Can a Plateau literally last forever?
meechi53
Posts: 195 Member
OK I plateaued since APRIL 14, losing/gaining same 1 lb with travel, TOM, water gain whatever. This is ridiculous. I upped my calories from 1200 to 1500, I took 2 weeks "off" at the beginning of this month from logging and zumba/kickboxing classes, I've "zig zagged" my calories, and still here it is now going on 3 months and nothing. I'm 14 lbs away from my "first goal" and after that I was going to set a second goal of 15-20 more lbs. as my first goal would have put me at 150 lbs and I'm 5'2 and right now weigh 164 which is still overweight. I've not lost any inches in 6 weeks either. I work out 5-6 days a week.
This is always what has happened to me in the past, I'd lose 20-25 lbs and then stall FOREVER, and usually give up and gain it all back and then another 5 lbs. Years ago I did WW and it took me 8 months to lose 17 lbs and I followed the plan, watching people around me lose that amount in a month or two. Is is possible for the body to plateau or adjust to a weight that is still overweight and you can NEVER lose it all except for starvation/being anorexic or having surgery?
This is always what has happened to me in the past, I'd lose 20-25 lbs and then stall FOREVER, and usually give up and gain it all back and then another 5 lbs. Years ago I did WW and it took me 8 months to lose 17 lbs and I followed the plan, watching people around me lose that amount in a month or two. Is is possible for the body to plateau or adjust to a weight that is still overweight and you can NEVER lose it all except for starvation/being anorexic or having surgery?
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Replies
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Can you open up your diary so potential helpers can see what's going on?0
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Have you tried upping the exercise and/or switching the type of exercise and not eating back the exercise calories? Leaving all or most of my exercise calories on the table seems to work for me when my weight loss stalls. Good luck.0
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Tell me about it! Same 2lbs going on and off for AGES!! I've upped cals, dropped cals, ate exercise cals, not eaten exercise cals....and no inches off here either even though I'm doing SL..although I think my thighs are getting bigger!
Love to hear the responses
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It would then be called maintaining.
Echo the 'please open your diary' echo.
I've been on a plateau since April. I've just broken through it. It's easy to say just be patient, but it's better to be at your current weight than go back to where you were.
What are your current stats?0 -
the answer is no. but it sure can seem like it is lasting forever when you hit a plateau. if you are actually overweight and your plateau is 8 weeks running, then it is time for changing something. assuming no thyroid or other medical issue, the real key is to be as accurate as possible on the calories in and calories out.
1. research plateau busting from multiple sources (avoid any adice that is trying to sell you something)
2. get your body fat tested by a professional. actual weight is not as important as your true body fat %.
3. try a different approach like eat stop eat or leangains to see if that will help. it surely will not hurt you. it will always be about calories in and calories out but intermittent fasting seemed to help me bust a plateau.0 -
I'm 5' 2" and I wouldn't be able to lose weight on 1500 calories even when young with a much faster metabolism unless I was exceptionally active.0
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I have been there! Finally found a trainer that explained I was under eating and my body was just fighting to survive. Gradually increase calories to about 1700 a day with a bit higher in lean proteins.0
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I just broke mine after 8 months!!!!!! and yes I agree with above better than gaining! you can check out my diary if you like, I'm on day 34 of 40 of a clean eating challenge I set myself....its TOUGH but it was an experiment and proves it always comes back to the food and what we put in our mouths.....I had tried everything prior to this and nothing and I'm not a junk food eater either, I have now dropped a dress size and I've retained all the muscle I've been building (and can actually see it now) over 20 months...my motto is NEVER GIVE UP! we have to make sacrifices to get to where we want to be....:o)0
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Hard to tell. You have to do something really different and drastic to break through it. Your body is used to the same ol', and it's not going to let go without a fight.0
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Count your blessings. I've been plateaued since December thanks to thyroid problems.
It's really frustrating, but never stop trying.0 -
Hard to tell. You have to do something really different and drastic to break through it. Your body is used to the same ol', and it's not going to let go without a fight.
diasgree that it has to be a "drastic" change. if its too drastic it can be detrimental.0 -
Ok, so truth is, when people who are still overweight get stuck it's because they are not pushing hard enough. Plain and simple. You are still consuming more calories than you are burning. Whether you eat 1200 or 1500 it won't matter. Your diary is closed so I can't say that with 100% certainty because medical issues are always a possible, but they are rarely the case. Everyone always wants to blame something else when it's still a denial factor. And yes, I know this from experience because I did the same thing. I was "stuck" for 4 months and not until I opened my eyes and truly re-evaluated what I was doing and pushed HARDER did the weight start to come off again.
Eating less will not help you. DO NOT net less than 1200 calories. Period. I don't care what others tell you. If you don't want the weight to come back once you eat more again, do not do not do not NET less than 1200.
Eat healthier. No, you dont have to eat clean, but make good choices. Whole grains over white, fresh fruit over juice, etc.
PUSH HARD during your workouts. Change does NOT happen in the comfort zone. If you are not screaming at yourself to keep going during your workouts, you are not pushing hard enough, plain and simple.
I hate how ppl tip toe around others on here. Best to be blunt if you ask me.0 -
Ok, so truth is, when people who are still overweight get stuck it's because they are not pushing hard enough.
not always true, by a long shot.0 -
Well there is no way in hell I'm consuming more than I'm burning especially to put me at maintenance for 3 months. I do zumba and kickboxing which I log on the low end depending how hard I feel the instructors worked us, I only put it between 500-650 calories, I can't be convinced a Zumba class burns 1000-1200 calories. Most of the time I eat back my workout calories because that's what I've been told to do and I believe it. I didn't up my calories to 1500 until end of May and now I lowered them to 1400 and have been zig zagging this week. I also opened up my food diary0
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Hard to tell. You have to do something really different and drastic to break through it. Your body is used to the same ol', and it's not going to let go without a fight.
diasgree that it has to be a "drastic" change. if its too drastic it can be detrimental.
We can just disagree then. No problem. I believe it has to be extreme, for a bit, just to break where you are stuck. If we could talk, I know for a fact you'd agree, but I'm too lazy to type out a dissertation on exactly what I mean. But, if you don't push harder, way, way harder, in every aspect of diet and exercise, you'll continue to get the same results. If you want to break it, you have to get tough.0 -
Bump0
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Ok, so truth is, when people who are still overweight get stuck it's because they are not pushing hard enough. Plain and simple. You are still consuming more calories than you are burning. Whether you eat 1200 or 1500 it won't matter. Your diary is closed so I can't say that with 100% certainty because medical issues are always a possible, but they are rarely the case. Everyone always wants to blame something else when it's still a denial factor. And yes, I know this from experience because I did the same thing. I was "stuck" for 4 months and not until I opened my eyes and truly re-evaluated what I was doing and pushed HARDER did the weight start to come off again.
Eating less will not help you. DO NOT net less than 1200 calories. Period. I don't care what others tell you. If you don't want the weight to come back once you eat more again, do not do not do not NET less than 1200.
Eat healthier. No, you dont have to eat clean, but make good choices. Whole grains over white, fresh fruit over juice, etc.
PUSH HARD during your workouts. Change does NOT happen in the comfort zone. If you are not screaming at yourself to keep going during your workouts, you are not pushing hard enough, plain and simple.
I hate how ppl tip toe around others on here. Best to be blunt if you ask me.
YOU ARE JUST BUBBLING WITH AWESOMENESS!!!! 0 -
I opened up my food diary now there were some days I netted 1100 and some that I netted around 1600-1700 because I tried high/low0
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Yes, if you keep making the same mistakes over and over...
Take ownership of this, find out why, then adjust your actions.
