So Frustrated :( Has this happened to anyone else?

LindsayHein
LindsayHein Posts: 73 Member
edited November 2024 in Motivation and Support
Ok......so I have been losing since last February. I have lost 50 pounds. Which is awesome and I am so proud of myself for that. Around Thanksgiving I hit a plateau. (which I had hit before and worked through) Right before Thanksgiving, I finally made it to onderland. After Thanksgiving I went up a couple punds to 202. This didn't surprise me all that much with all the holiday parties I had attended. However, I have been stuck at the 201-200 range ever since. I can't seem to break through this wall. I'm sure I will....I am just really frustrated. I am being really strict and logging everything, down to a piece of gum. I stay under 1500 cals a day. My protein is at least 30%. I do reformer pilates twice a week, insanity workouts twice a week, run 3 miles at least once a week. I have tried lowering calories, uping calories, changing my workouts. If you have had a 2 month plateau and were able to work through it can you give me some suggestions? What did you do? Or, if you have any ideas for me, let me know. Thanks for letting me vent and for any suggestions!

Replies

  • LisaB511
    LisaB511 Posts: 1
    HI Lindsay- I completely understand! I have been stuck at my weight for 6 months now. I finally just started losing two weeks ago. I broke through the plateau by changing my routine of exercise. I am doing different classes at the gym and making sure I strength train to turn my metabolism into a burning machine!

    It is difficult but stick to it and don't be so hard on yourself. Your body is getting used to what you are doing and you have to trick it! Trust me- It is a long journey to lose it and will take dedication and hard work. Hope this helps some! :)
  • ambut
    ambut Posts: 49 Member
    That is super frustrating :-\ It always sucks to know that you're doing the right stuff but it's not showing on the scale. Here are a few questions or things I would consider:

    *Have your measurements changed? Sometimes when you lose fat and gain muscle, your body is more toned and fit but the scale doesn't demonstrate that. Similarly, you can find out your body fat percentage...this will help you determine if you're losing fat, even if the scale is no help. My gym has BF% doo-hickey that they let people use, so if you have a membership you might have access to one.
    *Do you keep hydrated each day? Water weight is probably not your main issue, but if you are regularly dehydrated, especially when you weigh yourself, you can be holding onto 5+ lbs of water weight, which could be a contributing factor.
    *Are you using a heart-rate monitor to accurately gauge your calorie burn with each workout? Many people overestimate how many calories they are burning and therefore are not creating the deficit they need to lose weight. Your routine sounds fairly challenging, but it couldn't hurt to have some gadgets on your side.
    *How much have your varied your exercise routines? You say you tried changing them up, but does that just mean sequencing and intensity, or that you actually go try new stuff? A lot of people who break through plateaus have found success by trying a totally new activity. You say you run, but how about cycling, hiking, or swimming? Have you tried lifting weights? A lot of women are afraid to lift because they don't want to look like bodybuilders, but I can ASSURE you that this will not happen unless you either take steroids or start taking in huge amounts of calories. You can increase your lean muscle mass, lose a lot of fat, and become significantly stronger all without getting jacked up.
    *How long have you stuck with any of the changes you have tried? For example, if you tried a significant increase or decrease in calorie intake, how long did you wait before you determined it wasn't working? Sometimes changes like that, especially if they are not very consistent, can take a few weeks to have a real effect. Try to follow the scientific method as you experiment with different strategies. Try to account for all the variables that might affect the outcome of your experiment and eliminate as many as you can. It can be very annoying and tedious, but if you really want the answer, it can be worth it.

    Hopefully some of these are helpful...I know plateaus, especially long ones, can be incredibly annoying and frustrating. Congrats on losing the 50 pounds! That's amazing all by itself, regardless of any other losses you're looking to make happen :-)
  • crazycat80
    crazycat80 Posts: 121 Member
    Perhaps you should try Metabolism and VO2 testing. Some gyms/fitness centers provide it. There is a chance with the weight loss and the workouts that your metabolism has revved up and you might not be getting the calories you need. I hear great results when people implement the suggestions of the testers. It has definitely helped some people top their plateau.
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