Confused About Weight Loss Plateau

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Replies

  • Nony_Mouse
    Nony_Mouse Posts: 5,646 Member
    I agree with others that tracking your calories is essential for learning whether or not you are in a deficit. Since your caloric needs drop the smaller you become, you can't rely on eating what you have always eaten. At this point you're guessing. Not logging was fine for you while you were steadily losing weight but since you're not, it is clearly no longer working for you.

    It's completely normal to start off losing regularly and after a few months transition into losing weight intermittently in a series of plateaus followed by "whooshes" of losing several pounds overnight. If you have reason to believe you are still in a deficit, be patient and wait for the whoosh. The whoosh effect is caused by the way the body retains water while breaking down fat - lost fat cells are temporarily filled with water, which is then flushed all at once.


    I'm in deficit. I don't feel like defending myself on that point anymore so you'll just have to take my word for it. If you're implying that my metabolism may have slowed then that's a possibility but my initial deficit was so big and I've stuck to the same diet every week for 12 weeks that I highly doubt. I'd need to go to a Dr. Or Nutritionist to get a BMR calculation
    It's not just a matter of your metabolism slowing, a 178 lb person uses more calories than a 147 lb person. Your caloric needs have to be periodically recalculated as you lose weight.

    That's a fair point. I know I'm going to need less calories for my current weight but I also only consume between 1000 and 1200 per day so I can't cut much more

    With your activity level that calorie intake is too low. So I'm calling water retention due to cortisol from stressing the body. Again, very common.

    ^^This. Eat properly.
  • CheersforWhit
    CheersforWhit Posts: 45 Member
    I agree with others that tracking your calories is essential for learning whether or not you are in a deficit. Since your caloric needs drop the smaller you become, you can't rely on eating what you have always eaten. At this point you're guessing. Not logging was fine for you while you were steadily losing weight but since you're not, it is clearly no longer working for you.

    It's completely normal to start off losing regularly and after a few months transition into losing weight intermittently in a series of plateaus followed by "whooshes" of losing several pounds overnight. If you have reason to believe you are still in a deficit, be patient and wait for the whoosh. The whoosh effect is caused by the way the body retains water while breaking down fat - lost fat cells are temporarily filled with water, which is then flushed all at once.


    I'm in deficit. I don't feel like defending myself on that point anymore so you'll just have to take my word for it. If you're implying that my metabolism may have slowed then that's a possibility but my initial deficit was so big and I've stuck to the same diet every week for 12 weeks that I highly doubt. I'd need to go to a Dr. Or Nutritionist to get a BMR calculation
    It's not just a matter of your metabolism slowing, a 178 lb person uses more calories than a 147 lb person. Your caloric needs have to be periodically recalculated as you lose weight.

    That's a fair point. I know I'm going to need less calories for my current weight but I also only consume between 1000 and 1200 per day so I can't cut much more

    With your activity level that calorie intake is too low. So I'm calling water retention due to cortisol from stressing the body. Again, very common.


    Im retaining water because I'm not eating enough? That's a new one but it makes sense
  • Nony_Mouse
    Nony_Mouse Posts: 5,646 Member
    I agree with others that tracking your calories is essential for learning whether or not you are in a deficit. Since your caloric needs drop the smaller you become, you can't rely on eating what you have always eaten. At this point you're guessing. Not logging was fine for you while you were steadily losing weight but since you're not, it is clearly no longer working for you.

    It's completely normal to start off losing regularly and after a few months transition into losing weight intermittently in a series of plateaus followed by "whooshes" of losing several pounds overnight. If you have reason to believe you are still in a deficit, be patient and wait for the whoosh. The whoosh effect is caused by the way the body retains water while breaking down fat - lost fat cells are temporarily filled with water, which is then flushed all at once.


    I'm in deficit. I don't feel like defending myself on that point anymore so you'll just have to take my word for it. If you're implying that my metabolism may have slowed then that's a possibility but my initial deficit was so big and I've stuck to the same diet every week for 12 weeks that I highly doubt. I'd need to go to a Dr. Or Nutritionist to get a BMR calculation
    It's not just a matter of your metabolism slowing, a 178 lb person uses more calories than a 147 lb person. Your caloric needs have to be periodically recalculated as you lose weight.

