Gaining and Frustrated
 

Hi all :) I posted this originally on the WW forum but got no replies after 5 days, so I hope its OK to repost as I'd really love some advice :)

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I am really frustrated so hoping to some advice, and maybe some hugs

Some background: I started weight watchers in late April of 2009. I did really well and by mid October had gotten from my high weight of 204 down to 165. Then I was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, suffered from a nasty relapse and eventually in Jan 2010 got put on some steroids that got be back to almost 100% from the MS (yay!) but I have just been gaining weight ever since. To a newish high of 178
Over the last 4 weeks I have really buckled down, upped my activity, kept strict track of my points and have had NO luck. I went from 178 to 177.5 to 176 and this morning (weigh in day for me) back UP to 177. I just don’t understand whats going on. Its not like it was easy for me to lose the almost 40 pounds before but keeping under my points and working out regular got me a steady loss of 1-2 pounds a week. Some weeks was a no loss. But right now it seems hopeless. Its so depressing it makes me want to just say screw it and go to 5 guys! Its so sad, I bought all these new cute jeans which I can no longer fit!

Has anyone else stalled like this? I just don’t know what to do, I am probably not looking at this clearly, as I am frustrated and mad at myself. Does anyone have any ideas or can relate?

Hi!

This actually happened to me on WW. I got from 223 to about 195 fairly easily, but then I just stalled. I cycled points, used all my flex points, used none of my flex points, exercised every day for an hour at a moderate to high intensity - NOTHING. I just kept jumping between the same 3 lbs.

Finally I said "EFF IT" and switched from WW to calorie counting. My weight loss has been slow since then, but its still moving, and some of the same principles of WW apply to calorie counting (portion size, getting your fruits/veggies/whole grains in), but I've also found that I can eat more with calorie counting.

But, and I'm sure your doctor has explained this to you, when you're on steroids you tend to retain a LOT of fluid. I don't know if there's anything to do to counteract the medication part of it, but you could just be very mindful of your sodium intake, so you're not adding on to it.

I hope this helps and I wish you luck!! :)

Hi, DCAGirl. I am not on WW currently, but have done it in the past. I am sure you have probably already done this, but have you adjusted your points to your current weight? If not you could be getting either too many or too few points. The other thing that I personally learned when I was on WW was that, even though you are allowed to eat a certain number of points per day eating whatever you want, it mattered what foods I ate. I could eat the same number of points by eating nutritious or non-nutritious foods, but I didn't lose when I was eating the non-nutritious foods. Other people may not have had this experience, but it was an issue for me.

Whatever you do, don't give up. You have made significant progress and gaining back a little of the weight does not diminish it. If WW doesn't end up working for you, don't throw it all away. Find something else that will work and keep building on the success you have already had.

I wish you the best!

Cheers,

J

Thanks so much for the suggestions guys :)

Luckily I am off of the steroids, but boy did I really blow up with all that water retention!

I definitely know what you mean about what you eat for your points, I do need to add more dairy, as I don't drink milk and avoid cheese because of points values.

I am glad I found this site again, I am reading and its helping me stay motivated.

I am so frustrated though, I bought a very cute pair of jeans, which no longer fits. Sigh...

Hang in there! They will fit again! How long have you been off the steroids? If this is a recent development, you will probably start seeing weight loss again. My mom has been on steroids before and they always made her gain. Once she went off and was following her plan, she started losing again. Hope that's the case for you too!

Just wanted to send my support.

I have Crohn's and have been put on steroids before. That is one of the worst things to have to be on. I grew facial hair and had acne all over my face, back, and chest along with the 40lbs it put on me! I was so depressed so I can relate big time. It took about a year for me to lose the acne and weight and feel like my old self again. But I wasn't really doing much about it to speed up the process. I'm sure it will start coming off again since your trying but just remember what your body went through and understand it may take a little more time considering what just happened to you. You will push through it though just don't give up! And good for you for losing so much weight! That's awesome!