I want to lose 15-20 pounds in 8 weeks

[mickeybjb1]

Cathe or anyone else that can help me,

I have been trying soooo very hard to lose at least 1 pound per week. I was loosing at least 1-2 pounds per week since Dec. up until about 2 months ago. I have been in a plateau since that time. I exercise mostly everyday at least 1 hour.I was using videos by the firm, leslie sansone and billy blanks. I have graduated to Cathe and this is my 3rd week working out to Cathe videos. I thought advanced videos would break my plateau, but I seem to be gaining about a pound a week now. I try to count calories and watch my fat intake. I am more toned and my clothes still fit, but the scale won't budge. I am the type of person that depends soley upon the scale for progress. What could I be doing wrong?

This is my rotation for the next 2 weeks:

Week#1
Sun-BC,BS
Mon-CK, BS
Tues-HSC,BS
Wed-Imax2
Thur-PUB,BS
Fri-PLB,BS
Sat-CK

Week#2
Sun-Fri-CTX
Sat-CM

Cathe or anyone, do you have any suggestions about what else I should be doing?

Thanks in advance.

 

[renupai]

Hi,
You need a lifestyle change. You have to be really strict with what you put into your mouth in addition to being dedicated to an active day in addition to a good daily workout.
Exercise alone is not enough. Ask me --- I tried losing weight for years with just exercise and failed. Only when i added a sensible low fat - low carb - low salt - high fibre - lots of water - diet to my lifestyle did i lose weight. In addition to working out every day, I keep myself active throughout the day.I have gone from a size 16 to a size 12 and it took me a year.
Be realistic. You will need 6 months to lose 20 lbs of fat on a good sensible diet and exercise programe.
But good luck. You just have to make up your mind and you can do it!

 

[bwest]

You probably aren't doing anything wrong. I always watch the scale too. I worked out all the time and never got off my plateau. I stayed at the same weight for over 2-3 months. I do a large variety of workouts. I started to do Cathe when I first saw her on Fit TV. I thought that this would do it. When I first started, I gained a few pounds, and was getting frustrated. But, since then, it took about 4 weeks, I have lost 7 pounds, and still seem to be loosing. What I figured it out to be was muscle gain, then I was able to burn more fat. She is extrodinary in the weight field and cardio field. Don't give up on her workouts. I feel that the way Cathe's workouts are and most others really, are not for the fast cure. They are for over all fitness and health. I don't believe that there is a fast cure for weightloss, just steady work from day to day. You will achieve what you are looking for, but to do it the healthy way, I don't think you can do it that fast. I use to try real hard to loose weight fast, but it made me more unhealthy overall. My workout schedule varies quite a bit. I always do weights: one of Cathe's series. But I really make sure I do cardio 5 days a week, mostly Cathes. I also do some Denise Austin's fat blasting yoga, Tae-bo, . I just get bored easy and so have to vary it a lot to keep myself in line. Hope you keep up the good work and don't take it too personally when the scale doesn't drop like you'd like it too. It'll all come to you in time. I think that Cathe is my reason for getting off the plateau. I'll be with Cathe for a long time though, I already know that. Take it easy, it'll come to you too.

 

[clareMc]

It doesn't sound like you are doing anythng wrong at all. GIve your body time to start getting rid of the fat, since you say you have only been doing Cathe DVDs for 3 weeks. Three weeks is not very long time to see life-long change.

The scale is going up slightly because you are gradually increasing your proportion of lean muscle tissue, which weighs more than fat tissue, so this is a good sign that your body's composition of muscle to fat tissue is beginning to change. What you need to do is throw out the scale. At this stage it is not the best way to evaluate you increasing fitess level and increasing musce tissue percentage. Judge only by your increased energy levels, deeper sleep at nights, levelled out appetite, ability to increase the weight load you lift and the way your clothes fit. Only these are effective measures to evaluate the change in your body that your hard work is bringing about.

You do a lot of circuit work: that makes your week #1 total 5 cardios. I thnk that I would be tempted to eliminate one of these cardios and substitute one day more of weight training, either doing PUB again or ME/Supersets or Push/Pull.

Once you are comfortable lifting with Cathe, try a 3 week rotation with her Slow & Heavy series to really increase your muscle mass. The more muscle you have the more calories you will burn even at rest.

More importantly, try to remember that Rome wasn't built in a day and neither can you drop 20 pounds just like that. It willl happen with a gradual increase in cardiovascular intensity ad gradually increasing your weight loads. The most important thing to consider to guarentee success is CONSISTENCY/PATIENCE AND SELF-CONFIDENCE.

It will happen!

Clare

 

[MARY1616]

HI,

When I read your post it reminded me of myself. I to use to work out with the Firm. When I started using Cathe's videos I did not notice movement on the scale right away. After about 5-6 weeks I got on the scale and dropped 6lbs. I also watched my carb intake. I do not like those fad diets by I do try to watch carbs and eat more protein. I hope this helps!!

mary

 

[Bobbi]

It's best to aim for no more than 2 pounds per week and to remember that the scale is one of the worst ways to guage your progress, particularly for a woman, because there are variables relating to water weight. A clean diet and regular exercise are key. By the way, I don't watch my carbs. My diet has remained 60-65% carbs all along but the quality of the carbs is where my focus stays. I watch for unnecessary sugar and make sure the fiber content is high. I avoid preservatives, trans fats and fillers.

I am sure to eat balanced protein and fat. Weigh yourself once a week at the same time and don't be upset if the scale doesn't steadily go down by one or two pounds. Often, we are gaining muscle and losing fat with no change on the scale. It's just as important to tweak your exercise program as to tweak your diet. For leaning out, I like to emphasize strength and use heavy weights and moderate cardio to lay down plenty of lean muscle. Then with the muscle in place, a bit more cardio seems to get me where I want to go by utilizing fat stores.

I also know that I am going to have a fat store and I might as well like it! LOL! I store fat specifically to my belly and weight loss usually results in a loss of boobage and rearage. You wouldn't think those two areas could get any smaller on me but they do! I know I am an apple and won't be sporting a six pack but I am lean and strong and that's whats important! You can do this. Be focused with your eating and exercise and let the weight loss happen while you enjoy the wonderful benefits of a fit lifestyle!
Bobbi http://www.handykult.de/plaudersmilies.de/chicken.gif "Chick's rule!"

Tell me, what is it you plan to do
with your one wild and precious life?

- Mary Oliver

 

[Maximus]

Atkins will do it--I lost 30 lbs in 2 months. You just have to be sure to take vitamin supplements--I take a daily multivitamin, a fiber supplement, a vitamin C supplement and zinc (the loss of fruit in your diet will effect your immune system). I've been on the diet for almost 2 years & went from 140 to 110, and managed to stay there. AND I feel great. I have more energy than I know what to do with.