Plateau Woes
I have stayed the same weight since September, 133 lbs. (for context, I am 5'7" and working to get down to my goal weight of 125 lbs.). I have actually gone up 3 lbs and come back down since then out of frustration. I actually stopped logging into mfp because I just felt like I'm not logging any progress, which made me feel worse. But now I am back again—at square one, working on losing 8 lbs. I am doing more bodyweight exercises—pushups, situps, high knee skips, pushups, fast paced walking mixed with jogging—everything. And I can't eat less that I am eating now because I wouldn't be able to concentrate at work or exercise for that matter. I need advice that helps me meet my goal, not a "You're good where you are, don't lose anymore".
Replies
-
Sometimes more exercise is counterproductive as it makes hunger worse. Try just dropping some non protein calories. If you are doing low-carb, try bumping the carbs up a little bit maybe lower fat if fat calories are a bit high. That's dependent though on whether your body and brain runs better on carbs or fats
2 -
So my first thought when someone has been stuck for 6 weeks or so at the same weight is: you are eating at maintenance and don't realize it. Your body is telling you what's happening, but you might be looking in the wrong direction at the reasons why.
Is it possible there are some logging inaccuracies that were small enough to not trip up your weight loss but now that you've lost a bunch you are down enough that it's at a maintenance level of CI? Are you really measuring/weighing everything to the gram? It's real easy to add a few 100 extra calories by eyeballing/guestimating and as you get closer to goal weight these might be enough to derail you.
Adding the extra exercise can be counter-productive to the scale, as well. New or increased intensity exercises can cause the body to retain water for muscle repair, which can mask losses on the scale. Every time I start a new exercise program I know the next 7-10 days are gonna show a bump on the scale from water retention (still sucks to see it on the scale though).
Keep in mind the reason they say the last 10 lbs are the hardest to lose is mostly because you have to be so on point with your diet, calories, logging, etc., that most people give up. I've found that the scale doesn't always reflect what my head thinks should be happening. Sometime the mirror and how your clothes fit are a better indicator of where you are in your journey as you get closer to what you think your "goal weight" should be.
Good job getting this close to your goal! Hopefully you can make a few tweaks and finish it soon! Good luck!
4 -
Okay, lowering carbs i can do that. I suddenly dropped 2 pounds by today after checking my weight last week Friday, so some progress finally and happily. And realistically at this point 12anything will feel like I have met my goal, so just 2 more to go to finally make a dent.
1 -
Yes, I have been eating st maintenance like 4 days each week to be able to feel alert and concentrate at work. I have been gradually cutting out more than recommended guidelines for added sugar but occasionally have a full stack of ihop pancakes or something moderate like that to balance things out. It been a bit tricky to remain on a 1200 cal diet and I am sure I've hit 2000 to 2400 some days but have never stopped working out. Will work on being more consistent with diet to see the progress because I really want it.
1 -
133lbs and 5’7”
BMI 20.8
Healthy BMI range is 18.5 to 24.9
BMI is controversial and not the be all and end all of metrics.
Have you calculated your body fat percentage? (I use Health Status body fat % calculator). To my knowledge there is no 100% accurate body fat % calculator. I like this one because it calculates using 4 different methods. https://www.healthstatus.com/calculate/body-fat-percentage-calculator/
Are you working on body re-composition?
Is it possible 133lbs is the ‘right’ weight for you?
What do you expect to be different at 125lbs?
1 -
Expecting to feel more lighter on my feet with the weight loss. I dropped 2 recently, coming down to 131, and it is amazing how much lighter I feel already with just 2 lbs loss. So, ai hope in just a few more pounds, it will feel like walking around without a bookbag, much lighter and freer.
0 -
To avoid heartbreaks.... water weight manipulation/management (which is what a fast and substantial loss due to dropping carbs would be), is legitimate scale weight.
But it is not a change in adipose tissue.
Such management is mostly a temporary on and off water weight change based on recent carb intake changes and can best be considered "borrowed" instead of permanent.
Enjoy it for what it is: a temp boost and fun while you deal with longer term changes
2 -
Yes, it could.be that. I just dropped down to 129. Will try to be more consistent thought with overall calories to keep it off.
