Focused, it does get easier. It really does. I've had the same bumps in the road that you're experiencing. I'm on Purple w/o Lites and I've lost. Eventually things will even out but boy don't I know that some times is sure doesn't seem that way.

I have yelled and even cried at the COD when I've had gains instead of losses. I get really frustrated. I can't TELL you how many time's I've said to my counselors that I was "tired of this diet controlling my life".

I agree that you should check and make sure you're on the proper plan. I started on Red because of the no lites, and then was moved to Purple.

I wish I had some really wise words for you, but... Just know that I know exactly what you're going through.:hug:

Focused- Hang in there. WE tend to tie our emotional state to whether we lose, gain or maintain. We feel like dogsh*T when the scale does not move down but are higher than a kite when it moves. I have gotten so frustrated thinking of all the food I have sacrificed (ice cream cones, pizza, chips etc) and how good I have been in eating POP only to have no weightloss or worse a gain. Try reminding yourself how shortlived the pleasure of eating the ice cream, the pizza or the chips is and how it is much more fun to have loose pants, or more energy.

My first month I only lost 9 lbs and considering how overweight I am, I was initially dissappointed because I thought the weight would fly off at first. It doesn't always. However you may have a woosh coming up (sudden unexpected large weightloss).

Have you set a mini goal for yourself yet?

It takes time - for most of us, our weight problems have been in the making for years!

Also, I find that no matter how close to the plan I try to be when I eat out- I invariably stall after that.

Focus- I know that the roller coaster can be really tough to deal with. I agree with the others though, you are not on the right plan. Also, you really need to make a decision about the bars. Either do them, 2 every day, or tell your COD that you are not going to do them so that they can adjust your food plan accordingly. There is no halfway with the bars, it is all or nothing. Good luck!

Hi everyone,
IN regards to the bars...
I also have a hard time eatting two in one day. I wasn't crazy about many of the flavors, but I tried the shakes. So everyday I have one bar and one shake. I use 1/2 cup of ff milk, 4-6 ice cubes 1/2c water(if needed) and it makes it really thick and I feel like I'm eatting ice cream.

Good luck, it will come off if you follow. Measure yourself maybe you've lost inches but not the weight!

:carrot:

I agree with JulieMarie and Biz, about asking them if you're on the correct plan. The LAWL plan can work with or without Lites. You aren't obligated to do them.

The COD started me on Red, but moved me to Red Plus when I told them I wasn't doing the Lites. When I got to 230, they changed my plan back to Red, which I'm on now. The only thing I'm exercising is patience.

Hang in there!

Focused,

My COD told me it was okay to only eat one lite a day (but she clarified that by saying I should never tell anyone at the COD she said it was okay - LOL). So when I did bars (I'm not doing them now) I would have one a day and then add about 1/2 protein (never really measured - just added a little extra chicken to my salad at lunch) and it worked great for me. Hang in there, chickie!

Focus...I totally understand your frustration. I have a history of eating disorders so for the first 2 months on the plan...I didn't let the counselors tell me what my weight was. Just whether I was up or down. I didn't even know my original weight for 8 weeks. I am totally blessed with the center I go to. I've lost 42 pounds and wanted to lose another 40. But I am so afraid of gaining it all back that I asked if I could work on keeping the first 40 off for the rest of the summer and then in the fall, if I want to, I can start working on the other 40. They are perfectly fine with that and I feel a big sense of relief.

Hey Radio--good to see you back on--congrats on the losses and I like the way you took some time off--I guess that's sort of what I did, just not intentionally!

Hey Radio Girl, great to see you!

Katie--are you stalking me?? LOL I guess we are reading and responding in sync!

Nope, just stalking!

I have to admit it was a relief to read some of the posts in here. The first time I did LA I lost weight fast and daily and this time around I am literally eating POP every day and not losing anything. So yeah I am glad to hear that others had some issues in the beginning with the weight not just falling off as it seemed to the last time I did the plan. I went away for work this week which makes it really REALLY hard to stay OP due to life on the road but I did it the first night just fine. NExt day, i blew it. Big time. I got frustrated, said "not losing anything on plan, so why not go off?" And ate pizza and creme brulee cheesecake from bertuccis (may fav restaurant) and enjoyed every bite. Today I am regretting it now that I am home and within what I like to call "scale range". Yikes. So back to it. I think the plan is easy to follow and the benefits to me , even though the scale isn't showing anything right now, were a fast increase in energy and overall just feeling good that no matter what, I am making an attempt to do something to correct a problem that's there and not going away. So give yourself a pat on the back and think about how much better you feel inside even if its not ready to show up on the outside. Its a struggle that seems useless when nothing is working properly but our bodies are extraordinary machines and hopefully (for both of us) the weight loss will show on the scale at some point. Good luck!

Cherrycolor- What color plan are you on?

I am not at a center right now because i had a bunch of plans from my previous round. I am doing red with lites right now which was a switch from purple which i used last time around because I am exercising pretty regularly. Usually only doing one lite perday though.