Weight loss stalled
 

Hi Everyone! I am starting to get a little discouraged. In the past couple weeks I have lost very little weight. The past 4 or 5 days, my scale hasn't budged. I am following the plan to the letter. No cheats whatsoever. Is this normal, and if so how long does it last. As we all know, this plan is not cheap, especially if you are a larger person when you start. I can justify the expense when I am losing, even if it is slowly, but I find it hard to justify when I am losing nothing! Does anyone have any advice or "secrets" lol! Also wondering about exercising. I was told that there should be absolutely no exercising while on this plan, yet from what I read online at different sites, other coaches say "yes" to exercise. Hoping this stall or whatever you want to call it is over before my feeling of helplessness takes over. I have been overweight all my life and this plan has been working wonders up till now. I welcome the advice and suggestions of everyone here on this site! :)

I think it is hard to help without knowing a typical meal day. Also has there been any inch loss? IP recommends light exercise, light weights, walking, water aerobics, light yoga.

I stalled in week 4 and 5, but then on I went. I do yoga and water aerobics. Keep sticking to it!

B: Chocolate drink mix
S: Chocolate drink mix
L: Chicken Noodle Soup
S: Chocolate drink mix
D: 11 oz meat plus 2 cups of veg
2 snacks between that at 9:30

Minimum of 2 litres of water per day, but somedays it's upwards of 3.5 - 4 litres

I don't go to bed normally until around 1 am so I eat my snacks by 9:30, rather than 8, for two reasons, 1: hard to fit them in, and I would be hungry again before I go to bed.

I normally only eat 2 cups of vegetables because I have Irritable Bowel and vegetable tend to wreak havoc on my digestion. Green, cruciferous vegetables normally help people with constipation and regular bowel habits, but it has the opposite effect on me. Gas bloating and constipation! So I try and get my two cups in each day, but 4 would just about kill me. Considering I didn't like vegetable until I started this diet, I am doing good with them.

Beardude, how long have you been on IP? I have had two slowdowns during the past 6 months while remaining OP. Sometimes the body has to adjust. My advice is to stay the course. Focus on what you are doing right for your body. As for cost, the key is acceptance. Pay for program now or pay for health related costs later. Based on your numbers, IP has been working. Patience and getting in your water are the keys. Hope the scale starts moving again :)

What 2 snacks are you eating before bed? I understand the 4 IP packets you're having throughout the day. It's kind of hard to justify a stall when you're not following the protocol 100%. Could you try some different veggies that are easier on your system to get your 4 cups in every day? Maybe you need to shake things up a bit by replacing one of your 4 packets with a restricted or split your 8 oz of protein between lunch and dinner? Sometimes your body just needs a little change. Hang in there! My IP journey is taking longer than I expected and is costing me an arm and a leg but I'd rather be healthy and broke than fat and unhappy any day ;)

I've been on plan now since January 13, 2014. 11 weeks, going into the 12 week. I have been pleased with my weight loss. I have lost 54 pounds in that time, but I was just wondering about the past couple weeks, whereas nothing seems to be helping. I have lost 20 inches in that time, but I don't really understand the whole measuring thing. The coach measures in 5 or 6 different areas, but I have lost weight in other areas, probably more so than in the areas that are being measured. lol! For instance, I don't have what you would call a "neck" lol, but what I do have has seen a loss of at of least 2.5 to 3 inches, maybe more, but that isn't factored into my figures. I have lost significantly where my pants and belt sit, but she measures around my belly, and around my butt/hips, so that isn't factored into my figures.

I usually save my restricted snack (normally a Orange Wafer bar) and a Drink mix, or sometimes a bag of the unrestricted soy chips) I keep my Restricted snack for after supper as it gives me something to look forward to, especially if you are at home watching tv or out with friends who are eating whatever they want.

I have tried splitting my meat protein between lunch and dinner, trying to surprise my system, so to say.

By the way...how does everybody get those little tickers under their posts! :)

Beardude, how many packets a day has your coach advised? The number that you are having for your current weight seems high in addition to having additional protein (11 oz versus the 8 on the protocol sheet) We have two people in our group that started at your weight. They did not have more than 4 packets, 3 unrestricted and one restricted.

