Cheat Day To Break Plateau
Replies
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I did accurately and consistently track my calories while eating right but I didn't lose weight. Thats what led up to frustration and giving up.
99% of the time, that's impossible. You either weren't counting correctly, overestimated your burns, and/or got frustrated over water weight gains and gave up.0 -
I was always thin until the age of 21. Then something tragic happened in my life and I have been around 20-30 pounds above my ideal weight for the last few years. I have attempted diets and failed. In my recent diet attempts I find my self at the same resistance weight where I plateau and can't break through. That is why I'm trying such a radical attempt this time.
So the radical attempt, I assume, is to eat ~600 calories a day? What have you done in your recent diet attempts that ended up failing, and why did they fail?
Well what discouraged me in the past is when I would dedicate myself to eating healthy and exercising only to see no results. Its different this time as I'm on a whole new level of dedication...borderline obsession, you could say.
Were you tracking calories?
Back then I tracked calories but cheated or gave up often. I've never been as motivated as I am now though.
What motivates you now? Losing it quickly? Rigid control? Noting you feel borderline obsessed, and feel more motivated by calories, all points to a disordered eating pattern.
What do you expect to happen to your body once you up calories from 600 to 2000?
What happens if, upon dieting at lower calories, you reach your goal weight and aren't happy. Would you attempt to lose more, or reevaluate your calorie goal?
I'm motivated by the fact I will look good at my ideal weight. I know I sound impatient but yes I would like to lose the weight as soon as possible. Once I reach my ideal weight I will have control over it. I definitely am not prone to mental eating disorders such as anorexia or bulemia so once I reach my goal weight I will absolutely be content.
Being "prone" doesn't really mean anything. There's a potential genetic component of EDs, but in general, anyone can fall prey to the disorders.
Regardless, I was asking certain questions because: you may not look as good at your ideal weight as you once did.
You're right that people with a tremendous amount of weight to lose won't "go into starvation mode" or hemorrhage muscle.
You're not obese, though. You're barely overweight.
Muscle requires more calories to maintain than fat. That is not "starvation mode." That is not "opinion." It is fact.
As a result, when people with less weight to lose (see, you, under 50 lbs to lose) eat very low calories, the body will lose weight... but it will go for muscle first. You could argue with me, but outside of any odd blogs you might have gotten your "information" from, the body will go for muscle first.
Very rarely does someone like their body when they've shed LBM in favor of preserving it (by eating at a more moderate deficit).
So I ask, if you don't like your body at your supposed "ideal weight," what would you do?
Therein lies the trap, or the "cycle" of, "Well, I lost/kept losing at 600 calories... let me do that for longer."
It doesn't end well, and I'm not sure why your odd anecdotal assumptions coupled with unsubstantiated claims seems to make you think otherwise.
I can do anecdotes, too: I was on the road you were on. For a long time. It didn't end well.0 -
You willing to lose your hair to do it? Cause that's one of the side effects of extreme calorie deficit.
A.C.E. Certified Personal/Group FitnessTrainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition0 -
Couple of things I would comment on:
1 - your not obese, however....these "BMI" calculators that go on just height and weight need to be taken with a pinch of salt..I don't believe you can accurately assess your healthy weight such with such a simplistic method and are a guide only...% body fat is a much better gauge to go by but much harder to measure at home. A good Gym could help you out with this, as well as give you some good advise about what your targets should be for your age and build
2 - You've not mentioned anything about exercise...losing and maintaining weight loss requires not just calorie and nutrient monitoring but an appropriate amount of exercise, the two go hand in hand exercise helps immensely with your metabolic rate and also with your internal health (Its not just about how you look on the outside). Perhaps another method of attaining your aim is to look at upping the calorie intake but also increasing your weekly burn?
PS - I am (Spooky) exactly your weight and height, although my weight is rapidly dropping by around 2lbs a week. I have a daily target of a little under 1600 calories, but three times a week I cycle 13.5 miles, train in Kung Fu for 1 1/2 hours and then cycle home. Going on minimum figures this is around a 6000 calorie burn per week plus my job is not sedatory..all factors....
Just thinking perhaps you are looking at just one area (Calories) where other things could help you too
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BUMP0
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I was always thin until the age of 21. Then something tragic happened in my life and I have been around 20-30 pounds above my ideal weight for the last few years. I have attempted diets and failed. In my recent diet attempts I find my self at the same resistance weight where I plateau and can't break through. That is why I'm trying such a radical attempt this time.
So the radical attempt, I assume, is to eat ~600 calories a day? What have you done in your recent diet attempts that ended up failing, and why did they fail?
Well what discouraged me in the past is when I would dedicate myself to eating healthy and exercising only to see no results. Its different this time as I'm on a whole new level of dedication...borderline obsession, you could say.
Were you tracking calories?
Back then I tracked calories but cheated or gave up often. I've never been as motivated as I am now though.
What motivates you now? Losing it quickly? Rigid control? Noting you feel borderline obsessed, and feel more motivated by calories, all points to a disordered eating pattern.
What do you expect to happen to your body once you up calories from 600 to 2000?
What happens if, upon dieting at lower calories, you reach your goal weight and aren't happy. Would you attempt to lose more, or reevaluate your calorie goal?
