I was stuck for 7 months!!!
and like PUP said I started "my fitness pal" watching sodium and carbs made a huge difference
Sodium is evil!!!
I do count points also-its exhausting counting everything but it works!

and try another meeting if you can or speak up! YOU are paying for this!!

How many carbs do u allow yourself and sodium??. Not even sure what to do.

if you go to "my fitness pal" (online or phone) and put in all your figures in (height weight) it will figure it all out for you and what you need
I am 179lbs, 5'2 and I get 1240 calories 171 carbs 2500 sodium (I think that is the same for everyone)
you don't have to keep up with MFP but at least get your numbers
my WW leader told me to watch sodium and carbs as well as tracking and it has worked for me

Oh wow I didn't know mp gave suggestions like that. Neat

I track at both WW and My Fitness Pal. I like to keep my carbs around 100-125 most days. I occasionally have days that are higher, but rarely over 150. However, some people are more carb sensitive than others.

A couple of years ago I did a low carb thing where for 2 weeks I really watched carbs. Not so much a number but what I ate. No grains at all. Veggies were OK. Mostly I followed the first phase of South Beach. My carbs were under 50 a day most of the time. Then after that I slowly added in more carbs. I found that I am not particularly carb sensitive so I can do fine around 100 to 125. But all of this is really individual.

I did Atkins one summer in between high school and college. I lost 30lbs! But I like carbs and while I like meat, I get to a point where (if I eat it all the time) I find it disgusting. It was not a way of eating I could sustain. Needless to say, I gained all that weight back and a lot more to boot!

butterflygirl,

I have done weight watchers a few times and although i have lost, it has never been in a sustainable kind of way.

I had about given up trying to lose weight when my brother encouraged me to try Ideal Protein. It is a form of ketogenic nutrition. It's been amazing to experience it at work.

Ideal Protein is one of many kinds of ketogenic diets -- low carb, moderate protein. It addresses glycemic index issues, insulin resistance and metabolic x syndrome. New science emerging is showing that all calories are not the same. My experience with going low carb is showing this to be true.

I know only too well the frustration of trying to lose and it not working and not feeling supported.

While Ideal Protein is a specific programme, you can learn more about ketogenic nutrition through some of these sources:

The Art and Science of Low Carbohydrate Living
Why We Get Fat
Jimmy Moore Livin' La Vida Low Carb.
Weight Loss According to Dr. Chanh Tran Tien

That last link is the website of the physician who founded Ideal Protein. It (and all the others) are based on science that began emergency around the turn of the twentieth century. There is resistance to the ideas because we are still stuck in the calorie counting mindset. If it is carbs that are causing the problem, it is carbs and calories that are more at stake.

Besides there being an Ideal Protein forum in 3 fat Chicks, there is also a Low Carb forum. Ketogenic nutrition has in the last few years taken Sweden by storm!

I personally really like Ideal Protein because of its structure and support.

On the off chance that this might be something that could work for you, I am sharing it here.

Weight loss is a very personal journey. What works well for one person might not work well for someone else. But it might be worth exploring.

Annik

Sarain,

I am just seeing your post now. I didn't realise there was a 'page 2.'

I keep my carbs to under 40 a day while I am in Phase 1 of IP (although having said this, if you follow the protocols, you don't need to count carbs. They are counted for you.)

Carbs start getting added back in phases 2 and 3. Once you have lost your weight, you start discerning what your specific carb friendly amount is.

I plan to follow a paleo way of eating once I am done IP.

Annik