I was given 6 packets a day, one breakfast and 1dinner, 3 unrestricted snack and 1 restricted. I started out with 14 oz of meat and I am down to 11 now. I started at 360 and I am down to 307.6 now (where I have been for 4 or 5 days, lol)

I do think you need more veggies. Also are you getting your healthy oils? The problem with eating at night is you don't have time to burn it off. However, you are doing well. 54 pounds is great, and your body may need a pause to catch up. That often happens.

I too question the number of packets and higher protein. I know Lisa has posted a chart of weight vs packets before and you might be right in line, but I didn't recall that many for your weight. I also have never seen more than the 8oz of meat.

I also agree that your body is catching IP with some significant losses over 11 weeks and you need to be patient with it!! AND you are losing inches. A stall is NO CHANGE in inches OR weight for four weeks. You aren't stalled, you are just loosing differently/slowly than you want... But Averaging more than 5 lbs a week!!

Coaches have specific areas they are supposed to measure so everyone is consistent across the board ("supposed to" being the key). But that doesn't mean you aren't losing in lots of other places!! As long as you are noticing all those other places, that is another personal victory for you. Just because it's not officially recorded doesn't make it any less of a success!!!

Stay the course and you will continue to be successful!

I understand the whole idea of not eating at night, but the whole 8 o'clock thing is for people who go to bed earlier, say, 10 or 10:30 maybe. I am a night owl. I only get my second wind when most people are going to bed. So I don't think 9 or 9:30,for my snack is too off considering I don't go to bed until 1 or 1:30, and maybe later.

I would love to eat more vegetables, but like I said They cause me too much pain. If no one has irritable bowel problems, they don't know what someone has to go through. Also, I live in the eastern most province in Canada. Newfoundland is an island, and getting fresh produce like those that are named on the Ideal protein sheet are hard to get at any time of the year, and some I have never seen in my grocery stores. I live 3 hours away from a |major" grocery chain store, so it's not like I can drop in on my way home from work and pick up a new vegetable, so I have to stick with the slim picking that I have in my local grocery store (and believe it or not, I have to travel 45 minutes to get that!) :)

What stood out to me was the oil too, maybe you just didn't mention it. The olive oil works wonders as IP is very low fat, you need health oils to lose. I actually went with Dr Tran's original suggestion of a Tablespoon a day when I stalled out. Also make sure some of your meat and fish is not totally very low fat. I stalled when I was eating mostly all chicken breast and shrimp. The stall broke when I added in more beef and salmon.

6 packets a day seems like a lot, even people who are very large starting usually get 5 at the most.

Whoops, didn't see where you lived until after I posted. I am from Nova Scotia and has a very good friend in Labrador so I know what you are going through with the veggies.

Do you have to travel to the coach or is there one in the area. I suspect you are paying quite dearly for the packets. Has your coach gone anywhere for training or just getting the packages from someone one else?
Just curious because of a situation someone from a very northern community on this end of Canada went through.

Visceral fat
 

Hi all...god to see new faces and new questions being tossed out..

Just want to add that when you are not noticing inches coming off...

Remember you lose visceral fat on this diet...that internal fatty stuff accumulated around your heart and major organs that is so dangerous.

When you are being compliant and not seeing "measurable loss" on the scale or with the tape measure, remember that fat has also been disappearing from your internal torso. This does not show on any external measuring methods that are being used. My coach warned me about getting too upset when things slowed down visibly or measurably...and reminded me the overall health benefits of losing weight are just as important internally and were NOT measurable by anything she could do in the office. (On certain types of radiologic scans...it will show up though! I had one done to monitor a condition I have...and the radiologist noted the "severe loss of adipose and internal fat/body mass since the last scan" on the report to my physician.

Since most of us don't have to have that kind of testing done...and should not unless there is another underlying reason....what you DON'T know or see ...IS showing !!!;)

65, its so great to 'read' you this morning! I miss all of your wisdom and insight! Thanks for dropping in, I love your little tidbits of advice!!

Thanks Hiker...I do miss you all as well..!! But life has gotten very busy...(good stuff)...and maintenance continues to go quite well as I "play" with how to work this lifestyle for my "under-tall" body...and advancing age!

