Upset

  • I just need to let it out a bit. My weight's been hovering around 200-205 lbs for 2 months now and I'm getting tired of it. I'm still doing things according to plan, although I've tweaked it a bit, but it's so discouraging. I want to get to onederland, but more than that (because this really isn't about onederland), I just want to keep losing weight! I'm tired of seeing the same number and feeling like I don't have any progress. I haven't been keeping track of my inches but I will start. It's just frustrating to feel that I'm on the edge and ready to move but can't.

    I went pants shopping a couple of days ago and I thought I'd be able to fit into a size 15 pair, based on my previous estimates, but it turns out they were off. I was able to zip a size 15 pair up but they were far too tight to even consider buying. I'm guessing it'll be another 10 lbs before I can go down that route. I need to buy new pants, the size 15s are too small, the size 16s (from what I recall) are too big, and I'm not losing weight. Arghh.

    This really isn't that big of a deal, I know it isn't, but I've been keeping it inside for so long that I wanted to say something and let it out. Thanks for listening.
  • I always thought odd sizes were junior sizes, no? A size 15 may not allow for hips. It's possible a 14 would fit. And if not, I have noticed there is a pretty big difference between the 16's and 14's. It took me a while to cross that border.

    I know it's frustrating! I'm in the middle of a stall myself right now. I hovered at 203 for a month with One-derland just laughing at me!! It's a hard place to be! You will be there soon.
  • I was close to your size and I just walked the treadmill 3 times per week thirty minutes, and ate 1200 calories or less (Jenny Craig helped me learn how to calorie count and choose foods), and I lost at least 1 lb/week or as many as five! Learning the right foods is really hard!
  • It is definitely frustrating to go for a long period of time and feel like you are not making "enough" progress.

    What helps me is to focus on numbers that are not about my weight. Instead, I focus quite a bit on the bodyfat percentage number as reported on my Tanita scale; no, it's not 100% accurate, but if it is trending downward then I am happy with that, even if I am not losing pounds and pounds of weight on the scale. January 4th I weighed 210 pounds on my scale, and today 202; so that is "only" a loss of 8 pounds in 4 months, BUT I know from watching my bodyfat trend that the loss was 100% fat, and that I have actually also maintained or gained some lean mass in that same time.

    I can also tell by looking at and feeling myself that I have lost fat, particularly around my midsection. And I know from measuring myself that I have lost inches around my hips.

    All that being said, if you are truly not making progress, then it is probably time to re-evaluate your calorie deficit and increase it by a combination of eating a little less and moving a little more. For myself, it's pretty critical to my fat loss that I am very active (I'm getting formal exercise of about 7 hours per week right now, plus 50 or more hours of NEAT), that I get very regular and good-quality sleep, and that I keep tabs on my calorie deficit every single day--even weekends. Doing those things gave me about a 3-pound fat loss this past month, so I'm pleased.
  • Oh, I understand because the exact same thing happened with me. I hovered above 200 for months. I just kept telling myself that as long as I stuck with my plan, I would drop below 200........ and it worked.

    So hang in there! Keep on keeping on and it will happen!
  • You are soooo close! Hang in there. Soon the 200's will be just a distant memory.
  • you have come so far already, so you know you have done and are doing the right things!

    What about taking a scale vacation? I know that's funny coming from someone who is a daily weigher, but it seems like a lot of people do get stuck at significant numbers like from 200 to 199 and if you stay away from the scale for a few weeks, you should be safely past 199 and not be looking at that as any sort of psychological barrier.

    I'll also second what Eliana said about sizing, although maybe you aren't in the US? Because most jr. sizes here only go to 13. But I would definitely try on misses sizes because they are cut differently and you may find the difference in fit makes more of a difference in size than you think.
  • Biy howdy, I hear you. I just spent abou 2 months hovering right around 260. I know for a bit i really wasn't getting enough calories but this was the same plateau I hit 2 years ago (and gave up my good habits in despair).

    I went back to really counting calories and made sure I came close to 1500 a day. If I was really low I'd force myself to find something healthy to eat to get me up close to 1500.

    Last week I was at 262. I weighed in today at work at 255. So sticking with it paid off. (It's not really a 7 pound loss - last week was TOM and this week I'm wearing shorts rather than jeans but after 2 months on the plateau I'll take the 7 pounds to my credit and smile!)

    It will for you too! You've lost over 60 pounds!!! Your body is adjusting. Hang in there and I bet very soon you'll break through to onederland! (I'm so jealous - I've got to lose what you already have to get there....)