I'm stuck :(

pandagram
pandagram Posts: 5 Member
edited October 7 in Health and Weight Loss
When I first started using MFP, I was dropping 2-3lbs a week. I stuck to my calorie goals as well as I did light cardio 1-2 times a week. I was doing good until I hit -18lbs, and then I stopped dropping weight. I was stuck for a week and now I'm working out harder and staying under my goals as well as making myself drink lots of water but my weight is still staying the same. :cry:

HELP! Does anyone have any insights to how I could plateau so quickly?

I'm not giving up, I have waaaaaaay to far to go, I was just wondering if anybody had any advice on how to push through it. :smile:

Replies

  • purpleipod
    purpleipod Posts: 1,147 Member
    A plateau is more like 6+ weeks of not gaining or losing any weight. Try juggling your calories, sometimes going over one or two days helps get you out of a funk.
  • StephnElbow
    StephnElbow Posts: 91 Member
    not only do you make your workouts harder but also change what you were doing. if you can jog a bit then that is good. plus make sure you are doing weight lifting. muscles burn energy and calories even when you are just sitting there so the more the better. keep up the water though thats really good. also, dont go under your calories every day. it may sound backward but if you dont eat enough your body goes into starvation mode and holds on to everything. so once in awhile eat 100-200 more calories just to confuse your body so it doesnt enter that mode.

    hope that helps :)
  • pandagram
    pandagram Posts: 5 Member
    A plateau is more like 6+ weeks of not gaining or losing any weight. Try juggling your calories, sometimes going over one or two days helps get you out of a funk.

    I should have mentioned that my weight has been the same for 3 weeks after amping it up, lol but it's still not that long, I guess!

    I'm so scared to go over my calories, but if all else fails, I just may try that! Thank you :)
  • purpleipod
    purpleipod Posts: 1,147 Member
    Well if what you're doing isn't working it can't hurt to experiment for a week or two. Do you eat a lot of processed/pre packaged food? Or do you eat relatively cleanly?
  • pandagram
    pandagram Posts: 5 Member
    not only do you make your workouts harder but also change what you were doing. if you can jog a bit then that is good. plus make sure you are doing weight lifting. muscles burn energy and calories even when you are just sitting there so the more the better. keep up the water though thats really good. also, dont go under your calories every day. it may sound backward but if you dont eat enough your body goes into starvation mode and holds on to everything. so once in awhile eat 100-200 more calories just to confuse your body so it doesnt enter that mode.

    hope that helps :)

    Maybe I will try this method. I have heard that lifting before cardio helps burn fat faster....but that side of the gym is still a little scary to me! I think I'm going to start this tonight.

    As for the adding a couple calories to my goal, should I add them before or after my workout calories are added?
  • purpleipod
    purpleipod Posts: 1,147 Member
    Well in my past weight loss experiences I've noticed that if I go weeks and weeks sticking exactly to my target then I randomly eat a higher than normal calorie meal one night, I get a much higher loss that week on the scale. I couldn't tell you exactly how to do it, it may not even work for you, but it's worked for me in the past. I think it just shocks your body because it's something different.
  • pandagram
    pandagram Posts: 5 Member
    Well if what you're doing isn't working it can't hurt to experiment for a week or two. Do you eat a lot of processed/pre packaged food? Or do you eat relatively cleanly?

    Honestly, A LOT of what I eat is pre-packaged, which I know is horrible on sodium, so I have to start watching that as well, it just really helps me keep track when it's all right there on the box.

    Usually all of my lunches are lean cuisines or canned soup & a sandwhich.
    Dinner I usually cook a lean meat and a veggie.
  • dana815
    dana815 Posts: 9
    i know the feeling all too well! i went thru several of those....ur body gets tio used to it and u have to change thingz up....i agree w wht was said abt changing workout up n adding more calories from time to time. stay motivated n keep up the good work!
  • dana815
    dana815 Posts: 9
    Well if what you're doing isn't working it can't hurt to experiment for a week or two. Do you eat a lot of processed/pre packaged food? Or do you eat relatively cleanly?

    Honestly, A LOT of what I eat is pre-packaged, which I know is horrible on sodium, so I have to start watching that as well, it just really helps me keep track when it's all right there on the box.

    Usually all of my lunches are lean cuisines or canned soup & a sandwhich.
    Dinner I usually cook a lean meat and a veggie.

    try to make lunch the night before using frozen veggies (much better than canned) & healthy meat lf ur choice like fish or chicken/turkey...i did frozen meals ,ike that for a long time but found the carbs n sodium was more than needed so i onky eat them once or twice a week...be careful bc soups r high n sodium. sanwiches use low calorie wheat bread like sara lee 45cal per slice...i think its too soft so i toast it ghen pack it n my lunch after its cooled.lol. tuna or sandwich meat wrapped in lettuce instead of bread is a nice treat for lunch too. raw almonds or veggies like edamame r good for snacks...although for sweets i do keep 100 cal pks around
  • dana815
    dana815 Posts: 9
    i know what u mean abrlt cal bring on box n easier but MFP has just abt evereythung n here, i save meals like turket meat n lets me choose slices, bread, lettuce, even my dinners i can type n the sauce brand n choose my servubg, cheese n meat amounts...itll get easier to enter the meals u make..just takes more time n effort
  • cramernh
    cramernh Posts: 3,335 Member
    Well if what you're doing isn't working it can't hurt to experiment for a week or two. Do you eat a lot of processed/pre packaged food? Or do you eat relatively cleanly?

    Honestly, A LOT of what I eat is pre-packaged, which I know is horrible on sodium, so I have to start watching that as well, it just really helps me keep track when it's all right there on the box.

    Usually all of my lunches are lean cuisines or canned soup & a sandwhich.
    Dinner I usually cook a lean meat and a veggie.

    Time to get rid of the processed garbage and feed your body with real foods....
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