My husband may retire before this year is over....(HORRORS!!!!)...so I have a small window to get a few things done before that happens...and LOL...to enjoy having the castle all to my self!!

Awe.... so many I know have an 'adjustment' period when the hubby retires! Takes awhile to get used to him in the castle! Sounds like good motivation to get things done! Have a great weekend!

"Stalls" can be frustrating but a true plateau doesn't happen unless it is 4-6 weeks of no movement on the scale or measuring tape.

This is because measurements on the scale only measure our overall weight. Not just fat loss.

There is SO MUCH that happens with weight loss. And it does not happen in a linear fashion the entire time. Most weight loss is in fits and starts.

I have a few of suggestions.

First: Have you tried pureeing your veggies? We have a whole thread about it. You can find the link in the first post of the daily (weekend) chat. If pureeing works for you, you might be able to get all 4 cups in.

Second:
It may be time to cut down a bit more on your meat protein (getting closer to the 8 oz on the plan). It looks like your six packets are right in line with the guidelines:
201-240 pounds = 4 packets/day
241-280 pounds = 5 packets/day
281-320 pounds = 6 packets/day

Third:
Scale stress is stress. And stress raises cortisol, which blocks weight loss. It was fun to weigh frequently when it was going down almost daily. As long as you stick to plan like glue, there is no need to weigh so frequently (this will become a crucial thing in maintenance, however). So, I say stay off the scale between WIs until you can deal with whatever number the scale brings. Sometimes it will go down. Sometimes it will flatline. Sometimes it might even increase a bit. This does NOT mean we're not losing fat. It is just how our bodies work. We hold onto the water that is connected with the fat and we lose it last.

Good luck! I know it is frustrating but here is what one of our maintainers says:
Being fat is hard
Weight loss is hard
Maintenance is hard
Pick your hard

RE: Tickers. That info is also in the first post of the daily chat.

I don't know if it really works or if it is just my mind playing tricks on me but the weeks that am religious about taking my Bragg's apple cider vinegar daily, I loose more weight. I was stalled for a week and a half and I added it back into my diet and I started loosing again. Could be a coincidence though... Fermented foods are good for you though so whether it helps break a stall or not I will keep up on it daily...

"Pick your hard" EPIC! and my new motto, so true!!!

beardude...EXACT same day I started on IP and I'm experiencing a stall too!! Last Wednesday weigh in...0 pounds lost. I normally don't weigh myself at all under the following Wednesday, but because of that 0 loss, I've been checking the scale every day...and NOT. ONE. CHANGE. So we have the stall in common...;)

Too much protein can definitely cause a stall. This is a moderate protein diet and not a high protein one.

hi beardude, adding more food for thought, so to speak....constipation is a common culprit when weight loss slows, though I agree with the other posters that your progress is great and your body may just be pausing. Big C may be an issue even if you are going everyday. The colon can hang onto up to 10 lbs.

Another thought, IF you have actually stalled is that it may be time to taper down a packet, since you have lost so much already. You are very close to the 200s. Getting less food as a result of weight loss seems like a negative reward imho, but those other rewards are golden!

14 weeks and I am stalled too. I am yoyoing between the same +/-2 lbs

Are you following plan 100%?
How long stalled?
A true plateau would be 4-6 weeks with no movement on scale or measuring tape

I know it is frustrating but don't give up. Weight loss isn't linear, there are ebbs and flows

That sounds like a lot of extra food and packets to me also. I started out at 378 pounds and only ever had 3 packets a day and 8 ounces protein at the evening meal plus 2 cups veggies at lunch and at dinner.

Hi Lisa I have only lost net 1lbs in the last 3-4 weeks and sometimes I gain two and then it goes back to my last lowest weight. I am 99.99% OP its hard for me to say if I am 100% there are days when I dont have my packet in the afternoon because I had meat for lunch. I get all my water in and I have also not lost any inches

Post a couple days' menus and we can see if there are any tips we can find to help you out!

It is essential to get ALL your packets in... You can have your meat meal at lunch, but then you have your packet at dinner.

