What is the definition of plateau?
MrsKila
Posts: 320 Member
If you know for sure you're eating at a calorie deficit then what is the meaning of a plateau? Why would you ever have one if it's all about calorie and calorie out? Just trying to understand. The more weight you lose the more you reduce calories (understood).
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I usually see it described as 6+ weeks with no movement on the scale and no changes to your routine. This is to rule out things like water retention from a new exercise routine or hormones from a woman's monthly cycle masking weight loss.2
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Plateaus are excuses don't exist. If your weight loss has stalled, and it's not water retention, you're eating at maintenance.12
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diannethegeek wrote: »I usually see it described as 6+ weeks with no movement on the scale and no changes to your routine. This is to rule out things like water retention from a new exercise routine or hormones from a woman's monthly cycle masking weight loss.
This.
As far as what can cause them, you would be surprised at how many people swear up and down that they are doing everything right and logging everything only to have their diary reflect something different.6 -
I have heard 3+ weeks of "stalling" is a plateau.1
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In my opinion plateaus don't really exist. Typically what one thinks is a plateau is a sign that they need to tighten up on their logging accuracy or impatience or water weight masking true results.8
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StaciMarie1974 wrote: »In my opinion plateaus don't really exist. Typically what one thinks is a plateau is a sign that they need to tighten up on their logging accuracy or impatience or water weight masking true results.
Then you possibly have never experienced one then. Just because you don't believe doesn't mean that they don't exist.7 -
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diannethegeek wrote: »I usually see it described as 6+ weeks with no movement on the scale and no changes to your routine. This is to rule out things like water retention from a new exercise routine or hormones from a woman's monthly cycle masking weight loss.
This.
As far as what can cause them, you would be surprised at how many people swear up and down that they are doing everything right and logging everything only to have their diary reflect something different.
I would agree with this if the person is a Newby, but what excuse could you give to a person that's been losing weight for months and then all of a sudden they stopped losing weight? After they recalculate their calories. This always seems to be the answer but it seems to be the go to answer when there's really no other answer to provide. I've never heard anything on MyFitnessPal that explains the plateau it just gives reasons that the person that is on the plateau must be doing wrong in order to get to the plateau. This is not a post directed at you per se this is just why I'm asking the question hoping to get another answer besides someone is doing something wrong calculating something wrong or logging something wrong. It has to be another answer besides those answers. Thank you for the response though0 -
Plateaus do exist, but what most people experience are not true weight loss plateaus. The lack of weight loss could be due to hidden calories and inaccurate logging as someone else stated. According to Weight Watchers, a plateau is a time, usually lasting 6 weeks or more, that you might not see weight loss despite a diet and exercise deficit. I researched this and Weight Watchers was the only legitimate website that I found that said you cannot officially call your lack of weight loss a plateau unless it has been 6 weeks. Sources like WebMD, Livestrong, and the MayoClinic says that a plateau can be from several days to several months.
I researched this last week because it has been a few weeks since I lost any weight despite my calorie and exercise deficits. It has not been six weeks, but I still call this a plateau because I lost 62lbs eating the same foods that I am eating now. I am ALWAYS under my calorie goal. So instead of just saying my weight loss has stalled, I say that I have plateaued. I read that sometimes your body gets used to eating a lower calorie amount, and according to fitness expert Jillian Michaels, you should fool your body by raising your calories to maintenance level for about a week, and then lower your calories again. She also suggested that changing and intensifying your exercise routine should jump start your weight loss again.1 -
Pattycake755 wrote: »Plateaus do exist, but what most people experience are not true weight loss plateaus. The lack of weight loss could be due to hidden calories and inaccurate logging as someone else stated. According to Weight Watchers, a plateau is a time, usually lasting 6 weeks or more, that you might not see weight loss despite a diet and exercise deficit. I researched this and Weight Watchers was the only legitimate website that I found that said you cannot officially call your lack of weight loss a plateau unless it has been 6 weeks. Sources like WebMD, Livestrong, and the MayoClinic says that a plateau can be from several days to several months.
I researched this last week because it has been a few weeks since I lost any weight despite my calorie and exercise deficits. It has not been six weeks, but I still call this a plateau because I lost 62lbs eating the same foods that I am eating now. I am ALWAYS under my calorie goal. So instead of just saying my weight loss has stalled, I say that I have plateaued. I read that sometimes your body gets used to eating a lower calorie amount, and according to fitness expert Jillian Michaels, you should fool your body by raising your calories to maintenance level for about a week, and then lower your calories again. She also suggested that changing and intensifying your exercise routine should jump start your weight loss again.
