Overcoming "The Plateau"

2

Replies

  • ClarkOMan
    ClarkOMan Posts: 54 Member
    This has always worked for me in the past.
    Eat normally for the first of three days, get plenty of water, and eat NO BEEF.

    On the second day, if you are on a day schedule, have 16 Oz. of a lean cut of beef with all visible fat removed pan broiled with no added fats or oils before 11:30 am.

    Drink 1/2 your body weight (Lbs not Kgs) in ounces of water during the day.

    Then before 6:00 pm have one large red apple un-peeled for dinner.

    For the third day resume eating normal, get plenty of water, and eat no beef.

    Every time I have hit a plateau I used this, gained 2 to 4 pounds on the day after, then lost a large amount (2 to 6 Lbs) the day after that. Then (I don't know how it works) I would start losing at a normal rate again. I used this under the guidance of a bariatrics physicians aid a long time ago.
  • tyra47
    tyra47 Posts: 97
    bump

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  • cloud2011
    cloud2011 Posts: 898 Member

    You obviously have not read all of the posts...my workouts are very different, involve intervals, and my current schedule has only been what it is for the last 3 weeks...
    [/quote]

    Pardonnez moi. Deleted.

    Best of luck.
  • Athena413
    Athena413 Posts: 1,709 Member
    This has always worked for me in the past.
    Eat normally for the first of three days, get plenty of water, and eat NO BEEF.

    On the second day, if you are on a day schedule, have 16 Oz. of a lean cut of beef with all visible fat removed pan broiled with no added fats or oils before 11:30 am.

    Drink 1/2 your body weight (Lbs not Kgs) in ounces of water during the day.

    Then before 6:00 pm have one large red apple un-peeled for dinner.

    For the third day resume eating normal, get plenty of water, and eat no beef.

    Every time I have hit a plateau I used this, gained 2 to 4 pounds on the day after, then lost a large amount (2 to 6 Lbs) the day after that. Then (I don't know how it works) I would start losing at a normal rate again. I used this under the guidance of a bariatrics physicians aid a long time ago.

    Seriously? That seems so random... :huh:
  • Athena413
    Athena413 Posts: 1,709 Member

    You obviously have not read all of the posts...my workouts are very different, involve intervals, and my current schedule has only been what it is for the last 3 weeks...

    Pardonnez moi. Deleted.

    Best of luck.
    [/quote]

    No offense - I often don't read all the posts on a thread because there's too many and I don't have time to read everything.
  • BuffLoveWinning
    BuffLoveWinning Posts: 68 Member
    You may need rest. Take two days off instead of one and split them apart. Not consecutive.
  • MaximalLife
    MaximalLife Posts: 2,447 Member
    DELETED!
  • Athena413
    Athena413 Posts: 1,709 Member
    You may need rest. Take two days off instead of one and split them apart. Not consecutive.

    I actually just decided to do that. Usually I wouldn't take Friday off, but since Tues-Thurs is so intense, I decided Friday would be a good second rest day.
  • Athena413
    Athena413 Posts: 1,709 Member
    Usually anywhere from 900-1,600. And that's NET, not consumed. I very rarely ever consume less than 1,200 - because that's just stupid. And I don't usually eat back all of my exercise calories. Some, yes, but I don't believe that eating back all of them is necessarily a good idea, especially since calories burned is just an estimate anyway.
    Eat back your exercise calories.
    Just try it for a month, and see if that's the issue with you like it is with so many others experiencing plateaus.
    Maybe it's just that simple.

    I'm very leary of eating back exercise calories because of the fact that it is just an estimate. What if you're burning way less than you think you are and then you eat back all those calories that you haven't actually burned? Seems counter-productive. I do eat SOME of them back, just usually not all of them.
  • chevy88grl
    chevy88grl Posts: 3,937 Member
    I started around 177lbs. I dropped down to 167lbs pretty quickly and easily. However, when I hit 167lbs, I swear my body went into freak out mode and I stopped losing. I went MONTHS without losing a single pound. I was frustrated. Angry. Disappointed. I was watching what I ate (and being quite strict with myself honestly), I worked out every day, I drank my water, got enough sleep, etc. I was devastated when week after week I stepped on the scale and it read...

