Have lost 120 pounds and have hit a plateau point

rebmathegishhuman

I am a 5'9" late twenty-something woman. My starting weight was 302 and i am currently just over 180. I've been stuck there for about a month despite going to the gym five days a week for an hour and sticking to a 1600 calorie diet.

At a friend's behest I tried on some two piece bathing suits in an attempt to see how far i've come but it seems to have just made me more focused on the fact i've lost weight everywhere but my tummy and thighs.

fiddletime

Wow!! Nice job!!! You might need to cut 50 or even 100 calories off if you aren't losing. You can always add it back if needed. I did that last month and it got me going again. I've never understood the "eat more calories" advice I've read on here. I can't follow that "logic" and have found I always lose within a week or so of reducing calories.

astroamy

Your progress is awesome! If you ever get frustrated, imagine you were still 302 lbs and ask that person how they would like to be 180lbs, wouldn't your 302 lb self be thrilled with the idea?

You are similar to me 5'8" started out at 245, am now 172. The weight loss has slowed way down. I stall off and on but usually for not more than a couple weeks, although I did have a 25 day one a few months ago. Is that 1600 cals net or gross calories? At 180lbs your TDEE is probably about around 1800-1900, so if that 1600 cals is net then you aren't eating at much of a deficit and you have to be very careful with measuring/weighing all your food (even packaged stuff). It is very easy to eat and extra couple hundred calories and erase a deficit.

But just keep going, when I was on my long stall I decided to reward myself for sticking with it. I told myself if I stuck to the plan until the end of the month and the scale hadn't moved I got to get a pair of shoes, then had fun picking out those shoes.

rebmathegishhuman

It's 1600 gross. My bmr is supposedly around 1600 and i end up burning around 400 the six days a week i work out. I can tell a difference in the way my pants fit even if the scale isn't budging (I've gone from a well fitting 17 and unable to fit the size 13's i had at the start of feb. To the 17's being loose and constantly trying to slip off of if i run to the 13's being snug but comfortable to wear. Which I've been told is a thing that happens the closer you get to your goal weight as well?

ninerbuff

What's your current exercise program? And how long have you been doing 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

rebmathegishhuman

Five to six days a week at the gym 45 minutes on the elliptic machine and 15 on the treadmill, and usually another hour on a resistance bike pedal trainer while watching tv sitting on the couch.

I've been doing the six days a week for about a month. Before that it was three days a week

JessiBelleW

30 days isn't all that long in the scheme of things. Hang in there another 30 days! Could you try mixing it up in the gym, something different? Some people have had some luck with cheat meals too

onward1

Wow, great job! Your dedication is inspiring.