(My Story) From 190 to 170 to Plateau to Quitting
medlaura
Posts: 282 Member
2 years ago this day i joined myfitnesspal. started eating 1000-1200 calories a day (ate clean 80% of the time) and worked out regularly 60-90 minutes a day. I mostly did the elliptical because it was easier for me then running and burned 2X the calories.
June 2012 my start weight was 190, i was obsessed with my scale, weigh in everyday for 3 months, that is what helped me stay focused and pushed me to try a little harder that day.
August 2012 i weighed in at 170 pounds (lowest I've seen my weight since 2010, so i was happy)
THEN, i hit a plateau, I was so frustrated. I was working so hard and only lost 1 pound a week. Where as before I was losing 3-4 pounds a week. So I just quit. Why work hard when i didn't lose weight.
At the time i didn't know what a plateau was (I actually learned what it was this year when a gym trainer mentioned it). Basically, it's when you lose some much weight in such little time that your body is just trying to catch up with the changes, therefore you don't lose as much weight as you once did when you started.
If only i would of known this 2 years ago. I am now weigh in at 215 pounds. It sucks knowing i have to start all over again. But i'm glad that i am aware of that evil Plateau!
Moral of the story: Don't quit, the Plateau is out to get you, don't let it win. don't give up!
June 2012 my start weight was 190, i was obsessed with my scale, weigh in everyday for 3 months, that is what helped me stay focused and pushed me to try a little harder that day.
August 2012 i weighed in at 170 pounds (lowest I've seen my weight since 2010, so i was happy)
THEN, i hit a plateau, I was so frustrated. I was working so hard and only lost 1 pound a week. Where as before I was losing 3-4 pounds a week. So I just quit. Why work hard when i didn't lose weight.
At the time i didn't know what a plateau was (I actually learned what it was this year when a gym trainer mentioned it). Basically, it's when you lose some much weight in such little time that your body is just trying to catch up with the changes, therefore you don't lose as much weight as you once did when you started.
If only i would of known this 2 years ago. I am now weigh in at 215 pounds. It sucks knowing i have to start all over again. But i'm glad that i am aware of that evil Plateau!
Moral of the story: Don't quit, the Plateau is out to get you, don't let it win. don't give up!
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Replies
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This is just what I needed today. The first month I was losing 2 – 3 pounds every week and now this month I have not lost a pound. I am still staying within my calorie range and I still work out every day. I was starting to get very discouraged until I read your post. Thanks for the inspiration to keep going, I was really thinking about quitting.
I am sure you will have great success now that you are aware of the evil Plateau
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This is just what I needed today. The first month I was losing 2 – 3 pounds every week and now this month I have not lost a pound. I am still staying within my calorie range and I still work out every day. I was starting to get very discouraged until I read your post. Thanks for the inspiration to keep going, I was really thinking about quitting.
I am sure you will have great success now that you are aware of the evil Plateau
This is why i posted this, for people that are in the plateau phase. I hope it makes a difference.0 -
The first time I lost weight in college, this is exactly how it was for me.
I started at 245, and in 6 months I'd dropped down to 195. From there to 175 took me -forever- Though I was too frustrated to see that it was still coming off.
I wish I'd been patient. I wish I hadn't given up. I gained it all back and then some until I hit 268 and began again.
I won't quit on myself this time. Every ounce is a win.0 -
This is just what I needed today. The first month I was losing 2 – 3 pounds every week and now this month I have not lost a pound. I am still staying within my calorie range and I still work out every day. I was starting to get very discouraged until I read your post. Thanks for the inspiration to keep going, I was really thinking about quitting.
I am sure you will have great success now that you are aware of the evil Plateau
This is why i posted this, for people that are in the plateau phase. I hope it makes a difference.
It does your awesome thanks! Ive gotta lose over 70 pounds :indifferent: :frown:0 -
Hopefully this time around you bypass the scale and focus on this as a lifestyle change not some journey that has to be quick. Goodl luck! You can do it0
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The first time I lost weight in college, this is exactly how it was for me.
I started at 245, and in 6 months I'd dropped down to 195. From there to 175 took me -forever- Though I was too frustrated to see that it was still coming off.
I wish I'd been patient. I wish I hadn't given up. I gained it all back and then some until I hit 268 and began again.
I won't quit on myself this time. Every ounce is a win.
But now we know first hand the dedication it takes! we did it once we can do it again and this time till we hit our goal and stay there :flowerforyou:0 -
Hopefully this time around you bypass the scale and focus on this as a lifestyle change not some journey that has to be quick. Goodl luck! You can do it
Thanks this time around, THANK GOD i am not a scale freak :drinker:0 -
I've gone from 307 to 179 over several years and the hardest was definitely the range of 186-199 for some reason! I feel like I spent the first half of this year, almost, bouncing around in there. Not goin' back.
What helped me break that though was changing my setting from 1.5 lb per week to 1 lb per week. I had about 3 weeks with no loss when I started that, and wondered if I'd made a mistake, but from then on I've been losing steadily again.
Good luck!0 -
W00T! Keep going! it is A life time of fitness!0
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Thank you!
I was very unmotivated today. I am NOT going to give up!!!!0 -
Thank you for posting that info.... I am fairly new here started the end of March and lost 21 lbs very quickly. I have been stuck for several weeks at the same weigh but I am loosing inches. It can be very discouraging when the scale doesn't reflect a loss in numbers.0
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Switching up your training can help you bust through a plateau. Try something new or *gasp* add weight training!
Also remember that as you get smaller it becomes more difficult to lose in a healthful way because you have less to let go of.