    167lbs.

    Finally.... I decided it was time to do some research. I read articles. I googled calculators. I tracked my food VERY carefully. I realized I wasn't eating enough. I upped my calories by 100 - nothing, another 100 - nothing, another 100 - lost .5lb and finally I hit 2000 calories a day (net calories).

    I went from 167lbs to 150lbs in something like 5 weeks.

    I wasn't eating nearly enough food. I was starving my body.
  • Athena413
    Athena413 Posts: 1,709 Member
    DELETED!

    Forget it - you asked for advice, then want to snivel over others taking the time to brainstorm this with you?

    I'm not sniveling - I'm having a discussion. And what you don't know is that I sent her a personal message to apologize if that came off wrong. Unfortunately you can't always catch someone's tone via electronic communication.
  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 48,990 Member

    I was working with a personal trainer from July 2011 - January 2012 and my workouts are different every day because I'm in a tri club and do most of my workouts in a group setting. Training season just kicked off 2-3 weeks ago, though,so I may just be adjusting to the new workouts still. This is my (new) current schedule:

    Monday - rest
    Tuesday - trainer ride, 30 minute interval run
    Wednesday - bootcamp (H.I.I.T.)
    Thursday - swim group, 30 minute tempo run
    Friday - rest
    Saturday - swim, weight train
    Sunday - long run

    My workouts are pretty intense Tues-Thurs, thus the second rest day on Friday that I've implemented starting tonight. I'm really hoping upping my calories some will help...
    IMO, you're too much on the cardio. If it were me training you, I'd have you cut it back to 3 times a week, then just concentrate on some heavy *kitten* weight lifting with some high volume.


    A.C.E. Certified Personal Trainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness for 28+ years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
  • I do the most common thing;
    Switch the calorie intake up a LOT.

    I still have a weekly total that will be the same, but how I distribute the weekly calories will just be insane for a week to a month until I drop.

    I have awful plateaus for every tens number I hit. D:

    I've never changed the substance of my diet or exercise to get over those bumps! xD
  • MaximalLife
    MaximalLife Posts: 2,447 Member
    Deleted....
  • chevy88grl
    chevy88grl Posts: 3,937 Member
    Dial up to maintenance calories for 2 weeks. Then go back to regular loss-level calories.

    I set it to maintenance and it says 2,130 calories/day - that seems like A LOT!

    Depending on your activity level - having 2130 for maintenance isn't really all that high. I can easily maintain my weight (and have been for 18 months) by consuming 2300-2500 net calories a day. It's all about how active you are.
  • Athena413
    Athena413 Posts: 1,709 Member

    I was working with a personal trainer from July 2011 - January 2012 and my workouts are different every day because I'm in a tri club and do most of my workouts in a group setting. Training season just kicked off 2-3 weeks ago, though,so I may just be adjusting to the new workouts still. This is my (new) current schedule:

    Monday - rest
    Tuesday - trainer ride, 30 minute interval run
    Wednesday - bootcamp (H.I.I.T.)
    Thursday - swim group, 30 minute tempo run
    Friday - rest
    Saturday - swim, weight train
    Sunday - long run

    My workouts are pretty intense Tues-Thurs, thus the second rest day on Friday that I've implemented starting tonight. I'm really hoping upping my calories some will help...
    IMO, you're too much on the cardio. If it were me training you, I'd have you cut it back to 3 times a week, then just concentrate on some heavy *kitten* weight lifting with some high volume.


