Is this a plateau or something else?

PippaPoo12

I've dieted succesfully a few times now. This time I've lost about 8kg and I'm working out 6 times a week and have been for 6 months (and loving it!) The thing is, whenever I get down to about this weight, I can't stop eating. I eat and eat and eat, put a kg or two on, have a good couple of days, eat and eat and eat, have a couple more good days. It's asthough I get to this weight and decide to stop. Is this what they mean when they say 'hit a plateau'? Or is this something else? Any advice super, super welcome

Francl27

No advice, just got to push through it... on days you are hungry, try to eat a lot of whole, lower calorie foods.

I'm in the same situation, been hovering at 3-6 pounds from goal for months now. I do great for a few days, then I get hungry and go over for 2 days etc.

SLLRunner

I've dieted succesfully a few times now. This time I've lost about 8kg and I'm working out 6 times a week and have been for 6 months (and loving it!) The thing is, whenever I get down to about this weight, I can't stop eating. I eat and eat and eat, put a kg or two on, have a good couple of days, eat and eat and eat, have a couple more good days. It's asthough I get to this weight and decide to stop. Is this what they mean when they say 'hit a plateau'? Or is this something else? Any advice super, super welcome

In my opinion, a plateau just means you are eating at maintenance. A lot of times a person believes they are eating at a deficit but don't lose any weight for a few week or few months and call it a plateau, but most times something has changed in dieting plan that has upset the balance. It could be not logging as meticulously as they were, or forgetting to readjust your calorie intake with the loss of each 10 pounds, being overtired and not able to put as much upph into your exercise routine, and many other factors.

If you are eating at a calorie deficit, you will lose weight--every single time. It's all just a matter of finding that deficit that's right for you.

Also, it's good to keep in mind that weight loss is not linear and weight naturally fluctuates.

If after 4-8 weeks your weight has not moved, it's a good idea to look at your logging habits. However, if it's just been a few days, or even a week or two, weight staying the dame could be due to water retention, muscle repair due to increased exercise, TOM, or many other things.

poohbah4

Even under the best of circumstances (meticulously following calorie goals and exercise) weight loss is not linear. There will be days, or even a week or more when the scales stay unmoving, but this will be followed by a period of downward movement. I've gone 3 weeks with no loss, then lost a pound a day for 5 or 6 days, then an upward spike of a pound or two, then three weeks of a steady 2 pounds a week. Long range (the past 8 months) I have averaged 2 pounds a week, but like I said, it is not a smooth straight line.