HELP! I'm stuck :(
anniecate747
Posts: 19 Member
I am 5'6'' and currently weigh 161 lbs. I started at 187 and am very proud of the weight I have lost, but I am just stuck here. My goal weight is 150. I only lost 4 oz. in the last 27 days. I have been exercising 40 mins on the elliptical, as well as following the 1300 calorie diet. I have an active job, and am extremely honest on here about EVERYTHING I eat. I am eating very healthy foods (Salmon, Veggies, greed fat free yogurt, wheat bread, avacado). I am not sure why I am just stuck at this weight 
I just REALLY don't know what to do. This program says "If every day were like today you would weigh 147-151 lbs (usually within that bracket) in 5 weeks.. that was 4 weeks ago! HELP 
REALLY down right now... I am just crying and feeling really defeated
I just REALLY don't know what to do. This program says "If every day were like today you would weigh 147-151 lbs (usually within that bracket) in 5 weeks.. that was 4 weeks ago! HELP REALLY down right now... I am just crying and feeling really defeated 2
Replies
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Do you use a food scale to weigh everything?2
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I know you say you are logging everything but if you really were only eating 1300 the weight would be practically falling off you... but on the up side, you still have lost a little bit in the last month, just not as much as you probably had hoped.
Are you using a food scale to weigh everything?
Have you started a new workout?
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Yes, I am VERY careful about measuring everything 1
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Measuring with cups and spoons is not very accurate.2
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Are you a daily weigher? if so you will see trends, the ups and downs.
Have you been eating more sodium high foods than previously? or introduced more carbs? not that theres anything wrong with either but they will mask fat loss as the body holds on to water.
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I TRULY am honest about everything. I have kept my diet the EXACT same since I started all of this in December. I have eaten the same foods every week and rarely dine out (and when I do, I order very healthy food and always log in here). I just don't understand 2
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I'm hoping someone will post that helpful chart soon for you! it will let you cross off other possibilities ie meds/ hormones.
And you haven't said yet if you have introduced exercise lately either?0 -
Well, if you think you are logging everything correctly, you could lower your intake by 100 calories or add a little more exercise.2
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what chart? Would love to see! I have definitely been exercising every day for the past 27 days. I was not doing that before... was only doing about 3 days a week. I just really wanted to kick it up a notch. I will say, I do feel like I look better, and people have really noticed a difference, but I just hate that the scale is not budging... I am not a daily weigher... should I be? I am not on any meds currently that cause weight gain. I did just end my cycle two days ago, so could be retaining water from that still? I just don't know... I'm so sad right now 0
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I am not an expert by any means but could part of the issue be that maybe your body has gotten used to the elliptical exercises and you need to switch it up/add more? Maybe the answer isn't less calories but try another workout routine. Keep your body guessing and those calories burning. Also, you have a lot to be happy about since 26 pounds lost is no joke. Be proud. You're doing great
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Ok, well I read that chart. Not seeing anything helpful. I still feel sad and terrible. 3
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Do not cry.. you need to high five yourself. YOU HAVE LOST 26 POUNDS! That is awesome... you need to celebrate it! Stalls suck... I have had several over the past year... I stick to my menu and eventually the scale starts moving again... I think it is my body catching up to the weight loss!
Good luck!
You are doing awesome!
Stay strong!1 -
Have you incorporated strength training to your exercise program? A balanced exercise routine is just as important as a balanced diet. Try mixing in some strength/weight training and stretching/Pilates/Yoga with your cardio. Your body may be getting used to the "new" you, so confuse it a bit. Good luck!3
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Just to be clear, your "being very careful about measuring" means you use a food scale for everything, right?
Also, it's really not a question of honesty. Accurate food logging is a skill like anything else that can take some time to master, is all.
If you are not weighing daily, you may be missing the big picture. A person's scale weight is affected by many things, including hormones (especially for women), sodium, and exercise (we retain water to repair muscle). You may be hitting the scale on a particularly high day for you, but actually losing overall. Daily weighing and a trending app would help you track your overall progress.4 -
Start taking measurements.
You might be seeing a different number go down instead of the scale number.2 -
You could still be retaining water from your cycle. It takes me almost a full week to get back down.2
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anniecate747 wrote: »what chart? Would love to see! I have definitely been exercising every day for the past 27 days. I was not doing that before... was only doing about 3 days a week. I just really wanted to kick it up a notch. I will say, I do feel like I look better, and people have really noticed a difference, but I just hate that the scale is not budging... I am not a daily weigher... should I be? I am not on any meds currently that cause weight gain. I did just end my cycle two days ago, so could be retaining water from that still? I just don't know... I'm so sad right now
Water retention for muscle repairing? I'm all for exercising often, but remember that your body will hold on to water to deal with muscle repairs.
