Plateau, 50lbs down, 25 to go

Candikickbutt
Candikickbutt Posts: 97 Member
edited November 2024 in Motivation and Support
I'm 34 years old and I've lost 50lbs this last year. I've been using this consistently for a year, I've decided not to have any friends on my app, but I'm needing help. I've been at a Plateau for 5 months, tho I believe I have gained about 5lbs of lean muscle. My short term goal is another 15lbs. I'm starting the 5:2 intermediate fasting diet to see if it breaks my Plateau. I also have PCOS so it's hard. I just need friends for motivation and helpful tips. Thank you

Replies

  • countcurt
    countcurt Posts: 593 Member
    Motivation is overrated. We’ll start with that. You need reasons to want to lose the weight. Those reasons have to be more important to you than the reasons you don’t want to lose the weight- these exist or else losing weight would be easy.

    On the not losing, there is a harsh reality: you are not creating a caloric deficit. In other words, to lose weight, you’ll need to eat less (fewer calories) than you are currently eating.

    The change-up in your eating pattern may help. Primarily because these types of changes tend to create more focus and attention to the ‘details’ of managing caloric intake- weighing, measuring, tracking, avoiding mindless eating, etc.

    So, give yourself a deserved pat on the back for the 50 pounds you’ve already lost and the increase (if it’s accurate) in lean body mass, which I infer to mean that your body fat percentage has come down. Then, if you are resolute that you want to lose more weight, tweak the eating.
  • emmamcgarity
    emmamcgarity Posts: 1,594 Member
    Have you taken any planned diet breaks along the way?
  • serindipte
    serindipte Posts: 1,557 Member
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  • cmriverside
    cmriverside Posts: 34,664 Member
    edited October 2018
    I don't do well on 5:2 but I hope it helps you.

    I just stay within my calorie goals most of the time. Usually one day a week I'll be over by quite a bit, but I'm in maintenance now so it all works out.

    Keep. Good. Records.

    You need to know exactly how much you're eating. I lost the first 60 pounds fairly easily, just logging food and exercise. At that point though I had to become much more accurate and consistent. I bought a food scale for the last 15-20 pounds and used it religiously. I only eat one meal per week out. The rest of my meals I prepare myself. I don't drink alcohol and I limit my desserts to yogurt and fruit for the most part.

    I jump on the body weight scale daily and record it.

    I exercise 3-5 hours per week and eat more on those exercise days.

    All these things add up to success. Consistency and accuracy (as much as possible.) Then - Patience. Time. The last 15 pounds took me nine months. It's a slow slog at that point with no room for error and many days of genuine hunger. Set your Goal at "Lose 1/2 pound per week," (or even 1 pound per week) that will help with the hunger part. Then settle in for the long haul. Even maintenance takes work and diligence. Daily.
  • kar328
    kar328 Posts: 4,159 Member
    Feel free to add me. I'm 54, also with PCOS. I'm down 105.8 at the moment. Still have a few to go. I'm on Day 2123 of this journey. I'm also Queen of Plateaus. I"ve had many. PCOS does make it harder, but I also can admit to myself that I wasn't always in the deficit my diary showed I was. The ladies who replied gave good advice. People ask about motivation, I reply I don't know if there was one "aha" moment. It was just being tired of being too big. Didn't necessarily want to do this, but more like I had to, if that makes sense. I never tried the 5:2 so I can't add anything to that, but do work with a dietitian, who helps me tweak the numbers periodically. I took a new job about a year ago, hated it and stress ate 15 pounds back. With her "adult supervision" those are finally gone and I'm trying to go a few pounds lower. As for the amount of muscle, people try to be nice and say a gain is probably muscle, but I like to know for sure, so I've done two DEXA scans this year. Yes, some muscle gain, but not as much as people trying to be nice, claim I did.

    It's a slow process but so worth it. I've never felt better in my adult life. I ran a five mile race this morning. I'd have laughed if someone told me I'd do that 2124 days ago.
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