Please pardon the novel that follows...

So, I skipped my WI on Thursday because this was supposed to be the week I hit my 10% goal. But I knew, from what I could see on the scale at home, that I hadn't lost any this week. And I knew that going to the meeting would just cause me to be terribly disappointed, so I skipped the meeting altogether.

I thought it was just that I was retaining water (it's TOM, I'd had white pasta for the first time in months, I hadn't been drinking enough water, etc), so I figured after a few days I'd be right back on track and losing again. With the exception of last Sunday, when I probably overdid my daily points (but certainly didn't plow through my flex points) with dinner out at a restaurant, I've stayed on plan very well. The only thing that worries me there is the pasta (I normally go with whole wheat pasta, what was I thinking? ) and I had to resort to a few frozen dinners, which means increased sodium, most likely.

So now, it's Sunday. I'm halfway to my next scheduled weigh-in, and I'm STILL not losing! I've been drinking water all the time. So much water that at the end of the day it sort of makes me want to gag! And I've been eating clean. Lots of grilled chicken, lots of steamed veggies... I've been getting lots of exercise. Yet the scale is not moving. It fluctuates over the same 0.8lbs daily.

I am (or, was at my last weigh-in) only 1.2lbs away from my 10% goal. Have I just put up a mental block that is keeping me from losing these pounds? Or is this a for-real plateau? If it is, what do I do? I've never been stuck like this up until this point. I've been consistently on plan, and therefore I've been consistently losing weight.

The worst part is, whole thing has me thinking down a very unpleasant path. It goes something like this: "See, I told you you couldn't do it. Those 21lbs you've already lost were just a fluke. You've probably gained them all back by now, and that's why you're feeling so fat lately. You will fail, just like I thought."

These types of thoughts are very very familiar to me, as I have struggled for years with negative self-talk (I thought I had finally kicked that bad habit). I really want to push through it this time and prove to myself that I can do it, but I feel my resolve is faltering. Please, someone jog my rational mind into remembering that I can do this...

I can relate because the same thing has been happening to me. But first, I wanted to just point out that you can't *make* your body lose weight. Not on your schedule. It will lose when it loses. All you can do is stay on plan and it is a mathematical impossibility that you will not lose weight. Sure that loss may be obscured by sodium, water, hormones, carbs, who knows.... but eventually you will see a woosh (which is likely your true weight less bloat or carbs or whatever). How stupid would you feel if you had actually lost weight and water / sodium was showing a false read, and you went off plan? And I say that because it has happened to me.

Refocus yourself off the scale. Focus on doing the behaviors alone. Who cares what the scale says. It will come off!

You aren't going to fail if you refocus on just staying on plan. Think about it, we have something our fat doesn't, the nuke of the weight war, time. Time is on our side as long as we use it. Stay at 1200 cals for 6 months, when your body needs 1700 cals... welp, your body is beat. It will have to lose.

Just don't let the scale play mind games. Know you have lost the weight no matter what the scale says one week.

WOW!! Isn't that fantastic to read? Now say it outloud: I've been consistently on plan... Do you realize how amazing that is? Good for you!! Who cares about the scale? There could be a million reasons for it. Maybe it's too much sodium.. maybe it's bloating... but the important thing is that you've been sticking to your points. If you stick to your points, your body has to follow at some point. Think about the positive lifestyle changes you've made and your new healthy habits. Think about your hard work and determination to stick with this.. it's tough! I know it may not be much comfort, because it's easy to get hooked on the scale, but if you stick to your new lifestyle and your new way of eating, it pretty much guarantees success eventually. Don't give up now, and disregard all the hard work and the pounds lost.. you can do this! Keep it up!

Aero, I'm going to step over your head if you'll forgive me and speak directly to that negative talking brain of yours.

Dear Aero's Brain - Why are you being so negative? Why do you not recogonize all the good that Aero is doing by staying on plan? Why must you insist on focusing in on something as tiny as a number? Do you not realize that weight may fluctuate or stay about the same for a myriad of reasons? How are you forgetting that Aero has changed her life not only to lose weight, but to feel healthier for the rest of her life? I am very angry with you Aero's Brain for even suggesting that all her hard work is for naught! She has lost a phenomenal 21 lbs, she is consistently on plan and you are not going to take that wonderfulness away from her just because you feel like it.

So I'm going to give you a little ultimatum, Brain, when Aero goes to meeting this week, (and oh, she will go) you will be thinking "I'm on plan, I'm being healthy, and I'm in a better place now than when I began. And when I do get past this little stall that is happening, I will be all the stronger for it!" And if you're NOT thinking that... so help me...


