I *always* plateau around the same number.
Verity1111
Posts: 3,309 Member
Less need of help, more curious if anyone else has this issue. I've heard scientific theories that our bodies have certain weights they get comfortable at and it becomes more difficult to lose weight. I believe this. Every single time I diet I get stuck around 175 for a few weeks before I lose again. This time it's 180. And no it's not CICO this time because I literally ate 400 calories one day and less than 1000 on a few days because I have a sore throat/flu of some sort and nausea and I still am stuck. TMI I can't use the bathroom well and thought maybe that's it, but I doubt it! I was losing 2.2lbs per week for a long time then all of a sudden stuck. lol. I have lost weight after each of my kids and I notice 175lbs is usually the "sweet spot" where I get stuck. 180lbs is close enough though, I guess! I just expected this a few weeks from now. :P Anyone else have this experience? And no, I guess I don't really change anything to get past it. I try, but nothing works and it eventually just stops and I drop a strange amount of weight - like 3-5lbs in a week instead of 2. I have felt bloated so wondered if some is excess water (I drink probably 14 glasses per day on a normal day though so I doubt it) and I did try a water pill in the past when I felt nauseous/bloated and stalled (yes I asked my Dr) and it helped, but I'm not sure this time. It just feels like a normal stalling of my weight to piss me off. Lol.
And before you ask for studies here's information from MIT:
https://medical.mit.edu/sites/default/files/set_point_theory.pdf
"The set point, it would appear, is very good at supervising fat storage, but it cannot tell the
difference between dieting and starvation. The dieter who begins a diet with a high set point
experiences constant hunger, presumably as part of her body’s attempt to restore the status quo.
Even dedicated dieters often find that they cannot lose as much weight as they would like. After
an initial, relatively quick loss, dieters often become stuck at a plateau and then lose weight at a
much slower rate, although they remain as hungry as ever."
And before you ask for studies here's information from MIT:
https://medical.mit.edu/sites/default/files/set_point_theory.pdf
"The set point, it would appear, is very good at supervising fat storage, but it cannot tell the
difference between dieting and starvation. The dieter who begins a diet with a high set point
experiences constant hunger, presumably as part of her body’s attempt to restore the status quo.
Even dedicated dieters often find that they cannot lose as much weight as they would like. After
an initial, relatively quick loss, dieters often become stuck at a plateau and then lose weight at a
much slower rate, although they remain as hungry as ever."
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Replies
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Verity1111 wrote: »And no it's not CICO this time
Yeah, physics laws have this tendency to only work part of the time...
Thank goodness gravity avoids doing that!
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gebeziseva wrote: »Verity1111 wrote: »And no it's not CICO this time
Yeah, physics laws have this tendency to only work part of the time...
Thank goodness gravity avoids doing that!
So you think I maintain under 1000 calories? Lol. Yes I use a food scale. And its a little hard to go over by 1000 calories the one day I ate 400. I even log what I GRAZE. If I eat one cracker or a chip I log one chip!1 -
So you are basically maintaining your weight. If you want to get lower you need to tighten up your logging. We don't have set weight points although there is a weight that each of us finds easier staying at, but we can get lower if we keep on being consistent at eating less than we burn. If you aren't near goal then it's back to being more diligent about food logging and increase or change exercise a bit.
Refocus would be my advice. I've been where you are and I know it feels like you are stuck at this weight but you don't have to be.
All the best.2 -
gebeziseva wrote: »Verity1111 wrote: »And no it's not CICO this time
Yeah, physics laws have this tendency to only work part of the time...
Thank goodness gravity avoids doing that!
Read this. From MIT : https://medical.mit.edu/sites/default/files/set_point_theory.pdf0 -
Ps don't be having days where you only eat 400 - 1000 calories unless you are doing IF. It's not healthy to eat that low.
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RunRutheeRun wrote: »Ps don't be having days where you only eat 400 - 1000 calories unless you are doing IF. It's not healthy to eat that low.
I just stated I was sick for a week and couldn't eat. I still am. My throat is hurting and I'm spitting up blood. Can't see a dr no insurance until the mid of June. I also had nausea/constipation that was making it hurt to eat. It's better now. I'm at 1,300-1,400 per day now (as of yesterday).3 -
RunRutheeRun wrote: »So you are basically maintaining your weight. If you want to get lower you need to tighten up your logging. We don't have set weight points although there is a weight that each of us finds easier staying at, but we can get lower if we keep on being consistent at eating less than we burn. If you aren't near goal then it's back to being more diligent about food logging and increase or change exercise a bit.
