Plateau for about a month, help!

deethebee83

Hi there,

I'm pretty new to the forums but have been using the MFP site for a while. I started dieting back in June and since then as of about mid October I was down 17lbs. I had a few relapses as I suffer from an eating disorder and I gained 2lbs back but I kept trying to get back on track. I also suffer from PCOS and have tried Metformin which didn't help.

Last week I decided to go back to basics and eat the bare minimum (1200 cals a day) without doing any exercise. I have been unable to change my exercise routine and I was concerned I wasn't burning up enough calories so I decided to try doing very little apart from the odd daily walk. At the end of the week I had lost the 2lbs I'd gained plus an extra one. I usually allow myself a cheat day on a Sunday to keep me sane so I went ahead and had my cheat day.

This week I've started another short term diet which I've always had relatively good results with - usually lose 3lbs in 2 weeks, which is a good loss for me. It helps give me a boost when I need it and it's very high protein. However, having weighed myself today my weight has gone up 2.5lbs again!

I just haven't got a clue how to get the weight to budge again and it seems that whatever I try isn't working anymore. Everytime I lose a pound I gain it back. I know many people struggle with the last few pounds, but I have at LEAST another 20lbs to go just to be close to my healthy weight range so it's baffling how I could have hit such a major plateau...and especially just before Christmas, I've gotta get some more weight off before Christmas!

If anyone has some real advice...people who have been through this same thing, I'd really appreciate hearing how you beat the plateau. I'd rather hear from women (no offence men!) but women and men lose weight differently and have very different metabolisms. Also it'd be great to hear from others who have PCOS.

Thanks!

mcm724

Not sure what your eating disorder is, but do you have professional help with that? A therapist who specializes in eating disorders/food issues can do wonders. If you restrict too much, you'll slow your metabolism & gain or stop losing. Try eating a little more and/or changing your exercise routine. When do you eat most of your calories? I just can't do a tiny dinner, but I try to eat more at breakfast & lunch than at dinner. Have you changed medication or started a new medication. I got on some new BCPs & was a hormonal mess for about a month & wanted to eat. Be patient, too. If I'm not getting the results I expect when I'm doing what I should, I imagine an "accounting department" in my body. The accountants are just slow this week reconciling the receipts---my payments will get credited to the scale lol.

deethebee83

Believe me, I've been trying to get help for my eating disorder but the health system is pretty useless. I've just started seeing a therapist so I'll have to see how that goes but I guess for now I have to try tackle it on my own. I suffer from bulimia. I couldn't wait until I got help to lose weight as it was affecting my health but every time I go on a diet or have to lower calories or anything it puts my head into a frame of mind that turns to insanity after a few months.

I did try eating more and that didn't help. As I say I find it difficult to change my exercise routine. I have an exercise bike and a Wii but no other ways to exercise apart from walking. I also mentioned that I always have a cheat day which I read helps to keep the metabolism going. Usually my meals were split evenly but perhaps a bit more calories in the evening meal. I haven't changed any medications. I stopped using Metformin (which wasn't doing anything anyway) and I started taking Green Coffee Bean Extract, that's all.

It's just so hard to be patient when you have an eating disorder controlling you. I have been at this plateau for at least a month now and the longer I am dieting the worse the ED gets. When I don't have to constantly monitor and focus on food and how much I'm eating then it doesn't bother me as much, but with the way my body works I feel as though I'm going to be on a diet for the rest of my life until I can find a way of eating that keeps my weight stable and that I don't have to monitor too much. No luck so far though...