Does anyone else think this about plateauing?

Wookinpanub
Wookinpanub Posts: 635 Member
in Motivation and Support
I started in March and the first 15-20 lbs were easy and I was really motivated. But so many times after successful weighs ins and losing 2-3 lbs I would have this thought:

"I worked incredibly hard to lose these last 2 lbs but I just can't see myself continuing and getting under 2XX"

I have thought this a lot and probably thought I could never get under 230, 220, 210 but it has happened. Why does it take a ton of effort and dedication just to lose 2 lbs a week? It overwhelming to think I need to stick with my plan for another month to get the final 14 lbs.
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Replies

  • seltzermint555
    seltzermint555 Posts: 10,740 Member
    Maybe I'm missing something here, but why the urgency? If you're eating at a deficit that is comfortable for you then why the need to get to goal so quickly?

    I do understand thinking "I'll probably never get under X number of lb"...that's something I've thought all the way through my weight loss. When I went under my previous "lowest adult weight" I was totally shocked as I didn't think it was possible.
  • Wookinpanub
    Wookinpanub Posts: 635 Member
    Not urgency but the feeling I won't be able to get there. It's hard to describe I guess. Combination of the incredible amount of effort it takes just to lose 2 measly lbs, how I struggle with eating and how I don't see myself getting that thin.

    Maybe it is because I worked incredibly hard this past week with a lot of sacrifices on the diet side and just not sure I can have that same intensity for another month or so.
  • FindingAmy77
    FindingAmy77 Posts: 1,268 Member
    In the beginning I got so frustrated about the plateaus but now I just think of them as good practice for my maintenance phase. Its all about perspective and sticking to plan even when the scale doesn't show you the number you want. Be patient. It took a long time to get to your current weight, it will take a long time to get to your ultimate goal but even then you wont be done paying attention to what you eat or do to keep it off. Its all about perspective and patience. :flowerforyou:
  • FindingAmy77
    FindingAmy77 Posts: 1,268 Member
    Not urgency but the feeling I won't be able to get there. It's hard to describe I guess. Combination of the incredible amount of effort it takes just to lose 2 measly lbs, how I struggle with eating and how I don't see myself getting that thin.

    Maybe it is because I worked incredibly hard this past week with a lot of sacrifices on the diet side and just not sure I can have that same intensity for another month or so.

    can I just add that two pounds is lost is two whole packages of butter?? celebrate all losses and just know that the smaller you get you lose even slower. But the struggle is worth it.
  • Dichotomy1976
    Dichotomy1976 Posts: 93 Member
    As the poster above said, go find something in your cupboard or fridge that weighs 2lbs (or 1 kilo) to get a real world idea of what you have lost. Losing 2lbs takes a deficit of 7000 calories to your diet which is around 3 days worth of food you'd eat if you was maintaining. I'm guessing you have a false image of how weight loss should work through shows like the biggest loser as 2lbs is a great amount to lose. If you are just in this to race to your goal I can guarantee you will put it back on once you finish dieting.
  • thegreatcanook
    thegreatcanook Posts: 2,419 Member
    You have to be in it for the long haul!!! I'm 2 years into my journey...and I have struggle with plateaus and patience!
  • TavistockToad
    TavistockToad Posts: 35,719 Member
    with 14lbs to lose a 2lb per week deficit is very agressive... 0.5 to 1lb per week is a good rate of loss for the last few pounds and helps minimise muscle loss.
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  • Jannalicious
    Jannalicious Posts: 215 Member
    Nearly 2 years of faithful posting. And I've been at the same weight as I was a year ago. I still have 50 lbs to lose and yes it's frustrating. I'm busting my butt everyday to lose just one more pound and doesn't seem to happen. I've completely busted the calories in vs calories out theory! I love riding my bike and normal days are 16 miles or more. I'm burning 1100-1300 or more calories and eating most days at 2000 or slightly more. Yup no weight loss. I feel like I'm definitely learning to maintain nicely. Each day I wake up ready to try again. Yes I have days where I'm absolutely perfect! Hit my macros and the works. Then there are days when my meals are completely horrid. Yesterday was one of them. But I know and I feel with every part off who I am that if I just keep working on it. Doing the best I can. I will succeed!
  • MegE_N
    MegE_N Posts: 245 Member
    I have some trouble sometimes - particularly when I hit 20lbs. I had no other near-term goals at that point and the moment I saw that I was 20lbs down my motivation just left me in a giant WOOSH. I was really scared that was the end for me.

    But I kept going. This weekend I picked up my friend's baby who weighs about 20lbs she said. I couldn't believe that I had removed that amount of weight from my body. I didn't feel any different, I didn't think I looked any different, but that was not a light baby!

    Right now I believe I'll reach my halfway point. But I still can't believe I'll ever be under 200lbs (which is about 20lbs away at this point). It's been years since I was that low, it's impossible.

