Help!! hit a plateu---- ANY IDEAS?
Hi guys! I have lost 13 lbs but have been stuck at 201 lbs for the last 2 weeks.... I am desperately trying to get under the 200 mark (LOL)... Any ideas? I am on 1250 cals a day... I only excersise lightly. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!!
I've heard the loss of weight rate lowers after some time, so you could either just wait till it goes away or exercise more and/or eat less (Though healthy at the same time). I was stuck hovering over 160 myself and then I found this site and watched how I ate a lot closer and am now at 160. Though my short term goal is to go sub-160, this makes it a whole lot easier. So just hang in there.
I'm just talking from what I've seen, so I suggest you wait for other more knowledgeable answers anyways.
I'm just talking from what I've seen, so I suggest you wait for other more knowledgeable answers anyways.
Try zig zag... there are tons of threads on it and IT WORKS!
I am sure you will hear this again but up your calories.
From your stats I am guessing you are probably above the max recommended deficiet of 750 calories. If you make to big of a deficiet your body panics holds on to fat and you can plateau.
I am about your age, I don't exercise much I excercise walk 1 - 2hrs total a week. I am eating 1500 calories a day and I just hit 174lbs.
I have consistantly been losing 1 - 2lbs a week. When I only ate 1200 calories I barely lost at all so I started upping them by 100 calories a week now I am at 1500 and still losing.
From your stats I am guessing you are probably above the max recommended deficiet of 750 calories. If you make to big of a deficiet your body panics holds on to fat and you can plateau.
I am about your age, I don't exercise much I excercise walk 1 - 2hrs total a week. I am eating 1500 calories a day and I just hit 174lbs.
I have consistantly been losing 1 - 2lbs a week. When I only ate 1200 calories I barely lost at all so I started upping them by 100 calories a week now I am at 1500 and still losing.
Yeah all anyone is going to tell you on CC is to increase your calories ...*shakes head* Yeeeah INCREASE CALS AND LOSE THE WEIGHT?! GO FIGURE! WHY THE HECK DIDN'T I THINK OF THAT?!
Yeah you should be eating at LEAST 2000 calories a day and remember to eat back every calorie you burn and oooh you'll lose a ton of weight doing that *sarcasm aimed at CCers who think weight loss is achieved by a higher caloric intake...crazy!* Don't we all wish!
And I was stuipid enough to fall for their advice despite my best instinct and I'm starting to think their "increase your cals to lose" advice is a practical joke (gained 5 pounds in 1.5 weeks on 1450-1600 a day btw I'm active)
But I totally agree with Jorgeblank he actually gave descent advice...just wait it out hon ...it will pass :)
Yeah you should be eating at LEAST 2000 calories a day and remember to eat back every calorie you burn and oooh you'll lose a ton of weight doing that *sarcasm aimed at CCers who think weight loss is achieved by a higher caloric intake...crazy!* Don't we all wish!
And I was stuipid enough to fall for their advice despite my best instinct and I'm starting to think their "increase your cals to lose" advice is a practical joke (gained 5 pounds in 1.5 weeks on 1450-1600 a day btw I'm active)
But I totally agree with Jorgeblank he actually gave descent advice...just wait it out hon ...it will pass :)
Try changing your exercize. I don't know what you've been doing up until now, but if you've been doing the same kind/intensity for awhile, your body adapts to it and doesn't have to work as hard as it used to.
I agree whole-heartedly with all the advice given so far about calories and exercise. I would only add my personal experience.
After six months of steady weight loss with Weight Watchers, I hit a plateau once for about 8 weeks - it was extremely frustrating. What finally pushed me off of the plateau was watching my refined sugar intake - in my case that meant no more candy (I have a sweet tooth the size of a house). I was always careful to budget my daily calorie intake to allow for a candy bar almost every day but replacing those empty calories with something more nutritious worked for me.
After six months of steady weight loss with Weight Watchers, I hit a plateau once for about 8 weeks - it was extremely frustrating. What finally pushed me off of the plateau was watching my refined sugar intake - in my case that meant no more candy (I have a sweet tooth the size of a house). I was always careful to budget my daily calorie intake to allow for a candy bar almost every day but replacing those empty calories with something more nutritious worked for me.
http://www.diet-blog.com/archives/2006/02/27/ 5_ways_to_break_a_weight_loss_plateau.php
http://www.googobits.com/articles/2235-11-way s-to-break-out-of-a-weight-loss-plateau.html
Those are some articles of ways to break a weightloss plateau.
