Hey Everyone,

I guess I am just needing a bit of encouragement here.......This is the 5th week I have been consistently counting calories and exercising (walking 3 miles 3 to 5X per week and Tae BO 5X per week) and as of last week I lost 12 lbs. This week I have been feeling bloated and haven't been all that normal (constipated) going to the bathroom (I thought maybe it was my IBS acting up, but usually that gets better in a day or two). I got on the scale this week and have gained 2 lbs since last week. I didn't totally panic because I do feel like I am retaining water. As far as I can tell I have been doing everything right. I have cut out all processed foods - I only eat whole grains, fruit, veggies, low fat dairy (FF milk), & lean protein. I started out eating 1800 calories per day, and am now averaging 1300 - 1500 calories per day (I zig zag calories so my metabolism doesn't slow down). I have about 40 more lbs to lose and have never heard of anyone plateauing after losing only 10 to 12 lbs. I thought plateauing was only for those who were near their goal weight, right? Also, I know I am not pregnant and I'm not PMS'ing because my period is 2 weeks away - what the heck could be happening here? Anyone else experience something similar?

Thanks
Melanie

Sometimes your body is catching up to the loss and you need to just give it a chance,sometimes you just need to change up your routine to give yourself more of a challenge if its becoming to easy. Or watch what kind of food that your eating. Im on my second plateu right now, I seem to say that but deep down I think its because im not working out like I was.
So really look into all the areas and hold your self accountable. Are you really doing everything that you could be. Its alright this happens its a learning process everystep of the way. If there was a perfect book out there then the whole world would have it.
Keep up the great job and dont give in. You can pull thru this.

I appreciate your reply Morticia - I know I am not slacking in the exercise department - I do a 43 min Tae Bo cardio video that was hard for me to get through from the beginning and it is still difficult for me to get through, but I do the whole thing and I challenge myself with the moves more now too. Also, with the 3 miles walks I take I started off at 50 min and am not at 43. Also, I am getting in all my food groups - maybe I could eat a bit more fruit, but the veggies, protein and whole grains are in balanced portions. Thanks for the encouragement.

I will keep it up, I just wanted to know if I was the only one who had lost such a small amount of weight and am already plateauing or if someone knew why this was possible?

It's waaaaay too early to tell if you are experiencing a plateau. Yes it is possible, but the fact that your weight has stabilzed or gone up a little over the course of a few days is NOT anything to worry about. Our weight flucuates naturally all the time -- I can see a 3 or 4 pound difference UP over the course of a week and it will have nothing to do with how much fat I've lost or gained. Keep in mind that the scale is an imperfect measure of what is going on in our bodies. Our "weight" is made up of not only fat but muscle and bone and WATER and WASTE. Those last two items fluctuate all the time, and can change drastically from day to day.

Keep doing what you are doing. Even if you ARE on a plateau, your body may just need a breather and it'll catch up sooner or later. Our bodies do NOT like to lose fat, and will resist from time to time. If you keep with it, though, it'll rev up and burn some more off.

If you're feeling bloated and things, try drinking lots of water, it should hopefully flush it out of your system. I find that helps with my IBS too!

I agree--it is too early to tell if you are even hitting a plateau. You said yourself you were feeling bloated, so that's most likely the culprit of the week's weight gain. One week of not losing weight is certainly not a plateau. A plateau comes with MANY weeks of maintaining, not just a fluke week of water retention. Chances are you will have a bigger than usual loss next week or the week after as your body catches up with the effort you have been exerting. don't worry about a plateau until you really have hit one And yes, it is definitely normal to fluctuate. Even counting calories and exercising till the cows come home, very few people lose weight EVERY week. Our bodies are complex, and minor gains may occur along the way, but as long as you're still heading in the right direction in the big picture, then don't worry about an occasional little gain

I agree-one week without a loss isn't really a plateau. Keep with it, and if you are not losing anything for the next couple of weeks...then it would be time to reevaluate what you are doing.

I'm not really qualified to answer this question, but just share my experience. When I started REALLY working out, I didn't see a loss on the scale for a few weeks. My muscles tend to absorb extra water when I work out. The reason I know this is because I've weighed myself in the morning before I worked out and then when I was done working out and it can go up at least a lb. That's why when I WI on Saturday morning I do it BEFORE I workout! I'd keep doing what you are doing, and my experience with exercising is the key isn't to drop your calories down but to up them. It's always helped ME break through a plateau....but I'm a firm believer in, "everyone's body is different"

Keep up the awesome job exercising

Hi Mel,

Well I have to agree, I wouldnt worry about that 2lb gain, and I dont really think you are plateauing. I lost 60 lbs last year , and I have been plateauing for a few months now. Sometimes I purposely slack off and gain a pound or two, to see if it messes with my body! Depending on how much you have to lose, and I know you said about 40 more lbs, it may get harder. You may go a week or two and see nothing and then the next week lose a pound!! So most important dont get discouraged, believe me, Ive been there!! If you stick with what you're doing you will get there!! Also, I too do Taebo, and I walk 3 miles 4 days a week along with my cardio tapes 4 days a week. So I wouldnt step up the exercise any more than you are doing for right now. Just give it time, and remember, you've already lost 12lbs, so it'll come in time!!
Julie

Thanks Ladies for all your support. It's hard to see the scale at the same place it was 2 weeks ago when I am working just as hard, but I guess I have to expect the ups and downs of weight loss.

Angel - Thanks for sharing your own personal experience w/ me - it's very helpful!

Julie - Congrats on losing 60 lbs last year - that's awesome! I can SO relate with all you are saying - it's funny our exercise regimen is nearly the same - LOL.

I will re-post if I have any victories in the next few weeks

Thanks Again,
Melanie