Getting through that dreaded plateau - please help!

Hi there

I was wondering if any of you fellow calorie counters had any practical advice (and support) to give me as I seem to have reached an annoying plateau stage in my weight loss journey.

I have lost about 14 lbs, the first 10 were easy, the last 4 got harder and now in the last 3 weeks  my weight loss seems to be reversing. Help!!

I'm 46, 5 foot 7,  and  now weigh 186lbs - goal is 145lbs.  I am sticking to my daily intake of around 1500 -1600 calories - and it's all good stuff, salads, fruit nuts and vegetables, lean meat and some dairy and cereal, and a little good fat which I now spread over 5 meals,  with a good breakfast ( I'm not suffering from cravings or hunger on this regime).  I have ramped up my exercise to about  30 -45 mins  moderate cardio daily and 30 mins resistance training on alternate days. I vary the workout to max the  benefit.

The tape measure is not showing much in the way of changes either, and I just feel that as I seem to be doing every thing right I should have something more to show for it!!!

Has any one else experienced this,  and any advice for getting through this? It would be much appreciated.

Many thanks

Fizzo

Hi Fizzo,....fellow pained soul! I am stuck for the last four weeks. But you know what? I got to the big goals I set in the beginning and now I am just waiting. I have found out that it is not all about just loosing weight but feeling good and enjoying the work-outs,.....living healthy. I lost 24 lb so far and have another 20 to go,....but you know what,...we are not going anywhere, right? Just enjoy getting there! Usually there is a three to four pound drop after a period of time,.....it's weired, I know,...lololol

Lots of success to you. Good luck and hang in there,...

BarbB 

Hey thanks for that, Barb!

I do so agree with you that it is just not all about losing weight, I think sometimes we can get too focussed on skinny, and forgetting about the other benefits.

The good news is that I seemed to passed my plateau and have lost another 3lbs.  (just as you said!) I can feel my joints starting to thank me for the changes.

Good luck to you on your journey, you've done brilliantly and passed the half-way mark.  Just hang in there like I did.   Thank you again  for your kind support.

Fizzo

YEAH!!!!! FIZZO!!!!!!

3 lbs,.....oh so cool! I am very happy for you!

Thank you for your kind words,....we all need to stick together!

BarbB

I'm at a plateau too! All was going well until we moved from Arizona to Minnesota this summer. I haven't gained anything but I haven't lost either. Just settling into a new lifestyle and finding balance is challenge enough. The food is different here (in a good way) with  lots of fresh vegetables and home-raised meat. But there are also pies and cookies and other wonderful baked goods. I grew up in Minnesota and know that with winter comes added pounds and so I want to achieve a balance and lose a few more before the snow falls.  I lost 20 pounds from Feb. to July and have 10 more to go.

Hang in there everyone! We're in it together!

Aboslutely -  and the  worst thing to do (and my gosh, I have done it so many times in the past) is to get frustrated and give up.   I think there is so much emphasis on celebrities loosing weight very rapidly  that we are getting brain washed into thinking that if our weight is not coming off a great rate then we aren't doing very well.  No more thinking like that!  I hung in there and have lost a bit more weight (2 lbs since my last post).

Minnesota sounds great!  I don't know a lot about the different states as I live in New Zealand, where we also have a lot of fresh fruits and veggies and home raised meat.  We have fantastic seafood  too.  I certainly make the most of it.

Anyway, you have done so well to get where you are,  keep up the good work!

Cheers

Fizzo

Plateaux are normal for the way the body reacts to many things: fitness, disease, weightloss.

I've experience plateaux when I was running a lot: I'd train hard, times would come down and then suddenly no percieved improvement, even tho I was training hard. Luckily I had a coach and other runners to reassure me.

The thing to bear in mind, when your in for the long haul on weight loss, is that there will be more than one plateau. Having got thru 1 should be your motivation when you get stuck on the next one. Keep doing the right things, your body and metabolism are making adjustments, you'll come through it and go one to other victories (and other plateaux)

 stewartp - many thanks for that feedback - yes it's good to have that reassurance!  We all could do with it from time time - thats what I love about these forums - the support is great!