Plateau or Something Else?

kaylanw2014

Hi all! I am really struggling with my weight loss efforts and would love some help/advice/feedback. I started out mid-January 2014 at 259 pounds. I'm a 26 year old female, 5' 4" and generally healthy. I honestly didn't realize just how much weight I had let myself gain over the last few years and I am very lucky that I don't have any weight-related health problems (perfect blood pressure, cholesterol, glucose, etc. before I even started dieting and exercising). My lowest weight earlier this week was 231 and right now I'm at 235, so at exactly 6 months in, I'm down 24 pounds. I'm just starting to get increasingly disappointed and discouraged in my weight loss efforts. My husband and I made some major lifestyle changes at the beginning of the year, particularly in regards to our diet. We cut out all soda, eliminated most processed foods, limited red meat, and really upped our fruit/veggie intake. I only drink water (and sometimes unsweetened herbal tea), and eat a diet of complex carbs, veggies, fruits, low fat dairy, etc. We eat almost exclusively at home now, as we decided going out to eat had really been sabotaging our weight loss goals in the past. Anyways, I feel like 24 pounds in 6 months is very low/slow for someone at my weight with so much to lose. And, I know that equals out to about a pound a week which would be fine if it hadn't actually slowed down to virtually nothing. Over the last 4 weeks, I only lost 1.5 pounds, and then I gained almost 5 pounds just over this weekend! Over the last couple of months I have really upped my amount of exercise and right now I'm working out at least 5 times a week, usually 1.5 hour or more. We recently joined a gym and I do yoga, swimming, cycling, eliptical, rowing, and some weight training. The whole reason I joined the gym even though we have a home gym is to be able to do the weight training because I though lifting some weights might help me boost my metabolism. And I guess that's what it all boils down to is I feel like my metabolism is shot. I feel like at this point I've tried everything. I have been to a medical weight loss place twice. The first time a couple of years ago and actually gained weight even strictly following the diet. This time, it's all natural herbal supplements and I don't do any of the shots or things but I'm really not seeing a difference. My bloodwork showed a very slightly elevated thyroid level (something I had always suspected might be the culprit) but when I went to my endocrinologist she said it was perfectly normal since I was on birth control pills and was absolutely nothing to worry about. I don't want to be on a "diet" and I feel like we've really made it about lifestyle changes this time around. We're eating the right stuff and we're being much more active. On a typical day, I have steel cut oatmeal with almond milk and a banana for breakfast; a spinach salad or turkey on whole wheat sammy for lunch; and seafood or another lean protein with a carb veggie and a green veggie for dinner. I usually have a yogurt or additional serving of fruit for a snack either mid-morning or mid-afternoon. (1200-1400 calories/day). I eat within an hour of waking now, I drink about a gallon of water a day, I do some form of exercise every day (sometimes 2 or 3 hours of cardio), and I always get at least 8 hours of sleep. I feel like I'm doing everything right but getting no results!! I'm just getting so frustrated. Not only do I want to keep losing weight, but we're going to Costa Rica in 7 weeks and some of the activities have weight limits so it's really important that I lose another 10 or 15 pounds before we go and at this rate that seems impossible. Thanks in advance for your advice.

_Terrapin_

Hi all! I am really struggling with my weight loss efforts and would love some help/advice/feedback. I started out mid-January 2014 at 259 pounds. I'm a 26 year old female, 5' 4" and generally healthy. I honestly didn't realize just how much weight I had let myself gain over the last few years and I am very lucky that I don't have any weight-related health problems (perfect blood pressure, cholesterol, glucose, etc. before I even started dieting and exercising). My lowest weight earlier this week was 231 and right now I'm at 235, so at exactly 6 months in, I'm down 24 pounds. I'm just starting to get increasingly disappointed and discouraged in my weight loss efforts. My husband and I made some major lifestyle changes at the beginning of the year, particularly in regards to our diet. We cut out all soda, eliminated most processed foods, limited red meat, and really upped our fruit/veggie intake. I only drink water (and sometimes unsweetened herbal tea), and eat a diet of complex carbs, veggies, fruits, low fat dairy, etc. We eat almost exclusively at home now, as we decided going out to eat had really been sabotaging our weight loss goals in the past. Anyways, I feel like 24 pounds in 6 months is very low/slow for someone at my weight with so much to lose. And, I know that equals out to about a pound a week which would be fine if it hadn't actually slowed down to virtually nothing. Over the last 4 weeks, I only lost 1.5 pounds, and then I gained almost 5 pounds just over this weekend! Over the last couple of months I have really upped my amount of exercise and right now I'm working out at least 5 times a week, usually 1.5 hour or more. We recently joined a gym and I do yoga, swimming, cycling, eliptical, rowing, and some weight training. The whole reason I joined the gym even though we have a home gym is to be able to do the weight training because I though lifting some weights might help me boost my metabolism. And I guess that's what it all boils down to is I feel like my metabolism is shot. I feel like at this point I've tried everything. I have been to a medical weight loss place twice. The first time a couple of years ago and actually gained weight even strictly following the diet. This time, it's all natural herbal supplements and I don't do any of the shots or things but I'm really not seeing a difference. My bloodwork showed a very slightly elevated thyroid level (something I had always suspected might be the culprit) but when I went to my endocrinologist she said it was perfectly normal since I was on birth control pills and was absolutely nothing to worry about. I don't want to be on a "diet" and I feel like we've really made it about lifestyle changes this time around. We're eating the right stuff and we're being much more active. On a typical day, I have steel cut oatmeal with almond milk and a banana for breakfast; a spinach salad or turkey on whole wheat sammy for lunch; and seafood or another lean protein with a carb veggie and a green veggie for dinner. I usually have a yogurt or additional serving of fruit for a snack either mid-morning or mid-afternoon. (1200-1400 calories/day). I eat within an hour of waking now, I drink about a gallon of water a day, I do some form of exercise every day (sometimes 2 or 3 hours of cardio), and I always get at least 8 hours of sleep. I feel like I'm doing everything right but getting no results!! I'm just getting so frustrated. Not only do I want to keep losing weight, but we're going to Costa Rica in 7 weeks and some of the activities have weight limits so it's really important that I lose another 10 or 15 pounds before we go and at this rate that seems impossible. Thanks in advance for your advice.

