Struggling to Keep Moving Forward (and downward..)

becca_rup23

Hey all,

I've been losing weight for the last year and a half or so, 5'9" and started at around 270. My lowest weight, hit a couple weeks ago was 192.5. After a week or two of graduating, finishing the term, and my friends wedding, I'm now back up to 202/203.

Its really frustrating and I hadn't been losing a lot in the last couple months anyway (less than half a pound a week, if that). I feel like I need a little bit of a boost to continue losing, since I've only just gotten out of the 'obese' weight range for my height. I feel much happier with my body on a regular basis than I did at 270 but I'm worried about not being able to lose more.

I plan to go back to being more diligent in my logging, but I was wondering if anyone else has experienced this lull/gain after losing a lot and how they pushed through.

Thanks!

lorrpb

Focus on how much better you feel. That's what keeps me going.

grubb1019

Yes, about 4 years ago I had lost 40 lbs. I had hit a lull and started a new job at the same time. Instead of hanging on and pushing through I told myself I was thin enough and just gave up. Now, 4 years later I have all 40 lbs back on my body. Just make sure you don't do give up. I hate myself for just throwing away all the hard work I had put in and now here I am back at square one. I know you will get some good suggestions here, I just wanted to say what ever you do don't stop.

long_for_me

I am in the same boat...I am now around 203 also 5 ft 9 and feel demotivated. We need to keep going! There is no alternative!

jennybearlv

Have you ever taken a diet break? Sometimes you just get burned out and need to stop fretting over calories for awhile. You can eat at maintenance or not log at all. You may gain a little, but in my experience it falls right off and takes more with it once I'm back to dieting. If you do a search there is a good thread on diet breaks from last fall.

everher

I would consider taking a diet break as the above poster mentioned. I would log everything, but eat at maintenance for a couple weeks and then get back to it.

Also, if you're having trouble with your logging when you do get back to it I would look at past logs and see if there's something you can easily eliminate that would help create a larger deficit.

becca_rup23

Thanks all! I've kind of been on a break the last few months (finishing school and all) so I think I just need to get my life back on a schedule so that I'm eating less often and exercising regularly. But it is hard when my calories to lose 2 lbs a week used to be like 1600 and now that would be around 1300, it makes it so much harder!

JJS1979

How did you determine the 1300 calories? I would think your BMR is probably around 1700. I'm not sure what kind of job you have or your exercise habits but I have to assume your TDEE is 2100-2200. If you have not been dieting in a little while I would definitely not start out at 1300, that will be difficult and unsustainable. You may lose some initially but when your body adjusts you will have no where to go.

You are probably safe around 1700 with keeping track and getting enough cardio in you should start to see the weight go down. Every two weeks see if you are averaging 1.5lbs or so a week and if you are, keep everything the same, if you begin to not lose weight, drop calories by 5%. Goodluck!

becca_rup23

I don't remember the exact calories but it was around there according to MFP to lose 2 per week. I'm at around 1600-1700 right now and that seems like a good goal. I teach but am currently in classes so fairly sedentary right now. I exercise at least 3 times a week normally and up my calories by around 300 (sometimes more) those days.

bianca616

I lost 55 pounds last year and had lost my motivation in recent months. It wasn't until Monday of last week that I read some updates from an MFP friend who had been on the same journey with me last year and had also lost 50 pounds. She had gained back 21 pounds and was back on the program but she was invigorated and kicking butt. Her new found determination and progress reminded me that I could do it too. I recommitted right then and there and immediately weighed myself and logged it in. I had gained back 15 pounds but I felt like a fire had been lit under my butt and I was going to stop making excuses. I had a great last week and just started week 2. I logged in a 4.7 weight drop and while I know it's mostly water etc, seeing the scale move in the right direction gave me the fuel to make this week even better. If you have already lost a significant amount of weight before you know you can do it again. Get back to the basics, what worked for you then and just bite the bullet and do it. We can do this! Everyone feel free to friend me.

becca_rup23

Thanks for that! I've been on top of my food this week again and already down about 4 lbs, mostly from water weight and eating less sodium filled foods I'm sure but it makes me happy!

mcjdr9039

I just spoke with my doctor about this today. She said that after a large weight loss your body kind of fights you to lose more so it's best to maintain for a while and then resume your weight loss . Great job on what you've accomplished this far!

becca_rup23

Good to know! I wondered if that might be part of the issue, it's trying to hold on to what it can!

mcafton

becca_rup23 wrote: »

Thanks for that! I've been on top of my food this week again and already down about 4 lbs, mostly from water weight and eating less sodium filled foods I'm sure but it makes me happy!

I had gone pretty quickly from around 225 to 220ish back up to 227 within a few days. after relatively quick loss I was BUMMED to creep back up after a planned cheat meal. In reality 220 a few pounds lower than where I should be. I thought about water weight but haven't though much about retention due to high sodium. interesting. I'm only like 3 weeks into this.

mcafton

grubb1019 wrote: »

Yes, about 4 years ago I had lost 40 lbs. I had hit a lull and started a new job at the same time. Instead of hanging on and pushing through I told myself I was thin enough and just gave up. Now, 4 years later I have all 40 lbs back on my body. Just make sure you don't do give up. I hate myself for just throwing away all the hard work I had put in and now here I am back at square one. I know you will get some good suggestions here, I just wanted to say what ever you do don't stop.

you can get back to where you were.

CathReese33

I read an interesting article about 'reverse dieting' and it could explain why it is so easy too regain the lost weight. I cannot find the original article, but pretty sure a good google search will help.

becca_rup23

Thank you all for your insight! I am happy to report that as of this morning I was back down to 195 (within about 2 lbs of my lowest weight) after just a week and a half of consistently counting my calories and sticking (mostly) to my goals each day!