Major Tip for those in a Plateau!

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Thanasi99
Thanasi99 Posts: 40 Member
edited June 2015 in Health and Weight Loss
***Please note that I'm just sharing what has worked well for me, personally, when facing a plateau.

Okay, so I had been in a "mini-Plateau" for several weeks. I was staying at about 192 lbs. and I couldn't get down to the 180's (and also finally reach 20 pounds lost).

Upon examining my diet, I realized that I wasn't eating nearly enough. I started to eat the suggested amount of food on MFP (without eating too many exercise calories), and in a matter of 4 days I finally hit 189.2 lbs.

Additionally, I did not drink any less water than normal, if anything I drank more, so water weight likely had little to do with this.

If you feel like you ARE eating enough but you are still in a Plateau, you need to shock your body. At this point it has become used to your routine, so start changing your exercise routine and vary up your diet a little bit to keep your body on its toes.
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  • Sued0nim
    Sued0nim Posts: 17,456 Member
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    Thanasi99 wrote: »
    Okay, so I had been in a "mini-Plateau" for several weeks. I was staying at about 192 lbs. and I couldn't get down to the 180's (and also finally reach 20 pounds lost).

    Upon examining my diet, I realized that I wasn't eating nearly enough. I started to eat the suggested amount of food on MFP (without eating too many exercise calories), and in a matter of 4 days I finally hit 189.2 lbs.

    Additionally, I did not drink any less water than normal, if anything I drank more, so water weight likely had little to do with this.

    If you feel like you ARE eating enough but you are still in a Plateau, you need to shock your body. At this point it has become used to your routine, so start changing your exercise routine and vary up your diet a little bit to keep your body on its toes.

    absolute complete and utter bullcrap
  • dalem48
    dalem48 Posts: 86 Member
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    absolute complete and utter bullcrap[/quote]

    !00% spot on!

  • DemoraFairy
    DemoraFairy Posts: 1,806 Member
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    Thanasi99 wrote: »
    Additionally, I did not drink any less water than normal, if anything I drank more, so water weight likely had little to do with this.

    No... drinking more water helps remove water weight, not the other way round. It means your body doesn't hold onto water as much if you're drinking more of it. One of the biggest suggestions to help get rid of water weight is to drink more water.
  • DeguelloTex
    DeguelloTex Posts: 6,652 Member
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    rabbitjb wrote: »
    Thanasi99 wrote: »
    Okay, so I had been in a "mini-Plateau" for several weeks. I was staying at about 192 lbs. and I couldn't get down to the 180's (and also finally reach 20 pounds lost).

    Upon examining my diet, I realized that I wasn't eating nearly enough. I started to eat the suggested amount of food on MFP (without eating too many exercise calories), and in a matter of 4 days I finally hit 189.2 lbs.

    Additionally, I did not drink any less water than normal, if anything I drank more, so water weight likely had little to do with this.

    If you feel like you ARE eating enough but you are still in a Plateau, you need to shock your body. At this point it has become used to your routine, so start changing your exercise routine and vary up your diet a little bit to keep your body on its toes.

    absolute complete and utter bullcrap
    They may not be agreement on macros, but there should be agreement on this. "Shock your body" makes me want to throat punch a baby.

  • I_Will_End_You
    I_Will_End_You Posts: 4,397 Member
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    Eating more will not make you lose weight more quickly. That's just not how it works. Perhaps drinking more water helped you lose some water weight, or maybe you tightened up on your logging since you weren't losing. But the bigger the deficit, the more weight you lose, it's not the other way around.
  • snickerscharlie
    snickerscharlie Posts: 8,578 Member
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    Thanks, Tips! <eye roll>
  • Thanasi99
    Thanasi99 Posts: 40 Member
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    Well, don't throat punch a baby. I'm just sharing what seems to have worked for me, and every time I've hit a plateau of sorts, switching up my routine (even with the same net calories, active calories) has seemed to get me out of the "rut."
  • DeguelloTex
    DeguelloTex Posts: 6,652 Member
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    Thanasi99 wrote: »
    Well, don't throat punch a baby. I'm just sharing what seems to have worked for me, and every time I've hit a plateau of sorts, switching up my routine (even with the same net calories, active calories) has seemed to get me out of the "rut."
    How do you know that the "rut" hasn't pretty much run its course by the time you recognize that it exists and that any changes you make toward the end of the rut weren't coincidence rather than causation?

