Re: Tweak or Trust? Week 4 dilemma - what was your experience?

[Guest guest]

>

> >

> I'm four weeks into a challenge. I did a challenge two years ago,

> starting at a weight of 153 (I'm 5'8 " ). I did the whole thing by

the book, no cheating, and only lost 2 lbs of scale weight, but was

very> happy with my results in terms of measurements dropping etc.

(and I got down to 19% bf). Now I'm back, but unfortunately I'm 16

lbs (of fat) heavier. So far, at the 4 week mark, my scale weight

has only gone down by 1.5lbs. My measurements are moving downward -

I've lost three inches overall - so I'm happy about that.

I don't have the link but if you have the link to Skwigg's blog I

think she has 4 week freak out post. I had similar results.

Actually the first 6 weeks I lost and gained a lb alternately but my

measurements went down. Hang in there!

Colleen

[Guest guest]

Thanks Colleen - I've read all through Skwigg's site and love it! I

know the page you're referring to, and it's great - but my point is

that Skwigg was seeing little scale change at a weight of 136 (and

IMHO, looked awesome when she started, let alone how great she looked

at the end). If I was starting at 136 I wouldn't mind the scale

staying still. But at 167 it's a different story. Know what I mean?

Thanks for sharing your experience, though. I guess if the

measurements are slowly shrinking then something is happening. Just

not sure whether I should try adjusting anything, or keep plugging

away at it.

Janie

>

> I don't have the link but if you have the link to Skwigg's blog I

> think she has 4 week freak out post. I had similar results.

> Actually the first 6 weeks I lost and gained a lb alternately but

my

> measurements went down. Hang in there!

>

> Colleen

[Guest guest]

Hi Janie,

If you're not dropping as fast as you would like, it most likely

means that you're not creating a big enough calorie deficit. You say

you're eating 1500-1750 cals a day and had been taking big free

days. Everyone is different, but I can tell you that for me, in

order to consistently lose 1-2 pounds every week, I need to average

around 1400 calories a day with no free day, and that's with my

current crazy activity level. Do I feel deprived when I do that?

Hell yeah! LOL But that's price you pay for rapid and dramatic

results. If you want rapid and dramatic, you may need to kick it way

out of your comfort zone. If you want slow and consistent and

maintainable, keep doing what you're doing. You'll still achieve

every one of your goals, but it may take a little longer.

I would encourage you to find a happy medium that you can live with.

Maybe cut your calories a little lower on cardio days and keep them

where they are on weight days. Or take a big free day every other

week instead of every week. You want to bump up your results a

little, but you don't want to go so hardcore overboard that you make

yourself miserable.

In the long run, you're much better off doing what you're doing now

(losing inches and taking it slow) instead of killing yourself for a

couple of weeks, quitting, and then finding yourself back at square

one.

> >

> > I don't have the link but if you have the link to Skwigg's blog

I

> > think she has 4 week freak out post. I had similar results.

> > Actually the first 6 weeks I lost and gained a lb alternately

but

> my

> > measurements went down. Hang in there!

> >

> > Colleen

[Guest guest]

Hey there

I agree with everything everyone else has said....I'm 5'91/2 " , and

currently am 180 lbs. I started at 205 about a year ago, and did BFL

half assed(excuse the language), and still managed to lose the

weight. I got down to 174, and bailed out, lack of organization on

my part. Anyhoo, I gained back up to 187, and decided that BFL

works, and started again in January. As of my 6 week mark, I'm down

to 180, only 7 lbs, but what a difference that 7 lbs. makes. At

180lbs. I wear 12's and 13's in my jeans. It's a number on a scale,

nothing more. Don't panic:) It took me forever to understand the

whole " go by how your clothes fit " theory. And now, I hardly ever

step on my scale. I wouldn't care if I never lost another scale lb.

as long as I look good, toned, and healthy:) I know, it's a woman

thing (the scale), don't let it determine how you feel.