Eating TOO LITTLE can also stall weight loss. Counter-intuitive I know, but very true! So are you measuring all veggies and meat (raw), adding your oil on your food (not cooking with it), drinking all water? Also many of our losers eat 3-4 cups lettuce each day which also aids losses.

Try changing up your meat and enjoy a nice steak once a week or so... Often losses will follow the slightly increased fat (though still a lean steak, so not a rib eye!)

I started at 321 and my coach doesn't allow me any extra packets or protein. I have 3 packets a day, 8 oz protein and 4 cups of veggies. No more than one restricted. In regards to the wafers, are you eating those every day? I thought the wafers were no more than 2x a week.

P1 sheet lists the wafers as restricted to once a day.

people will probably disagree with me.. but i was on IP for 3 months.. weight loss stalled and i read that having something higher fat/carb can "surprise" your body and get things moving again. i had ice cream (shame on me i know) and ended up losing 6 pounds that week.

not necessarily recommending to do that but sometimes a change up does the body good.

Kd- Hi we are close to the same height...and you know how much of a challenge being undertall is on ANY diet...Short in stature...and also the short straw when it comes to this!

When I was getting down I noticed as I hit the 130s...things REALLY slowed down for me. That sounds about right because I believe the dictum is 5lbs for every inch on the weight range scales according to height. (example...some of the charts don't go below 5'...so the formula is to subtract 5lbs per inch to get your range if you are under 5')

My point is you may be hitting that point where the going gets real slow...so don't think it is necessarily anything you are doing or not doing. Exercise (light) might help if you are not doing it yet. Also...depending on your age and hormone status...a lot could be going on. With losing weight estrogen was released ...from the stored fat. Now that is reduced...your own residual hormone levels, water retention and the whole 9 yards of that will possibly change things for you as the last phases of this unfold. I was past all that, and also had a hysterectomy almost 10 yrs ago...so the hormone thing was a moot point for me, but it is a significant player for most of the women on this site.
Patience..and soldier on!! You are really close.

My meat protein changes from steak, to chicken, to pork (lean chops) to roast beef, and Ground Beef. Strangely enough, my weight losses are usually noticeable the day after eating the ground beef. Maybe it's the little extra fatty meat that changes things up or tricks the body! Coincidence??? Maybe! Maybe not! I would love to be able to eat fish, but I'm not a lover of it, and living in a rural area, it's hard to get fresh fish. Add to this, I'm allergic to some shellfish.

I have been strictly on plan since I started but for Easter, I'm travelling 7 hours away to the city for a weekend, and I have decided that this is going to be my "Cheat Weekend". Not going overboard or anything, but when going to see friends and going out to eat at restaurants, it's kind of hard to be on a strict diet. So I'm going to make the best choices, but I'm going to indulge a little. I can't wait to have a cheesburger that actually has a bun! I have actually dreamed about bread. Was never a lover of sandwiches, but when you dream about a clubhouse sandwich, you know you would love to have a slice of bread! I gave up pop, chocolate and potato chips without a craving, but would love a piece a bread. Not a lot. One slice would do! bawhaahaha!

Chocolate shake (non RTD) for breakfast
Salad for lunch to get my greens in with Olive oil 2tsp
Meat (Chicken, Turkey and occasional Beef) for Dinner with a soup packet
64OZ of water every day

Where's your 3rd packet?

Are you eating all four cups of veggies at lunch? That's a lot of veggies in one sitting.

In my opinion, you might try upping your water to 80 oz. I notice if I don't get at least 80 it effects my losses. I aim for a minimum of 100 a day.

Also, having all your 8 oz of protein + a packet for dinner that's a lot of protein in one sitting.

You might try doing the diet the way it is set out on the P1 sheet - 2 cups veggies plus a packet for lunch, 8 oz meat plus 2 cups of veggies for dinner and have your "snack" packet at whatever time works for you. It might help get you back on track.

A "cheat weekend" is not built into the IP protocol. Eating at restaurants and staying OP is not difficult. Order grilled meat with no seasonings and done in olive oil, double veggies, hold the starches. Many people find it very difficult to get back to 100% after a cheat - it really is easy to justify extra cheats after one. Of course, you are an adult and will make your own choices, but you really should consider skipping the cheat and staying 100%.