Plateauing - Does your body get stuck on certain weight ranges?
healthy_life2015
Posts: 215 Member
I've noticed that my body tends to get stuck at certain weights. Of course there are lots of reasons for plateaus, but I have noticed that when gaining or losing weight, there are ranges where my weight will stay where it is for a while, regardless of my eating and exercise habits. Then once I move out of that range, my weight will shoot up or down.
For example, I recently spent 2 full weeks in the 175-176 range then dropped 4 pounds in less than a week. My body also gets stuck in the 162-164 range.
This is not necessarily a good or bad thing, just an observation I've made. I'm wondering if others experience this and if you know the science behind it. If this happens to you, do you know how to push yourself through the plateaus? The only thing that works for me is to keep up the healthy habits and wait it out.
For example, I recently spent 2 full weeks in the 175-176 range then dropped 4 pounds in less than a week. My body also gets stuck in the 162-164 range.
This is not necessarily a good or bad thing, just an observation I've made. I'm wondering if others experience this and if you know the science behind it. If this happens to you, do you know how to push yourself through the plateaus? The only thing that works for me is to keep up the healthy habits and wait it out.
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Two weeks is not long enough to be considered a plateau. It's a stall, and it happens. Stick with what you're doing, and if it lasts longer then it's time to reevaluate your logging to see if there are any discrepancies.0
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I am noticing this but don't know why. My logging and working out are accurate and I'm even fitting into smaller sizes. Two independent scales still barely moving over the last month. Very aggravating. My scale is still saying 189lbs yet I'm wearing size 10 pants (US). I don't get it. I would love to see a big drop in the scale. I know it shouldn't be that important but it's hard to feel like I'm making progress. Some coworkers are throwing around the "thin" and "skinny" word but I don't see how that is possible at this weight. I'm not calling it a stall or a plateau, I think it's a combo of a bunch of variables. I should probably watch my sodium more but I still don't think that should be responsible for why the numbers aren't continuing to trend down. Even if they are inflated because of water retention, I think they should be going DOWN.0
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I am noticing this but don't know why. My logging and working out are accurate and I'm even fitting into smaller sizes. Two independent scales still barely moving over the last month. Very aggravating. My scale is still saying 189lbs yet I'm wearing size 10 pants (US). I don't get it. I would love to see a big drop in the scale. I know it shouldn't be that important but it's hard to feel like I'm making progress. Some coworkers are throwing around the "thin" and "skinny" word but I don't see how that is possible at this weight. I'm not calling it a stall or a plateau, I think it's a combo of a bunch of variables. I should probably watch my sodium more but I still don't think that should be responsible for why the numbers aren't continuing to trend down. Even if they are inflated because of water retention, I think they should be going DOWN.
Good for you for sticking with it!! This is why the NSVs are so important (like the smaller pants size!).
I don't know why it is but my body does naturally stick to certain weights. I actually notice it more when I see the scale moving up. I'll be the same weight for a really long time and then suddenly gain 5 lbs.
I try not to get in my head about it and just realize that eating less and moving more will work in the long run, but it can be really hard when the scale is just not moving.0 -
healthy_life2013 wrote: »I've noticed that my body tends to get stuck at certain weights. Of course there are lots of reasons for plateaus, but I have noticed that when gaining or losing weight, there are ranges where my weight will stay where it is for a while, regardless of my eating and exercise habits. Then once I move out of that range, my weight will shoot up or down.
For example, I recently spent 2 full weeks in the 175-176 range then dropped 4 pounds in less than a week. My body also gets stuck in the 162-164 range.
This is not necessarily a good or bad thing, just an observation I've made. I'm wondering if others experience this and if you know the science behind it. If this happens to you, do you know how to push yourself through the plateaus? The only thing that works for me is to keep up the healthy habits and wait it out.
those aren't plateaus...those are simply illustrations of what pretty much all the veterans say around here...weight loss isn't linear...nor is weight gain...and maintenance is always a fluctuating number.0 -
I've done very well so I shouldn't complain. I know there are ups and downs with weight loss. I'm a heck of a lot better off than I was 4.5 months ago! I almost think it's mental. I was so fixated on getting to 50lbs and now I'm crawling past it. I still have plenty of fat to lose so I am a bit surprised it going so slow. I'm also looking forward to being smaller for my vacation and was hoping I'd be deep into the 170s by then (it's March 7). Now that's in serious jeopardy. Interestingly, my sister is following a completely different diet and workout and she's been stuck as well. If anything, she's not eating enough. Go figure. I know that in 6 months or less I will look back on this as a distant memory and living life in maintenance mode...0
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Yes!!
