No too much protein should not be the problem. How are you doing with fiber? That's a great weightloss tool as well.

How are you tracking your calories? Are you sure that that's the amount that you're consuming? Are you measuring/weighing? Those calories have a way of sneaking up on us.

And adding in any activity at all, even a 20-30 minute brisk walk to start out with can do wonders to boost our metabolisim and our weightloss.

Does your health insurance cover a visit with a nutritionist? I joined a program offered by my carrier and they will cover 100% (no co-pay) of the cost for 6 visits. I went last week and it was well worth it.
I'm suggesting this because you wrote that you are eating 1200 calories. I am 1 inch taller than you and started my journey at about the weight you are now. I have never eaten just 1200 calories a day. I am not an over-exerciser either, I aim for 30 minutes a day. Some days I get more, others less. I was eating 1600 - 1900 cal/day, and I lost weight. The nutritionist told me if I ate 1800 cal/day I would maintain my weight, eat less to lose, but not go below 1300.
I know we are all different people and what works for one doesn't mean it will work for someone else. I just thought that 1200 calories might be too low. Maybe a visit with a nutritionist will help you get a plan tailored just for you.

I watched the Biggest Loser on tv and the weeks they did not lose anything, the very next week was a huge loss. So maybe that is what you will do. Dont' quit!!!

Ubergirl, How long have you been on your plan? If it's only been a few weeks, and the first few weeks were successful, as it seems they were, I'd agree with those who say you just need to be patient for a while. And this might seem like a dumb question, but is it that time of the month? A couple pounds of water retention isn't unusual.

I feel you! It can be SO frustrating. I stayed around 220 for about two weeks, and wanted to scream. I, too, was eating very low-cal and exercising A LOT. So, I felt like I was doing all that I could. I also was not very hungry on my 900 - 1100 calories per day.

What I did was highly counterintuitive to me, and it has worked for about three weeks now. I don't know if it will work for you, and I wouldn't really recommend it to anyone. Others suggested that I increase my calories as well, but it was a huge mental hurdle to actually do it. I became so frustrated with trying to be perfect that I stopped logging my food and counting my calories altogether. I now try to eat most of the day, with most of my "grazing" calories coming from low-cal foods like carrots, greens, and fruit. My meals usually consist of cereal, brown rice, or potatoes. I eat very low-fat, and only occasionally (maybe once a week) eat fish or chicken. I try to stay away from processed foods, and avoid processed sugar as much as possible. I'm very comfortable on a primarily vegan diet, and have reasons for choosing this that are in addition to my health issues.

You just have to learn what works for you. And it is very, very hard sometimes to be patient until you've discovered it. The worst feeling in the world is to risk that scale going back up after you've worked so hard to make it go down. So, I'm not saying that you should or shouldn't tweak your plan. It may just require patience, as so many have suggested, and other factors beyond your control (like TOM) might be affecting the scale. But if you're like me, I just want to mix things up so that I can feel like I'm actually doing something to bring about the result that I want. So, maybe meeting with a nutritionist would help (as suggested by Nicki). Maybe you want to try a commercial diet plan. I searched local bookstores for a copy of the Fat Smash diet when I was stalling, though I never found it. Maybe you want to try a week of increased calories, just to see what happens. You've already figured out the most important thing - to maintain the commitment through the tough times.

Quite windy, I know. I hope it was a little bit helpful.

X

Hey babe don't stress! I am in the same boat right now. I stayed on plan all week, and I had a .4 drop on Saturday, but then Sunday I was back to 199.2. It sucks, but it will pass, just don't get crazy and binge like I did Sunday night. When it all goes at once you will feel great! Get happy and stay strong! You can do this!

Wow, thanks so much everybody for all the advice.

I'm feeling a bit better today, since the scale went back down 1.5 lbs... so I guess those 2lbs were just water or something.

