New, Need a lil help

Well I'm new here and last year from now I was 225 lbs. Now I'm 180, I was doing weight watchers over the winter but when summer started I stop so Ive have been 180 for a while now but now im trying to lose 20 more pounds and as hard as I try I cant lose any weight. So Basically Im stuck at 180. I just found out about this site so it a lil confuseing. but I'm going to give it a shot.

My info is:

Male

17 years old

5'9

180 LBS

Eat Meter
Daily Goal: 2200 cal

Light Activity.

So can i plz just a lil help or advice?????

-Joe

You probably just need to change things around a little.  Try different foods and new exercises.   There are the basics to check.... Check that 2200 is still right for your new weight and exercise level.  Make sure you're getting as many of your calories as possible from wholefoods like fresh vegetables, fruit, grains, meat etc.,,, and not too many of them from processed foods, 'diet products', ready-meals, take-outs or things with a lot of sugar and salt.  Eat and snack regularly because spacing out your food intake means your body burns energy a little more efficiently.  Drink plenty of water... 1 or 2 litres a day.

If you've been on a reduced calorie intake for a long time then you may have reduced your metabolism.  In which case it can also help to eat more for a day to speed it back up again.   In your case you could go with 2700-2900 calories.   Well done with what you've already acheived.  Even if you don't lose much more weight, you've obviously improved your eating and exercise habits and that will stand you in very good stead for a long and healthy life.

Welcome, Joe!

Congratulations on the progress so far.  My best thought is to increase your activity.  The last few pounds are always the hardest, but if you continue to eat correctly and add some more exercise you can tone up what you have. 

http://www.freedieting.com/tools/calorie_calc ulator.htm

This links to a site that gives advice on zigzagging - calorie switching, whatever you want to call it.  I haven't hit a plateau yet this time around, but found the link through this site.  It suggests eating patterns to break a plateau and get your body losing again.

As a teenage guy, you might just need to tone up and grow into yourself!  I have three sons ages 17, 19, and 21 and none of them are done growing yet.  Good for you that you are learning to take control of your body and lifestyle at an early age.  Keep up the good work!

Hi Joe,

I found that doing high intensity interval training helped me to break a plateau- I can feel the difference immediately and I only do HIIT maybe like 2x a week, while working out regularly 4 other days of the week.  I made up my own program that included 1/2 sprinting and 1/2 jogging 8 times around the track.  It's the hardest workouts I do all week, but I can really feel a major difference in my body afterwards. 

Good luck!

Allison