This is very insightful and logical. Thank you1 -
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Thanks you0 -
I suppose that I am not entitled to an opinion? I am not stating as fact or scientific proof. Simply my opinion.
I did experience times where the scale did not move, but also can attribute that to water weight due to hormones/TOM/stress/sleep disruption/sodium/muscle fatigue/etc. And/or periods of lax logging.StaciMarie1974 wrote: »In my opinion plateaus don't really exist. Typically what one thinks is a plateau is a sign that they need to tighten up on their logging accuracy or impatience or water weight masking true results.
Then you possibly have never experienced one then. Just because you don't believe doesn't mean that they don't exist.
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StaciMarie1974 wrote: »I suppose that I am not entitled to an opinion? I am not stating as fact or scientific proof. Simply my opinion.
I did experience times where the scale did not move, but also can attribute that to water weight due to hormones/TOM/stress/sleep disruption/sodium/muscle fatigue/etc. And/or periods of lax logging.StaciMarie1974 wrote: »In my opinion plateaus don't really exist. Typically what one thinks is a plateau is a sign that they need to tighten up on their logging accuracy or impatience or water weight masking true results.
Then you possibly have never experienced one then. Just because you don't believe doesn't mean that they don't exist.
You said that plateaus don't exist. I simply said that they have existed in my experience. You can have an opinion. Everyone has one.0 -
I think of plateaus as "training for maintenance".1
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Anytime your body becomes comfortable with the routine the muscles involved require less effort. Eventually you face diminishing returns. As far as dieting goes there really isn't such a thing. It's the total numbers game. With that being said if your workouts become lame you could burn less calories.... requiring you to cut more calories through diet.0
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diannethegeek wrote: »I usually see it described as 6+ weeks with no movement on the scale and no changes to your routine. This is to rule out things like water retention from a new exercise routine or hormones from a woman's monthly cycle masking weight loss.
This.
As far as what can cause them, you would be surprised at how many people swear up and down that they are doing everything right and logging everything only to have their diary reflect something different.
I would agree with this if the person is a Newby, but what excuse could you give to a person that's been losing weight for months and then all of a sudden they stopped losing weight? After they recalculate their calories. This always seems to be the answer but it seems to be the go to answer when there's really no other answer to provide. I've never heard anything on MyFitnessPal that explains the plateau it just gives reasons that the person that is on the plateau must be doing wrong in order to get to the plateau. This is not a post directed at you per se this is just why I'm asking the question hoping to get another answer besides someone is doing something wrong calculating something wrong or logging something wrong. It has to be another answer besides those answers. Thank you for the response though
As a person loses weight and their body burns less, the less of a margin of error they have to work with. Sloppy logging and estimating may not be an issue for them in the beginning when they are able to have a larger margin of error. That can change as their weight does.
The only other advice that I can give is to have your friend get on here and ask these questions instead of going through you. Otherwise they are only going to get vague and general advice.4 -
diannethegeek wrote: »I usually see it described as 6+ weeks with no movement on the scale and no changes to your routine. This is to rule out things like water retention from a new exercise routine or hormones from a woman's monthly cycle masking weight loss.
This.
As far as what can cause them, you would be surprised at how many people swear up and down that they are doing everything right and logging everything only to have their diary reflect something different.
I would agree with this if the person is a Newby, but what excuse could you give to a person that's been losing weight for months and then all of a sudden they stopped losing weight? After they recalculate their calories. This always seems to be the answer but it seems to be the go to answer when there's really no other answer to provide. I've never heard anything on MyFitnessPal that explains the plateau it just gives reasons that the person that is on the plateau must be doing wrong in order to get to the plateau. This is not a post directed at you per se this is just why I'm asking the question hoping to get another answer besides someone is doing something wrong calculating something wrong or logging something wrong. It has to be another answer besides those answers. Thank you for the response though
As a person loses weight and their body burns less, the less of a margin of error they have to work with. Sloppy logging and estimating may not be an issue for them in the beginning when they are able to have a larger margin of error. That can change as their weight does.
The only other advice that I can give is to have your friend get on here and ask these questions instead of going through you. Otherwise they are only going to get vague and general advice.
That advice is not good advice. She doesn't have to get up here and ask anything. I'm asking for her. The only advice I can give you is if you don't want me to ask for her then don't answer the question. Thank you for your response.0 -
diannethegeek wrote: »I usually see it described as 6+ weeks with no movement on the scale and no changes to your routine. This is to rule out things like water retention from a new exercise routine or hormones from a woman's monthly cycle masking weight loss.
