[Glasgowgirl]

Im so fed up I could just scream. I swear to god for the las month I have been the exact same freaking weight. My scale wavers between 216-219 lbs, if I dont get to 200lbs soon Im going to lose my mind. Not matter how much i balance my food at 1200 calories and I work out religiously everyday burning 600-700 calories at the gym EVERY MORNING at 530am and I have added 100 situps on my stability ball...NOTHING IS CHANGING. I try to humble myself because I have lost like 90lbs and went from a size 24 to a 14, but I want to get to 170lbs and I want to hurry up and get to that maintenance stage, but the body is not working with me here and I am seriously losing my mind. HELP!

[penpal]

Congratulations on losing so much weight already. I can understand your impatience to reach Onederland - I remember how I felt when those last two pounds seemed to hang on for ever (I was at 198 for about 3 months). Now I'm cranky because I can't seem to get to 180! I doubt there's anyone here who lost weight without a stall now and then.

I've had a few plateaus that have lasted a month or more and I've learned to be patient and wait them out. Eventually, the scale will start moving in the right direction again.

It sounds like you are doing a lot of exercise for the amount of calories you are eating. Maybe you could try upping your intake a little and see what happens.

[Angel33]

Wow! I can so relate. In fact I just posted a similar post in another forum.
First of congats on the 88lbs lost that's awesome. So whatever you do don't give up.
Just wanted to let you know that you're not alone.
Can't really give too much advice as I am in the same boat as you. Hopefully some of the other memebers can offer some good suggestions.

Good Luck and keep your chin up!

[jillybean720]

I agree with penpal--try increasing your calories. Last year, I was fighting with the same 2-3 pounds for almost 4 MONTHS. I was eating 1200 calories a day, and then I moved, so my routine got jumbled up, and I ended up eating closer to 1600 calories a day. I lost 10 pounds that first month!

"They" say not to go below 1200 calories a day because you need at least that much for your body just to operate normally. If you're eating that but burning off 6-700 in additional activity, then you're only leaving your body between 500-600 calories to function, and that's definitely not enough for most people. Because of this (depending on how long you've been doing this), your body very well could be hanging on to every calorie for dear life!

It sounds odd that increasing calories could help weight loss, but when your body realizes that you're giving it enough fuel, it will be more likely to let go of what it has, since it knows it will be replenished.

[sh3l5]

plateaus do my nut, there is no time more difficult. I have been hovering on one for about the last month. Grrrr, makes me angry sometimes.

[Get n healthy]

Of course congrats on your weight loss...big accomplishment. usually when i have hit a platuea in the past i had to change up my exercise. I would do something COMPLETELY different. Get some muscles that havent worked in a while to work differently. And i agree with everyone else that you might be too low on cals.

So in short, dont just add stuff to your routine...change your routine completely. Try tennis, pilates, walking up hill, swimming, just something to get your muscles to have a different challenge and firing pattern.

[Stephanie Osborne]

I agree with the last poster on trying something COMPLETELY different for a workout. I was stuck at 128 for about 2 months. Then I decided to take up running. Now I had been working out on an eliptical for about 45 mins a day...when I started my running program it only called for about a half an hour a day and I was worried that would not be enough...but my body jolted itself back into losing after I started running. It was like it suddenly woke up and realized I was making it work in unfamiliar territory again...