Good luck to you

Crystal

>

> Hi there -

>

> I'm four weeks into a challenge. I did a challenge two years ago,

> starting at a weight of 153 (I'm 5'8 " ). I did the whole thing by

the

> book, no cheating, and only lost 2 lbs of scale weight, but was

very

> happy with my results in terms of measurements dropping etc. (and

I

> got down to 19% bf). Now I'm back, but unfortunately I'm 16 lbs

(of

> fat) heavier. So far, at the 4 week mark, my scale weight has

only

> gone down by 1.5lbs. My measurements are moving downward - I've

lost

> three inches overall - so I'm happy about that.

>

> However, considering that I'm starting heavier than last time, I'm

> nervous about the prospect of only losing 2lbs of scale weight

this

> time round, because that equates to not much fat loss. I can see

> ignoring the scale or a slow loss if you're close to goal, but I'm

at

> least 15 lbs away from where I got to last time (let alone where

many

> others my height are).

>

> I've checked and rechecked my food and portions. I'm eating

whole,

> clean foods, at between 1500 and 1750 calories per day. I don't

feel

> I can go lower than that calorie-wise without feeling deprived.

I've

> been hitting my 10s and working hard. I get additional moderate

> exercise two days a week - basically long, brisk walks. My first

> free days were big, so this week I scaled it back to a free meal.

> And still that scale won't budge!

>

> My question is... do I tweak the program, or trust it?

>

> Did any of you see slower results in terms of fat loss at the

start,

> only to catch up later on?

>

> Thanks in advance,

> Janie

[Guest guest]

>> Thanks for sharing your experience, though. I guess if the

> measurements are slowly shrinking then something is happening.

Just

> not sure whether I should try adjusting anything, or keep plugging

> away at it.

>

You could always post a day or two worth of menus and see if anyone

sees some areas you could tweak.

Colleen

[Guest guest]

Thanks . You make great sense as always!

And you are so right - if I want quicker, more dramatic results I'm

going to have to kick it up a notch (or down, depending on how you

look at it) and eat less. (Sigh. I like eating. Which is, of

course, how I got to 167 in the first place.) ly, it's a relief

to hear what your calorie level was - that way I can logically SEE

why I'm not losing as fast. Whew! My big worry was that I was doing

exactly what everyone else was and not losing, ie. was thus a total

freak.

You're also right about the happy medium stuff - I think I'll try

scaling back free day to a free meal from now on, and zigzagging cals

lower on cardio days. If I start to feel too deprived and woeful,

I'll go back to what I'm doing now. Slow and steady will still cross

the finish line, right?

Thanks for the insight,

(and yep, I'm a big fan of your website and blog - keep holding the

World O' Weirdness banner high)

Janie

>

> Hi Janie,

>

> If you're not dropping as fast as you would like, it most likely

> means that you're not creating a big enough calorie deficit. You

say

> you're eating 1500-1750 cals a day and had been taking big free

> days. Everyone is different, but I can tell you that for me, in

> order to consistently lose 1-2 pounds every week, I need to average

> around 1400 calories a day with no free day, and that's with my

> current crazy activity level. Do I feel deprived when I do that?

> Hell yeah! LOL But that's price you pay for rapid and dramatic

> results. If you want rapid and dramatic, you may need to kick it

way

> out of your comfort zone. If you want slow and consistent and

> maintainable, keep doing what you're doing. You'll still achieve

> every one of your goals, but it may take a little longer.

>

> I would encourage you to find a happy medium that you can live

with.

> Maybe cut your calories a little lower on cardio days and keep them

> where they are on weight days. Or take a big free day every other

> week instead of every week. You want to bump up your results a

> little, but you don't want to go so hardcore overboard that you

make

> yourself miserable.

>

> In the long run, you're much better off doing what you're doing now

> (losing inches and taking it slow) instead of killing yourself for

a

> couple of weeks, quitting, and then finding yourself back at square

> one.

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Thanks Crystal! You're right, the scale shouldn't matter. I just

wanted to be sure I wasn't missing something. Congrats on your great

results so far!

