Not only did I lose weight while on the cruise, but that trend has continued in the week that I’ve been home. I am cautiously optimistic that my lengthy plateau might be over! Here’s what I think has happened. While on the cruise, it’s true that I averaged three to five thousand more steps in physical activity per day and that burned more calories. However, I also ate a greater variety of food items without increasing the volume. I think it’s entirely possible that some of my plateau problems happened because I got into a food rut.
Almost every day I start with a fruit and protein powder smoothie. At lunch I often have a small container of yogurt or soup. Dinner is usually a meat protein of some sort. Snacks might be nuts or an ounce of cheese or fruit. That’s probably more fruit with fruit sugars and fruit carbs than I should have in a day too. On the ship, because the variety was so easily accessible, I ate more veggies, eggs, and other protein types. Yes, I had some additional carbs, but didn’t overeat on them. So, looking back on my food plan, I think I thought I was eating a good, balanced plan, and it certainly worked like a champ for me for many months. I believe that my body might have gotten too used to the routine.
Going on the cruise shook up the food routine. Since I’ve been back, I’ve made an effort to increase my veggie intake, cut back on the fruits, and incorporate more protein and fiber from non-meat/non-dairy sources. I’ve also, of course, kept up with my exercise. This appears to be working and I’m down another couple of pounds. Booyah for me!
If I can continue to see progress over the next week, then I’ll really be positive that my plateau is over and I’m proceeding full speed ahead toward my goal weight. I’m in the position of truly being in the home stretch, at least when I think of how far I’ve already come. I would dearly love to knock off these last 35 pounds by sometime this summer!
Have any of you ever experienced a food rut? Does this sound like a possible explanation?
Weighty Matters 
Congrats on busting through your plateau! I look forward to celebrating your goal weight with you this summer. 🙂
I’ve never experienced it, but it makes sense to me. I’ve also heard, counter-intuitive as it may be, that briefly increasing carb intake (just for a day or two) can end a plateau–so maybe having some additional carbs did it? I don’t know, but I’m glad you’re losing again. I’m on a plateau but I have no one to blame but myself, so thanks for inspiring me to get back at it. 🙂
I read a rather alternative “diet” book once that suggested that when we eat the same things all the time, our body recognizes them as calories and doesn’t do anything special with them. But when we introduce new foods/flavors, our bodies don’t automatically process them in the same way because it is getting used to them. Yeah, weird, but I do think that making our bodies have to accommodate different types of calories is probably a good thing. Glad your changes are making a difference in your weight loss program!