You're not "plateauing"

ninerbuff

Information here for those who are newer and can't understand why they "stalled"

Definition of a plateau in weight loss is 6 weeks or more of no weight movement if one has been CONSISTENT with intake, calories burned, rest, etc. If this doesn't apply, it's not a plateau.

Had an extra bite or dessert- not a plateau
Went to a party- not a plateau
Drank a glass of wine when usually you don't at all- not a plateau
Didn't work out for a week, when you're usually consistent with it- not a plateau
Didn't weigh your food that week- not a plateau

So if one's weight "stalls" for a week or 2, it's usually because of something you did that you don't normally do. Yes that even means making your exercise more intense or longer.

A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

socioseguro

Thank you for sharing @ninerbuff .
You always provide good quality information

LazSommer

what if I am really good at portioning my food and don't need to weigh my food? surely I'm a not losing for another reason?

ninerbuff

LazSommer wrote: »

what if I am really good at portioning my food and don't need to weigh my food? surely I'm a not losing for another reason?

Yes. Because you really believe that you're good at it.

A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

kathrynjean_

LazSommer wrote: »

what if I am really good at portioning my food and don't need to weigh my food? surely I'm a not losing for another reason?

Probably not enough time on the leg press machine, then

But in all seriousness, thanks for posting this @ninerbuff!

lorrpb

LazSommer wrote: »

what if I am really good at portioning my food and don't need to weigh my food? surely I'm a not losing for another reason?

If it's not working, then it would be time to revisit that assumption.

Time for the flow chart...

CattOfTheGarage

Sometimes it's also misinterpreting trends. I've been thinking that my weight stalled for four weeks recently, but when I look back at the weigh in data there is actually a clear trend downwards during that time, but I was not aware of it - it seemed to be that the scale just kept going up and down in a frustrating way. In fact the range of fluctuation was itself going down, at just under a pound a week. Humans are not good at seeing trends in data where there is a lot of fluctuation between readings.

GottaBurnEmAll

Just want to add for people who've been at it longer that there is a pattern of loss that might take place called "stall and whoosh". I got stuck in the hell of a three week stall, one week epic loss pattern for a YEAR. This was after losing my first 70 pounds, though.

You will confound weight tracking programs! You will get annoyed! You will not be plateauing! This is something that happens. If you're consistent and good at spotting patterns, you'll see it happening.

Unknown

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Francl27

I'd add that not losing for 2-3 weeks when your period is due for a female = not a plateau.

ninerbuff

Noel_57 wrote: »

Dear @ninerbuff - I went hiking in Utah and hit a plateau. Please help.

Call a helicopter to help get over/off of it.



A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

CoffeeNCardio

To add to that for the Ladies: We gain water weight at certain times throughout our monthly cycles. You are probably losing fine if you are logging well and staying under, but it may not show during certain times of the month for you. I advise weighing in same time, naked, every day for your whole cycle or two, then find the lowest day(s) and use that as your weigh in day because you can count on the water being off. If you already know when you;re going to be "bloated" from your many years of being tortured by your second X chromosome, then you already know when you shouldn't worry about the scale number.

"Weight loss isn't linear" is code for "hey ladies, we're talking to you"

CoffeeNCardio

Also,

-ate too much salt and having a slump: water retention
-not drinking enough water and having a slump: water retention
-intensified workout or started new work out?: water retention
-changed birth control: water retention
-measuring cups and spoons?: LIARS
-food scale: yay!

Dano74

I @ninerbuff. That is all.

leanjogreen18

Dano74 wrote: »

I @ninerbuff. That is all.

I do too, most of the time:).

mrsbudryzer

Brilliant.

jkal1979

I've seen people get frustrated and give up if they haven't seen a loss in a couple of days. Sometimes all that's needed is a little patience, adjusted expectations, and a better understanding of natural weight fluctuations.

Aaron_K123

Honestly with that definition is there even such a thing as a plateau? Because what you are describing is basically maintenance at that point isn't it? If you are consistant with your diet and after a while after a long time of weight loss there becomes an extended period where you are doing the same thing but no longer losing weight....you are at maintenance yeah?

What is an example of a legitimate plateau? Like an example where someone doing exactly the same things as they have done throughout there weight loss that should have them continue their weightloss but their weightloss stalls for 6 weeks plus. Does that even happen?

Or are you subtly suggesting that there is no such thing as a plateau.

Fursian

Sometimes it seems like this word (plateau) just gets in the way, blocking many paths. Like, they'd have been better off not learning of its existence. To really believe you've plateaued, and not think you can do anything about it... soul destroying, I can only imagine.

I thankfully didn't read much into plateauing when I was first venturing. Only knew of the various reasons why we could 'stall'.

I'm sure the word serves a purpose, like other labels, just perhaps not in some ways.

leanjogreen18

jkal1979 wrote: »

I've seen people get frustrated and give up if they haven't seen a loss in a couple of days. Sometimes all that's needed is a little patience, adjusted expectations, and a better understanding of natural weight fluctuations.

I know, I think thats why I'm sensitive to folks who are new and come on here all excited about a particular "diet" and others tell them it's pseudoscience or are seemingly harsh when shutting down their "plan".

I'm appreciative of the long timers here that are gentler and also answer the same questions over and over patiently. Shout out to all of you!!!

