So I've been dieting and moving along just fine for about 5 weeks. I have lost 16lbs so far and it was coming off pretty readily. I stayed stagnant (sp?) at 226 the week of Thanksgiving. All this week I've stayed a little less than 226 or a few lbs more. I don't know what my official WI tomorrow will be. Is it possible I've hit a plateau already!?!? How soon did you guys hit a stop point? And what did you do to get past it!?! Its so discouraging! Maybe I lost a lot the first 4 weeks and now things are leveling out at a more "normal" pace?? I feel like I'm pretty heavy and should be losing more. Ahh I'm so confused. Maybe I need more exercise?? WHo knows I'm rambling at this point. So....any advice would be greatly appreciated!
I WROTE this post at 5 or 6 weeks into it. Turns out there was some hidden salt in my diet AND I was approaching that TOM. I stagnated for about 2 weeks and didn't do anything (except cut that salt out) and then it started dropping off again.
So as long as you are sure about your calories and your are taking in less than your body is expending, the weight WILL come off.
Don't worry. One week without a loss is normal, and not a plateau. When someone gets stuck for 4 weeks or 3 months, that is a plateau. Just keep at it, and I'm sure you'll be losing again!
What kind of cardio exercise are you getting? Are you tracking your food? It's easy to nibble a little more than we realize and those calories can add up quickly. Reaching a plateau at this point is not impossible, but it should be fairly easy to beat. Sometimes, kicking the cardio exercise up a notch or two does the trick. Or, varying your calorie intake each day may help. For instance, if you eat 1800 calories a day, trying throwing in some 2000 calorie days every once in a while. Also, are you measuring? Sometimes, the inches are dropping before the scales catch up.
Double check what you're eating and make sure you're measuring carefully. Make sure that little snacks aren't sneaking into your day.
At the 6 week point is the point where most people get comfortable and begin to unconsciously slack off a little, both with eating and with exercise. It's also about the point where your body has adapted to whatever changes you've made ... so it is a good point for trying to switch things up a little.
Try tweaking your calories a little, playing with your macros, mixing up your exercise. Bump up the intensity of your cardio a bit, throw in some weights. Just generally shake things up.
Also keep in mind that many of us lose in chunks. Some people are really lucky enough to see a steady 1-2 lbs a week loss. Some of us lose 5lbs here, then nothing, then 3lbs there, then nothing - and it averages out to maybe 2lbs a week, but it doesn't come off like that. YOu could be one of those people.
Just hang in there and keep doing all the right things. One way or another it'll happen.
I lose my weight just like photochick described. Nothing for two to three weeks and then a chunk of weight will come off. It's one of the things that caused me to get frustrated and give up in the past. This time I've been determined to keep with the plan and let it come off however it will. I do my thing and the scale does it's thing. It takes a lot of patience and determination. Just stick with it and it will come off, even if it's slow it's better than going the other direction! My monthly cycle really effects it too. I have found that the weight goes up a little around ovulation. Who knew that happens?
Thanks ladies. I started keeping track of my calories for about a week now, and after looking back at them I think salt might be the culprit! But I'm gonna step it up in the exercise department!
Not losing is sooooo frustrating. However our bodies are just weird, not always as logical as we want them to be.
I was on Optifast a long time ago and was absolutely perfect...not a cheat. On 600 calories a day and exercise I actually went one week without losing!
On my current plan I find that most weeks I lose, but twice (including this week) I have registered small gains. The real trick is to stick with it. Even when it is boring and not half so exciting as seeing the scale move down.
I think I'm stuck already!?!?