  • Thanasi99
    Thanasi99 Posts: 40 Member
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    Thanasi99 wrote: »
    Well, don't throat punch a baby. I'm just sharing what seems to have worked for me, and every time I've hit a plateau of sorts, switching up my routine (even with the same net calories, active calories) has seemed to get me out of the "rut."
    How do you know that the "rut" hasn't pretty much run its course by the time you recognize that it exists and that any changes you make toward the end of the rut weren't coincidence rather than causation?

    Typically, it's because I've observed the plateau for several weeks (at least 3) while adhering to the same diet/exercise plan. However, when I alter the plan, but still maintain the same net calories and activity time, I begin to see results within days, after weeks of stagnant results.

  • DeguelloTex
    DeguelloTex Posts: 6,652 Member
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    Thanasi99 wrote: »
    Thanasi99 wrote: »
    Well, don't throat punch a baby. I'm just sharing what seems to have worked for me, and every time I've hit a plateau of sorts, switching up my routine (even with the same net calories, active calories) has seemed to get me out of the "rut."
    How do you know that the "rut" hasn't pretty much run its course by the time you recognize that it exists and that any changes you make toward the end of the rut weren't coincidence rather than causation?

    Typically, it's because I've observed the plateau for several weeks (at least 3) while adhering to the same diet/exercise plan. However, when I alter the plan, but still maintain the same net calories and activity time, I begin to see results within days, after weeks of stagnant results.
    That doesn't distinguish between coincidence and causation, though. Just because two things happen at the same time doesn't mean one caused the other.

  • Thanasi99
    Thanasi99 Posts: 40 Member
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    Thanasi99 wrote: »
    Thanasi99 wrote: »
    Well, don't throat punch a baby. I'm just sharing what seems to have worked for me, and every time I've hit a plateau of sorts, switching up my routine (even with the same net calories, active calories) has seemed to get me out of the "rut."
    How do you know that the "rut" hasn't pretty much run its course by the time you recognize that it exists and that any changes you make toward the end of the rut weren't coincidence rather than causation?

    Typically, it's because I've observed the plateau for several weeks (at least 3) while adhering to the same diet/exercise plan. However, when I alter the plan, but still maintain the same net calories and activity time, I begin to see results within days, after weeks of stagnant results.
    That doesn't distinguish between coincidence and causation, though. Just because two things happen at the same time doesn't mean one caused the other.

    Of course correlation does not imply causation. However, when a direct correlation has been observed on several unique occasions, with no other major (or rather, observed) factors in play, it does seem that the correlation may imply causation in this case.
  • jkal1979
    jkal1979 Posts: 1,896 Member
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    Thanks, Tips! <eye roll>

    Super helpful tips!

    WQAHCbE.gif
  • rsclause
    rsclause Posts: 3,103 Member
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    Thanasi99 wrote: »
    Okay, so I had been in a "mini-Plateau" for several weeks. I was staying at about 192 lbs. and I couldn't get down to the 180's (and also finally reach 20 pounds lost).

    Upon examining my diet, I realized that I wasn't eating nearly enough. I started to eat the suggested amount of food on MFP (without eating too many exercise calories), and in a matter of 4 days I finally hit 189.2 lbs.

    Additionally, I did not drink any less water than normal, if anything I drank more, so water weight likely had little to do with this.

    If you feel like you ARE eating enough but you are still in a Plateau, you need to shock your body. At this point it has become used to your routine, so start changing your exercise routine and vary up your diet a little bit to keep your body on its toes.

    I actually agree with this to a degree. My loss seemed to be greater when I ate closer to my goal vs going way below. Now the simple math would contradict this so I will assume that my exercise was less due to low energy or maybe a binge or two became the norm. The other thing I found is that not a "shock" but a small change would help a stalled loss get moving. Of course my small change meant adding a new exercise or upping miles so I guess, Duh.
  • DeguelloTex
    DeguelloTex Posts: 6,652 Member
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    Thanasi99 wrote: »
    Thanasi99 wrote: »
    Thanasi99 wrote: »
    Well, don't throat punch a baby. I'm just sharing what seems to have worked for me, and every time I've hit a plateau of sorts, switching up my routine (even with the same net calories, active calories) has seemed to get me out of the "rut."
    How do you know that the "rut" hasn't pretty much run its course by the time you recognize that it exists and that any changes you make toward the end of the rut weren't coincidence rather than causation?

