WANTED: Advice on short-term protein diets

carlywifeybrown

I've been on MFP for just over a year, logging calories and doing regular cardio and strength exercise and have lost 2 stone. I'm very happy with this and have loads more confidence now and feel that I look good in my clothes (and nude) for the first time in my life.

My problem is that I am constantly losing and gaining the same 3-4lbs and have hit a bit of a wall with this. The lightest I've been is 198lb and my goal is 190lbs so I've not got a great deal more to lose. My fiance has suggested that I try a protein diet for 2 weeks and work out harder than usual to get past the 198lb that I keep getting stuck at.

I think I eat a very well balanced and varied diet at the moment, lots of fresh fruit and veg. I'm also worried that when I start eating normally again that I will undo the hard work I have put in after the protein diet. I would really appreciate any advice or even some examples of protein diets - should I take protein supplements?

Thanks

TavistockToad

is that 8lbs going to make such a big difference?

carlywifeybrown

I hadn't thought about it like that - maybe I'm obsessing with the scales and not what my body looks like. I'm fitter than ever before and starting to see some abs coming now.

Is it likely I'll naturally end up weighing more than what I would like to be as I'm lifting heavy?

TavistockToad

I hadn't thought about it like that - maybe I'm obsessing with the scales and not what my body looks like. I'm fitter than ever before and starting to see some abs coming now.

Is it likely I'll naturally end up weighing more than what I would like to be as I'm lifting heavy?

yep!

if i was you, i would keep a small deficit (10% off TDEE, or set MFP to lose 0.5lb per week, which ever you do) and focus on your lifting and eating well... that way you will still lose a small amount of bodyfat so the scales may still shift a bit.

i focus on how i look and how my clothes fit more than the scales!

Karen_LM

It's likely, assuming you keep up with current habits, that you will continue to get more defined and muscular, and only then go back to dropping pounds because of the increased ability via greater muscle mass. Your weight may fluctuate up, or maybe not. But i dont think you will end up heavier in the long term unless you put forth the effort to bulk up.

Focus on the looks (abs definition!) and the clothes fitting, and the activities you can comfortably do without the weight and health hindrance! Ignore the scale for a month or two.

carlywifeybrown

Thanks very much ladies, it's nice to get some other perspectives. I will keep going at the gym and work harder to achieve the best results - sod the scales!