If you want help, open your diary and set it to public. Gaining 3 and 1/2 pounds in a week eating at 1200-1400 calories and exercising this much, I'd like to see your diary prior to giving you any advice or suggestions. Fair?

cookmtn

Hi all! I am really struggling with my weight loss efforts and would love some help/advice/feedback. I started out mid-January 2014 at 259 pounds. I'm a 26 year old female, 5' 4" and generally healthy. I honestly didn't realize just how much weight I had let myself gain over the last few years and I am very lucky that I don't have any weight-related health problems (perfect blood pressure, cholesterol, glucose, etc. before I even started dieting and exercising). My lowest weight earlier this week was 231 and right now I'm at 235, so at exactly 6 months in, I'm down 24 pounds. I'm just starting to get increasingly disappointed and discouraged in my weight loss efforts. My husband and I made some major lifestyle changes at the beginning of the year, particularly in regards to our diet. We cut out all soda, eliminated most processed foods, limited red meat, and really upped our fruit/veggie intake. I only drink water (and sometimes unsweetened herbal tea), and eat a diet of complex carbs, veggies, fruits, low fat dairy, etc. We eat almost exclusively at home now, as we decided going out to eat had really been sabotaging our weight loss goals in the past. Anyways, I feel like 24 pounds in 6 months is very low/slow for someone at my weight with so much to lose. And, I know that equals out to about a pound a week which would be fine if it hadn't actually slowed down to virtually nothing. Over the last 4 weeks, I only lost 1.5 pounds, and then I gained almost 5 pounds just over this weekend! Over the last couple of months I have really upped my amount of exercise and right now I'm working out at least 5 times a week, usually 1.5 hour or more. We recently joined a gym and I do yoga, swimming, cycling, eliptical, rowing, and some weight training. The whole reason I joined the gym even though we have a home gym is to be able to do the weight training because I though lifting some weights might help me boost my metabolism. And I guess that's what it all boils down to is I feel like my metabolism is shot. I feel like at this point I've tried everything. I have been to a medical weight loss place twice. The first time a couple of years ago and actually gained weight even strictly following the diet. This time, it's all natural herbal supplements and I don't do any of the shots or things but I'm really not seeing a difference. My bloodwork showed a very slightly elevated thyroid level (something I had always suspected might be the culprit) but when I went to my endocrinologist she said it was perfectly normal since I was on birth control pills and was absolutely nothing to worry about. I don't want to be on a "diet" and I feel like we've really made it about lifestyle changes this time around. We're eating the right stuff and we're being much more active. On a typical day, I have steel cut oatmeal with almond milk and a banana for breakfast; a spinach salad or turkey on whole wheat sammy for lunch; and seafood or another lean protein with a carb veggie and a green veggie for dinner. I usually have a yogurt or additional serving of fruit for a snack either mid-morning or mid-afternoon. (1200-1400 calories/day). I eat within an hour of waking now, I drink about a gallon of water a day, I do some form of exercise every day (sometimes 2 or 3 hours of cardio), and I always get at least 8 hours of sleep. I feel like I'm doing everything right but getting no results!! I'm just getting so frustrated. Not only do I want to keep losing weight, but we're going to Costa Rica in 7 weeks and some of the activities have weight limits so it's really important that I lose another 10 or 15 pounds before we go and at this rate that seems impossible. Thanks in advance for your advice.

If you want help, open your diary and set it to public. Gaining 3 and 1/2 pounds in a week eating at 1200-1400 calories and exercising this much, I'd like to see your diary prior to giving you any advice or suggestions. Fair?

