Plateau Hell

[Jennifer44 0]

I have maintained the same weight range of 190-200 for 1.5 years which is good and band. Since I am approaching my three anniversary in March 2011 I am disappointed I haven't lost more weight. I must admit I am not exercising regularly and have my fair share of foods that I should eat less of (my biggest culprit is cheese and crackers after work). I started Weight Watchers again and will buy a 10-pak of personal training sessions in a week to get me motivated and on track with losing weight again. Has anyone else experienced a long term plateau and what have you done to combat this "hell"?

Jenny

[annieM 2]

I have been at the same weight for several months and since I eat around 1200cal per day, I can't really eat less, so I've joined a gym. My plan is to balance yoga, strength training and cardio to get the weight moving again. I only have about 10 pounds to go (it's always the hardest). Muscle is what you need to boost metabolism.

Take a look at your calorie count per day. cheese and crackers can really rack up the calories. It could be that you are actually are just at a maintenance level of caloric intake rather than a weight loss level. You need a deficit of 3500 calories to lose a pound of fat. Try cutting your calories back to 1200 and see if that doesn't get you moving. (and exercise

[Jennifer44 0]

Hi, I will look into your suggestions.....1200 calories a day I have been told is what I should stay at, but I usually average 1700-1900 a day.................I am trying to fill up on veggies and fruit and tracking my "points" with Weight Watchers - which works if you are dedicated to tracking your point religiously everyday. May I ask what your start weight was (I didn't see it in your profile). So you are about 4 years out from being banded and were re-banded at one point. Exercise is key I think for me...................

Jenny

[annieM 2]

My start weight was 228. I had co -morbidities though that have gone away since losing the weight. I no longer need an inhaler, my lipids and chloresterol are normal, my blood pressure is normal and my arthritis is in remission. Cool huh?

Yeah, dropping from 1700 cal/day to 1200 cal/day would drop you a pound per week. Not like they do it on biggest loser (who can believe those numbers really?) but a respectable loss. Build muscle and it will build your metabolism too. I've heard for every pound of muscle you add, you can eat 50 more cal/day. It's all a numbers game.

[Jennifer44 0]

How tall are you? 228 is not that heavy.....so you have lost about 80 pounds. That's great. I aspire to be your weight in 1 to 1.5 years. I have seen some people who have had bariatric surgery lose dramatic amounts of weight - but most were single and had a motive to look great. I have been in a 10 year relationship and recently gotten married to him over a year ago..................we had an unhealthy relationship with food. I stil enjoy eating with him, but its just a lot less and healthier options.

I agree with you about cutting my calories and I think filling up on veggies and fruit and Water is key. Its a major behavioral change on my part. I am still an emotional eater and food addict in recovery.

Jenny

[tinksmom 0]

(groan) I have hit that same plateau. Our stats are similar but I have been banded 6 mos and haven't lost for the past 2. The difference is that I usually eat between 1100 and 1300 calories so "should" be losing. I have been careful to get Protein and do feel a lot better. It seems to me that in the past when on successful diets that reached this point I got "stuck" here for some time..which was one of the reasons I got discouraged and gave up. I am hoping another fill will help me feel less hungry so I can add more veggies instead of foods that are fast and less healthy. My doc is not noted for long talks about fills and what is going on but I think I will insist this time.

[Tigpuff 0]

I thought I was the only one. I lost 90 pounds the first 6 months. Now my weight lose has stopped. I want to eat more. My body is craving carbs. I'm scarred because I don't want to start gaining. I just had a slight unfill last week because it was just too tight. But now I'm gotten spoiled on slider foods. I've been making myself drag to Jazzercise once a week and to our support group once a month, but it's just not there for me right now.

Will this change? or Will I feel this way fo the rest of the time?

I almost wish I had gotten GB. The worst part is I only have 25 more pounds to lose.

[annieM 2]

Jenny, I'm 5'7" (and shrinking) and I've gone from a size 20 ish to a size 6. It has not been easy and I've hit one other big plateau on the way down (it took a big cut in calories to get out of that one) but I still am glad to have a band rather than a bypass. That is just not a healthy way to go.