[lessthansign3]

At last, I've plateaued at 150. I still have another 10 lbs to lose before I reach my goal, though! I want to reach it by the end of July. I don't tend to count calories religiously anymore because what I eat is so healthy that when I do sit down and count it all up it usually doesn't amount to any more than 1500. I've been trying to add more protein, but I'm not sure if that's helping or not. Hm. I try to exercise more, too, but with graduation coming up it's sometimes hard to find the time!! If anyone has any good tips for getting through a stubborn plateau, please give me some advice. I'd really appreciate it Thanks <3

[BridgetJFan]

Try bumping up your plain water intake as well as adding more fiber. Doublecheck your portion measurements. Sometimes as we diet and get used to estimating portions, they tend to "grow." Increasing exercise isn't always the answer. If your body has gone into a starvation mode, increasing exercise just increases demand for calories. Hang in there, eventually your body will let those last lbs go.

[andoreth]

Also, you might just be getting very close to your ideal weight. Just looking at a BMI chart, 150 is within the normal range for a woman 5'6"-5'7". You could be getting to the point that it's okay to switch focus away from losing weight and towards maintaining and increasing athleticism. If you are much shorter than 5'6", then it's probably just best to go with what was working for you while you were losing (if you were counting, you might want to start again), and just realize that it does take longer and longer to lose those extra pounds when there are fewer left to lose.

At this point, though, I'd say that it's time to really start being happy with yourself as you are. 150 is a healthy weight for almost any woman. If you want to lose some more fine, but do it because you want to, not because you are unhappy with the way you are now. (Just don't sacrifice your health to do it!)

Congrats on the loss you've had so far!

[lessthansign3]

Thanks for the suggestions! I don't think fiber is the answer - I eat one cup of "Fiber One" cereal every morning plus lots of whole grains :P I'll try drinking more water, though. 150 is a healthy weight and I'm happy to have made it this far but I'll be competing in a pageant at the end of July (er... "scholarship program" :P) and I want to be in the best shape possible. I look much better in a swimsuit now than when I competed last time at 170-ish pounds and pretty much no muscle tone, but I've really got my eye on the crown this time around (and the $2000 scholarship that comes with it!!). I know I won't be the thinnest girl on stage, but I want to be the one who looks like she's in great shape and is comfortable with her body.

I'm 5'5.5" (almost 5'6") but I'm still wearing about a size 13 pants. Well, I *should* be a size 11, which is still a little tight, but the sizing on juniors clothes is so goofy these days... My dress size is about a 10, although I can squeeze into smaller sizes sometimes. Anyway, I've lost all the weight on the top and not as much on the bottom! I want to even out, you know? I've pretty much lost my boobs but my big butt is hanging on for dear life.

Thanks again!! I'll try and drink more water, watch my portions, and maybe lift weights three times a week rather than just twice a week.

[aphil]

Since you are already at 1500 calories a day, I would recommend actually counting your calories a little more strictly for a while (actual writing it down and keeping track of portions) and maybe dropping to 1400 a day until you lose another 5-10 pounds.

The last 5-10 pounds are the hardest to lose-and you WILL have to be more vigilant with your calories. You haven't really reached a plateau, you have reached where your body is at the perfect maintenance level for 150 pounds. You will have to drop calories slightly and keep track to make sure that is what you are actually eating each day, or bump your exercise slightly (walking an extra .25 mile each time if you do treadmill, stepping up the weight increment slightly if you do weights, etc. or SOMETHING to bump it up.) if you want to progress even further.

The thing is, as we become fitter-we have to challenge our bodies more to become more fit and our current workouts become easier, and as we weigh less, our bodies need less-so you will have to drop the calories slightly. Once you have lost those last 5-10 pounds-you will be able to SLOWLY increase them back to 1500+ a day for maintenance.