    But anything beyond 20lbs had felt impossible ... so just gotta keep going.
  • keefmac
    keefmac Posts: 313 Member
    I consider not gaining as a good result and losing an even better one!.
  • joyfuljoy65
    joyfuljoy65 Posts: 317 Member
    It is hard - and after 2 years of logging every day it doesn't get easier but it does become habit. If you can make this a habit rather than a magic number to reach and then sigh a huge sigh of relief, you will not only reach your goals but maintain them.
  • SpicesOfLife
    SpicesOfLife Posts: 290 Member
    im wondering, you say you are not sure if you can do this another month, but how do you expect the rest of your life to continue after youve reached your goal? you wont be able to go back to your old eating habits - ever, if you want to keep your goal weight.

    its not just something you need to do for a month, its something you need to do for a lifetime, so if you are having trouble with the restrictions youve put upon yourself then you need to alter your "program" so it becomes something you can live with longterm.
  • Holly_Roman_Empire
    Holly_Roman_Empire Posts: 4,440 Member
    Why do you have a deficit to lose 2-3 lbs per week?!
  • sun_fish
    sun_fish Posts: 864 Member
    Not urgency but the feeling I won't be able to get there. It's hard to describe I guess. Combination of the incredible amount of effort it takes just to lose 2 measly lbs, how I struggle with eating and how I don't see myself getting that thin.

    Maybe it is because I worked incredibly hard this past week with a lot of sacrifices on the diet side and just not sure I can have that same intensity for another month or so.

    Sounds like you may need to consider a diet break for a week or two, and lightening up on the aggressive weight loss goal of 2 pounds per week. I don't think one needs to suffer when losing weight, and it sounds like you are miserable.
  • jrwms714
    jrwms714 Posts: 421 Member
    Been there - a million times. I am now 7 lbs. from goal and it would be very easy to just say I'm that close and be done with it. I know that it could take me 6 - 9 months to lose that. But the thing is, I don't see this as a "plan" at all. I see this as a lifestyle and a way to be healthy 'way into my later years. Exercise and healthy eating are important for that. Weight loss is a benefit and helps to maintain my goal of being healthy for the rest of my life. However, I try not to make it the sole reason for what I do in these arenas. Try to consider that it's not about the scale, but about changing your lifestyle. And give yourself permission to be proud of yourself for all that you have accomplished so far. For me, I go to the gym 5x/week and do lots of cardio/weights/circuitry, etc. And while I am there, I see people in their 80's working out ... I see some of them have surgery, and then come back and work more slowly, but work out ... I want to be those people. I hope you do, too!
  • Kotuliak
    Kotuliak Posts: 259 Member
    Why does it take a ton of effort and dedication just to lose 2 lbs a week? It overwhelming to think I need to stick with my plan for another month to get the final 14 lbs.
    Part of getting there, and staying there, is to find a comfortable lifestyle. How long do you think you can maintain if it constantly takes "a ton of effort and dedication"? I know I couldn't do that!

    I think the key is finding the lifestyle that allows you to work towards your goals but is reasonably comfortable. Sure, there is always some level of effort, but it should not feel overwhelming.
  • MadDogManor
    MadDogManor Posts: 1,531 Member
    Nearly 2 years of faithful posting. And I've been at the same weight as I was a year ago. I still have 50 lbs to lose and yes it's frustrating. I'm busting my butt everyday to lose just one more pound and doesn't seem to happen. I've completely busted the calories in vs calories out theory! I love riding my bike and normal days are 16 miles or more. I'm burning 1100-1300 or more calories and eating most days at 2000 or slightly more. Yup no weight loss. I feel like I'm definitely learning to maintain nicely. Each day I wake up ready to try again. Yes I have days where I'm absolutely perfect! Hit my macros and the works. Then there are days when my meals are completely horrid. Yesterday was one of them. But I know and I feel with every part off who I am that if I just keep working on it. Doing the best I can. I will succeed!

    Man, I could've written this, mostly word for word
  • eels4peels
    eels4peels Posts: 229 Member
    When I first started losing weight it was ALL about the numbers. First I wanted to be in the 230s and then hit 199 and then 170. I've managed to hit all my goals, but once I hit 170 it's like my body was like "Well, I think I'm comfortable here" and I've been around this weight for the past 3 years maybe. I was devastated at first, but then just decided to bump the scale, just use the numbers as a reference and focus on being a healthier and happier individual. I don't think of me not losing weight as being a plateau anymore. I think of it more as I'm getting the correct amount of food and doing the correct amount of lifting to maintain a body that I dreamed of having when I was 300 pounds. I could care less if I shed another pound, I just want to be stronger and be proud of my accomplishments.
  • sarahsamuels82
    sarahsamuels82 Posts: 51 Member
    The reason that your weight loss slows down is that your body
    1) Get used to your new lifestyle and adjusts your metabolism accordingly
    2) You are lighter now and so you generally use less energy to do the same things as when you were heavier

    I too get frustrated with slow progress, but I am just 4-5lb away from my goal now and usually lose just half a pound to a pound a week! The lighter you get, the harder it is.
    What I have found to help is to cycle my calories. So for example instead of having the same amount of cals every day, I will have 3 'high' days a week on my weight training days and then 4 'low' days, where i'll do very light cardio like walking.

