Stuck in the 220s

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  • I've been fluctuating between 225 and 232 for a couple of months now and getting really fed up. I've cut back on calories even more and I've started walking my dog for an hour every morning. I'm thinking I might go to the doctor soon because something should have worked by now. Any advice for what to do when you plateau like this??
  • This is frustrating. Looks like we have similar stats. I've been stuck in the 220s for a while too.
  • even if i am a little higher that u i am also stuck (280) it went well for 6 weeks now......... good luck to u both
  • same here, 220 to 215 back and forth all the time. very frustrating. i can eat everything in sight or eat like a bird and that's all i get. I totally understand
  • It's just so frustrating. I really hate it when I start getting the feeling that this is too much work and that I'd be happier this size eating what I like. I know it's not true, but those thoughts run through my head and then I fall off the wagon and it takes me sooooo long to get back on.

    It's good to know that I'm not alone though. Thanks for sharing everyone!
  • Maybe try calorie cycling instead of cutting back? Are you eating food that has a lot of sodium right before you weigh in? You could just drink a little bit of extra water to flush out the excess sodium.

    For the calorie cycling, here. Enter your stats then click on the zigzag to see the chart. It may not give you the numbers you want but you will get at least an idea then go from there if you wanna try it.

    Just keep pushing through, you can do it!!
  • I've never heard of calorie cycling. I'll give it a try. I also have been eating a lot of sodium these days and I don't usually, but not right before I weigh myself. I guess it's time to cut back.
  • Calorie cycling is basically zig-zagging your daily calories, some days you eat lower than normal, some days normal and some days you eat higher than normal but your weekly caloric average stays the same as if you were eating your daily calories.

    That is one of the recommended tips for getting over a plateau I've gotten from here- I plan to try it whenever/if I have one.
  • Oh, the 220's... they were the bane of my existance for about 6 months last year, lol.. They took me longer to get past than ANY other weight "decade" ... so crazy.

    I lowered my calories a little, did a little calorie cycling, upped my workouts (zumba, running, elliptical, DVD's..) and moved as much as I could. Every bit counts.

    I'm a calorie counter, so I started being VERY VERY accurate... as accurate as humanly possible, without going into nuts-o crazy lady territory. I got away from boxed things, too.. Like prepacked meals and such. I ate less meat. I ate less carbs.

    That's just what got me through it, though. It might be something totally different for you.... but you have to keep going. Its SO WORTH IT!!
  • Wow - 6 months, that's horrible. It definitely helps to know that other people have gone through what I'm going through and made it to the other side.

    I'm a calorie counter and very accurate with my calories, maybe even into "nuts-o crazy lady territory" but it works for me (usually).

    I started calorie cycling yesterday thanks to amandie's tip and I'm paying closer attention to my water intake. I'm down a lb this morning and hoping to stay on track.

    Fingers crossed that this doesn't last 6 months though.
  • Yeah, it was pretty rough. I even bought a new scale thinking that it must be broken, LOL. It wasn't though... my body didn't want to get past that weight, no matter what I did or how hard I worked.

    Water helps! It's amazing!

    Good luck!
  • I've been stuck between 225 and 228 for two months. Right about the time I actually decided to focus on really getting under 200. Before, my main goal had been to be healthy by eating right and moving. Now, when I want to lose weight, I'm stuck!

    I feel your pain!
  • Quote: I've been stuck between 225 and 228 for two months. Right about the time I actually decided to focus on really getting under 200. Before, my main goal had been to be healthy by eating right and moving. Now, when I want to lose weight, I'm stuck!

    I feel your pain!
    I'm right there with you right now. Normally I'm pretty good with just putting my mind to it and doing it, but this seems like a lot of work. Oh well, it will just feel that much better when I finally break through to the other side.
  • I have been stuck in the 228-231 range for about 4 months now. So I feel your pain. Working out 3-5 times a week and calorie counting has gotten me this far and now I need something to jump start me. The calorie cycling sounds interesting so maybe I will try that.
  • Today is day 3 of calorie cycling, and I'm drinking more water too. Down another lb today. I wonder if I wasn't getting enough calories because I'm eating more no then I was before. Ugh, It can be so confusing at time.