1 -
sorry I’m going to kick your “I don’t want advice” request in the teeth.
I was 125 on my wedding day. When I started losing weight at 56, (5’7” like you, and over 225) I honestly didn’t expect to be successful. I kept blowing through goals. So I thought “wedding day weight will be the perfect goal!”’
I got within a couple of pounds. I was skin and bones, tired, mean, and determined.It wasn’t until a trusted (and much revered and loved) trainer texted me a photo of myself from behind with the simple comment “stop losing or I’m dropping you” that I realized …
125 at “this” age was waaaaaay different than 125 at “that” age The weight sits on you differently What looked thin back in tha day now looked like a worn out, underfed, nag horse.In my pursuit of that wedding day goal, I had dropped muscle I had fought to gain. I literally looked like a grandaddy longlegs.
I’m not telling you what to do. if 125 is your goal and you’re “light” and happy there, then so be it but I will say, having weighed in at 148 this morning , I’m wearing the same clothes I did at 127, I’m curvier (nice curves), I've got great muscle, and I’ve got kids young enough to be my grandkids scratching their heads and clearly reading their faces thinking,”did she just do that? Wasn’t she in the class before this, too? Didn’t I just see her in the gym? In the pool?”Task a trusted spouse, partner, friend, family member, trainer or whatever to take photos of you when you don’t know it. Look at those photos. Evaluate those photos. Be honest with yourself. Is your goal appropriate or is it some number you pulled out of your bottom like I did? Are you on a potential path to an eating disorder and rationalizing it by “feeling lighter”?
Ok will get off my high horse now, but take it from someone your height, unless you’re really young, 125 is probably going to age you instead of the result you’re looking for.
And BTW, my wedding dress swims on me. And I’m 23 pounds higher than on my wedding day.
3 -
I used to weigh 118bto 123lbs for most of my life, then I was injured (a sports injury) and had to take medication that contributed to weight gain in addition to eating as if I am exercising all day. You are not kicking anything teeth. It's good advic3, but I have never been overweight a single day of my life and now that I am recovered, I am working on removing the excess weight that is absolutely foreign to me.
2 -
Well explained. There’s so many people here chasing poor choices, it’s hard to tell sometimes.
3 -
Thank you. It's about choices. And I think as well being able to laugh at myself sometimes for the some of the choices I've made, then learning from them and moving on--living the life that I want.
2 -
I wonder how you look? 5 7 and 133.. and you workout.. which means you are fit. Is there a chance you look pretty darned good now, and there's a thought it your head that you have to weight 125?
There's no shame in readjusting your goal weight. I totally understand how you don't want to eat less if it is hard now. You have to live your life. Maybe flex your calories or take a day off from dieting once a week and see if that jumpstarts a loss?
I've done that in the past.. the more I exercised and ate perfectly.. I never lost. When I ate a few meals off and took days of rest from exercising I started losing again.
1 -
That's true. When i was eating lesser, it sucked. I like my "favorite things"-- belgian waffle, whipped cream, and chocolate of course—and wouldn't choose to lose weight without those things. I do have 125 in my head, which is actually a little higher than what I used to weigh a year ago, but it allows for more flexibility and I really love how incorporating more strength training has been making my body feel and move so well.
2
Categories
- All Categories
- 1.4M Health, Wellness and Goals
- 398.5K Introduce Yourself
- 44.7K Getting Started
- 261K Health and Weight Loss
- 176.4K Food and Nutrition
- 47.7K Recipes
- 233K Fitness and Exercise
- 462 Sleep, Mindfulness and Overall Wellness
- 6.5K Goal: Maintaining Weight
- 8.7K Goal: Gaining Weight and Body Building
- 153.5K Motivation and Support
- 8.4K Challenges
- 1.4K Debate Club
- 96.5K Chit-Chat
- 2.6K Fun and Games
- 4.8K MyFitnessPal Information
- 18 News and Announcements
- 21 MyFitnessPal Academy
- 1.5K Feature Suggestions and Ideas
- 3.2K MyFitnessPal Tech Support Questions