Stop losing weight, stop being motivated?

Here's my story.  I'm a 25 year old female who never had to work at being slim, always between 115 and 125 without much trying, until the past two years or so... my metabolism must have slowed down or something.  Lately, I have had to pay more attention to what I eat, and I have still noticed the pounds creeping on over time.

 What made me start the current dieting period:  

After a death in my family in May, I gained 15 pounds in six weeks without even realizing it was happening.  On the first day of July, I weighed myself, and seeing 142 pounds, decided to come back to the CC site and begin the diet, slim-down process again (having done so once before after Christmas's weight gain). 

 Here's the problem.  I was very good all through July, with an average of 1357 calories per day, and I lost an amazing, and awesome, eight pounds between July 1 and July 31 -- down to 134.

Now, it's August 14 and I am still 134-135.  I haven't been as good this month with my calories (averaging closer to 1530 per day instead of 1357, due to some days of vacation-style eating out of 2200 calories and up), but I still expected a few pounds gone by now...  It's incredibly discouraging and upsetting to have had all that weight come off so fast, and now this STOP.  

I also find that I am less motivated to keep the calories down  (not snack late at night, not drink alcohol) when I see a loss of weight every day or so.  This plateau is making me sabotage myself.  I see the same (or higher weight) every day and I just think, "whatever, I'll just have this darn cookie then!"

 Sigh, I just have to get refocused and perhaps stop weighing myself every morning ...?  

 I just want to be back in the mid 120s again and fit into my good jeans. :)

 

Any similar people or stories?  I'd love friends for motivation :) 

**hmmm this is weird.  a whole section of my post just disappeared!!!! and now I can't remember all my shining words of wisdom** 

 

I started adding slow jogging to my walks, and upped the resistance on my elliptical trainer from 3/4 to 6/7 this week.

Yes it's damn frustrating.

I started out on Jan 2/07 at 212lbs, with a goal weight of 150lbs by Sept 29/07 (my 20 year high school reunion).

thanks to a 7 week plateau at 179lbs, and now a 7 week plateau at 176lbs, I've had to push my goal date to Jan 30 2008.

But I've come a long way.

It took me YEARS to pack on 62lbs.

I've finally realized it's going to take at least a year to lose it.

we can do it

I know how you are feeling!  I did that through the first month or so of the summer... tricking myself into thinking that I was eating well, when I wasn't really... I'd do this by saying "oh, well, that doesn't count, its so small", etc etc.  And I always feel like going and eating ice cream when I weigh myself and find out that I've gained.

What I have started doing that interests me is making a weekly deficit list (in my journal), and promising myself to log in every calorie.  If I snacked a bit (two crackers here, a pretzel there, etc) I'll estimate and add a food to my food log under "random snacking" and stick in 100 calories.  The weekly deficit thing though, especially when I then compare it to the weight that I actually lose per week, it helping me stay motivated.

Feel free to message me if you need a partner in crime!

I keep getting off-track, too.  I think it's probably those 2000-2200cal days that cause the most prob, especially since they usually happen on weekends, vacations, and other times we're less likely to get in as much exercise.  Just cutting out those types of days will probably help a lot. . . although I know by experience that's easier said than done!  One or two days of eating that much and/or not exercising, and your body gets used to it.  Then it starts expecting to be able to live like that always, which is just not a good idea!  *pokes body*  Still trying to teach mine that lesson again, though it's fighting me all the way :-( .

tamji, thanks for your words of wisdom :)  I can't believe you had 7-week plateaus and stayed even the slightest bit motivated, that is incredible!  Good for you for keepin on :) 

 

tyrdrop, that deficit thing is something I didn't think about!  I just did the math, according to my approx 1900 calorie burn per day, and 1536 average calorie input per day (-377 per day), multiply by 14 days, and get 5278, which is about 1.5 pounds I should be down right now.

Which, since it's TTOM for me, is perhaps actually what I have lost in the past 2 weeks, after all... I feel much more encouraged right now!   

you're more than welcome cindy!!!  and thx for the rah-rahs too !!!

as for TTOM....dontcha just LOVE bein' a woman?

 

NOT

Very with you on this, certainly the first part of your post anyway - I'm 25, never really had to worry about weight... then suddenly I'm gaining out of nowhere! 

I've only really started losing over the last couple of weeks so I haven't hit a plateau yet but I'm sure it'll happen! I have really suffered in terms of motivation to get going though, I thought I was doing everything right but turns out it wasn't so, and only when I properly assessed what calories I needed did I finally start losing properly.  So I guess I have the lame advice to get back to counting!

