CYCLES in My Weight: Busting My Plateau Loop

Posted on November 10, 2014

16 days. I have been using DB for 16 days, and in that time I have lost as much as 6 pounds. TWICE. And then gone back up to near-starting-weight. TWICE. When I look at the weight chart on my DB profile, it looks like a long, really gradual letter "W"...two nice dipping valleys, with two spikes back up, over the course of the two weeks.

I am trying to understand what this cycle means, and how to break out of it.

I wouldn't be so concerned, were it not for the fact that I have been trapped in pretty much this EXACT spot for the last year or two. Having already lost 35 pounds or so during recent years, I am now only about 25 lbs from goal. And despite many different food plans and strategies, I have been bouncing around the 180's, unable to get below 180.

I am seeing the same pattern here on DB; in fact, this time, I am seeing much more clearly EXACTLY what is happening due to the chart function: I lose several pounds in just a few days, reaching the low 180s. Then suddenly I spring back up. This seems to repeat every WEEK.

What is it that is precipitating the bounce back up? Usually, it seems to be the result of eating out at a restaurant, even if I order healthy stuff, and do not "overdo" it. All week while I am losing, I am counting my cals accurately, and eating at home.

Then, over the weekend, I eat at a restaurant once or twice. I usally go over my cals, but not horribly so. Either way, I end up basically back where I started, weight-wise.

I am considering many things right now:

--Is weighing in DAILY helpful, or unhelpful? Yes, it is showing my patterns, but it is also making me obsessed and sometimes discouraged.

--Can I avoid restaurants until this challenge is over, or maybe for a month or so, just to give myself a head start busting this plateau?

--Is there some medical reason why my weight stays "stuck"? I do have PCOS...maybe this is hormonal?

Comment Now!

Trina

11/10/2014 8:44AM

I'm asking myself these same questions too. According to the Health magazines, they say it is not safe to weigh in daily but I've been doing it daily for my own curiosity and to make an unofficial weigh in update to my dietbet to keep me motivated.

I am struggling with going to the restaurants so something that I'm going to start doing before I go out is eat a healthy snack and drink a glass of water to fill up. This way, I am not showing up at the restaurant starving. Another helpful tip that I adopted from someone is ask the waitress for a to-go box when your food arrives. The portion sizes are typically huge so I will just cut it in half (out of sight, out of mind..er mouth).

Maybe switch up your workout routine and try something new? I'm curious about Zumba and thinking about checking out a class. I also started lifting weights (small ones) and kettlebelling lately and I surprisingly like it. Oh and the "W" on your chart just means that you are Wonderwoman & you can do it!

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Adrienne

Trina: thanks for the feedback...I especially like the "W for wonder-woman" bit :) Some good ideas here...i think you're right: splitting portions at restaurants may help me, and i agree with feeling torn about the "to-weigh-daily-or-NOT" issue :)

Trina

We got this!!

Adrienne

11/10/2014 4:34AM

Just looked again at my weight chart, and BOTH times that my weight has bounced back up, it has been IMMEDIATELY after a *weekend*...this shows me that it is a behavior: eating at restaurants over the weekend, salty/processed foods, eating over cals...anything that I am doing over the weekend, which I do NOT do during the week: *that* is what is causing the up-ticks :)

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