weight stopped coming off?

[Adaire]

I have lost 65 pounds since April 2014.  I am thrilled that I have lost that much but I would like to lose another 20 pounds which would put me at pre baby weight!  For the past month or so I have not lost any weight at all.  😞  I exercise atleast 4-5 days a week and watch my calorie intake.  Any suggestions on why or how to get past this plateau!?

[Urchin]

Could you share what your current weight is and what your calorie consumption is? Sometimes the body needs  change up to get going again.

[Adaire]

I eat around 1200-1500 calories a day. I weigh 198. I thought the same thing so I increased my exercise some but since it's winter, there isn't much I can do indoors without spending a fortune on gym memberships!

[WhiteHusky1975]

I'm no dietician/nutritionist/doctor and therefore not qualified to give you advice. But first let me say congratulations on that massive weight loss! Good job. Secondly, I am experiencing the same thing. I've lost 2-3 pounds per week pretty easily for two months and last week I only lost .2 pounds despite a calorie deficit -9,300. That should equate to 2.x pounds of weight loss.

I spoke to the nutritionist at my CrossFit gym about it and he explained to me that if your calorie consumption is too low your body thinks it is starving and tries as hard as possible to hold on to everything as a protective mechanism. I am a 39-year-old male, weigh 152 pounds and my goal weight is 150. I am so close and these last two pounds are being stubborn. He suggested I increase my calorie intake so that my body realizes it isn't starving.

I don't know if this is good advice or if it's applicable to your situation. But it's a starting point for your research. Good luck!

[Saramarie1973]

Without seeing exactly what you are eating, I can say that all calories are not created equal. 100 calories of carrots are not the same as 100 calories of cookies. Could you modify your caloric intake? Cut out all carbs except those from veggies, no dairy, no alcohol, no sugar...just for a little while. Ten days, fifteen, twenty one max? Shake up what you normally eat. Stick with just protein and veggies? Weight loss is 70% food, 30% excercise. I believe our bodies need a little shaking up when stuck!

[SunsetRunner]

@Adaire 

When exercising, muscles can become stronger while getting leaner (decreasing body fat %) but the scale can stay the same regarding weight.

Did body fat percentage get lower?

When body fat get lower, this weight loss can be compensated by the muscles gotten stronger, no weight loss, but leaner and stronger.

It can also be that the body is trying to fight back, it does think about survival, you've lost so many pounds and thinks there's not much energy available for survival. It can start to optimize all the energy it gets, lowering metabolism to survive on the energy it gets, even if its much less calories required to 'maintain' the weight. It tries to adapt to the food habits (with less calories) surviving on less calories to trying maintaining the weight, ensuring to stay alive.

Try eating on maintance for a while, the body can be under a lot of stress cause all the 'dieting', preventing further weight loss attempts.

Use the calories as guidance, try listening to your internal body cues when feeling satisfied but not stuffed and trust the body when it has enough regardless of allowed to eat x hundred calories more but not being hungry.

Our bodies can be perfectly satisfied with less calories overall but when having all nutritients it needs, it's unlikely asking for more.

It's not necessary the quantity but quality (nutritient wise) and which foods the body is asking for to nourish it the most in the moment.

[chill61]

Hey-I know where your coming from.  I have lost 55 and have been stuck as well.  My trainer says to increase the weights and reps, and decrease the carbs-especially after 3pm.  Flush with at least 72 oz of water.  I did this last week and 2.5 fell off!!!!  and I'm extactic!!!!  good luck.

[tera_love-joy]

I have lost 50 lbs since I delievered my twins in July...however I have been stuck for the past 2 almost 3 months.  I have changed my diet in an effort to clean eat.  I hope this works. 

[BurdsNest]

There are loads of reasons why we stop losing including all the ones that were posted.  My journey down was pretty easy, but during this past summer, I began to slow down.....for a variety of reasons, not one that can be pin pointed.  Yes, lean muscle looks good, but unfortunately, doesn't show on the scale as well as it does in your clothes. Not letting your muscles repair after a workout, consuming too little calories, so that your body thinks you're starving and holds on to everything are just a few more reasons.  Any of these, and all of them.  I go to the gym from Sunday through Wednesday (sometimes Thursday) two classes a day.  I need a few days for my muscles to get  back before I weigh in or else the scale goes up.  So keep a positive attitude and be proud of all your accomplishments.  You're doing a great job!  Glass half full!

[tera_love-joy]

Thank you!

--
Tera Hayman-Upshaw
Masters of Arts Marketing
901-870-0149 (cell)

Samuel Upshaw
Masters of Business Administration
901-336-6253 (cell)

[Adaire]

Thank you all for the input! I will for sure try all the suggestions!

[Shirley21]

I too reached a plateau; it was the point at which I was losing fat weight but countered it by gaining in muscle weight (tone, NOT bulk). Once they balanced out, I started losing again. My suggestion is you try to increase the intensity (how hard you exercise) or duration (amount of time you exercise if possible). Congratulations on your accomplishments! Hope this helps.