Has anyone else hit a plateau after the first 10 lbs lost????
crissy976
Posts: 91 Member
I was on a roll for the first 5 weeks, losing 2 lbs/week, but now I've come to a halt and haven't lost any more weight since Oct 26th! Has this happened to anyone else and how did you get back on the "losing track?" lol
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Replies
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There are many reasons why your losses may have stalled. 1) weight loss is not linear, so don't expect the same results every single week, 2) water retention is caused by several things and can mask weight loss (TOM, new exercise routine or increased exertion, or high sodium days), and 3) inaccuracies in logging (eyeballing or using measuring cups for serving sizes tends to be inaccurate, food scale is best; database entries are frequently incorrect, so make sure you have the right ones, or enter your own).
Have some patience and review your logging.5 -
No. I know I'm not typical, but I haven't plateaued at all, 109lbs down. I see daily fluctuations, I gain water weight for a few days, but it's been steady going.
I've been using a food scale the entire time, I'm meticulous with my logging and I'm realistic about my exercise burns.6 -
I'm going to try to "shock" my body by switching things up a bit. Maybe my body has become "used to" my ways of dieting for the past month and has grown comfortable with the initial changes.0
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Not for me. You have to understand that just because you eat to lose 2 lbs per week, doesn't mean it will always come off like that every week. I eat to lose 2 lbs per week but some weeks I lose .2 lbs and some weeks I lose 3.5lbs. Water retention is a big culprit. If you don't watch your sodium levels, you could be retaining water. Time of the month is another. I gain water weight during ovulation and the first few days of my period. Are you weighing and logging everything solid? If not, that can be a huge issue as well. You need to not use measuring cups or eyeball your portions. I weigh everything solid and pretty much try to ignore the scale during those two time each month. It has all worked for me. If you look at my chart of weight loss, it is not some straight line that goes instantly down.5
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I haven't and like MissusMoon above I have used a food scale for everything and meticulously logged every day since February this year.
I have long periods of stalls though each month as I mostly drop my weight after period and after ovulation in big chunks (wooshes).1 -
I'm going to try to "shock" my body by switching things up a bit. Maybe my body has become "used to" my ways of dieting for the past month and has grown comfortable with the initial changes.
Your body hasn't adapted to anything you have been doing for a month in any significant way that would stall your losses for two weeks from losing 2lb/week. "Shocking" it, whatever that means, isn't necessary.3 -
nutmegoreo wrote: »I'm going to try to "shock" my body by switching things up a bit. Maybe my body has become "used to" my ways of dieting for the past month and has grown comfortable with the initial changes.
Your body hasn't adapted to anything you have been doing for a month in any significant way that would stall your losses for two weeks from losing 2lb/week. "Shocking" it, whatever that means, isn't necessary.
I just figure it might be used to what I've been doing for the past 5 weeks or so. I've read that if you change things up a bit (or like I called it, "shocking" ... lol) it might give my body a metabolism boost. No?0 -
I would just be sure I'm accurately logging everything I eat. How often do you weigh yourself ? There has not been any change what so ever since October 26th ? Also, have you adjusted your calorie goal for your 10 lb weight loss ?1
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Not for me. You have to understand that just because you eat to lose 2 lbs per week, doesn't mean it will always come off like that every week. I eat to lose 2 lbs per week but some weeks I lose .2 lbs and some weeks I lose 3.5lbs. Water retention is a big culprit. If you don't watch your sodium levels, you could be retaining water. Time of the month is another. I gain water weight during ovulation and the first few days of my period. Are you weighing and logging everything solid? If not, that can be a huge issue as well. You need to not use measuring cups or eyeball your portions. I weigh everything solid and pretty much try to ignore the scale during those two time each month. It has all worked for me. If you look at my chart of weight loss, it is not some straight line that goes instantly down.
Funny you should mention that time of the month, because it's about that time now. Like, I should be getting it any day now. Last time I had a loss was the last time I had my period, ironically.0 -
What are your stats? How much do you want to lose? If you don't have a lot of weight to lose, it may be harder as you reach your goal weight. If you still have a ways to go, be patient and just keep doing what you're doing. It will happen if you stick with it.2
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I would just be sure I'm accurately logging everything I eat. How often do you weigh yourself ? There has not been any change what so ever since October 26th ? Also, have you adjusted your calorie goal for your 10 lb weight loss ?
I don't have a food scale, so I don't weigh anything, but I'm sure my portions are correct, because I've been successful in the past with weight loss and logging. However, I've hit the wonderful age of 40 this year and I know as we get older our metabolism slows down. I'm guessing that's why it's being a bit of a struggle this time. Honestly, I weigh myself every morning after I pee. lol... It doesn't discourage me or anything like that. I just do it out of habit anymore. There seriously has been NO change in my weight since 10/26. And yes, I have decreased my caloric intake, I believe, last week, to 1400... 100 cals less than what I was eating.0 -
What are your stats? How much do you want to lose? If you don't have a lot of weight to lose, it may be harder as you reach your goal weight. If you still have a ways to go, be patient and just keep doing what you're doing. It will happen if you stick with it.
