<p>I’ve hit that dreaded plateau and can’t seem to get off it. In the first six months of diet and exercise–I aim for 45 minutes a day, mostly walking or on the exercycle–I lost 25 pounds. In the last three months, I have been down a pound, up a pound, down two pounds, up two pounds, basically just treading water, even though I am still exercising and still counting calories, trying to eat lots of fruits and vegetables, whole grains, etc. I have tried to keep my calorie goal at something sustainable, rather than a diet that I can’t keep up over time, but maybe I need to lower it. It IS frustrating! And, according to charts I have seen, my BMI is still above the normal range, although getting close.</p>
<p>doubleplay, what about NO CARBS for a week? Thereafter, only complex carbs until you hit your target.</p>
<p>Susantm, what if you up your exercise to 1 hour at least 3 of the times per week? I bet it will get you off your plateau without shaving back the calories. Or alternatively jog for 45 mins instead of walk?</p>
<p>KEEP THE FAITH; YOU WILL REALLY BE HAPPY WHEN YOU GET THERE!!</p>
<p>The way I look at it, my diet and exercise plan are forever with an occasional guinness now and again. My old free and easy ways are over and done with. With the change, I am losing slowly and holding…</p>
<p>SB,
Thanks for the advice, I’m going to try that when we get back after our road trip next week (too hard to avoid carbs when you’re at someone’s house).</p>
<p>SBmom,
I could try upping the exercise. I actually do not do the same amount every day, I just try to get in 300 minutes a week, so there are some days I do more, some days less. This past week I did have 60 or more minutes three times a week. (But it was also my birthday, so I ate out and had a rich dessert…) As for jogging, sorry, I can’t handle that. Too hard on my old body… (And I just do not like to jog.) But I could ride faster on the exercycle and walk at a faster rate. Would that suffice?</p>
<p>Thanks for the encouragement. I will keep trying. :)</p>
<p>Faster sounds good. Or, if 300 mins/week is normal, make it 345. </p>
<p>Or both! ;)</p>
<p>Susantm,</p>
<p>Don’t get discouraged. I too hit a plateau this week, after loosing weight for the past 9 weeks. I’m hoping this week will be better. I think I ate out too much last week.</p>
<p>Now figure this: I went on vacation for 2 weeks, ate out every meal, drank a little alcohol for the first time in months, totally enjoyed myself did do a lot of hiking and watched portions, ate a lot of fish and when I got home I got on the scale to see the damage: I had lost a kilo! There was an article in papers today on the effect of stress on fat cell production. Maybe when you reach a plateau, you need to change what you are doing. Tweak it a bit. Throw different foods etc at your body. Give it a break so to speak. Give any set patterns or routines a break to get through a plateau.</p>
<p>I am digging out may bike out of the basement today!
I have lost nothing since last Monday, which kind of suprised me because midweek I was wearing some things that I did not wear in a while.
I am actualy doing quite well as far as smaller portions and not snacking at night. Hope something will move by next week…</p>
<p>Plateaus are normal. I lost a bunch of weight a few years ago. I’d lose several pounds one week, nothing the next, several pounds the following week and so forth. I agree a change of pace may help though.</p>
<p>Susan: I lost some weight a year or so ago and it seemed ot come off in “batches” of 5# at a time. Each time I lost a bit, I would just focus on keeping it off and making my body comfortable at that new weight, then a month or so later, another five, etc.</p>
<p>I did not set out with this intention, but it worked out that way and I felt like the plateau was actually the time when my body was adjusting itself to a new expecation…and maybe avoiding that rumoured problem wherein you lose weight and your body readjusts your metabolism down in starvation mode.</p>
<p>So, I looked at each “pause” as proof I could live at that weight and not gain it back! Enjoy the pause ;)</p>
<p>Well, I’m 6’7" and 3 bills. The BMI is around 34. I have type II and before that hypertension. At rest I was 200/120 never realizing it was a problem until visit ICU and FIL in critical. Just a big guy. Been working on it for a while. from about 20-40 I just worked my butt off and at 40 it all hit. I had the bad habits of not eating for hours past the time I should, getting a few hours sleep and just burning the candle at both ends. I was atheletic through those years but a back injury laid me up and I started to gain weight.</p>
