Help with Plateau after 35lb loss..

skinnynicky53
skinnynicky53 Posts: 26 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
I have opened up my food diary. According to MFP, i should be losing, but I am staying the same/gaining. I have been working out quite a bit.. walking a few miles a day, and at least once a week do some kind of intense day activity (ie: this saturday I hiked for 6 hours - feeling it today as i am extremely hungry). I try to do a long bike ride, hike, run or such at a min once a week. I do light cardio (walk/rebounding) almost daily, and some strength (push ups, squats, light weights etc) maybe 1-2 days/week.
I feel like I am going to be at this weight forever!! Is it the alcohol? Not enough cals? a combo of things...?

Stats:
Female, 33 yo, 5'4"
history of yo-yo dieting- was up to 170 in high school, dieted down to 120lbs for my wedding about 10 years ago. Maintained 140-150lbs in my 20's. A few years ago, i did a metabolism 'fix' and gained almost up to 200#s until i had enough. Did the dukan diet / cal counting to get down to about 165lbs. And now, i am stuck! I dont want to do any more dumb fad diets, just something I can manage. Focusing on toning and being strong and active... as for my endurance it is WAY up... i was rock climbing and hiking this weekend, and still had energy to run at the end of all of that. Perhaps i need to focus on muscle, and forget the scale??
Advice and criticisms welcome.

Replies

  • dmenchac
    dmenchac Posts: 447 Member
    What did you do to burn 1500 calories on Saturday?

    1500 is alot to burn for rock climbing/hiking.

    Your diary looks alright. Some things are a little bit off, like using slices and servings instead of weight.
  • wilsoje74
    wilsoje74 Posts: 1,720 Member
    I think you may be eating a little too much and overestimating your exercise cals a bit. Also it only matters how many calories you eat, but you may feel more satisfied if you incorporate more fresh fruits and veggies into your diet, eat out less, limit sugary and packaged foods, and less alcohol. Doing these things may help with weight loss. I don't advocate all "clean eating" or anything g, but maybe just have beer/alcohol one night a week, and just one or 2 sweet treats per day. I see a lot if candy -gummy bears, granola bars, chocolate, ice cream.
  • skinnynicky53
    skinnynicky53 Posts: 26 Member
    Saturday was an exceptionally crazy hiking day where I walked/hiked/rock climbed for 6 hours, so I lowered the amount of time to 200 minutes to account for it, although I was incredibly sore / bruised yesterday and today ravenously hungry.

    I will try to cut back on treats, especially alcohol... but isn't a calorie a calorie at the end of the day?

    As for tracking cals burned, I typically enter on the low side.. or time it as best as possible. I walk allot, even from my apt to my car is a few blocks, then drive to work, at work it varies (up and down stairs combined w/ sitting for 5 hours), then i take a 30-50 minute walk every day, then back home, walk a few blocks. That is a typical day, sometimes i also add in work-outs, and once a week do a Hour min (or a whole day) of something intense and challenging.

    I just downloaded a pedometer app which links to MFP to help with accuracy and will see if my cardio entered is similar to the app's calories burned for the day...
  • SideSteel
    SideSteel Posts: 11,068 Member
    If I were in your shoes I would:

    1) Use a food scale regularly and make sure you are logging everything accurately.
    2) Set your calorie and macronutrient intake to approximately the following for 1-2 weeks and see what happens when you do this AND the #1 above.

    1600 calories
    125 carbohydrate
    60 fat
    125 protein

    (I'd set it to the above on both training and rest days and just eat to this value daily)
  • Francl27
    Francl27 Posts: 26,371 Member
    Do you weigh your food? If not, you might be eating more than you think. And/or overestimating exercise calories.
  • skinnynicky53
    skinnynicky53 Posts: 26 Member
    I do have a food scale but needs new batteries, I tend to scan in everything if it comes packaged (i was surprised to find even that can be off, so i adjust). I might be eating more- so yes I will change my goal settings, and see what happens. Thanks! :)

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