To answer the first question, I am tracking my calories on fitday, and I am measuring and weighing. I'm being about as careful as a person can be. So I'm pretty sure about my calories.

Actually, I did go to a nutritionist who was part of a hospital-based obesity program. She's the one who told me to do 1200cals.

For my samples intake, here's today.

Breakfast one hard-boiled egg and half English muffin (plain)

lunch: lettuce, 3 oz skinless chicken breast, 1tbs low-cal dressing

snack: High protein shake (180 calories)

dinner: 1/2 large pita bread, 2tbs hummus, lettuce and onion salad with 1tbs blue cheese dressing. One hard-boiled egg.

snack: two strawberries.

Drink: 1 Propel, and plain water

I came in just over 1000 cals on fitday--

As far as how long I've been on the plan-- I just started, so it's exactly two weeks today.

I like it because I don't feel very hungry, but I would like it better if it would work faster!!!

THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR YOUR SUPPORT!!!!!! It really does help!!:hug:

2 weeks? Oh come now. You've got to give it more then that. As far as time goes - the time flies. So hang in there. Remember, we didn't gain it overnight- we're sure as heck aren't going to lose it over night. But time will pass one way or another and when time passes and it's time you've spent on plan- then you most certainly will be making the most of your time. Did that make sense?

One other thing I must mention. You say you're not hungry. I'm practically starving just reading your menu. I know we're all different, but I could never last on your plan. You're barely eating. Maybe, just maybe I could last a few days, although I highly doubt it, but past that I think I would explode and then wind up binging and eating everything in site. The more satisfied you are, the longer you will stay on plan. The longer you stay on plan, well yeah, I'm sure you can figure out where I'm going with that.

I am also seeing very, very little in the way of vegetables. Onions and lettuce aren't on the top of anyones list as the most nutritious veggies. 2 strawberries for a snack? 2? What's up with that? Vegetables are full of much needed fiber and other valuable nutrients.

I really think you might want to consider increasing your calorie intake to say 1400 or so. At least for awhile. You most likely will be able to lose on that number for a few months, maybe more. You will then have a place to go (down in calories) as you get smaller and need to decrease them in order to continue to lose weight.

And did I mention I would also add lots more vegetables. Maybe lose some of that salad drressing.

Remember it's okay to eat. You can get way more food for your calorie allotment if you were eating differently.

A quick rundown of a typical day of mine.

Breakfast - High fiber cereal and skim milk
S- fat free yogurt with high fiber cereal mixed in
L- HUGE vegetable stir fry (broccoli, cauliflower, spinach, green beans, mushrooms, peppers, zucchini) with a egg white omlette.
S- cut up vegetables such as baby carrots, cucumbers, grape tomatoes with a bit of hummus
D - Salmon, baked with tons of roasted green beans.
S - 1 cup of blueberries

All that food comes to about 1200 calories or so. 1200 very nutritious, satisfying and filling calories.

Remeber we want to do this forever and ever. So we need to find foods that we love and food that will fill us and satisfy us so that we won't want to veer off of plan. Experiment, find foods that you love.

Be sure to add in some kind of physical activity most days of the week. It's a huge help to your weightloss and your overall health.

I hope you don't mind that I've made some suggestions. Good luck to you. :)

Oh, I know exactly how you feel. Stay the course, it will happen.

Two weeks ago I stayed at 158 steady forever.

Then I took about three days off from my cardio, ate about 300 more calories to give myself a break ... and guess what?

In the past week I am down to 151, 7 pounds, which is crazy.

The thing is, sometimes your body just hangs on to the fat or the water or whatever ... then you wake up and it's magically gone LOL.

Ubergirl, I don't think 1200 calories is enough to eat. I've read that if your body thinks you're going into starvation mode, it can reduce the rate of loss 9metabolism slows). I know this isn't intuitive, but I believe WW has taken this concept into consideration with the points system. At your CW you need to eat more calories. Try upping to 1500-1800 calories and see what happens.