Need some opinions on why I have stopped losing weight.

lorigem
lorigem Posts: 446 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
It's been 3 weeks since the scale has changed. And I know we shouldn't rely on the scale but I'm a bit confused as to why, after consistently losing, I have suddenly stopped.

My stats: 190, 5'3", 31 years old

I do admit this past week wasn't the greatest. But I have been mostly at a caloric deficit. So I can only think that the halt in weight loss can be due to a couple of things:

1. I rely on my BodyMedia Link to tell me how much I'm burning on a given day. Maybe it's not performing well any longer and I'm burning less than I think. However according to my TDEE, I'd still be at a caloric deficit anyway so I'd be losing SOMETHING.

OR

2. My diet is too high in carbs and fat and not enough protein. Even though I've come in below on my daily calories, can this really affect weight loss?

And no I'm not replacing fat with muscle. I've only been lifting for about 8 weeks - not enough time to actually build muscle. So there really shouldn't be a reason why I've stopped seeing the numbers change on the scale.

As far as measurements, I have lost inches, but not consistently.

Any thoughts?

Replies

  • rachseby
    rachseby Posts: 285 Member
    Not to get too personal, but TOM? I stopped losing around my period, and then as soon as it was over lost 5lbs of water weight.
  • ZenInTexas
    ZenInTexas Posts: 781 Member
    Just from a quick glance at your diary you are eating a ton of fast food and packaged food. This stuff is loaded with sodium, which makes you retain water like crazy. Try tracking your sodium levels for a couple weeks and see if that makes a difference. I know if I eat even one restaurant meal my weight can be up by as much as 2 pounds the next day.
  • lorigem
    lorigem Posts: 446 Member
    Not to get too personal, but TOM? I stopped losing around my period, and then as soon as it was over lost 5lbs of water weight.

    Actually yes, I am due on Sunday. But what about the 2 weeks prior? Have I been PMSing for 3 weeks? :embarassed:
  • lorigem
    lorigem Posts: 446 Member
    Just from a quick glance at your diary you are eating a ton of fast food and packaged food. This stuff is loaded with sodium, which makes you retain water like crazy. Try tracking your sodium levels for a couple weeks and see if that makes a difference. I know if I eat even one restaurant meal my weight can be up by as much as 2 pounds the next day.

    I agree - this past week has been crazy. But the prior 2 weeks I thought I did okay. Would you really retain water for 3 weeks? :ohwell:
  • jadethief
    jadethief Posts: 266 Member
    Just because the scale isn't moving, doesn't mean your body isn't changing. I've been bouncing around 190 for about 6 weeks now. Yesterday, my husband said, "Boy, you are getting skinny!" This is the first time he has ever initiated a comment on my weight loss, and keep in mind, my weight hasn't changed in 6 weeks.

    There's an interesting article about the "woosh" effect (if I can find the link, I'll post it for you) that basically theorizes that as your body uses the energy stored in your fat cells, the cells then fill with water which essentially masks your weight loss. Eventually that water gets flushed out and you get a 3-4 lb loss pretty quickly.

    I think patience is probably the hardest part of the process. Just hang in there!

    ETA: http://www.bodyrecomposition.com/fat-loss/of-whooshes-and-squishy-fat.html
  • lorigem
    lorigem Posts: 446 Member
    Just because the scale isn't moving, doesn't mean your body isn't changing. I've been bouncing around 190 for about 6 weeks now. Yesterday, my husband said, "Boy, you are getting skinny!" This is the first time he has ever initiated a comment on my weight loss, and keep in mind, my weight hasn't changed in 6 weeks.

    There's an interesting article about the "woosh" effect (if I can find the link, I'll post it for you) that basically theorizes that as your body uses the energy stored in your fat cells, the cells then fill with water which essentially masks your weight loss. Eventually that water gets flushed out and you get a 3-4 lb loss pretty quickly.

    I think patience is probably the hardest part of the process. Just hang in there!

    ETA: http://www.bodyrecomposition.com/fat-loss/of-whooshes-and-squishy-fat.html

    Wow 6 weeks! I'd go out of my mind lol Although comments like that of your husband's are always appreciated. Thank you for the article. Interesting stuff!
  • MyaPapaya75
    MyaPapaya75 Posts: 3,143 Member
    I looked back into your diary a ways ....there are a lot of Processed/Fast Foods and you do not track your sodium ...you eat really well but I don't see a lot of veggies/lentils... I see fruits....might want to try changing that some..If you eat large amounts of packaged foods its a good idea to track your sodium.
  • karlalband
    karlalband Posts: 196 Member
    Just because the scale isn't moving, doesn't mean your body isn't changing. I've been bouncing around 190 for about 6 weeks now. Yesterday, my husband said, "Boy, you are getting skinny!" This is the first time he has ever initiated a comment on my weight loss, and keep in mind, my weight hasn't changed in 6 weeks.

    There's an interesting article about the "woosh" effect (if I can find the link, I'll post it for you) that basically theorizes that as your body uses the energy stored in your fat cells, the cells then fill with water which essentially masks your weight loss. Eventually that water gets flushed out and you get a 3-4 lb loss pretty quickly.

    I think patience is probably the hardest part of the process. Just hang in there!

    ETA: http://www.bodyrecomposition.com/fat-loss/of-whooshes-and-squishy-fat.html
    This is some good reading info, thank you!
  • Avandel
    Avandel Posts: 283 Member
    Don't feel bad, I've been bouncing around the same weight for the last 9 months. I keep hoping I'll deliver something soon, like the last 15 lbs of fat!!!:ohwell:
  • marooned
    marooned Posts: 106 Member
    Great article... I've experienced what I believe to be this effect and had wondered.
  • lorigem
    lorigem Posts: 446 Member
    I looked back into your diary a ways ....there are a lot of Processed/Fast Foods and you do not track your sodium ...you eat really well but I don't see a lot of veggies/lentils... I see fruits....might want to try changing that some..If you eat large amounts of packaged foods its a good idea to track your sodium.

    Thanks for the feedback. I agree that I need to watch the sodium. The packaged foods I eat aren't too high but I do need to eat more veggies and meats.
  • NovemberJune
    NovemberJune Posts: 2,525 Member
    A few thoughts

    --I've had plenty of 3 week stretches without a loss but the scale caught up eventually :)
    --restaurant calories are just estimates and I usually assume that they are underestimates. They aren't measuring anything out while they prepare your food and could be using more butter than the nutrition info suggests, for example
    --TDEE is just an estimate too, assuming you used a calculator to get it
    --higher sodium can make your weight go up but won't affect your weight loss over time.

    I'd suggest that if you keep eating out a lot, and you still don't lose in a couple more weeks, you're probably consuming more calories than you think (or burning less than you think) and I'd lower calories by a couple hundred and see what happens after that. ok just my 2 cents ;) Good luck :flowerforyou:

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