Has anyone hit a plateau with weightloss and struggling to find the motivation to continue?

[MissRead]

I have been doing WW for just over a year and have lost 2.5 stone which I am really pleased about. Trouble is, to get to goal I need to lose roughly the same again and I just can't get motivated - all the things that were spurring me on in the first place are more or less sorted. I can now fit into most of the clothes I want and can buy clothes easily from the high street rather than being limited to places that sell size 18s. People comment all the time on how fab I look, I no longer hate photos of myself and I feel better and more confident in general.

But I do know that I need to do this to be healthy and also I want to because I have tried and failed so many times in the past. It's just so hard without a clear goal ahead of me. I am too old now to start wearing miniskirts and croptops and am unlikely to go near a bikini even if I do hit goal so the clothes thing which was a big incentive for me is not really there any more - in fact I am fed up (after the initial thrill) of having to buy new clothes because nothing fits me, not sure if I can afford to buy yet more stuff if I get any thinner.

I am tired of tracking and thinking about every mouthful but I know if I stop I am likely to put it all back on again. At the moment I am maintaining but I need to decide whether I am going to try and go for goal and if so, I need a new incentive to make it all seem worthwhile.

Any ideas or inspiration anyone?

Can you exercise? If so, how about setting a goal for a 5k/10k run, or a mini triathlon? Give yourself 6 months to build up to it and you may even find you'll want to do it all over again .

If you stick to the WW diet and don't "treat" yourself for exercise then the weight will continue to fall off.

However, especially in the earlier stages, your weight may actually increase due to your muscles retaining more water. Instead, focus on measurements - you might gain 2-3 pounds one week but lose 1-2 inches around your waist.

Part of me thinks that if you are now comfortable in yourself then don't worry about losing more weight. Instead, just try maintaining it. Allow yourself the occasional treat without feeling guilty, just don't over-indulge. Can I ask who set the overall weight loss goal and why that weight?

WRT weight loss for your helath, it has been proven that just losing 10% of your body weight can drastically reduce the chances of developing weight-related health issues.

Also, don't lose sight of the fact you have lost 2.5 st. That is an amazing achievement!

I definitely do need to build in some exercise, I know that.

Part of me thinks that if you are now comfortable in yourself then don't worry about losing more weight. This is exactly how I feel but I know I am still overweight and that the target WW have set me is probably what I need to aim for to be healthy.

It's true that what I've lost so far will have helped a lot but I think for health if nothing else I should carry on - it's just that's not a very exciting incentive although of course it should be more important to me than fitting into new clothes!

Would it help to have a change of diet. I lost just over 2 stone on SW in about 3/4 months earlier this year and then stuck for 4 months, despite being firmly on plan.... I switched to Dukan diet about a month ago and I am now another 12lb down. It is completely different food so its a bit of a change - and I feel motivated again now I am losing weight. Might be worth thinking about?

If you are thinking of doing some exercise see if you qualify for a GP exercise referral. I have done a 16 week course because of my asthma...and would really recommend it to anyone.

Well done on the 2.5 stone!

To be honest I think that would be worse - I'd have to learn a whole new programme which would just mean I was thinking about food even more! WW does work well for me, it's just dieting in general I am fed up with. I know it's meant to become a way of life but I'm not quite feeling that, or at least it's a way of life I am still rebelling against!

The exercise thing sounds interesting, what was your course like?

I agree that a change of diet plus an event to focus on in the way to go.

I started off doing tesco diets totals plan (I guess similar to WW), and although I lost 2 stone quite quickly I reached a plateau and lost motivation. I then went low carb (initially dukan and the south beach diet) and I signed up for a triathlon.

IMO weightwatchers is not really sustainable and you don't really change what you eat you just need to change portion sizes, it also encourages you to eat low pointed crap food. I'm not surprised you are bored with it.

The advantage of going lower carb is that I got back onto the lose 2lbs per week again which remotivated me. I also started 30 day shred. Now however my lower carb eating is my permanent way of eating. I have reintroduced fruit but my carb intake is much lower than it was even on tesco diets. And I went on to lose another almost 2 stone, taking me a stone under my original target, and I have been maintaining it now since June.

I do log everything on myfitnesspal, but on dukan there isn't any measuring and very little to "learn". I then read all the other lower carb diet books, and what I do now is my own thing (not strict dukan) but it worked for me. You might find pig to twig works for you - and its a very motivating read. I also liked the Adore Yourself Self Slim book as it has a CD including a track on plateaus.

I think the GP exercise referral varies from area to area.

I had to attend 2 sessions per week from a very varied timetable of classes which included aqua aerobics, nordic walking, zumba, a gym session, cycling, circuits - so something for all levels. I ended up doing mostly Easyline circuits because I was working and the class times suited me - but I did try lots of other things that I wouldnt have otherwise.

It cost me £1 per session - and at the end of it I could have had a reduced priced monthly membership at the council gym.

I have recommended it to loads of people because its a great way to get into exercise - you have a person allocated to you to oversee it if you need it and the classes are attended by people at a similar level rather than being superfit waifs lol!

In our area you couldnt get it for weight loss you had to have a qualifying medical condition - but in some areas I think you can. Its well worth asking about! Good luck.