About Melissa Anderson Expertise I have a Bachelor`s degree in biochemistry, researched metabolism and endocrinology for four years, and am currently attending medical school. Ask me anything and everything relating to Atkins and other low-carb diet plans!
Experience I've been on Atkins since 2001 and I'm still going strong!
Education/Credentials Professionally, I have a Bachelor's degree in biochemistry, researched metabolism and endocrinology for four years, and am currently attending medical school.
Question -Female/40/5'4"/200lbs
-Counting calories. No more than 1200 calories per day.
-Exercise 60 minutes every other day on treadmill. I walk and run a total distance of 2.8 miles
-Thyroids
I have lost 29lbs since 11/13/2006 and I have been stuck on 200lbs for the past 4 weeks. I am getting very frustrated. I feel I have reached a plateau and need something to break under 200. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
thank you
Maddison
Answer Maddison,
Congratulations on your amazing weight loss! You are a true example of the RIGHT way to lose weight-count calories, exercise, and stay with it for the long haul.
Here are some plateau breakers to try:
1. Change the carb/protein/fat balance of your daily food. If you usually eat low-fat, then go high-fat, low carb for a few weeks. If you're usually low-carb, go higher-carb for a few weeks.
2. Vary calorie intake day to day. If you usually average 1200 calories, then eat 900 calories one day, 1500 the next, and keep alternating. The higher calorie days prevent your body from thinking you're starving.
3. Change/increase exercise. If you always use the treadmill, then you've trained those muscle groups to burn fewer calories. Add one day a week of non-treadmill exercise, or pump your arms up above your head while you're on the treadmill.
4. Start resistance training. An easy way to start is a videotape and a resistance band (like a giant rubber band with loops on the end). For every pound of muscle you gain, you'll burn 40 extra calories every day.
And finally, 4 weeks isn't really a long plateau at all. It's completely normal. If you get to 10-12 weeks, then it's time to really change your routine.
And finally, you can think about talking to your doctor about trying a diet drug temporarily. Diet drugs are reserved for people who have already proven that they can stick with a healthy eating and exercise plan in the long term. But it sounds like you've proved you can stick with it, so there are two main drugs that could help. The first is prescription only, and it is a stimulant/appetite supressant called Meridia. Meridia can cause several health problems, including high blood pressure and stroke, so your doctor needs to decide what your risk is. The other drug is over-the-counter, called Orlistat (Alli). This drug keeps you from absorbing fat. You have to eat a low-fat diet with Alli, and if you do eat too much fat, it causes severe diarrhea and leakage (incontinence). Alli can also cause vitamin deficiencies, because it keeps you from properly absorbing some vitamins. Talk to your doctor if you think you might want to try a diet drug for a month or so.
Good luck, and stay with it!
Melissa
