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Original poster

So bloody annoyed that I can't lose more weight. Any tips?

78 replies

Sweetpeaa · 31/07/2022 22:07

I've lost 2 stone 2lbs over the past 4 months. And now? I'm at a standstill which isn't good enough as I still have 21lbs to lose to achieve a normal BMI, it's currently 28 so I am still overweight and these are not vanity pounds!

However I've not lost a lb over the last 3 weeks or so. Just at a standstill. How on earth can I get this moving again?

I exercise daily. 45 mins of swimming and a 5K walk usually. I play badminton once a week. I cannot run due to a foot injury and I can't lift weights due to a shoulder pull but I feel I am active enough

I eat a plant based diet. A typical day would be

Breakfast - porridge with chia seeds and berries, soya yogurt. Maybe a green smoothie or a bircher

Lunch - quinoa salad or lentils or baked feta , veg etc

Dinner - tofu stir fry, burrito bowl, roasted veg with a protein source

Snacks are usually a few nuts or a piece of fruit or hummus

I don't drink alcohol and I don't 'take days off.' I eat low ish sugar and want to be a fad free as possible. I know the diet works as I've lost over 2 stone in 16 weeks

So WHY am I now stalling? I honestly can't up my exercise and I can't see what I can cut out of my diet. Portions are 'normal.' I'm not super sizing or anything

Is it just me being impatient?

I got so cross about it last week that I ate 3 magnums. That'll show me who's boss eh?

Anyway, I drew a line under that and just carried on as normal but I am at a loss as to what to do now to get the weight moving again

Any advice please?

OP posts:
Gingerella55 · 01/08/2022 07:13

I don't have any great advice OP , just came on to say I think you eat an incredibly healthy diet and you do a lot of exercise. I can't believe that people are picking holes in what you are doing. I have never done that much exercise in my life.

I think it's quite common for the weight loss to stall, it so disheartening isn't it.

The only think that MIGHT help is fasting. There are various options, depending on your lifestyle. I try to fast between 6pm and 12md but can only do this on my days off or when I am working certain shifts. It used to be really effective but like you my weight loss stalled after a while.

Good luck and try not to give up.

Gingerella55 · 01/08/2022 07:16

So sorry just read your post about not wanting to do fasting. Ignore that advice then.

Queenoftheashes · 01/08/2022 07:21

It’s just a plateau OP and it’s normal. I’ll lose weight in month one and won’t lose anything in month two tracking the same calories. Nuts are good for you, associates with lower weights, and you don’t use all the calories in them. I’d just carry on as you are really and expect to see the losses pick up again. Swimming every day is extremely good exercise. You don’t need to keep savagely cutting food you’ll end up starving and then needing to eat a lot more.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

Exercise & fitness Fitness Weight management
Sammysquiz · 01/08/2022 07:27

Your diet and activity levels are great! A plateau is very normal, weight loss isn’t linear. Keep going!

Mybeautifulfriend22 · 01/08/2022 07:30

I agree it’s a plateau you’ve done amazing: if what you’ve been doing works I’d keep going a while longer before making rash changes. I understand not wanting to get obsessed about calories or fads. I’d also be wary of cutting out the high cal protein’s some suggested as you are veggie and need that source. But good to be mindful.

I notice my body sometimes seems to get used to the same old exercise routine. So maybe mix that up. I sometimes just have a break for a week or add in something different. You tube is great for free workouts/ideas.

I think upping your heart rate is important too. For health more than anything.

Gingerella55 · 01/08/2022 07:36

I got so cross about it last week that I ate 3 magnums. That'll show me who's boss eh?

3 magnums? Sound like heaven to me 😁😁

FlowerArranger · 01/08/2022 07:44

@Sweetpeaa - you seem very active, but maybe you need to increase the intensity of what you do. Why not try some HIIT and cardio exercises? Growingannanas on YouTube has loads of excellent HIIT workouts. Most just use bodyweight, though there are some using weights as well. Do them at your own pace to begin with and see how you get on!

BitOutOfPractice · 01/08/2022 07:45

How old are you op? I’m doing what I’ve always done (eat less move more) and now I’m menopausal it’s much much harder to get the weight to shift.

Oneearringlost · 01/08/2022 07:52

Well done OP.
I dèply admire your approach to weight loss and I believe you will succeed. Having been a cyclical starver/obsessive calories counter etc..I can only admire your approach.
As someone with a sedentary lifestyle, I also admire your exercise. Swimming, walking 5k daily and babminton?
Sorry. Nothing helpful to add to kick-start your weightless, just wanted to offer my admiration. Don't give up, you've come so far, and integrated it so well as an achievable lifestyle change.
I'm sending you energy and optimism!

WeAreTheHeroes · 01/08/2022 07:58

@TheOrigRights - neither we nor the OP know how many calories she is consuming. The meals sound healthy but without knowing the calorific values there's no way of gauging portion size. No doubt she's consuming fewer calories than before or she wouldn't have lost weight. Weight loss is something like 90% what you eat and 10% exercise. The OP is probably now at the level where her calorie intake is what is needed for maintenance so a few tweaks should get things moving again.

Gingerella55 · 01/08/2022 08:09

Because if its only 5k that's a very sedentary lifestyle.

