Help me get past my first plateau!!

carleighp47
carleighp47 Posts: 26
edited October 2 in Motivation and Support
I reached my first plateau after 4 weeks on here. When I started the pounds were coming off 2 lbs a week just like they were supposed to. I was so excited because I had never found a diet that worked for me before...despite many attempts. So, you can imagine my excitement when I finally found something that worked!

I lost 11 lbs the first 4 weeks...and it has been about 3-4 weeks since then...and I have not lost any more.

MFP lowered my calorie intake when I hit the 11lb mark, so I have been eating less. I did have about a week where I couldn't workout because my mom was in the hospital having surgery on her spine, and my brother got married the same week. Other than that, I have been working out 7 days a week 1-2.5 hours depending on where I workout and how motivated I am.

My boyfriend and I got a 3 day trial pass to 24hr fitness, and I am really loving it there. However, it expires tonight at midnight and I can't afford the $40/mo membership fee :( So, I am trying to figure out a way to afford that.

I have read some of the other posts about plateaus and am going to try "eating more". I changed my weight loss goal from 2 lbs a week to 1.5 lbs per week. I have also changed my workout, I was doing Leslie Sansone's Walk At Home series and using my elliptical at home...but recently I have started using a recumbent bike, the precore 100i (like an elliptical and stair climber in one), the treadmill, walking/jogging, hiking, a stair cilmber, etc. I thought maybe I needed to work out different parts of my body, like maybe my body had become "used to" my workouts...but even changing up my workout and using all these different techniques, I still haven't lost any more.

Please help me!! I do NOT want to give up! But I am so discouraged right now. And we all know that discouragement comes with craving sweets and other things we shouldn't eat.

I really need some advice and motivation.


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Replies

  • DakotaKeogh
    DakotaKeogh Posts: 693 Member
    As for the gym, check out planetfitness.com and see if there's one in your area. I go there. it's great. Loads of great equipment and $10 a month.

    Plateaus are an unfortunate, but normal, occurrence. Your body is resetting itself around your new weight. Loss of weight does come with some amount of trauma to the system. And it needs to take a breather now and then to let things settle down. So, despite your best efforts, you'll see the scale flat line now and then. The main thing is to keep a cool head and realize that, logically, if you're eating at a diet level and getting exercise, your body HAS to lose weight.

    Don't get too aggressive or it can have negative affects. For me, around 80 pounds lost, I started losing hair. So I had to back off it for a bit and go slower. My last plateau that hit just before I reached my goal weight lasted at least a couple of months. Then a sudden drop and goal over just a few weeks.

    Don't let it get to you. Just take it a day at a time and keep doing what you're doing. You'll get there.
  • audram420
    audram420 Posts: 838 Member
    Don't give up...changing your routine should help...Drink lots more water and watch your sodium intake! YOU CAN DO IT
  • angkev2560
    angkev2560 Posts: 36
    I feel for you! I am in the same boat! My suggestion (and this came from a friend of mine who asked her trainer) is that maybe you need a rest day? You said you are working out 7 days a week at least an hour a day right? I'm no expert, but I do know that your body needs time to recover. This could be why you are not losing any more weight. I would suggest at least one day of no exercise and see if that changes anything. Hope that helps:)
  • silkysly
    silkysly Posts: 701 Member
    Eat more! (Healthy foods of course.) Also take a day of rest or just streching. It helped me.
  • KeriA
    KeriA Posts: 3,345 Member
    This is a blog I wrote about plateaus which I am posting not necessarily for you to read but for you to get 2 links from it that discuss plateas and how to get out of them. II lbs doesn't quite fit the typical plateau that occurs at about 10% of your original weight lost. I think your weight stalled for another reason and it could be that you aren't eating enough. You might check into a zig zag diet. Your weight loss should be slowing down now but not really stopping. Best wishes. http://www.myfitnesspal.com/blog/KeriA/view/plateaus-revisited-132685
  • posy43
    posy43 Posts: 15 Member
    Don't give up hun.

    This is just a small blip. When you look back at how long the weight took to creep on, it did just that, it crept on, you maybe didn't gain something every week, so don't be surprised that you don't lose something every week.

    You have just inflicted a severe change on your body and it is now taking stock and figuring out how best to deal with the new situation, once it realises that it isn't getting what it is used to it will have no option but to revert to it's stored fat and they weight will start coming off again. The main thing is not to panic. just keep on doing what you are doing and it will happen.

    I totally understand just how disappointing it is to stay the same. I have lost 107lbs so far, I have stuck rigidly to my diet and I have exercised daily for over an hour, yet this week the scale shows a 1lb increase. when I first started this journey that 1lb gain would have had me in tears and heading for the fridge, but not any more, I know if I carry on the way I have it will be gone and more besides...Just keep reminding yourself why you are losing weight and how much better you will feel once you reach your goal.

    Hang in there

    Alison
  • realitybytez
    realitybytez Posts: 28
    I feel for you. I had the exact same experience. Lost two pounds a week for the first five weeks, and then nothing for two weeks. Here's what I did: I increased my daily calories to the MFP recommendation for one pound per week weight loss. I really tried to mix up my days - some high protein, some high fiber. I even allowed myself a couple of splurges - went out to dinner with my wife at a nice restaurant one night, and pretty much pigged out all day one day. Totally ignored the scale for over a week. Yesterday, I nervously weighed in, and tada! Not only had my weight dropped two full pounds, I've met my first goal.


    Eating more seems totally counterproductive, but it worked for me.
  • carleighp47
    carleighp47 Posts: 26
    Thank you all SO much for your advice and kind words! After reading this blog, http://fitnesswithnatalie.blogspot.com/2011/05/most-dreaded-word-in-weight-loss.html, that was posted in KerIA's blog about plateaus, it looks like I need to raise my caloric intake because I workout so much, and also incorporate strength training (which I should have known!!).

    I appreciate any more advice that anybody has! I am going to try this new plan and report back soon!
  • carleighp47
    carleighp47 Posts: 26
    I think I finally got past this plateau! I weight a couple days ago and the scale says I have lost 2.4 pounds in the last week! I will weigh again next week to see if this progress is real! :)

    Pretty excited! Thank you everyone for your help!!
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