Why did it stop all of a sudden? :(

nespinosa3

I've been on the weight loss track since November last year, so around 9 months now -_- I was consistently losing 2 pounds a month until May, then it all stopped. At the beginning of May, I hit 150 (16 pounds down), and a couple of things happened. I stopped my birth control pill and I had a one-week trip, where I ate out a lot but didn't binge either. That trip only set me back 1 pound, so mid-May I'm 151....then weight loss stopped and I no longer have a weight loss pattern. All summer long, I've had no pattern anymore and as soon as I get to a lower weight, it goes up for the next month. They are minor fluctuations, but I am SO CLOSE to my goal weight that it's just frustrating and makes me want to quit, but I'm so close!
Has this happened to anyone? I really don't know what to do because it's taken me SO LONG and I have been so good about measuring/weighing, counting, working out. It feels like no matter what I do, my body has its own plan of when to lose or not. I was hoping to get to my goal weight in August but I don't know if it'll be possible. Any tips, advice, encouragement...?

FYI - Yes I am really logging all my food, measuring and counting everything. I don't use MFP to track it, but I do track it in a spreadhseet, it's just easier for me to plan my daily menu that way.
More info: female, 5'5, goal weight 145. My diet is 1500 calories daily (total), where 40-45% come from protein, 30-35% from carbs and 20-25% from fat. I do resistance training 2-3x a week, and cardio 4-5x a week. My RMR is 1600.

nespinosa3

bump?
I know it's a long post...but pls, I just need some advice or tips

WBB55

Do you weigh your food on a digital scale? or use volume measures like cups? I don't know if 1500 is the goal I would have if I were you. But before I'd think about changing it, I'd start using MFP to track everything I eat. Also, being able to show your foods to others can be very enlightening, you never know what idea they might have by looking at it. Just my 2c, YMMV

superswoleme

If you're constantly eating the same amount of calories with the same macros, your body adapts. I would try to add either some HIIT cardio (sprints, plyometrics) 2x a week for 20-25 minutes, or add 1 or 2 higher carbs day every week where you add around 100 grams of carbs. It might sounds weird, but it will shake up your body and force your metabolism to work a little harder.

It's normal to stop losing weight after a while on a calorie deficit, because your body adapts and your metabolism slows down. I wouldn't go any lower in your calories as 1500 isn't a lot, but don't be scared to have a refeed with higher carbs and calories. Just make sure it's controlled and you don't go overboard.

If you want to make some research, try googling carbs cycling. Hope this helps

nespinosa3

If you're constantly eating the same amount of calories with the same macros, your body adapts. I would try to add either some HIIT cardio (sprints, plyometrics) 2x a week for 20-25 minutes, or add 1 or 2 higher carbs day every week where you add around 100 grams of carbs. It might sounds weird, but it will shake up your body and force your metabolism to work a little harder.

I forgot to say, I did add HIIT and exactly twice a week so my routine is strength training 2-3x, HIIT 2x, regular cardio (jog/walk) the rest of the days to make a total of 6x a week most weeks.
I tried a couple of weeks of adding in one larger meal on Fridays and see if it helps...but usually it just makes me "gain" 1-2 pounds and that's it :S it goes down again after 1-2 weeks. I'm even afraid of any cheat meal right now because it feels like anything will set me back.