What I do tell myself on those days when I think, "What's the point?", is that I'm not doing myself any harm by eating properly and by avoiding that cookie.  Even if I'm not losing weight at this very moment, I'm still being healthier and so eventually it WILL mean the weight coming off.

plateau's are horrible I had one that lasted 6 weeks but stay focused on the finish line.... you can do it!!!! I weigh myself everyday it keeps me on track. Just keep trying to switch things up changing eating times, change your exercise routine and drink lots of water. After 6 weeks of going crazy the scale moved one day and I was so excited, My weightloss had slowed from 10 pounds a month to 5 pounds a month, I know it's going to take time to lose this weight and I had to let go of the time frame and think more about how healthy I am getting and knowing I will get there someday. YOU CAN DO IT!!!!!!!!

Yep I know how you feel COMPLETELY.  I too had always been slim.  In my early 20's I weighed around 119-125, never dieted didn't know what it was to watch my calories, I just ate whatever all my life.  Then when I hit 25 I was at 134-136...and now at 28 and a baby later I'm tipping the scales at 155.  So depressing right?   I've been dieting since the end of May and the lowest I've gotten is 149.  Now I'm back at 155 because the scales were not moving between 149-150 I got discouraged went on vacation and ate whatever.  So I understand what you're saying, but now I'm back on the roll and trying my best to get this right this time around.  Good luck!

ejoy

Thanks for all your help, folks :) I am so glad to hear that I'm not alone in this.  It's just hard to stay under my calorie limit ... but I'm trying!  Today I was only 50 over my 1400 calorie goal, so that's pretty good, I guess.  I really should factor in a 1000 calorie day to make up for a day I ate over 2000 calories a few days ago...

After a restricted calorie wieght loss plan that helped me lose 30 pounds, I plateaued at 165 for months and was actually pretty happy there (at 5'9", 165 is a pretty decent looking size 8 on me). I added strength training to my routine and have noticed that my weight has started dropping again. Depending on hydration levels, I'm weighing in between 154 and 157 these days and wearing size 6 pants with only moderate calorie restriction (I try to keep calories under 2000). I have really come to believe that adding a little muscle mass through weight work is a great way to break through the plateaus, and buy yourself a little more margin for calorie intake. Good luck!

It's hard to stick with something like this when you hit a plateau.  I think I have been at a plateau for months now.  I tried SO many things to break out of it, and nothing was making a difference.  It's only recently that my weight is slowly starting to go down.  I only have 4 pounds left to loose, but they are definitly the hardest!  Good luck.  You'll get there in the end.  All your hard work will definitly pay off!

OH!

I hate plateaus.  Really!  A 2-month plateau was what did me in last year.  I just lost all motivation when I got down to 176 and stayed there for what seemed like forever.  I then proceeded to gain every ounce of my weight back (plus 4!!).  I just rejoined CC on Tuesday of this week, and I hope that when I slow down again (because it WILL happen!), I stick it out!

I've been considering adding some planned workout video-type things... Perhaps Windsor Pilates 20-minute workout, or Tae Bo, and of course the ab workout.  Do you think that adding some daily aerobic working out (besides taking walks, etc.) will help me break the plateau ?

 Still at 134.5 today, sigh.

 Thanks for your help guys ! 

Hi Cindy-- My experience has been that if you want to maximize fat-loss results in the least amount of time, high-intensity weight work is the way to go. I love Josh Hillis' articles and tips. They've helped me lean out and take off those last ten pounds. Check out http://joshsgarage.typepad.com/ for his philosopy on weight work for women and some great tips. (I have no affiliation with him, except that his program totally worked for me). Good Luck!

cindy, I have the winsor pilates 20min DVD and I love it.  I can't believe how much my middle has tightened up!  it's actually helped with my posture too -- I'm not all slumped over anymore and my lower back doesn't hurt like it used to in the morning.

defrog3 -- even tho I don't know you, I'm so glad to hear you've come back to CC.  if/when you hit a plateau again, PM me -- I'll kick you in the butt and get you going again -- you can do it this time!!!!!

I did Tae Bo yesterday and am still devastatingly sore! :)  It was a really great workout, basically jumping around and punching for an hour!  And today my calorie goals were met, and more, so I'm having a small drink to celebrate :)  I hope everyone else is doing great!  (Still plateaued though, sigh!)