Refocus would be my advice. I've been where you are and I know it feels like you are stuck at this weight but you don't have to be.
All the best.
I can't tighten up my logging. I didn't ask for advice - I asked if anyone else plateaued randomly. But yeah.. My logging is tight. I log EVERYTHING. Even diet soda which has 0 calories. The only thing I could do is log my water. And yes, I weigh my food. I have lost 45lbs no problem 2.2lbs a week like clockwork. I am going to keep being consistent lol Im sure it will stop eventually.2 -
I missed that reply, glad you are feeling better.2
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"A few weeks" before you lose again is not a plateau, it's normal.
Especially when you've been losing at the unhealthy rate you have, it's clearly impossible for you to suddenly stop having a deficit of over 1000 per day and then stop cold losing.8 -
RunRutheeRun wrote: »I missed that reply, glad you are feeling better.
Thank you.
Still sick but not nearly as bad! Im trying to be consistent. I have been here before. Usually if I keep eating what I am for a month or month and a half I start dropping and lose 3-5lbs at once. This has happened probably 3 times in the past. It's crazy but it's always around the 170s. lol It doesn't seem to matter if I'm exercising daily or not, or what type of food I eat. 0 -
Well done on the 45lbs lost
So how long has this plateau been happening for?1 -
VintageFeline wrote: »"A few weeks" before you lose again is not a plateau, it's normal.
Especially when you've been losing at the unhealthy rate you have, it's clearly impossible for you to suddenly stop having a deficit of over 1000 per day and then stop cold losing.
I don't think 2lbs per week is unhealthy. My dr said it was fine since I'm considered obese (BMI over 30). A plateau is just a short period of no loss.... I didn't say it wouldn't eventually stop. I just find it odd that it's always around the same weight. I was netting 1500 calories per day but I'm aiming for 1400 because my throat is killing me.1 -
In other words you get a whoosh, that's normal for a lot of people. I used to only lose every 3rd week and would get a little whoosh then.
Look at the overall trend, if month by month weight goes down then all is well.2 -
RunRutheeRun wrote: »Well done on the 45lbs lost
So how long has this plateau been happening for?
Not long! Maybe 3 weeks? I'm going up and down in a normal daily range (like not losing day to day, just going up and down each day between the same numbers). Not staying up/gaining or losing really. The one week I ate at maintenance or near it and did not gain anything. Then I went back to 1500 (net) although I did add in the gym again so that was a change. I went maybe 4 times? and then I got sick and the last week I ate very low because of my throat and stomach. But I'm back to "normal" yesterday. Trying to make myself eat more. I can't stomach soup all day so I'm just taking pain killers and trying to deal with it.0 -
RunRutheeRun wrote: »Well done on the 45lbs lost
So how long has this plateau been happening for?
Oh. And at the gym I got for about 1.5-2 hrs at a time. Usually I walk for exercise but I was feeling good and went back to LA fitness. I couldnt go again this week since Ive been ill so Ive been walking again as much as I can and using my FitBit to track steps (it works pretty well for me, doesnt track arm movements).0 -
I'm stuck too and have been for 6 months, smart at 150. I eat low for a few weeks and drop to 148, high for a few weeks, up to 152, but always settle back to 150. I think the answer is suffering, so I choose to stay put.0
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3 weeks isn't long enough, plus you're unwell still and the body is fighting that infection so it will affect the scales.
You'll find in another week or two a whoosh will happen.
Use a trending weight app so you can see the overall bigger picture that will set your mind at ease.5 -
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While you are unwell it's better not to push yourself to exercise - wait until you feel well recovered. Your body will thank you for that.1
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I'm stuck too and have been for 6 months, smart at 150. I eat low for a few weeks and drop to 148, high for a few weeks, up to 152, but always settle back to 150. I think the answer is suffering, so I choose to stay put.
Man Im tired I took you serious for a sec. Um thats not the same. I didnt eat high and gain? I stayed the same each week. The exact same numbers they just fluctuated each DAY not each week. Like 180 in the morning 183 in the afternoon etc0 -
RunRutheeRun wrote: »While you are unwell it's better not to push yourself to exercise - wait until you feel well recovered. Your body will thank you for that.
I have only been being more active indoors or taking short walks. I am trying to make sure I still hit a minimum of 5000 steps, preferably 10000... and I did a few weighted squats (3 sets of 6 with a 20 pound kettlebell) but nothing serious. 1 -
Yeah I plateau at 135-138 and getting down to 128 takes me sooooo much longer. I'll literally start losing a pound a month or less but whatever... still losing3
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RunRutheeRun wrote: »3 weeks isn't long enough, plus you're unwell still and the body is fighting that infection so it will affect the scales.
