Stuck at the same weight since the beginning :/

sscad

Let me begin from about five months ago when I first started reading about Paleo. I wasn't particularly strict with the diet, but started incorporating it into my already fairly whole/healthy diet. I basically cut out the occasional bowl of oatmeal or sandwich, had to substitute my peanut with almond butter, and incorporate more healthy oils/fats. At the time, I was already eating a diet high in proteins, fruit, and vegetables. It was all a matter of tweaking, really.

Overtime, I became more and more strict (less cheats and being strict while eating out) until mid September when I became fully Paleo. I wasn't sure if it was just due to my gradual approach or lack of a Whole-30 (didn't think I really needed to completely restart my system), but during this whole time, I hadn't lost any weight. I was already at a healthy weight (5'4'', 125 pounds) but can manage to be a little thinner. My measurements stayed the same from five months ago, too, even with added crossfit workouts 2x/week. So in September, I also started eating less and less nuts and fruit, and sweet potatoes only after a workout....and still, nothing. What gives?

homesweeths

Let me begin from about five months ago when I first started reading about Paleo. I wasn't particularly strict with the diet, but started incorporating it into my already fairly whole/healthy diet. I basically cut out the occasional bowl of oatmeal or sandwich, had to substitute my peanut with almond butter, and incorporate more healthy oils/fats. At the time, I was already eating a diet high in proteins, fruit, and vegetables. It was all a matter of tweaking, really.

Overtime, I became more and more strict (less cheats and being strict while eating out) until mid September when I became fully Paleo. I wasn't sure if it was just due to my gradual approach or lack of a Whole-30 (didn't think I really needed to completely restart my system), but during this whole time, I hadn't lost any weight. I was already at a healthy weight (5'4'', 125 pounds) but can manage to be a little thinner. My measurements stayed the same from five months ago, too, even with added crossfit workouts 2x/week. So in September, I also started eating less and less nuts and fruit, and sweet potatoes only after a workout....and still, nothing. What gives?

How much sleep do you get? Do you do caffeine?

sscad

How much sleep do you get? Do you do caffeine?

I get at least 8, but more often 9-10. I go to bed around 11-12, and wake up around 8-9, though. I'm not sure if the sleep cycle in accordance to the sun's pattern is better? I used to drink one cup of coffee every morning but about a month ago, found that I didn't need to. Aside from green tea sometimes, I don't do caffeine (lately).

craudi

I think ultimately if you're feeling good, then that's what matters most! 125 at 5'4" is a perfect weight in my book (I'm 5'4" too, but no where close to that weight right now). When I did low-carb when I was in middle school, my lowest weight was 124-128 and I swam competitively and definitely did not eat paleo low-carb (lots of artificial stuff...read: inflammatory). My best guess is that you're building muscle with all of your activity. Also, considering the weight you're at, losing anything significant will most definitely take longer. I know you know your body best, but I would try to focus on the other things you have GAINED eating this way.

Also I know you said you started eating less...maybe you need to eat MORE if you've added in more activity.

pattyproulx

Sounds like you're doing everything right.

What else are you doing beyond Crossfit? Maybe you're doing too much?
As craudi said, maybe you're not eating enough?

What about carbs? Have you tried dropping them for a bit? Have you tried cycling them?

What about IFing?

jennaworksout

I think your weight is probably good and that's why you are not losing anymore...I am in the same boat 5'2 and 117 ( usually around 113 but just started BCP and that makes me gain a bit of water weight) and cannot lose anymore...I think your body found its weight. I did however drop BF%... I luckily measured that when I started and it did drop dramatically, even though my weight didn't.

sscad

Sounds like you're doing everything right.

What else are you doing beyond Crossfit? Maybe you're doing too much?
As craudi said, maybe you're not eating enough?

What about carbs? Have you tried dropping them for a bit? Have you tried cycling them?

What about IFing?

I do two crossfit workouts, as well as a couple of hour-long walks during the week. At first I was still logging calories until I had a better idea on how much I could eat, and eventually I got to the point of eating more intuitively. When I do randomly log to gain some perspective time to time, I find I usually am eating around 1600-1800 calories or so (although I'd imagine I tend to eat more on the weekends and when I eat out).

When I was limiting fruit and nut intake and only eating sweet potatoes sometimes after working out, I ultimately was decreasing my carb intake, sticking to mainly meats, eggs, and vegetables. A few weeks of that didn't appear to do much. I also tried IFing back around Feb/March (at this point I was just eating whole foods, but still grains and legumes ocassionally) and long term, I feel it made me anxious and develop symptoms of some kind of mood disorder or something. I read later on that IFing isn't necessarily a healthy approach to women. I now only do it ocassionally and intuitively (like, for instance, if I wake up feeling not hungry and don't eat until a late lunch).

husseycd

From your post I can't tell if you're actually logging calories or not. When you have so little (to none) to lose, you pretty much have to verify how much you're eating. I'm 5'5.5" and my calorie needs from 130 to 125 lbs is a difference of about 100 calories per day. There's just too much fine-tuning when it comes to "vanity" pounds to guess, IMO.

pattyproulx

From your post I can't tell if you're actually logging calories or not. When you have so little (to none) to lose, you pretty much have to verify how much you're eating. I'm 5'5.5" and my calorie needs from 130 to 125 lbs is a difference of about 100 calories per day. There's just too much fine-tuning when it comes to "vanity" pounds to guess, IMO.

This makes sense too. I've never quite reached my ideal weight because it really gets hard for those last few pounds.

Your best bet is likely to try different approaches, track how each is affecting you, and then find something that works for you.