Plateau Woe

sugarplumj

I've been at a plateau for about 3 months. I am currently at 1200 cals a day (not Net, mind you), and am a little confused about what people have said about mixing it up--do i increase intake for a day or two, then go back to 1200? Going below 1200 doesn't seem wise.

I know what I need to do: i need to rev up my workouts, but while I am doing Tracy Anderson Continuity, I am not really that into her dance cardio workout. I would like a low impact workout-something not so jarring on the bones, but one that can really get my heart going. Thoughts? Suggestions?

Crystal0827

Search zig zag calorie counting in the forums....I have a link somewhere too let me look

sculley

It always helps me to have a cheat day it shocks my body. It works for me.

salxtai

This is what I personally found helped to break my plateau: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/477666-eating-for-future-you-method

Crystal0827

http://www.freedieting.com/tools/calorie_calculator.htm

LuLuSUPER

It always helps me to have a cheat day it shocks my body. It works for me.

yes the shock helped me lose 3 lbs in one week and i ate like everything wrong lol

shel1103

I'm in the same boat Sugarplum - I have been logging everything for a couple of weeks and trying to actually lose this weight for over a month now. I would think just by drastically reducing my calories to 1200, that I would have dropped weight, but it is refusing to budge and I keep bouncing up and down the same 3 or 4 pounds. I want to scream!!!! If anyone has some mind-blowing advice, I will take it.

EEpling89

Even though most people won't take this advice because it's a scary concept, your body is most likely in starvation mode and holding onto any calories it can. You probably need to raise your calories to where you're NETTING at least your BMR. If you're not netting 1200, then you're not consuming 1200 cals/day.

Helloitsdan

Eat at maintenance for 2 weeks then resume diet.
Try a better approach to calories if the MFP way isnt working for you.
1200 cals isnt for everyone and you just proved that.

Check my profile for a link and info.

JeSuisPrest

1200 is too low!!! You need to up those calories. Google other calculators to determine your daily calorie goal. Try fat2fitradio.com and check out the group here, Eat More to Weigh Less. You are torturing yourself for no reason. I used to eat at 1200, didn't lose a thing the. Then I raised it too 1500, and the weight started dropping. It stalled again, and two weeks ago I started eating 1700 calories a day and lost two pounds. I am 5'2" btw.

cassblue21

Even though most people won't take this advice because it's a scary concept, your body is most likely in starvation mode and holding onto any calories it can. You probably need to raise your calories to where you're NETTING at least your BMR. If you're not netting 1200, then you're not consuming 1200 cals/day.

^^This^^

UrbanRunner81

Eat at maintenance for 2 weeks then resume diet.
Try a better approach to calories if the MFP way isnt working for you.
1200 cals isnt for everyone and you just proved that.

Check my profile for a link and info.

^^^ yeah that.

krissers9

My weight hasn't moved in about a month but I have gone from a size 6 to a 2/4. I've decided the scale is a good gauge and confidence booster in the beginning, but the results are what I care most about. Don't let weight determine how you feel. Look for the positive changes in your body

SusanMcAvoy

Most of my weight loss occurred with many plateaus. I didn't increase my calories. Just kept plugging away and eventually 2-3 pounds would drop. I always stayed around 1200 calories except the weekends I had some wine which put me over. However I didn't eat much on the weekends and made sure I worked out before the wine. It seemed to me that my weight loss had stalled until I ramped up the cardio. I pushed harder and the weight loss started to fall off. I do Leslie Sansone Walking DVD's and added jumping and running to the workout. I kept it medium impact. Just keep doing what you are doing. It works. If I can lose, anybody can. Good luck :flowerforyou:

ArtemisMoon

I was just listening to a podcast at fat2fitradio.com last night on how to beat weight loss lulls. They had some pretty good advice so you should go check it out. They said eating too little period will cause your body to rebel and hold onto weight, but they also said even eating correctly, after a while your body will still rebel because it realizes it is losing weight and goes into preservation mode. They said NEVER eat less trying to defeat these periods because it will only make it worse. Instead, eat MORE for a few days to convince your body everything is ok again so your metabolism will go back to normal. This is why so many dieting plans incorporate cheat days.

I notice that an overwhelming majority of people who complain they aren't losing weight say they are eating 1200 calories a day. That should tell you something about how bad eating that little is for you.

JeSuisPrest

I notice that an overwhelming majority of people who complain they aren't losing weight say they are eating 1200 calories a day. That should tell you something about how bad eating that little is for you.

Preach it !!!:flowerforyou:

sugarplumj

Thanks, everyone! Just to be clear--my net calorie goals were 1200, but I generally consumed more to make up for exercise, etc.

