Why did my weight loss stall all of a suddenly?

Why did my weight loss stall all of a suddenly? I was 226 on January 1st. I started counting calories and working out 6 days a week. I do 45 minutes to an hour of cardio a day. I weight train twice a week. I am at 199 and I have been this weight for almost a week! Why. Why did I stop losing?

Best Answer - Chosen by Voters

It%26#039;s the dreaded plateau. You have to do something to push past it, like add a new type of exercise, something different, lop off a few more calories for a while. Also, water weight can be deceiving. One day you might lose 2 pounds in a day, and it will seem like it just came off, which you know isn%26#039;t possible. Your body is fighting against what it perceives to be starvation also, possibly. 50% 2 Votes

Other Answers (11)

• This will happen from time to time. What is probable going on is that you are changing from fat to muscle. You may also have to change you workout and diet. Your body has a tendency to get used to what you are doing and adapt to it.
  Sounds like you are off to a good start, don%26#039;t get discouraged. Turning into a man of steel takes time ;) 0% 0 Votes
• 5 Ways to Break a Weight Loss Plateau
  If you%26#039;ve ever tried to lose fat for any sustained period of time - you may have hit a plateau. You have changed nothing, but suddenly the fat no longer disappears. The human body is incredibly adaptive, and will do its level best to maintain equilibrium (homeostasis).
  
  The plateauing effect has to be the biggest motivation-killer there is. Unfortunately many popular diet books are strangely quiet on the issue -- I guess the concept doesn%26#039;t sell well.
  
  The best single word of advice is to make a change. Don%26#039;t make the mistake of doing the same thing over and over expecting a different result (Ben Franklin%26#039;s definition of insanity).
  
  What changes can you make?
  
  1. Zig-Zag Calorie Intake
  Zig-zagging, or calorie cycling is the process of varying daily calorie intake, while maintaining the same weekly intake. Instead of consuming (for example) precisely 1800 calories each day - you can mix it up. Eat 1500 calories one day, and 2100 calories the next. This can be as simple as halving then doubling a portion size, or adding a post-workout shake into the plan. Just keep your body guessing.
  
  2. Strength Training
  If you are not doing this as part of your program or lifestyle, then it%26#039;s time to start. Working your muscles will help to strengthen bone tissue, increase lean mass, and ultimately boost metabolic rate.
  
  3. Change Your Exercise Routine
  So you go walking a lot? Then try jogging, or swimming, or cycling -- anything that will change the way your body is working. If you are doing low intensity cardio work, then try some high intensity exercise (such as HIIT).
  
  4. Alter Macro-nutrient Intake
  Although it sounds complicated, once again, the idea is to change what you are eating. If (for example) you are eating a moderate diet that is higher in carbs - try eating less carbs and more protein. There is no need to get super-technical over the whole thing. If you have a carbohydrate snack every day at morning tea time - change it to a protein snack. Whatever you are doing consistently - try mixing it up a bit.
  
  5. Change Meal Frequency
  If you are eating three square meals a day - start adding snacks in between (which may mean reducing the portion size of the main meals). Eating often is an old and common style of eating - once again, you are trying to boost your metabolic rate.
  
  I know all that - What else is there?
  Some of us seem to have more adaptive bodies than others. I remember when I was eating a fairly rigid diet, having three strength training sessions per week, and as much as seven (often intense) cardio sessions a week. After 3-4 weeks - the fat simply stopped coming off. The frustration was enough to make me take my meal plans (stuck to the fridge), screw them up and throw them away in disgust. I was furious and disappointed. I felt that I was doing everything %26quot;right%26quot;. So what was the answer?
  
  Chill out and back off... I was becoming obsessional. I started eating more, and gradually reduced my cardio levels. I gave my body and mind a break. In the process I have learnt to eat more intuitively. Every person is unique, and we must learn how our individual body responds - and how to work with that. 25% 1 Vote
• It is harder and harder the lower you go. Like if you are at, just to make a good argument, say 60 pounds, it is going to be very hard to lose a pound but if you are at 400 pounds it is easy to lose one pound.Just stick in there and you can achieve the weight you want. 25% 1 Vote
• you are gaining muscle, probably losing the fat but gaining muscle, so thats a good thing 0% 0 Votes
• RB is right - you%26#039;re doing a lot of excercise, so you%26#039;re probably gaining muscle mass...keep going, it%26#039;ll take your body a week or so to get used to this and start losing again. 0% 0 Votes
• That is what happens- you lose weight at first and then you stay at that weight for about a week or two and then you will start losing again. Just keep it up. . .can you email me and tell me to how you lost that weight please? I have been trying for ever but im not losing anything. My mum%26#039;s a personal trainer. (But she doesn%26#039;t want me to lose any weight-she likes her %26quot;tubby baby%26quot; as she calls me) 0% 0 Votes