:-) Janie

>

> Hey there

> I agree with everything everyone else has said....I'm 5'91/2 " , and

> currently am 180 lbs. I started at 205 about a year ago, and did

BFL

> half assed(excuse the language), and still managed to lose the

> weight. I got down to 174, and bailed out, lack of organization on

> my part. Anyhoo, I gained back up to 187, and decided that BFL

> works, and started again in January. As of my 6 week mark, I'm down

> to 180, only 7 lbs, but what a difference that 7 lbs. makes. At

> 180lbs. I wear 12's and 13's in my jeans. It's a number on a scale,

> nothing more. Don't panic:) It took me forever to understand the

> whole " go by how your clothes fit " theory. And now, I hardly ever

> step on my scale. I wouldn't care if I never lost another scale lb.

> as long as I look good, toned, and healthy:) I know, it's a woman

> thing (the scale), don't let it determine how you feel.

>

> Good luck to you

> Crystal

>

>

[Guest guest]

I see you've had a ton of responses but I haven't read them.

I have had fantastic success with BFL. There have been times I've

tweaked it. Who do I think I am? Bill ???!

I think your calories are too high. I recommend using Dietpower.com.

It's excellent for tracking yourself and knowing exactly what you

should be eating. Also, read skwigg's nutrition for fat loss. Check

your ratios....

Stick with it. It works miracles.

>

> Hi there -

>

> I'm four weeks into a challenge. I did a challenge two years ago,

> starting at a weight of 153 (I'm 5'8 " ). I did the whole thing by the

> book, no cheating, and only lost 2 lbs of scale weight, but was very

> happy with my results in terms of measurements dropping etc. (and I

> got down to 19% bf). Now I'm back, but unfortunately I'm 16 lbs (of

> fat) heavier. So far, at the 4 week mark, my scale weight has only

> gone down by 1.5lbs. My measurements are moving downward - I've lost

> three inches overall - so I'm happy about that.

>

> However, considering that I'm starting heavier than last time, I'm

> nervous about the prospect of only losing 2lbs of scale weight this

> time round, because that equates to not much fat loss. I can see

> ignoring the scale or a slow loss if you're close to goal, but I'm at

> least 15 lbs away from where I got to last time (let alone where many

> others my height are).

>

> I've checked and rechecked my food and portions. I'm eating whole,

> clean foods, at between 1500 and 1750 calories per day. I don't feel

> I can go lower than that calorie-wise without feeling deprived. I've

> been hitting my 10s and working hard. I get additional moderate

> exercise two days a week - basically long, brisk walks. My first

> free days were big, so this week I scaled it back to a free meal.

> And still that scale won't budge!

>

> My question is... do I tweak the program, or trust it?

>

> Did any of you see slower results in terms of fat loss at the start,

> only to catch up later on?

>

> Thanks in advance,

> Janie

[Guest guest]

> I'm four weeks into a challenge. I did a challenge two years ago,

> starting at a weight of 153 (I'm 5'8 " ). I did the whole thing by

> the book, no cheating, and only lost 2 lbs of scale weight, but

> was very (and I got down to 19% bf). Now I'm back, but

> unfortunately I'm 16 lbs (of fat) heavier. So far, at the 4 week

> mark, my scale weight has only gone down by 1.5lbs. My

> measurements are moving downward - I've lost three inches overall -

> so I'm happy about that.

Ok did the challenge last time, down 2lbs scaleweight but lost

bodyfat to 19% ... Very good I might add :-)

Now at 4 weeks you've lost 1.5lbs scale weight ...

You've done measurements, but have you had your bodyfat tested from

the beginning and now?

Bet you are shrinking and you dont know it yet. :-)

Just stay the course, and take in some of the suggestions that

others made about freeday, tracking your calories, etc and get your

bodyfat tested!

<<joni>>

*If we could give every individual the right amount of nourishment

and exercise, not too little and not too much, we would have found

the safest way to health.*- Hippocrates c. 460 - 377 B.C.