??????

Gingerella55 · 01/08/2022 08:15

Have you started/ stopped/changed any medication recently OP?

When I came off the pill last year my weight shot up. Absolutely no changes to diet or lifestyle, it was purely hormonal. I now consume about half the calories I used to and I am still big.

So depressing, I always thought that the pill made you gain weight. I naively thought my weight would drop off me when I stopped it!! How stupid was I?!

ToastedCrumpetwithCheese · 01/08/2022 08:22

Thing is, when you started, your exercise intensity was probably fine (if like me, you were overweight and unfit). Of course as time goes on, you get fitter and need to also increase the exercise intensity. A good personal trainer will be able to help with that around your current injuries.

ToastedCrumpetwithCheese · 01/08/2022 08:23

Oh and well done, sounds like you've made a brilliant effort so huge congratulations.

Silvernecklace · 01/08/2022 08:30

Has anyone mentioned iodine rich foods yet? If your iodine levels are low then your thyroid might be slightly sluggish. It's easy to Google these foods. Kelp supplements are a good source if the foods are not an option.

SimonaRazowska · 01/08/2022 08:37

Apparently the older women get, the way to stay slim is to up the protein (and exercise) and less carbs

i am trying to consciously eat more protein and fewer carbs. It’s the way forward. Harder when you are veggie

sounds like you are largely on the right track already 💪

SimonaRazowska · 01/08/2022 08:39

Am not saying low carb btw

just a slight tweaking

Original poster
Sweetpeaa · 01/08/2022 08:40

Thanks for all the advice, some of which I will be taking on board, starting today

I don't have any thyroid issues or anything like that. Don't need a personal trainer although it's a great suggestion. .. I fell down the stairs the other month and broke my foot and crushed my shoulder. Both are healing just fine but , for now, I can't run or consider gym work.

I'm happy with a walk each day and swimming and my once a week badminton - the badminton can't be upped yet due to my foot and shoulder still healing . I'm will be increasing the intensity though so that was good advice

Food wise I'll continue as I am with some tweaks. I can see I'm perhaps having a few too many nuts so I will reduce those by a third

And being realistic, I have to accept that losing 4 stone cannot happen rapidly unless I juice fast or something mad. I've done ok to lose approaching 2.5 stone of it in 16 weeks so I'll stick to my plan of the total of 4 stone being off my November and i think this is relatively achievable if I just keep focus, her a bit breathless and just ensure my nut and cheese intake has a little shaved off it!

My portions are not big by the way to the few posters who mentioned it. They're mindful portions but enough to ensure I feel satisfied

@TheOrigRights thanks especially for your advice as it chimes a lot with me

OP posts:
Original poster
Sweetpeaa · 01/08/2022 08:42

@SimonaRazowska low carbing is hard when you're veggie i agree. It always seems such a soulless way to eat to me too. I know people love it but I can't eat a stir fry without noodles Grin

All I do is ensure I just eat carbs once a day as a rule. So if I have a wholemeal roll for lunch, I won't eat noodles for dinner for example.

OP posts:
Elsiid · 01/08/2022 08:43

I couldn't eat cheese everyday and lose weight. It sticks to me.

I would just cut that out a few times a week and the nuts and I bet you'll start dropping again.

Original poster
Sweetpeaa · 01/08/2022 08:47

@Gingerella55 no I don't take any medication.

I'm firmly perimenopausal and I found myself saying ' oh it's SO much harder to lose weight now I'm older!'

I then decided to just act like I was on a weight loss plan as a 25 year old and not give a second thought to being peri. And lo and behold .. I lost the weight in exactly the same way anyone of any age might.

For me, I try and make excuses for myself as to why it'll be hard to lose but once I stopped doing that, it worked.

OP posts:
iloveorange · 01/08/2022 08:47

In all honesty, I think you should cut yourself some slack! I'm all for staying fit and healthy, and I disagree (to an extent) with the whole 'healthy at any size' thing that's going on as I don't think that's quite true, BUT it sounds like you are leading a very healthy lifestyle, eating very well and moving your body often enough.

Sure thing, you could do more and eat less, but at what cost? It sounds like you are starting to obsess over this now, and as someone with a history of disordered eating, let me tell you this: it ain't worth it.

Your body will self-regulate. It might also be that you are naturally larger and above 'a healthy BMI', which is a bit of a bullshit way of measuring health anyway. I know this is not what you want to hear, but not everyone's body can be thin unless they starve themselves.

TheOrigRights · 01/08/2022 08:54

Gingerella55 · 01/08/2022 08:09

Because if its only 5k that's a very sedentary lifestyle.

??????

5k walking is about 1/2 the minimum number of steps we are advised to do.

So 5k steps alone is indeed not very active, however OP has said she consciously goes for a 5k walk and it's in addition to her other steps (which do get to 10,000) so that's ok.

BeanieTeen · 01/08/2022 09:17

More intense exercise. With what you’re doing now you can easily maintain a good weight when you get to it, but for that final push you need to be getting a sweat on and be out of breath. Running is best I find - but spinning bikes are also good if you struggle with running.

spanishsummers · 01/08/2022 10:00

It may be worth lowering your portion size on one meal or even skipping the odd meal.