Hit A Plateau...

[amaral1407 11]

Hello, hope everyone is having a successfully weight loss. I think I have finally hit my plateau and my weight loss has slowed down tremendously. Last month I only lost 5 pounds, it it looks like it's close to that amount for September. I lost 104 pounds in just over 6 months so I figured it would slow down, but not this bad. My calorie intake is between 800-1000 calories a day and take 60 grams of Protein in. I walk on my lunch hour 5 days a week 2.5 miles, and try going to curves 2-3 times a week after work . I am suppose to have knee replacement surgery in November so running it out. Don't know what else to try except be patient but that is something I have always had little of. Any suggestions would be wonderful??? Thanks

[DELETE THIS ACCOUNT! 12,703]

You're going to think I'm crazy, but I'd try upping your calories and see if that works. I experienced similar and that is what broke my plateau. Here is a blog entry I wrote on this topic, I'm copying it here because I think it may help:

I wanted to share my recent experience with calories with everyone in hopes maybe the information can help someone else.

My weight loss had seriously slowed down. To be honest, I spent about a month getting very frustrated because I'd slowed a lot (for me, anyway). I was eating around 900-1000 calories a day. I knew I couldn't lower my calories any further so I figured "ok, let's increase a little and see what happens". I raised my calories to about 1200 a day and sure enough, the weight started falling off again.

July weight loss, on 900-1000 calories: 7.8 pounds/1.95 pounds per week

August weight loss, on 1200 calories: 17.8 pounds/4.45 pounds per week

Needless to say, that's a pretty big difference!

So for anyone who's struggling to lose and eating under a 1000 calories a week, don't be afraid to play with your caloric intake. Raise it a little and see what happens after a week or two. It's worth a try, especially if it works!

[amaral1407 11]

Thank you so much..... I will definitely try this raising my calorie intake.

[kll724 3,055]

5 lbs is pretty normal after awhile. You are getting toward a normal weight now, so lbs drops off slower. When your body is not used to losing weight, it seems to lose quicker. Being patient for the weight loss is difficult, I know, but it will happen, just not as much and as quickly as before! Best wishes, and try what Mis73 suggested! Karen

[myluv2drive 30]

You're going to think I'm crazy, but I'd try upping your calories and see if that works. I experienced similar and that is what broke my plateau. Here is a blog entry I wrote on this topic, I'm copying it here because I think it may help:

I wanted to share my recent experience with calories with everyone in hopes maybe the information can help someone else.

My weight loss had seriously slowed down. To be honest, I spent about a month getting very frustrated because I'd slowed a lot (for me, anyway). I was eating around 900-1000 calories a day. I knew I couldn't lower my calories any further so I figured "ok, let's increase a little and see what happens". I raised my calories to about 1200 a day and sure enough, the weight started falling off again.

July weight loss, on 900-1000 calories: 7.8 pounds/1.95 pounds per week

August weight loss, on 1200 calories: 17.8 pounds/4.45 pounds per week

Needless to say, that's a pretty big difference!

So for anyone who's struggling to lose and eating under a 1000 calories a week, don't be afraid to play with your caloric intake. Raise it a little and see what happens after a week or two. It's worth a try, especially if it works!

Mis73, After you raised your calories did you stay there or did you do it for a few days then drop back to the normal? I am 7 months out from surgery and I am down 71 lbs and I find I am reaching a plateau also.

[2muchfun 8,928]

There's a big difference between losing weight and losing fat. Depending on how much you weighed in the beginning of this journey might affect how much weight you lose in the first 6 months. I know I was carrying around about 20 lbs of excess fluids. Some people could be carrying around up to 100 lbs of excess fluids/water.

Losing fat is the ultimate goal but there is nothing wrong with just losing weight. It's better for your health and your joints to lose those extra lbs. But, most of us will only lose about 4-5 lbs of fat a month once our bodies have evacuated most of the excess fluids. It's physically impossible to lose much more than that unless you're an athlete or quasi athlete. It takes 3500 burned calories to rid yourself of 1 single lb. If your body needs 1800 calories a day to maintain your current weight and you consume 1000 calories, you should be burning 800 excess calories a day. 7 days X 800= 5600 calories burned or 5600/3500=1.6 lbs per week. If you can add some good exercise to the equation you may lose more. In fact, it's so important to exercise and I mean go beyond just walking.

Hope I'm not boring anyone? Missy is right about upping your calories. One of my longer plateaus was busted when my grandkids visited for one week. We ate pizza, mexican, chips, coldstone and much more. I gained 5 lbs(all water) before they went home. When they left, I dropped 8 lbs over the next 9 days. Our bodies will slow down the metabolism if we don't eat enough. Give it a try.

And, BTW, most of us would kill to lose 5 lbs a month.

tmf

[kll724 3,055]

Couldn't have said it better than tmf!

[agmom0207 2]

I hit a plateau for months finally went in for a fill In my 10cc band.. Went up to 9cc... Nothing was staying down ugh!! Lost 6lbs last week! I went back to doc and they took out about 1cc because of the sweeping then in a week or two I can go back and they will fill me in incriments of .25cc till I feel restriction... I'm currently at 204 started at 255 2 yrs ago yikes lol I would love to be at 170 so not too much left... Hoping another fill or two I'll feel restriction!!! Good luck to you

[MellioM 116]

I also agree with upping your calories. I hit a plateau and was not losing anything for a month. I upped my calories to around 1500 (I do intense exercise regularly) and have been losing since. I stalled for two weeks and had a weekend calorie up fest and ate about 1700 on those two days, I immediately lost a pound. I don't want my calories to go too low.

I actually had to have my first unfill because I couldn't eat anything for two days. I want to keep eating and keep my metabolism up.

[DELETE THIS ACCOUNT! 12,703]

Mis73, After you raised your calories did you stay there or did you do it for a few days then drop back to the normal? I am 7 months out from surgery and I am down 71 lbs and I find I am reaching a plateau also.

I stay right around 1200 calories a day now. I find that along with walking 2 miles, 5 nights a week, it works.

[Rojasanoll 920]

very nice info from all.

[amaral1407 11]

Thanks everyone for the advise as upping calories, Saturday and yesterday I ate around 1200 calories and got on the scale and had lost 1.5 pounds