how did you break your plateau? mines been 2 months!

gettingontrack126
gettingontrack126 Posts: 23
in Health and Weight Loss
I made a goal in January to lose around 40 pounds by summertime, and in the first two months I lost around 17 pounds. for some reason however, at the end of February or the beginning of march,i've been at a stand still. I list the weight to begin with by reducing my calorie intake to 1200, and whot stuck I started to exercise three times a week but its been little to no progress.i'm 5'9, 17, and right now at 170ish and its so frustrating !!!! right now all I want is for the scale to say 169.whatever but its like no matter what I do it won't budge!I mean yeah I have some screw up days, but the most I ever go is around 1600, and even when I look up my daily caloric intake for height weight and activity level it says its supposed to be around that anyways. I think i'm just in a rut, and my question to you all is, how did you break out of your weight loss plateau to continue losing weight??
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Replies

  • Francl27
    Francl27 Posts: 26,371 Member
    You're not eating enough. Your metabolism is probably messed up from starving yourself at this point. Eat 1600.
  • lilpoindexter
    lilpoindexter Posts: 1,122 Member
    You gotta mix it up somehow, change your exercies or your diet. Your body needs to get shocked again out of your comfort zone. I'm kind of plateauing too...I honestly don't want to exercise anymore than I already do, because I think it would be too much...and I don't want to eat less, because I would feel like I'm depriving myself.
  • Mtleiker
    Mtleiker Posts: 160
    I arrayed for what seemed to be 6 weeks. I worked hard ate great and lost nothing. First of all I increased my calories slowly to 1500 ( I'm only 5 ft 0" so I was hesitant to do tht for a long time ) SECONDLY I COMPLETELY changed my exercise routine n started doing totally new workout LASTLY I incorporated strength / weight training( which again I was afraid to do cause I thought I would bulk up) and drum roll ! I lost 3 lbs in tht one week alone.
  • JessHealthKick
    JessHealthKick Posts: 800 Member
    I arrayed for what seemed to be 6 weeks. I worked hard ate great and lost nothing. First of all I increased my calories slowly to 1500 ( I'm only 5 ft 0" so I was hesitant to do tht for a long time ) SECONDLY I COMPLETELY changed my exercise routine n started doing totally new workout LASTLY I incorporated strength / weight training( which again I was afraid to do cause I thought I would bulk up) and drum roll ! I lost 3 lbs in tht one week alone.

    ^ this

    I love strength training, helps get the sexy shape you want (I love my arms now). No way you can bulk up, that's just what girls who are scared to try say.

    Try eating close to 1600 NET a day. If you exercise a lot, you NEED to be eating more!!
  • maggs155
    maggs155 Posts: 258
    I didnt loose for 10 days and i was on a 1200 calorie thing and i upped my calories and lost three pounds in two days. I think when u eat real low it slows ur metabolism down. This is what i did just this week and it worked for me..
  • gettingontrack126
    gettingontrack126 Posts: 23
    Maybe Im not eating enough? Haha it seems so crazy to eat 1600 because I've been on 1200 for so long, but I think I'll give it a try. I have absolutely no problem eating more food:))), i'm just kings worried the weight will come back, should I continue to exercise? Its only 40 min of interval walking/running, I started that like 2 Weeks ago but that didn't help much........any other ways to break this off?
  • gettingontrack126
    gettingontrack126 Posts: 23
    Did you continue to experience weightloss even after that? I dunno, i'ma but nervous about increasing calories butt I think thats what I need to do at this point, I still have about25 to go
  • Softrbreeze
    Softrbreeze Posts: 156 Member
    Taking chromium picolinate has worked for me in the past.
  • NataBost
    NataBost Posts: 418 Member
    Pick heavier things up and put them down. Seriously. It's a major game changer.
  • cheliki
    cheliki Posts: 33
    My calorie intake was 1610 and I was stuck at 15st 1lb for about 2 months. I lowered it to 1500 and I started to lose weight. You need to eat more!

    Yes, keep exercising! Thats the thing that I HATE to do but I know I have to do more of it in order to keep losing weight!
  • Cal28
    Cal28 Posts: 514 Member
    I started the 5:2 diet to break my plateau x
  • lisagregory01
    lisagregory01 Posts: 35 Member
    I'm paying close attention to fat grams and trying to reduce them, but not my calories. Hoping it works! Good luck to you in whatever you decide. Don't give up!
  • gatorginger
    gatorginger Posts: 947 Member
    I would suggest if your eating 1200 to raise your calories but take baby steps. I would start with raising them to 1300 and eat that for 2 weeks and see how it goes and then when your ready increase it again by 100. I did it this way and every time I increase my calories by 100 I lost weight. I am now maintaining
  • starcyndycyn
    starcyndycyn Posts: 65
    Yes, you need to exercise--probably more than you are doing. Strength training and cardio combo -- find something you enjoy. Good luck!
  • lornagj45
    lornagj45 Posts: 5
    I was stuck also, but increased my calorie intake, and lost 2 pounds almost right away! I am so excited as I have reached the 25lb mark, now on to the next 25lbs! Hurray! I dont exercise other than what I do at my 12 hr /day job in the Emergency Room, I have lost 25lbs in 5 months, and I think that is a healthy way to lose, I dont restrict myself either, if I want a donut, I eat one, but I count in in my calories, lol, Good luck everyone! NEVER GIVE UP, NEVER SURRENDER AND MAY THE LORD BLESS YOU ALL!
  • shadowkitty22
    shadowkitty22 Posts: 495 Member
    Definitely incorporate a strength training routine. Because even though you might not see the number falling on the scale, you'll begin to see the inches coming off which will make it look like the number on the scale is smaller when you see yourself in the mirror.
  • gettingontrack126
    gettingontrack126 Posts: 23
    I wish I saw this earlier! I did try increasing my calories to 1600 this week butI haven't seen any real progress. Do you think it might have to do with the sudden increase? Perhaps I should take it down to 1400?
  • StArBeLLa87
    StArBeLLa87 Posts: 1,582 Member
    Can one of you look at my diary and exercise diary I've been slowly upping my calories as well and I've been at 180 for close two weeks now ugh I've came a long ways though

    Please :flowerforyou:
  • delyn356
    delyn356 Posts: 145 Member
    When increasing calories you should keep at it and wait for at least a few weeks to a month before readjusting. Just be patient and you will be able to see if your new goal of 1600 calories is working or not.
  • cheshire29
    cheshire29 Posts: 48
    I upped my calories for 5 weeks by 300+, then dropped back down to 1800 and lost 6lbs in a week. I was skeptical, but it worked for me.
  • gettingontrack126
    gettingontrack126 Posts: 23
    Did you gain any weight while your calories were up? Or was the pounds lost from thepoint you plateaued? I think I'll keep on with the 1600 goal, I'll add some light exercise thus week as well. Hoping this works!I feel like i've been at a standstill forever!!!!
  • jzammetti
    jzammetti Posts: 1,956 Member
    You're not eating enough. Your metabolism is probably messed up from starving yourself at this point. Eat 1600.

    This.

    At 17 you are still growing and require proper nutrition. Do not under eat - you can cause all sorts of metabolic and hormonal issues
  • smwooley
    smwooley Posts: 133 Member
    I definitely agree with everyone that you're not eating enough. Also, give it a month. I've been told it takes that long for your body to re-adjust. When upping your calories, I've also heard of people that put their scale away for 2 weeks. Personally, I was stuck but started to lose again once I upped my calories.
  • EIEIElenaO
    EIEIElenaO Posts: 101 Member
    Buying a fitbit pedometer broke my plateau. Partly, I think, 'cause it was a novel gadget, but also 'cause it really made me realize how little I move around during the day. Now I make my 10,000 steps almost all days, and 12-14k on many. Whether I go to the gym or not, this little bug reminds me to keep moving.
  • gettingontrack126
    gettingontrack126 Posts: 23
    I think that's a good idea, putting my scale away for a bit might help because after hitting the plateaui've become a bit obsessive over weighing myself to see if something has worked or not, right now I think that's a good idea so i'm not always feeling lazy or something. I'll go for a month, let's see! Also about not eating enough you guys may have a point because on 1200 I felt just fine and when I started eating 1600 at the beginning of this week I felt stuffed (and I still do) but I guess its gonna take some getting used to, I try hard not to to weigh in for the next two Weeks!!
  • vixtris
    vixtris Posts: 688 Member
    Try lifting weights, heavy enough to get you exhausted after about 8-10 lifts. Find some lifting exercises from the internet and do a few sets of reps.
  • gettingontrack126
    gettingontrack126 Posts: 23
    Right now I don't have anything to do weight training with, I figuredi I'd try to look up some home resstance exercises..i'm still worried about the calorie increase I guess, i'm worried that I'll gain the weight right back
  • StArBeLLa87
    StArBeLLa87 Posts: 1,582 Member
    This is what I'm starting to do I eat at a deficit of a 1000 (-2lbs a week) as of now due to my bmi is high.

    2500 my tdee
    -1000=1500

    I add my consumed calories for the week on Saturday night after diary entry completion

    1500 X 7= 10500
    10500- what ever my total calories consumed is whatever I'm left with I eat
    For example if my totals are 7945 so I'd eat 2555 calories today but still make healthy choices because the risk of going back to old ways is not worth it!
    Only for people that eat under calorie goal and have set there goal intake to an actual tdee deficit vs MFP

    Note I put my calorie goal to this TDEE deficit and don't eat back my calories burnt through exercise being my tdee justifies my activities!
  • gettingontrack126
    gettingontrack126 Posts: 23
    Thanks everyone! I'm upping my calories this month to see how it goes! I'm also working hard on eating cleaner, thanks for all the tips!
  • saltine11
    saltine11 Posts: 2
    Try exercising more than three times a week. If you've already been consistently exercising your body will be able to adapt and recover better from more frequent exercise. Even 5 or 6 days a week of exercise and you'll notice a big difference. Also sprinting and other high intensity exercises that use multiple muscle groups will challenge your body and help break through a plateau.

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