Hi all,

I have been dieting since Jan 1 ( new years resolution ). I lost 52 lbs and have improved my fitness from walking 20 min and weight training with 3lb to jogging 40 min and weight training with 8lb. I should be really happy but instead I am really down in the dumps. I've been stuck in the 170's forever and all I can see about myself is the fold in my stomach fat. All I can think about is that I am still overweight. Has anyone else felt like this? How can I break out of this mental slump???

I am also stuck in the 170s...feels like forever doesn't it? I plateaued at 176 for 3 weeks before finally breaking my plateau a few days ago...only for my TOM to arrive today. Argh!!! Don't see me getting into the 160s until shark week is over. Still, for me what really helps is to ask myself would I rather be stuck here or at my starting weight? You know the answer. It might help you to know that I did nothing to break my plateau, absolutely nada. I just carried on doing what I was doing because I knew I hadn't reached my healthy weight yet. Our bodies aren't stupid. They will take the weight off until they reach a healthy point, you just have to keep providing them with the right environment in which to do it - and you clearly are given the weight you've lost so far. To paraphrase the wonderful late Dr. Atkins, sometimes our bodies do their own thing at their own pace. It will happen for you as long as you keep on doing what you're doing.

I don't remember what the number was, but I had a 6 week plateau once. Drove me nuts! But then the scale started moving again. As I get closer to goal, it takes longer to drop a pound, but it does happen. As Mrs McsMuffins said, consistency is key. Your body will let go of the weight eventually, if you're sticking with it. Just make sure you aren't sabotaging yourself. Scrutinize your diet (and exercise) to see if a tweak is needed. Sometimes a change in your exercise routine (switch from cardio to strength training for a bit, maybe) or a tweak to your diet (focus on keeping your carbs lower, maybe) can help. For me, it's always carbs. Always. The more I scrutinize carbs, and keep them at 150 or less (less being better for me) the better I do at losing weight more quickly.

Well I am stuck and have been since May!! same 4lbs up and down so hang in there. I know I am getting fitter but still I would like to see the scale move down and stay down

This has been a difficult year. I have gained 9 pounds this year. I was finally able to change my medication which seemed to make me starving all the time.....when it wasn't making me fall asleep. I seem to be stuck losing and finding the same 2 pounds. I am trying harder this week to make a stronger change in my eating and exercise more. My goal this week is 3 pounds hoping it will break the cycle. You should be so proud of your loss this year. I want to see under 200 on my scale! Fingers crossed for all.

Congrats on the personal success, you should be very proud of this accomplishment. As such you should have learned a lot about yourself during this time, that can aide you now.

First this: Its was DAWN, and BFM () was walking on the LAWN. Suddenly BFM with all her BRAWN yelled a ROCK-ON and all her troubles were GONE!

A lot of truth to the aforementioned rhyme, when one element of internal passion is present: Persistence, and adapting and making adjustments when your bodily feedback is not what you are looking for.

I cannot assist you unless you provide more information due to the variety of reasons that could cause fat loss to stop. What I will say is that you MUST "Master yourself" to be successful.

What kind of diet were you following to lose 52 pounds? Did you track calories and macro nutrients during this time? (Carbs, etc).

I personally like tracking everything, because if something happens (like my loss becomes stalled), I can pinpoint exactly what I have done in diet and exercise to this point, pinpoint when the stalled started, go back to the last time I recorded a loss, which will provide a time frame of when the stagnation occurred, and allow me to make adjustments based on real life personal data. I consider this very smart.

I also realize not everyone needs to do this (for variable reasons) or likes to do this. However, a system needs to be in place "that works" and enables a person to make smart adjustments based upon their efforts of the past to apply different elements in the present if what was working before, is not working now.


When, and how often during the week are you weighing yourself?

Please provide all the personal data you can, and I will narrow down specific help tailored to you.

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The equation in my view is always this: (answer is below to any individual wanting to lose tissue.)

Straight Deficit Diet + Exercise = fat loss

Deficit Diet (possible calorie manipulations) + (possible nutrient manipulations) + (exercise change/manipulations) = dealing with tissue loss/gain complications.

Be stronger than your disappointment, and you will move forward with progression again........but it takes educating the path in which you want to walk. And this is educating yourself all you can on: calories, how to manipulate carbohydrates along with the other 2 main macros, how to use variable exercises to fit variable feedback you are getting etc, etc. (and we can talk about this).

Move your personal scanner within, and do not give this disappointment fuel to operate or rent space in your head. In stead provide the spark to burn it with a clear and concise plan of action, and the disappoint will die and be in its grave where it belongs.

Rock on!

Look forward to your post on your variable information.

Thanks to everyone for all their support!!!

I have been calorie counting since I started dieting. I started at 2200 Cal/day and now I try to stay under 1700 Cal/day. I avoid processed food and eat a lot of vegetables to keep from getting hungry. I am not low carb but I try to stick to whole grains and high fiber options. I haven't been logging or tracking anything but calories. I signed up for SparklePeople today and got these totals:

1459 Calories
227 Carbs
34 Fat
69 Protein
40 Fiber

I guess lowing the total calories or the total carbs would be options to improve.

I weigh myself every morning but my scale only moves if it is a 1lb gain or loss.

I'm going to stick my neck on the line here BigFatMomma and say reduce carbs not calories. Diets are a lot harder to stick to when you're hungry...

1459 Calories --This is barely enough calories necessary to keep your digestion, heart, and brain working.

227 Carbs--This is enough carbs to keep your insulin high forever, and make fat storing a priority to your body on a cellular level

34 Fat--This is barely enough fat to keep your joints, healthy, your hormones working, and your brain as well

69 Protein--This number is probably okay

40 Fiber--This number could be higher


Eat at least 2000 calories per day. Switch the numbers for the fat and the carbs and you will lose weight. Try to get nearer to 100 grams of fiber per day.