plateau question

sgarrett333
sgarrett333 Posts: 24
in Health and Weight Loss
Is it true to eat more calories to break through your plateau?

Replies

  • herblackwings39
    herblackwings39 Posts: 3,930 Member
    It can be. Are you using a kitchen scale to weigh your food and measuring cups for liquids? Are you eating to your calorie goal? Are you eating back your exercise calories? All of them? Part of them? Do you track everything? Logging consistently? Age, height, weight, goal weight. What's your calorie goal and how much did you tell MFP you wanted to lose per week?
  • crista_b
    crista_b Posts: 1,192 Member
    It can be. Are you using a kitchen scale to weigh your food and measuring cups for liquids? Are you eating to your calorie goal? Are you eating back your exercise calories? All of them? Part of them? Do you track everything? Logging consistently? Age, height, weight, goal weight. What's your calorie goal and how much did you tell MFP you wanted to lose per week?
    ^ This. That's a very vague question which can't be answered without first clarifying all those points.
  • sgarrett333
    sgarrett333 Posts: 24
    I do not have a scale but I do measure, drink 1/2 my weight in water and eat back most of my exercise calories. I'm trying to lose 2/week and my goal is 1200 set by my Dr. I track everything.
  • crista_b
    crista_b Posts: 1,192 Member
    I do not have a scale but I do measure, drink 1/2 my weight in water and eat back most of my exercise calories. I'm trying to lose 2/week and my goal is 1200 set by my Dr. I track everything.
    How tall are you?

    1200 is too low for most people (especially most people of average or higher height and weight), and doctors don't actually know much about proper nutrition; for weight loss/calorie goals/nutritional information, it's better to talk to a nutritionist because they have the right education on the subject. It might be right for you, but without knowing your height and weight, it's impossible to say.
  • Mokey41
    Mokey41 Posts: 5,769 Member
    If you've plateaued at 1200 calories after a period of time you're probably under eating. Even doctors can be wrong!
  • 43932452
    43932452 Posts: 7,246 Member
    I nudged mine up so I cycle between
    1230-1440 or so on my non cheat
    days. A cheat day will be bigger but
    my getting the calories up is giving
    me a nice scale relationship.
  • sgarrett333
    sgarrett333 Posts: 24
    I'm 5'1'' and really don't want to share my weight. I would love to talk to a nutritionist, but I don't have that kinds of money. It is not covered by insurance and extremely expensive, which is why I'm trying to do my own research and figure it out in my own.
  • Bekahmardis
    Bekahmardis Posts: 602 Member
    I'm 5'1'' and really don't want to share my weight. I would love to talk to a nutritionist, but I don't have that kinds of money. It is not covered by insurance and extremely expensive, which is why I'm trying to do my own research and figure it out in my own.
    I'm 5'3", 42 years old and was able to reach my goal weight of 110 by upping my calories to about 1400 per day (my BMR is 1195). Now I typically eat around 1550 and I'm maintaining pretty darned well.

    So yes, it really can work. Figure out your BMR (http://www.fat2fitradio.com/tools/bmr/) and go from there. Don't eat less than your BMR, but eat at LEAST your BMR....
  • daniellemm1
    daniellemm1 Posts: 465 Member
    I'm 5'1'' and really don't want to share my weight. I would love to talk to a nutritionist, but I don't have that kinds of money. It is not covered by insurance and extremely expensive, which is why I'm trying to do my own research and figure it out in my own.

    If it helps as a reference. I am also 5'1", 36 years old and 215lbs. I have been steadily losing on 1500-1700 calories, depending on the day. I started at 1200 and lost in the beginning and then my loss stalled so after researchng I decided to increase my calories and have been losing since then. It really is sort of a game to try to find your "sweet spot" but don't be too afraid to increase even if it is just by 100 calories just to see what works for you.
  • sueclare38
    sueclare38 Posts: 125
    I'm 5"2, 38 and 140lbs, I was on 1200 to start but moved it up to 1300 with same weight loss results, now been same weight for 8 weeks, did still lose inches for about the first 4 weeks, then no change over last 4 weeks, changed it up to 1600 last week, no change last week but this week I'm down 3lb and I don't weigh in officially till monday, I also decreased my exercise. I sometimes eat into my exercise calories but not always. Going to give it a couple of weeks before I take measurements again, hopefully they will go down too.
  • crista_b
    crista_b Posts: 1,192 Member
    I'm 5'1'' and really don't want to share my weight. I would love to talk to a nutritionist, but I don't have that kinds of money. It is not covered by insurance and extremely expensive, which is why I'm trying to do my own research and figure it out in my own.
    That's fine, I totally understand both the not wanting to share your weight and not having the money for a nutritionist. Based on your height, 1200 is probably right around the lowest you should go, but I wouldn't rule it out by saying it's too low.

    As Beckah said:
    Figure out your BMR (http://www.fat2fitradio.com/tools/bmr/) and go from there. Don't eat less than your BMR, but eat at LEAST your BMR
    That's great advice. Usually eating right around or within 100-300 above BMR is a good place for weight loss if you don't know TDEE or aren't sure about the accuracy of your TDEE calculations.

    And Danielle's advice:
    It really is sort of a game to try to find your "sweet spot" but don't be too afraid to increase even if it is just by 100 calories just to see what works for you.
    Great advice. Try to stick with a number for a few weeks each time before switching it up though. Sometimes it can take a few weeks for it to actually get into the groove.


    Good luck!
  • sourmash1973
    sourmash1973 Posts: 149 Member
    It can be. Are you using a kitchen scale to weigh your food and measuring cups for liquids? Are you eating to your calorie goal? Are you eating back your exercise calories? All of them? Part of them? Do you track everything? Logging consistently? Age, height, weight, goal weight. What's your calorie goal and how much did you tell MFP you wanted to lose per week?

    ^^^This, but with one change...I also weigh my liquids. Measuring cups and spoons lie. At least mine do. :tongue:
  • sgarrett333
    sgarrett333 Posts: 24
    I changed my running intervals and upped my calories and starting losing again. Thanks all.
  • blessybuva
    blessybuva Posts: 44 Member
    I had a plateau of not losing any weight for about 2-3 weeks. I did everything right, cardio 6 times per week + strenght training on 4 of those days. I was really frustrated that the number on the scale didn't bulge, even though everyone kept telling me that I look alot thinner! I figured I might be undereating, so one evening I had a few beers, some crisps, and a slice of pizza, then the next day I ate loads of watermelon and other high sugared fruits. Guess what? I'm losing weight again, even faster than before. My usual diet consists of practically no carbs at all, and the small amount I do get are sugars in fruits that I snack on. I think those extra carbs 'restarted' my metabolism and gave it the kick it needed. It might not work the same for everyone, but it sure did for me.
  • sgarrett333
    sgarrett333 Posts: 24
    That just happened to me too. I went on vacation for a week and ate within my range but didn't go crazy. The blast day was my baby's 1st day so I ate ice cream for dinner and a cupcake for dessert. I came home 1 lb. Lighter and now lost another 2 lbs. I notice I have to eat more calories to lose weight but I only do it if I work out. I'm happy again. I actually measured and am losing inches.

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