Preventing a plateau!?!?!

ChitownFoodie
ChitownFoodie Posts: 1,562 Member
edited September 28 in Health and Weight Loss
Like most people, I fear hitting a plateau.

Currently, I am -

1. Zig zagging my calories
2. Upping my fiber to more than the amount listed on MFP
3. Drinking green tea
4. Exercising 6-7 times a week
5. Never eating fruit after 2 pm
6. Limiting my carbs to less than 100 grams a day

All this and, I still have a feeling that one day I will hit a wall and not lose the last couple pounds.

What are you doing to prevent this?!

Replies

  • Jacquelyn913
    Jacquelyn913 Posts: 300 Member
    Never eat fruit after 2pm? I never heard of that.
  • why no fruit after 2pm? I thought it was "no carbs after 2pm" (although i don't believe or follow that)
  • ChitownFoodie
    ChitownFoodie Posts: 1,562 Member
    why no fruit after 2pm? I thought it was "no carbs after 2pm" (although i don't believe or follow that)

    Dr. Oz says that your body needs time in the day to burn all the sugar in fruit, and its best to eat it on an empty stomach
  • sara21
    sara21 Posts: 37 Member
    Where did you get your list? I have only heard that changing up your workout routine will help prevent plateaus. Are there other tricks for preventing plateaus that really work? Anyone?
  • chevy88grl
    chevy88grl Posts: 3,937 Member
    I honestly think that no matter what we do - we MAY hit a plateau at some point. No matter what we're doing - our bodies get used to doing it. (Even if what we're doing is trying to NOT do the same thing! LOL). All you can do is just keep trying to change it up BEFORE your body gets too used to whatever it is you're doing. It's hard though because when we do something and it works (and we lose weight), we tend to want to keep doing that because we can see it is working. And it is really hard to know what our bodies will want us to do next to keep the weight coming off.
  • why no fruit after 2pm? I thought it was "no carbs after 2pm" (although i don't believe or follow that)

    Dr. Oz says that your body needs time in the day to burn all the sugar in fruit, and its best to eat it on an empty stomach

    i see... but it should only take like 4 hours max to digest right? so as long as its 3-4 hours before i go to sleep i should be fine
  • ChitownFoodie
    ChitownFoodie Posts: 1,562 Member
    Where did you get your list? I have only heard that changing up your workout routine will help prevent plateaus. Are there other tricks for preventing plateaus that really work? Anyone?

    It is a list of things I have learned while being on MFP and all the things that my old fitness instructor told me. I have never hit a plateau, but was wondering if there were any other measures I should/could take.
  • ChitownFoodie
    ChitownFoodie Posts: 1,562 Member
    why no fruit after 2pm? I thought it was "no carbs after 2pm" (although i don't believe or follow that)

    Dr. Oz says that your body needs time in the day to burn all the sugar in fruit, and its best to eat it on an empty stomach

    i see... but it should only take like 4 hours max to digest right? so as long as its 3-4 hours before i go to sleep i should be fine

    Dr Oz actually said to not eat fruit after 12 noon, but I think its too early. its not about digesting the fruit, its about burning the sugar in the fruit.
  • DangerRanger
    DangerRanger Posts: 327 Member
    zig zagging calories is the ****z!
  • ChitownFoodie
    ChitownFoodie Posts: 1,562 Member
    I honestly think that no matter what we do - we MAY hit a plateau at some point. No matter what we're doing - our bodies get used to doing it. (Even if what we're doing is trying to NOT do the same thing! LOL). All you can do is just keep trying to change it up BEFORE your body gets too used to whatever it is you're doing. It's hard though because when we do something and it works (and we lose weight), we tend to want to keep doing that because we can see it is working. And it is really hard to know what our bodies will want us to do next to keep the weight coming off.

    LOL! I am really hoping I hit my goal before my body gets used to all the @ss kicking its getting.
  • ChitownFoodie
    ChitownFoodie Posts: 1,562 Member
    zig zagging calories is the ****z!

    HELLZ YEAH!! It's been a life saver!
  • WWhitaker
    WWhitaker Posts: 309
    Dr. Oz is a spaz. While what he said may be true, that's such a silly rule to follow. Fruit is good for you and you should eat it any time of day!
  • d_smith85
    d_smith85 Posts: 94
    I honestly think that no matter what we do - we MAY hit a plateau at some point. No matter what we're doing - our bodies get used to doing it. (Even if what we're doing is trying to NOT do the same thing! LOL). All you can do is just keep trying to change it up BEFORE your body gets too used to whatever it is you're doing. It's hard though because when we do something and it works (and we lose weight), we tend to want to keep doing that because we can see it is working. And it is really hard to know what our bodies will want us to do next to keep the weight coming off.

