Stuck, stuck, stuck. Any advice?

[TooSpotty]

I've lost three stone, mostly through low-GI eating, cutting portion size, cutting snacking, binning comfort eating, and eating no sugar. And now I'm stuck. For the past two months my weight has stayed the same, going up and down by about 2/3lbs. I have another 2-2.5 stone to lose. I have tried cutting down on red wine, my only remaining vice, but nothing has changed. I've upped my exercise level, which had dropped a bit from an initial 5 classes a week when I went back to work, and am averaging 3 hours of vigorous exercise a week plus the usual stair climbing type stuff.

Any ideas? I can't be stuck here forever.

[mrscardigan]

Hi, me too.

I've been following low Gi since January and have lost nearly a stone. Mostly cutting out carbs - breads, cake, biscuits, white pasta, rice.

Now I have only four or five pounds to lose I cannot seem to shift them! I feel stuck too. Exercise five/six times a week.

I too like the odd glass of red wine....only vice.

Does this just happen? Should I try another diet for a few weeks (big holiday coming up at the end of July)? Would like to lose those few pounds by then.

Feel so disillusioned as weight loss has been very slow despite being very good.

[TooSpotty]

I've also had slow weight loss, MrsC, but told myself it was sustainable. I don't feel as if I could ever go back to my old way of eating so I hope to keep the weight off.

But I am getting so despondent that week after week the scales don't move and I am being a food angel. I have health reasons for wanting to lose the weight and I'm getting pretty depressed that I'm stuck.

[TooSpotty]

Does no one have any suggestions? I am actually thinking of seeing my GP as I can see no reason why I'm not losing weight!

[StandsOnGoldenSands]

This is totally unscientific but I think sometimes your body just needs to pause for a bit and adjust to the new 'normal' iyswim.
Counter intuitive but can you ease off for a month or so and then try again ?

[lettertoherms]

Trying eating a little more? Especially if you're increasing your exercise. Your metabolism may have adjusted to hold onto every bit of what you're taking in. Add a few more healthy snacks per day, at least for a few weeks.

And good job losing three stone!

[CrumblyMumbly]

I write down everything I eat. Would it help to post your average day food diary here? Are you drinking plenty of water (not wine!). I know it's frustrating but you've done so well - keep plugging away.

[TooSpotty]

Hurray! Some ideas.

I did shake myself off a previous plateau by easing up on the exercise actually, but I don't feel like I'm doing enough now for that to make enough difference.

I might try adding in some nuts as snacks. And maybe some cheese. But I really don't get hungry between meals so it doesn't occur to me.

Yesterday's food was:

Breakfast: 1 egg, scrambled

Lunch: tuna Niçoise salad (little tub from work canteen - tuna, leaves, green beans, tomato, sun-dried tomato, new potato)

Dinner: we went out for a family celebration so I had squid with chillies, a slice of bread, and baked aubergine with ham and cheese. The night before, which is more representative, was a mince, egg and aubergine dish with spices, and a salad with leaves and cucumber.

I drink about 2 litres of water if I'm at home all day but that can drop when I'm busy at work so I need to think about that. I only have wine twice a week.

[Foreversara1]

Hey everyone, i am a mum of 2, work full time and live an active life. I piled on the pounds after my second child which made me so conscious about how i looked and always worse baggy clothes to hide them rolls. i didnt eat unhealthly but will admit chocolate and crisps played a big part in my diet.
A friend of mine introduced me to a 9 day cleanse which kick starts a healthier you. the benefits she sold to me were

• more energy
  
• better skin, hair and nails
  
• clears out all the toxins our body stores from out diets
  
• aids digestion
  

which are all great but one of the other benefits is that this cleanse can lead to weightloss but its not guaranteed ! were her words.

so i took the bull by the horns as they say and got one. it was pretty tough going for the first couple of days but from day 3 i was feeling full of energy and better in myself. People were also noticing a difference in me and how i looked
By day 9 i felt amazing !!! so full of energy, my skin looked great my hair was great and more and more people were commenting on my appearance too.
when i weighed myself i had lost 8LBS in 9 days !!!!!!! i had gone from a full 12/14 with HUGE muffin tops hanging over my pants to an extremely comfy 10/12.

My partner was amazed in how great i looked !!! he went out and got one too
4 weeks on i have lost a further 2lbs and im still eating better, with the occasional treat thrown in too

[TooSpotty]

Hi Sara. A kind suggestion but if you read the OP it's not really relevant. Good luck selling your cleanse though.

[TooSpotty]

After lots of reading I'm starting the Paleo Whole 30 on Momday. Wish me luck!

[Tansie]

Keep us posted- I'm keen to see if it helps with your plateau- I hope so! It's so depressing when the weight just hangs in there, especially when you watch your thin work colleagues scarfing down doughnuts, lattes, pies; whereas there you are with your virtuous little salad and water!

[TooSpotty]

Oh, I know. I went on a training course last week and everyone but me had a chocolate bar in the afternoon.

Anyway, you're not meant to weigh yourself on Whole30 but I have, and a week in I have lost 7lbs. So I've budged something! I also went shopping and bought things in size 14 and 12 - I was a size 20 this time last year.

[Lostforaname]

I've finished the Whole30. What a slog. Too restrictive for me but bearable for a short period. BUT I've lost about 18lbs in a month. My BMI is just 25. So worth it for that.

I'm off for a yoghurt. Blissful dairy, come to me!

[scouseontheinside]

Spotty it sounds like you need to be eating more protein. You need to put more fuel into your body, especially if you are upping the exercise.

What sort of exercise are you doing? Do you know about HIIT? That's the best type for fat burning. Combined with the right diet it all slides off!

[TooSpotty]

Hello! Whole30 finished here too. Thinner and less interested in sugar than ever before.

I do interval training twice a week normally although work has been a nightmare recently so have only managed once.

I'm 10lbs off goal now so am going to relax a bit over the summer and then do a Bootcamp in the autumn, which will be very proteiny!