<p>Now, I go in for a lube more often then my car. Losing weight slowly, heart rate 120/79, but BS never really good, still struggle with eating consistently. I eat very lean, but I explained my diet like this…have you ever seen a thin elephant? Nothing to eat 2lbs of brocoli with a little season salt and a lean 6oz chicken or steak. </p>
<p>Cholesterol has never been over 160, thin or fat. I was an extremely thin teen, didn’t start gaining until 20’s. However, at 48, it is no longer necessary to be the size of an nfl lineman.</p>
<p>BMI is worthless on an individual basis if you are anything other an an average couch potatoe. It is a useless tool for athletes or other fit people. The BMI was developed to judge an overall estimate for a larger population. That was the intent. Using it on an individual basis will only yield inaccurate and misleading results.</p>
<p>Good diet tips from Dr. John Berardi</p>
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<p><a href=“http://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/08/health/08fat.html?pagewanted=1&ei=5070&en=a9ddfcc2363849f3&ex=1186804800[/url]”>http://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/08/health/08fat.html?pagewanted=1&ei=5070&en=a9ddfcc2363849f3&ex=1186804800</a></p>
<p>One of the most interesting articles I’ve read on weight loss recently. Should give solace to those struggling and don’t understand why.</p>
<p>sorry, I really shouldn’t be posting here, but I couldn’t resist 
I am 16 and my BMI is 19.9 - 20.1…</p>
<p>anyone know any way that I can increase my weight?</p>
<p>Thats simply bs. Now its not your fault that you are fat! Its your genetics. Please.</p>
<p>Aikomidori- Weight gain is all a matter of caloric intake. Here are some tips to gain muscle. If you want justifications for my suggestions, read Metabolic Regulation: A Human Perspective by Keith N. Frayn or any other good biochemistry book.</p>
<p>1) Eat a big breakfast. Never skip
2) Eat a moderate sized meal every 2-3 hrs you are awake. No exceptions
3) Snack in between meals. Nuts are great, because of high caloric content
4) Invest in liquid meal replacements. Eating a lot is hard…You will eventually get sick of it. A liquid meal is easy to take
5) You can blend your own to make a meal replacement. Just throw in some fruits and nuts with some whole milk and blend it for a delicious and calorie dense smoothie
6) Do not go to bed on an empty stomach. Have a little snack, like cottage cheese and a bit of milk before bed.
7) Resistance training. If you want to gain muscle, you must recruit your motor neurons in someway to provide a stimulus to grow. </p>
<p><a href=“http://www.exrx.net/Lists/Directory.html[/url]”>http://www.exrx.net/Lists/Directory.html</a></p>
<p>Excellent resource on excercises. Pick big, compound excercises like the squat, deadlift, clean, overhead press, bent rows, pullups. Do them at least 3 times a week, and use moderate-heavy weights. Get plenty of rest, drink water, eat CLEAN. No more junk foods, soda, etc. You will grow big. But don’t rush it. Its hard to gain muscle, and you’ll end up fat if you eat too much too soon. PM me if you have more qs.</p>
<p>ahhh… thanks, other people kept telling me “eat more pizza” - I tried that! and it didn’t help :(</p>
<p>i’ll try your ideas</p>
<p>ILOVEGOODBREW - That isn’t what the article said.</p>
<p>If you have once been obese and loose, it is much harder to not regain than those who have never been obese. That was the major point. The methodology used was also interesting.</p>
<p>What are your qualifications since you seem to be such an authority, advising teenagers how to eat?</p>
<p>aikomidori: 16 year olds should be thin. That doesn’t sound like a bad BMI at all, though don’t know how tall you are. I used to work with a young woman (around 25) who was dying to put on weight. I have no idea why as she looked fine, and she also moonlighted as a model, but she didn’t like the way she looked. She finally went to the doctor, and he told her to drink milkshakes-- with ice-cream and whole milk-- and to eat peanut butter (though not together, I don’t think). That seemed to do the trick.</p>
<p>I’m 5.1 and 107 pounds, but my body type makes me look thinner than I am</p>