Stubborn last five
 

Hi!

I'm new here, and have a desperate question to ask if that's alright :)

For weeks now I've been struggling to lose the last 5 lbs. I'm 5'3, exercise 6 days a week - ballet for 1.5 hours twice a week, and on the other days alternating stationary cycling, hoola-hooping and walking. I consume alternately about 1000 to 1200 calories per day... I can't get down to my ideal weight and it's really frustrating. My clothes feel looser though... :(

I would really appreciate any ideas or advice.

Thanks

I can't give any advice but can tell you that the last few pounds are the hardest to lose. I thought I would never lose the last ten, but I persevered and it eventually happened. You will see results, too. Don't give up!!

Welcome :)

Plateaus can be very tough to break through, but it is possible! I would suggest trying a number of things - increase your calories to maybe 1300 and see how that goes. Also, you can incorporate new ways to exercise into your schedule; switching one activity for another can sometimes "wake up" your body. What you want to do is keep your body guessing, because after a while the same diet and exercise will stop producing results.

Make sure you are drinking lots of water and eating lots of fruit and vegetables too!

Thanks for your replies!

Do you think I should alternate days of lower/higher calories, like calorie cycling?

Originally Posted by evince:
Thanks for your replies!

Do you think I should alternate days of lower/higher calories, like calorie cycling?

Yes, I think that's a very good idea and is proven to be effective. You should also, as someone esle said, change your activities... I usually intensify my workouts i.e. HIIT, more incline, heavier weights, etc...

I hear ya and feel your pain!

I'm trying to lose the last 14 and it's proving to be near impossible. Like you, I workout 6 days per week, swim on average 3 times weekly and walk my dog for at least an hour daily. I eat healthy, consume around 1200 calories daily, eat tons of fruits and veg and I drink around 15 glasses of water per day but, yet no decrease on the scale. I'm thinking about giving up looking at the scale for a while and focus on the measuring tape. I think you should take measurements, as you said, your clothing was fitting better. People who are experienced in weight loss etc... tell me that those last few pound are the hardest to lose and that although we may not notice a drop in weight, the measuring tape will drop in inches. I hope they are right! I know it's incredibly frustrating and discouraging but, I believe if we stick with it, all our hard work and effort will pay off- or at least I hope so :p

Just wanted to let you know that you're not alone in your struggle.

Keep persevering!

Maybe try taking a week off of exercising. I've done it twice now. The first time I gained a pound but the weight just started coming off once I started exercising again.

Also calorie cycling like the ladies above mentioned. If you're not already try eliminating carbs at your evening meal. Did you try cutting alcohol?

May I ask what your goal weight is? Maybe it's too low.

How many calories above and below should I go from my usual? I'm sorry, I'm really new to calorie cycling.

Taurie, I've thought about going a while without exercise but I'm scared that the weight will just pile back on if I stop even momentarily. What sort of exercises do you do?

Just after a weekly weigh in... am again stuck at this same number. :( I increased the intensity of my exercise but didn't up my calories or do the calorie cycling. Would anyone please have any tips on how much to go up and down? :^: Am a bit stuck!

Thanks!

Originally Posted by evince:
Just after a weekly weigh in... am again stuck at this same number. :( I increased the intensity of my exercise but didn't up my calories or do the calorie cycling. Would anyone please have any tips on how much to go up and down? :^: Am a bit stuck!

Thanks!

I posted here earlier saying I was in the same boat. I'm now losing again. I went from doing 30 mins cardio (run 3 miles) and added another 10 mins of cardio, either stair stepper or elliptical, I do either one of these at a high intensity. I started lifting slighty higher weights. I also increased my calories by 200-300 and I broke through the plateau. I don't know of the small changes were what helped or if it was just luck, either way I'll take it and run :D

This is just what seems to have worked for me.

Originally Posted by bananapancakes:
I posted here earlier saying I was in the same boat. I'm now losing again. I went from doing 30 mins cardio (run 3 miles) and added another 10 mins of cardio, either stair stepper or elliptical, I do either one of these at a high intensity. I started lifting slighty higher weights. I also increased my calories by 200-300 and I broke through the plateau. I don't know of the small changes were what helped or if it was just luck, either way I'll take it and run :D

This is just what seems to have worked for me.

