I'm a slow loser. I guess my definition of a fast looser is someone who can loose 2 pounds a week every week. I tend to loose a pound stay there a couple weeks, then gain a 1/2 pound, stay there a couple weeks, then loose a pound.
I'm just happy the scales continue to stay about the same or go lower. I don't obsess about the 1/2-1 pound gains. I figure it's due to more salt the day before, then I drink extra water.
When I hit a long stall I go to fitday and enter in all I've been eating. Sometimes I find that I'm not eating enough, maybe less then 1000 calories a day. More recently I find that instead of eating roughly 1200-1400 calories, I'm topping out around 1800 calories a day. Oops. A few too many servings of nuts and ricotta desserts
I know, we aren't supposed to count calories. I don't do it on a regular basis, just when ever I haven't lost any weight in a month or so. Just to give me an idea of what I'm doing.
The nutritionist I saw in January, before I started South Beach, told me that stalls or platues are normal. She believes in a modified set point theory.
Set point is the weight range in which your body is programmed to weigh and will fight to maintain that weight. Some researchers believe that it is "set in stone" others believe that you can train your body into accepting a new set point.
In the first few weeks of dieting, weight is usually lost, but almost always gained back. Many people become frustrated because after a few weeks of dieting, they usually stop losing weight or start gaining it back, even though they are still restricting their food intake. That is a sign that the body is trying to fight to retain it's natural weight.
The nutrionist I saw believes that a set point is a factor but we can adjust our set point in time.
She said to expect platues, loose about 10%, then allow your body to get used to the new weight. Keep exercising and eating properly, maybe change your excersice routine occasionally, more minutes each day or higher intensity a few days a week. Make sure you haven't gotten careless with your eating plan. And eventually you can loose another 10% of your body weight, platue again, loose another 10% etc.
She said to not get discouraged because it is natural. And it means that when we loose the weight, it will stay off longer because we are doing it properly.
It's still hard not to be discouraged when the scale doens't move for weeks.
Sarah