My body seems to like to get stuck around 150-155 or plateau there every time I've lost weight. I'm able to bust through the plateau with preservation amd tweaking but I always have to reassess at that point (which is where I am now). It makes sense though...your body will adapt to your new diet and it will be harder to lose the closer you are to your goal
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Water weight fluctuates. Sometimes you don't poop/pee on a schedule. Then there's potential inaccuracies in logging food/exercise. Those reasons and more are why weight loss isn't linear.
Stop thinking about is as your body being stuck. That mindset makes it sound like your weight is out of your control. Weight loss and gain are not linear. You should see loss over the course of 4-6 weeks if you keep to your plan. If you do not see loss in that amount of time, it's time to reevaluate your logging.0 -
Yes!!
My body seems to like to get stuck around 150-155 or plateau there every time I've lost weight. I'm able to bust through the plateau with preservation amd tweaking but I always have to reassess at that point (which is where I am now). It makes sense though...your body will adapt to your new diet and it will be harder to lose the closer you are to your goal
My experiences are the same but so many people on this site (and others) disagree with this. They say it's CICO.
I'm not close to my goal (or even "normal" weight), I'm still at least 25-30lbs from where I have been most the past decade. I gained weight really fast after an ankle fracture. I'm very analytical and just find it hard to believe that, at least week to week, the scale doesn't trend down. I have been at 189lbs for the last few weeks and hovering around the low 190s for even longer. And that's with eating only 1200 calories (and being VERY OCD with logging) and exercise. I joke to myself that my body is punishing me for not giving it the Skittles it loves... I will wait it out, though. I know I'm doing all the right things.0 -
Yes!!
My body seems to like to get stuck around 150-155 or plateau there every time I've lost weight. I'm able to bust through the plateau with preservation amd tweaking but I always have to reassess at that point (which is where I am now). It makes sense though...your body will adapt to your new diet and it will be harder to lose the closer you are to your goal
Me, too! Like 155 is some kinda of magical weight...and like you, I have to tweak and work hard to push through it but it takes a while. I'm 5'8 so 155 is a pretty good weight anyway - but I'd like to be in the 140's
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tracyannk28 wrote: »Yes!!
My body seems to like to get stuck around 150-155 or plateau there every time I've lost weight. I'm able to bust through the plateau with preservation amd tweaking but I always have to reassess at that point (which is where I am now). It makes sense though...your body will adapt to your new diet and it will be harder to lose the closer you are to your goal
Me, too! Like 155 is some kinda of magical weight...and like you, I have to tweak and work hard to push through it but it takes a while. I'm 5'8 sp 155 is a pretty good weight anyway - but I'd like to be in the 140's
What kinds of things do you do to push through it?0 -
My body seems to love 217-218lbs and the 210-212. I change up my work outs to move past the stalls and plateaus. I try to throw in something I haven't done in awhile. I walk a lot so adding a little jogging during my walks helps.
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i was stuck at 160 for a week. Did the change your calorie intake a few days. Went from net 1400 to 2000 calories and then down to 12000
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i read somewhere your body will get used to you eating a certain amount of calories and you need to switch it up0
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Everybody holds onto a certain weight that feels compfortable for their body.. it honestly goes back to the old ages where fat was stored on the body for survival mode. You just have to show your body that you are not in survival mode, continue to eat healthy, and regularily so it wont want to hold onto that extra fat, try to incorporate some HIIT into your workout routine, and over time, you will see the loss. This happened to me about every 5-10 lbs i lost.0
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I get stuck in the 140's. I'm 5'7. The lowest I've been is 141 and could not for the life of me get past it. I'm not going to do anything I can't maintain (cardio or drop below 1500 calories) to get below 141.
I do find that when I get in the low 140's I tend to "allow" myself certain things, track less. I'm just not as strict. THIS is probably the main reason I get stuck.
Though I still have fat in places I'd like to lose, I know those areas, lower tummy hips thighs and butt are the LAST to go. 141 is very lean and vascular through the chest and arms for me so the # I'm "stuck" at I'm comfortable with keeping.
Right now I want to build muscle but I don't want to gain weight. Go figure. I know the science behind this, I need to eat conservatively over maintenance and lift heavy. However, where I am on my journey, I am not prepared to GAIN. I was fat I never want to go down that slippery slope to being obese again. I still struggle with the scale.
We all get stuck, just keep trucking along.
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I get stuck around 180...because that's generally a weight where I look pretty good...could look better, but I look pretty good...and I get a little sloppy with my diet and have a little splurge here or there or whatever.
I lose weight when I'm consistent and disciplined...every plateau I've ever encountered (true plateau) has been because I've either gotten a little sloppy somewhere in my diet or I'm moving a little less (happens every winter) or some combo of both.0 -
tracyannk28 wrote: »Yes!!