You'll find in another week or two a whoosh will happen.
Use a trending weight app so you can see the overall bigger picture that will set your mind at ease.
That's very sweet thanks! I know it will! I'm not worried - just annoyed! Like I said this has happened a lot. I just wish it wouldnt. lol... Also I do agree that when sick the scales can either stall or act strange (randomly go up or down a few lbs when you are keeping your calories pretty much the same).1 -
Weight changes throughout the day as we put liquid and food into our bodies. Weigh once a day, (if even that much) but at same time. It's best not to get too hung up on the scales.3
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Verity1111 wrote: »RunRutheeRun wrote: »I missed that reply, glad you are feeling better.
Thank you. Still sick but not nearly as bad! Im trying to be consistent. I have been here before. Usually if I keep eating what I am for a month or month and a half I start dropping and lose 3-5lbs at once. This has happened probably 3 times in the past. It's crazy but it's always around the 170s. lol It doesn't seem to matter if I'm exercising daily or not, or what type of food I eat.
What are you doing that makes you regain the weight to have had this happen at the 170s 3 times? Mixed with what iv seen of you here and your unhealthy weight drops and constant health problems you worry me6 -
RunRutheeRun wrote: »Weight changes throughout the day as we put liquid and food into our bodies. Weigh once a day, (if even that much) but at same time. It's best not to get too hung up on the scales.
Usually I weigh once every 2 weeks. I weighed every week this time because my weight hadnt dropped so I was curious and then this last week when I was sick I weighed every couple days and checked my weight throughout the day to see how it fluctuates (just to get familiar with my body and look for any slight change). And it literally is just stuck lol Im 180.8 around 5-6pm every day (my usual time to weigh myself). I start out around 183 in the morning. But anyway Im just going to start weighing once a week and once my weight finally budges Ill go back to biweekly. I prefer biweekly so I dont get too obsessed with small changes or lack there of.1 -
You've mentioned a lot of other reasons why people tend to stall on the scale: being sick, being constipated, feeling bloated and taking painkillers (which can cause water retention). With all that going on, I wouldn't personally be surprised to see a stall or even a small gain.5
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JaydedMiss wrote: »Verity1111 wrote: »RunRutheeRun wrote: »I missed that reply, glad you are feeling better.
Thank you. Still sick but not nearly as bad! Im trying to be consistent. I have been here before. Usually if I keep eating what I am for a month or month and a half I start dropping and lose 3-5lbs at once. This has happened probably 3 times in the past. It's crazy but it's always around the 170s. lol It doesn't seem to matter if I'm exercising daily or not, or what type of food I eat.
What are you doing that makes you regain the weight to have had this happen at the 170s 3 times? Mixed with what iv seen of you here and your unhealthy weight drops and constant health problems you worry me
3 times as in 3 times in the past years ago. I lost weight after my daughter (2010) and I stalled around 175. I was working out 2 hrs a day about 5 days a week. I ate a lot higher calories back then tho I dont remember 100% but I was way more active. Anyway, again I lost weight after my son and I got stalled around 175 again. Then this time 180. There was another time before my daughter but I cant remember when. 2009 maybe.0 -
JaydedMiss wrote: »Verity1111 wrote: »RunRutheeRun wrote: »I missed that reply, glad you are feeling better.
Thank you. Still sick but not nearly as bad! Im trying to be consistent. I have been here before. Usually if I keep eating what I am for a month or month and a half I start dropping and lose 3-5lbs at once. This has happened probably 3 times in the past. It's crazy but it's always around the 170s. lol It doesn't seem to matter if I'm exercising daily or not, or what type of food I eat.
What are you doing that makes you regain the weight to have had this happen at the 170s 3 times? Mixed with what iv seen of you here and your unhealthy weight drops and constant health problems you worry me
I'm not doing anything to "regain" the weight on purpose. I had 3 kids. So getting pregnant 3 times (although I only gained with 2 of them)? and I was in a wheelchair for 5 months last year. I gained a lot of weight. I was depressed so I honestly wasn't thinking about calories...0 -
You've mentioned a lot of other reasons why people tend to stall on the scale: being sick, being constipated, feeling bloated and taking painkillers (which can cause water retention). With all that going on, I wouldn't personally be surprised to see a stall or even a small gain.
Solid points. Maybe it's a coincidence that it's been near this weight each time I diet. And for all I know (I wouldn't remember) I happen to get sick when I hit 175 each time or hold some water.. It's totally possible. Life is odd so I wouldn't count it out that it's just a big coincidence.0
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