Alright, I sucked it up and did my measurements. A week and a half later than I should have, but it’s done all the same.
Bust: 89 cm / 35 inches Down 1 cm
Waist: 67 cm / 26.4 inches No change
Hips: 96 cm / 37.8 inches Down 1 cm
Thigh: 52 cm / 20.5 inches No change
Weight: No idea. Will possibly weigh in at the gym tonight, but it won’t really be comparable to the previous 2 weigh-ins…
Not too shabby! While I was right thinking I hadn’t made huge leaps and bounds in terms of loses, I haven’t gained anything either, which I was kinda dreading I might have.
All in all, though, I feel like I’ve plateaued. I know that sounds ridiculous. The measurements show a loss. My belt fits on one notch smaller. These are good things! But even still, I feel like I’ve plateaued. Maybe it’s because I’m getting used to my daily routines. Maybe it’s because walking 20-30 minutes to/from work doesn’t seem like a big deal anymore. Maybe it’s because avoiding sugar doesn’t really feel like some sort of epic battle anymore. Maybe it’s because I actually have changed my lifestyle and it’s just normal routine now.
Thing is, I don’t want it to be routine. Not yet, anyway. I want to feel like I’m actually making an effort in this still! I want to feel challenged. I want to feel like I’m pushing myself and I want to feel proud of myself when I see the results of that hard work.
I think I need to reevaluate. When I started, I thought eating healthier and walking more would be a challenge and that sticking with it would show results. And it did. But I think I’ve reached the limit of what that change is going to do for me. If I want to see more results, I’m going to have to change my routine. So from now on, I’m going to keep doing what I was doing (drinking lots of water, eating healthy foods and walking as much as possible) but I’m also going to step it up at the gym. Andrew’s got himself psyched up about the gym – going so far as ordering bulk protein powder and creatine to help maximize his workout results – which will make things easier, too.
I know if I want to be showing off my body in a bikini this year, I’m going to have to put in the work for it. Ditto if I want to wear those short shorts.
Plus my birthday is in 2.5 weeks. I originally started with 3 months to go, saying I was going to be in great shape by my birthday. I’ve got 2.5 weeks left to really push and make sure when I wake up Oct 1 and turn 27, I’m going to feel damn good about myself.
How often do you reevaluate your goals? Have you ever felt like you weren’t doing enough, even when you were sticking to your plan? What do you do when you feel like you’ve plateaued?
The journey to get fit and fit in 
I had a plateau a few weeks ago, switched to low carb, and started losing again. Making even a little change sure matters, doesn’t it?!
I weigh 3 times a week (usually) and use those numbers to gauge where I am. Vee at http://veegettinghealthy.blogspot.com
I don’t have a scale at home, so I rarely weigh myself. (Which is good and bad, I suppose!)
Little changes are important to make sure you don’t get in a rut, I think. I guess I was cruising along thinking the one approach was going to be good forever and just realized that’s not the case!
I’m hoping getting a little more serious and regular with my workouts will make a difference! I’m already relatively low-carb (since I don’t eat gluten/wheat/etc) so I think the change will have to come from exercise more than diet this time.
Thanks for the support!
Well done on your losses! That’s great! When was the last time you measured?
When I feel like I have plateaued I do a total revamp of my diet and and I change up my training routine. It usually helps. Or I add little things like 2 cups of green tea a day or LSA mix to my yoghurt. Low fat dairy helps too! But my belly didn’t like it after a while… :-S
Just keep on going love. A slow steady loss is the best kind of loss. x
The last measurement was over a month ago – early August?
Yay for losing a bit but I think in my head it should’ve been more. I mean, it’s been a fair amount of time!
There isn’t much I can do to switch up my diet. I’m already having lots of green tea and eating fairly healthily. I think it’s down to the exercise side of things this time. I’m still relatively new to the gym (have been 5 times in 3 weeks?) but hoping I can start going more regularly and increase the workouts a bit each time. Hopefully that’ll show a difference by next month!
This is why I love blogging – the unwavering support and love and encouragement. That extra little push when I need it. 🙂 Thank you!
Yes definitely need to hit the exercise harder! You will practically start to melt! 😀
Agreed!
The last couple weeks were just slowly getting into it; getting used to the gym and equipment, getting used to actually going for a workout, getting back into the swing of it. Now, it’s on. I’m hoping doing weights will help boost my metabolism and tone me up and the cardio (both at the gym and my regular daily walks) will help get rid of some inches.
My body responds well to exercise. I just need to really get into it! (and stick with it!)
You ARE making progress, every day that you continue to do your best (or nearly best.) Even now, I create new challenges to keep myself engaged in the process. It helps keep things fun!
Thank you! I think I’m just one of those people who want to see results and get bored/frustrated if I don’t.
I’m also following a bunch of blogs by people who are clocking 2-5 lbs and several inches lost every week and think that somehow I should be getting the same results. Of course, I need to remember that I’m already at a “healthy” weight and that this is about fine tuning my body and making it as healthy as possible and not weight/inches.
I think I need to start making up some little goals or challenges for myself to make it more interesting. Like recording the weights I’m doing now and trying to increase them by x amount every 2 weeks or something. I do much better when I have challenges and things to work towards than just trying to “live well”.
haha…i like how you want this to be a challenge. i say ENJOY not craving sugar, that’s like a massive accomplishment! (well, it would be for me 🙂 ) and congrats on dropping those inches, that’s awesome!!
i know i’ve plateaued in my abs routine, but i have yet to look into different exercises. any advice would be appreciated 🙂
Well, I don’t want it to be a super hard challenge or anything, but I think I’m not getting the kind of results I’m hoping for because I’m not pushing myself hard enough. Or something. haha. I still have little urges to have sugar, but I think I can officially say I don’t “crave” them anymore. I guess that is a pretty big accomplishment! Especially since I used to think a meal wasn’t complete until I had some sugar at the end!
The ab exercise that I love (since it doesn’t strain my neck or back) is “windshield wipers”. I do it with my knees bent, but if you’re really looking for a challenge, do it with your legs straight. http://www.fitnessmagazine.com/workout/abs/exercises/gorgeous-abs-workout/?page=6
You should feel good! You are making progress and it seems to have, overall, been pretty painless and easy for you. I think your decision to reevaluate is just what you need. Great job Danielle!
Thank you! I do feel good but I think I just feel… that maybe I’m not doing enough? Like, I’m taking the “easy way” or not really challenging myself? I don’t know. I think I’ve just been doing the same thing for 2.5 months and am starting to find it’s a bit of a routine. I think I just need to change something up or I’ll get bored, feel like I’m not really progressing and start slipping back into my old ways.