**SOB**

After 7 weeks and 16 lbs, I seem to have hit a plateau.

No, I'm not going to quit; I've been working too hard, I'm feeling better and people are telling me that I'm looking healthier. But I'm sitting here trying very hard not to cry right now.

Fellow MFPers, how do you manage to soldier through plateaus?

Replies

  • bigboimav
    bigboimav Posts: 22 Member
    Ivr brrn on mine for almost 2 wrrks now. People saying good things is always a motivator. You just have to skeep going. Think about wwhere you were 3 months ago. That person would be very proud of you today.
  • justjenn1977
    justjenn1977 Posts: 437 Member
    I quit making goals that pertain to weight a while back and focus on fitness goals...

    the plateaus don't affect me as much psychologically any more...
  • SoDamnHungry
    SoDamnHungry Posts: 6,998 Member
    16 pounds in 7 weeks is more than I could ever hope to lose. Realize that you averaged more than 2 pounds a week and start jumping for joy.
  • MinnieInMaine
    MinnieInMaine Posts: 6,400 Member
    I'm sorry but this attitude makes me so sad... Put the pity party on pause and celebrate!! You lost 16 pounsd in 7 week!! Holy crapola, that is AMAZING! That's over 2 pounds per week!! Woohoo!!!!

    You're not a contestant on Biggest Loser, you're just an average person trying to get healthy and fit. Stop being in such a rush Stop being so hard on yourself and think more about long term realistic healthy and fitness goals.

    And honey, take it from someone who's been at this for almost 3 years...this is not a plateau, this is just a bump in the road...one of many that you will have to get over in the next year or two until you get to goal. This pity part is just a total wasteo f your energy and time! Instead take that time and energy and go for a walk or do something positive for yourself! It's just your body catching up and doing it's thing. Just keep eating right and moving and you'll see a loss again soon, I promise!
  • Thanks, everybody.
    You're not a contestant on Biggest Loser, you're just an average person trying to get healthy and fit. Stop being in such a rush

    This went straight to my heart. Seriously, I'm going to write this down and refer to it every time I find myself feeling this way. :)
  • Jxnsmma
    Jxnsmma Posts: 919 Member
    16 pounds in 7 weeks is more than I could ever hope to lose. Realize that you averaged more than 2 pounds a week and start jumping for joy.

    THIS! I'd crap my pants if I lost 16 lbs in 7 weeks. :grumble:
  • kimad
    kimad Posts: 3,010 Member
    I agree, your weight loss to date has been super.

    Trying to change something up should work. If we do the same thing day in and day out our body becomes a master at it.
    Try eating a bit more or less (whatever you are comfortable with) or just have one cheat meal in your week. Or try changing up your exercise somehow.

    Good luck.
  • bradp1979
    bradp1979 Posts: 154 Member
    After muscling through a few plateaus, I found something that has worked every time, and it's a nice treat. Take one (read ONE) meal to eat something tasty, fattening, and bad in so many ways. One fattening meal isn't going to throw away all that you've worked toward, and it won't make you dive right back into an unhealthy lifestyle. Take one meal, go nuts, and then get right back on track. Every time I have had a plateau, I have done this, and shortly after getting back on track, the weight started coming off again.
  • Always remember it's about being healthy, not losing weight. Losing weight is a side effect of getting your body and mind to where you want it to be. Stay strong and know you are doing the right thing by continuously moving forward in the right direction. If you have any doubts, stomp on them. If your mind plays tricks on you telling you to quit, know your mind is wrong. Keep going no matter what.
  • GurleyGirl524
    GurleyGirl524 Posts: 578 Member
    it happens to us all. the weight loss slows down when your body adjusts to your new lifestyle. you can try bumping up your calories and your exercise.
  • tabinmaine
    tabinmaine Posts: 965 Member
    I have not lost anything in 7 months, THATS a plateau !! hehe

    However, I am down 3 pant sizes, so take your measurements, keep eating right, exercising and BELIEVE in the system.
  • danne32339
    danne32339 Posts: 155 Member
    No matter how much you lose, a plateau is so frustrating. You've done great but I know the feeling. If you can remember where you were and where you are now and be so proud of that. Sometimes we just have to grit out teeth and keep going. You will eventually over come the plateau. Good luck. Feel free to add me to your friend list.
    Take care,
    Doni
  • megalin9
    megalin9 Posts: 771 Member
    I'm sorry but this attitude makes me so sad... Put the pity party on pause and celebrate!! You lost 16 pounsd in 7 week!! Holy crapola, that is AMAZING! That's over 2 pounds per week!! Woohoo!!!!

