together.  My advice, if you do want to drop 5 or 10 lbs for your special day, count your calories and make sure you're giving your body enough food!  You have to make sure to count all the cals burned during workouts too.  Some days I find it hard to eat enough food, as counter intuitive as that sounds for being on a diet.

That being said, it's so true what pp's said about being 145 or 150 and having great muscles and looking awesome!  I've still got a ton of weight training and toning that I want to do because I'm past that "Ideal" weight that I wanted to be (130 was my target and I'm at 129) but I still feel flabby in parts.  It's the weights for me now, and gaining muscle.  It could be that you're 140 lbs and you look freaking awesome!