Simple
Good Luck :flowerforyou:0 -
Try sticking with the increased calories and switching up your macronutrient ratios for a few weeks to increase protein and decrease carbohydrates. You don't necessarily need to go to what is considered "low carb" but maybe try 30/40/30 (carbs/protein/fat). Just an idea. Also, make sure resistance/strength training is part of your exercise regimen.0
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I don't know about working harder, but different workouts might help. I lost 25 lbs 10 years ago but stupidly let life's stresses get to me and slowly put it back on. I had been trying for years to lose it again but would give up after extremely long plateaus (or weight loss that was so slow that it was not measurable), following the exact same plan I did when I originally lost it. Then I started p90x and its slow but it is working - not only that but I'm losing lots of inches and I feel fantastic. I think as we age some of us that have slow metabolisms absolutely have to start doing some kind of weight-lifting to gain muscle and start burning enough calories to lose. I always exercised but always cardio and yoga until 8 1/2 weeks ago when I started p90x. So if you are not up for x, perhaps you could add in some weight-training (not machines - free weights).0
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I'm also 5'2" and there is no way I can lose on 1500 unless I burn at least 300-500 exercise calories. If I dont work out, I cannot go over 1200. My goal weight (125lbs) maint calories are UNDER 1200! For those of you who start bashing me for that, I'm also 50 years old so that adds to the problem. Your body doesn't need as many calories as you age.I'm 5' 2" and I wouldn't be able to lose weight on 1500 calories even when young with a much faster metabolism unless I was exceptionally active.
I have also plateaued and recently busted through one by changing my walking/jogging to biking after breaking my foot from tripping over my dog while running. lol
I also bought a HRM and now I know what workouts really get me into fat burning zone. If you HR is too high, you aren't burning fat at an optimum rate, if it's too low, you wont either. If you can afford one, get a Polar F4t or something like that. It's the pink one. It really is a motivator! It shows your HR and tells you if you are in 'zone'.
Good luck, DO NOT GIVE UP, keep working at this, keep changing things up and you'll find a way to keep getting fit and healthier! <hugs>0 -
I suggest adding weight training if you don't already. Just doing cardio, your body will plateau unless you keep doing more and more and nobody has that much time in a day! By building muscle you change your metabolism. And you won't get "too big" which many women think will happen. We don't have enough testosterone to bulk like a guy. You do want to push yourself a bit by using weights that are heavy enough to cause fatigue with 8-12 reps. When you can do 12 more easily, up the weight a little and drop back to the lower reps. If you already use weights, you may need to change up the routine. Please don't give up! You've worked too hard and deserve to know your awesomeness!0
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Try cutting out things like salted butter and potato chips. also, are you getting enough sleep? 7-8 solid unbroken hours a night?0
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You're eating a lot of refined sugars and carbs from "white" sources. The body needs carbs, but make sure they're the right ones. Switch high sugar grapes to higher fiber apples or berries. Eat whole grains and knock out the Slim-Fast, it's nothing but a gimmick to help you control your calories.
If you were overweight for a significant amount of time, insulin resistance could be the problem. Your body can't properly metabolize sugars and white carbs as efficiently as it should. The body does amazing things to fix itself if you let it. Quit the white carbs and replace them with complex carbs and increased protein. Also, adding healthy fats like fish or flax oil will help you build muscle, burn fat and is therapeutic for a stunted metabolism.0 -
I think its time to change your diet then if you are serious about losing the weight. You are eating refined foods, and quite a lot of carbs and some of us just cant lose and eat carbs. Try to cut the carbs way down, and see if you get results. I think for your size 1200-1400 calories with exercise should be good as well, especially if your food is coming from lean proteins and veges... Might be worth a try if you want to break the plateau.0
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Do what most females are afraid to do: lift some heavy *kitten* weights. Every female client I've ever had do this has had their body change for the better.
A.C.E. Certified Personal/Group FitnessTrainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 28+ years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition0 -
im sorry but id gain weight on your diet, not only because im 5ft 2 but your eating totally the wrong foods .0
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Do what most females are afraid to do: lift some heavy *kitten* weights. Every female client I've ever had do this has had their body change for the better.
A.C.E. Certified Personal/Group FitnessTrainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 28+ years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
i do that carrying shopping up 2 flights of stairs lol0 -
I plateaued for 3 months. Basically my body got used to what I was doing. It was way easier to lose weight when I had so much excess but then it stopped dead. Now I eat more calories as my metabolism got used to 1200 calories and slowed down. I push that little bit harder in the gym and have increased the amount of weight training as you burn more calories that way, especially with afterburn in the 24 hours following exercise. I researched a lot of stuff and tried a bit of everything. Now although slow, the weight is coming off again. Just try different things and see which works for you. Everybody is different.0
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