Here is another bit of information you should know before you take workoutaddict's advice. She is eating 1000-1200 calories a day and exercising. It is recommended by medical professionals that a woman should eat at LEAST 1200 calories even if she is sedetary (no exercise and sitting around 99% of time). When coming out of a starvation diet, 99% of people will gain weight when eating even just 100 calories more than before. Ask the people who have been through anorexia, the thing they will tell you is that they gained weight when they started eating even a little bit more.
Our goal on here is to try and lose weight in a healthy manner. There shouldn't be arguments on what medical professionals have adviced over and over again. I have just been to the doctor's office and they specifically asked me about my calorie intake. They want me to keep a low deficit and not to eat too little.
((This part is just my opinion.)) I really agree with what some of the members said here. If you (without pointing at anyone specific) have decided to do something harmful to yourself for whatever cause, please have the decency to not advice others and ask them to agree with you.
http://www.googobits.com/articles/2235-11-way s-to-break-out-of-a-weight-loss-plateau.html
Those are some articles of ways to break a weightloss plateau.
Here is another bit of information you should know before you take workoutaddict's advice. She is eating 1000-1200 calories a day and exercising. It is recommended by medical professionals that a woman should eat at LEAST 1200 calories even if she is sedetary (no exercise and sitting around 99% of time). When coming out of a starvation diet, 99% of people will gain weight when eating even just 100 calories more than before. Ask the people who have been through anorexia, the thing they will tell you is that they gained weight when they started eating even a little bit more.
Our goal on here is to try and lose weight in a healthy manner. There shouldn't be arguments on what medical professionals have adviced over and over again. I have just been to the doctor's office and they specifically asked me about my calorie intake. They want me to keep a low deficit and not to eat too little.
((This part is just my opinion.)) I really agree with what some of the members said here. If you (without pointing at anyone specific) have decided to do something harmful to yourself for whatever cause, please have the decency to not advice others and ask them to agree with you.
babyangie thanks for the links! but ummm who was asking whom to agree with them?!
Let me make this clear for you and for others--nobody has to agree with me and I do not force anyone to agree to my way of doing things! I was simply stating what works and didn't work for me ..it is all based on MY personal experience and it may not be right for everyone so that's fine too, just do whatever works best for you! We are all here to share different ideas and give our personal perspectives and doing that certainly doesn't mean anyone has to agree with anyone...my disagreeing with increasing calories simply means that's not what I do, it doesn't mean anyone has to do as I do or is forced to agree with me?! Where do you get that from anything I posted?!
Without pointing at anyone specific maybe it would be nice if someone had the decency to see that one's personal dieting experience is something shared and not posted to force agreement on others. okie :)
Let me make this clear for you and for others--nobody has to agree with me and I do not force anyone to agree to my way of doing things! I was simply stating what works and didn't work for me ..it is all based on MY personal experience and it may not be right for everyone so that's fine too, just do whatever works best for you! We are all here to share different ideas and give our personal perspectives and doing that certainly doesn't mean anyone has to agree with anyone...my disagreeing with increasing calories simply means that's not what I do, it doesn't mean anyone has to do as I do or is forced to agree with me?! Where do you get that from anything I posted?!
Without pointing at anyone specific maybe it would be nice if someone had the decency to see that one's personal dieting experience is something shared and not posted to force agreement on others. okie :)
"
Don't you dare increase your cals if you are trying to lose weight!"
Certainly doesn't sound like a "sharing" statement.
I didn't mean just this thread apparently. There have been many threads where you tried to "Share" your experience this way.
megonjay, the point here is really that many and I mean MANY MANY MANNNY of us have increased calorie intake (while keeping a reasonable deficit) and continued to lose weight. There are even people, who have recovered from anorexia and bulimia, that have demonstrated this theory. It works and you don't need to starve yourself to lose weight. There are many great advice on the links I posted. Try some of them. Lots of people also have success by exercising with weights.
If you would like to see more tips and advice, I have found a lot of threads about plateau by searching the forum. Good luck on your weightloss journey. :)
Certainly doesn't sound like a "sharing" statement.