This.
As far as what can cause them, you would be surprised at how many people swear up and down that they are doing everything right and logging everything only to have their diary reflect something different.
I would agree with this if the person is a Newby, but what excuse could you give to a person that's been losing weight for months and then all of a sudden they stopped losing weight? After they recalculate their calories. This always seems to be the answer but it seems to be the go to answer when there's really no other answer to provide. I've never heard anything on MyFitnessPal that explains the plateau it just gives reasons that the person that is on the plateau must be doing wrong in order to get to the plateau. This is not a post directed at you per se this is just why I'm asking the question hoping to get another answer besides someone is doing something wrong calculating something wrong or logging something wrong. It has to be another answer besides those answers. Thank you for the response though
As a person loses weight and their body burns less, the less of a margin of error they have to work with. Sloppy logging and estimating may not be an issue for them in the beginning when they are able to have a larger margin of error. That can change as their weight does.
The only other advice that I can give is to have your friend get on here and ask these questions instead of going through you. Otherwise they are only going to get vague and general advice.
That advice is not good advice. She doesn't have to get up here and ask anything. I'm asking for her. The only advice I can give you is if you don't want me to ask for her then don't answer the question. Thank you for your response.
Of course she doesn't have to, but it would be a big benefit for her to do so. Good luck to her.1 -
I said that in my opinion, plateaus don't exist. That is my opinion/belief.
It is worth adding that the calorie burn estimators are based on a theoretical 'average' person, and not everyone burns according to the average. So eliminating the possibility of medical issues that affect metabolism and having one's metabolism actually tested are alternate ways to solve the mystery of 'why am I not losing when I should be'. But again, if one of these issues is the root, its not a plateau. There is, I believe, a reason behind a stall.StaciMarie1974 wrote: »I suppose that I am not entitled to an opinion? I am not stating as fact or scientific proof. Simply my opinion.
I did experience times where the scale did not move, but also can attribute that to water weight due to hormones/TOM/stress/sleep disruption/sodium/muscle fatigue/etc. And/or periods of lax logging.StaciMarie1974 wrote: »In my opinion plateaus don't really exist. Typically what one thinks is a plateau is a sign that they need to tighten up on their logging accuracy or impatience or water weight masking true results.
Then you possibly have never experienced one then. Just because you don't believe doesn't mean that they don't exist.
You said that plateaus don't exist. I simply said that they have existed in my experience. You can have an opinion. Everyone has one.
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I've been here for almost four years and I *still* find errors in my logging! Having lost most of my weight, I am at only a 250 calorie per day deficit. It is very easy to wipe out 250 calories with just a few mistakes. In fact, they don't even have to be "mistakes." Formulas and recipes change. Sometimes I find I am still using entries from 3-4 years ago that no longer reflect the correct information. I had a favorite restaurant meal that was listed as 490 calories on the website. Then it (quietly) went up to 590. I don't know if the food itself changed or if they just realized it was higher calorie than originally reported, but it definitely messed with my food diary despite my meticulous logging.
I have recently discovered that my digital scale is not as accurate as I thought. Oh, sure, 5 grams isn't a big deal when I am weighing my apples, but I also have a weakness for pistachios and that's 26 extra calories. Not much, but it all adds up.
Also, I've noticed that for every pound I lose, MFP will (if I recalculate) reduce my goal by 10 calories. Now, that isn't much, but it means every 5 pounds I lose is 50 calories fewer I am expected to burn in a day. Now we're up to 20% of my deficit being wiped out even if I am logging perfectly!
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Iv had really good weeks where I know for absolute certain iv stayed under but weight has stayed the same....menstruation week usually but not always.....I really beat myself up about this but every time I see a good 2lb loss the week after. I hear everyone here say weight loss is not linear so I guess this is what they mean when they say that. This is why I prefer to think of my weight loss as monthly or average instead of weekly on weigh in day.1
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Iv had really good weeks where I know for absolute certain iv stayed under but weight has stayed the same....menstruation week usually but not always.....I really beat myself up about this but every time I see a good 2lb loss the week after. I hear everyone here say weight loss is not linear so I guess this is what they mean when they say that. This is why I prefer to think of my weight loss as monthly or average instead of weekly on weigh in day.