    You're not a contestant on Biggest Loser, you're just an average person trying to get healthy and fit. Stop being in such a rush Stop being so hard on yourself and think more about long term realistic healthy and fitness goals.

    And honey, take it from someone who's been at this for almost 3 years...this is not a plateau, this is just a bump in the road...one of many that you will have to get over in the next year or two until you get to goal. This pity part is just a total wasteo f your energy and time! Instead take that time and energy and go for a walk or do something positive for yourself! It's just your body catching up and doing it's thing. Just keep eating right and moving and you'll see a loss again soon, I promise!

    Exactamento
  • Sailatsorf
    Sailatsorf Posts: 161 Member
    I plateaued MAJORLY after losing 15 pounds. I was stuck at 199 for months. I just kept working at it, and eventually I shed another ten pounds. And now I'm stuck at 189, haha. Seems like every 10-15 pounds, my body stops for a little bit.
  • Try increasing your calories by 200.
  • Trinah45
    Trinah45 Posts: 1 Member
    This spoke to me also and I'm gonna remember it also! Keep up the good work I'm at 7 lbs at 4 weeks and feeling somewhat the same but will continue on. I didnt gain this weight overnight (even though it sometimes seems like it, lol) , and I wont lose it overnight. Keep up the great work . 16 lbs is awesome !
  • MVY_
    MVY_ Posts: 253 Member
    16 lb isn't bad! I'm serious. I'm about that time and I lost only 8 lbs!
  • Janet9906
    Janet9906 Posts: 546 Member
    I've been in one since July...I know how frustrating it is, so what I did was set my goal at "maintain my current weight". I'm going to do this for a week, then set it back to lose a 1lb per week next week. I don't know if it will help, but I'm trying to do anything to break through this.

    Good luck!!
  • sharleengc
    sharleengc Posts: 792 Member
    Change something...either the calorie intake (up it or lower it) or change your exercise, take a break from exercise.

    Personally, I lose in phases...like I loose 2-4lbs in one week then nothing for 4-6 weeks then I lose 2-4lbs and then nothing...but that's just how my body works.

    But if you get stuck for too long you should definitely change something. But, give the changes time to work, it make taake w eek or 2 to see the results from your change as your body adjusts
  • monty619
    monty619 Posts: 1,308 Member
    hit plateau? eat more food.

    start to raise calories by like 50-100 a day for each a week. extended dieting is what causes a plateau because the metabolism will slow if you are in a defecit for an extended period. so relax off the diet and raise calories VERY SLOWLY (possibly increase the volume of your training) and you will realize that you can eat more food and stay the same weight. Do this until you gain about 3-5lbs (should be over couple of months, maybe you realize you lose more weight by eating more calories) back then decrease with a small caloric defecit and you should be able to drop lbs without dieting as hard
  • know_your_worth
    know_your_worth Posts: 481 Member
    I've lost 23 pounds so far, and I have about 40 more to go.

    I know that so far, I've had a couple of weeks here and there where my weight didn't change. Didn't think much of it. It's a bummer for sure, especially when you're still eating right and working out. But don't stress over it!

    I'm not going to consider anything a plateau unless I go a month without losing anything, in which case I would consult my doctor.

    I don't like the idea of plateaus at all. I think it makes it easy to jump to the conclusion that just because you've gone a little while without losing, you can't and it makes it easy to get discouraged and give up.

