Standing on My Plateau

Grrr.

I am having "one of those days" and need some words from you all...

After losing about 45 lbs or so in 2006 (I went from 212lbs to about 166-7 or so), I have hit a plateau, big time! I haven't lost a single pound in calendar 2007 yet. (So, you all can see my frustration!)

What I HAVE done is started weight training in the past few weeks. I know muscle burns more calories than fat, and I know that muscle WEIGHS more than fat, but I don't feel so different yet. Honestly, if I am logical about it, I know that I have accomplished a lot already and the "last 20" comes of slowly, and I am just trying to remain my usual upbeat self about this and it's tough!

I find myself avoiding the scale, and making more of an issue of food than I need to in the past few weeks, and I haven't done that for over a year! I actually snapped at my (very sweet, supportive) boyfriend when he offered me a chocolate Valentine heart! Ridiculous!

Any good vibes or suggestions you could send my way would be SO appreciated! Thanks all! :-)

Congrats on your progress, that is amazing!

The key to breaking a plateau, so I'm told, is to break as much of your routine as possible. Change up your exercies; you've added weights....wonderful!...now maybe change your cardio. If you do elliptical religiously why not try the stair climber or treadmill...challenge your body. You may also want to try a maintenance week to give your body a break. If you've been losing weight regularly for a long time maybe your body is simply resisting now.

Good luck!

hang in there! you have done an amazing job so far--it's so awesome to see people succeed the way that you have.

dont' worry about not seeing tons of results from the weight-training yet. it does take time.  just try to enjoy the way it makes you feel afterwards and during. i love doing it because the weight section of the gym is always dominated by men and i LOVE seeing women in there working out.  plus it makes me feel more powerful and like a stronger person for doing it (not just physically stronger, i mean).

push through it, marvel at the success you've had thus far, and trust that your body WILL respond. 

Mmarcin,

Thanks so much for the encouraging and practical response, I really appreciate it. Honestly, I feel better already.

Yeah, I think the weight training will help a lot - also, I am a diehard runner, and I am training for a half-marathon, so I know I get a bit TOO focused on JUST the treadmill. I am trying to do other cardio to, as you say, "break the routine" and the eliptical and maybe a spinning class or two will probably help.

I read your profile - congrats to you as well!! 30lbs is great progress. I added you to my friends, thanks for the note!

~ Colleen

I just want to say that you are doing AMAZING! And I completely agree with mmarcin that you might want to try a maintenance week or two - just to jolt your body a bit.

Congrats!!!!

Morgan,


Thanks very much for your post - I love what you wrote about the weight section of the gym. You are SO spot on there! I was doing upper-body yesterday and it was ALL guys around me! I felt like an intruder at first, but one guy actually stopped and showed me how to use a machine more effectively. :-) Now I hope to be healthy AND fit!

Thanks so much for the encouragement to push through this frustrating part of the journey!

~ Colleen

hey colleen! i added you to my friends list, also. if you want, write in your journal. i love reading friends' entries and i almost always leave some comments. it's my personal favorite way to get feedback and support through this site.

if you're focusing just on the treadmill, that's probably really contributing to your plateau.  my cardio is almost always different. monday i do 40 min elliptical, wed i might do elliptical again but with a different program--usually an easier one since it's kind of my "recovery" day, friday i'll do 15 min treadmill, 15 min elliptical, 10-15 bike (i get SOOO bored on the bike, LOL), and saturday i do whatever i feel like.  maybe a combo of treadmill and elliptical--different speeds and resistances.  but strength-training will probably also go a long ways towards helping you break through.

good luck!!! i'm rooting for you!

N0tal0t,

Thanks so much for the positive post! It's super helpful, really!

Congratulations on your success so far! :)

Even if you don't see the scale moving, you may be making significant changes to your body. I strongly recommend taking your measurements or having someone take them for you (if you aren't doing this already).

I've been at around the same weight since October (low point of 156, but mostly bouncing between 159 and 163) but I've lost inches off my chest, arms, thighs, hips, and stomach.

Keep up the good work!

tantek,

Thanks for the words of wisdom and encouragement. I think I just needed to hear these things from somewhere other than my own brain (or my friends, family and boyfriend, who tell me I look "just fine already" :-)) I am not knocking them, I am just saying they may need to get used to the "new me" still, you know?

Yes, I am keeping track of my measurements, especially now, since I know that lean mass weighs more than fatty mass. Thanks so much for the support, everyone!