RoxieDawn

Thanks @ninerbuff... How many threads did you read just today that covers this? I read many.

Need to keep this bumped?

VintageFeline

Aaron_K123 wrote: »

Honestly with that definition is there even such a thing as a plateau? Because what you are describing is basically maintenance at that point isn't it? If you are consistant with your diet and after a while after a long time of weight loss there becomes an extended period where you are doing the same thing but no longer losing weight....you are at maintenance yeah?

What is an example of a legitimate plateau? Like an example where someone doing exactly the same things as they have done throughout there weight loss that should have them continue their weightloss but their weightloss stalls for 6 weeks plus. Does that even happen?

Or are you subtly suggesting that there is no such thing as a plateau.

I don't think it's subtle!

I just had my mid shark week whoosh. 3 weeks of no losses. And i haven't been brilliantly consistent so it was a smaller whoosh than usual. See, not a plateau, several things, some of them normal (the whoosh) to explain my recent weight loss pattern.

Alatariel75

I'm on a plateau. It's a plateau that contains a veritable buffet of nachos, fast food, booze, salt and NGAF.

But yes, good post. And if you've been "eating healthy" for 3 weeks and haven't lost this week - you're NOT on a plateau.

Sabine_Stroehm

Great post. I was just thinking about the difference between a stall and a plateau today. Great post.

JeromeBarry1

I track my net calories, and have a spreadsheet tracking it since August 15. I've mentioned it several times so some of you are probably bored with it. Anyway, a most helpful component of the spreadsheet is the error calculation, in which I track the %difference between (August 15 weight -(deficit/3500)) and (today weight). I see that Error value oscillate like a sine wave with extreme high and low values indicating an imminent reversal. Yesterday the Error was 1.66%, and I expected a reversal today. Today the reversal appeared, a 1.8 lb whooshlet leaving the Error at 0.84%. I would not be surprised but that the whoosh continues another day because 0.84% is among the highest Error values I've recorded. How does that help? Well, if you nerd this data for yourself you'd see the proof.

StrongGirlFitGirl

Thanks for this post. I've been whining about how I'm plateau'd, but when I'm honest with myself, I admit I haven't been diligent.

hali1

JeromeBarry1 wrote: »

Well, if you nerd this data for yourself you'd see the proof.

This is the best sentence I've read in ages. I wish I were a math person so I could steal this and use it for myself.

ninerbuff

Aaron_K123 wrote: »

Honestly with that definition is there even such a thing as a plateau? Because what you are describing is basically maintenance at that point isn't it? If you are consistant with your diet and after a while after a long time of weight loss there becomes an extended period where you are doing the same thing but no longer losing weight....you are at maintenance yeah?

What is an example of a legitimate plateau? Like an example where someone doing exactly the same things as they have done throughout there weight loss that should have them continue their weightloss but their weightloss stalls for 6 weeks plus. Does that even happen?

Or are you subtly suggesting that there is no such thing as a plateau.

I've only seen it once. And come to find out it was because my client didn't get his insulin injections adjusted during his weight loss. Once the dosage was corrected, he started losing weight again.
Because of his health, we couldn't do much to increase his exercise and we were at the minimum intake for his weight (he was obese). And he stuck with it diligently (according to him) and weight didn't move for 6 weeks after a 60lbs loss. I saw him once a week to work with him mostly on rehab and flexibility.

A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

CoffeeNCardio

ninerbuff wrote: »

Aaron_K123 wrote: »

Honestly with that definition is there even such a thing as a plateau? Because what you are describing is basically maintenance at that point isn't it? If you are consistant with your diet and after a while after a long time of weight loss there becomes an extended period where you are doing the same thing but no longer losing weight....you are at maintenance yeah?

What is an example of a legitimate plateau? Like an example where someone doing exactly the same things as they have done throughout there weight loss that should have them continue their weightloss but their weightloss stalls for 6 weeks plus. Does that even happen?

Or are you subtly suggesting that there is no such thing as a plateau.

I've only seen it once. And come to find out it was because my client didn't get his insulin injections adjusted during his weight loss. Once the dosage was corrected, he started losing weight again.
Because of his health, we couldn't do much to increase his exercise and we were at the minimum intake for his weight (he was obese). And he stuck with it diligently (according to him) and weight didn't move for 6 weeks after a 60lbs loss. I saw him once a week to work with him mostly on rehab and flexibility.

A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

And there's that teeny tiny bitty percentage of people for whom CICO SEEMS not to work. SEEMS.

diannethegeek

Just giving this a bump.

Russellb97

The tile is BS and cruel. Sure maybe a total "can't lose weight plateau" is unlikely but a diet induced metabolic slowdown is very likely and an issue. 6 weeks for definition then fine but even a 2,3,4 and 5 week stall sucks!

This is a sore spot for me because I've plateau'd many times and had eternally fit trainers not so subtlety accuse me of "not being honest with myself/lying". It would just twist the knife of the guilt in my back. Now after losing over 100lbs and learning the truth through my experience. I would love to go back and say to their smug faces to F'Off because I wasn't "lying to myself" and having a 6-pack doesn't mean you have any clue about what it's like to lose weight when overweight.

For the record I've never had a 7,000 calorie bite of dessert.