I appreciate your feedback, and really love the fact that I everyone is so into responding and giving input! Thank you!

mel128

bump

JeSuisPrest

1200 is too low!!! You need to up those calories. Google other calculators to determine your daily calorie goal. Try fat2fitradio.com and check out the group here, Eat More to Weigh Less. You are torturing yourself for no reason. I used to eat at 1200, didn't lose a thing the. Then I raised it too 1500, and the weight started dropping. It stalled again, and two weeks ago I started eating 1700 calories a day and lost two pounds. I am 5'2" btw.

As of this morning, I've lost another pound!

wftiger

OP you are not in starvation mode. Please do not fall into that nonsense.

http://www.weightwatchers.com/util/art/index_art.aspx?tabnum=1&art_id=35501
http://fattyfightsback.blogspot.com/2009/03/mtyhbusters-starvation-mode.html
http://fitnessblackbook.com/main/starvation-mode-why-you-probably-never-need-to-worry-about-it/
http://caloriecount.about.com/forums/weight-loss/truth-starvation-mode
http://www.adonisindex.com/how-to-get-into-starvation-mode/

Here are a few sites that helped me through my plateau.

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/weight-loss-plateau/MY01152
http://www.webmd.com/diet/features/10-ways-to-move-beyond-a-weight-loss-plateau
http://www.oprah.com/health/Weight-Loss-Advice-Fitness-Plateau-Dr-Katz

BTW - I am at 1200 and have lost almost 90 lbs in 6 months.

sugarplumj

Now that I have uppded the net calories, I fear I will start to gain.

Thanks for everyone's advise and input. This is mind boggling (for me), but I have learned a lot in just one week. Thank you!

SJ

JeSuisPrest

Now that I have uppded the net calories, I fear I will start to gain.

Thanks for everyone's advise and input. This is mind boggling (for me), but I have learned a lot in just one week. Thank you!

SJ

Are you also taking measurements?

JeSuisPrest

OP you are not in starvation mode. Please do not fall into that nonsense.

http://www.weightwatchers.com/util/art/index_art.aspx?tabnum=1&art_id=35501
http://fattyfightsback.blogspot.com/2009/03/mtyhbusters-starvation-mode.html
http://fitnessblackbook.com/main/starvation-mode-why-you-probably-never-need-to-worry-about-it/
http://caloriecount.about.com/forums/weight-loss/truth-starvation-mode
http://www.adonisindex.com/how-to-get-into-starvation-mode/

Here are a few sites that helped me through my plateau.

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/weight-loss-plateau/MY01152
http://www.webmd.com/diet/features/10-ways-to-move-beyond-a-weight-loss-plateau
http://www.oprah.com/health/Weight-Loss-Advice-Fitness-Plateau-Dr-Katz

BTW - I am at 1200 and have lost almost 90 lbs in 6 months.

You will find data that both supports and disproves the theory. I tortured myself for a while at 1200 calories. Also plateaued for a while until I upped my calories. Went to 1500 lost a couple of more pound and then it stopped again. I am now at 1700 calories and losing weight again. When you properly feed the body it will metabolize and burn the fat. No way I could live on 1200 a day for the rest of my life. And let's face it, in order to keep the weight off we have to find something that we can sustain!!!

sugarplumj

I have been taking measurements, and despite exercising consistantly, I am not losing any inches. I have def. gained about 2 lbs back, which doesn't seem like a lot, but it doesn't just feel like muscle, either. I have increased my daily to 1500, and hope to see something other than a gain over the next two weeks. eeeep. It's really nervewracking. All tips welcome!

JeSuisPrest

Open up your diary so that you can be better helped.

skybird455

I've been at a plateau for about 3 months. I am currently at 1200 cals a day (not Net, mind you), and am a little confused about what people have said about mixing it up--do i increase intake for a day or two, then go back to 1200? Going below 1200 doesn't seem wise.

I know what I need to do: i need to rev up my workouts, but while I am doing Tracy Anderson Continuity, I am not really that into her dance cardio workout. I would like a low impact workout-something not so jarring on the bones, but one that can really get my heart going. Thoughts? Suggestions?

either zigzag or reset for 7 days eating at maintenance or slightly over...I zigzag it works for me

FammaMel

So glad to see I am not the only one. Thank you for all the tips here. I like the zig zag concept. Can't hurt to try!

sugarplumj

it's open now, JesuisPrest

Helloitsdan

Last week I ate at TDEE and above every day.
I didnt gain anything.
Shocker right?!

This week I dropped to 20% below TDEE and i've lost 1.2lbs in fat.
It's not always about calories in vs calories out!
Its about hormones up and hormones down.