    It keeps your body guessing and helps to break through plateaus. Plus you can eat LOADS on the workout days which helps me mentally!
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    Maybe with 14 Lbs to go you should set a more reasonable calorie goal...with 14 Lbs to lose, you really shouldn't be trying to drop 2 Lbs per week.
  • yopeeps025
    yopeeps025 Posts: 8,680 Member
    If you are always in calorie deficit there is not such thing as a plateau. If you always change up there workout routine with always calorie deficit your body cannot get used to it.
  • seltzermint555
    seltzermint555 Posts: 10,740 Member
    im wondering, you say you are not sure if you can do this another month, but how do you expect the rest of your life to continue after youve reached your goal? you wont be able to go back to your old eating habits - ever, if you want to keep your goal weight.

    its not just something you need to do for a month, its something you need to do for a lifetime, so if you are having trouble with the restrictions youve put upon yourself then you need to alter your "program" so it becomes something you can live with longterm.

    I agree with this. I wanted to come back and respond after your second post in this thread, OP, but I wasn't sure how to word my opinion and this poster above did it perfectly.

    When I was still in the zone of 30+ pounds I wanted to lose, 1.5/week was ideal and pretty comfortable. Now I've had to move down to 1 lb per week and I'm having more success with that and it's so much easier. Of course our calorie goals may differ widely based on things like gender, h/w, activity...but for me, 1.5 lb per week would have meant about 1300 cal/day and 1 lb per week is over 1400 cal/day (before exercise)...doesn't sound like a huge difference but it feels like it.
  • Wookinpanub
    Wookinpanub Posts: 635 Member
    Thanks everyone. I like using other objects to compare the weight I have lost. If I pick up a 45 lb dumbbell which about what I have lost, that dumbbell is HEAVY!

    A lot of people said I need to continue this for a life time. I have just been killing it in the gym lately and pushing myself which feels great but I certainly can't do this much more let alone a life time. Once I hit my goal I was going to cut back a little on the intensity of my workouts
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  • Wookinpanub
    Wookinpanub Posts: 635 Member
    Thanks...do you see anything wrong with being aggressive (low cal + some intermittent fasting) and pushing myself on the workouts so I am losing 2-3 lbs a week until I hit my goal of 195 then cutting back some and aiming for the .5 lbs/week for a while? I wouldn't mind getting to 190-185 range. I am 6 ft 3.
  • Pipsg1rl
    Pipsg1rl Posts: 1,414 Member
    I didn't have a large weight loss needed, but since I'm short it makes a huge difference. Since around August of last year I've lost about 13-15lbs.

    I'm at the last 5 and it's seriously slow going. I set my weight loss to .5 a week when I got to 5 lbs though because I already knew it wouldn't happen fast.

    I am really trying to keep this as my lifestyle and not a quick loss solution. it's so tough sometimes when the scale isn't moving, but I know I can continue to be happy with me where I am.
  • WonderWhitney11
    WonderWhitney11 Posts: 78 Member
    Not urgency but the feeling I won't be able to get there. It's hard to describe I guess. Combination of the incredible amount of effort it takes just to lose 2 measly lbs, how I struggle with eating and how I don't see myself getting that thin.

    Maybe it is because I worked incredibly hard this past week with a lot of sacrifices on the diet side and just not sure I can have that same intensity for another month or so.

    Try this: go to the grocery store and pick up two boxes of butter (4 sticks each) and look at them. That is TWO POUNDS! Seriously... it's not measly. That's a lot of fat to lose.

    My mom set out blocks of butter on the dinner table for me once when I was feeling down about a small weight loss. It really puts it in perspective... it is hard work and it may not seem like anything is happening- but every pound is like a brick of butter melting off your body!
  • zerryz
    zerryz Posts: 168 Member
    Thanks everyone. I like using other objects to compare the weight I have lost. If I pick up a 45 lb dumbbell which about what I have lost, that dumbbell is HEAVY!

    A lot of people said I need to continue this for a life time. I have just been killing it in the gym lately and pushing myself which feels great but I certainly can't do this much more let alone a life time. Once I hit my goal I was going to cut back a little on the intensity of my workouts

    Unfortunately, this is what many do, and find that they gain again, and the yo-yo effect starts. The idea is that you move to lose .5 lbs a week, so you just get used to your lifestyle. So, by the time you hit maintenance, you're pretty much adjusted. You should stop doing special things to hit a goal. When you get to your goal, nothing magic happens. It takes an equal amount of work to stay there. People that are in shape work damn hard to stay there. It takes a lifetime commitment to really want that. It becomes a lifestyle. It's not a destination. That's why people call it a journey. It goes on and on forever.

    ^This. Plateau is a sign that the body is adjusting to the new lighter weight, all part of the process and likely to hit the folks like us who have 60+ lbs to lose. I figure, it took me 10+ years to put on 70+ lbs. I'm a winner if I get rid of them in 3. And I did. Patience. and measure.. Looks like you're overdoing both diet and exercise, hard to sustain over a lifetime. You'll get there. Good luck!
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