Have you been able to lose weight past your lowest plateau?

huango
huango Posts: 1,007 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
Have you been able to lose weight past your lowest plateau?


I’m a stocky 4’11” short athletic-build 42yrs old woman.
→ I’ve never been lower than 116 ever since I hit puberty. Current weight is 119.

For the last 5 years, I’ve been going up and down the same 5+ pounds.
Even when truly focused on my nutrition and workouts (treating it as my 2nd job trying to lose weight for my wedding in 2003), I couldn’t get lower than 116.

→ Is it possible for me to lose 10 pounds, to get to 106 pounds (or lower)?
And maintain it?


What have you done?
Did you make it an obsession? Do you have a ‘normal’ life?
How long did you maintain it?


I hate being short.
My body seems to only handle 1000-1300 calories before putting on weight. Unless I’m running every other day and eating 1500 calories or less, those same 5 pounds come back on.

Currently:
- lift heavy weights 1hr every other day
- 15 minutes of KB swing/squats once/twice a week
- food: meat and veggies, low simple carbs
- Lower calories Mon-Thursday, saving calories toward the weekend, AIMING for average 1400/day.

If I don’t “diet” (focus on my macros, eat ‘normal’ w/out going crazy like all-you-can-eat buffets), I easily average 1800/day. Since I don’t work out every day burning 500+ calories, I gain weight unless I’m “dieting”.


I am asking to see if it is possible for me to get past these darn same 5+ pounds.

Thank you for your help.
Amanda

Replies

  • rosebette
    rosebette Posts: 1,660 Member
    I'm in the same boat at 120 lbs. and 5'1.5" and have quite a few MFP friends who are fighting the same battle. It could be your body type, too, if you are larger build or muscular. I have lost inches over the summer through working out and weight training, but no further weight loss. I think I got to 118 for about 2 weeks in 2012 when my father died -- not exactly the way I want to lose weight, from stress and tragedy.
  • VelveteenArabian
    VelveteenArabian Posts: 758 Member
    If you're eating 1800 calories and gaining weight, you're not eating at maintenance mode. If you regain those 5 pounds, keep eating 1800 per day and stop gaining, THEN you are at maintenance mode - for that weight.

    If you eat 1500 and lose, then you're at a deficit.

    Your maintenance mode is somewhere between 1500 and 1800 calories per day, with exercise.
  • skruttan44
    skruttan44 Posts: 86 Member
    I am also 4'11", it is very hard to eat at a deficit at our height when there is not much to lose left.

    Calculators says 1440 cal/day on a sedentary level ( which I would be on a non exercise day I figure) so there is not much to work with (and yes people , this is not bmr , bmr is only 1202 for me. Frustrating being short...exercise is the only way to keep weight off or we wouldn't eat much at all without immediately gaining tons! :grumble:
  • seltzermint555
    seltzermint555 Posts: 10,740 Member
    I doubt this is very helpful to you because I have always been obese or morbidly obese (until recently) in my adult life so it is not a comparison to your situation! But I figure maybe it could be helpful for the sake of others who are larger and click on this topic. Anyway, I honestly did not consciously diet that much in my 20's but the lowest I ever got to was 227 lb when I was 24-25 years old. When I joined My Fitness Pal I was at 262 (age 36) and my first goal here was to hit 227. I had serious doubts that I would go lower. Seeing 226 on the scale was exciting for me! I am now at 173 lb, my lowest weight since age 12...so that previous plateau years ago was breakable :-)
  • mcusumano95
    mcusumano95 Posts: 15 Member
    I feel your pain. At 5'2 3/4 inches, I am constant battling my weight and at 54, youth is not necessarily in my favor. In recent years I have had slightly better control. I was always told I should be 110 pounds years ago. I was there for about 15 minutes once in my life, (13 years old) I am not where I should be now, but about 2 years ago I got down to 118 pounds. Weight lifting and measured portions were the key and I was the most fit I had ever been. I was wearing size 2 and even a zero, Never had that happen! And I still had curves. I guess what I am trying to say is that a muscular 118 is like being 112. Look at the fit of your clothes and the curve of your muscles. I have seen people at 130 pounds look far slimmer than some people who were 115 pounds and looked pudgy because they had no muscle.
  • SezxyStef
    SezxyStef Posts: 15,267 Member
    I never thought I would be able to get below 165...I would hit that weight and feel "stuck"

    Until I was accurate with my logging...

    now I am at 149...

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