    That's a fair point. I know I'm going to need less calories for my current weight but I also only consume between 1000 and 1200 per day so I can't cut much more

    With your activity level that calorie intake is too low. So I'm calling water retention due to cortisol from stressing the body. Again, very common.


    Im retaining water because I'm not eating enough? That's a new one but it makes sense

    Yep, that absolutely may be the answer. I'd highly recommend taking a diet break and eating at maintenance for a week or two, reset those hormones, then get back to a sensible deficit, eating 50-75% of your exercise calories back.
  • CheersforWhit
    CheersforWhit Posts: 45 Member

    Very useful
  • CheersforWhit
    CheersforWhit Posts: 45 Member
    edited September 2017
    That explains the constipation too
  • SCoil123
    SCoil123 Posts: 2,111 Member
    edited September 2017
    You aren't doing keto if you don't eat vegetables. There are lower carb veggies. I was at a keto BBQ yesterday with delicious cauliflower rice and a bomb broccoli slaw with avo mayo.

    How are you getting all of your vitamins and nutrients?
    https://ketodietapp.com/Blog/post/2015/01/03/Keto-Diet-Food-List-What-to-Eat-and-Avoid
  • CheersforWhit
    CheersforWhit Posts: 45 Member
    SCoil123 wrote: »
    You aren't doing keto if you don't eat vegetables. There are lower carb veggies. I was at a keto BBQ yesterday with delicious cauliflower rice and a bomb broccoli slaw with avo mayo.

    How are you getting all of your vitamins and nutrients?
    https://ketodietapp.com/Blog/post/2015/01/03/Keto-Diet-Food-List-What-to-Eat-and-Avoid


    I take a multivitamin. Keto does not require vegetables. Getting into Ketosis doesn't not require vegetables. Also this issue has been resolved

  • CheersforWhit
    CheersforWhit Posts: 45 Member
    Mr_Knight wrote: »
    Okay just so we're clear. I know my body. I know what I eat.

    And yet here you are, asking questions...

    I dont recall asking anyone what my calorie intakecontinuee

  • CheersforWhit
    CheersforWhit Posts: 45 Member
    WinoGelato wrote: »
    WinoGelato wrote: »
    Sometimes people can act quite harshly, I've noticed when someone is asking for help.

    I'm confused. Did you mean to say "I've noticed sometimes people get quite defensive and lash out at people who are simply trying to help them"? Because the only harsh responses in this thread have been from the OP...

    But to chime in on the original question and subsequent details posted..

    2 weeks isn't a plateau.
    You should be eating more than 1000-1200 cals in order to sustain your activity level.
    You can eat vegetables and still be in ketosis
    Pooping is good, you need fiber

    What does it mean to say you eat the exact same things every day. If I eat steak and eggs today and tomorrow that's the same thing but there's no guarantee that I would eat the exact same amount and have the same calories.


    And as I've said before there is no general consensus for when a plateau hits. Everyones body is different. Thank you everyone who responded with thoughtful answers.

    Weight loss is not linear. You will not lose weight at the same rate week in and week out. Women in particular, because of hormones and menstrual cycles, experience additional water retention and fluctuations. 2 weeks of not losing is not a plateau. It is well within the normal range of variability and people have provided you several reasons why this is to be expected.

    You continue to act like those of us who are asking if you are sure you're in a calorie deficit are stupid, when time and again on these boards the number one reason why people aren't losing weight at their expected rate of loss is because they are overestimating their calorie intake. You've provided no explanation as to HOW you are so certain of your calories if you aren't logging, just that the rest of us (those of us who have helped countless members on these boards over the years by patiently reading a post and asking some additional clarifying questions) are rude.

    Good luck with your journey. I hope you poop soon. That doesn't sound pleasant.


    Ok. So I can't be held responsible for what other people say on the boards. If that does happen then that sucks but I shouldn't have to convince you that I'm being honest about my calorie intake. Good lucK with your journey as well
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