Weight loss plateau

[Maria821]

Does anyone elss find that they have great results some weeks then a plateau for one or two weeks but that clothes fit better during this time and then the weight comes off maybe after 2 or 3 weeks. I started my journey end dec and have lost 9kg but the scales aren't budging recently but i an convinced clothes continue to get looser. Hoping for a loss this week rather than another plateau. Thanks for reading. Ps i do run three times a week plus one weights class and still no weight loss for 2 weeks

[dawnz 3st 7lbs]

I think that is a really good sign that you are shifting the kgs, so well done. I stayed the same this week, but have just thrown out two pairs of jeans because they are too big.

The NHS twelve week diet suggests looking at signs of losing the weight other than the scales. I have gone back to the absolute basics to make sure I drop something off the 4 stone plus that I have to lose, would that work for you?

[Maria821 in reply to dawnz]

Hi dawnz yes thats a good tip. I probably should write a food diary and go back to basics as i prob let slip a few mouthfuls here and there esp cooking for the kids... And it all adds up. But generally im pretty good. I might try and week of soups for dinner to kick start again

[CrimsonMama]

Yikes the dreaded plateau! They say building muscle from your weights class could effect the scale as muscle is heavier than fat. Otherwise I would suggest changing things up a bit for a week or two. I really like the 5:2 diet/method. Or try your soups for the week. Or smoothies! I used to do the 5:2 using a smoothie 750ml bottle for the whole day. Is under 500 calories.

[burntsun Maintainer Restart Feb 2024 6kg]

Yes, this is me right now. I've lost 8kg and only 4kg more to lose to a healthy BMI, but I'm stuck at the same weight (within a 1kg range) for 3 weeks now. But clothes are feeling looser, enough that I've been buying new tops.

I'm not too upset as my body shape is changing, however it is a little frustrating that the scales aren't moving as I'm so close to my goal weight.

As dawnz mentions, I've gone back to very close logging of my food in the hope that I might spot something awry.

I do lift heavy weights. I've heard the theory about muscle impeding weight loss , however my guess is that that is only a big factor if you are doing a serious amount of weight lifting rather than one or two sessions per week. I have muscle definition but am not bulky.

Not sure if that's helpful, but at least you know you're not alone!

[Maria821]

Thank you Burnt Sun. Yes good to know i am not the only one but how frustrating for both of us. I think in going to have to be v strict and log everything....i agree re muscle. Its not a huge amount of exercise so i cant buy too much into it. Not sure i could do the 5;2 as suggested in another post. Those 2 days would be so extreme I may binge...

[telute]

You may be retaining water rather than not losing weight - there's a bunch of reasons why you might be doing this including hormonal changes. Might be worth seeing if there's a pattern to your plateauing that could link to these?

[Hidden]

I'm in the same boat. Cut out toast and biscuits this week but plateau continues. Started '30 day Shred' DVD this morning to see if that helps.

I've not got any advice to get the weight moving again but I think it's just something we go through. Just try to keep with it and don't give up.

[Maria821 in reply to Hidden]

Oh good luck with the shred dvds. Im back from a run and plodding on. Hoping for a loss at weigh in. Will substitute a meal for a smoothie or a soup and see how i get on. Wishing you well also x

[WillBeTrim]

I always told myself muscle is heavier than fat but then I was told that 1lb of muscle weighs the same as 1lb of fat - very true! This is when the clothing sizes come into being important. I have plateaued a little this week as far as the scales are concerned but I have noticed my clothes are a little looser. Find a positive message anywhere you can and keep ploughing on, you can do this! You have already done very well so don't be too disheartened.

[Maria821 in reply to WillBeTrim]

Thanks for your message and you are so right. The scales arent the only measure of success. I do think clothes fit better but sometimes you don't know if thats all in your head and sometimes i just need a loss on the scales for confirmation. X

[PandQs Maintainer 3st 7lbs in reply to Maria821]

We call it - NSVs non-scale victories when clothes fit better or people notice the change. The scales may not have budged but the NSVs can tell us it’s worthwhile sticking with it through the plateau. (I’ve had about 6 weeks of plateau after losing 3 stone, so I regard it as taking time out for my skin to catch up :))

[Craftyperson]

Yes so measure yourself and see the inches slip away I've lost 8lb over 9 weeks which is enough to have lost an inch off waist and get into 2 coats that were a bit snug

[Cosmo501 Restart May 2024]

Hello! I’ve just come across your post while searching for an answer to the same question. Your post describes what’s happening to me exactly! How are you getting on? Did you manage to push through the plateau stage? I’ve been stuck around an 8kg weight loss for a few weeks now which is frustrating, but clothes are definitely more loose. To try to get off the plateau I’m changing my eating habits... giving the LCHF way a try. Hope all is going well for you!

[IndigoBlue61 in reply to Cosmo501]

Remember it’s not just WEIGHT but FAT we want to lose, inches can lost whilst weight isn’t shifting 😊

[Cosmo501 Restart May 2024 in reply to IndigoBlue61]

Very true! But somehow I still find it reassuring just to see those numbers ticking down slowly on the scales and get nervous if it stops.

[IndigoBlue61 in reply to Cosmo501]

A few weeks can just be a normal, and mostly expected plateau. Longer than that and maybe have a look at things more closely, double check your calorie target or portion size for example. In the meantime, use that tape measure! 😊

[Cosmo501 Restart May 2024 in reply to IndigoBlue61]

Thanks! Calorie target is right, but my struggle is to eat enough to reach the target. I was worrying I may be eating too few calories so have made more effort to reach the daily/weekly target. I’ll get it right eventually I hope!

[Maria821 in reply to Cosmo501]

Yes yes yes weight does start coming off again. Clothes getting looser is a great sign. Good luck xx

[Elissy 3kg]

I've always found that in weeks where I don't shift any weight, but continue as before, my body goes through changes in shape.

I know we focus on the numbers, but I can remember the excitement when after a few weeks of no losses I 'discovered' bones that had previously been hidden 😉😆. I think you body takes time out to reshape and move fat around - well, that's my theory anyway, and when ready, the weight losses will continue 🙂

[Cosmo501 Restart May 2024 in reply to Elissy]

Good theory. Sounds right to me! I’m just going to hold my nerve and hopefully notice more changes in body shape. I’ve bought a tape measure today to keep track. Have a good weekend!

[Elissy 3kg in reply to Cosmo501]

Maybe have a look at calorie cycling if you have been the same for a few weeks? Might just get your metabolism going again?

There is a theory out there which I quite like. Your body is trying to hold and stay at it's 'usual' weight. When you have lost a certain amount, you stop losing as your body battles to hold on to the weight. If you manage to stay at that weight long enough to let your body take that new weight as it's new 'usual' weight, you can then begin to go down again. This is a repeating pattern as your body battles against the loss.

Not sure if it's true or not, but I can see the pattern happening, and it sound reasonable to me.

Stay strong, watch your body morph into a new shape and get ready for the next step 🙂

[Cosmo501 Restart May 2024 in reply to Elissy]

Yes that does make sense. Happily I seem to have broken through the plateau. A leap downward on the scales today. Onwards and downwards! Good luck, strength and positive power for your journey too! Thanks for your supportive responses 😊