    My belief is that EVERYTHING you do counts, always. The food you eat, the exercise you do....as long as you're keeping on track you are bettering yourself. Even if there's a small stall where your body decides to take a little more time to process what you're doing, you're still going to see that end result eventually, so it's not pointless. And it certainly isn't something to feel bad or get stressed over.
  • jeddy3mcc
    jeddy3mcc Posts: 177 Member
    I am so glad to hear you say that your are not quiting. Working hard and continuing your process is the only way to get off the plateau. Try mixing up your workouts. Do tuesdays on Thursday and Wednesdays on Mondays and give your body a different schedule to work with. Whatever you do DON"T QUIT!!!!!! There are too many ppl here who have overcome plateaus. I have overcome 4 in the last year. You can do it!!!!!
  • jofjltncb6
    jofjltncb6 Posts: 34,415 Member
    As much as we'd like it to be consistent, weight loss is never linear. Some days, you'll be up a pound or two for no real reason...and others, you'll be down. Assuming your plan is solid, just stick to it and you'll continue to make progress...if not right now, eventually. (However, "give up" and drop your plan and I can almost guarantee you will not end up where you want to be.)
  • klacount77
    klacount77 Posts: 270 Member
    the plateau isn't the end of the world. If you aren't ready to change up your diet or your exercise plan, then just keep plugging through, your body will eventually respond. I hit a "plateau" about every 3 months. I'll sit for what seems like forever at the same weight for 6 to 9 weeks. It feels so discouraging, so unmotivating, so depressing ... then I look at my scale and I remember that I have lost almost 60 pounds! I look at a picture and realize that I have lost over 50 inches from my body! I look at my activities and realize that I could barely maintain the energy to go to work and come home ... let alone everything I am doing now.

    If you want to keep your diet and exercise plan the same ... then just have patience. Let you body adjust to the new you. The weight and the inches will still come off. I honestly haven't changed a thing. I've been doing pretty much the same exercises, same amount of time, same diet, same calories for 16 months. I am pretty happy about my progress.
  • 08AmandaC
    08AmandaC Posts: 33 Member
    Two things that have really hit home since being on mfp:
    1. It took years to get this size....it's not going to disappear overnight!
    2. Eat more calories - since upping my calories I am losing weight!

    You have done fantastically, be patient and keep going! Good Luck x
  • marieautumn
    marieautumn Posts: 928 Member
    16 lbs in 7 weeks is AMAZING. The weigh isnt going to all fall off at once, just stick with it. It's taken me 7 months to lose just 12 lbs, but i'm finally almost there. Be patient and work hard and you can't fail. :smile:
  • Marll
    Marll Posts: 904 Member
    I'm sure you'll break through eventually. I've been on a weight plateau since November of last year practically. Scale is not moving AT ALL, but somehow I've dropped pant sizes, muscles are much more visible and clothes fit better, so I really don't care that much...it's annoying but that's about it.
  • Thanks to everyone who responded.

    I saw both my dietician and my physiologist yesterday. Both of them suggested adding one "mini-workout" (aka, a 30 minute walk) a week and briefer walks at a slower pace whenever I feel like it. The physiologist also wants me to add one resistance training session a week at home.

    Food intake will stay the same for now. Dietician doesn't think there's a reason to go up, and she doesn't think I could sustain it if I went down (I'm at 1600 net; I usually try to get within 200 calories of that).
  • texasgal22
    texasgal22 Posts: 407 Member
    After muscling through a few plateaus, I found something that has worked every time, and it's a nice treat. Take one (read ONE) meal to eat something tasty, fattening, and bad in so many ways. One fattening meal isn't going to throw away all that you've worked toward, and it won't make you dive right back into an unhealthy lifestyle. Take one meal, go nuts, and then get right back on track. Every time I have had a plateau, I have done this, and shortly after getting back on track, the weight started coming off again.

    Now's that interesting; I need to remember. I know I try not to eat too much of the same thing and keep my pattern erratic so my mind/body doesn't shut down. Even so sometimes there's a small loss in there...or worse, a gain :laugh: