I feel like crying...!!!

I just don't get it! I'm doing it all by the book: eating right, exercising 5 times a week and keeping my calories at a healthy level depending on my activity level, but for soem reason I'm STUCK!!! It's been a month since I lost any weight, I see no physical results and  I feel like...well not so good. I'm just so sad. I've given this change my all, put every amount of effort that I can into my new healthy lifestyle and yet nothing!!!!

Stats: 5'5, 185 lbs., 24 yrs.old goal weight:160-150

Do you lift at all? That might help.

What ever you are doing, change it! You're body responds best to variety, so keep it guessing. If you're not lifting- start. Also, you may want to get an assessment done to see what kind of training intensity you need to be at be best achieve your goals.

 go to www.newleaffitness.com, enter zip code, find nearest provider. it is a metabolic profile specific to you. I find it very useful.

 

What are your calories? How are your clothes? I would bet that you've lost inches. You aren't special :) I know that sounds bad, but hear me out. You are doing what you should by diet and exercise...that's enough. You can't defy physics. Now if this goes on for more than 2 months. I mean two months with no pounds and no inches than you need to see a Dr...You may have a thyroid problem that is messing with your metabolism. Just remember it's not about the lbs. You have made AMAZING choices about your diet and exercising. You are getting healthy. You are winning!

well sometimes that happendeds i read somewhere that when you hit plateus yo can fast for just 1 day and then go back to you normal diet and that that should help you get unstuck, also eating more than you normally eat for a day and taking a break may help you break the plateu.. hope that helped

How many calories are you eating and how many are you burning wiorking out?

Thank you everyone for your replies!!!

I eat 1250-1300 twice a week (non-workout days) and 1350-1450 5 days a week (workout days). I have cut down my diet coke intake to 1/2 can every other day and am limiting anything processed. I eat 6 small meals, 80 grams of protein, under 2400 mg sodium and low fat. I do 45 minutes of elliptical/moderate-vigorous effort and at least 15 mintues of strength training. I burn anywhere between 600-1000 calories a workout. I'm noticing extreme development of my biceps and quads but no inches off. It's as if it's all turning int muscle but none is melting off. The last thing that I want to be is big and bulky!! I noticed changes during the first month but they have stopped...over a month and nothing!!!!

Also..I met with a doctor and he OKed my routine (after confirming that my thyroids are functioning properly). So it's nothing medical or that I'm doing wrong...!!!!

Can it be that I just can't lose any more weight??? Is 185 the thinnest I'll be????The weirdest thing is that I even think that I have more abdominal flab then before!!!

Looks like you have a calorie deficit anywhere from 750 on days you don't work out to 1650 on days you do workout.  You may want to up your cals on days you workout so you are not below a 1000 calorie deficit. 

Have you taken body measurements? Do your clothes fit better?

I'm scared to eat more than 1500, even on workout days. On Thanksgiving I ate 1800 and I felt guilty for days. I even think aht it's possible that I ahven't seen results because I started uping my intake. When I was eating 1200 daily, I was losing. My clothes fit better... but they have for a month, no change since. I'm considering trying Alli??? Any thoughts?

Feeling guilty after eating is a HUGE red flag. You should never have a love hate relationship with food. This is a road you don't want to go down.

The benefits of Alli are minimal. Helps you lose an extra pound? Is it worth pooping your pants over? Don't panic. The weight will start coming off again. I agree with the comment that your calories may actually be to low. I understand being afraid to eat a higher amount, so to put your mind at ease, get a resting energy expenditure done so you can know for sure. This has worked wonders for many of my clients (a lot who weren't eating enough). Look in to it.

Not guilty in a "I'm going to throw up way" but more disapointed that I didn't stick to my plan. I overindudge at dessert...always!!! but that's besides the point. I just don't want to feel that all my efforts are for nothing. Even .5 lb a week..anything?!?

But if it is part of your plan then no reason to feel guilty.

I would switch your cardio routine - start taking an aerobics class or use the treadmill (with a varied-intensity run). Your body may just be use to the machine and therefore aren't burning as many calories as you use to.

I would also up the time / amount of weight lifting. I know you are worried about bulking up, but really it's impossible for women (unless you have a large amount of testosterone). Weight lifting was crucial for me to lose the weight... and lifting 3lbs wasn't going to cut it.

 Finally I would say to be patient! This is a process.. and you seem very dedicated so I know you are gonna figure out what works for you - just hang in there!

Have seen many folks on this site up their calories when in your position...it kikcstarts the metabolism to start burning more efficiently.

I understand what you are going through.  I am at that point too.  I lost about 10 pounds, then nothing.  But I am losing inches.  Are you losing inches?

I also like to think that I eat right and exercise for other reasons than losing weight.  I feel better and it helps me to manage my stress level better. 

A suggestion would be to focus on what you are doing right and how good you feel after you are done working out. 

Thank you everyone!!! I really need all the suggestions/support that I can get at this point. I know that I'm healthier than ever and that should be my number 1 priority but...come on...who doesn't want to look better??

Witt1am- I 'm going to start taking measurements because I want to know if I'm losing inches!!! That would make me feel better!!! My first month I dropped 2.5% body fat and 10 lbs so I was on such a high that this plateau hurts even more!!

I know that everyone is telling me to UP my intake but I really think that it's not a good idea!!! I gain weight just from smelling food...so anything beyond 1400 cal seems like a bad move.

I am a fulltime student and work full time so fitting in 90 mintue workouts is tough as is...On most days I get 45 cardio and 15 abs and 15-30 weights. My arms have already bulked up (8 lb. weights) and my jackets are tight!!! So any more strength training won't be a good idea!! I actually thought of forgetting the weights (at least upper body) all together.

 

Also...According to my intake I should be losing 1.5-2 lbs a week even w/o workouts!!! I really don't get it!

I would try one of two things:

1. Eat more fat and fewer carbs...maybe time your carb intake to before & after working out.  The "a calorie is a calorie" cliche doesn't have a lot of support IMO.

OR

2.  Eat more, about 200 more cals per day.  It might help, might now.  The only way to really know is to try.

I know it is scary, but I agree that you should increase your calorie intake. I plateaued for over a month, and I know how frustrating it can be, but here is why you need to eat more: As you exercise, your metabolism naturally speeds up and adjust. This is why you see major results at the beginning with both diet and exercise. As your metabolism increases, your body naturally burns more calories, even in a resting state. However, as your metabolism catches up with your caloric intake, it needs energy. If you are not even making your minimum calories, you body is not getting enough energy, and will therefore hoard everything it can get. If you have stayed at the same weight for months, you should just give it a try for one week. Stay at a consistent amount, regardless of activity level. Remember, one pound of fat is equal to 3500 calories, so you only need to cut 500 calories out of your diet a day to lose a pound a week. If your not giving your body enough energy, it won't drop the weight. Give it a shot. At this point, what have you got to lose?!

I'm in the same position as you....24 yrs old, 5'5 1/2", and 182 lbs....I'm down from 205lbs, but have been stuck for about a month now.

I started weight training again after a break.  I don't feel different, but my husband says it looks like I've lost weight.  It must be inches though, since the scale hasn't budged.  That's probably the case with you as well. 

I agree that increasing calories may help, but you need to feel good about it too.  I took Alli for a couple of weeks in the past when I hit a plateau.  It helped keep me motivated and I never had any side effects, but it is very individual.  Sometimes it is worth it to feel better about your progress. 

Good luck!!!

another vote for upping your calories a bit and switching up your workout.  just try it for 1-2 weeks and see if it changes anything.