This is actually why I went from weighing weekly to weighing daily. Seeing those changes really helped me learn more about my body. For instance, I gain water weight during ovulation, I never realized that until I started weighing daily and saw the consistent 2-3 pound "gain" each month.4 -
Mouse_Potato wrote: »I've been here for almost four years and I *still* find errors in my logging! Having lost most of my weight, I am at only a 250 calorie per day deficit. It is very easy to wipe out 250 calories with just a few mistakes. In fact, they don't even have to be "mistakes." Formulas and recipes change. Sometimes I find I am still using entries from 3-4 years ago that no longer reflect the correct information. I had a favorite restaurant meal that was listed as 490 calories on the website. Then it (quietly) went up to 590. I don't know if the food itself changed or if they just realized it was higher calorie than originally reported, but it definitely messed with my food diary despite my meticulous logging.
I have recently discovered that my digital scale is not as accurate as I thought. Oh, sure, 5 grams isn't a big deal when I am weighing my apples, but I also have a weakness for pistachios and that's 26 extra calories. Not much, but it all adds up.
Also, I've noticed that for every pound I lose, MFP will (if I recalculate) reduce my goal by 10 calories. Now, that isn't much, but it means every 5 pounds I lose is 50 calories fewer I am expected to burn in a day. Now we're up to 20% of my deficit being wiped out even if I am logging perfectly!
Informative. Thank you0 -
Iv had really good weeks where I know for absolute certain iv stayed under but weight has stayed the same....menstruation week usually but not always.....I really beat myself up about this but every time I see a good 2lb loss the week after. I hear everyone here say weight loss is not linear so I guess this is what they mean when they say that. This is why I prefer to think of my weight loss as monthly or average instead of weekly on weigh in day.
This is actually why I went from weighing weekly to weighing daily. Seeing those changes really helped me learn more about my body. For instance, I gain water weight during ovulation, I never realized that until I started weighing daily and saw the consistent 2-3 pound "gain" each month.
I weigh daily too to keep an eye on.fluctuations, and log weight weekly on mfp but when I think of my weighloss or talk to others about it ill always say 'its around 6lbs a month', instead of 'well I lost none this week'!
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StaciMarie1974 wrote: »I said that in my opinion, plateaus don't exist. That is my opinion/belief.
It is worth adding that the calorie burn estimators are based on a theoretical 'average' person, and not everyone burns according to the average. So eliminating the possibility of medical issues that affect metabolism and having one's metabolism actually tested are alternate ways to solve the mystery of 'why am I not losing when I should be'. But again, if one of these issues is the root, its not a plateau. There is, I believe, a reason behind a stall.StaciMarie1974 wrote: »I suppose that I am not entitled to an opinion? I am not stating as fact or scientific proof. Simply my opinion.
I did experience times where the scale did not move, but also can attribute that to water weight due to hormones/TOM/stress/sleep disruption/sodium/muscle fatigue/etc. And/or periods of lax logging.StaciMarie1974 wrote: »In my opinion plateaus don't really exist. Typically what one thinks is a plateau is a sign that they need to tighten up on their logging accuracy or impatience or water weight masking true results.
Then you possibly have never experienced one then. Just because you don't believe doesn't mean that they don't exist.
You said that plateaus don't exist. I simply said that they have existed in my experience. You can have an opinion. Everyone has one.
The heading of this thread is, "What is the definition of a plateau?" The fact is that people experience them. If you haven't ever experienced one it doesn't mean that they don't exist.
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I don't think there's an established or accepted definition in the fitness community, at least in terms of duration.
But since we use language to communicate I can say with confidence that when people use the word "plateau" it means that their progress is stuck.
And progress is typically defined as change in bodyweight (up or down) or change in gym performance.
Regarding body-weight plateaus, of course they exist. They happen all the time.
Someone starts losing weight at a given calorie intake. They lose weight, their habits may decay a bit over time, their logging accuracy may decline, their energy expenditure goes down and eventually the deficit size is small enough that they no longer see noticeable weight loss.
Or for a variety of reasons someone could retain or gain fluid weight which then masks changes on the scale and the end result is no change in body-weight even though fat loss may be occurring behind the scenes.
To the user these are what we call plateaus.
I don't see how you anyone can claim they don't exist.4 -
kommodevaran wrote: »Plateaus are excuses don't exist. If your weight loss has stalled, and it's not water retention, you're eating at maintenance.
Plateus do exist. It could be that there is a need to adjust caloric intake to match weight lost. It could be calorie creep, consuming more calories than you think you are. Or, not being consistent with your exercise. Also, the closer you get to your goal weight, weight loss will slow.2 -
I definetly plateau. Could not fully lose the baby fat, and I was on a time frame. But the scale and my pant size were not budging! I joined a 24 day challenge program from advocare and in those 24 days I finally dropped 8 more lbs. I just needed help to push my body's restart button1
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