Darn Plateau

 Okay so im sure each and everyone of us is familiar with the evil word PLATEAU right? well I have done some research and I know that a plateau is our bodies way of "Catching up" when we are on a steady weight loss, like it is saying hold on for a little bit, lets get all our systems caught up and re set and balanced before we release again, I have learned that the body craves homeostasis    which means to maintain a stable constant condition. So I get that, but how long will it take?? I have been caught in this darn homeostasis for 2 weeks now! ugh! I keep bouncing between 275 to 278, I know that I could get a little more strict on my plan and up my game to break it, I guess that is just what I will have to do, any advice on what has worked for you to break a plateau?

Thanks guys! and Happy Saturday to ya all!

I've held steady for a couple of weeks here and there.  I try to sit tight and stay the course because I know it will pass.  I'm doing what I'm more or less willing to do, and I won't really try to force my body to do anything it's not ready for.  If it needs time to adjust, that's fine.  I will re-examine what I've been eating to make sure it really is within the limits I want to keep to, try to drink more water, try to exercise a little more, maybe replace a few carbs with extra protein.  I've never really tried to eat less than what I plan (1400-1500 calories a day) - I find if I do eat less one day, my body just gets extra hungry the next and I'm likely to make up for the previous day and then some.  I've planned a few "free" days (read: bad choices and lots of cals) here and there, and I start to wonder if mixing up calorie levels doesn't help sometimes.  Once I get back on plan, I usually have a better drop in weight than I would normally.  I do think slow and steady is the way to go - of course, this is coming from someone who's lost, on average, one lb per week since January 1.  I have to be ok with that, and, really, I am - though at times it gets annoying to know it will take five months to lose 20 more lbs, but it is what it is, and I'll take it.  I figure it's just more time to build good habits and continue to adjust to a new way of life. 

 thanks for your response, I agree that changing things up a bit does help with the release of more weight, I to stick to about 1400 to 1600 cal a day, though I am not an avid calorie counter, the plan that I am following makes my breakfast and dinner easy, I am responsible for eating a healthy lunch with  400 to 600 calories, and then adding enough of the right snacks. So far I have done really well, releasing 28 lb's in the first 8 weeks, (had lost 18 before I started this program) But one thing I do know, In the past a Plateau would have been a major deterrent   for me, I would have thought, I am working so hard for what? I might as well eat whatever  I want and through in the towel, but now I have determination and Belief that this will pass, and I will keep pushing ahead and staying the course,  I want this victory and I am committed to the end! 

You *are* working hard and your health is improving, even if the scale doesn't change.  Weight loss is not the straight line mathematical formula some folks would have us believe.  At times, you can undereat and overeat your metabolism and not lose or gain weight.  In the long run, though, you will.  Doesn't always make sense.  Some weeks I can lose two or three lbs, and in other weeks nothing - even though I'm doing everything the same.  Hang in there and know you will win at this game.  Don't be discouraged - every day you stick with the plan is a day of better health.

I hate plateaus.......they really test my patience!  I was stuck on a plateau for about 6 weeks....once it broke I've been consistently losing every week.  I only have 7.7 lbs to goal and this week I lost 1.2 (more than expected)....at this stage I'm very happy with anything around 1 lb!!

The best advice I can give you is stick to your plan.........I used to drastically reduce calorie intake to get off the plateau or really ramp up exercise but I just confused my body..........once I stick to my plan I lose.

One thing to keep in mind, a body weighing 250+lbs needs more calories than a body weighing 200 so depending on how much weight you started at you might need to tweak your total intake a little bit (nothing drastic!).

Good luck getting off the plateau.

EDITED:  OOOPS forgot to include.........DRINK PLENTY OF WATER!!!!!!

 congrats on being so close to goal! that is awesome! 

 Thanks ladies for your great advice and encouragement!

FelineMafia, that is excellent adivce about dealing with plateaus. No one likes to suffer through on but you have to just hold one and not let it get the better of you. The worst thing is to give up.

Skylar

Another thing you may want to think of is that your plateau may be caused by a temporary hormone imbalance.  Our fat cells contain estrogen and when we lose weight our estrogen levels can be thrown for a little loop.  It takes time for alla that to get it's act together, but it all gets straightened out in the end so hang in there and the evil hormones will get balanced out.

Mary