    A.C.E. Certified Personal Trainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness for 28+ years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

    Thanks! I'll definitely take that in to consideration!
  • david081
    david081 Posts: 489 Member
    I don't eat back exercise cals. Recently looked at a lot of advice re plateaux, and maintenance for a short spell was a common method, as was zig-zagging calories. I sometimes (rarely) go on a 36-hour fast to clean-out my system, drinking loads of water, and still taking vitamins & supplements. This has worked fine for me.

    Good luck, and best wishes,

    David
  • lkm111
    lkm111 Posts: 629 Member
    Wow, we could be twins. I've been beating my head against a wall for a long time - so glad to have found you!

    I have lost a total of 60 lbs. (37 since joining MFP). It has taken me 2 1/2 years. I wore size 22 jeans, now I wear 16.

    I am stuck at the same weight as you, and I've been stuck since last March, so almost a year. I started out walking, added Zumba, KettleWorx, and now I do TurboFire. I drink my water and eat as healthy as possible, staying under as often as possible. I'm not perfect, I do have days I go over.

    I am interested to see what advice you get. I will say I've tried upping calories and every time I end up gaining.

    On the bright side, I've kept off what I've lost for a long time (for me anyway). My frustration is that once I hit 220, I knew Onederland would be right around the corner. I was so excited! Still waiting.....

    Thanks for posting. Can't wait to help you break this plateau! :smile:
  • Athena413
    Athena413 Posts: 1,709 Member
    Almost a year?! :noway:

    Must. Find. Solution!!
  • gregpack
    gregpack Posts: 426 Member
    I finally hit a plateau in the latter stages big loss last year. I was working out six days a week and eating about 1800 calories a day, about 1200 below maintenance. My weight loss stalled, my pulse rate slowed to 48, and I experienced some other symptoms that led me to believe I may have some issues with the hormone Leptin and my body was trying to hang on to my fat stores. After reading up I went to a carb rich diet and ate closer to maintenance intake. In just a few days my pulse rate went back up. Honestly I felt so good and my workouts and stamina improved so much I took a break from my diet for the month of January. I ate 3000calories per day and continued my workouts. I ate more than I have in six months and still managed to lose almost three pounds.

    Anyway, I'd suggest trying a few high carb days. You will gain some water weight but it will come back off in a couple of days. You might also want to search here for what is commonly called spike days, or cheat days.. It's worth trying.

    Google leptin for some information that may be of interest to you. Bodyrecomposition.com has some good articles on the subject.

    I don't really believe in low-carb dieting unless you're specifically trying to build muscle. I'm a runner, and runners thrive on carbs, so my diet is by no means low-carb. I probably need to re-evaluate the value of my carbs and check out some of those articles. Thanks for the input!!

    My reference in the thread to carbs is that IF it is an issue with Leptin, the best results to normalize leptin levels is a caloric surplus high carbohydrate diet for a few days. Lyle McDonald at bodyrecomposition has some great articles on leptin, and search engines will bring up a lot on the subject too.
  • Athena413
    Athena413 Posts: 1,709 Member
  • Athena413
    Athena413 Posts: 1,709 Member
    [/quote]
    My reference in the thread to carbs is that IF it is an issue with Leptin, the best results to normalize leptin levels is a caloric surplus high carbohydrate diet for a few days. Lyle McDonald at bodyrecomposition has some great articles on leptin, and search engines will bring up a lot on the subject too.
    [/quote]

    I've honestly never even heard of leptin...looks like I've got some studying to do!
  • That is very interesting to me. My HR has always been slow but had also gone down to 48 or lower sometimes. The last few weeks Ive noticed it is up a bit, coinciding with my breaking through a plateau. In fact the last couple of weeks the weight has been almost falling off! I am starting tracking on MFP tommorrow, just finished a subscription service today and my training partner and husband have had great success with MFP. I was going to shoot for 40 30 30 carb protein fat breakdown but I think I will read up on this first!
  • Athena413
    Athena413 Posts: 1,709 Member
    That is very interesting to me. My HR has always been slow but had also gone down to 48 or lower sometimes. The last few weeks Ive noticed it is up a bit, coinciding with my breaking through a plateau. In fact the last couple of weeks the weight has been almost falling off! I am starting tracking on MFP tommorrow, just finished a subscription service today and my training partner and husband have had great success with MFP. I was going to shoot for 40 30 30 carb protein fat breakdown but I think I will read up on this first!