I weighed 180 lbs on Oct 1st when I started. I'm 5'10". 40 yrs old. My goal is 155 lbs, so I have 15 more pounds to go. So it's not a huge weight loss goal.0 -
nutmegoreo wrote: »I'm going to try to "shock" my body by switching things up a bit. Maybe my body has become "used to" my ways of dieting for the past month and has grown comfortable with the initial changes.
Your body hasn't adapted to anything you have been doing for a month in any significant way that would stall your losses for two weeks from losing 2lb/week. "Shocking" it, whatever that means, isn't necessary.
I just figure it might be used to what I've been doing for the past 5 weeks or so. I've read that if you change things up a bit (or like I called it, "shocking" ... lol) it might give my body a metabolism boost. No?
No, and the turning 40 isn't a good excuse either. I'm in my 40s and can lose 2lb/wk pretty consistently. Try the food scale to tighten up your logging. Even prepackaged items are allowed to be off by 20% (usually 20% more) in their serving sizes. When you think about your most calorie dense items and add 20% to the calorie total, it is enough to wipe out/stall your losses. I see you said that it's close to TOM. Most women will gain 2-10lbs in water retention that week. If you don't want to try the food scale, then at least wait until TOM is over, there should be a good drop then.
And stop reading diet/fitness information from magazines and blogs (I'm assuming this is where you are getting some of this information, if I'm wrong, then stop reading these other sources). They are so full of misinformation it's frightening. It creates confusion and leads people to feeling helpless and inept, when it really isn't all that complicated (that doesn't mean it's easy though).4 -
This is a great collection of threads to read through. Should help you clear several things up:
http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10260499/i-like-old-posts-and-i-cannot-lie/p11 -
I would just be sure I'm accurately logging everything I eat. How often do you weigh yourself ? There has not been any change what so ever since October 26th ? Also, have you adjusted your calorie goal for your 10 lb weight loss ?
I don't have a food scale, so I don't weigh anything, but I'm sure my portions are correct, because I've been successful in the past with weight loss and logging. However, I've hit the wonderful age of 40 this year and I know as we get older our metabolism slows down. I'm guessing that's why it's being a bit of a struggle this time. Honestly, I weigh myself every morning after I pee. lol... It doesn't discourage me or anything like that. I just do it out of habit anymore. There seriously has been NO change in my weight since 10/26. And yes, I have decreased my caloric intake, I believe, last week, to 1400... 100 cals less than what I was eating.
I'm very sorry but you cannot be sure your portions are correct UNLESS you are accurately weighing each item that you eat. I would suggest you invest in a food scale.
Similarly it could also be intensified because of your impending TOM.
Have you "recalibrated" your goal - after every 10pounds you lose you are meant to "reset" your goal which in turn lowers your calories to stop stalls.3 -
You can't lose two pounds a week when you only have 15 pounds to go; the difference between your intake and your total calorie expenditure will not be large enough. Set your expectations lower - .5 pounds per week is reasonable for the amount you have to lose.1
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Lack of food scale is your issue guaranteed. Just curious, how do you even log something like chickens breast accurately without a scale? I promise that if you get a food scale and weigh everything you eat, the weight will start to come off again. My guess is the first few pounds you lost were water weight, followed by a few more due to an overall calorie reduction. To have anymore decent weight loss you need to be more accurate in your logging.2
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sunfastrose wrote: »You can't lose two pounds a week when you only have 15 pounds to go; the difference between your intake and your total calorie expenditure will not be large enough. Set your expectations lower - .5 pounds per week is reasonable for the amount you have to lose.
Also this^^^ you need to adjust your expectations. You should only aim to lose .5 lb per week with so little to lose. Also, the closer to your goal you get, the more accurate you need to be with your logging.1 -
Not for me. You have to understand that just because you eat to lose 2 lbs per week, doesn't mean it will always come off like that every week. I eat to lose 2 lbs per week but some weeks I lose .2 lbs and some weeks I lose 3.5lbs. Water retention is a big culprit. If you don't watch your sodium levels, you could be retaining water. Time of the month is another. I gain water weight during ovulation and the first few days of my period. Are you weighing and logging everything solid? If not, that can be a huge issue as well. You need to not use measuring cups or eyeball your portions. I weigh everything solid and pretty much try to ignore the scale during those two time each month. It has all worked for me. If you look at my chart of weight loss, it is not some straight line that goes instantly down.
Funny you should mention that time of the month, because it's about that time now. Like, I should be getting it any day now. Last time I had a loss was the last time I had my period, ironically.
