Breaking Barriers

rsouthland

I need some ideas. I've been on a pretty even plateau for about 4 weeks now, losing only one pound. My weight on a daily basis isn't fluxuating much, only a couple pounds based on water weight if that. I've been low carbing since December 8, 2011 with very few oops days, but I have had a couple of them. I've never really allowed myself a scheduled, ok cheat day, but I'm starting to think that maybe I need to do something different to kick myself back into weight loss.

I had even thought about doing six weeks of a completely different diet, ie.. weight watchers or something low fat, just to completely shock my body, but I'm not certain. That seems pretty extreme given I've been really consistant with low carbing. All of my weight loss occurred in the first month. The last four months have been extremely slow and ultimately resulting in extended plateauing.

What do you do to break through the plateau barriers? I need some creative ideas. A four or five week stall is not working for me.

Thanks -

Dayna154

I was kind of where you are a while back, I did a couple cheat meals, not in a row not on same days. And suddenly I started losing again. Then I tore out my knee.. Maybe try it or up your calories one meal a day. That was all I cheated and it seemed to jump start my weight loss again. I was at a 3-1/2 week plateau...
Then if that doesnt work try a different diet for a while..

rsouthland

I think you were on to something. I started re-reading an old Atkins book that talked about how some things don't work with low carbing. LC and low fat, doesn't work. LC and low calories doesn't work either. I've been trying to LC and stay under my MFP goal of 1690 calories a day. It was not working. I raised my calorie intake to 2200 and bam, I lost 2.2 pounds in three days. What? My plateau was a month. How did I just do that?

You have to shake things up a bit when you get in a rut. Change something.

Thanks for the advice.

PeggyWoodson

I was in the same rut you were in. Discouraged, I found this site and counted calories (1200 daily) for 20 days. I still haven't lost weight. I started dieting on Jan 5th. From January 5th to Feb 20th I lost three lbs. Just couldn't get it to budge. 20 days on low calorie and I've lost another 3 lbs. I just went back to counting carbs today. I think with the benefit of this web site I should be able to do this. I also plan have a modest "cheat day" where I will eat more carbs than usual and yet not go totally out on a limb. You were an inspiration. thanks for posting.

QueenStromba

I seem to have broken a 5/6 week long plateau by stopping weighing and logging. It really is difficult to not pay attention to the calories on here and I think that might make me eat in a less natural way and thus stall my weight loss. I just keep a rough mental tally as I go. It's probably making me keep my carbs lower too as I do have a tendancy to over estimate amounts.

dis5150

I have been on a plateau for about a month and it is so frustrating! At first I lost inches, but now nothing, nada! I have upped my calories, tried upping my carbs, lowered my carbs, etc. and nothing works! I am about ready to just give up! I don't want to - I am halfway to my goal! But nothing seems to be working for me! In fact, I GAINED 1.4 lbs between a week ago Friday and this past Friday! I was being weighed for our contest at work. Luckily, they were super nice and didn't record it - just let me keep the weight from the week before. It is probably water (TOM is approaching), but next week is the final week of the contest and I wanted to do so much better! Sigh, any suggestions???


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PeggyWoodson

I have been on a plateau for about a month and it is so frustrating! At first I lost inches, but now nothing, nada! I have upped my calories, tried upping my carbs, lowered my carbs, etc. and nothing works! I am about ready to just give up! I don't want to - I am halfway to my goal! But nothing seems to be working for me! In fact, I GAINED 1.4 lbs between a week ago Friday and this past Friday! I was being weighed for our contest at work. Luckily, they were super nice and didn't record it - just let me keep the weight from the week before. It is probably water (TOM is approaching), but next week is the final week of the contest and I wanted to do so much better! Sigh, any suggestions???


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My suggestion is don't give up. If you give up you will never know if you could have done it. This comes from someone who has diet all my life and would get into a diet and for some reason or other, I'd just give up. Keep using this program, friend me if you would like and we can work on this together. I've hit a stall too. Big STALL for me. But I'm going to keep with this program and hold myself accountable for my diet. I'm more determined to do this than ever before. Don't give in. You be more stubborn than your body.

cramernh

The more active you are with your exercise - you need to eat more!!!!!!!

On the days I workout at the gym burning about 400-600 calories each session, I eat 1830 calories for the day. The days I dont work out, I eat at least 1400 (days of rest).

I know it sounds crazy but... I had a three month plateau, reviewed my intake for the last 6-8 weeks, determined everything eaten was fine, but my exercise had increased. Someone had run some numbers for me and determined that I was not eating enough on the days I work out.

Last Wednesday, I weighed in and DROPPED 5.5 pounds - and this was from amping up the caloric intake.... I now know I need to truly eat more for weight loss to happen.