Plateau's.....I've hit my biggest one, ever....

[Broken_Hero]

I've been losing weight since August of last year....I've been absent from this forum because I didn't want to post anything until I hit a "certain" mark/weight loss goal...but right now, I've hit/am dealing with the longest plateau of my life....

I've been the same weight since Xmas eve...

Before Xmas eve I was losing about 3-4lbs a week, and since then, I've been bouncing back and forth in my weight loss...usually ending up at my lowest weight(during this stretch) every friday, over the weekend gaining about 3lbs and by the next friday, I lose the exact same 3lbs....

The past two weeks, I have upped my exercise considerably....currently I'm riding my bike for 1hr and 20 minutes, around 23.7 miles...before hand, I was only doing an hour, around 18.4 miles....and I still haven't lost anything, in two weeks....and I'm still going through the 3-4lb bounce every week...

My diet has been the same, my activity level has been the same(except the past two weeks), but yet...this plateau is totally kicking me in the teeth...

Another odd thing, well I'll be honest...in August of last year I was 407, as of this past friday I was 347(same weight I was Xmas eve)...I'm down 60lbs...but the odd thing is, I'm in a size 48 pants...that is ODD in my book...a 48, I usually don't fit into those until I'm in the 320/330 range, but I'm in them currently. As a matter of fact I bought my first new pair of jeans in 5 yrs about two weeks ago, and they were 48's, and the fit perfectly(with room to spare, I think I can get into a 46!)...it strikes me odd, that I can fit into 48's....man, this plateau is totally sending my mind for a flip...by this time, I was hoping to be in the 330's at LEAST, but I'm still going between 347-352lbs....

I took a certain Duers advice(to shock my body by more exercise) and so far it isn't working, unless I REALLY have to shock it and start riding for 2hrs a day....but right now, the 1hr 20 minutes is totally putting me in my place....

I'm just frustrated as hell, hopefully I snap outta this soon! :D

[handmade34]

1. muscle weighs more than fat

could be a reason. I just got started trying to get back into shape and have been up and down many times in the past. Sometimes a bit of healthy change in your routine will jolt your body into acting. Don't get discouraged!

[Broken_Hero]

2. I thought it could be muscle

but that much? For that long? I had my wife measure me before I started this mess, and I haven't been measured since...I will probably have her measure me tomorrow, so I can see how many inches I've lost....

In august I had her measure me in my arms, chest, gut, waist, thighs, calves, arms, and hips....I did "think" it was muscle, for a while...at least the first few weeks of January, but for the plateau to last this long...I started to doubt it, and then I find out I'm in 48 jeans with room to spare...it might be muscle...I'll post some results tomorrow on the remeasuring process.

What do you mean a healthy change in my routine? More exercise, or cutting back on calories? Currently I'm on a 1400 cal a day diet...my bike states I burn about 155 calories(give or take a few) every 20 minutes I ride...so when I ride an hour I burn 465 calories, in 1hr 20 minutes I burn 620...

I have vitamin k/blood issues, so I don't eat greens at all, and my diet is primarily ham/bagel sandwiches, with bananas...I know bagels are high in carbs, but I don't see where the weight gain is coming from...it could be water, because I drink about a galllon and a half, or two a day...but I'm pissing most of it out(I believe)...the plateau is just sending me for a flip...usually plateau's last two weeks, sometimes three...but over two months...man, it messes with my brain pan.

[Lisa0825]

3. You are probably building muscle, but

if it is really a plateau, changing the exercises you do can help snap you out of it. Your body adapts to a wide variety of forces. Evolutionarily speaking, we were built to survive famines, so even though you know you need to lose weight, your body may have adapted to try to stop losing weight for survival. So changing your routines can snap your body out of that adapted state. If you always eat around 1400 calories, try a high calorie day to "confuse" your metabolism. Instead of riding the bike, try fast walking, especially on an incline, or a rowing machine, or some other variety.

Congrats on your progress so far!!! :yourock:

[handmade34]

4. yes, I agree that may work...

Peterscond, also sometimes alter the makeup of the food you eat, keeping the same calorie count. I know 1400 is not much, I try to keep around 1000/day and it ain't much food! I am a big proponent of keeping away from as much processing as possible. (I think that one of the reasons for the exploding diabetes rate is excessive altering of our food.) I am not long (2 weeks) on a renewed journey to get back into good health and my meals are cut oats with a few dates, brown rice, some beans, vegatables, tofu, plain non-fat yogurt and whole fruit. (I am vegetarian)

I took part in a study through the University of Vermont a number of years ago and lost 30 lbs. The study concluded that we need help/groups/support when we start this journey and also that it is merely calories and expenditure of calories that factor into how much you lose. "Work off more than you take in" but really we know our bodies fight it all the way. Keep Strong.

[Broken_Hero]

5. Well, a little update on this plateau of mine...its over

:D

As many of you know, I'm on warfarin a generic version of Coumadine, its an anti-coagulant. My INR's have been all over the map since January, usually very thin 3.0-4.5, which is super thin, the docs don't want me much over 3.0....

This past Wednesday, the doc and I were having a little palaver about why my blood was so thin. I know, that when I lose weight my dosage decreases, the doc stated he knows that, but the thinness shouldn't be so pronounced....

I also told him about my plateau...and he started asking me about what I was taking, if I was taking any vitamins/weight loss stuff...at first, I said no, I'm not taking anything...except...wait for it....I've been taking Ginko Biloba for my memory since, guess when...early January.

The Doc says that Ginko further increases the thinning of blood, which makes it even harder to lose weight(he states being on blood thinners makes it tough), and he told me, the Ginko was/is probably what has been slowing me down in that department.

So, to boot...I've been off Ginko since Wednesday, and wouldn't you know it....petersond is down 5 god damn lbs....343. I go in for another INR this coming Wed, and it should be right on target (knock on wood).



Its amazing how our bodies work, I never would've thought that Ginko would mess with me, it didn't even occur to me to consult my doc...lesson learned, lesson learned.

[Droopy]

6. Good going!

Our bodies sometimes have unique ways of dealing with medication, herbs, vitamins, and such. I'm glad you've gotten this sorted out. Here's to happy weight loss. :toast:

[justgamma]

7. So glad you worked it out.

You are doing fantastic. Keep it up!

[lavenderdiva]

8. thank goodness you figured out what was causing it

and got to the bottom of it. I had never heard that about gingko-- I'll just bet you're going to see a difference in your weight on Wednesday. Be sure to keep us posted! :hi:

[Broken_Hero]

9. Me neither

I didn't even think of it...:( Its not the first time, with my blood thinning INRs being all over the place...last time I got surprised, was finding out that Apples have moderate levels of vitamin K...and I was eating about 6-8 a day, and it made my blood levels extremely thick....

I had similar incidents with Cranberries, and Blueberries...the usual rule of thumb, is stay away from Leafy/dark green veggies...but there are some others(fruits) that have moderate/high levels that can send your INR scores, all over the place....

At least this situation is over with, I only got another another 93lbs to go....:D

[lavenderdiva]

10. you're going to get there!

I just know it!!! I never knew that about apples either, I eat one a day, so I guess that's OK. You're almost 40% of the way there-- that's HUGE!!!

the more you learn about what is affecting your plateau/weight loss, the better you're going to get, and the closer you're going to get to your goal. You're going to do it. I have confidence in you. :hug:

[Systematic Chaos]

11. Right on bro, I'm so happy for you!!

I never would have guessed about the ginko biloba either.