HELP! I'm stuck!

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jpratt44
jpratt44 Posts: 16 Member
So I have been stuck at about 153 for the last few weeks and I would really really like to get back into the 140s! I workout consistantly about 5 times a week and have been doing a program through fitness blender that's supposed to shed fat and put on muscle. I am almost always under my calorie goal and I think I have had only 2 or 3 days over the last month where I have been 100 or less calories over my current caloric goal of 1200 (not including what I get from exercise). Please help me! I don't know how to get over this plateau. I'm not sure if I should do more/less exercise or have more/fewer calories or if I need to try some kind of cleanse or even give my body a break. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

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  • classictoaster
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    I'm by no means an expert, but I think your caloric goals are too low. Do you know your BMR? You should at least be eating that many calories a day. If you set your goal at your BMR, I would suggest eating back part if not all of your exercise calories - or experiment with increasing your calories from your BMR until you stop losing/start gaining weight, and then take your deficit from there.

    Also - make sure you aren't overestimating your calorie burns! I'm not sure what "fitness blender" is, but just make sure you're getting in some strength/weight training as well as some mixed in cardio (a lot of people will tell you cardio is optional - which it is - but I love the burn it gets me and I just like running! Haha). That combo will shed fat and get you muscle.

    When I plateaued, I took a step back and examined what I had been slacking on/doing incorrectly. Turns out I'd been eating a lot more sodium than I thought (which will hold onto water weight if you don't drink enough water) and eating out more than I should - I cut that way down, and it broke my plateau.

    It's all about figuring out your body's needs and working with it!
  • nab22
    nab22 Posts: 168
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    You could try intermittent fasting
  • classictoaster
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    You could try intermittent fasting

    Or that, too. I love it.
  • brandyanne11
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    See a lot on the intermittent fasting, how does that work?
  • classictoaster
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    www.leangains.com

    The most helpful website ever regarding IF.

    Basically, it's fasting for a certain period of time each day. For instance, right now I do a 14/10, which is 14 hours of fasting with 10 hours of eating. This for me means skipping breakfast. Personally, I started doing it because I was so ravenous after eating breakfast; doing IF got rid of that.
  • brandyanne11
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    Thanks!
  • MissTreese
    MissTreese Posts: 15 Member
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    Intermittent fasting sounds pretty good. I think I will try it also
  • juhobi
    juhobi Posts: 2 Member
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    I have the same problem :/
  • norcal_yogi
    norcal_yogi Posts: 675 Member
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    You could try intermittent fasting

    yep
  • brittfam
    brittfam Posts: 34
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    Everyone is different but when I hit my plateau I looked at what I was eating. I realized my 1200 calories on my lifting days wasn't enough nutrients for my body. ( especially after getting a HRM!!) I was under eating by a lot when I first started loosing my weight. I also switched up my cardio days with different things other than just running ( Zumba, hot yoga ect). Experiment a little and sooner or later you will break it!
  • kelseyhere
    kelseyhere Posts: 1,123 Member
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    It's also important to monitor your stress levels. When we are too stressed out our body resists losing weight. Make sure you take time out for yourself just to relax- paint your nails, take a bath, take a long walk, do whatever it is you do.I plateaued for about 2 months and I think the stress at that time played a big role, so don't be too hard on yourself!

    On a side note, I've had good results with IF. Like the other poster said it has really helped me comtrol cravings and stop mindless eating all day.