Plateau thread #90,000,001

PapaChanoli

I could use a little advice. I've started consistently trying to lose weight after a year of injury, on a steady streak for over a couple of weeks. I am using MFP, (just opened my diary) to track calories. I'm working out every other day, and considering boosting It to 4 or 5 days a week soon if my injured neck can handle it. My goal is light strength training and cardio/weigh loss. I only log my exercise on the elliptical and some of the swimming, but none of the weight training or other odd things because the variables are to wide to be accurate.

The first week I lost six pounds, hardly even trying other than the work out and shooting to stay under 2020 calories per day. I got encouraged, dropped down to a rough average of 1500 to 1700 calories per day with only a couple of days going higher and didn't let myself eat back any of the calories I spent.

I've stays with the workouts, but I haven't lost at all in the last week, maybe even gained a pound. My wife started measuring my waist. She thinks I'm looking slimmer. I'm assuming that I'm gaining muscle rapidly after the long period of zero exercise, but I also expected more consistent weight loss.

So, I've been reading the forums for a couple of days, looking for an appropriate change to kick start my weight loss again. I'm thinking tha my days of lower calorie consumption might be putting me in starvation mode, but at my height and weight it seems crazy that my weight stopped dropping. Still, I am thinking that going up to a minimum of 1800 calories a day might be what I need to do.

The app on the site (not BMI, the other one) says that I burn 3000 calories a day if I just sit. I'm big guy. I thought that 1200 to 1500 calories per day would help me get the first 10% of weight off fast.

Does anybody here have thoughts or input? I am trying to keep my spirits up for this long road.

MelodyandBarbells

You didn't put it on overnight. Have patience, and eat a decent amount of food and let the weight come off at a normal pace. You won't necessarily go into starvation mode eating 1200 calories, but it's just too little for someone of your size and activity level. You need those calories and nutrients coming in to fuel your day

Not losing weight in one week is not really a problem if your calorie intake is where it's meant to be. The lbs will drop eventually, don't worry about it and just keep up the good work

Are you using a food scale to track your calories eaten? It's easy to under estimate your food intake so I do recommend you get and use one. Good luck!

PapaChanoli

I'm not using a food scale, but I'm trying hard to estimate low and by staying under my 2020 daily goal, I'm hoping to offset any overestimations. Kinda' lame, I know, but I think I'm staying fairly accurate.

Thanks for the input. I expected to stall out, just not so darned soon!

WalkingAlong

Are you saying it's been 2 weeks and you lost 6 the first week and none the second? I think that is very common. Six is huge. Sometimes things just don't go along in a perfect downward line. With me, it's all over the place.

RUNNING_AMOK_1958

The first week's loss was mostly likely a lot of water. Since you're a big guy, I don't think 1200 is enough. I use http://scoobysworkshop.com/accurate-calorie-calculator/

Use a food scale for accurate measurement. Eat back a minimum of half of your exercise calories.

One week, especially only the second week, is not a plateau. Give things time to work.

PapaChanoli

Thanks for the replies. So, it sounds like there's agreement that there's no real need to eat under 1700 calories, even in an attempt to boost my weight loss a little.

Patience...I hear ya'. This lifestyle change is already challenging me where patience is concerned.