Plateau help

[mauraclegg 29]

Wondering if my fellow banders can help me. I hit a kind of plateau in February and I haven't lost more than 4 lbs since then. I have cut my calories down to around 500 and increased activity- didn't help. I have however dropped a pants size. Bur I am discourages by my inability to lose. My doctor was not concerned when I saw him last week. But I am concerned I want to lose more. I am headed for my TT this sumner and I know that will cut a few pounds, but I am frustrates by my ability to L-O-S-E

[Cindy C 150]

You need to get more calories. 500 isn't enough. The body has a mind of its own and will hang on to every calorie because it thinks its being starved. You need to "confuse" it. Kick it up to about 1200 for a few days then come back down some. Keep exercising too, but mix it up. Do weights one day then cardio the next. Your body won't know what hit it and the weight will start to drop again. Good luck.

[mauraclegg 29]

Thanks Cindy. I don't know when the last time I had 1200 calories was, but I will give it a try. Instead of just walking I am going to try different exercises too. This is the most frustrated I have been since I got banded

[vickyd 24]

Definately bump up the calories. My suggestion would be to raise them to about 900 - 1,000 at first and then slowly increase them until you find the level you lose the most effectively. A lot of people on here who track their calories stay in the 1,200 a day range but I have found that I lose most effectively if I stay between 1,000 - 1,100. Everyone is different so you need to find the right level for you. Also, as you increase your calories try to keep the additional calories as Protein as much as possible. I'm not sure if you track carbs but I was able to push past a plateau by bringing my carbs down to 20g for 2 weeks (now I keep them in the 30-40g range).

Just a couple of suggestions...Good luck!

[mauraclegg 29]

Thank you. I barely eat any carbs right now. I basically live on tuna, shredded lettuce and a slimfast shake a day