Possible to hit a "plateau" after only five days????

My advise to you , Continue to do the same. DO NOT STOP!!!!!! If you feel that you can add more exercise would be great.

Don't weigh yourself so much. Your weight can fluctuate up to 5 lbs daily. Try to weigh in just once a week, at the same time and under the same conditions (i.e. right when you get up, after using the bathroom but before eating). Make sure to keep measurements as well as track weight. Also, make sure you are measuring and weighing your foods, so that you know you are eating exactly as much as you are recording. Then, once you've got all that settled, give it a few weeks and see how it's going. If you're still struggling, come on back and get some tips

^This. Stop stressing. It will all work itself out. 9lbs in 11 days is way above average and a great start. Just remember that weight loss has it's ups and downs, and it's not a linear journey.

I expected the weight to come off quickly during the first few weeks at least (when you have more to lose you generally lose it faster at first). However, after losing 9 pounds in the first five days, I have stayed exactly the same during the past 6 days.

You lost an average of 4.5 lbs per week! That's fantastic! The weight will keep coming off if you eat right :-)

It's tough to give tangible recommendations specifically for you without being able to see your food diary. People on MFP often say that it's polite to make your diary public when asking for help on the boards and I think there's something to that.

But without that ... some general guidelines you may want to consider include:

FOOD:
Are you paying attention to the amount of fat? Sodium? too high on either of these can contribute to a plateau. Also if you're staying within your calorie guidelines but you're doing it all on Little Debbie Snack Cakes, you may not see as much of a drop as otherwise. In my opinion (for what that's worth), your best bet is going with as much fresh food as you can: fresh veg, fresh fruit, fresh proteins, fresh baked bread, etc.

EXERCISE:
What type of exercise are you doing? From what I've seen, people on the boards seem to get the best results from a combination of traditional cardio (walking, jogging, cycling, eliptical, cardio classes, etc.), intensity cardio (aka HIIT or "high intensity interval training"), and strength training (weights, circuits, strength or sculpting classes, etc.)

MEASURING SUCCESS:
We're so stuck on the scale as the way to see our success, but especially when you start diet/exercise together you often don't drop weight because you're building muscle. But other GREAT ways to measure success are with your tape measure (have you measured your bust/waist/hips/arm/thigh yet? If not, start today!), your belt, your bloodwork like cholesterol and glucose. Another great way to measure success is your energy level. When you're eating right and exercising, you should feel more energy pretty quickly! How do your joints feel - your knees, your back? As you strengthen the muscles that support you, they should stand up much better to the same amount of weight and your joints should begin to ache less. Getting healthy is a lifestyle change - it leads to most if not all of these markers, not just weight loss!

Hello! I have about 150 pounds to lose, so I expected the weight to come off quickly during the first few weeks at least (when you have more to lose you generally lose it faster at first). However, after losing 9 pounds in the first five days, I have stayed exactly the same during the past 6 days. I am feeling frustrated and disappointed and confused. What do I change? Should I change something or wait it out? I'm exercising and eating less, so I'm not doing this by half measures. I've been following the myfitpal recommendations for calories.....should I go lower?

Somebody is spending way too much time on the bathroom scale!!!!!! Weigh in once a week!! If you stick to your calorie goal and log everything down to the last bite you will lose weight. Stop obsessing with the bathroom scale!

I'm sure it's because of the P90X workouts. You're sore right? Well when that happens, you'll also likely be up on the scale, or not losing. This is because when the muscle tissues are damanged, they retain water. A lot of people mistakenly beleive they are building muscle quickly but that's just not physically possible - it's water retention. Think of how your ankle swells with fluid when you sprain it - same thing is happening in your muscles, it's just not as obvious to the naked eye because it's spread over a larger area.

Keep doing what your doing and your body will adjust. If you're not tracking sodium, add that to your food diary because high sodium days (and that time of the month) will also effect water weight. And of course make sure you're drinking at least 8 cups a day of water, if not more.

Above all, keep the big picture in mind. I know we all want to lose the weight as quickly as possible once we set our minds to it but this is real life, not the Biggest Loser Ranch. It's much better for you to lose the weight slowly (1-2 pounds per week on average) as this means you are making small liveable long term changes that will be more likely to stick once you get to your goal weight.

Good luck!!

Thanks, Hannah. I am weighing and measuring my foods, but I have been weighing daily. It was just an awesome encouragement in those first few days. I lost two pounds a day. I was thrilled. But now, I've stayed at the same weight so long that I can see your point about not weighing each day. Although, I have to admit, that will be very difficult since I am so anxiously waiting to see it start moving again. Now, the daily weigh in has become extremely depressing.

It took me 5 months to lose 62 lbs. It took me 5 months to put it on so it makes sense that it would take that long to take it off. Be realistic with your goals and you will see results; not over night, but with time.

Also, educate yourself on carbs. Carbs are NOT bad as long as you are getting ones that your body needs for your day to day activity level. I glanced at your diary and I see lots of starchy carbs; starch is NOT good if you are trying to lose weight. More veggies and fruits in your diet and you'll see better instant results. Also, make your own food instead of buying it from a box; you will see the difference if you try to eat clean after eating dirty for so long.

No, you are just getting started and some weeks will be a big loss and you may even see some gains on occasion as your body attempts to adjust to your new routine. Don't let it discourage you, just take in the information for what it is--a number. Nothing more, nothing less.

Well, I'll continue dieting and exercising, I mean! But I will take all of the advice to stay off the scale except for on our official weigh in dates and I'll look into eating "cleaner"......that may take a little time because I have a fully stocked kitchen with lots of low cal diet food right now.

Read those "low cal, diet food" ingredients. Then do some indepth research on them, especially the artificial sweeteners. I don't touch "low cal, diet" ANYTHING. I'm stricter than most perhaps, but my health is my primary concern. Even if my kitchen was full of those foods and they were free, I still would not eat them. Perhaps some people can consume those foods in moderation and not have ill effects, but not me.

I started using MFP not quite 30 days ago. I started at 575 and now I'm 17 pounds smaller. To be blunt we didn't get fat fast, we won't get the other way fast either. Keep doing what you're doing. The more you do the more you will want to do. Most importantly (and I struggle with this on a daily basis) NEVER EVER EVER GIVE UP. Keep going, keep working at it. Keep eating better and moving more. Some day soon you'll step on the scale and be shocked by what it says, in a good way this time.

A plateau is 6 weeks of no weight loss, with no change in diet or exercise. You did not plateau in 5 days.

A plateau is 6 weeks of no weight loss, with no change in diet or exercise. You did not plateau in 5 days.

the cat knows what he's talking about.

OP why are you not eating your allocation of calories every day? You're hundreds under.

I started at a similar weight to you. (eating slightly less) To do this long term you need to eat a proper amount of healthy foods. Otherwise it's very easy to fall off the wagon.