    I agree with you, I'm still scared and paranoid though. I've been doing 90% cardio up until now, so I'm saving my p90x until I hit this inevidable plateau I so fear. In hopes that the muscle building will ramp up my metabolism ;)
  • chevy88grl
    chevy88grl Posts: 3,937 Member
    I honestly think that no matter what we do - we MAY hit a plateau at some point. No matter what we're doing - our bodies get used to doing it. (Even if what we're doing is trying to NOT do the same thing! LOL). All you can do is just keep trying to change it up BEFORE your body gets too used to whatever it is you're doing. It's hard though because when we do something and it works (and we lose weight), we tend to want to keep doing that because we can see it is working. And it is really hard to know what our bodies will want us to do next to keep the weight coming off.

    I agree with you, I'm still scared and paranoid though. I've been doing 90% cardio up until now, so I'm saving my p90x until I hit this inevidable plateau I so fear. In hopes that the muscle building will ramp up my metabolism ;)

    For a long time all I did was cardio. As soon as I started adding in the weights/machines is when I started to see a difference in how my body looked. I do far better with circuit training than I did with straight cardio. And I always mix up my circuit training -- just to keep the ole body guessing. :)
  • NanBar
    NanBar Posts: 283 Member
    Dr. Oz is a spaz. While what he said may be true, that's such a silly rule to follow. Fruit is good for you and you should eat it any time of day!

    Dr. Oz is a bit off- but OTHER Dr's have also said not to eat fruit into the evening hours...
  • anubis609
    anubis609 Posts: 3,966 Member
    Cut out red wine!

    *DUCKS from empty bottle thrown at my face*

    LMAO. :tongue: :laugh:

    You seem to be doing fine from preventing the plateau. The calorie cycling seems to prevent most stalls, or get people out of them, anyway. Should you ever happen to hit one, make sure it's a true plateau, meaning it won't budge either way [up or down] for at least 2 weeks, then that's when you should change stuff up, but again...you seem to have a solid plan for preventing one. I say keep doing what you're doing. The only other alternatively drastic method I could think of that would break someone out of a plateau on a zig-zag plan would be to spike.
  • jenomaha
    jenomaha Posts: 631 Member
    Dr. Oz is a spaz. While what he said may be true, that's such a silly rule to follow. Fruit is good for you and you should eat it any time of day!

    I don't find those "rules" weird at all. To me it seems to be her plan and if it works for her, who are we to say anything? I have a plan that incorporates some "rules" and for me they are manageable. If I didn't have them, I wouldn't have lost the weight I've lost or the the 5.8% bodyfat either. I am 4'11 and my bmr is actually 1047...below that magical 1200 cal number!! So yes, there are days I do not reach 1200 cals, but guess what, for someone as short as me, it's ok.
  • SuperMoniMonk
    SuperMoniMonk Posts: 467 Member
    bump
  • robertf57
    robertf57 Posts: 560 Member
    I force a black cat, wearing a lucky rabbits foot, to pass under a ladder every Friday the 13th. So far it is working perfectly!:wink:

    Your mileage will vary

    Seriously. Stick to a healthy diet with a reasonable caloric deficit and exercise. If / when a "plateau" develops analyze the situation, mix up your routine and continue with your plan. I don't believe there is anything else you can do to prevent plateaus. Weight loss is not a straight line event.

    Good luck
  • ChitownFoodie
    ChitownFoodie Posts: 1,562 Member
    I force a black cat, wearing a lucky rabbits foot, to pass under a ladder every Friday the 13th. So far it is working perfectly!:wink:

    Your mileage will vary

    Seriously. Stick to a healthy diet with a reasonable caloric deficit and exercise. If / when a "plateau" develops analyze the situation, mix up your routine and continue with your plan. I don't believe there is anything else you can do to prevent plateaus. Weight loss is not a straight line event.

    Good luck

    Haha! :smile:

    I eat healthy and clean....thanks for putting it plain and simple!
  • sara21
    sara21 Posts: 37 Member
    How do you zig-zag calories and what is a spike?
This discussion has been closed.