May 27, 2008 Oh No! Is This A Plateau?

The scale didn't move this week. Didn't budge a bit. So it's now 2 weeks without a loss (last week I was up .4) Sure looks like a plateau to me.
Now, to be fair, I had been losing at a pretty good clip for quite awhile there, 2-4 pounds per week pretty steady. So maybe my body is just adjusting itself. Which is fine. My concern is that maybe I should be doing something I'm not.
I'm exercising plenty--5-6 days most weeks (last week I did miss 3 days due to being at the hospital with Laura). I've actually increased my workouts a bit. Hmmm, now that I think of it, my scale shows an increase in lean body mass. (My IronMan scale tells me everything possible about what makes up my body) Maybe I'm building muscle and that's why? BUT, does this mean I'm not eating enough? Or am I eating too much? And, honestly, just how does one KNOW???
Well, I'll give it another week. If there's no change again, I may have to change what I'm doing.
Yesterday was Memorial Day, and we went to Mom and Dad's for a BBQ. I agonized over having a burger, which initially looked like it would put me over my calories by 126 for the day. I thought about switching to a chicken burger, but I REALLY wanted a regular burger. I averaged out the calories and fat for the week, and even with the extra calories for the day I was well within the range for my average. So I decided to go for it. As it turned out, I readjusted a few things, making my tuna salad with yogurt instead of cottage cheese, and eliminating salad with dressing in favor of a plain tomato. Combined with the inablility to finish my whole cup of strawberries (I only ate 3/4 cup), it put me at exactly 1600 for the day, which is the top of my range! So it was much ado about nothing.
Of course, I kind of wondered if maybe I made the wrong choice, when I tripped and fell carrying my burger to the table, and dropped it right into the mulch! Ah, well, a little extra fiber never hurt, right?!?
Today I cleaned out the storage closet, hauled out some boxes, packed up some books, and took about 12 bags of clothes to the GoodWill box. I know that was good for some extra calorie burning. I also did 30 minutes on the treadmill. The other day I did 2 miles, at 2.5 mph. I hate the treadmill. I can do 60 minutes on the elliptical with no problem--I actually enjoy it. But when I walk on the treadmill, my shoulder hurts. Weird. Well, at least I know I CAN walk 2 miles, which was my goal for Scotland. I can't believe we leave in 60 days!
This time of year is so great for fresh produce. We went to Whole Foods yesterday and I got the usual apples, pears, and oranges. But I also got cherries, apricots, strawberries and peaches. And fresh corn on the cob! OK, it wasn't JERSEY corn, but it was still darn good. Even got a Jersey tomato, albeit a "hothouse" one. And I'm still enjoying the stewed rhubarb I made on Saturday.
So I guess we'll see what this week brings. Maybe the warm weather will kick up my metabolism??