Plateau

Did you start your weight loss journey at the beginning of February, or did you start earlier and only now not seeing progress on the scale?

3 weeks is still early days. If you've added (or increased) exercise, water retention could be causing the lack of progress on the scale. Other possible culprits: constipation, water retention due to hormonal fluctuations, stress,...
Looser pants indicate you are losing bodyfat, so just be patient. It isn't a true plateau until 6 to 8 weeks of no progress with the same routine (or 2 menstrual cycles if applicable).

PS not sure how to interpret 'broke down and joined a gym today' as if a gym is something bad?

3 weeks on and no pounds lost is no indication of progress. Loose clothing definitely is !!
I started Nov 25, didn't notice much difference for the first month, but now all my clothing is looser, I may have to buy new jeans soon. I don't use a scale because I don't want to obsess over every half pound loss, but I can tell I'm progressing. I saved some size 10 pants from previous weight loss and when I can fit into them, I'll know I've achieved my goal.

Plateau or no plateau? Here are the basic factors

-wait 4-6 weeks at a certain calorie amount
-always weigh first thing in the morning after peeing.
-understand loss isn’t linear, some days you may weigh more than the day before, usually because of higher carbs the day before
-no change after 4-6 weeks your weekly calories are too high, even weightlifting won’t mask this.

AnnPT77 wrote: »

tomcustombuilder wrote: »

Plateau or no plateau? Here are the basic factors

-wait 4-6 weeks at a certain calorie amount
-always weigh first thing in the morning after peeing.
-understand loss isn’t linear, some days you may weigh more than the day before, usually because of higher carbs the day before
-no change after 4-6 weeks your weekly calories are too high, even weightlifting won’t mask this.

Good advice. That last one, though? More nuance.

Probably true if male or menopausal. Maybe not true for women not yet menopausal, especially at the 4 weeks end of that range. OP's profile says "female".

At a fast loss rate, one cycle may be enough to get a good picture. At the half-pound a week slow rate, I've even seen a month, maybe month-plus "stall" (that wasn't actually a stall) even in menopause. It could be worse pre-menopause, because hormonal water retention really can be that weird.

Hitting the cyclic water shifts just wrong at the start of calorie reduction can extend the time to see realistic results.

Gaining muscle is extremely slow and a fatloss diet that has any semblance of effectiveness will overshadow muscle gain especially while in a calorie deficit. Water retention will have gone after the 4-6 week marker. A woman's cycle may have an effect however after 4-6 weeks and no change not being in a deficit is more than likely the case, 8 weeks, definitely

hawaiilife416 wrote: »

I am feeling this today! Been working out, staying in the calorie goal, and clothes are much looser and I weighed today and gained 5 lbs!

When you weigh yourself be sure you're weighing first thing in the morning after you pee. Weighing at other times will be inaccurate as far as water weight and food or drinks you've taken in which can vary weight by pounds.

Dreamroper wrote: »

It can be so frustrating when we watch what we eat and the lbs don't drop off. I haven't lost anything this week, so I understand how you feel. Stay strong, we're all in this together!

Don't forget that loss isn't linear. You can go a few weeks with no loss and it doesn't mean you aren't still losing fat. Water retention can mask the loss.

If you've been on a downward trend and havent't upped weekly calories you're ok. Its when a month goes by with no loss that you have to be concerned. At that point you'll want to review things. After losing 10 lbs it's best to drop your calories a bit to keep losing.