Weight loss and swim times

Just to offer another viewpoint on the subject. I have lost 60 lbs with WW over the last year (224 to 163). My practice times HAVEN'T dropped noticably (although I haven't tapered for any meets since I hit the low point on the scale) (I have been swimming masters since 1988 - middle of the pack swimmer - mostly distance and IM). The one thing I felt was that my body position in the water had to change (with the loss of grith). Felt like I needed to press the "T" more. I also noticed that I get colder quicker (when waiting for sets)...that is something I miss. What has changed... *My running has improved - big time - going for my 1st marathon in 25 years in October *And I race canoes during the summer and the weight drop reduced the amount of boat drag significantly - I am up with the middle of the pack now. *New wardrobe - (FYI they still don't make shirts for "V" build/long arms (maybe thats a new thread)) *Feel better in general. Wish I had Bill for cook...inspiring in and out of the pool Jack Columbus, Ohio (BMSC and COPS)

My favorite grocery store is on my way home from work, and I usually stop there once a week, either on a Sunday or a Tuesday (Mondays are for wearried shoppers and too many people). Apples will last for up to two weeks, carrots seem to live forever (or I eat them before they get the chance to go bad), lettuce seems to have the shortest life expectancy - one week, tops. It probably has a lot to do with a fruit or vegetable's surface area:volume ratio. Notice that a leaf of lettuce has a lot of surface area (S.A.), but little volume, so all of it's nutrients, stored energies and more importantly, it's water easily translate out of the leaf across a large area. Apples have a more even S.A.:Volume ratio, and thus last longer. So just keep this in mind when you buy things. Don't buy salad or lettuce in bulk because you'll never eat it in time. Also, it has to do with how thick the outer skin is. Think of the canteloupe, it will ripen without going bad for quite a while, until you cut it in half and leave it in your refrigerator. The exposed inner surface allows for water to translate to the open air, which lets the flesh rot. To recap, think about S.A.: Volume ratio, and how thick is the outer skin? Let that guide your buying schedule. And find a grocery store you like going to. If you find your just going for produce too often, find a local produce market/stand.

I am at time right now were I am getting frustrated because the wieght doesn't seem to want to come off. I lost 10 pounds between March and June and then came to a dead stop. I check the website that had the calorie counter and was surprised out how many calories I am burning during my running and swimming. I am also surprised at how many calories they say I can eat. I don't think I am eating as many calories as it says I can. I just can't seem to understand why I can not lose anymore weight. Any ideas or suggestions.

Most people who are on a weight loss plan will hit a plateau after a period of successful weight loss. This is because the metabolism slows down in response to the weight loss. (This is probably an adaptive response that helped early homonids survive periods of famine. The loss of some lean tissue apparently explains only part of it.) There's really no alternative than to keep at it, by eating a little bit less still, and/or exercising a bit more, until you reach your goal. I've been through that myself.

Sometimes you can eat too little and stall your metabolism. If you are running and swimming and not eating enough to fuel your body, your body can go into "starvation mode" and hang on to the weight. Believe it or not, the answer is to actually up your calories. You did not say how many calories you are eating a day, but to lose 1 pound per week, you must create a deficit of 500 calories a day. You do not want to create a deficit of more than 1000 calories a day. So if your normal basal metobolic rate burns 1400 calories(what it takes to function without exercise), and you burn 900 calories swimming, then to lose a pound a week, you should be eating 1800 calories a day. Another way to rev up your metabolism is to weight train. More muscle on your body burns more calories at rest then less muscle, which explains why men tend to lose weight faster. They generally have more muscle than women. Many, many exercisers have found the answer is not to lessen even more, but add healthy foods to lose weight. Your body needs fuel to work-out and it will fight you if you do not give it enough fuel. Another thing is to shake up your routine, do different types of exercise. You must keep the body guessing so it does not adapt. And bottom line, I have been exercising for 30 years, but until I cleaned up my eating I did not lose. It took Weight Watchers and paying attention to portion sizes to lose 30 pounds.