When you're plateauing... do you drop carbs?
 

I don't really go "heavy" on carbs at all.. i'd say 3 servings on most days... but it's been a couple weeks with no loss and its bugging me (I know a couple weeks is "nothing", but I still want to break out of it). Would you drop extra carbs for a week and see if it helps? Or just keep on keepin' on?

Are your calories pretty much the same every day, or do you calorie cycle in general?

The last 10 days were at:

1209
1489
1377
1242
1223
1160 (*low I know...)
933 (* VERY low I know... :o Some days I hit the end of the day and haven't eaten enough...)
1513
1111 (*low day again)
1113 (*too low again)

I eat *mostly* all healthy food... i'll have a small 'treat' such as a low cal popsicle or a low cal rice pudding a few times a week...

It does like you might be eating too low.

How about taking a break for a week or so and eating at maintenance.

Seriously.

Here's an awesome article about doing that. Give it a read, think about how you've been dieting lately, and see if you think you could use this.

I already am planning a 2 week maintenance diet when I hit the 12 week point.

http://www.bodyrecomposition.com/fat...iet-break.html

Alright - thank you for that link!

So over 10 days your average calories were 1237. That seems a little low. You can maybe fiddle around with this site and come up with a weekly calorie cycle that averages a little higher than what you are eating right now...

If you work out, I probably wouldn't drop carbs, but I'd make sure I was getting them from a good source (mostly veggies). I'd try a slightly higher average weekly calorie level with a shift throughout the week before I'd worry about how many carb/protein/fat I was eating.

Edited to add: I just saw in the other forum you are running, so I definitely wouldn't drop carbs at this point.

Thanks for the replies!

Tyler, that link gave me these stats for execising 5x week... I'm going to aim for the middle column.. Thanks do much!!

* Ex Fat Loss Fat Loss Maintain
Monday 1235 1647 2058
Tuesday 1168 1318 1647
Wednesday 1482 1976 2470
Thursday 1235 1647 2058
Friday 1168 1482 1853
Saturday 1359 1811 2264
Sunday 1235 1647 2058

Alright, I'm too stubborn to do the "maintaining" for a week... I know I can break this plateau!!! :carrot: but if this calorie cycling/change of exercise doesn't help Ill give it a go!! Thanks for the link!

How much protein are you eatting? More lean protein feeds your muscles which kicks up metabolism.

I think i'm eating a good amount of protein daily.. I try to add it to every meal. Today's "menu" was:

Bfast:
2 egg omelet with cheddar cheese
1 cup of BoltHouse Cappucino Mocha

I wasn't hungry for lunch cause I always eat bfast later, so snacked on/off for the day...

Snacks:
Sugar-free rice pudding
Banana
Fibre 1 Oats & Chocolate bar
Creamsicle

Dinner:
4oz. ch. breast
1 cup broc/cauli
4 cheddar perogies
2T. sour cream (light)
1 T. margarine

Tonight I need to add in a few snacks... a cup of V8 and probably fruit salad.

Opinions?

I'm starting calorie cycling today and am supposed to hit 1700.. :o I'm at 1327 for the day (not including the deficit from exercising)... so prob won't hit today.. I can't eat nuts/soy... so not sure how to up my level without stuffing my face and making myself sick.. lol!

This has been an interesting thread. I have been stuck for weeks and can't even remember what I was doing to loose the 20 pounds I did loose but I have not put on any weight. Need some ideas so am back to reading 3 Fat chicks On A Diet. Thanks for being there.

You need to plan ahead if you're mentally at all resistant to adding in the extra calories, otherwise you'll never get there (I say this from experience).

I know it helps me to see what other people maintain on, so check out this thread.

Olive oil is a way to get some extra calories, a slice of sprouted grain toast with your omelet, some raisins or grapes, regular sour cream, that sort of thing.