Weight loss plateau

[LilithWiser1979]

I've been on LE since the last week of December, and slowly tightening up/becoming stricter. I've lost 9 lbs total, and I've got the weight to lose, so I thought I would be able to drop a bunch before my March 20ish attempt, but I've been at a 9 lb loss for about 2 weeks now. I'm 5'1" and 146 lbs, and I've been working out for an hour a day everyday since January 31st. I'm on the lower end of LE calorie intake, (never below 1200 calories, though) and I'm skipping breakfast ad taking chitosan before lunch and metamucil before dinner. Also, I have 1-3 alcoholic drink per night and 2-3 cups of coffee in the mornings.

I have almost completely quit sugar, not because it's not allowed or bad for my sway (I know it's fine) but because I'm filling up on the things I need/am craving and there just isn't caloric room for sweets. It also means that I'm avoiding what I have dubbed "the slam" or mega-sugar crash that SUCKS after eating sweets.

I have been eating vegan bacon and vegetarian chicken nuggets to satisfy my cravings for meats, and adding in more avocado and bananas because I was often low on protein and potassium. I'm not cutting back on salt because I have issues with fainting and low blood pressure.

Am I just being impatient with my weight loss, or is there something I should be tweaking to start it back up again? I'm just getting frustrated

[dreamingofwin]

I keep finding this and then it comes off again. I am 5ft 2 and 128lbs. I was doing the hour of exercise but have had to drop it as I have injured my back

I have found my weight loss has really slowed down since then. I have even gained this weekend as I have been comfort eating due to my back.

I think if you stick at it, it will start to drop off again. I honestly found that the odd cheat kick started my weight loss again. I was being v v strict all week then treating myself to some sweets at the weekend then id find that mon id lost weight again. Strange but true!

I am naughty though and often dont reach the LE limits x

[atomic sagebrush]

Clarify something for me - is this 1200 calories including 1-3 alcoholic drinks a day??

[atomic sagebrush]

I keep finding this and then it comes off again. I am 5ft 2 and 128lbs. I was doing the hour of exercise but have had to drop it as I have injured my back

I have found my weight loss has really slowed down since then. I have even gained this weekend as I have been comfort eating due to my back.

I think if you stick at it, it will start to drop off again. I honestly found that the odd cheat kick started my weight loss again. I was being v v strict all week then treating myself to some sweets at the weekend then id find that mon id lost weight again. Strange but true!

I am naughty though and often dont reach the LE limits x

You MUST reach the lower limits. If you go over on the upper limits, no big thing, but the lower limist are there for your safety and that of your unborn child. If you don't hit the lower limits, it is not LE Diet, it is a starvation diet and that is not allowed.

[carmella_marie]

If you're only hitting 1200 calories your body may go into "starvation mode" and do everything I'm it's power not to lose weight. Bump up to 1500 cals and you might start losing again. Crazy I know but that's what happened to me.

[Rosie85]

Okay I have to confess something here. I have noticed now only because of my fitness pal. There is no way that I was ever eating over 1200 calories prior to my dieting except on days where we ate out or grabbed food to go. I feel like I am stuffing my face right now honestly and it is gross and I have a HARD time getting to 1000 calories some days and it is all normal meals that I always ate and just didn't know. So what now?! I really really struggle to get more calories without having the fat go way way too high because those calories if I got them before it was from snacking...on junk full of fat. I have no clue how to get enough calories and eat only two meals and not want to barf all over the place.

[LilithWiser1979]

I am doing 1200-1500 calories including alcohol. If it's 1200 calories, I had one drink. Three is on the weekend when I binge and hit closer to 1500. Yeah, I had a hard time hitting minimums for protein and potassium before, but now I have it under control.

[ThinkPink2014]

Question about vegan supplementary foods (might be useful to others hopefully):

Atomic, what are your thoughts on vegan protein powder shakes? Turns out my nursing baby is also allergic to avocado and coconut so I need to eliminate that too (I'm also gluten, dairy, egg free). I found this one online: Sunwarrior - Warrior Blend Vanilla - 35.2 oz (2.2lbs) 1kg

Wasn't sure what to make of its nutritional profile.

Thanks!

[Rosie85]

I have a friend that was drinking tons of nutritional shakes and eating super healthy and such but she was also losing weight and exercising. She just found out she is having a girl today. So even with all the supplements and super nutritious eating, for her the exercise and weight loss may have swayed enough anyway. hard to tell for sure.

[luvmykiddies]

Rosie, have you tried drinking some full-sugar fizzy drink or a couple of glasses of wine with your meals to reach your calorie intake? If you're reaching your fat + protein levels and just need the extra calories, I've found that adding a can of coke or a few glasses of wine helps me bump my calories up without other stuff going over.