I second this.

serindipte

Agreed to the above on opening your diary but I would also add: Paragraphs. It makes it sooooo much easier to read rather than that huge block of text.

editorgrrl

Open your diary for personalized advice, but you're probably underestimating your food &/or overestimating your burns. Log everything you eat & drink accurately & honestly. Weigh everything you eat—even packaged foods.

Read the Sexypants post: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1080242-a-guide-to-get-you-started-on-your-path-to-sexypants

kaylanw2014

Hi all, thanks to all of you who offered to help. Sorry for the delay in replying. My laptop literally caught on fire Sunday night! I'm set up on my other one now and I believe I have my diary open to the public now. I will say that obviously weekend before last was 4th of July and this past weekend was my husband's 30th birthday so I did eat some foods I wouldn't normally eat (red meat and full-fat dairy) but I actually stuck to my calorie goal and avoided cake and alcohol. Yesterday & today are what a 'typical' day is for me. And, yes, I do measure/weigh my food when I'm tracking it. So I don't think the problem is under or over estimating my food calories. I have wondered about over estimating my exercise though - I use what is on MFP and I know what speeds/resistance/etc. from the cardio machines I use so I think those are accurate but I have read that the Daily Burn calorie burn estimates are usually high. I know almost 30 pounds is a significant amount of weight, and I have lost lots of inches (35 inches total - 2 inches on arms/legs/neck and 4-5 inches on my waist/abdomen/hips) and I definitely feel better! But I'm frustrated that the pounds are coming off SO SLOW especially because it seems that every time I get down to around 230 my weight loss just STOPS. Looking forward to your insights!

diannethegeek

If you're diary is accurate then I'd really recommend getting your calorie levels up to a more reasonable level, unless you are under a doctor's supervision right now. That has less to do with weight loss and more to do with nutrition and general sustainability of a diet.

Changing your exercise routine can cause the muscles to retain some extra fluid to help cushion and repair them after your workout, which looks like a stall or slight gain on the scale. This goes away as your body gets used to the new routine, but if you've made a lot of changes in the past month it could account for your slow down.

editorgrrl

I'm frustrated that the pounds are coming off SO SLOW especially because it seems that every time I get down to around 230 my weight loss just STOPS.

The less you have to lose, the more slowly it comes off. That's just the way the human body works. I can't tell exactly how overweight you are, but figure .5 lbs. per week for each 25 lbs.

And the margin of error gets smaller & smaller as you lose. So you need to log even more honestly & even more accurately than you did before.

Please, read the Sexypants post. The advice given there worked for me: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1080242-a-guide-to-get-you-started-on-your-path-to-sexypants

Unknown

This content has been removed.

acollis1

Key words : you upped your exercise! Increasing intensity of workouts causes muscles to retain water. Don't give up on the strength training though, it will increase your metabolism! After I started lifting I actually gained a few punds but lost 2 inches off my waist. Don't focus on the scale so much also take measurements or use a pair of "reference pants"

weewdy

I was in the same position as yourself, I also started at 256lbs in January this year and today I weighed 193lbs. When I started going to the gym at the beginning of May I went approx. 4 times per week and I stopped losing completely, infact I lost 2lbs in May. This was the same again in June. In July I spoke to a personal trainer at my gym who recommend I up my water intake to 500ml every half hour. I did this and the following week I lost 2lbs and 2lbs the next again week. I also changed my work out routine and didn't do the same exercises everyday. Also take measurements, sometimes you lose inches not weight.

kaylanw2014

Thanks for all the feedback! I would like to lose at least 70 more pounds, and really 100 to be at my "ideal weight" so I definitely am still considered obese and have lots more to lose so I would like to lose 2 pounds a week if possible. The weight stall happened before I started going to the gym and increasing my workouts which is what prompted me to join the gym so that I could up my cardio and start including weight training. So that's why I'm concerned - I could totally see a temporary weight gain from the change in exercise either due to fluids and/or muscle but this stall started before that and has continued.

I have considered upping my calories. The medical weight loss place suggested a 1050-1100 calories a day and 8-10g of fat. I could do that calorie wise, but not fat wise and honestly I didn't agree with the low-fat approach. As you can see from my diary, I aim for 1200-1300 calories a day. To be completely honest, sometimes it is hard to get to 1200 calories when I'm eating healthy and not sure where/how I would add more calories to it. I eat very little processed food, so even when I eat the "right" amounts of protein, dairy, veggies, and fruit, and carbs, I still feel like I have to eat a couple of extra fruits or snacks than what I actually want to reach the 1200 calories a day. I don't take appetite suppressants or anything, I guess it's just because the fruits and veggies are so much more filling than processed foods.

I really appreciate your response weewdy - it sounds like we started at a very similar weight and are close to the same age. I drink a TON of water - usually 20 cups per day - is that around what you are doing? You've lost 63 pounds in the time I've lost 27 so I'd love to know what your food/workout regime is