My body seems to like to get stuck around 150-155 or plateau there every time I've lost weight. I'm able to bust through the plateau with preservation amd tweaking but I always have to reassess at that point (which is where I am now). It makes sense though...your body will adapt to your new diet and it will be harder to lose the closer you are to your goal
Me, too! Like 155 is some kinda of magical weight...and like you, I have to tweak and work hard to push through it but it takes a while. I'm 5'8 sp 155 is a pretty good weight anyway - but I'd like to be in the 140's
What kinds of things do you do to push through it?
Things that are pretty unhealthy and would get the MFP community all mad at me for posting it lololol
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I agree with everyone's comments about a TRUE plateau vs. no movement in the scale for a couple of weeks. It is definitely a different situation. It's interesting to hear that others get stuck at certain weights. I like the idea to change up the exercise and tweak the amount of calories you eat.0
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heathbilly wrote: »i was stuck at 160 for a week. Did the change your calorie intake a few days. Went from net 1400 to 2000 calories and then down to 1200
When you went up to 2000, did you just eat larger portions of the same healthy foods you eat typically? Or did you splurge a bit on foods you don't normally eat? I don't like to consider any foods to be "off limits" but my meals are pretty predictable. I think that if I ate much larger portions, I would be stuffed! To eat 500 or so more calories, I think I would have to eat a candy bar or cook with a lot of butter or something. It's amazing how quickly the body gets used to new eating habits. Before starting MFP, I ate SOOO much and now sometimes even the small portions I am eating seem like too much!
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cwolfman13 wrote: »...because I've either gotten a little sloppy somewhere in my diet or I'm moving a little less (happens every winter) or some combo of both.
Experienced this in January. Buckling down and now its slowly moving down again. Sad how low my TDEE is when I don't get out and move. No wonder I was so fat for so long.
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I've done very well so I shouldn't complain. I know there are ups and downs with weight loss. I'm a heck of a lot better off than I was 4.5 months ago! I almost think it's mental. I was so fixated on getting to 50lbs and now I'm crawling past it. I still have plenty of fat to lose so I am a bit surprised it going so slow. I'm also looking forward to being smaller for my vacation and was hoping I'd be deep into the 170s by then (it's March 7). Now that's in serious jeopardy. Interestingly, my sister is following a completely different diet and workout and she's been stuck as well. If anything, she's not eating enough. Go figure. I know that in 6 months or less I will look back on this as a distant memory and living life in maintenance mode...
You have an awesome attitude!!! I have been ADDICTED to this thread. You should check it out if you have not already http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10052379/unexpected-results-of-weight-loss/p1
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My weight comes off the same way--down up down up down up around the same number. Drives me crazy. To deal with it, I weigh and log daily on weightgrapher. The graph there shows me the weekly and monthly losses, the moving average, and current weight compared to 28 days ago. I've also expanded my mental goal weight target date from 1 year to 2 years, realizing that I may only lose 2 pounds a month.0
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tracyannk28 wrote: »tracyannk28 wrote: »Yes!!
My body seems to like to get stuck around 150-155 or plateau there every time I've lost weight. I'm able to bust through the plateau with preservation amd tweaking but I always have to reassess at that point (which is where I am now). It makes sense though...your body will adapt to your new diet and it will be harder to lose the closer you are to your goal
Me, too! Like 155 is some kinda of magical weight...and like you, I have to tweak and work hard to push through it but it takes a while. I'm 5'8 sp 155 is a pretty good weight anyway - but I'd like to be in the 140's
What kinds of things do you do to push through it?
Things that are pretty unhealthy and would get the MFP community all mad at me for posting it lololol
Okay, so message me. I want to know, lol.0 -
healthy_life2013 wrote: »I've done very well so I shouldn't complain. I know there are ups and downs with weight loss. I'm a heck of a lot better off than I was 4.5 months ago! I almost think it's mental. I was so fixated on getting to 50lbs and now I'm crawling past it. I still have plenty of fat to lose so I am a bit surprised it going so slow. I'm also looking forward to being smaller for my vacation and was hoping I'd be deep into the 170s by then (it's March 7). Now that's in serious jeopardy. Interestingly, my sister is following a completely different diet and workout and she's been stuck as well. If anything, she's not eating enough. Go figure. I know that in 6 months or less I will look back on this as a distant memory and living life in maintenance mode...
You have an awesome attitude!!! I have been ADDICTED to this thread. You should check it out if you have not already http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10052379/unexpected-results-of-weight-loss/p1
Haha, thanks! I'm not that great, believe me. I totally beat up on myself all the time. But I just keep going. We'll all get there eventually. I will check out thread. I see there ar a lot of posts there.0 -
That's why it is probably a good idea to have a range of measures. Such as weight,body fat % ans body measurements. Just because the scale does not move it does not mean that you're not losing fat it could be building muscle. BTW I was "stuck" on 102 KG and now I am "stuck" on 99.9 kg that 100 grams means a lot to me since I'm under a 100 KG.0
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