What the heck is a plateau ? In all of my research I have never come across this term . I am 6months out and have lost 86 pounds. I only need to lose another 20 -25. Last month I lost 6 pounds and this month 4 pounds ( of course I was disappointed). My surgeon explained that I am at a plateau and that inches will be coming off, not so much pounds while my body catches up to itself . Has anyone heard of this before? Or even experienced it ?

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I've been in a plateau recently; it lasted almost six weeks. Very little weight lost (less than 2 lbs) during a plateau. Your body adjusts to a new set point and you stop losing. They last longer than stalls and take considerably more effort to overcome. Hang in there. Once it broke I was able to start losing again although at a slower pace.

They refer to a period of time with no changes of weight as a plateau. This is because on a line graph, the line flattens out like the topographical feature.

Good luck!

Great explanation. If you're still losing a pound a week, that's not a true plateau. I know it sucks to only lose 4lbs in a month... that hasn't happened for me YET since surgery, but it's happened to me plenty of times in the past with diets. Hold on to that four lbs a months because in five months, you'll be at your goal weight! I'm at five months out, and I'm terrified about hitting a plateau soon. Just my past I guess. So i'm already preparing for what I need to do to get past it.

Typically when we hit a plateau, we need to change something up. Look up different types of workouts or do two-a-days (cardio for 20-30 minutes twice: once in the morning, once in the evening), or add heavier weights to our routine or more reps or try a new routine all together.

Maybe have a cheat meal. I've read about zig-zag dieting where you allow yourself more calories one day. So if you're eating 800 calories a day, maybe try getting 1,000 on Saturday then back to 800 on Sunday. I've heard it's a shock to the body and can trigger weight loss.

Good luck!

Yes. I'm in one now. Just keep working out and tracking your calories. You got this.


HW: 420 (January 2016)
CW: 273 (March 2017)

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