Last suggestion: are you hydrated enough, as in drinking enough fluids? Doesn't matter if it's water, coffee, tea, juice, milk, etc..3 -
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Thanks Philly and need2move... I just need some encouragement... I don't want to starve myself. I feel like I am already eating the right amount, and don't always even reach the 1300 calorie mark, especially since the elliptical adds at least 400 calories for 40 minutes, sometimes a bit more depending on how hard I go. Shulerjs, maybe you are right about my body getting used to the "new" me... I have just started doing more exercise. Is it possible that I am just gaining muscle mass??? So frustrated... 2
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I'm right there with you. I have been at this same weight for 4 weeks now. I'm following a 1200 calorie diet and working out more than I was a month ago. I'm also drinking a lot more water. It is frustrating to see the scale stuck at the same number.0
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anniecate747 wrote: »Thanks Philly and need2move... I just need some encouragement... I don't want to starve myself. I feel like I am already eating the right amount, and don't always even reach the 1300 calorie mark, especially since the elliptical adds at least 400 calories for 40 minutes, sometimes a bit more depending on how hard I go. Shulerjs, maybe you are right about my body getting used to the "new" me... I have just started doing more exercise. Is it possible that I am just gaining muscle mass??? So frustrated...
Burn estimates from exercise equipment are notoriously inflated. You should probably only eat back about half of that.
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Would you be willing to open your food log? Sometimes fresh eyes can see common logging errors. Logging that's close but not perfect can work when you have more to lose, but as you get closer to goal, you have less wiggle room and margin for error.
Without seeing your log, my suggestions would be:- If you haven't been, start using a food scale for all solids, even if it seems unnecessary.
- Portion creep is a thing, and it happens to many of us. It looks like the same size portion I always have, but it's really getting subtly a little bigger. The food scale fixes that.
- Double check that the entries you are using in the database are correct, many are user entered and wrong.
- With 11 lbs to go, you should be expecting to lose @ 0.5lbs per week. It is very easy for such a small amount to hide behind water weight fluctuations, so it is quite possible you lost 1 or 2 lbs over this month but it isn't showing up on the scale due to water weight.
When you are trying to get just a little leaner, it's all about patience and precision :drinker:6 -
Yes zyxst, I have been hydrating a LOT... I am a massage therapist, so I am ALWAYS drinking water
I weighed myself this morning and my days off are Wed and Thurs, so I don't think it is water retention right now... but there could DEFINITELY be something to this retention of water for muscle repair... Do you think I should switch to exercise every other day? I guess I just got so determined to reach my goal, I thought exercise every day was going to be helpful. Or should I do every day and just do 30 minutes instead of 40? I a just at a loss... I will start doing the measurements though! I feel like I am losing everywhere but my stomach area is being very stubborn... I have been doing crunches using an ab-roller, and leg lifts... 1 -
This is actually very common when dieting, and is likely to be a result of your metabolism adapting to the calories and exercise. Our bodies are smart things, and when energy is scarce they will start utilizing the calories more efficiently, leading to you keeping your weight at a lower number of calories. Bummer for those trying to lose weight, but a good thing if you were a cavewoman.
When my clients reach a plateau like this at such low calories my first advise is always to up the calories for 1 to 2 weeks and reduce cardio. This will help to re-balance your hormones and can make you lose weight again when you go back to your diet. It sounds a bit counter intuitive, but it actually has a lot of research to back it up.6 -
Are you drinking any sugar free drinks? apparently those can cause weight gain. 13
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Are you using a food scale? I may have missed it, but I didn't see you confirm that yet.6
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I would take 10 days at maintenance calories and exercising every other day. You have been stressing your body since December. A maintenance break will likely help your mood, sleep, stress and metabolism. This is not a free-for-all but a planned break. Then come back to it after 10 days and I bet you start seeing success again.
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/09/170918222235.htm
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anniecate747 wrote: »Thanks Philly and need2move... I just need some encouragement... I don't want to starve myself. I feel like I am already eating the right amount, and don't always even reach the 1300 calorie mark, especially since the elliptical adds at least 400 calories for 40 minutes, sometimes a bit more depending on how hard I go. Shulerjs, maybe you are right about my body getting used to the "new" me... I have just started doing more exercise. Is it possible that I am just gaining muscle mass??? So frustrated...
Remember, working large muscle groups (legs, back, core) with weights has your muscles burning calories even after your workout is done; also boosts metabolism! Our bodies are designed to be as efficient as possible, so if we do the same exercise every day, our bodies will find a way to do it for the least calorie burn possible. Mix it up for muscle confusion to force your body to burn more calories. Your first day doing an exorcise burns the most calories, every day after that will be less.5 -
I would be wary about using the elliptical calorie estimates, most magazines that talk about gym machines overestimating calorie burn and put the elliptical as being the worst overestimator. Combine the overestimate with a low amount of calories you start at you might have not much wiggle room between being in a deficit and being close to maintenance.
I usually leave a 100 calorie buffer for the elliptical i.e if the machine says I burn 400 I enter 300. However this is probably person dependent and has been working for me when I was losing weight and now in maintenance.0
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