Weight loss plateau help?
 

Hey everyone! I'm new here on this site, and after living in Germany for a year and indulging in beer and cake, I have come back down from almost 190 lbs to my current 160. But I have been stuck at 160 since the first few weeks of December, and my goal is 145. I have cut my calorie intake to 1600-ish per day and always work out at least an hour (400 or so calories in cardio and weight training per day) I eat lean meats and mostly veggies and fruits...but does anyone have any suggestions about busting the plateau? I've heard either cutting your intake lower or eating more than you usually would to spark a change, but I'm too scared of what would happen if I increase my calories! Thanks everybody! :)

I'd cut your calorie intake by 100 and see what happens. Every doctor i've ever talked to that shared dieting tips said 1500 is a good, steady number for anyone on a diet or looking to lose weight. Adding something to your diet or even taking something out of your diet might help. Good luck. :)

i agree. try to lower it to 1500 and see what happen. play around with it and see what works. Good luck!

I feel your pain. I've only seen movements of 2 pounds since early Dec. I'm constantly losing and regaining lose same 2 pounds again and again.
I was eating 1300-1500. Christmas and last week was the only time I ate over 1500 (but still under 2000), and both times I experienced a drop. So, at the moment I am trying to eat between 1400-1600 to see what happens.

I hope you see some movement soon!

Here's something you might try: Figure out what your maintenance calories are for your current weight. Eat at that level for a week, and do not weigh yourself that week. Then, the following week, drop your calories back down to 1600. Weigh yourself at the end of that week. Some have said that increasing and then decreasing your calories can bust through a plateau.

Another thing you might try in general is cycling your calories. It's what I've done from the beginning and what I'm doing now, and I've been very successful. Just Google "calorie cycling" and you should get plenty of information on it.

I'm a proponent of trying other options rather than steadily lowering calories.

Thanks so much for the replies, I'm going to try calorie cycling which is new to me, and move around the intake I consume to try to kick my metabolism into gear! I'll let you know how it goes! :)

You might also want to try varying your exercise program if you have gotten into a routine. Shaking things up that way can make a real difference.