Hi bananapancakes,
Thanks for your post! The past week I've been alternating about 1000 and 1200 calories a day, doing ballet for 1 and a half hours twice a week, and cardio for 45 minutes on the other days. Sunday is my rest day.
Am a bit scared to up the calories... In case it results in weight gain... :(

Originally Posted by evince:
Hi bananapancakes,
Thanks for your post! The past week I've been alternating about 1000 and 1200 calories a day, doing ballet for 1 and a half hours twice a week, and cardio for 45 minutes on the other days. Sunday is my rest day.
Am a bit scared to up the calories... In case it results in weight gain... :(

I totally understand, I felt the exact same way. All you can do it try to up your calories a little more, maybe to 1500 and see what happens, upping your calories a few hundred shouldn't make you gain weight. I'd give it a whirl and see, it's not going to hurt you to try. Hopefully you have the same success as I did.

Originally Posted by bananapancakes:
I totally understand, I felt the exact same way. All you can do it try to up your calories a little more, maybe to 1500 and see what happens, upping your calories a few hundred shouldn't make you gain weight. I'd give it a whirl and see, it's not going to hurt you to try. Hopefully you have the same success as I did.

I'm gonna give it a try alternating between my usual *high* days of 1200 and 1400/1500. Then perhaps increase my activity. How does that sound? :D

Originally Posted by evince:
I'm gonna give it a try alternating between my usual *high* days of 1200 and 1400/1500. Then perhaps increase my activity. How does that sound? :D

Any luck?

I weighed in today.. same weight as last week. I had been alternating between 1200 to 1300 calories a day, and roughly keeping the amount of exercise the same... :?:

How've you been doing bananapancakes?

Originally Posted by evince:
I weighed in today.. same weight as last week. I had been alternating between 1200 to 1300 calories a day, and roughly keeping the amount of exercise the same... :?:

How've you been doing bananapancakes?

I suggest upping your calories by more than 100, maybe try 300. Since your not seeing any changes, it's not going to harm you to try something different and I think you should mix up your exercise, maybe go running or swimming. All you can do it try.

I'm doing good thanks, weight loss is very slow these days, I'm assuming because I'm so close to goal. I'm down to 137, better than nothing I say. I am noticing huge changes in my legs from lunges, squats etc that I just started not so long ago, my legs are getting really solid, my butt is becoming more shapely which is always good! :D

Do you mind if I ask what you weigh and what height you are please?

Okay I'll take your advice. Thanks! I tried doing this belly dancing video :carrot: yesterday, and wow, it's tougher than I thought! I was out of breath after a mere 10 minutes!

It's great that you're doing well and seeing results. :) Let me know how you're doing :)

Right now I'm 5'3 and 115, I want to get down to about 110 and then I'm fine. My frame is very small.

Originally Posted by evince:
Okay I'll take your advice. Thanks! I tried doing this belly dancing video :carrot: yesterday, and wow, it's tougher than I thought! I was out of breath after a mere 10 minutes!

It's great that you're doing well and seeing results. :) Let me know how you're doing :)

Right now I'm 5'3 and 115, I want to get down to about 110 and then I'm fine. My frame is very small.

Okay well the upping calories by a couple of hundred is working for me, I dropped 2.5 lbs overnight, seriously :p I have no clue how it happened but, it did.

Well the last 5 lbs is going to be tough for you because you are already so light, ya know? I think I may want to get down to about 115-120 after this next ten because I just don't see myself being happy with my body at 125, it needs a lot more work :p

Well, try upping your calories, if it works fine, if not there was no harm in trying.

I just want to jump here and say I think you might not be eating enough. if you are exercising that much, you can't be eating the lowest possible amount of calories allowed for anyone. I would up your calorie intake by a few hundred a day on a regular basis. 1000 calories is not enough for an active person.

Also change breaks through a plateau. As others said, this includes increasing intensity, lifting heavier weights, changing your activities or the times you work out. Also, change what you are eating, do you eat the same thing for breakfast every morning? try something else, do you normally eat your lightest meal at lunch? try switching a typical lunch and dinner. This helps to keep your body guessing, otherwise it just gets completely used to whatever you do.

I definitely want to stress eating the calories your body needs. It could think it's starving and be holding onto those last few pounds.

This is the story of my life!

