How I Broke My 5 Month Plateau

FitMama2013

Hmm that is really interesting that you burn that much at your desk job. I also sit at a desk all day. Now i'm tempted to wear my HRM to work. So are you changing your activity level from sedentary to the next level up??

Just to give a little more perspective - I have a BMF and also work a desk job. I'm not burning nearly as much as the OP. Mind you, It's more than I thought, but no where close to 3000. My burn on a day where I work, but don't exercise is closer to 2100. When I exercise it's closer to 2700.

Very good point! Everyone is different - I'm pretty active outside of work, so I was surprised that even with sitting all day I still burned so much. I do work out 6 days a week, so that makes a difference. I think most people equate desk job with sedentary, but as morningrunner and I have figured out, we are far from sedentary just because we sit most of the day!

sandyrrt

Great post. Thanks for sharing your experience. So many people give up when the scale number doesn't move. Food is fuel for our bodies, don't be afraid of it. Make it work for you:)

morningrunner

Also wanted to add: on Saturday I did a 12 miler and had a fairly active day - my burn was 3600! There's no way I could eat enough to keep my -500 deficit. My weight shot up 2 pounds after that!

I think I'm going to dial back the long runs after my upcoming half marathon so that I can eat in-line with my burns. It's just so funny to think about though - eat more and exercise less to lose weight!

MysteriousWays

I have had a 2 year plateau. I've have gained and lost the same 5 pounds for 2 freaking years. Granted, I've been tracking on MFP for the last few months. Have my goal set at 1lb a week. On workout days, I net anywhere from 900 to 1300 calories. I've added strength training in and I'm waiting to see if the scale will move. So far in the last 3 weeks - nothing. My husband keeps telling me I should eat more.....and like most.....I'm afraid. I think I needed to see this post to maybe convince me to try something different for awhile.

gemiwing

I have had a 2 year plateau. I've have gained and lost the same 5 pounds for 2 freaking years. Granted, I've been tracking on MFP for the last few months. Have my goal set at 1lb a week. On workout days, I net anywhere from 900 to 1300 calories. I've added strength training in and I'm waiting to see if the scale will move. So far in the last 3 weeks - nothing. My husband keeps telling me I should eat more.....and like most.....I'm afraid. I think I needed to see this post to maybe convince me to try something different for awhile.

Two years- what've you got to lose with a one month experiment?

You've already got some serious dedication- two years and you kept plugging away- that's *nothing* to sneeze at!

FitMama2013

mysteriousway - gemiwing made a great point! you've got nothing to lose (but fat) and you have already showed you're dedicated. I can't imagine how frustrating a 2 year plateau has been - I think you definitely need to up your calories from 900net. I think adding strength training is great!!! I really hope you will give eating more a try for a solid month and see what happens

VAMommyAgain

So fantastic!!! Eating more rules!!!!!!!!!

alim10

Bump. Thanks for posting this!

MysteriousWays

mysteriousway - gemiwing made a great point! you've got nothing to lose (but fat) and you have already showed you're dedicated. I can't imagine how frustrating a 2 year plateau has been - I think you definitely need to up your calories from 900net. I think adding strength training is great!!! I really hope you will give eating more a try for a solid month and see what happens

I think what stilted some of my weight loss was the fact that I ran over 15 races in a years time. From December through April, I was training for the Boston Marathon - so I know that kind of training can stunt weight loss. After the marathon, I still ate like I was training for a 26 mile race. But I think I have a better handle of tracking. Now I'm running, mixing up my cardio on gyms days, and working with a trainer. I guess, I just need to eat more.

FitMama2013

whoa, marathons! you are awesome! Sounds like you're doing a variety of things to mix it up - I do think eating more will help in that mix, though

31prvrbs

BUMP


LOVE!!!

ReclaimingSarah

Thank you for this! It is so hard to think that sometimes our bodies just want us to eat MORE! You're doing great!!

still_crafty

Awesome! I've been very tempted to wear my HRM to see what I'm burning sitting here all day, guess it's worth a try

^^^^^ me too.

FitMama2013

Thank you It is crazy to think, but my body was telling me all along what it wanted...I just wasn't listening until now!

translationmx

Congratulations on breaking that plateau, and thanx for sharing. Sometimes it's hard to wrap my head around the idea that eating more will make me shrink

mommamuscles

For all you who don't think this is for real, it is!!!! This sounds so much like my story I could have written it myself. I also plateaued for about 4-5 months. I was eating less than (GROSS) 1200 calories, doing 2 hours of cardio a day and I was GAINING!!!! There were many days that I was negative in calories. It was only when I started eating more that I began to lose. I will say, when I first started eating more, I did gain, but eventually my metabolism kicked in, and I started losing again. Seriously, for those of you who are in a frustrating plateau, what do you have to lose? Don't freak out if you gain at the beginning. Make sure the extra calories are being "spent" wisely though...high protein, high fiber, nutritious foods, healthy fats, fruits and veggies...not oreos and french fries, lol.

FitMama2013

Yayyyy momofmyfivekids! love it

quererespoder

awesome , congrats you eat very similar to me but i dont seem to be losing anything -.- im still gonna add you though

chanson104

Thanks for sharing this! Awesome!

embersfallen

bump

chicatita

Thank You!

melpmusic

I Love these stories! Every time I read another one, I am even more sure that this will be the right thing for me. The only trouble that I am having, is I don't know what I should be eating.
I mean, I am pretty good at keeping my diet healthy and all that, but if I need an extra few calories here and there, I don't want to have to always eat the same things.

Does anyone have suggestions for good snacking? or mini meals?

trudemeanor

Thanks for sharing...I really needed to read this

Redheadllena

Such an inspiration! Congrats!

Danielle_2013

Thank you for this post and helping me to feel like I should keep going on this! Orginially I didn't think this would work for me as I still have 90 lbs to lose and thought I could use what I was doing to get a bit further. But my body said no!

After a 2+ month plateau with small gain back (thanks low cal diet and increased exercise!), I've been trying the eat more philosophy and have added in 30 DS and weights for the past month. I still haven't lost more than maybe a pound, which is frustrating, but I feel completely different. So much more in touch with my muscles (that sounds funny!) and in what my body can do. I think I've lost inches as well. Just waiting for the scale to catch up now!

iremmy

bump

MsTanya77

YAY I'm so glad you wrote this! I'm gonna up my cals to 2800 per day, I've currently been around 2000-2200 cals! Eating more ROCKS!! ) I have gained tons of muscle since upping cals..........

FitMama2013

YAY I'm so glad you wrote this! I'm gonna up my cals to 2800 per day, I've currently been around 2000-2200 cals! Eating more ROCKS!! ) I have gained tons of muscle since upping cals..........

YAYYYY calories!!!! I food, seriously...

jenj1313

Awesome!! Thanks for sharing. I just recently bumped my calories up too. MFP still says my goal is 1640, but I eat 1850-2000 most days!

Good luck on the rest of your journey!
Jen

Pepper2185

Thanks for taking the time to write this! I'm a fan of eating to lose weight, and I think more people need to hear the message. Congrats on your weight loss, too!