Not really ironic. It is extremely common to have water weight gain leading up to menstruation and then see a drop-off right when your period starts.
http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10359984/women-menstrual-cycle-weight-and-fitness-matters/p1
All, in all, 21 days of no weight loss for a woman doesn't mean you necessarily need to change anything. Compare weights at the same point in your menstrual cycle. One to two days after you start your period is usually a good time for it. If you don't have a decrease in weight between those two points, then drop your calories.1 -
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Lack of food scale is your issue guaranteed. Just curious, how do you even log something like chickens breast accurately without a scale? I promise that if you get a food scale and weigh everything you eat, the weight will start to come off again. My guess is the first few pounds you lost were water weight, followed by a few more due to an overall calorie reduction. To have anymore decent weight loss you need to be more accurate in your logging.
This does make a lot of sense. Honestly, I've been pretty much guessing if my chicken, beef, etc... are about 2 oz or 4 oz, etc... So I definitely see your point of the food scale. I just always have a deficit at the end of the day, so I figured if I was off, my deficit would take care of it. Plus, MFP suggests for me to actually eat MORE calories than I'm eating now. So I thought I was "safe." lol0 -
Lack of food scale is your issue guaranteed. Just curious, how do you even log something like chickens breast accurately without a scale? I promise that if you get a food scale and weigh everything you eat, the weight will start to come off again. My guess is the first few pounds you lost were water weight, followed by a few more due to an overall calorie reduction. To have anymore decent weight loss you need to be more accurate in your logging.
This does make a lot of sense. Honestly, I've been pretty much guessing if my chicken, beef, etc... are about 2 oz or 4 oz, etc... So I definitely see your point of the food scale. I just always have a deficit at the end of the day, so I figured if I was off, my deficit would take care of it. Plus, MFP suggests for me to actually eat MORE calories than I'm eating now. So I thought I was "safe." lol
A scale makes all the difference. I started out without one and lost fine, but then I decided to give it a shot. It adds another layer of accountability. It is surprising how off some foods can be. Now that I am at maintenance knowing exactly how much I am eating is very important. I don't have much wiggle room. As far as being 40, don't use that for an excuse. I did that for years and at 62, I'm not using that excuse anymore. My metabolism is just fine as long as I keep moving. Sure, I don't get to eat as much which kind of sucks, but it's still better than being overweight.
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Does anyone have that video I've seen posted about the difference a food scale makes? I don't know how to post videos but I think it would be good for OP to see0
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nutmegoreo wrote: »I'm going to try to "shock" my body by switching things up a bit. Maybe my body has become "used to" my ways of dieting for the past month and has grown comfortable with the initial changes.
Your body hasn't adapted to anything you have been doing for a month in any significant way that would stall your losses for two weeks from losing 2lb/week. "Shocking" it, whatever that means, isn't necessary.
I just figure it might be used to what I've been doing for the past 5 weeks or so. I've read that if you change things up a bit (or like I called it, "shocking" ... lol) it might give my body a metabolism boost. No?
No such thing.
Follow the advice given above and consider readjusting your expectations. 
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[/quote]A scale makes all the difference. I started out without one and lost fine, but then I decided to give it a shot. It adds another layer of accountability. It is surprising how off some foods can be. Now that I am at maintenance knowing exactly how much I am eating is very important. I don't have much wiggle room. As far as being 40, don't use that for an excuse. I did that for years and at 62, I'm not using that excuse anymore. My metabolism is just fine as long as I keep moving. Sure, I don't get to eat as much which kind of sucks, but it's still better than being overweight.[/quote]
LOL... I really don't use my age as an excuse.. lol. I've read and seen on tv (yes, I know... don't believe everything you see and read.. ha ha!) that as we age, our metabolism slows down, yada yada yada... but I AM taking all of your advice and investing in a food scale.
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Lack of food scale is your issue guaranteed. Just curious, how do you even log something like chickens breast accurately without a scale? I promise that if you get a food scale and weigh everything you eat, the weight will start to come off again. My guess is the first few pounds you lost were water weight, followed by a few more due to an overall calorie reduction. To have anymore decent weight loss you need to be more accurate in your logging.
If I buy chicken breasts, they come in a package that says something like "0.363 kg" because you pay by weight where I live. So, I don't reweigh meat that the butcher already weighed.
But there are lots of things you really do need to weigh to know if your portions are accurate. Off the top of my head, I'd say bread (the slice size listed on the package is rarely right), cereal, nuts, nut butter and fruit.1 -
Does anyone have that video I've seen posted about the difference a food scale makes? I don't know how to post videos but I think it would be good for OP to see
https://youtu.be/vjKPIcI51lU
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If you can honestly 100% say that you have weighed and tracked every calorie that you have eaten or drank and have stuck to your calorie goal then you have nothing to worry about. You are in a calorie deficit and the body is burning fat. You will see the scale move soon I'm sure.
If not, then tighten your tracking up else you may not be in a calorie deficit.2 -
gebeziseva wrote: »Does anyone have that video I've seen posted about the difference a food scale makes? I don't know how to post videos but I think it would be good for OP to seehttps://youtu.be/vjKPIcI51lU
Wow! Thank you for sharing this with me!2 -
So I bought a food scale last night! 6
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