When do you know....

[Beastlover]

When you are finishing? I am stalled-BIG TIME! I have always heard about people plauteauing (spelled?) when they come to the end of weight loss. Most of my life I was around 140, so I figured to settle at 145 was good. I am at 168, 5'8" tall. I am in a size 12, and still feel like I could lose more. But my DH feels if I go the total loss (another 23) I will have to chop off a limb. This I totally take as a compliment! I have been stalled at 168 for 3 weeks now. No cheating, drinking water, and exercising 2 days a week.
What are your feelings about the subject? How much more did you have to lose when you stalled? I am wondering if my body has changed that much that 145 is not realistic?

 

[geetey]

Michelle, you probably don't want to know my answer to your question, but I will give it anyway. I stalled for 8 weeks. EEK, right? FINALLY things are starting to move again for me! YEAH!! I have an additional 50 pounds to lose, so I am not close to goal at all.

Aren't you doing Atkins? According to the web site (What is a Plateau?) you have to be stalled at least 4 weeks.

It isn't easy but stick with your plan if you want to lose more. I know I am going re-evaluate things when I hit 150 just to see how my body feels. So I may not get down as low as recommended by WW and every chart online. I do know I will be a heck of a lot closer though, and that's a good thing!

 

[tiggerlover]

My weight loss buddy is also 5'8" and she weighs 164 right now and looks fabulous. She however feels she still needs to lose more as well. Her goal is to get to 158 because that is what the charts say she should weigh. But in my opinion, she has become obsessed and I am not sure if she will be able to stop. My thoughts on the subject are to lose as much weight that makes you feel comfortable with and that you can maintain. As we age our bodies change and what we looked like when we weighed 135 is not what our bodies will look like again at 135. If you have had children your body shape is forever changed no matter how much you weigh, but that doesn't mean we can't look good. Also, for me, my body looks different because I never exercised when I lost weight before, so my size 14 now is different than my size 14 before. Plateau's happen and a lot of times they happen the closer you get to goal. I have had professionals tell me not to panic as some plateau's can last up to 6-8 weeks. Continue what you are doing and perhaps change up your exercise routine for a week or so and change your eating pattern a little before returning to what you are doing now and some times this is enough to jump start the losing because our bodies get used to our routines and don't have to work as hard as it did before. And maybe (and I am not saying this is what you should do), but maybe you should change your goals as you lose some more and see if you really need or want to go down to 140, maybe that is no longer realistic for your body today. WW says I should weigh 120-144, when I was at my lightest ever I was 135 and I was fine. I know that today none of those numbers are realistic for me, so I am going by the chart from my doctor's office. I am shooting for 148-150 for my 5'5" frame, which is large boned. I am currently at 168 and I am very happy with what I have accomplished (started at 218), but I still want a little more and then I think I will be ready to stop. I think it is all about how we feel vs. the numbers, yet the numbers are out there and some times we get hung up on them. Hang in there and do what feels right for your body!

 

[LisaTx]

You could try doing KISS for a bit. That's a pretty sure way to bust a plateau.

 

[nativetxn]

Are you measuring yourself? A lot of times when I don't lose pounds I lose inches.

 

[myjulybabes]

Originally posted by nativetxn
Are you measuring yourself? A lot of times when I don't lose pounds I lose inches.

I've always found that to be true as well. You may also want to up your exercise. Maybe add some weight training if you aren't already. Building lean muscle will up your metabolism, because even at rest, muscle burns more calories than fat, just to exist. You may not lose a lot more weight with weight training, but you'd fit into a smaller size clothes, because muscle is denser than fat, therefore, you'd be thinner without the numbers changing much on the scale. HTH!

~Josie~

 

[PartyofSix]

Michelle we are so much ALIKE! I too am 5'8 and have gone thru 168! Now at 145 where you want to be i feel i can comment on this thread. I know you look great at 168 and feel great too! But if you want more it's there for the taking. That choice is totally up to you i am sure you look like a hottie as we speak! For me i wanted more and i stalled about 163 and i thought okay this is it. And yes these pounds since 163 have took the longest. I think it was a matter of me being comfortable with my weight and taking bites of the kids foods and thinking this is great i'm not gaining! But i also was'nt loosing. Looking back i feel i got comforable with my weight and got lack on paying attention to what i was eating. There was no need for me to be sad i knew why i was loosing i wans'nt trying too. I was eating a bite of a dounut i was adding extra cheese on my salad i stopped paying attention to my portion sizes basically. I was'nt gaining so what! Well i knew i wanted to keep loosing so i turned to my pm buddy and we did challenges and worked together and we both started loosing again. Now i'm a safe 145 still want another 9lbs but you know what i'm in no hurry to get there i kinda like me right now and i want to enjoy every moment of this loss i've waited along time and nobody will notice my 9lbs i loose and it only matters to me that i loose them. So i guess i'm trying to say if YOU have found your comfort zone then congradulations on your hard work and making it to goal. If you want more it's there for the taking and we will push you all the wait!

 

[Mickey527]

Wish I had read this post before I did my own ranting post. I am stalled big time too and getting so fristrated.
We need to cry on each other's shoulder, I am happy with the size 12 but 170 lbs???
This stalling is the worst. Peggie

 

[Tjkane28]

Keep at it, and exercise more. Two days a week is not enough! Get yourself in the habit of exercising at least 4X per week for 20 min each session at 80% of your maximum heart rate. What is your healthy maximum heart rate? Look it up and work toward your goal.

12 months form now, you will be one year older no matter what. But you can control how you will feel 12 months from now. You can feel 20-30 lbs lighter and a whole lot leaner. Reduce that body fat %- it's more important than the pounds! That's why people say they lose inches but not weight. It's all about body fat!

Keep at it! No excuses!

 

[DisFam95]

I agree with setting realistic goals. I'm 5'8" also and weigh 190. My lowest weight in college was 145. That was 10 years ago. I'd suggest looking at your BMI (body mass index), REAL frame size (I hear so many people saying they are big boned when they really are not).

Every body holds weight differently. Don't get bogged down with fitting a mold. The 'charts' say for my height I should be 127-159 and since am medium framed, 135 is the middle point. Well when I was 145 everyone thought I was way too skinny and my pelvic bones stuck out.

You might need to alter your workouts to re-charge your metabolism. Are you eating enough?? Larry North gave a good example of your metabolism as a fire. If you don't put any wood on it, it will go out. If you dump a huge log, it will go out. The best way to keep your fire going is to put small amounts of smaller logs...ie eating frequent small meals.

www.healthstatus.com is a good site to see how to measure your frame size and bmi and other info.

 

[Beastlover]

Wow, those are some thoughts....THANK YOU!!

Nativetxn-yes-I measure myself weekly, and that contributed to my depressed state. It is exactly what I tell others....some weeks that is what keeps me going!

PartyofSix-Yes, sounds like we are close! I feel I am not ready to stop, but I am trying very hard not to be hung up on the "numbers". I still DO feel awesome about my success so far, but need to finish!

Mickey527-I agree, I just don't feel content where I am. I just get all the people's eyes bugging out over wanting to lose 23 more

Tjkane28-Your're absolutely right, I need to exercise more! You know, the time thing. I will "get off it" and get with it!

DisFam95-I will definately check out the website-Thanks!

Thanks to all my friends at WISH!! I was really down on myself when I posted this, and now I feel energized, and ready to move!!

Onward and Downward!