A Two Month Plateau?

Hi All - Frustrated as can be playing around with all the numbers, BMR, 1500, 1900, 2200 calories a day - high protein, low carb, 40 40 30! Low sodium, low fat, no fat! I am spent!

I have been at 217 for two months now (started using CC in Feb at 224 lbs), fluctuating up 5 or so pounds and then back down! CANNOT lose the 1-2 pounds per week I want to to reach a goal weight of 195. It's like my body is at a comfort level and won't budge. I do one hour weights/circuit training 3 days a week and jog/bike 3 days a week. I think I have completely confused my metabolism!

I am going comando on a diet called "green faces" tomorrow - consists of green veggies and lean meat for every meal for three weeks then add in 1 carb for another 3 weeks. I did this twice in the last year to go from 245 down to 202 (leveled out at 217 now) It definietly works to stoke the fire in the belly and I incoporate HIIT with it. Not sure what else to do.

Any suggestions on a good calorie deficit, number to eat for me would be great. I am 5' 9" 217 lbs (see pictures). I think I actually look more lean now at a heavier weight 217 April 08 than at 202 in the first picture July 07. You be the judge! Thanks!

I think you look fine at the weight you are. 

 

 

Clarice

2 Months? Pffft!

I started a "longest plateau" thread and plenty of people are on 9 month ones.

Only just started to move one after 5 months.

I don't think a diet that doesn't allow you any whole grain carbs or any good fats for 3 weeks is going to get your metabolism going. If it did then you would have not gained back any of the weight you lost when you did it last time.  I think you need to give your metabolism a chance to get back to normal by picking something and sticking with it for a while.  

If I were in your shoes, I would first either get my body fat measured or take my own measurements (chest, waist, hips, thighs, biceps, calves) so that you have some way to measure your progress other than the scale.  You do look leaner in the recent picture so it is possible that you are losing some fat and gaining some muscle.  Then I would throw the scale away and just plan on measuring every two-three weeks or so. Keep up your circuit training and try to increase the intensity if possible...make sure you are lifting as heavy as you can for no more than 10 reps.  Incorporate HIIT training on your cardio days.

I definitely think you need to eat at the very least 2000 cals a day but probably quite a bit more if you are working out 6 days a week.  I am a woman eating 1400-1700 per day (to lose fat) and I only weigh 135 lbs. You outweigh me by quite a bit and you're a guy!   You should be eating 5-6 small meals per day (don't know if you already are). A mix of whole grain carbs/proteins/good fats in every meal.  Lots of veggies and a few fruit and dairy servings in there too.  Get rid of all the packaged food if you have any. Get rid of all the added sugar if you haven't yet.

Lastly, stick to it for a few months and see what happens. My guess is your metabolism is all jacked up and you may need to gain a couple pounds before things get moving in the right direction again.  Good luck to you.

 

Hi

Wow, 2 months in a Plateau. I had one for 4 months, and before I came to CC it had broke... What I did was change my whole diet, and I changed my whole workout. Are you lifting the same weight amount. Sometimes it pays to trick the body a little.

I changed my foods by a long shot. I started to eat more protein, because my trainer told me too. My cal intake was 1200 so that means I wasn't eating enough to move any more weight. I had to go up a few numbers 1400, and that still can be a crap shoot for me. I thought was lifting some very mad weight, and I needed more calories to get the metabolism going again and more weight in my training program to lift.. I was just staying at a level point.

My body had gotten use to the calories, and my body had also gotten use to what I was doing. I was doing 40 mins of cardio, and then 20 mins of weight training, now I do a 30/30/30 program, and things started to move for me again.  3 days of this mixed program, and 2 days just cardio yoga or pilates.
Same rule.. 1 and 30 mins.. I will be doing this program for 6 to 8 weeks, and then I will change up again.

In the gym I do 30 mins of cardio. 30 mins of yoga or pilates, and 30 mins of weight training, and this girls isn't lifting baby weights either.. You may need to change up your workout. If you're do the same thing for a long period of time you body stop reponding to the program. Your body has gotten use to the program.

http://www.nutristrategy.com

This may be some help to you... Good  Luck.. Lynn 

Lynn - thanks so much for the insight. I have already implemented a change in diet (mostly protien and veggies for 3 weeks, then add one carb like oatmeal or brown rice the next 3 weeks). My weakness is frozan yogurt with Rainbow sprinkles - yes, RAINBOW sprinkles. Needless to say I don't feel like much of a man when I blurt it out at the store.

For weight, I always switch up my routine. However, I am now implementing HIIT on the treadmill and then Mountain Biking every few days or so. I have also increased my weight training (starting today) following the Body For Life program.

Hopefully all of this will help break my funk! I appreciate the link and thanks again!

I just broke a 3 month long plateau. From Feb i had been toggling between 135 and 137. yesterday I weighed at 133 and boy was I pleased. For me I gues it was a question of one week including the weeknf of carefully watching what I ate and swimming a lot. For the last 3 months - I would eat healthy monday to friday and give in on weekends, so on Mondays I was back to square one with lots of added pounds and water retention from the weekend.

Last weekened even though it was my husband's birthday, I maintained my control through all celebrations and exercised in advance to make up for any extras I would eat at the family dinner. It paid off and I am glad I am past this.

Wish you all the best.

Body for life.. Do you have the book? Oh! I love it.. I sometimes think this is my best book on weight lost, but I'm sure it's not..

www.bodyforlife.com

I got the book so I don't have to go to the link as often now..

That me I love doing my workout programs. I think this book has made me improve my set's and time. I now know how many sec breaks I need to take between lifts.. This is a good book. I hope you got it.. I think I paid like 24.95 for it at Wal-Mart. I had to get it..

I wish you nothing but good luck..

Here's another link I like to go to.

www.healthstatus.com/calculate/cbc