Lost 25lbs... then just STOPPED. FRUSTRATED!!

Hi all,

I have lost just under 25lbs since March 2013. In October 2013 my MD weighed me and I had lost 23lbs in 8 months. I went from 210lbs to 187lbs. I was so proud. I was so excited that I decided to re-vamp my routine and lose ANOTHER 23lbs for my next annual visit to really impress my doctor.

So starting in October, I started bringing salads to work everyday instead of leftovers or sandwiches. Good salads. Mixed greens with tuna fish, hardboiled egg, or grilled chicken and light dressing. I eat low/non-fat greek yogurt every day. Dinner is also (usually) good stuff with chicken, ground turkey, chicken sausage, veggies, etc. Recently I cut out soda, even diet soda. Just drinking water and coffee.

I admit on weekends I am more lax with what I eat and staying under, but most weeks, I am right on target. My macros are all in proportion and I do 30min cardio 2x week. Recently started to add strength training to the mix too. Nothing crazy though. Also, since it is cold out now, I am not excersizing as much. I used to walk 2.5mi everyday in the summer and fall. I am not doing that anymore and going to the gym more than 2x a week is difficult considering my work days (plus commute time) is close to 12hrs/day, 5 days a week. So walking on breaks was the best way to get exercize in.

So WHY WHY WHY WHY have I been hovering around the same 2-3lbs FOR TWO MONTHS??? I'm just maintaining at this point and my diet has IMPROVED! What happened to the formula "weight loss is 20% exercize, 80% diet"?? Even if I go a little over each week, I must have lost SOMETHING BY NOW.

WHAT IS HAPPENING? I am so incredibly frustrated and I feel like I am just doomed to be fat forever.

Replies

  • emirror
    emirror Posts: 842 Member
    1 - you are eating more than you think you are.

    2 - you are exercising less than you used to be.

    3 - as you lose weight, the number of calories you can eat and still lose weight starts to decline.
  • squishybarb
    squishybarb Posts: 72 Member
    Hi all,

    I have lost just under 25lbs since March 2013. In October 2013 my MD weighed me and I had lost 23lbs in 8 months. I went from 210lbs to 187lbs. I was so proud. I was so excited that I decided to re-vamp my routine and lose ANOTHER 23lbs for my next annual visit to really impress my doctor.

    So starting in October, I started bringing salads to work everyday instead of leftovers or sandwiches. Good salads. Mixed greens with tuna fish, hardboiled egg, or grilled chicken and light dressing. I eat low/non-fat greek yogurt every day. Dinner is also (usually) good stuff with chicken, ground turkey, chicken sausage, veggies, etc. Recently I cut out soda, even diet soda. Just drinking water and coffee.

    I admit on weekends I am more lax with what I eat and staying under, but most weeks, I am right on target. My macros are all in proportion and I do 30min cardio 2x week. Recently started to add strength training to the mix too. Nothing crazy though. Also, since it is cold out now, I am not excersizing as much. I used to walk 2.5mi everyday in the summer and fall. I am not doing that anymore and going to the gym more than 2x a week is difficult considering my work days (plus commute time) is close to 12hrs/day, 5 days a week. So walking on breaks was the best way to get exercize in.

    So WHY WHY WHY WHY have I been hovering around the same 2-3lbs FOR TWO MONTHS??? I'm just maintaining at this point and my diet has IMPROVED! What happened to the formula "weight loss is 20% exercize, 80% diet"?? Even if I go a little over each week, I must have lost SOMETHING BY NOW.

    WHAT IS HAPPENING? I am so incredibly frustrated and I feel like I am just doomed to be fat forever.

    Well.. firstly, congratulations! :drinker:

    I'm trying to finish off my last 10 pounds before my physical in January. Funny how it feels more serious when your getting on the "offical doctors sale." lol.:noway:

    I'm not a professional, nutritionist, health expert or anything like that .. but sometimes I think my body gets used to what I'm eating or what exercises I try to do daily, and it just plateaus. I get frustrated when I do everything "right," but I'm still stuck at the same weight for weeks.. and then one day, BAM! It flies off over night. I think I have to "shock" my body, somehow.. or drown it in water.. reduce my salt intake... I'm not always sure I'm doing the right thing, so I try everything and just hope one thing I'm doing will make the scale tip.:huh:

    Have you tried keeping measurements, or paying attention to how your clothes feel? I know the scale is the devil and we can sometimes become reliant on the number.. but maybe if you could see that you are getting smaller or physically feeling better - even if the scale's staying the same?

    I really don't know the answer .. but I just wanted to say, I feel ya!

    Best wishes... and good luck! Keep it up, something will happen. :flowerforyou:
  • mrsamanda86
    mrsamanda86 Posts: 869 Member
    1 - you are eating more than you think you are.

    2 - you are exercising less than you used to be.

    3 - as you lose weight, the number of calories you can eat and still lose weight starts to decline.

    This pretty much sums it up hon. Weigh and log EVERYTHING, recheck your goals, and exercise more.
  • JessyLovesJCS
    JessyLovesJCS Posts: 169 Member
    Oh, I hear you! I've been stalled for 6 weeks now. I've rededicated myself to better eating and exercise, but I always weigh/measure every single thing I eat and underestimate MFPs calories burned for exercise, and mostly stay under calories. I drink water and herbal tea, have had only 8oz of alcohol in 8 weeks. Nothing is happening...

    Except that I have lost 3 inches off my waist and 2.5 off my thighs and 2 inches of my hips.
  • diannethegeek
    diannethegeek Posts: 14,776 Member
    1 - you are eating more than you think you are.

    2 - you are exercising less than you used to be.

    3 - as you lose weight, the number of calories you can eat and still lose weight starts to decline.

    This pretty much sums it up hon. Weigh and log EVERYTHING, recheck your goals, and exercise more.

    All of this. Plus, how lax are you on the weekends? I know my weekends can easily cancel out my deficit if I don't log. If you aren't already (we can't see your diary) try logging your weekends as well to see what's happening there.
  • bobbijodmb
    bobbijodmb Posts: 463 Member
    1 - you are eating more than you think you are.

    2 - you are exercising less than you used to be.

    3 - as you lose weight, the number of calories you can eat and still lose weight starts to decline.

    this is exactly it. It is frustrating-- maybe what you can do is increase the intensity of your 30 minute workouts and cut some calories here and there or add in small changes- park further away, move more.

    Best of luck, it is frustrating, but its part of weightloss, we have all been there