    40-30-30 is what I've been shooting for, too, but the leptin thing has my interest now...
  • :blushing: Bump...
  • marekdds
    marekdds Posts: 2,233 Member
    Lost from 215 to 185, then stopped for six to eight months. Didn't gain any, but didn't lose any. Quit stressing about it. Started eating a little more, good stuff, but definitely more carbs. Have lost another 40 since then. Just my 2 cents, it is what worked for me.
  • kimberg75
    kimberg75 Posts: 412 Member
    I lost 40 lbs. b/4 I hit the dreaded plateau. I was eating 1200 calories and exercising, eating back most of my exercise calories and everything was going along just fine, losing 1-2 lbs. a week then nothing for 2 months. I know how frustrating it can be. So I did a lot of researching about plateaus. One thing I read (and wish I would have bookmarked b/c I have no idea how to find it now) said that after losing a lot of weight the body will automatically plateau b/c it has to go through a reconfiguring process. It said this process usually takes 1-2 months and once it's done you will start losing again. I found this interesting b/c my plateau lasted for 2 months then I started losing again. The things I did change were: I upped my calorie goal from 1200 to 1400, I changed my workout routine (started doing Jillian dvds 4-5 times a week), and I started watching my sodium and sugar levels when before I didn't have them in my diary to worry about.
    If I were you I would definitely try upping your calories a bit...not necessarily maintenance level but you could try upping them by 200 or 300 calories. Change up your workouts. It sounds like you get a variety now but try a new variety of moves to confuse your body.
    Good luck! You will start losing again eventually if you keep at this and don't give up.
  • emermaid
    emermaid Posts: 6 Member
    If you're open to trying something a bit different, why not try EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique, or 'tapping') to remove any subconscious blocks you have to getting slimmer. Lots of people have done this with great success, and you can get free resources at eftuniverse.com and by googling "Carol Look EFT weight loss". It costs nothing and is very powerful.

    What happened the last time you were at your ideal weight? Your body will hold onto weight in certain circumstances. If last time you were slim you had unwanted male attention, or were even attacked/abused, it will be hard to get slimmer without clearing the fear that it will happen again. Or if being slim is associated (in your subconscious) with unhappiness in any other way - if you were last thin because you were miserable after a relationship breakup, or if last time you successful shed some pounds you were criticized by jealous or unsupportive friends or family members.... there are many reasons why our bodies refuse to co-operate, but you can clear these reasons with a bit of gentle tapping. I've just written a blog post about it, check it out if you're curious. It could definitely be the answer to breakin your long plateau.

    x
  • I was at a plateau till this week. I did a 1 day liquid detox drink and I lost 2 lbs that day and 1/2 lb the next day. Here is the plan.
    1 cup unsweetened cranberry juice, 1 cup unsweetened pomegranted juice, 7 cups water, 1/2 cup orange juice, 1/2 tsp cinnamon, 1/4 tsp ground cardamom, and a pinch of ground cloves. In a large sauce pan bring all liquids to a boil. Reduce heat and stir in spices. simmer for 5 min. Warm juice before drinking. Makes 9.5 cups. This is a 2 step process. Every other hr you drink 1 cup of detox juice and the other hr you drink 1 cup water with 1 tbs of lemon juice. Sample schedule: 7 am 1 cup lemon water, 8 am 1 cup detox juice, 9 am 1 cup water, 10 am 1 cup detox juice.

    I got this receipe from another mfp member. It works. Good luck.
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