    Typically, it's because I've observed the plateau for several weeks (at least 3) while adhering to the same diet/exercise plan. However, when I alter the plan, but still maintain the same net calories and activity time, I begin to see results within days, after weeks of stagnant results.
    That doesn't distinguish between coincidence and causation, though. Just because two things happen at the same time doesn't mean one caused the other.

    Of course correlation does not imply causation. However, when a direct correlation has been observed on several unique occasions, with no other major (or rather, observed) factors in play, it does seem that the correlation may imply causation in this case.
    Or it may not. Unless your different exercises caused you to burn more calories, it's much more likely to be correlation.

  • Thanasi99
    Thanasi99 Posts: 40 Member
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    Thanasi99 wrote: »
    Thanasi99 wrote: »
    Thanasi99 wrote: »
    Well, don't throat punch a baby. I'm just sharing what seems to have worked for me, and every time I've hit a plateau of sorts, switching up my routine (even with the same net calories, active calories) has seemed to get me out of the "rut."
    How do you know that the "rut" hasn't pretty much run its course by the time you recognize that it exists and that any changes you make toward the end of the rut weren't coincidence rather than causation?

    Typically, it's because I've observed the plateau for several weeks (at least 3) while adhering to the same diet/exercise plan. However, when I alter the plan, but still maintain the same net calories and activity time, I begin to see results within days, after weeks of stagnant results.
    That doesn't distinguish between coincidence and causation, though. Just because two things happen at the same time doesn't mean one caused the other.

    Of course correlation does not imply causation. However, when a direct correlation has been observed on several unique occasions, with no other major (or rather, observed) factors in play, it does seem that the correlation may imply causation in this case.
    Or it may not. Unless your different exercises caused you to burn more calories, it's much more likely to be correlation.

    Perhaps you're right, but I've just found that the same process has worked with several different transpirations of the same event, and thus I feel that it's unlikely to be coincidence at this point.
  • maidentl
    maidentl Posts: 3,203 Member
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    Thanasi99 wrote: »
    Thanasi99 wrote: »
    Well, don't throat punch a baby. I'm just sharing what seems to have worked for me, and every time I've hit a plateau of sorts, switching up my routine (even with the same net calories, active calories) has seemed to get me out of the "rut."
    How do you know that the "rut" hasn't pretty much run its course by the time you recognize that it exists and that any changes you make toward the end of the rut weren't coincidence rather than causation?

    Typically, it's because I've observed the plateau for several weeks (at least 3) while adhering to the same diet/exercise plan. However, when I alter the plan, but still maintain the same net calories and activity time, I begin to see results within days, after weeks of stagnant results.

    Three weeks is not a plateau. You may have experienced a "whoosh" which was helped along by your increased water intake.
  • awend1282
    awend1282 Posts: 4 Member
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    I'm not an expert at weight loss by any means, as I'm sure a lot of people on here aren't either. However, I am part of a fitness group that is lead by a certified personal trainer and this method, done correctly, can work. It's called "reverse dieting". It repairs the damage many have done to their metabolisms.

    For example, I myself, was eating only 1200 cals a day (what MFP recommended to lose 2lbs a week). I was working hard, so I was hungry all of the time - meaning most days, I would eat back my calorie deficit. My weight loss stalled between losing and gaining the same 5lbs for 3 months. Then, I slowly started adding 100 calories to my daily goal. I started by eating at least 1400 calories a day for one month, then the next month 1500 and so on. Yes, you will note a little bit of weight gain for the first week or two each time you adjust calories, but as your body gets used to it, you will either lose or stay at the same weight. The goal is not to necessarily lose weight while "reverse dieting", but to repair your metabolism. That way, when you do cut calories, you can still eat a good amount of calories and not starve every day. I built my daily goal up to 1900 lbs and then I gained a couple of pounds, so it was time to cut my calories. I cut back to 1600 per day and I will keep it there for a month. I've lost a steady 1.5lbs per week the last three weeks (which is a healthy/steady amount to lose each week). After the month is over next week, I will up my calories to 1700 again and repeat the same cycle above.

    I am certainly not suggesting that anyone do this on their own and before you try anything new, do your research. I just wanted to share what I have found works for me.
  • moosegt35
    moosegt35 Posts: 1,296 Member
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    thanks for the tips