Too Soon to Plateau!

Farmgirlfit85

I fell off the wagon hard this holiday season and ballooned back up to my pre-loss weight, nearly 10 lbs. I've been back on the wagon now for a month and I've already plateaued. The first 5 came off quick; mostly water weight I'm assuming. I am hoping to lose 15 total by Easter (I'm not naive enough to think I can lose 20).
Is there something I'm missing? I walk everywhere at school, totaling roughly 3 miles a day (with hills), work out about every other day, strength and jogging. I keep my calories around 1600-1700/day. My diary is open, if someone wants to look. I admit I eat small amounts of chocolate occasionally, and I had a fun weekend that I definitely over indulged. But I don't understand why my body wont let go!
Thanks for everyone's support!

meritage4

How about not eating exercise calories back-or only a small portion of them? Give that a try for a week or so.
Are you counting your walking at school as exercise? You could just set yourself as "active' if it is something you do most days.

Farmgirlfit85

What I do is set my calorie intake to include my exercise. I've been adding my workouts just to see the progress, but typically didn't eat more than my 1650 allowance or close to it. I adjusted my calories to an active setting and will try to stay within the 1450 calorie restriction. We'll see how that goes!
Thanks!

mmadura

When I read this I first thought this was me talking!! I have lost weight in the past, and this January started being healthy again (calorie counting/5x week exercise). The first five pounds came off easy, within the first two weeks, and I wanted to lose 16lbs by 3/16 (my birthday). I'm on my fifth week and this is the second week I've plateaued. Very frustrating! But my suggestion is to keep at it, even if it seems like it is not worth while. Switch up your exercise everyday? That's what I've read up on. I'm pretty much no help, but I'm in the same boat. Keep me posted and I'll keep you posted!

sodakat

Not sure if this is the case for you but it's possible to eat back any deficit you've achieved during the week by not staying within calorie goals on the weekend. Experience speaking here.

To lose we need a deficit over time not just a few days at a stretch. If you are motivated and it sounds like you are, then you'll likely be able to achieve a weekly deficit of 3500 calories if you just stick with it.

Why not give it your all for 2 weeks straight and see what happens?

Farmgirlfit85

sodakat wrote: »

Not sure if this is the case for you but it's possible to eat back any deficit you've achieved during the week by not staying within calorie goals on the weekend. Experience speaking here.

To lose we need a deficit over time not just a few days at a stretch. If you are motivated and it sounds like you are, then you'll likely be able to achieve a weekly deficit of 3500 calories if you just stick with it.

Why not give it your all for 2 weeks straight and see what happens?

This is a possibility. It was just 2 days, but I could see that being part of the issue. I think I'll give it a try! I always feel like I deserve a break for being so good during the week. But maybe for now I should just buckle down until I get some lbs dropped! I also reduced my calorie intake for now, just to get ahead. We'll see how that goes. I don't want to kill my roommate because I am so hungry!