[chickadee32]

I am not completely stalled, but it does not seem that I am losing what I should be. Since Jan 1, I have lost a total of 6.6 lbs. The problem with that is, according to my food log and BodyBugg I should have lost something in the neighborhood of 14 lbs during that time. So I'm looking for some suggestions and feedback on what changes I could or should make to get things moving again.

To give what seems like the relevant background info:

-I have been calorie counting since the start of my weight loss (January 2011). I weigh my food unless it comes pre-packaged with nutritional info, and I eat 1200-1500 calories/day. As a snapshot, over the last 10 days my average intake has been 1334 cals/day.

-In addition to calories, I track fat, protein, fiber and carb intake. I target 25% cals from fat or less, 25% cals or more from protein, <55% cals from carbs, and 25g fiber daily. I do not always meet these targets, but I seldom have days where I am hugely off from them.

-I typically exercise 5 days per week. My usual routine is to do 3 days on followed by 1 day off, and each 3 day set looks like: 1 day running, 1 day strength training, 1 day other cardio (bike or eliptical). My cardio days are moderately-intense (roughly an hour, and I'm sweat-soaked when I finish). My strength days consist mostly of body-weight exercises (pushups, squats, lunges, etc.) plus a little light cardio (typical would be a 1.5 mile brisk walk). As a snapshot, over the last 10 days my average calorie burn (according to the BodyBugg) has been 2468 cals/day. *Additional note on exercise is below.

-I have been going through fertility treatments (IVF) since late November, and so have been on and off high doses of hormones for the past few months. I am currently on a month-long break from the treatments, and my last hormone injections were on Feb 15. At various points while going through the treatments my weight has gone up despite maintaining a calorie deficit.

-*At various points while going through the treatments, I have not been allowed to exercise. This is the reason my expected loss of 14 lbs since Jan 1 does not perfectly match my more typical deficit of ~1100-1200 calories daily that is reflected in the snapshot of the last 10 days given above; when I can't exercise, my deficit is dependent upon calorie restriction alone is therefore lower.

-Edited to add: My measurements have changed only minimally in the last two months. Bust and waist measurements are down 0.5 inches, and hip measurement is down 1 inch.


For the past two months I have been chalking the very slow loss (relative to what it seems I *should* be losing) up to the hormones. And after stopping the injections this most recent round, I did see the 6 lbs I'd gained during that cycle drop off within about 10 days. But the losses I have been earning through my Jan/Feb calorie deficit still don't seem to be showing up. I know the BodyBugg isn't 100% accurate, but it seems to be a pretty good estimate of my calories burned (it equates pretty well with online calculators I've used - and that seemed to be accurate in relation to my loss rate before I had the BodyBugg - and burning 2700 cals on a day when I've run 3 or 4 miles plus sprints vs. a burn of 2000 cals on an average rest day (no exercise) seems pretty on-target to me given my age [33], height, weight, and daily activity level). And even if the Bugg isn't giving a perfect estimate, I doubt it's off by 400 cals daily - which is how much it would need to be off by for me to have truly only earned the deficit which equates to 6.6 lbs since Jan 1 vs. ~14 lbs.

So I'm at a loss as to what to do. Is this all still just hormone-related, and I would need to be off them for a few months to see my body go back to normal? Is this just a regular old plateau and I need to just wait it out? Or do I need to be doing something differently to continue losing weight?

I'm quite frustrated, and really, truly looking for feedback. I have been very close to my original goal for a while and would like to see it, and then I'd still like to lose a bit more beyond that (another 7-12 lbs). Thanks to anyone who has read all the way through this extremely long post, and anyone who is willing to offer up their thoughts.

[heathermichigan]

Oh hon. That has to be so frustrating. I don't have any suggestions--it does really seem like the hormones MUST be messing with you. I have taken Clomid in the past and I gained then, so if you are actively trying to lose weight and staying about the same, that seems similar.
Just sending

[alitorry]

I hear your frustration I have read that many recommend calorie cycling. You need to shake things up a bit. Try something different, maybe a different approach can work for you

[LEESE]

Sometimes you just gotta shake it up a little. bump your calories up about 300 or 500 a few days a week see hat happens.

[chickadee32]

heathermichigan, alitorry and LEESE, thank you very much for your feedback. I appreciate it. And heathermichigan, I'm glad to know I'm not alone with the fertility hormone weight gain; it might just still be that, so thank you.

[clarabr]

A loss of 6.6 lbs in 2 months is not a plateau, it's still a loss. I've lost 8 since Dec 15th and honestly, at our current stats (which are similar), I don't think we can expect much more than that. That said, the hormones might be getting in the way of a faster loss for you, but you don't intend to stop them, I suppose? So do the best you can while taking them, which, in my humble opinion, is just to keep doing what you're doing.

Hang in there, I know a slow loss is frustrating, but hey, it's still better than no loss.

[chickadee32]

clarabr, thank you. Yes, I know it's still a loss - but it is indeed frustrating, as based on the calorie deficit I'm creating it seems I should be losing quite a bit more than I am. The only reason that we lose at a slower average rate as we get smaller is because the calorie deficit we can create at a lower weight isn't as large as what we can create at a higher weight. Right? The same formula applies at (most) any weight - calories in vs. calories out. And at my current weight (still overweight!), I'm still able to create a substantial calorie deficit - and only about half that deficit is showing up in pounds or inches lost over a period of a couple months.

But no, I don't intend to stop the treatments, and I'm not going to give up on trying to lose weight either. Which means I may just have to accept this and keep plugging along.

Thank you again; I really do appreciate it.

Edit: shortly after this post this morning (and a trip to the bathroom) the scale dropped another lb to 147.3 - which means I've met my original goal of a normal BMI... so I guess I will stop complaining for now.