Plateau...ugh!

[amber2604 4]

Hey guys! I am 16 weeks post op as of today. I'm down 40 pounds and feeling good. But for the last 4 weeks or so I have stalled out and can't seem to lose for the life of me! In fact I've actually gained 2 pounds! I'm eating like I'm supposed to. I have good restriction (I think so anyway) and I'm doing circuit in the gym for 30 minutes a day 4 times a week plus Zumba. I don't know what's going on and I'm getting really bummed out. For a while there I was losing fast and had a pep in my step and now I feel let down bc even though I'm doing right, I'm not losing anymore! I realize 40 pounds in 4 months is awesome but I don't want to stop at 40. More like 140 lol. Does anyone have any advice in how to break this plateau? I'm getting discouraged and need some advice stat! I hope the rest of you are doing wonderfully!

[momof3armybrats 1]

Hi. First off Congrats on that 40lbs, that is awsome!! I have only been recently banded but when I was working on losing weight last year and hit a plateau my doc told me I needed to shock my system. Your body has probably gotten into a routine with your exercise. You might try adding a new exercise or bump up what you are doing. Your body will be like WHOA what are you doing to me and start working on keeping up again. I hope this helps a bit. Good Luck!!

Hey guys! I am 16 weeks post op as of today. I'm down 40 pounds and feeling good. But for the last 4 weeks or so I have stalled out and can't seem to lose for the life of me! In fact I've actually gained 2 pounds! I'm eating like I'm supposed to. I have good restriction (I think so anyway) and I'm doing circuit in the gym for 30 minutes a day 4 times a week plus Zumba. I don't know what's going on and I'm getting really bummed out. For a while there I was losing fast and had a pep in my step and now I feel let down bc even though I'm doing right, I'm not losing anymore! I realize 40 pounds in 4 months is awesome but I don't want to stop at 40. More like 140 lol. Does anyone have any advice in how to break this plateau? I'm getting discouraged and need some advice stat! I hope the rest of you are doing wonderfully!

[HeatherinCA 10]

Yea, try shocking your routine, changing your diet a little going up or down in calories a by 100.. or try low carb, or exercise more.

Or if you aren't writing your food down, try that for a little while, make sure you are really eating correctly. I know for me, I try to justify eating things, but the numbers don't lie.

[reverie 49]

Play with your calories/exercise. Can't do the same thing day in and day out.

[mousek 4]

Yea, try shocking your routine, changing your diet a little going up or down in calories a by 100.. or try low carb, or exercise more.

Or if you aren't writing your food down, try that for a little while, make sure you are really eating correctly. I know for me, I try to justify eating things, but the numbers don't lie.

I like that part about the numbers don't lie. I think journaling should be the number one part of weight loss.

:Banane31:

[LapBandBobbi 8]

If you're not already using an on-line calorie counter, that may help. I use www.myfitnesspal.com.

Good luck!

[LapNYC 3]

I never could stand journaling, even through the plateaus. If you can bear it, I would try it. Otherwise I'd cut carbs and exercise more. Always worked for me. I agree that, past a point, the scale doesn't lie. As you lose weight it gets harder and you have to eat less to maintain a lower weight. Kind of a bummer, but it's worth making the changes. They don't have to be huge, but you do need to keep making them.

[Jennifer Hathaway 12]

As crazy as it sounds I have always busted a plateau by being naughty. I eat perfectly through the week and then splurge a little on the weekend and back off the exercise. I then go back to my normal diet and exercise to find the scale go down. Some how it throws my body off. But remember only a little splurge or it will backfire.

[Robin G 0]

Hey guys! I am 16 weeks post op as of today. I'm down 40 pounds and feeling good. But for the last 4 weeks or so I have stalled out and can't seem to lose for the life of me! In fact I've actually gained 2 pounds! I'm eating like I'm supposed to. I have good restriction (I think so anyway) and I'm doing circuit in the gym for 30 minutes a day 4 times a week plus Zumba. I don't know what's going on and I'm getting really bummed out. For a while there I was losing fast and had a pep in my step and now I feel let down bc even though I'm doing right, I'm not losing anymore! I realize 40 pounds in 4 months is awesome but I don't want to stop at 40. More like 140 lol. Does anyone have any advice in how to break this plateau? I'm getting discouraged and need some advice stat! I hope the rest of you are doing wonderfully!

Amber, First let me say congrats on your progress! Then let me say plateaus stink! Just continue what you are doing and the plateau will break.. Your body is very smart and is saying "she is'nt feeding me like she used to so I'm going to hold on to this weight" (starvation mode) as soon as it realizes that you will continue to feed it good food, it will release the weight and you will see new results. I hope youhang in there.

[giogirl 5]

Hi Amber, I know how you feel I just went to the doctor today for the same reason. I am 4 weeks out and lost 14 and gain back 2. She explained to me that my working out and small about of calories has effected my weight loss stall - apparently I am not consuming enough calories with my workout routine. She told me to add a Protein Shake before the gym and more Protein after the gym. I decided that I will start an AM workout schedule again to try to boast my metabolism and switch it up. I know it can be discouraging but keep doing what you are doing....I was very discouraged also but when I went to the doctor today and got weighed I found that I lost 1% in my body fat mass and actually 2 lbs in my body fat weight and gained 4lbs in lean muscle mass....and that was quite encouraging even tho I still want all those number down. Good luck!

Hey guys! I am 16 weeks post op as of today. I'm down 40 pounds and feeling good. But for the last 4 weeks or so I have stalled out and can't seem to lose for the life of me! In fact I've actually gained 2 pounds! I'm eating like I'm supposed to. I have good restriction (I think so anyway) and I'm doing circuit in the gym for 30 minutes a day 4 times a week plus Zumba. I don't know what's going on and I'm getting really bummed out. For a while there I was losing fast and had a pep in my step and now I feel let down bc even though I'm doing right, I'm not losing anymore! I realize 40 pounds in 4 months is awesome but I don't want to stop at 40. More like 140 lol. Does anyone have any advice in how to break this plateau? I'm getting discouraged and need some advice stat! I hope the rest of you are doing wonderfully!

[chloes_countdown 1]

Amber - I'm soooo right there with you! I think we were banded about the same time in December & I also hit a plateau when I hit 40lbs down.....but I just busted through it & you can, too.

Change your routine is the best advice.

I was doing 1100-1200 calories/day & I upped to 1400-1500/day. This was actually harder than I thought it would be. Make sure the additional calories are quality - no crap or junk food.

Also, I changed up my workouts a bit. I switched out a Body Pump class for Pilates and added another cardio class.

If this hadn't worked for me, I was going to start working out in the morning instead of after work like I do now.

It took me about 2 weeks but I'm losing again & down 5lbs since making the adjustments.

Good luck to you!

chloe