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3 month plateau

Posts: 2
edited January 28 in Food and Nutrition
Hi, I'm hopping the response to this post will provide me with some perspective. I began dieting and exercising routinely at the end of January/ beginning of February this year, after a poor diet and next to no exercise. At 137lb, I joined a gym, tracked and recorded my calories everyday, and was netting 1200 daily, however was not eating back the calories I burnt. (Which would be around 400/500 calories through cardio training only) I was losing roughly around 2 pounds a week and was fairly proud/happy with the results. Round mid April, my results halted. I wasn't aware of what a plateau was at this point so I carried on with what I was doing, and still no change after 2 months which is highly discouraging.

I've introduced strength training these past few weeks, as well as attending circuit training and body attack classes at least once a week. ive also upped my calories to at least 1400 a day, whilst also adding more sources of protein though foods such as meats, eggs, cottage cheese, protein shakes etc. Through much research into stories of upping calories and breaking through plateaus as increased metabolism, for me it hasn't worked. I've not touched the scales though fear of disappointment, and can feel I've gained weight when I look in the mirror.

I'm a 17 year old female, and the last time I weighed myself I was around 120lb. I go to sixth form 5 days a week and go to the gym at least 3, if I don't go to the gym I go for runs or do strength training at home. Please help as breaking this plateau is all I'm able to focus on at the moment!

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Replies

  • Posts: 17
    If you are working out alot it may be that you have more muscle now than before. muscle ways more than fat. Try to remember that the scale is not always the most important tool to show successes. Good luck, try not to stress the small stuff, 120lb may be a healthy weight for you.
  • Posts: 586 Member
    You are eating 1200 and burning 400/500 calories? You need to eat back your excercise calories at least 1/2 of them your body needs fuel to burn calories.
  • Posts: 30 Member
    Your calorie intake may still not be enough. How tall are you?
  • I've began to eat back the calories I've burnt, so I've figured something just isn't right. And I'm around 5ft 4/5
  • Posts: 38 Member
    How long were you dieting for initially?? I think that you should look back through your food diaries ( I know that's annoying to do). That way you might be able to see a pattern of change. I don't work out hard but I do put in the extra exercise 6 or 7 days a week and I know that when I've hit a speed bump, it's either because of something I ate that causes my body to object and therefore retain and maintain my weight OR I've changed something in my eating habits. This could be that I either got really lazy with numbers or I stopped drinking water or maybe that new food that I choose to eat every day isn't helping out my situation.

    If there is anything that you can find to compare what you're doing now to what you were doing when you were losing weight that might be the key. I also think it would be okay if you just worked out 5 days a week and upped the intensity once in every several days to shock your body. You may have become used to the routine you got comfortable with.

    Keep drinking the water but honestly if you're at a good height and your 120, I don't think there's much more to lose. Your next option would be to strength train if there are certain areas that you are displeased with. Hope that helped.
  • Posts: 341 Member
    http://scoobysworkshop.com/calorie-calculator
    go here and it will tell you what you should be eating you may not be eating enough
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