Does everyone experience a plateau?

SarahCJarrad
SarahCJarrad Posts: 4
in Health and Weight Loss
Hi Everyone,

I've been cutting calories since Mid May. I've lost a total of 6 pounds. I am hoping to lose a total of 45 more pounds. I am wondering if I am going to eventually plateau out. In other words, in your experiences is there a point where sticking to the recommended calories no longer works? If so, when do you generally begin to see the leveling off?

Thanks Everyone!

Replies

  • BlondeQtTexas
    BlondeQtTexas Posts: 97 Member
    I lost 30 lbs from Feb to around the beginning of May and have been solidly in a plateau since. Nothing I have tried has seemed to break it.

    Frustrating.
  • ElizabethRoad
    ElizabethRoad Posts: 5,138 Member
    I never hit a plateau. I only had 16 pounds to lose though.
  • SarahCJarrad
    SarahCJarrad Posts: 4
    That would be so frustrating. That's where my concern is... what to do once you get into the plateau...
  • monty619
    monty619 Posts: 1,308 Member
    yeh im riding a plateau right now... frustrating, but im still fairly lean now so its not as bothersome.
  • diabolotry
    diabolotry Posts: 14 Member
    If you believe in Set Point Theory, everyone has a level of body fat (and weight) that they are predisposed to and despite our best efforts, our body will strive to keep us there. This is one potential cause of "plateauing" that as you are losing weight/fat, your body is adjusting and holding on to what it's got because you are below your set point.

    Whether or not that is true, you have to remember that as your weight drops, your caloric needs change. If you stop losing weight you need to re-evaluate your calorie needs and adjust your intake to increase your deficit again.

    If you are already at a low intake and are uncertain about consuming fewer calories, add more and/or more intense exercise into your regime so that you are burning more calories.

    Another suggestion is calorie cycling--eating a different amount of calories every day to keep your body guessing. For example, if you want to lose 1-2lbs/week and your calories limits are 1500-1200calories/day respectively, instead of being consistent at either, cycle between.
  • dg09
    dg09 Posts: 754
    I have yet to hit a plateau. There was one week where I did not lose or gain (I would hardly consider that a plateau), but every week since I've started I have lost.
  • lilpoindexter
    lilpoindexter Posts: 1,122 Member
    I was stuck at a plateau...I used to allow myself a "cheat day" on Saturdays...I would pig out like there was no tomorrow...for a while it worked, then it stopped working. I scaled back the cheat day to an order of fries with my lunch ( i really like fries), and I try to stick to a nice clean diet. I also jacked up the amount of cardio i do...it seems to be working.
  • Kitzey
    Kitzey Posts: 214 Member
    So far I haven't hit a plateau.... Only been at it since mid-March though. I tend to change things up weekly in regards to exercise as I would get bored of same food/same exercise if I didn't.
  • caraiselite
    caraiselite Posts: 2,631 Member
    counting calories doesn't work for me.
    fortunately, low carb does, less plateauing.

    maybe you need to change things up.
  • 2BeHealthy4Life
    2BeHealthy4Life Posts: 150
    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/599949-tired-plateaud-scale-not-moving-found-my-answer
  • 110lbs50kgs
    110lbs50kgs Posts: 14
    Yes. I had my son last July. I wasn't allowed to workout for six weeks because of my c-section. I weighed 159lbs the day I was discharged from the hospital, and still weighed 159lbs when I started going to the gym.
    It took me a little under 3 months to drop to 130lbs even. Then I fluctuated between 125lbs - 130lbs for another three months. I now fluctuate between 119lbs - 122lbs. It's driving me crazy.

    I gained a ton of weight with my pregnancy. Prior to that I had an ED, was considered recovered, and had gotten my period back only five months before I got pregnant. I am still stuck at 119lbs at the lowest, and it has been that way no matter how much cardio, clean eating, junk eating, or weight lifting I do. I'm tempted to eat 2,200 calories a day just to see if I can confuse my body enough to start losing weight again. If that makes sense...
  • llkilgore
    llkilgore Posts: 1,169 Member
    I didn't always hit my target for the week, but I always recorded a loss - 58 pounds total.
  • stupidloser
    stupidloser Posts: 300 Member
    I hit a plateau every weekend when I chowdown on my weekly pizza and 6-pack. Seriously though, I need to take my fat loss more seriously.
  • kenmunson333
    kenmunson333 Posts: 51 Member
    I hit many plateaus during my weight loss journey. Early on, they would last just 3 or 4 days, As I got closer and closer to what became my final goal weight of 185 lbs, the plateaus lasted longer and longer. Usually during plateaus was when I noticed my clothese would fit get looser. it seemed my body was readjusting the available mass which resulted in a trade of fat for muscle. Once it was set, then the plateau would end and I'd start losing again.

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