I didn't mean just this thread apparently. There have been many threads where you tried to "Share" your experience this way.
megonjay, the point here is really that many and I mean MANY MANY MANNNY of us have increased calorie intake (while keeping a reasonable deficit) and continued to lose weight. There are even people, who have recovered from anorexia and bulimia, that have demonstrated this theory. It works and you don't need to starve yourself to lose weight. There are many great advice on the links I posted. Try some of them. Lots of people also have success by exercising with weights.
If you would like to see more tips and advice, I have found a lot of threads about plateau by searching the forum. Good luck on your weightloss journey. :)
My weight went up last week and stayed even for five days. It finally started to go down after I had two free days. But even then, while my weight wasn't going down, I still noticed some minor improvements (my waist went down 2cm-- not much, but something). Sometimes your body just needs to take a breather between losing weight.
Some more links:
Understanding weight loss plateau from about.com.
Suggestions from Johnny Bowden, Ph.D., CNS from AOL Body.
A whole category with lots of articles about Diet plateau on iVillage.
Understanding weight loss plateau from about.com.
Suggestions from Johnny Bowden, Ph.D., CNS from AOL Body.
A whole category with lots of articles about Diet plateau on iVillage.
WOW ok guys I didnt mean to cause you to argue (LOL),,, as I stated,, I do not excercise much (not alot of time) I stay pretty busy with all the kids but just dont "work out" regularly. I have been eating alot healthier.. (was very proud sunday when I left the store with "HEALTHY" cart full of food instead of the junk I was buying a couple months ago.) My recommended cal intake here was 1250 and thats what I have been doing. I admit some days I have to struggle to get there but I generally do. I lost 13 lbs quickly and was sooooo proud. I have just hit a bump and wanted some advice from others who have. I was "usually" earing about 2000 calories before and maintaining a weight of 213 lbs. So I am sure that 1250 is good for weight loss (right?).... maybe I do need to give a little more time or try "zig zagging". I am going to read all those article links now... BTW thanks to everyone..
haha meganjay no you didn't cause anyone to argue...there is a small camp on here that will always argue someone (like me) to the point of attacking them if that "someone" suggests lower cals...trust me I thought I'd be burned at the stake at one point lol. I guess so long as a person is "defending" an increase in calories they are free to insult and make as many personal attacks along the way without getting censored. BUT there are actually a number of people on the board who agree with me and experienced the same thing when they increased their calories but they are unfortunately too scared to say so on the board, but they tell me in messages (gee I wonder why?) ......
Anyways as I already said just do what works best for your body's needs and best of luck! :) If you can eat more and still lose then go for it and enjoy!
Anyways as I already said just do what works best for your body's needs and best of luck! :) If you can eat more and still lose then go for it and enjoy!
honestly megonjay, if you want to lose wieght the healthy way and keep it off, you need to start working out a llittle more seriously. Plan to work out at least 3 days a week. When i read on you rfirst post that you only worked out lightly, i thought, that's the problem.
Also, don't make scale weight your only measure of success/failure. Get a measuring tape and measure places on your body you want to lose (waist, bum, thighs, etc.) Get your body fat tested if you can.
Also, don't make scale weight your only measure of success/failure. Get a measuring tape and measure places on your body you want to lose (waist, bum, thighs, etc.) Get your body fat tested if you can.
Workoutaddict, you tried upping your cals for a week and a half only? Of course you saw an increase in weight at first.
The body needs glycogen to store water so that you can work out safely, honey. If you aren't giving your body enough cals, you won't be able to store glycogen because it's physiologically espensive. When you give your body enough cals, you being to store glycogen again. This glycogen then soaks up the water you drink like a sponge. This is a good thing.
YOUR MEASURE OF SUCCESS OR FAILURE SHOULD NOT BE THE SCALE IF YOU ARE A NORMAL WEIGHT.
How much do you weigh, anyways? And how tall are you? Have you had your bone density checked? Do you want to lose more weight or maintain? Do you even NEED to lose more weight?
The body needs glycogen to store water so that you can work out safely, honey. If you aren't giving your body enough cals, you won't be able to store glycogen because it's physiologically espensive. When you give your body enough cals, you being to store glycogen again. This glycogen then soaks up the water you drink like a sponge. This is a good thing.
