Can anybody tell me why my scales are stuck?????
 

I have been trying SO hard! I have been eating around 1200 calories a day... good food... not bad. I have been exercising every single day with the exception of 2 days in the last 2 weeks. Granted... all I can really do is walk... but I walk at least a mile, and get my sweat going. I lost 17 pounds right off the bat... and then I went out drinking... I gained 6 pounds overnight... and I got 3 of that off... but now it's stuck. I am NOT cheating... I am trying my hardest and I'm getting so completely discouraged. Every morning I weigh... and every morning... it's the same. I have a lot of weight to lose... and I think especially in the beginning (only been going since 10/19) it should come off quickly ... what am I doing wrong?

Please help... I don't want to give up... I am so desperate....

It took me a month to finally shed my water weight the last time I drank beer. I gained 8lbs. So, give it some time and it should all dissapear. I know I was freaking out then too, but once it finally left it was a sigh of relief.

I find it is better to stick to wines while drinking, and balance it out with water between glasses.

A lot of times salty foods and drinking go hand in hand (not counting salty drinks like margharitas). Since it is totally impossible to actually gain 6 pounds of fat overnight, almost all of that is water retention. Unfortunately, sometimes it takes up to 7 to 10 days to get back to normal. You just need to continue to drink plenty of water and stay OP and you will be back very soon.

It sounds like you've only been stuck a couple of days. Daily losses are the exception, not the norm in weight loss--you will often have periods of 3-7 days where you don't lose weight. That's not even a stall, it's just what bodies do. Remember, weight is your weight, not your fat. So the number you see includes water, stuff in your guts, all kinds of things.

Honestly, if we saw steady, day-to-day results on the scale, where if you ate one day BOOM you gained and if you were careful another, BOOM, you lost, I don't think anyone would be overweight. That would be SO EASY. But bodies just aren't like that so we have to have faith in a plan even when the scale doesn't cooperate.

Keep going. DO NOT give up. You're eating 1200 calories a day and exercising. Sooner or later the science of it all WILL work (calories out vs. calories in, blah blah blah).

I've been on my plan for about 4-4.5 months. I'm learning that my body has a weight loss pattern. I lose in a big whoosh (this week was about 6 pounds) and then I won't lose an ounce for 3 weeks.

Just stay on plan. I know it's so frustrating, but it WILL work and you'll be so much healthier for it!

I agree that most of that has to be water weight; and it will come back off eventually. Also, I am wondering if 1200 calories is a bit low for someone 280 lbs? Your weight may plateau if your body feels it isn't getting enuff to maintain your health. Maybe try zig-zagging your cals each week; and you may see some loss again (ie 1400, 1600, 1200, 1500, 1700, etc). You should be able to eat 1800 calories a day and still lose. Plus, depending on your age, your menses can cause your body to hold water-weight for a week or so too.

Don't panic ~ this will happen many, many times during your journey -- all you need to do is ... KEEP GOING! :hug:

Your scales MUST be related to mine :lol:
I'm at the breaking point with mine EvilGidget and if my scales don't get with the program I'm going to see just how many pieces it will BREAK into :lol:
Seriously though, just hang in there :) It has to budge sooner or later :)

Thanks so much everybody... trying very hard not to "dwell" on it... but it's hard. I know it HAS to work sooner or later... just wish it were sooner ;)

You're actually losing very quickly. Whenever you have a huge loss like you did, there will many times be a loooong stall on the scale, but that doesn't mean you're not getting healthier and more fit and decreasing fat on the body. I know I've been very frustrated lately because of a major stall. I usually weight twice a day but I've decided to take a little break. After all, if I'm OP, why do I need the scale to bring me down? I'm going to get back into weighing soon but right now, I just need to focus on the plan and avoid the frustrating scale. Just hang in there because in a month from now, if you continue working hard,

ooops, I hit post by accident. If you work hard, you'll reap the benefits but if you give up, you'll definitely not reach your goals. That's what I keep telling myself anyway. ;)

At 1200 calories and 280 lbs, your calories are *too* low. You need to eat more. I'm losing on an average of 1800-2100 calories per day. Most people suggest 1500-1800 for our weight range. :) I say "our", because I was 283 in early Sept.

ETA: I reread. You've only been doing this since 10/19 and you're down 17 lbs. That's a lot. You're not going to healthily lose 40 lbs in a month. Your body has decided it's at the point of "enough" for the initial loss. You're still in the beginning. It's not going to just fall off. :) Hang in there.

Everybody makes a lot of sense... I appreciate you bringing me back to earth... of course it's not going to just "fall off".... that's what I've been waiting for... but I needed a reality check. Thanks!