Safe and recommended weight loss is 1-2 pounds a week. Anything faster than this and you're setting yourself for potential metabolic and psychological damage. Like you said, every ounce is a win! As long as the number is moving in the right direction - it's working!0 -
Thank you for posting that info.... I am fairly new here started the end of March and lost 21 lbs very quickly. I have been stuck for several weeks at the same weigh but I am loosing inches. It can be very discouraging when the scale doesn't reflect a loss in numbers.
You are not the only one, I think measuring is the way to go when you hit a plateau. Correct me if i'm wrong..0 -
thank you! I have been stuck since May 25th and it is now June 11th. Not long plateau but only seeing +/-1 to 2lbs throughout this time (2.5 weeks). Basically the scale as not moved below the last pound loss. I have just been gaining 1-2 lbs then losing those 1-2lbs. Yea me right? :-(
So happy you came back and you will see results soon again! I'm headed to the gym now. You motivated me0 -
Thank you for posting that info.... I am fairly new here started the end of March and lost 21 lbs very quickly. I have been stuck for several weeks at the same weigh but I am loosing inches. It can be very discouraging when the scale doesn't reflect a loss in numbers.
You are not the only one, I think measuring is the way to go when you hit a plateau. Correct me if i'm wrong..
Good answer. I think I will start measuring too. Do you measure in the morning just like you would do for the scale?0 -
Thank you for posting that info.... I am fairly new here started the end of March and lost 21 lbs very quickly. I have been stuck for several weeks at the same weigh but I am loosing inches. It can be very discouraging when the scale doesn't reflect a loss in numbers.
You are not the only one, I think measuring is the way to go when you hit a plateau. Correct me if i'm wrong..
Good answer. I think I will start measuring too. Do you measure in the morning just like you would do for the scale?
Yes i measure in the mornings as well :-)0 -
great information HUn! I never lost enough to hit the "evil plateau" but its good to know for when i get there!! :bigsmile:0
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Love your honesty and openness. Very Motivating!0
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Yep, right there with you. Been stuck at 189-192 for about a month back and forth. Good post.0
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This is what I'm doing and I think it could help you.
Make a list and list all the things you learned from regaining the weight that you wouldn't have learned if you just kept losing.
Talk about how it feels internally and externally and truly appreciate how much more meaningful your journey will be this time around.0 -
THANK YOU! It is great that you posted this, I feel like every time I lose 5 pounds it has taken so much effort that by the time I lose it I've given up and gain it back again. This time I'm trying to make whole life changes - even though I've tracked every bite and exercised hard about 6 hours/week for an average net of 1500 cal/day for the last 2 1/2 weeks I haven't lost an ounce. But I'm trying to have faith that if I just keep it up, eventually it will work. Stupid metabolism!0
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This is meaningful ya'll because I think lord knows everyone on this site and their mom has got to know I've been stuck in the 180's for SIX MONTHS!
Psssh... But I haven't really given up.
Just started going slightly insane, but in that traditional definition where you repeat the same thing over and over again (diet, exercise) and expect different results.0 -
I am just coming off a 2 month plateau. I wanted to give up so badly. i was pissed nothing was working. But i had already quite in the past and determined to keep trying. I did get past it and am back to losing. You just gotta keep at it!0
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I spent a month gaining and losing the same 3 lbs. I get it... Just got back to that lowest weight (that I only held for one day) and have been on it for a few. Hoping to move below it soon too. So and steady like the tortoise. That is kinda how I run too. 0
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This is my first reply on MFP and I wanted to reply because I was reading the boards for motivation just for this reason. I started in May and lost 17 pounds almost effortlessly. For the month of June I will be lucky to be down 2 or 3 pounds. I feel like I am working out at a higher intensity and have adjusted my diet accordingly, this in theory should equal continued loss. Right?! . I know what a plateau is, but hearing it from someone else was really helpful. Thank you!0
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IMHO the real reason you quit is you weren't practicing a sustainable way of life that would have kept the weight off over the long term......you used the plateau as an excuse to quit.....keep that in mind as you move forward. If you aren't enjoying the journey you will never stick it out long enough to see the end zone. I say this from my own experience ;-)0
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Thank you soooooo much! I just changed my weight lost profile, I've been between 172-193 for the last 2-3 years, I came from 267 to 185 in no time but the last 2 years have been so difficult. I thank you for this post. I will reach my goal of 160 and when I get there I will stay there healthy and ( Comfortably):flowerforyou:0
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Thank you soooooo much! I just changed my weight lost profile, I've been between 172-193 for the last 2-3 years, I came from 267 to 185 in no time but the last 2 years have been so difficult. I thank you for this post. I will reach my goal of 160 and when I get there I will stay there healthy and ( Comfortably):flowerforyou:
Please don't tell me you've been stuck in the 180's for two years.
We might be weightloss story twins!
I'm so, so stuck in the 180's~!0 -
Please don't give up if you've hit a plateau! Make sure that you're not underestimating your food intake and/or overestimating your exercise. Get a check-up at your MD if you're worried. And remember, when the scale goes on strike, look in the mirror. You may be pleasantly surprised at how your body is starting to shape up! It's important to be in a good place mentally. What seems to work for me is the "notes" section on the daily food log page on MFP. I use it to leave myself "orders". I tell myself (in bold print): "DO NOT GIVE UP! STAY FOCUSED! THIS MEANS YOU! YOU CAN DO THIS. NO EXCUSES!" I have no choice. I have told myself what to do, and I won't give up. Find a way to be your own cheerleader. (Of course, I did make sure that my scale wasn't broken...)0
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Amazing story and great work!!!!!0
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