YOUR MEASURE OF SUCCESS OR FAILURE SHOULD NOT BE THE SCALE IF YOU ARE A NORMAL WEIGHT.
How much do you weigh, anyways? And how tall are you? Have you had your bone density checked? Do you want to lose more weight or maintain? Do you even NEED to lose more weight?
Keep on moving Megonjay. You can do it : )
A little 200 calorie switchup is good too. Its helped me. So move your calories around from 1250-1450 and your body will be less secure in feeling that it knows exactly how many calories its going to get each day.
You are going to have that huge drop in the beginning and then it might get a little bit slower but weight lost slowly is more likely to be permanent.
Its totally do-able : ) I have went from 220 to 180 and Im still trucking. Some months are better than others but I dont think I will ever go back to my former self. I have learned too much.
(((((hugs)))))
Oh the tape measure thing is a great idea too. Sometimes the inches move even when the scale doesnt. Bodies are funny like that.
A little 200 calorie switchup is good too. Its helped me. So move your calories around from 1250-1450 and your body will be less secure in feeling that it knows exactly how many calories its going to get each day.
You are going to have that huge drop in the beginning and then it might get a little bit slower but weight lost slowly is more likely to be permanent.
Its totally do-able : ) I have went from 220 to 180 and Im still trucking. Some months are better than others but I dont think I will ever go back to my former self. I have learned too much.
(((((hugs)))))
Oh the tape measure thing is a great idea too. Sometimes the inches move even when the scale doesnt. Bodies are funny like that.
snowwhite.... Are you asking ME about my weight... HELL YEAH I NEED TO LOOSE. I am 5'2 and 201 lbs (started at 213). No I am not one of the rexies on here, I am seriously working hard at getting this stuff off the healthy way! Geez guys... for this place to be a community you guys are all so hateful to each other, I don't understand that. This should be a place for support and motivation. This is exactly why I stopped using the forums and use the chat. I wanted everyones opinion and each and every one of you are entitled to that. There should be no arguments. Just give your opinion then move on.. people will do whatever they think they need to. I was just looking for a little support here.. Some of you gave great advice and I am looking through all things and hopefully, I will find something that works. Guys, lets try to all support and motivate each other here... isn't why this place exists?
exactly right mdgonjay! And in that spirit, I'm offering this article that might help
Tips for Boosting Metabolism
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Tips for Boosting Metabolism
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You agree to these posting guidelines every time you post
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To get off of my plateu I ate about maintainance calories or a little more with the zig-zag method for about 10 days which did the trick very nicely.
Hey snowhite 197...uummm thanks for the tips and advice but trust me I have quite a bit of formal education in anatomy and physio (I think in a different thread you assumed that I don't or said something like "I understand it is hard for people without an anatomy background to understand" -- Ummm hummm...how do i put this...
You are a personal trainer? That means you have a very basic understanding of the body. I was doing a masters degree in Occupational Therapy/Physical Therapy and my husband has a Ph.D but got his undergrad in Zoology and even he thinks this whole upping the cals business that is pushed around here is ridiculous.
Listen so long as you are getting proper NUTRITION and eating high quality foods (of course also eating adequate amounts of calories for your body's needs) then that is all you need to do to lose weight in a healthy way. Don't confuse calorie intake with proper nutrition and quality calories.
Oh and you asked have I had my bone density tested? Have you?
I'm not at an age where that is a concern but for the record I get plenty of calcium everyday and do weight bearing excercise at least 2-3 times a week.
Thanks anyway for your concern :)
You are a personal trainer? That means you have a very basic understanding of the body. I was doing a masters degree in Occupational Therapy/Physical Therapy and my husband has a Ph.D but got his undergrad in Zoology and even he thinks this whole upping the cals business that is pushed around here is ridiculous.
Listen so long as you are getting proper NUTRITION and eating high quality foods (of course also eating adequate amounts of calories for your body's needs) then that is all you need to do to lose weight in a healthy way. Don't confuse calorie intake with proper nutrition and quality calories.
Oh and you asked have I had my bone density tested? Have you?
I'm not at an age where that is a concern but for the record I get plenty of calcium everyday and do weight bearing excercise at least 2-3 times a week.
Thanks anyway for your concern :)
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