I am venting too!

OK, so I will place this disclaimer first: I know I have lost just over 100 pounds in six months and my body is probably totally in shock, and after everything I read I know that the following is very normal, but still frustrating!! Yes, that's right...I have hit a dreaded plateau!!! For the last two to three weeks, the scale has been up a pound, down a pound, no loss, down a pound, up a pound again, etc.. (discounting the time when Aunt Flo visits). Grrrr!!!! I am exercising at least 4 times a week, alternating between Curves, elliptical stepper and swimming so that I can mix it up and my body doesn't get bored; my labs are perfect; I am getting 80-100 grams of protein a day; calories are normally between 800-900, and I keep my carbs fairly low and whole-grain. I am so scared that I am done, and I am destined to be just over 200 pounds for the rest of my life! Arrgggh! Like I said, I know that this is probably normal, but I am curious to know what everyone else's experience with plateauing has been. Thanks for any advice/feedback you can give! Hugs, Dawn C

Are you checking your inches?  I always foudn that when I seemed to stall I would drop the inches instead of pounds.  I really can't give personal experience because I didn't really stall or plateau for longer than a week.  I just seemed to be a slow steady loser.  I definitely don't believe you are done.  You seem to be right on top of everything and doing what you should be.  Another thing to look at is your weight gain history, did you stay right above 200 for awhile as you were gaining.  I have heard that if you had a long stand still period at one weight as you go up then you may have a long stall period around that same weight as you go down.  Keep on pushing through.  It is normal and it will start dropping again.

Thanks, ladies...the inches are definitely coming down, as I have those done once a month at Curves and I can tell by the way my clothes fit and the way I look to myself that my body shape is changing. And indeed I did stay right around 200-205 for a good while as I was gaining. Like Jill said, I am trying to mix up my exercise routines so that my body doesn't get bored. Jill, do you think that I should wait to begin running? Before my weight gain, I was a runner, and I feel that I am not getting enough of a workout sometimes...I would love to start running again but don't know how good that would be for my joints since I am still over 200 pounds. What do ya think?

What Courtney said........... I was pretty much the same way.  I know that it is aggreviating,  but hang in there.  Look at what it is you are eating.  You may need to increase your carbs a smidge.  Especially since you are working out.  Are you doing the same type of physical activity?  You may need to change that up as well.

Ugh those buggers! Plateaus are not kewl. Congrats on your weight loss so far and may you be blessed with continued weight loss and you WILL break the plateau! Sometimes our bodies need to take a break but it will happen. Seems to me you are doing well with your intake. Maybe try changing things up a bit. Curiosity is good. Others will reply with lots of kewl advice. I'll say definitely up your fluids intake, change up your exercises a bit, and of course boosting protein does wonders as well. Keep us posted and know you are not alone!  Take care!

Like Jill said, check your calorie intake versus your calories use in exercise. I was shocked to see how much higher my outgo is than my intake, an issue I'll raise next week with the nutritionist to see if my intake needs to increase to keep weight loss going.

Please dont take this the wrong way Im probaly gonna get blasted for saying this but what the hey this is what I have to say!  I have been on a huge plateau for MONTHS and I mean that  and as my dear B/F says to me Melinda how long did it take you to put on that  weight months days seconds???? no dear years well then be realistic its not coming off over night silly he says stop beating yourself up be happy enjoy what and where you are  keep doing what your doing as long as you know your doing it right up it  or what you need to do and keep chugging. Now if your not doing what your supposed to be doing then worry. But sweetie buy what you have wrote soinds good to me and a 100 pounds in 6 months thats AWSOME applaud yourself you have done well, Im almost 2 yrs out and Im still over 200 and am I destine to be there I hope not but Im still there but Im chugging along. So hang in there  an keep up the GREAT WORK your doing!!!!!!  

Yeah, I am hanging in there for now! Hoping that maybe mixing things up a bit might help, but I am hoping that soon the plateau will break and I will keep on moving forward. I also have to remember that I am hypothyroid so I might be more apt to such stalls and plateaus and like Courtney said, I weighed in right around 200 for a long time as I was gaining so maybe I will stay here for a while before the scale moves again. I hope you guys have a great time this weekend!

You are doing all the right things sweety . You just gotta take this time to let your body settle down .The 6 months is fast , and your body needs to catch up . Just keep doing what you are doing . Keep a watch on the carbs that they never go higher than your protein . Other than that .. your rock... !!  There are so many that could learn from your dilegence !!!  CONGRATULATIONS !!  Natalie