plateau maybe? advice appreciated

Rachel_Virginia_

At this point im really regretting not taking "before" pictures at 171 or taking measurements when i first started.
I THINK i am making progress but its really hard to tell. I have been at the same weight on the scale for 3 weeks or so now.
Everytime I get to this point in my weight loss ive given up after 3 or 4 months of staying stationary at this weight.
I WILL NOT GIVE UP THIS TIME. I've been eating at my goal and excersizing creating a deficet. I am thinking that maybe I've
been gaining muscle? Moved from a 3 story apartment to another 3rd story apartment "babywearing" my son on my back. And Ive also started swimming laps 4 days a week for between 30-90 minutes. So you'd think if I need to excersize more to defeat my plateau that would have done it.
What can I do to beat this weight for once and for all???

SunofaBeach14

Are you weighing all of your food and logging everything you eat?

kk_140

Are you weighing all of your food and logging everything you eat?

This. The vast majority of the time, people aren't not losing weight for no reason. Have you changed anything about the way you diet? started snacking?

do you cook with oil or butter and now count it? Do you take nibbles off of you friends pizza and not count it because it is "just a bite"

(These are examples from my experience lol)

jkal1979

Could you open up your diary? The answer to your question might have more to do with the accuracy of your logging.

How are you measuring your portions? Are you using a food scale, measuring cups, or just eyeballing and guessing? Using a food scale to weigh your food will give you an accurate calorie count.

I made the same mistake with not taking pictures or measurements when I first started too. It's never too late to start doing that.

Rachel_Virginia_

I log EVERYTHING I eat, cook with etc. If i have 3 teddy grahams when eating with my son, I'll log it. I log my excersize. I don't have a food scale yet but i measure with the teaspoons and cups.

Rachel_Virginia_

I am thinking that my body is gaining muscle because I've been excersizing A LOT more than I usually do. And i got down 10 pounds only to gain one pound back of muscle. thats the only explanation I can come up with at the moment. I stepped up my working out with different excersizes and working different parts of my body to try and get serious about losing.

SezxyStef

3 weeks is not a plateau. I have gone that long and not lost weight...even longer. Then woosh 2-3lbs gone.

To be in a plateau you have to be eating maitenance...so adding calories is not the answer....

Changing up exercise means you will retain water as well which masks weight loss so not the best thing if you care about the scale number.

Are you weighing all your solids? Measuring your liquids? Logging everything using the correct entries?

Logging everything isn't enough btw...you have to log correctly using a food scale and correct entries...

What about exercise calories? do you eat them back and if so how many? how do you measure those?

sorry to say you are not gaining muscle...you have to be eating in a calorie surplus to do that and do a progressive load lifting program.

Rachel_Virginia_

eh. thats unfortunate. I figured moving from a 3rd floor to a 3rd floor apartment wearing my 27 pound toddler on my back while moving furniture would have totally added some muscle "/
especially because my weigh in before the move was a pound lighter.
goes to show you can never tell.
and you can gain weight back easy "/

this whole dieting stuff is so complicated to me.
never had to do it before.
have never been overweight before
im so lost with all this.

serindipte

If you aren't already using one, get and use a food scale. Weigh all solids. Measuring cups/spoons are not accurate:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JVjWPclrWVY
Neither is guessing:
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1270280-food-weighing-scale-miracles

TXEXrunner

Rachel,
I agree with Stef. Three weeks is not a plateau. If you're accurately entering all of your meal and exercise information and are routinely under your calorie goal, you will see weight loss. One suggestion to offer is to also take other measurements to determine if you are possibly gaining muscle mass or toning up (which may be an offset that you are suggesting). Taking other measurements also gives you another was to gauge progress in your journey. Get into a routine you are comfortable with that keeps you at or below your calorie goals (including extra calories for exercise). Stick with it and you will see results. Do not give up!