What happens when your body reaches that darn plateau?

[SRUAlmn]

I was losing weight fairly quickly. Tomorrow will be one month since I have been eating better and working out. Within the first 19 days I had lost 16 pounds, but since then have only lost 1/2 a pound. For the last week and a half the scale has not budged. Anyone know how long this plateau period usually lasts? I work at a health club and talked to some of our personal trainers and they suggested the following:

Vary your workout routine
Drastically decrease the amount of calories you are eating for a couple days
Change the time of day you work out periodically

All of these are things that I have tried and it still doesn't seem to make a difference. Anyone have any advice for me? Anyone else struggling with this frustration? This is the point where I normally give up, but I'm not going to let myself do that this time. I'm determined not to give up. I'm just so frustrated

 

[Minniespal]

When I tend to reach a plateau I shake a few things up and that usually gets me back on the weight loss wagon. For example I will have more points for breakfast than I usually do, I'm on Weight Watchers and vary the foods that I eat. I will also change my exercise routine and that usually works too.

Good luck.

 

[yasuern]

Well first WOW!!! 15lbs in 1 month thats awesome!!!

I wouldn't get upset - you workout you are eating right so you may be exchange some fat for muscle tissue which weighs more inch for inch. If you really can't take it try to eat different foods and a little more than usually for a few days then go right back to your normal eating plan. This often will kick you out of a plateau. Remeber to keep exercising, and drink your water - water is very important!

But keep in mind - on any diet plan after the intial large wgt lose in the first couple of weeks most folks will average 1-2lbsweek(4-8lb/month), and this is a safe amount to lose and it will most likely stay off! If you are one of the lucky who lose more thats great! and I will be jealous!

KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK!
Sue

 

[WDWHound]

I just broke through plateau a couple of weeks ago. It lasted 3 weeks and it seemed like notthing helped. I just kept at it, slowly increasing my excercise time and trying to stay dicplined about my fat intake. I knew from experience that soon or later the body had to give in, but it sure put up a valient fight.

My wife Mandy has hit a really tough plateau. She is within 15 pounds of her ideal weight and those last pounds are always the hardest. For 6 weeks now she has been making no progress despite spending an hour a day on the treadmill and staying diciplined about what she eats. We both know she eventually make progress again, but I feel so bad when I see the look on her face after she check her weights or trys on an old pair of jeans and finds no progress.

One thing we discussed this morning, she may have cut back too far on her caloric intake. If you dont eat enough calories, the body becomes convinced that food is scarace and will hang on to every once of fat like your life depended on it (because your body thinks your life does depend on it). We think her total caloric intake per day is around 1200, which is probably too low.

 

[Hollyann]

Three years ago, I plateaued at 22 pounds for 3 months! Nothing I did could move the scale. I kept at it and after three months, I lost 5 pounds in less than a week. Keep you chin up, exercise and eat right and one day - when you least expect it - the whoosh fairy will visit you! Keep us posted on how it goes!

 

[SRUAlmn]

Thanks SO MUCH for all the encouragement everyone The scale actually registered one pound less this morning, but that doesn't mean the plateau has passed. I have a feeling I'm not consuming enough calories like WDWHound suggested. If 1200 is too low then I am definitely too low. I don't think I've eaten over 900 since I started. I just don't really feel hungry. Yesterday I ate a little more, and today was the lost pound so maybe that is the ticket I'll keep you posted, and thanks again so much !

 

[wilderness01]

I was told 1200 kcal was the minimum to be at and not to go below that. Good luck.