First of all I want to say Congrats on your loss and getting healthier and more fit!!  It's wonderful and feels AWESOME!!

But I'm glad I'm not the only one with the same problems.  I began my weight loss journey in Dec 2005 after an overnight stay in the cardiac unit of the hospital scared the life out of me and had the dr warning me of impending disaster.  I went COLD TURKEY off junk food and fast food that I was eating 5 + days a week to healthy eating like I had never done in my life.

I have mobility issues because of a neuro-muscular disease and getting exercise is not happening at the moment. 

In June 06, I brought a weight loss/bible study class to my church.  The food plan was basically what I was following on my own.  I had lost 40 lbs up to that point.  That was 8 months ago and I have only lost 3 more lbs.  I writing down what I eat (this plan does exchanges rather than calories) and I do occasionally treat myself to a fast food item but it is 9 times out of 10 something healthier than other things.

Anyone have words of wisdom??

Christie:

We started in almost the same place, but I was 2005 in 1997.  It has been a long journey.  4 knee surgery's and two kids.  I am currently fluctuating between 152-155.  Last year it was 155-160.  I believe that maintaing is the key, and if I can live a normal lifestyle and slowly take it off I am doing great.

I changed up my routine with weights this past 3 months, and have really watched EXACTLY what I eat.  Just remember the slower you take it off the more you will keep it off.

My girlfriend got all the weight off, before me, of course I am still not where I want to be, and she put 20 pounds back on in a year.

This is a life time difference, not a short goal.  The other thing I find is to be sure you are eating enough.  If I skimp to much on food my body thinks it is starving and will not let go of anything.  I start going back to Weight Watchers to get an idea of how much I should be eating with the additional activity I am doing.

Hang in there, Gwyn

oops 205 in 1997.

look at it this way, you so much closer to your goal weight even if its getting harder to lose. *smile*

Delia, Gwyn and Doll ~

Thanks guys, I just really need hear that I CAN get there! Gwyn I think you are right - the weight training is gonna be a BIG help for me, if not in pounds, then in inches and over-all heath, which is really why I am doing this in the first place!

And Doll, you are right! I am at a point where I am "normal" sized (whatever that might mean, right?) rather than the "big girl" with my friends. And more importantly, I am so much healthier and happier!

Thanks to everyone who took the time to brighten my day and strenghthen my resolve!!

~ Colleen

Damn the plateau!

Full speed ahead.

You've lost 45 lbs. already!

You can do anything.

I think that losing weight is tougher than kicking a drug or alcohol

habit, because you STILL HAVE TO EAT something. If you were

trying to kick an alcohol habit, you wouldn't actually die from never

drinking again. Think about what you've already accomplished.

Be patient.

Be happy.

Kenken,

Thanks, you are SO right!! I have really gotten into my weight training and I KNOW I can do this!!

Thanks so much, everyone!

~Colleen

Perhaps this could help:

I bought myself a body fat monitor scale a while ago. I know that these scales are not 100% accurate, but they are consistent at least if you weigh yourself at the same time each day.

I have only really lost about 4 pounds since I started lifting weights, but I have gone down 3% in body fat. For me - it was about 1% a month after I first started. Perhaps you are gaining more muscle than you think. A good way to know is with the fat % scales.

If you think it's going to make you obsess more, though, and give you one more thing to worry about, then don't do it.

Go ahead, once in a while, eat the chocolate. My husband says when I lay on my deathbed, I'm not going to say, "If only I had eaten less chocolate." I'll be wishing I had let myself enjoy the little things in life once in a while.

Have a good day and keep plugging away. The weight will come off.

-Scarlet

I feel your pain.  I am not only standing on my plateau, but running around the vast expanse, and keeping track of everything(well almost everything) I consume,  trying to burn off significant calories so I can start going downhill again.  I am trapped!  But, yes I agree with everyone else, muscle burns fat, and it weight more than fat, and you loose less quickly once your body has alrealdy done so much hard work and lost a substaitial amount.   So hang in there, maybe try asking some people where you work out about ideas to modify?  Good Luck!  Ill see you when were both tumbling gracefully downward once more.

Scarlet and Victoria,

Thank you both very much for your words of encouragement - side note: Scarlet, I actually work with a nutritionist, who has helped me figure out the right fuel for my body. I go to see her about once a month, and she measures everything from weight to BMI to fat percentage.

As you said, I am hoping that % goes down, even if the number on the scale doesn't!!

And you are SO right - a piece of chocolate here and there are a part of living life, which I totally advocate! :-)


Thanks again!

Colleen