How do I break the plateau my body LIKES?

[Purple Sage]

My original goal was 150....I met that fairly easily and got down to 143...now my body seems to bounce, with no reason that I can find in my diet, from 143-150. It seems completely arbitrary. I would love to be 135 now, had kind of lowered my goal in my head to 135 and started back to induction January 1 and started exercising...being very strict with my food intake and watching fat as I climbed the rungs rather quickly....not only have I not lost anything, my body has bounced for 146 January 1 to 152 now after 3 wks of exercise.

Any advice here? I cannot seem to get below that 150 mark consistently. At 150 I am wearing 6s and some 4s comfortably...I am not displeased with my body and with the wt lifting it should firm up a bit so I will look better but my head wants to go to 135....what I was when I graduated high school. I am 5'5 1/2". I am within my healthy weight range. My doctor says I am at a good weight for my frame....my measurements are good as far as the ratio and heart risk factors etc...cholesterol low, BP low etc.

So I guess the real question is, when do you decide that this is where I stop losing and just be happy maintaining, which I have done for 8 months at this weight, or keep trying to tweak and get lower? I am not into fasts etc but I guess I could give it a try, just don't want to lose more that way and have it come right back you know?

Thanks in advance for any advice anyone can give me.

[higgies]

Good question! I got to the same point when I hit 195 or so. According to most things, my goal weight should be more like 175-185...but I have a larger frame, I could not lose below 195 and I actually looked ill at that weight. I determined I should actually gain some weight back and work more on fitness and toning than losing weight. You can still lose the fat and maintain the weight. Now my body is steady between 200-205 and I can't get below that...so I just work out, eat right, and maintain. You've done OWL, so you should have a lot of things back in your diet. So you're eating right for life!

[sallyseachange]

You mentioned you were watching your fat intake. Maybe that's the prob. Fat is your friend on Atkins and I find I do better with a little bit more rather than a little bit less... as long as you don't go overboard of course and always eat to satisfy your hunger only.

From your nice pic, you look to be at a perfect weight. Maybe this is where you should be and your body is telling you so.

[sillygirl]

Me too, my goal is 145 and I constantly hover 3-4 lbs +/-. Realistically, this is my body and I am getting used to it!

[kylie]

I was going to ask if you have had your body fat tested. I know there are/were goalies here that thought they were still 10-20 pounds away from goal, but when they had their body fat tested, they were on the low end of the healthy range so didn't need to lose any more realistically. I know it is hard because we get a number in our heads and want to go there - but think about how this WOE changes your body - for instance, I have just restarted and just recently got back under 200 pounds BUT I am SMALLER than I was at this same weight on the way up - especially through the midsection and below. You have lost an amazing amount of weight and look WONDERFUL - maybe a body fat # could be your goal instead of a number on the scale?? Congrats on your amazing success! You are a walking billboard for this WOE!

[Purple Sage]

I have had my body fat tested but I am not sure about it....I am suspicious by nature I guess, but I want a 2nd opinion. I went to do the Balley's free thing for discovery health and they did a body fat analysis, but the guy kept the calipers turned so I couldn't see them then said my body fat was 28 and that if I did their workout program they were setting up for me I should be around 23 in a month. Then at that time they try to talk you into joining the gym.....I am suspicious that it is not really that high and I want to get it done again to see what I find becuase I wonder if they are yanking me telling me it is high and then have a dramatic drop so I will feel like I HAVE to join the gym....KWIM?

I am going to get the body fat analysis at Walmart...some thing someone was telling me about, small measurer that fits in your pocket. I don't know how my BMI could be around 24 and my body fat so much higher, but guess it is possible.

I think the unhappiness I have wtih my body is just that I am not toned...I am working on that now with the gym....

Thanks for the responses....I don't watch my fat too carefully, just as the dr said, when we go up on rungs of the ladder we need to be a little more careful with the fat. I guess maybe my head is a little twisted up when the pictures we see of what is pretty are people like the Olson twins....popcicles you know? I have a hard time seeing myself as anything but 250 pounds still too.....

Keep the advice coming...thanks

[ValidRouge]

Hey Christa, I'm on a plateau too. I stay within about 7 lbs for the last ohhhh 7 months. There have been big changes in my body size wise though. I had my body fat tested at the gym at the college where I work and they said I'm 24% body fat. Now, my thighs still JIGGLE and they are fat fat fat...In my fat goggles. I'm just going to stay on plan and see what happens. As far as toning of your body, use a gym to do weight training. That will make HUGE differences in your body...and don't go for the low weight/high rep ideas. Go for high weight/low reps to build muscle. Women cannot bulk up like a man without taking sterioids...and instead you'll build nice sleek muscle that burns fat just because it exists. Plus it looks sexy.

[Kent]

I think it is natural to want a bit more. I started with 225 being my goal, but I have since chosen 220 and recently decided 215 might be a better final weight. The final pounds have not been nearly as responsive as the first 200-some pounds. Is it mental? Perhaps you breaking out of the maintaining mentality is a bit tougher than just doing the same old same old while the pounds were coming off the first time. I know I have been extremely lax in going to Fitday to put my food in. In the end, I chose like Higgies to pick a physical goal rather than focus on the weight. It is something that you can more easily demonstrate progress and be in control than convincing your body that you are no longer supposed to maintain this weight.

[sadie147]

I can sympathize, I'm in the same boat. Since reaching goal i struggle with 5-8 lbs that my body just seems to wanna hold on to. Unfortunately it's closer to 8 than 5 most months. it's been over a year sincei have seen mygoal weight number onthe scale. I've tried everything from counting calories, upping fat, going back to induction. Nothing.

I agree 100% with the weighlifting advice, It is the one thing i have not been consistent with..but was doing regularily when i was at goal. So i'm quite sure that's the issue.

[Fatalblue]

It's such a relief to hear that others have this problem. My goal is 120, I have not reached it yet but my scale hovers between 123 and 127. I know my goal could be lower since I'm between 5'3'' and 5'4'' and have a small frame but it seems like my body wants to stay in the 123-127 range. I hike weekly for exercise but recently have started a very basic "learn to run" program in hopes that it will give me an extra edge.
In terms of weight lifting you should expect your scale to go up as you gain muscle but your clothes should begin to fit better/looser and your measurements should go down.