Feel like giving up :(

[MonicaBingaling]

So since the end of April Ive worked really really hard to lose weight, and successfully lost 9 pounds which I’m really proud of.

However...

Last few weeks weight loss slowed down to 1 pound a week (which I kind of expected)

But

Since last 5 days the scales aren’t moving and I have been so good with my diet and exercise. I’m not due on my period and have just had ovulation so I’m wondering if it’s possible that ovulation has caused bloating?

It’s really disheartening as today and yesterday I’ve eaten so healthy (1300 calories) and my stomach is so huge! I’ve not eaten any bread or anything.

A typical day of healthy eating is

Breakfast: porridge
Lunch: 3 eggs scrambled on ryvita/ piece of fruit
Dinner: piece of steak and salad OR mushroom omelette

So I’m only really having carbs in the morning not rest of day and I’ve been power walking in the morning or doing an aerobic workout. Always do 10,000 steps minimum.

I honestly feel lik giving up. What am I doing wrong :(

Don't give up. Weight doesn't come off in a linier way unfortunately. Just stick with it I'm sure you'll have a drop soon. 9lb since the end of April is loads, that's only 26 days.

Don't give up, you sound like you're doing great! I reckon in a couple of days you'll reap the benefits of your hard work. Let us know!!

Sometimes when you have been restricted carbs it helps to have a day where u eat allot more, not cake or chocolate now but maybe brown rice with dinner. I know it doesn’t make sense but it may help. Could also be water retention. It’s so disheartening when you have been trying so hard but it’s well known on a carb restricted diet that you can plateau on week 3 or 4 which is right around where you are, weight loss picks up then again in 5 and 6. Have a look at the fast800 threads on here, I know ur not technically doing that but you are close enough. Push through OP and u will see the benefits

Watch a video on Instagram by jamessmithpt called Female Fat Loss (sorry, don't know how to link). A friend recommended it to me when I hit a plateau on week 4 and it really helped.
He talks about the Follicular phase and Luteal phase of a women’s menstrual cycle saying that progress should be measured in a 4 week cycle, not week by week. So much can change week by week that it’s hard to see progress sometimes. So week 1 measurements should be compared with week 1 the next time it comes round, not with week 2’s. Does that make sense? Then, if you’re consistent - which you have been, you’re going to see much more of a downward trend.

Don't give up! You can do it. Try a different approach like an 8 hour eating window every day, and then 16 hour fasting. Try different free work outs on you tube. Check out some yummy healthy recipes, like Joe Wicks ones. Try something different, but don't give up. You can do this!

Just reactivated my MN account to massively agree with @StarsandBellinis about the James Smith video on female fat loss - this, for me, was a game changer.

I’d have a couple of weeks being very strict with diet and exercise and then sometimes wouldn’t see the results I was expecting and then lose motivation. Now, I can track my cycle (I use the Fitbit app) and can compare it against my weight loss and can try to understand why some weeks were working better than others. Made a massive difference to me. Ovulation and my period have a real effect on my weight loss but I weigh every day and then look at the overall trends - this works for me better than comparing individual weeks.

Think he’s covered the same subject on his podcast too- definitely worth a listen:

podtail.com/en/podcast/the-james-smith-podcast/-6-fat-loss-for-females/

Good luck and keep going - you’re off to a great start!

Thanks everyone for your support and words of encouragement!

@StarsandBellinis and @Blackbirdinsilver I will check out that video. Tbh that theory makes a lot of sense as I know my weight goes up and down each month.

I have just tried to stay consistent despite the scales not doing what I want and I’m going to try and not give up.

It’s hard because what motivates me is seeing progress.

I’m just confused why I feel so bloated. I’ve been eating non bloating foods and not due on my period