Evince and bananapancakes- I am on an annoying plateau and just cant loose the last 10ish. The scale wont budge. I think I need to up my cals too. What do you think is a good range for me?
I am 5'7 and do moderate exercise 3-4 times a week.

Originally Posted by i am still trying:
This is the story of my life!

Evince and bananapancakes- I am on an annoying plateau and just cant loose the last 10ish. The scale wont budge. I think I need to up my cals too. What do you think is a good range for me?
I am 5'7 and do moderate exercise 3-4 times a week.

Although I'm not noticing much of a drop on digits on the scale these days I am noticing changes in the measuring tape, I have dropped about a one pound decrease however, the measuring tape tells me I have lost an inch or so off of each thigh and other changes elsewhere. I recommend you guys measure yourself all over, waist, thighs, arms, hips and continue to workout and do what your doing and measure yourself in a couple of weeks and see if there is any changes on the measuring tape.


I'm consuming around 1400 calories daily. I'm no fitness/nutrition expert but, I'd say if you both eat around the same you should be good.

What does your exercise and eating routine consist of?

Sorry it's been a while since I replied. I managed to lose 1.6 kg by upping my activity (in terms of walking up the stairs more, walking instead of riding a car etc.) and now I'm back at a plateau. I'm currently consuming 1200 calories a day, and my workouts have been less frequent - 2/3 times a week for 1 hour. But am practically on my feet for the entire day.

How's everyone else doing?

Evince- sorry for the very slow reply but, I've been m.i.a for a while. Still losing weight, not much, more inches really but, thats still pleasing! My workouts are going great, I feel alive, stronger, younger, healthier and happier. So no complaints- I'll get to 125 lbs eventually.

Glad to hear you lost a little more, thats great! Stick with it. Are you taking measurments with a tape? I recommend you do!

Congrats with your progress bananapancakes! :) Not far to go til 125 :)
I've never really ever taken measurements with a tape, mainly because I hardly ever weight train. I do some of the weight machines in the gym but not much... So I figure that there wouldn't be much of a difference. Am I wrong?
By the way, how does your weight behave when it's your TOM? I've just had mine, and it's finished but the weight gain hasn't subsided (from water retention) and I'm quite worried. I haven't changed my eating habits or exercise.

Losing weight will cause your measurements to change. Get that tape measure out and try it, you will be pleasantly surprised.

Originally Posted by evince:
Congrats with your progress bananapancakes! :) Not far to go til 125 :)
I've never really ever taken measurements with a tape, mainly because I hardly ever weight train. I do some of the weight machines in the gym but not much... So I figure that there wouldn't be much of a difference. Am I wrong?
By the way, how does your weight behave when it's your TOM? I've just had mine, and it's finished but the weight gain hasn't subsided (from water retention) and I'm quite worried. I haven't changed my eating habits or exercise.

Evince: sorry I didn't reply sooner, I've been m.i.a for a while. Regardless of you doing strength training or not, start measuring your body, if your eating right and working out resulting in shrinkage, you will for sure see changes on the tape! I think I mentioned before about how I can go a week or two without seeing a change in the scale number but, I will see big changes on the tape?

I either gain a few pounds during my period or don't see a drop, it's just due to excess water weight, don't worry.

Do you mind if I ask what weight you are now? I have like five pounds to go and it's a glorious feeling! I stopped counting calories but I've still been eating healthy and working out, I know from counting calories for so long roughly how many are in what.

Hope your doing well! :)

bananapancakes: thanks for your reply. I'm glad that things are going well for you! Ugh I just hate it when it's that time of the month... I just finished last week, and I thought it wouldn't affect my weight, but I weighed this morning and BAM it's up by 2 whopping kg!!! I am panicking! Nothing's changed in terms of my intake or exercise regime, so I don't know how on earth this is possible. Please please help!

I've been there
 

OP: I can relate, I was stuck at the same weight for what seemed like forever. I was exercising regularly and eating about 1000-12000. As other people have suggested, I increased my calories to about 1400-1700 depending on how active I was that day and added a body sculpt class twice a week as I sometimes lack the motivation to weight train on my own. I have since lost 3 lbs. I was a little reluctant as well thinking I would gain but when you are as active as you are your body needs ample fuel or else it just holds on to everything you put in. Good Luck :)