so sick of it all

Take a look at your sodium. I never watched anything but calories. Then I was like you, up and down the same 5 pounds for over a month. my favorite string cheese snack was killing my sodium!

If you open up your diary for us to see, others may be able to give you more personalized advice.

Could be. My mom cut sodium (mostly) out of her diet and lost 20 lbs. Not watching calories at all.

Are you eating enough calories?

Be sure to let us know if cutting sodium out works for you. Now I'm curious! I have high blood pressure, but I love my salt! Maybe I need to look at my sodium levels too - I didn't know one factor could have such a big affect on weight loss.

it sure can!!
i have high blood pressure too... once i started keeping my sodium under 1500 mg a day as well as drinking at least 10 cups of water, it automatically forced me to eat in a healthier wasy *L* and drop weight consistently.. PLUS my blood pressure now runs an average of 117/70... my Dr is loving it!

That being said, ignore my diary for the last 2 months, i have been coasting on maintenance and as a result of higher calories my sodium went up too

I agree with changing things up in the exercise department. I will walk, run, do Zumba (my fav), use the exercise bike, the elliptical machine, and will swim. Do you do any weight training? That may help also. Keep on. I've been at plateaus before (and am currently at one), but I just keep doing what I'm doing, watch my diet a little better, make sure I'm switching things around regarding my exercise, and make sure I'm drinking enough water.

have fun with it and find other things to do that are not as tedious. It takes sometimes months to find what works and you have to work and rework. Don't give up! but if you need a break work on maintaining for a while. I have ten a month off here or there for personal reasons and I did fine. took some of the stress off for sure.

Don't give up. I was platued for 3 months before I started losing. Now I am losing about 4 lbs. a week. Change up your exercise routine and your diet. Keep your metabolism guessing. You can do this if you stick with it. Make sure you combine strength training with cardio exercises.

Take a look at your sodium. I never watched anything but calories. Then I was like you, up and down the same 5 pounds for over a month. my favorite string cheese snack was killing my sodium!

Note that sodium alone isn't the culprit, you have to make sure you are still getting your water to PULL the sodium out of your system. What isn't metabolized and used, has to come out in urine, and water is the medium that it uses from transport.

The only other way, is to literally SWEAT it out... and that's a good way, but you still will need to keep your fluids up.

I don't have a lot of numbers to throw out, but many times, the worst plateaus are about your body getting 'comfortable' with your workouts. ie., you eat your 1300 calories every day, and you exercise at 6am for 30 minutes, four times a week....

Your body WANTS homeostasis, it CRAVES it. So, it will get used to your routine and you'll stop losing weight.

The only way to prevent this, is to SHAKE IT UP!!! Change your calories 100-200 up or down each day (maintaining your weekly average). Workout TWICE a day a couple days, and add another workout on an off day..

1) Go longer, harder with your workout...
2) don't just WALK or lightly jog your 2 miles on the treadmill, do intervals (speed up to 8mph for 30 secs once every 3-4 minutes),
3) find a little park or inside track and set up 6-8 little stations around the inside for a different type of calisthenic or weight lifting, etc. Then do a couple miles, running from one station to another, stop and do an exercise, run to the next station.. etc.
4) make your own list of 4 exercises... two with dumbbells you can do 12-15 reps with normally, and two that are like burpees or jumping jacks... set your watch for 30 seconds repeat intervals and then do the four exercises with 30 second rest in between each two times thru... rest 5 minutes, repeat..

If you use any of these, I will pretty much guarantee you will trick your body into thinking Armageddon has come and that you will bust through your plateau.

Oh, and enjoy your BIG calories days if you decide to do HIGH-LOW (some people call this zig-zagging), but be responsible... there is still a big difference between twp Krispy Kreme donuts and hot chocolate (720 cal) , and a 12 oz sirloin steak (no butter), steamed broccoli & cauliflower, 1/2c maple cured baked beans, and 1/2c low-fat coleslaw (702 cal)... yeah, they are about the same calories, only that big dinner has more protein and fiber than the donuts... you can eat BIG and be responsible.