The weight was melting off to start with. 1/2 my loss was in the first 2 months. Now a total of 5 months later I'm only at 32 lbs loss and the past month I've worked harder than I ever have. What up with that?
30 mins of cardio 6 days a week 1200-1350 cals a day. Don't eat back workout cals
Have you been eating 1200-1350 from the beginning? If so perhaps your body has adjusted to that amount and maybe your metabolism has slowed as a result? When you do your cardio are you actually getting your heart rate up? Busting a sweat? Do you think changing up your routine would help?
I lost weight much faster at first too, and it has slowed down significantly. Chin up, keep working at it, it will come off eventually.
You're looking for a solution to a problem where there is none. The truth is, you're doing great. Keep up the great work!
When you're 5' tall you're going to have a low BMR. 30 minutes of cardio when you're 5' tall doesn't burn a lot of calories.
In my opinion, shows like "Biggest Loser" and the dieting media as a whole have completely screwed up our sense of reality. The simple fact is that unless someone is crash dieting, massively obese, or was only fat because they were eating like a major A-hole fat loss is never done at light speed.
In my opinion you're looking at this all wrong. I bet if you had done a full blood panel when you started and did one now the difference would be nothing short of miraculous.
If you're burnt out from dieting ... maybe take a couple weeks and practice maintaining. That's the hard part anyways so why not practice for a little while then resume dieting?
From the research I've done and the things I learned through therapy for an eating disorder, as other people have mentioned, it looks like your metabolism has slowed down to accommodate the exercise routine and diet.
I agree with John P - taking a few weeks to maintain might do you some good. Your body needs to know that you're not starving!
I don't want to be the bearer of bad news but when I did a similar thing and crashed my metabolism I literally had to throw dieting out of the window for over a year and actually just regain some weight. The good thing is, now I'm starting again from fresh with a recovered metabolism which I don't intend on crashing this time.
Of course, I don't know your history and the damage I did was done over a long time. I'm sure that following John P's advice of maintaining for a while will set you right back on track
Congrats on your loss. Sounds as if you are doing great. You don't say what types of things you are eating so I won't offer any input there since I personally think that makes a huge difference but will just encourage you to hang in there!!! It is normal for the rate of weight loss to slow... and you also don't say how long your plateau has been.
Last edited by Misti in Seattle; 03-15-2013 at 05:50 AM.
Hello fellow 5 footer. I thought I'd comment since I know how hard it is to lose weight when you're this short.
I'm using the LoseIt app to track my calories and they have my daily goal at 1270 right now in order to lose 1lb/week. I also use a FitBit and eat back my adjustment (exercise calories) almost every day.
Just to change it up, try eating back your workout calories a few days a week. LOL the only reason I workout is so I can eat more.
Personally, I think it is unreasonable to think a 5ft tall person is going to lose quickly. Once I get into the healthy weight range for my height, I plan on changing my goal to be a 1/2 loss per week. Do you do any weights? It's been suggested to me by several on here to look into heavy lifting.
At your height and weight you're doing just fine. I doubt your metabolism as crashed....it takes a long time for that to happen. I had an eating disorder where I didn't eat period , when I was in my teens, and my metabolism is only slightly, ever so slightly slower, than it would be as an adult. If you ate a normal low cal diet like 1200-1350 calories you did no harm. You're losing just fine for your height and weight.
I doubt your metabolism as crashed....it takes a long time for that to happen...
Some words of wisdom!
People freak out about 'starvation mode' and 'crashing their metabolisms' when those things really don't just happen from general dieting. Your body is incredibly efficient, so it will adapt to your training and your diet if those things remain consistent... it's meant to do that.
If you want to continue to lose you need to shake things up a bit; try a new workout routine that really kicks up the intensity, get in the weight room and start building some serious muscle, try intermittent fasting, low carb, macronutrient manipulation, etc.
To echo what many have said, you ARE doing great and to echo JohnP specifically (man, I do that a lot) there is a misconception that unless you are losing 2+ pounds a week you're somehow not losing fast enough.
Weight loss can be very easy to do in the physical sense, but it's the MENTAL aspect that makes it so difficult. You have to be patient, don't compare yourself to others, and try to keep some perspective.
You may feel frustrated at the rate - which is actually good - but slower weight loss is less likely to be regained. Quick loss pounds come back, and they bring their friends.
Stick to it. You are doing great. You average over a pound a week & that's excellent.
The simple fact is that unless someone is crash dieting, massively obese, or was only fat because they were eating like a major A-hole fat loss is never done at light speed.
Check. Check. Check. And check.
A very good description of me!
But 32 pounds is nothing to be sneezed at and a great loss. I bet you look and feel fantastic.
Thank you all for the confidence boost. I was eating 2500+ cals a day then I decided it was time to change. The very next day I went to 1350 a day and I guess my body has maybe just adjusted to that?
I definitely do sweat and get my heart rate up when working out. The biggest loser kinect game has different intensity, and times and all that. I started of at 10 mins light, then 20, 30, 40. Then all those times on moderate, now on 30 mins challenging.
I guess I should be happy with the slow and steady loss. Just miss those 2+ pound a week losses.
32lb took 5 months
