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Weight Loss Plateau?

Posts: 22 Member
edited November 2024 in Health and Weight Loss
After losing 13lbs in a little over 2 months, my weight has been maintaining on the same 500cal deficit I started before. It's been 3 weeks and my weight has been the same on 1200cal.

What can I do? My BMI is still considered Overweight and there is at least 25lbs left before I am average BMI.

Why is this happening?

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Replies

  • Posts: 8,940 Member
    After losing 13lbs in a little over 2 months, my weight has been maintaining on the same 500cal deficit I started before. It's been 3 weeks and my weight has been the same on 1200cal.

    What can I do? My BMI is still considered Overweight and there is at least 25lbs left before I am average BMI.

    Why is this happening?

    It is possible you are eating more than you think. I suggest reading this:

    https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/1234699/logging-accurately-step-by-step-guide/p1

    On the other hand it could be just a normal part of your weight loss so please read this:

    https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10155495/just-another-plateau-and-weigh-in-thread

    and this:

    https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10084670/it-is-unlikely-that-you-will-lose-weight-consistently-i-e-weight-loss-is-not-linear/p1
  • Posts: 35,719 Member
    After losing 13lbs in a little over 2 months, my weight has been maintaining on the same 500cal deficit I started before. It's been 3 weeks and my weight has been the same on 1200cal.

    What can I do? My BMI is still considered Overweight and there is at least 25lbs left before I am average BMI.

    Why is this happening?

    I went 11 weeks without the scales moving, but i could see that i was losing fat.

    Eat in a calorie deficit consistently and you will lose weight. The scale will catch up eventually.
  • Posts: 1,214 Member
    If you are truly in a deficit, the weight will eventually come off. Weight loss is not linear, as they have said. I have been tracking daily since April and I have noticed that my losses come in waves. Week 1 and 2 steady (up about a lb from my previous low). Week 3 slight gain (about 1-3 lbs). Week 4 whoosh off whatever my loss is for the month plus 1 additional lb loss (usually about 3-4 lbs net loss). Then repeat. I suggest giving it another week or 2. If still nothing, then you are not truly in a deficit. Tighten up your logging (make sure you are using a food scale for EVERYTHING) and be careful not to overestimate calorie burn.
  • Posts: 22 Member

    I went 11 weeks without the scales moving, but i could see that i was losing fat.

    Eat in a calorie deficit consistently and you will lose weight. The scale will catch up eventually.

    Can you expand on the issue of losing fat but not losing weight? Where does the fat go and how is this possible?
  • Posts: 22 Member
    NovusDies wrote: »

    It is possible you are eating more than you think. I suggest reading this:

    https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/1234699/logging-accurately-step-by-step-guide/p1

    On the other hand it could be just a normal part of your weight loss so please read this:

    https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10155495/just-another-plateau-and-weigh-in-thread

    and this:

    https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10084670/it-is-unlikely-that-you-will-lose-weight-consistently-i-e-weight-loss-is-not-linear/p1

    Really enjoy this read, thank you for shining some light on multiple possible issues!
  • Posts: 35,719 Member

    Can you expand on the issue of losing fat but not losing weight? Where does the fat go and how is this possible?

    Because you can lose fat but still retain water... so on the scale your weight stats the same.
  • Posts: 439 Member
    I had a couple weeks here and there where I didn't lose weight, despite eating my daily calorie allotment. Keep going, you'll most likely start seeing the needle on your scale showing lower weights. If you'd like another way to measure progress, take your bust, waist and hip measurements. Check them again every month. You may find some changes there.
  • Posts: 28,439 Member
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  • Posts: 16,011 Member

    Can you expand on the issue of losing fat but not losing weight? Where does the fat go and how is this possible?

    There's other stuff in your body than just fat, and that other stuff fluctuates normally day to day. Like water, digestive system contents etc. The scale doesn't just weigh your fat, it weighs everything in there!
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