I am not completely stalled, but it does not seem that I am losing what I should be. Since Jan 1, I have lost a total of 6.6 lbs. The problem with that is, according to my food log and BodyBugg I should have lost something in the neighborhood of 14 lbs during that time. So I'm looking for some suggestions and feedback on what changes I could or should make to get things moving again.

To give what seems like the relevant background info:

-I have been calorie counting since the start of my weight loss (January 2011). I weigh my food unless it comes pre-packaged with nutritional info, and I eat 1200-1500 calories/day. As a snapshot, over the last 10 days my average intake has been 1334 cals/day.

-In addition to calories, I track fat, protein, fiber and carb intake. I target 25% cals from fat or less, 25% cals or more from protein, <55% cals from carbs, and 25g fiber daily. I do not always meet these targets, but I seldom have days where I am hugely off from them.

-I typically exercise 5 days per week. My usual routine is to do 3 days on followed by 1 day off, and each 3 day set looks like: 1 day running, 1 day strength training, 1 day other cardio (bike or eliptical). My cardio days are moderately-intense (roughly an hour, and I'm sweat-soaked when I finish). My strength days consist mostly of body-weight exercises (pushups, squats, lunges, etc.) plus a little light cardio (typical would be a 1.5 mile brisk walk). As a snapshot, over the last 10 days my average calorie burn (according to the BodyBugg) has been 2468 cals/day. *Additional note on exercise is below.

-I have been going through fertility treatments (IVF) since late November, and so have been on and off high doses of hormones for the past few months. I am currently on a month-long break from the treatments, and my last hormone injections were on Feb 15. At various points while going through the treatments my weight has gone up despite maintaining a calorie deficit.

-*At various points while going through the treatments, I have not been allowed to exercise. This is the reason my expected loss of 14 lbs since Jan 1 does not perfectly match my more typical deficit of ~1100-1200 calories daily that is reflected in the snapshot of the last 10 days given above; when I can't exercise, my deficit is dependent upon calorie restriction alone is therefore lower.

-Edited to add: My measurements have changed only minimally in the last two months. Bust and waist measurements are down 0.5 inches, and hip measurement is down 1 inch.


For the past two months I have been chalking the very slow loss (relative to what it seems I *should* be losing) up to the hormones. And after stopping the injections this most recent round, I did see the 6 lbs I'd gained during that cycle drop off within about 10 days. But the losses I have been earning through my Jan/Feb calorie deficit still don't seem to be showing up. I know the BodyBugg isn't 100% accurate, but it seems to be a pretty good estimate of my calories burned (it equates pretty well with online calculators I've used - and that seemed to be accurate in relation to my loss rate before I had the BodyBugg - and burning 2700 cals on a day when I've run 3 or 4 miles plus sprints vs. a burn of 2000 cals on an average rest day (no exercise) seems pretty on-target to me given my age [33], height, weight, and daily activity level). And even if the Bugg isn't giving a perfect estimate, I doubt it's off by 400 cals daily - which is how much it would need to be off by for me to have truly only earned the deficit which equates to 6.6 lbs since Jan 1 vs. ~14 lbs.

So I'm at a loss as to what to do. Is this all still just hormone-related, and I would need to be off them for a few months to see my body go back to normal? Is this just a regular old plateau and I need to just wait it out? Or do I need to be doing something differently to continue losing weight?

I'm quite frustrated, and really, truly looking for feedback. I have been very close to my original goal for a while and would like to see it, and then I'd still like to lose a bit more beyond that (another 7-12 lbs). Thanks to anyone who has read all the way through this extremely long post, and anyone who is willing to offer up their thoughts.

Oh hon. That has to be so frustrating. I don't have any suggestions--it does really seem like the hormones MUST be messing with you. I have taken Clomid in the past and I gained then, so if you are actively trying to lose weight and staying about the same, that seems similar.
Just sending

I hear your frustration I have read that many recommend calorie cycling. You need to shake things up a bit. Try something different, maybe a different approach can work for you

Sometimes you just gotta shake it up a little. bump your calories up about 300 or 500 a few days a week see hat happens.

heathermichigan, alitorry and LEESE, thank you very much for your feedback. I appreciate it. And heathermichigan, I'm glad to know I'm not alone with the fertility hormone weight gain; it might just still be that, so thank you.

A loss of 6.6 lbs in 2 months is not a plateau, it's still a loss. I've lost 8 since Dec 15th and honestly, at our current stats (which are similar), I don't think we can expect much more than that. That said, the hormones might be getting in the way of a faster loss for you, but you don't intend to stop them, I suppose? So do the best you can while taking them, which, in my humble opinion, is just to keep doing what you're doing.

Hang in there, I know a slow loss is frustrating, but hey, it's still better than no loss.

clarabr, thank you. Yes, I know it's still a loss - but it is indeed frustrating, as based on the calorie deficit I'm creating it seems I should be losing quite a bit more than I am. The only reason that we lose at a slower average rate as we get smaller is because the calorie deficit we can create at a lower weight isn't as large as what we can create at a higher weight. Right? The same formula applies at (most) any weight - calories in vs. calories out. And at my current weight (still overweight!), I'm still able to create a substantial calorie deficit - and only about half that deficit is showing up in pounds or inches lost over a period of a couple months.

But no, I don't intend to stop the treatments, and I'm not going to give up on trying to lose weight either. Which means I may just have to accept this and keep plugging along.

Thank you again; I really do appreciate it.

Edit: shortly after this post this morning (and a trip to the bathroom) the scale dropped another lb to 147.3 - which means I've met my original goal of a normal BMI... so I guess I will stop complaining for now.