I'm At A Plateau...Please help

[Tiggerlover91]

My weight hasn't budged in one week. Do you guys think it's the Atkins bars. I eat one almost every day as a snack or in between jobs so I don't get too hungry. Should I leave them alone for a week to see what happens? I'm working out and I'm really surprised the weight has budged. Sometimes I only eat twice a day, but not on purpose, do you think that's a problem too?

I can use any suggestions any of you may have. I'm trying to make it to 220 pounds by the first week of September. I'm 8 pounds from that. Help me please, I'd really appreciate it.

Thanks,

Denise

 

[pumba]

has to be jolted ......so be yourself and eat ......and then start again with the way you have been eating......your system will say....oh I am on a diet.......this was from the WW center my daughter attended ....and also read it in a magazine while at the doctors office....jolt your body .....just don't give up......remember you are healthier today then you were before.......you are doing great......

 

[PartyofSix]

Hang in there and don't give up. I suggest you try several smaller meals through out your day to keep up your metabolism. Also remember with you plan you MUST drink enough water lots and lost of water. Like have your body weight in oz's okay. Try that it seems to really boost me up when i do that. I am so proud of you Denise you came for us for help so that's a great start. I am suffering from my second platueu myself for a week too and it's not nice i tell you. But like all things it too will pass . I just got back on my exercise program and it's the week for TOM so i'm not totally freaking out YET.

 

[LuvTigger]

Hi Denise,

I know how discouraging a plateau can be, I just got over one myself. My weight wouldn't go below 170 for almost 2 weeks, no matter what I did, even though I followed my plan.

Based on various things I've read, it could be a number of things: (1) you could have reached a weight your body is accustomed to (maybe you weighed that weight for a while sometime in your past), and so your body has reached a sort of "comfort zone"; (2) similar to what pumba said, your body may have gotten accustomed to this new way of eating, and again has reached a comfort zone that needs to be "jolted"; (3) depending on what kind of exercise you do and how much you do it, you could still be losing fat but gaining muscle, which weighs more, etc. You get the picture, it could be caused by a variety of things.

Now, for the solution: (1) as Katholyn says, have you measured yourself? I measure myself, but sometimes I'm so focused on weight that I forget to evaluate my measurements. usually I find that I've lost inches even if I haven't lost pounds. By the same token, do your clothes feel looser? (2) next, you might need to do something "extra" or get rid of something to jolt your body into weight loss mode again. Maybe substitute those bars for toher protein snacks, or add more exercise. And yes, I think eating only two times a day is probalby not helping your metabolism any!

Anyhow, it's frustrating, but hang in there, you can do it!

 

[Nancy]

I've been stuck at the same weight for over 1 month, so at WW they tell us to change your eating for a few days. I did that and also increased ny water by 12 ounces a day for week and I lost 3 pounds this week! That's the first big losss since July 10th! So I'm upping the water a bit more, trying to move around a bit more and mixing up my eating a bit. I started maxing my points instead of being under my points range! Just don't give up...one week of no loss isn't that bad. Stay focused and keep the end goal in mind.

 

[Rhonda]

Don't stress over it - a one or two-week plateau is very common. Your body is just adjusting to the weight you've already lost.

Dr. Atkins says that it's not officially a "stall" until it reaches 5 or more weeks.

 

[MelanieC]

Hang in there Denise,

I know it's tough watching the scale not move. I bet you have a few good weeks after this. I agree with shocking your body. Hang in there, you are doing so well!

Melanie

 

[Tiggerlover91]

OH THANKS EVERYONE!!

Your encouragement and advice is greatly appreciated. I have backed off the Atkins bars and I only eat the other control carb bars when I'm hungry, not as a "treat". I'm working on drinking more water also. I'm just not getting enough. I drink at least one 20 oz bottle a day, but I know it needs to be more. I'm working on eating more meals also. On Thursday and Fridays, I always eat 3 to 4 meals because I work two jobs, so I eat breakfast before leaving home. I eat a bar at my first job around noon to keep me satisfied, I have lunch around 2:30 at my 2nd job and then I eat dinner around 9pm. Saturdays I also get 3 meals in, I've just got to work harder on those other days.

I'm doing Tae-Bo so I know that will increase muscle and tone me up, so I know that may stall my weight loss for a bit. I do measure myself, but the measurements haven't budged much at all. Maybe a 1/2 inch in the last week.

Rhonda~~~thanks for your info. I didn't know Atkins said it was a "stall" at five weeks. Makes me feel much better.

Also to hear a lot of you are right where I am is comforting also. I don't remember the last time I weighed 228 pounds, but now since LuvTigger mentioned at, when I was at TOPS, I started at 240 pounds, I lost 25 pounds taking me down to 215, so maybe she's correct. My body is "comfortable" at this weight for the time being and I just need to "JOLT" it! I just had someone tell me today, I look even smaller and I just shook my head and said tell the scale that. I'm not discouraged, just frustrated. A friend of mine is on Atkins and in only 2 weeks she's almost down 20 pounds!!! I'm like wow, not my luck! I know that everyone's body is different and with the walking and Tae-Bo, I'm probably gaining muscle. My clothes still feel quite lose and I'm told to keep that in mind.

So thanks again, I will keep all of you posted on how I'm doing. I didn't exercise today, but I am doing Tae-Bo tomorrow, no excuses! Talk to you guys soon.

Denise

 

[RaySharpton]

You can do it.

God bless, best wishes, and encouragement, RaySharpton

 

[froglady]

As is usual, when I check in here I find posts by people having the same problems I am, and everyone's advice helps me, also! (And isn't that what WISH is all about? )

I feel like I've been less than 5 ponds away from goal FOREVER, although I know it's only been a few weeks. Yesterday I was 1&1/2 pounds away, but today I'm back to being 2&1/2 pounds away!

I went through this before, decades ago, and never did reach goal! I refuse to let that happen again!

I'll make an effort to drink more water (I might have been neglecting that lately) and increase my walking and exercise. (I had a foot problem which ended up being related to my new walking shoes!)

Hang in there, Denise! You WILL make it!

 

[Tiggerkeeper]

Denise, as far as the water goes fill a bottle every time you get in the car and drink while you drive. Of course, don't let it impare your driving!! LOL!! Seriously, when I get in the car I have a bottle in hand and don't put it down until empty...every little bit helps. And water is VERY important!!

Good luck! Sounds like you are getting some good tips!

Melissa

 

[Rhonda]

Denise - rule of thumb for water: Drink 1/2 your body weight in ounces every day.

Example: If you weigh 200 pounds, then drink 100 oz. of water each day.

Good luck!