[GoingGoingGone]

I pretty much agree with the other posters, I just came in to give you an e-hug

Just don't give up. Try low carb, try juicing, try vegan, try south beach, try vlcd, I'd recommend you even look up good "jump-start" diets just to zap your body back into action, just don't give up. If your weight has you in a funk, giving up won't change anything. You'll give in, eat what you want, only to eventually decide you want to lose weight again, and be in the same place you are now.

-been there, done that.

[runningfromfat]

First off

I've finally, finally, FINALLY broken almost a 3 month plateau!

I lost a ton of inches in the process but this week I've been sick so I haven't been able to workout at all (I was doing heavy lifting before) and my eating has been eh (not like out of control but I haven't felt like cooking so probably more calories than usual). Yeah, so this morning though my scale finally dropped to 189lb. I was beyond thrilled. I think my body just need a break and hopefully now it gets back into the swing of things.

Why not try for one week eating at maitence + more soothing exercises (swimming, yoga etc) just to shake things up a little? Anyways, at the end of the day as long as you stay on your weight loss path THAT's what matters not the scale. Oh, and DO check your measurements!!! I've started keeping track of those during this period.

[curlysue82]

Hugs hang in there ....

[Nola Celeste]

Thank you all SO much. It means a great deal to me that I'm not alone in this miserable frustration, nor in feeling at a loss as to how to fix it.

I've gotten some phenomenal advice here; I think that a week-long break (NOT a week-long binge, haha!) from counting/monitoring/hand-wringing is what I'll try. A week of following the same dietary guidelines I've been following, but without pulling out the food scale or the bathroom scale sounds like something I can do. I'll even keep track of when the week begins so I don't let it turn into a longer stretch: "Oops, has it been a month and a half already? My, time flies!"

It also sounds like a gentler, kinder thing to do to myself than what I was thinking about last night, which was fasting for a few days. Seeing denial of food as a form of self-punishment for the "sin" of failing to lose weight quickly enough to suit me is emphatically unhealthy. The fact that it was starting to seem appealing to me is appalling to me. If I could successfully punish myself thin, I'd have been slim for a while.

It has definitely gotten warmer here--in New Orleans, summer has arrived already--and one thing I have slacked off with slightly is my water consumption. Thanks for reminding me that it's even more important when the weather gets warm.

SO! I've written it on my dry-erase board, my calendar, and a Post-It on my computer: "Diet Break Ends June 5!" Until then, no counting, no weighing of food or of myself, no going overboard, just taking my first real break since I started. Even if it doesn't break the plateau, I think it'll restore my ability to deal with it with equanimity instead of *****iness and tears.

My poor husband; he has suffered so over the last week. He'll be happy to hear of the Big Break.

Thanks again, folks. I could never have imagined how important the support, advice, and expertise I find here is to success. Love y'all!

[Marmot12]

I read somewhere that when your body reaches an exceptable weight for itself thats when you stop losing weight! even if you want to lose more it seems to get stuck and be happy where it is. And the suggestion i read for this was to change your exercise routine slightly.

[chickadee32]

Nola, I'm SO glad you're breathing easier today. I think the diet and scale break is a great idea, and I hope it has you feeling more relaxed at the end of the week. Keep in mind that keeping the exercise light-ish for the week could also help in resetting your body. Good luck, and I can't wait to hear how things go for you.

[runningfromfat]

Good for you! I don't think it's a bad thing to do maintenance every once and awhile either. After all, it's good practice for when you do finally get to your goal weight. I remember that there was someone on here for awhile (I hope she stuck around but I can't remember her username!) and she used to diet for 3 weeks and eat maintenance calories for the 4th week. It seemed to work well for her and I remember she was losing consistently.

Anyways, I wish you the best of luck!