Motivation Fading Out

Becky · Joined: 17 Mar 2008 Posts: 95 Location:

When I first got my aero pilates with rebounder I used them six days a week from 20 to 30 minutes each workout. At first there was no drop in the weight but I did notice that slacks were fitting looser. After 5 months the slacks are still fitting loose but the weight has gone up. I have gained almost 10 pounds. My eating habits have not changed at all. I am so disappointed that I haven't even walked into the room where my aero pilates is setup. I am 5'9", large boned, and as of today I weigh 209. Is there any hope for me? What am I doing wrong to have gained so much weight? Please, any and all suggestions will be deeply appreciated. I truly enjoyed the workouts and want badly to get back into the routine but the desire is not as strong any more.

Becky
:cry:

Marge · Joined: 16 Feb 2006 Posts: 192 Location:

You could have gained muscle, and remember muscle weighs more than fat.

Becky · Joined: 17 Mar 2008 Posts: 95 Location:

Thank you, Marge! I will repeat this over and over in my head so that hopefully I will get back to a daily routine. Again, thanks!
:lol:

Marge · Joined: 16 Feb 2006 Posts: 192 Location:

Ta very much :)

Keep going

sandy · Joined: 24 Jan 2007 Posts: 101 Location:

Besides the fact that muscle weighs more than fat, you might have a different reason for gaining. Check with your doctor...have your thyroid checked, etc. How about the amount of sodium you eat? It's got to be something else.

Don't stop doing Pilates. It's one of the best things you can do for your health. I would suggest eating less and rebounding more for a while. Pilates won't make you fat...it will make you fit. Zero calories in Pilates.

Hang in there...!

Becky · Joined: 17 Mar 2008 Posts: 95 Location:

Sandy,

I am continuing with the Pilates and also on the Rebounder but due to the weight gain right now I am trying to deal with the emotional end of this. I realize that muscle weighs more than fat and I can deal with that since my clothes are still fitting loose. I do not use salt when preparing meals at home. When I posted my first email on this I weighed 209 and today I am 214. I rarely eat breakfasts, for lunches it may be a fruit or a small container of yogurt, and my dinners consist of veggies, pasta or potato, poultry/beef/or pork. I drink a good 72 oz. of water a day. Now tell me this wouldn't play on your emotions? I have literally cried several times over this. As you suggested I will make an appointment with my doc to have the thyroid checked. About 6 months ago my doc suggested cutting down to 1200 cals a day,so I documented what I ate for a week and showed it to him where I was lucky if I reached 1000 calories a day. He was baffled.

Thanks!

sandy · Joined: 24 Jan 2007 Posts: 101 Location:

Sorry. Didn't mean to upset you. Only trying to help. I hope it all works out for you.

Cher · Joined: 07 May 2008 Posts: 2 Location:

I am new to Pilates but have been working hard since the beginning of the year to lose weight and get in shape. I am really seriously overweight and it is slow-going. But I found out that I could actually eat more and lose weight. It was the quality of the food. I have been successful with a higher protein diet. I didn't eliminate carbs, but definitely cut them back. I was amazed to find out how many carbs were in some foods! But I still struggle too, so I feel your pain. In fact it is so easy to fall off track and I go back and forth with motivation too. My new Pilates machine is helping a lot. It's really hard to do but I like it and I discovered I had a core! LOL!

Cheri · Joined: 23 Apr 2006 Posts: 175 Location:

Becky,

Cher makes a good point about quality of food - watch out for all the additives in packaged foods -- especially anything made with/from corn - corn is used to fatten up animals (and we are animals!)

I know this might sound confusing but it sounds like you may not be eating enough. Our bodies require fuel (food) to burn energy. Without enough fuel our bodies will "hoard" whatever it gets and the results are not releasing body fat because if it is not getting enough fuel it thinks it going into starvation mode. The body uses alot of energy at night during dreamtime to repair our bodies -- it uses up fuel and that's why we always hear how breakfast is the most important meal of the day. You may want to try eating a good breakfast in the mornings (try eating a carb based breakfast for a week and then the following week try a protein based breakfast) and see how that makes you feel. I eat alot - probably 1500 calories on non workout days and up to 1700 on workout days. I "graze" all day! (I eat small meals probably 5-7 times a day and I stop eating by 7:30 pm) I don't own a scale or count numbers - I think it's more important to focus on how I feel.

