So frustrated

MrsLannister

I started a new weight loss plan on June 1st. I steadily lost about 2 pounds a week up until the beginning of September. Since the beginning of September I have no lost a single pound. Nothing.

I use a BodyMedia Fit band to track my calorie burn and I aim for a 1000 - 1200 calorie deficit. According to my armband I am burning around 2700 - 2800 calories a day. I am eating between 1500 - 1800 calories a day.

I am very careful about tracking my calories. I track everything in my BodyMedia food log. I weigh or measure everything. I am very precise with my food log. There is no "calorie creep" going on.

I plan on adding walking/jogging soon, but since I am in the Phoenix area and it has been like living on the sun for the past several months, I have no started that yet. The weather is finally cooling down, so I will start the Couch to 5k program probably this week. But even without the added activity, I should be losing.

I'm not diabetic, but I do have PCOS and insulin resistance. I don't know if that is the cause of my problems or what. I just don't understand how I can have a steady deficit and not lose anything.

Kevalicious99

I have to say that you should keep your chin up and march forward.

I too have been stalled since I have been going to the gym (about a 2 week time) ... so I was a little sad. I have been wondering why my weight is not changing.

Well I learned today that all my hard work has not been in vain. I actually lost an inch off my midsection in 8 days. Yes .. an inch in that little amount of time. I am beyond happy today ... so the one thing that I take from all this, is that the scale is not the definitive measure of progress. The tape can sometimes provide even better news.

You could be making progress in other ways. Just keep with the plan.

bwogilvie

Have you adjusted your calorie target as you've lost weight? If you set up MFP at your original weight, and you've lost 24 lbs. or so since June 1, you now need fewer calories to maintain. That might account for some of the plateau, though it would be more likely to produce a slowing of your loss, not a complete stop.

Has anything happened in September (going back to school, changing jobs, whatever) that might have resulted in different activity patterns? Things like the BodyMedia Fit band are basically sophisticated pedometers; they measure how your arm moves and then use that to estimate your activity. But if you're moving in different ways, the estimates may now be less accurate.

If you've increased exercise, you might be experiencing some temporary water retention as your muscles adapt.

It could also just be some weird water and solid retention thing. If you are continuing to do what worked in the past, it's likely that your progress will resume. Good luck!

Mokey41

Your calorie goal doesn't seem unrealistic although what your Bodymedia is telling you seems very high considering you do no exercise. Some people with PCOS respond well to a low carb diet so that might be something to try.

MrsLannister

I'm 355 right now, so what my armband is saying makes sense or might even be a little low. The online calculators say that I should be burning around 2800 calories with a sedentary activity level.

I did start school in September, but the classes are all online, so no real change in activity related to that. I also had a bunch of visits from relatives in the middle of September and my 38th birthday, so a lot of added stress.

sunsetzen

Try increasing your calories for a while and then decrease again. I've heard stories about how that works to jumpstart while plateauing. I also did it to help me lose again after plateauing.

MrsLannister

I thought I would provide a quick update.

I went off my diet for a little over a week. I still tried to eat sensibly, but I quit worrying about my calories for a while. I gained about 4 pounds. I went back on the diet on October 12th and have since lost nine pounds. So, the four I gained while off, plus an additional five pounds.

Thanks for the advice! :bigsmile: