The Dreaded Plateau

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kakocalis
kakocalis Posts: 6 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
Yes. The dreaded plateau. Yes. I have hit mine. Losing 40 lbs. was a goal (for a new tattoo--not my final goal), and once I hit it, I never went past it. For about a month, now, I have been lingering in a 5 lb. window, and it is getting really frustrating. For the most part, I have kept things the same. I'm still eating my 1200 calorie goal (or under my higher calorie goal if I have exercised...although not FAR under it, as I gain weight if I undercut myself too much). Some things I have tried to change up. I have tried practically drowning myself in water. No dice. I have tried eating over my calorie goal by a couple hundred calories to "jump start" things. No dice. I have tried new work out activities. No dice. I wonder how long I can stay here before this becomes less of a plateau, and more like the solid ground I'm going to get stuck at permanently. I have been too good to myself for the past six months to get stuck here!

Replies

  • captainfoxtrot
    captainfoxtrot Posts: 10
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    It means you need to eat more, and by more than just a few hundred. I recommend 2000, and if you start putting on more than 3 pounds, jump back down to 1200.
  • MyaPapaya75
    MyaPapaya75 Posts: 3,143 Member
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    i would say just keep plugging along and push yourself when exercising also watch the sodium...it will come off just keep working at it good luck...
  • ChristieisReady
    ChristieisReady Posts: 708 Member
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    Ok, I looked at your whole past month, aaaaand

    In Exercise:
    -Have you tried resting?

    -Do some strength training. The only way your body will burn more calories on its own is with more muscle. And lifting small weights often will increase muscle density without really increasing their size.

    In Food:
    -You need at least 3 servings of veggies every day. You're getting nowhere near that.

    -(I'm bad about this, too but) every day seems to have ice cream, cookies, or alcohol. That's a lot of sugar. Cut down on that and you'll see some big changes!

    You can do it!!! :flowerforyou:
  • Rynatat
    Rynatat Posts: 807 Member
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    Sooner or later we all hit that plateau and it seems nothing is changing. I hit it, and it held for several months, but I didn't give up. I mix up my workout routines plus I hold myself to a promise I made myself to myself last December: Every work-morning, I wake up early & exercise for at least 50mins, on off days, if I have to be somewhere, I still workout for at least 50mins, more if I can work the time right, and then I get ready for whatever the day has: it breaks down to 5-6 days p/wk. But the trick was it is the FIRST thing I do each day, before I do anything else: it kick starts me & my day. When I started, I felt better inside, but as I'd promised, I was doing this the right way, and since I know at my age "weight loss" is very difficult, I focused on toning & strengthening. I finally started noticing a difference, even though the scale didn't really change much & now, 9months later, I've lost only 11 lbs, but fit into clothes (and look really good in them!) that I was wearing when I was 10-15lbs thinner! One of the things I did to really change was added a Tai Chi DVD to my rotation: you can also add Yoga since both work muscles often overlooked and work core. I added 2.5lb ankle weight to each leg as well, and in the last 2 months, I've toned so much people at work are noticing & wanting to know what I have been doing. I still eat - A LOT! - and usually excede my cals for the day by a few hundred :tongue: , but I look and feel different. Try measuring and track that way instead of weighing: you may have small changes that you're not seeing on the scale since muscle weighs more than fat.
    P.S. I also have a few tats, and one of my goals is also to complete the design and get my upper back finished once I've built up the muscles a bit more :happy:
  • Douniap
    Douniap Posts: 841
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    First, congratulations on your weight loss thus far..
    I would say change your intensity level and duration for your exercises and try "cheating" in your caloric intake.
    Like do one full week, where you do one day at 2000 calories, one day at 12000, 2 days back at 2000, etc.. that should trick your body..
    take couple of days rest from exercising and then get into something new and more intense, such as: start jumping rope, or increase your weight and reps, increase your speed & duration for Cardio, or try a new format that you have never done before- completely new and intense..
    keep eating your fruits, veggies, drinking your water, etc..
    And DO Not Give Up.. it will come off.. Your body just needs a big shock..
    to your health and success:flowerforyou: :flowerforyou:
  • allywallis86
    allywallis86 Posts: 20
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    I have reached a plateau also, it is sooo frustrating isnt it? My family have adivsed me to just keep at it and exercise more but I only eat about 600 or so calories a day and walk alot and do Rosemary Connelly video exercise. I have been trying for weeks to lose some weight so tonight I thought, that my body thinks that I am in starvation mode so eat more, so I did! I will post two days from now and let you know if eating more worked!!!
  • Douniap
    Douniap Posts: 841
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    I have reached a plateau also, it is sooo frustrating isnt it? My family have adivsed me to just keep at it and exercise more but I only eat about 600 or so calories a day and walk alot and do Rosemary Connelly video exercise. I have been trying for weeks to lose some weight so tonight I thought, that my body thinks that I am in starvation mode so eat more, so I did! I will post two days from now and let you know if eating more worked!!!

    600 calories/ day?!!! that is starvation.. you are shutting down your metabolism and your body is just going to conserve every bit of energy possible..
  • ChristieisReady
    ChristieisReady Posts: 708 Member
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    Erm, ally, unless you are specifically under strict doctor supervision, 600 cal a day is BAD. Very very BAD. Eat lots more. At 600 cal/day, your body has trouble supporting its organs. Please eat at LEAST 1000 cal/day, if not the recommended 1200 (or more!).

    Please read http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/3047-700-calories-a-day-and-not-losing
  • Lithuria
    Lithuria Posts: 132
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    Dunno what kind of workout you are doing, but even aerobic exercise will build up muscle in youir legs (obviously not as much as resistance training) and muscle is denser than fat. Have you tried measuring yourself? Even if the scales don't change you'll find the tape measure might be...my godmother is a nurse specialising in nutrition and she says that when you hit that plateau, your body is often reshuffeling its stores of fat to be more balanced, so you may just be going through that. Plateauing is one of those things you need to fight through, but persevere, you've come too far now to let it stop you now :)
  • AnnaPixie
    AnnaPixie Posts: 7,439 Member
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    I think coming off the diet for a week will shake things up. Eat, drink and be merry! Then get back to it.

    Whats did Einstein say? Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results!!!

    You need to change.........................something?

    Good luck :flowerforyou:
  • MyaPapaya75
    MyaPapaya75 Posts: 3,143 Member
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    I have reached a plateau also, it is sooo frustrating isnt it? My family have adivsed me to just keep at it and exercise more but I only eat about 600 or so calories a day and walk alot and do Rosemary Connelly video exercise. I have been trying for weeks to lose some weight so tonight I thought, that my body thinks that I am in starvation mode so eat more, so I did! I will post two days from now and let you know if eating more worked!!!
    Ally I dont think your on a plateau I think your not eating enough . you need to eat more unless a doc has advised you to be at 600 for some reason. You dont have to fill the calories with bad foods..try some salads add chicken and nuts and those calories will go fast..good luck
  • sgssmile
    sgssmile Posts: 62
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    I just had the same problem for almost a month and it is VERY frustrating. My Dr. told me to pretty much take out all processed foods and my 1 8 oz can of pepsi I had everyday (in my below 1,000 calorie day). She told me NOT to add any more exercise and to add s0me calories. I was eating cheerios every morning and I switched to eggs like she told me and I lost 3 lbs in like 3-4 days :) So, i am still struggeling a bit as I don't like the food but I am going to give it 7-10 days on this regiment and see. Good luck...whatever you do do something different, show your body who is in CHARGE!
    Susan
  • kakocalis
    kakocalis Posts: 6 Member
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    Thanks for the words of wisdom, ladies. I will try to add some more calories in (although I have to say I am frighteningly addicted to staying under my "goal", and hope I can force myself to get past it). Christie, I do have some sort of dessert every day...you're right. That is for my sanity. I have been doing that since the beginning, so it's not something I just started. My exercise includes at least two soccer games a week, and a lot of walking/running. I do have a gym membership, and should probably use it to lift some weights.

    I fluctuate about 5 pounds either way right now, but I am still solidly in a size 14 (which I'm not unhappy with...) verging on a 12 (the 14's start to fall down toward the end of the day).

    I'm not unhappy with where I am, I guess I just need to shake things up some more to trick the old bod into heading downhill.
  • allywallis86
    allywallis86 Posts: 20
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    Ok you all got me scared now so I am eating more calories - Thanks for the advice. much appreciated.

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