Now I think I could be reaching my first one (after about 6 weeks on plan) and I have a question. If you don't DO anything about a plateau (drop calories, increase exercise etc) will it eventually break on it's on? How long does that take usually?

I FEEL so good eating healthfully. Getting my water. My sleep. I almost don't really care that my body will or is plateauing you know? I am concerned that 1800 might be too low of a calorie amount for me though... I'm at 343 (or 349 depending on the day this week) right now... I'm not hungry, sluggish, crabby. I'm getting all the nutrients I need. My macro's are good (45 carb, 30 fat, 25 protein)... should I maybe be calorie cycling?

Help Please

Plateaus are really different for everyone as far as how long they last. Some people sail right through weight loss without them (I was not one of those).

Weight loss does slow down as you go down, normally - so you may not actually be at, or headed for, a plateau. The true definition is no weight loss or inches lost for 4-6 weeks. If you lose 1/2 a pound a week, that's not a plateau even if it feels like one.

You can try shaking things up if you want, but I would just see what happens if you keep doing what you're doing. 1800 might be a bit low for you. I am of the mindset that if you can eat more and still lose, then go for it!

cfmama..i think think the calorie cycling might be a good idea..if you feel okay eating that calorie intake I would continue and not add any overall calories....Interval training is also a good choice...I would also stop using artificial sweetners and bump up my water and fiber and whole foods..

is 5-6 weeks too early for a plateau? I mean I have HEAPS of weight still to lose... surely it's not slowing down to a crawl this early is it?

I don't do ANY artificial sweetners, up to 3 L of water a day now and getting about 40 grams of fibre and almost all whole foods.

I'm thinking calorie cycling is the way to go.

I don't think it should be at this point but bodies are funny things. Please just keep doing what you are doing to lose. Eventually, it all works out. I do zig-zag dieting. One day I eat 1000 calories and the next up to 1400, then back down to 1000 again. Are you consuming too much artificial sweetner or processed foods? I have found they stall me. It's almost like not ALL calories are the same.

I think that your weight loss is just slowing down! I started at 324 and the first 25-30 pounds just melted right off within the first 8-10 weeks. In the last 4 months, I have lost 15 total pounds.

Just trying to give you a reference since we started out pretty close in weight! I do WW, but I "point shift" on it and it seems to have worked the best for me so far.

HOnestly I don't think you should be worrying about it.

If you're feeling good about what you're eating, eating healthily, and continuing to lose, then don't beg trouble you don't have yet. You may never hit a plateau. You may stall for a couple of weeks as your body becomes adjusted to a new way of eating or a new weight. Or you may be starting one. But you won't know until you're there.

I'd just keep doing what you're doing and see what happens.

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There have been many times throughout the course of my loss (including RIGHT NOW ugh!) that my weight loss has stalled out for no apparent reason. When I lose at a good clip I tend to stall out for a few weeks, I guess my body needs a break. I don't change anything, just truck along.

And look what you've done - 33 pounds in 6 weeks is freaking unbelievable! That's 5.5 pounds per week. Likely your body is taking a much deserved 'break' too.

I like to look at my weekly averages, rather than actual losses to cheer myself up. Even when I think I'm stalling out I can see that my averages are still phenomenal. HTH.

It sounds like you are doing all the right things - Bravo! I would just keep doing what you're doing and give it a few more weeks.

Keep up the good work!

I too would do nothing right now. I've had many a stall but no real plateaus in 18 months. I lose weight in chunks of 3 or 4 lbs then nothing for 3 weeks. I'm not concerned by this as the overall trend is heading in the right direction.

HTH

Kitty

I'm going to chime in with - just keep doing what you're doing. I lost the majority of my weight during a year of sticking around 1700 calories - you are on the right path and have found something that works. Keep on keeping on!

In my VERY humble oppenion, I would not add calories. Seriously, at 5'4" and and a goal weight of 150 unless you do a tremendous amount of physical activity you'll probably have to eat around 1800 calories for life to maintain that weight. Sucks, I know! My Sis is your height and is fairly active. At 140, if she eats more than around 1600 calories a/day she'll gain. She has maintained her weight for a couple of years, and just can't go over that.

I also started out well above 300 pounds and I too dropped a large amount of weight in the first couple months on my plan. Then it slowed WAY down for a while and then picked right back up. I have little cycles like that every couple of months. But when I measure my waist, on those slow periods, the inches are still coming off. Although we would all like to see 4 & 5 pound losses each week, it's just not possible.

Off Topic: If that is a current picture of you, I have to say you carry your weight VERY WELL. I would NEVER guess you at a 300+ woman by that picture...not even 200!

well to keep it real, the scale said 350 today on my weekly weigh in . There have been NO CHEATS no treats no nothing. So I'm taking it as my weight stabalizing and looking it as a 26 lbs in 6 weeks is more than 4 lbs a week (thanks FB!).

Well onward and upwards. The scales now locked in the basement and I'll get it out again on saturday

EDIT:

My husband reminded me that before I was weighing myself on the hard tile floor. Then this week I moved the scale to the floating wood laminate floor... surely that could not have made a difference right? WRONG! I moved the scale BACK to the tile and I'm 345 (still holding a bit of that salt/water weight obviously.)

Another edit:

Yes that is a current picture of me Taken from a very flattering angle I do carry my weight "well" ... or as "well" as you can carry 345 lbs around! Thank you for the compliment