The MakeMeThinner Support Forum

[Serendipity]

I had a request from someone to explain how my weight loss has gone and to describe my plateaus. I thought that maybe if I posted the results here, we could begin to understand as a group that plateaus are a fact of life and the plateaus don't prevent us from success. Before you read this, remember that there is no basis for comparison between two people losing weight because we are all different. I think you will see that I could have gotten discouraged plenty of times, but I didn't....not even once, because I realized early on that this is just how weight loss works. If I did begin to question, I just went to my averages.....they have always been right on track and always encourage me to go on.

First, here are some stats:

- Started at 276 on October 15, 2005
- Been on 5&1 program without cheats for 9 months tomorrow
- Total loss to date - 105 lbs.
- Average monthly loss - 11.7 lbs.
- Average weekly loss - 2.72 lbs.
- Projected weight in 4 weeks - 162
- Projected weight in 12 weeks - 144

I have had 20 plateaus of 5 days or more.
I have had 7 plateaus of 10 days or more.
I have had at least 1 plateau a month, usually 2.
Usually after a plateau, the weight loss is only 1-2 pounds.

Following is my weight loss log. Sorry it's kind of long, but I've been at this for awhile, lol.

October 2005
15 - 276
16 – 269
18 – 266
19 – 264
21 – 265
25 – 262
31 – 260 – (six days no loss)

November
03 – 258
14 – 255.5 – (11 days no loss)
15 – 255
17 – 254.5
18 - 254
21 – 252
23 – 251
25 – 249.5
28 – 247

December
01 – 246.5
07 – 245.5 – (Seven days no loss, then 1 lb. loss)
08 – 243
18 – 241 – (10 days no loss, then 2 lb. loss)
19 – 240.5
22 – 240
25 – 238.5
28 – 236
31 – 235

January
01 – 234
12 – 231 (No loss 11 days, then 3 lb. loss)
13 – 230
23 – 229 (no loss for 10 days, then 1 lb.)
24 – 227
27 – 225

February
04 – 224 (no loss for 7 days, then 1 lb.)
05 – 223
06 – 222
09 – 221
13 – 219
24 – 218 (no loss for 9 days, then 1 lb.)
25 – 216

March
01 – 215
03 – 214
07 – 212
17 – 211 (10 days no loss, then 1 lb)
19 - 210
23 – 208
26 – 207
28 – 206
31 – 205

April
07 – 203 (7 days no loss, then 2 lbs)
13 – 200 (6 days no loss, then 3 lbs.)
15 – 199
27 – 198 (12 days no loss, then 1 lb.)
28 – 197
29 – 196
30 – 195

May
08 – 194 (8 days no loss, then 1 lb.)
09 – 193
14 – 191 (5 days between losses)
19 – 189 (5 days between losses)
24 – 188 (5 days between losses)
25 – 187
28 – 186
30 – 184

June
06 – 183 (7 days no loss, then 1 lb.)
11 – 182 (5 days between losses)
13 – 180
22 – 178 (9 days between losses)

July
03 – 175 (11 days no loss, then 3 lbs)
06 – 173
11 – 172 (5 days between losses)
12 – 171

[jump4joy]

Very interesting and informative, Jo! Glad you shared. Forgive me for asking since I'm sure you've told us already, but are you on the Complete or the 5 & 1 Plan?

Joy

[Arklahoma]

Thanks for sharing this info, Jo. I think many people will find this beneficial.

[Serendipity]

Very interesting and informative, Jo! Glad you shared. Forgive me for asking since I'm sure you've told us already, but are you on the Complete or the 5 & 1 Plan?

Joy

The 5&1 plan. I edited my above post to show that, thanks.

[SharonR]

Jo is a true model of how to stick to the plan through thick and thin and I'm sure she would tell anyone and everyone that it's so worth it.

Thanks Jo,

Sharon

[jump4joy]

Also, your post has inspired me to not get so hung up on the scale and the plateaus that have frustrated me in the past. Thanks again!

Joy

[BoPeep1]

Thank you SO much Jo. I plateau all the time (seems like every other week), and I thought something was wrong with my body. Now I see that it's not just me!

[sidrah]

I have not had the mindset to see it as a problem exactly, jsut one of the stepping stones. I am sure people will benefit from this timely endeavor you haev presented. Might make people track their own a little more closely to observe patterns.

[Karli]

WOW, Jo. Your post is amazing !! Thanks for putting this all together and sharing it. Very informative and inspiring.

Thanks again,
Karli

[Aerie]

Great post and one I'm sure I will return to again and again for stength when I'm getting frustrated. Thanks for your effort in putting it all down for us.

[JKSRN]

Thank you for your great post, Jo!

I think that patience is the most important attribute we can utilize when a plateau hits us. Like you, Jo, I never worry, and I just ride it out. I read your posts for their sage advice(and, for your dry sense of humor, too)! Like you, I have never cheated on MF, thusfar, and I hope that I can maintain this record.

There are several wonderful 'inspirations' on this forum and you are right up there at the top!! To you, I say 'Thank You"!

Joan

[Rachel]

Jo I have a question. Was exercise in the picture? Did you always do it or start later? If yes, what did you do?

Thanks!

[Serendipity]

Rachel,

I didn't exercise for the first 2 months. Then I began going to Curves 3 times/week. In addition to that, I'm much more active in general and I also take walks, ride my bike, garden. Occasionally, I use a "Walk away the Pounds" DVD, but not often. I've been careful not to over exert.

When I first started at Curves, I thought it effected my weight loss, but really I don't think exercise has had much effect either way.

[mousehouse62]

Jo,
Thanks for all that info on your gains and losses. After I kicked myself, I read your post and I am feeling better already.....i know this process is so worth it for both my husband and myself and ya know, if I didnt make the ocassional mistake, then I wouldnt be who I am. I feel so great about this board of folks who push each other on. I was talking to one of the D.C.'s in our office and he stated to me "if you can see the number on the scale in your mind, then you have a goal to work towards." So, I can see the number, I just must stick with the number and "Go for it"!!!!
Thanks again Jo....

[Prancer]

So Jo what keeps you strong? How do you not get discouraged when you have gone 10+ days with no change? I know now you probably have hindsight on your side but when you first started what made you stick it out?