Another thing I have learned is that there is a strong mind-body connection. Whatever we put our focus, attention and energy to expands. If we constantly thinking about weight and numbers, calories etc. that will actually cause an increase in weight. Instead of thinking about losing weight may I suggest thinking instead of the goal being becoming fit and healthy. I would much rather be large, fit, healthy, and strong than thin, sick, unfit and weak.

Above all else Becky be kind, gentle and loving towards yourself and embrace your process -- listen to your body, thoughts, and feelings - they will guide you to well-being. Blessings - Cheri

sandy · Joined: 24 Jan 2007 Posts: 101 Location:

I read the book "YOU on a diet" and it says exactly what Cheri just said. It is true that your body will store food if you are not eating enough because it thinks you are starving.

I was always gaining weight by dieting for that reason. I lost 60lbs last year by eating first 1800 calories per day and then 1600 per day while doing Pilates. At first, I gained weight because my body was used to starving, but then started losing it while eating more. I was amazed.

Do rule out thyroid and blood sugar problems too though.

Becky...hang in there. We all here to support each other. I have had issues with my weight all of my life and know how it feels...and know it is upsetting.

I agree with you Cheri that it's more about health than the numbers on the scale.

Cher · Joined: 07 May 2008 Posts: 2 Location:

Becky I hope you feel the love and support. Everyone wants you to be successful and we are all in a similar place. Also thanks to Cheri for her comments, which I will keep in mind too. And also to Sandy.

Becky · Joined: 17 Mar 2008 Posts: 95 Location:

A heartfelt thanks goes out to Sandy, Cher, and Cheri for your recent words of encouragement and support. It has been a tremendous boost for me emotionally! In fact I am back to my 30 minutes of Pilates & Rebounding each day now!

I can go back to junior high days when my eating habits were very much the same as they are now. But now that I am 48 the weight has been an issue for me for about the past 10 years. I swear I can eat a fruit in the morning and no stomach growls till late afternoon, which is why I eat another fruit or yogurt for lunch because if I don't I eat, eat, eat when I get home from work and come dinner time I am not hungry. My system is weird as I can go without eating and I won't get hungry till mid-afternoon. To me it seems that my metabolism is extremely slow!

Sandy, I have seen my doc and the thyroid came back perfect and so did the blood sugar! He is calling my weird body functions as not being weird but being "unique". :lol:

Happy Mother's Day to those of you who are mothers. And to those of us who are not I extend to you (and to myself) a Happy Ladies Day!

Becky

sandy · Joined: 24 Jan 2007 Posts: 101 Location:

Hi Becky...

It's so nice to hear you sounding chipper again...! And I am so happy that your tests show that you are healthy...! That's great news.

You (we) can do whatever we set our minds to...especially with a little help from our friends (as the song goes).

Keep up the good work and the positive outlook...we know you can do it :)

Marge · Joined: 16 Feb 2006 Posts: 192 Location:

Hi Becky

It is good to hear you are feeling more positive these days.

Personally when it comes to food I do not believe in diets or calorie counting. I take a simple approach: eat a varied range of foods from all food groups, rarely have fast food (I just have 10 individual chips and remove the batter from the fish!), have 3 meals a day, and avoid junk food (in fact I haven't had a bag of crisps for over 6 months).

Keep going and give yourself time.

Becky · Joined: 17 Mar 2008 Posts: 95 Location:

A million thanks to everyone for the words of encouragement!

I have advanced to the latest exercises published on this website. Using 4 cords on the rebounder for 3 mins is trying as I am feeling it in my knees shortly after a minute, but I vary from 20 to 30 mins of doing the latest exercises! And a pair of slacks that I couldn't get zipped two weeks ago fit great now!

As you, Marge, I don't go the diet route anymore. I have tried several from the powered drinks, weight watchers, atkins, slim fast.....and I don't do the fast food joints either. Lunchtime snack and a balanced evening meal my prob is I am a pasta and chocolate lover! But now I am doing those in moderation! With the summer garden veggies I know that I will be getting back into salads regularly.

I'm known for not having much patience to begin with but I am plugging away at it!!!