Suggestions anyone?

[angus j]

Hello everybody. Been lurking for a long time now I need help.
I am looking for suggestions to get me out of this standstill I've been at for the last eight weeks or so.
A little history... 50 year old male. Lifts ala Waterbury Method 3x per week. Does 45-60 minutes SS cardio 2x per week on a bike on a mag trainer (still winter here) and 2x a week intervals of 1min @hi /2min@mod for 5 to 8 cycles (25-35min each wo).I also added a hike of 5-7k through the woods on days I can fit it in (try for 3x week).

Started this at 285lb and have dropped 30 pounds since the middle of Dec 07. I feel a good portion of this was fat because I lost inches at the waist and chest while gaining size on arms and legs.( I assume you can't gain muscle and lose it at the same time?)

I eat per TNT diet, 10% carbs (50g/200cal) and aprox body weight in protein (250g/1000 cal) the rest in fat approx 90g. Was eating 2500-2800 daily with more fat and a few more carbs until 2 weeks ago but dropped to 2000 to see if I could kick start the weight loss again. Didn't work,didn't work at all.Now I am at a loss on what to do. I feel it is more diet related than exercise and am hoping some suggestions could be made that I haven't thought to try. I also know this weight loss isn't anything to sneeze at but being at a standstill for this long I feel I must be doing something wrong. Thought about upping the cals to 3000 for a week and then seeing what happens but am not sure if this is even sensible. BTW I am type 2 diabetic with very good control with diet and meds (if that is possible). As far as the type of carbs I eat, no breads, fruits or pastas and I watch for processed carbs very close. I do eat any veggie that grows above the ground except carrots and corn. My fats are mostly animal with olive oil thrown in my salads or veggies.

Thanks for your patience if you made it this far and sorry for the tome of a post, lets hope I don't do this often. I am open to suggestions and opinions if anyone is willing to throw them at me.

[LisaS]

Let's recap. From Dec 15 to Feb 25 (10 wks) you lost 30 lbs. Since Feb 25th, you've lost no more weight. You lost 10% body weight and stalled on the scale.
When was the last time you took a rest week?
Any changes in circumferential measurements during the 8 week "stall"?
Are you logging your food? Are you measuring as precisely as when you started in December or are you just eye-balling now because you know portion sizes?

[angus j]

LisaS, thanks for your reply and your recap is about right. When someone else says it I kind of think I may be too impatient. Maybe I should give it more time?

As far as a rest week, I haven't taken one yet for two reasons. I have been making gains in strength every week and this coming week I'll be away for a week and can't say if I will find a gym to do any workouts.Was planning on doing bodyweight exercises and getting out for walks.

Although the weight hasn't changed in 8 weeks, yes there have been some measurement changes, none in the waist and chest, but the arms and legs are growing some, unfortunately not in length, but I'll take all gains!

I still weigh all my food and log it on a daily tally sheet but don't keep it from one day to the next. I did but there was just too much 'stuff' between that and the workouts.I also believe I am calculating everything accurately and I use a pretty good digital scale for weighing my food.I usually know tonight what I will eat tomorrow and prepare it so I can pack it with me.

I have to say even as discouraged I am that the scale won't move, I can't remember ever feeling as good as I do now. Like I said the strength has improved as well as the endurance,the motivation is starting to be a habit instead of me forcing myself to train or eat well. So overall, am I being a bit anal here or does the stalling indicate I should change something?