First Plateau, very depressed. :(

Has anyone here ever hit a plateau before? Or even worse, actually gain while sticking to your diet? I hit a plateau last week and actually gained a pound this week, for the first time on my diet in 6 months. I know it's a normal thing, but I've heard horror stories of these things lasting MONTHS...to try to stop the plateau I tried calorie cycling for 2 days, I just went back on my diet again for this week so I am still quite scared I just won't lose again...

does anybody here have any special tips of their own to start losing again? also if anybody has been in the same pickle as me I could really use the support thanks!

For me it's usually stress related.

That's not a plateau. A plateau is when the scale doesn't move for over a month. You need to let your body catch up to what you're doing. You have done great so just relax, it's not a plateau. Keep doing what you're doing and you will see a loss.

I was in a plateau for about a month,,,i was eating right and exercising and nothing was happening. I was doing so well at first and when the scale did not move for weeks. I was getting depressed and felt like quitting. Everyone kept telling me to keep going, and eventually the scale would move again.

Well I didnt feel like it but I kept on eating right,,,but then I did something else. I DIDNT GO TO GYM FOR A WHOLE WEEK!! bad right? I kept eating right and keeping the calories and fat down. I didnt get on the scale for 2 more weeks.

I weighed in on Saturday morning and the scale is moving again.

So I will tell you !!! Dont give up, it will come. Try changing something in your routine. Change calories, or workout, or dont get on scale for 2 weeks.

Shia is right .. fluctuations during your weight loss are to be expected. Your body is adjusting to the decreased input of calories, and the increased burning of calories. As these adjustments are made, your body changes how much it actually needs to 'stay functioning'. Early on, when your body is used to using a LOT of calories to keep moving, when you cut back you see the weight loss immediately. Every time your body 'changes gears', you see a 'hiccup' where you don't lose weight for a week or two .. or even gain a few pounds. Don't get discouraged .. it's just your body adjusting to the new 'living conditions'. Once everything has settled down, and as long as you haven't diverged from your diet too drastically during this period, you should see the weight start dropping again .. albeit a little more slowly. When this happens, you may need to increase your activity level, or decrease your calorie consumption, but you'll probably already notice that you're not actually as hungry as you were before, because of the adjustment. Just don't give up .. ~Kaleb

I lost 5 lbs back in feb and then I was at a plateau, couldn't lose anything. I had cut down what I was eating, running 15 miles a week and was making healthier choices. I decided at the end of April I need to do something diff. I changed my workout. I found one in prevention magazine I liked and I started doing that. I lost 5 lbs. After a while I started gaining weight. I couldn't do the excerises 6 days a week b/c it was too stressful on my body, I couldn't walk without my legs shaking. So this month I signed up at curves and thus far I have lost another few lbs. I remember when I was signed up at a gym they would change my workout routine every 6 to 8 weeks. The point of that was b/c your body gets used to the workouts you are doing. Basically every month or two if you change it up, you work new muscles, in new ways and it keeps the weight loss process going on. When your body gets used to doing the same thing, then you can't lose anymore weight. I think that is why curves is only good for about 6 months then after that it is just for maintaining your weight. I hope this helps!

I'm on a plateau now myself...and I am exercising more. From what I am told, the body goes through a stall to adjust to drastic lifestyle changes. It's temporary...but not any less frustrating.

Don't get discouraged. I know I'm trying not to be myself.