Plateau for a month: suggestions?

[Starfish]

Hey GLC, good to "see" you! Hope you guys are still enjoying OR!

So...you think that changing types of things I eat...even if the calories stay the same and it is all just different healthy stuff...helps? This is a new idea for me. (Which is why I posted this thread! Thanks...and please elaborate.)

[GLC1968]

Well - it might help. I mean, the protein and fats in chicken are different than the protein and fats in fish...so the end result is that your body has to work at it a little differently. Same holds true for say leafy greens vs broccoli all the time. Or quinoa vs oats, or goats milk vs cows milk . It may not be enough of a change to matter, but it certainly can't hurt - and the variety might do your body good. Also, I assume that you are measuring everything? I do know of quite a few women who got 'stuck' and found out through measuring that they'd let their calories/portions creep up.

I assume that your weight routine is predetermined by your trainer, right? Have you asked them their opinion? Honestly, for me, changing up my weight training was the best way to shake plateaus but I figured that wasn't an option with your current routine.

And 'hi' back! I'm glad to see you still here - perhaps we'll get a chance to finally meet and ride together next summer??

[Starfish]

I think it makes sense what you say about foods, and I think maybe I have gotten sloppy with measuring.

The weight routine changes a lot. I really like this trainer...all kinds of weird things all the time. He pushes me, watches my form, and we vary it a lot.

I am going to try what you suggested with the foods, and I think I might split the cardio into 2xDay a few days/week.

And, maybe we will meet? I could see coming down for a ride in OR next year. I can't decide what my goal should be for next summer. Have you kept riding continuously? I have only ridden my bike a couple times this year.

[GLC1968]

Yeah, my riding dropped off significantly when we moved out here. It's pretty pathetic compared to previous years. I've also gained a bunch of weight - so I need to take some of my own advice and buckle down. I really struggled with riding this summer because I was so heavy. I started loathing hills and they used to be my favorite part!

My only definite goal for next summer is to do the Crater Lake Century. Other than that, I can't really justify training for long rides because we now have a farm to worry about. I just can't take that much time for training anymore. But,this winter I am working on getting back into shape, dropping the extra weight, commuting when I can....all with the goal of being ready to RIDE again come next spring!

[Starfish]

Sounds like we are in a little of the same boat (except I don't have a farm!). That Crater Lake Century looks awesome. That is a fantastically beautiful area. I have vacationed in that neck of the woods.

[GLC1968]

Hey Starfish - I was thinking about this thread last night and I thought of something else. You've lost 16 lbs - have you changed your profile in whatever nutrition software that you are using? A 16 lb loss could very well have reduced your caloric needs, so you may find that now you need to cut back even more. What worked when you were X weight might no longer work when you are X-16. While your current level of consumption might have created a caloric deficit at your starting weight, it might be closer to 'maintenance' level at your new weight - hence the lack of progress. If you think this might be the case, you might want to look into dropping your intake by a small amount and see if that gets the loss moving again.

I know that for me, the effort that I have to put in to lose weight at 166 lbs is way less than the effort I need to put in to lose weight at 150 lbs. It's unfortunate, but it's true.

[jobob]

Hey Starfish - welcome back!