I'm motivated by the fact I will look good at my ideal weight. I know I sound impatient but yes I would like to lose the weight as soon as possible. Once I reach my ideal weight I will have control over it. I definitely am not prone to mental eating disorders such as anorexia or bulemia so once I reach my goal weight I will absolutely be content.
Being "prone" doesn't really mean anything. There's a potential genetic component of EDs, but in general, anyone can fall prey to the disorders.
Regardless, I was asking certain questions because: you may not look as good at your ideal weight as you once did.
You're right that people with a tremendous amount of weight to lose won't "go into starvation mode" or hemorrhage muscle.
You're not obese, though. You're barely overweight.
Muscle requires more calories to maintain than fat. That is not "starvation mode." That is not "opinion." It is fact.
As a result, when people with less weight to lose (see, you, under 50 lbs to lose) eat very low calories, the body will lose weight... but it will go for muscle first. You could argue with me, but outside of any odd blogs you might have gotten your "information" from, the body will go for muscle first.
Very rarely does someone like their body when they've shed LBM in favor of preserving it (by eating at a more moderate deficit).
So I ask, if you don't like your body at your supposed "ideal weight," what would you do?
Therein lies the trap, or the "cycle" of, "Well, I lost/kept losing at 600 calories... let me do that for longer."
It doesn't end well, and I'm not sure why your odd anecdotal assumptions coupled with unsubstantiated claims seems to make you think otherwise.
I can do anecdotes, too: I was on the road you were on. For a long time. It didn't end well.
Thanks you're very discerning.0 -
BUMP0
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You willing to lose your hair to do it? Cause that's one of the side effects of extreme calorie deficit.
A.C.E. Certified Personal/Group FitnessTrainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
haha yeah choosing between being bald or fat is a tough call. If it came down to it I'd sacrifice my hair to lose a substantial amount of weight. There is always hair transplant surgery which is very affordable these days.0 -
Once I reach my ideal weight, maintenance would be organic lean meats, fruits, veggies, whole grains. Probably around 2,000 calories a day.
Even if you do get to your ideal weight this way, you do realise once you start eating 2000 calories a day, your weight is going to shoot right back up, except that by this point you'd have lost all muscle mass, then you'd be just skinny fat. Well good luck to you, if you manage to achieve this, you should probably see a doctor....guessing there might be a case for malnourishment0 -
Once I reach my ideal weight, maintenance would be organic lean meats, fruits, veggies, whole grains. Probably around 2,000 calories a day.
Even if you do get to your ideal weight this way, you do realise once you start eating 2000 calories a day, your weight is going to shoot right back up, except that by this point you'd have lost all muscle mass, then you'd be just skinny fat. Well good luck to you, if you manage to achieve this, you should probably see a doctor....guessing there might be a case for malnourishment
I disagree. That's the mainstream opinion but not necessarily fact.0 -
A lot of people lose weight safely with starvation diets. Christian Bale dropped 50 pounds over the course of a few months eating just a can of tuna and an apple a day.
Really??? Who would want to do that..........!!!0 -
A lot of people lose weight safely with starvation diets. Christian Bale dropped 50 pounds over the course of a few months eating just a can of tuna and an apple a day.
Really??? Who would want to do that..........!!!
People who want to lose weight?0 -
I feel that with weight loss as with most other things in life, we should question everything. You people have some adamant opinions about weight loss. Most of you formed these opinions from things you read online or heard by word of mouth. The fact is all these theories are unproven, the only way to truly know is to test it yourself. You're all nice people and i appreciate the people who go out of their way to help others here, but what sets me apart from you is I am actually testing these weight loss theories. You say starvation diets won't result in consistent weight loss, well i doubt you have ever put your opinion to the test. You put your faith in some unsubstantiated thought you heard from a peer. I'll record my results and eventually put your weight loss theories to the test as well. My point is don't swallow and follow. Question everything and perform your own tests. There is a lot of nonsense out there.0
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Just skirting around the low calorie question; the OP asked whether a cheat day would "help". I've had it help when I've been hovering around the same weight for some time.0
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Just skirting around the low calorie question; the OP asked whether a cheat day would "help". I've had it help when I've been hovering around the same weight for some time.
Thank you. That's mainly what I was trying to figure out with this post.0 -
Weight loss isn't linear, you won't lose constantly.. that being said a plateau is more like 2-3 months of no movement, not a week.. Get a digital food scale, measure your food, find your TDEE (do a search if your not sure what that is) subtract 20% from that number, and eat that..
I vote no on a cheat day for you.. the 10 lbs was water weight, you eat a big excessive calorie meal/day and that 10 will be right back.
If i'm in the second week of a plateau why would i stand idly by for 2-3 months as opposed to making a change and nipping it in the bud?0 -
Well I've been eating under 600 calories daily for the last two weeks. Maybe if I eat a normal amount of calories for a few days my body will start metabolizing fat.
600 calories/day is (literally) concentration camp rations.
If you were truly eating under 600 calories/day, you would be losing weight, no matter what.0 -
I used to do this too. But why not if you are going to binge...binge out on exercise? We always think of food first for rewards and such.0
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I used to do this too. But why not if you are going to binge...binge out on exercise? We always think of food first for rewards and such.
Yes, because exercise bulimia is exactly what this poster (and all the lurkers out there reading this and thinking it's a good idea) needs to add to his routine.
No.0
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