Aero, *whew* had to give your brain a good tough talking to, but hopefully I got through. You'll get through this stall of yours (a plateau is usually a month or so without change) and even if it takes a little while, you KNOW you're feeling better doing the things you are right now. Not to mention... if you were to stop... would gaining back 21 lbs (or more!) really be worth it? Stick with it. Go to meeting this week, regardless of what your scale says. If this continues another week, talk with your leader, post your usual day here, we'll all try to help you out. We're cheering for you!

Well, that negative self-talk needs to stop, NOW! First of all it's not true (you have done an AMAZING job!) and even if it WERE, that kind of tape playing in your head is counter productive.

So, what can you replace it with?

How about: "I have been on plan. I am being consistent. I am treating my body with respect and it is responding in new and exciting ways."

It probably sounds cheesy to some, but I SWEAR it works, when combined with the positive habits you are practicing!!!

Thank you all. You know, you're probably all very correct. Maybe the scale has become the veritable "watched pot"?

And you're DEFINITELY right about how the changes I've made have been good for me, nevermind what the scale says currently. I do feel better, I have more energy, and I'm much happier with myself when I've stuck to my plan.

I did this to myself a few weeks ago, too, when I was nearing the "20 lbs lost" threshold. I fretted over it because I didn't make the mark one night, nevermind the fact that to make that mark, I would have had to lose 4+lbs... which is WAY faster than I typically do in a week. So, I was upset with myself for a day or two, then I realized how silly I was being....and I hit the 21lb mark the next week. Why don't I learn from my mistakes?

Thank you all. Your words of wisdom have helped me be a bit more rational and stable over the whole thing. I appreciate your great ideas (I plan to listen to my affirmations this evening, as you suggested, SoulBliss), and I really appreciate the jolt of reality that comes with having my own words turned upon me (thanks mamba and AnnRue). Oh, and my brain has jumped right back into line like a 6-year old caught with their hand in the cookie jar (thanks, Faerie)! You guys are awesome.

URGH! This morning, I'm back up to 204.4 again?!?!?!?

I'm wondering... I recently reduced down to 26 points/day. I was losing fine at 28 and fine at 27, but since I shifted down to 26, I've been stalled out. Do you think it would be worth it to shoot for 27 rather than 26 each day? Does it make that much of a difference?

Are you using your FP? I was kind of stalling out on 32 points, and recently started planning in my FP (Wendie Plan-wise) and my first week I dropped a good amount of weight.

I've heard two separate theories about the points. The WW way, is to simply drop one point for every "decade" lost. But, I've also heard that some people choose to only drop a point when they're seeing their weight loss slow down. (Similar to what people may do with calorie counting.) I'm actually trying the second theory out now. I'm still using 32 as my base points (even though technically I should be at 31) and I'm going to see how well my weight loss is this week.

If you were losing well at 27, with no signs of slowing, then I'd go back to that.

I'd up your points. You didn't mention if you were eating your FPs -- you talked about being on plan recently except for a day when you used a couple of FPs when going out to dinner. IMHO, a day in which you use a couple FPs is still a day OP, not a day that would make you think you've gained. Which leads me to believe you're not used to using your FPs...

But enough with the intrigue If you aren't using your FPs you may not be eating enough, as evidenced by the fact that you lose fine on 27/28 pts /day but not on 26. It's counter-intuitive but it might be what you need.

And listen to Faerie, she's a smart chickie Have you thought of trying the Wendie Plan to get things jumpstarted?

My aunt plateaued for more than a month and when she started dividing out her flex points in a Wendy Plan-type fashion and eating all of them every week, the weight started coming back off within the first week! I would definitely recommend trying that so your body doesn't get too used to a certain amount of calories. Keep it guessing!

I use my FP only sparingly. I am afraid of them! If I use more than 7-8 of them per week, I have terrible scale-fear. Especially since the loss has stalled, I have been terrified of using any extra points. I have a bit of a history with being afraid to eat (believe it or not), and I am truly scared to eat more than I'm supposed to (I realize how ridiculous this must sound).

Two days ago, I had 7.5 points left at the end of the day, and then last night I went over my daily points by only 1/2 point (I know it seems incredibly pathetic and anal that I use 1/2 points, but that's the way that they're counted in the eTools, so I just go with that).

I try to get a decent breakfast: 2 whole boiled eggs, or 2 scrambled eggs, or an english muffin, or a bowl of special K, usually with some vegetarian breakfast "sausage" links...

At lunch I usually either eat a light salad (maybe a little bit of egg, some garbanzo beans, maybe a little turkey if it's available, italian dressing... everything else is 0 points) or a turkey sandwich, or else I eat leftovers from the previous night's dinner.

Dinnery is typically my "heavy" meal of the day, and I try to vary my routine: I switch it up between chicken, fish, pork, shrimp, and occasionally beef, always served with steamed broccoli/cauliflower/carrots/corn/potatoes/etc.

I also "snack" during the day. Today, for instance, I brought some raw cauliflower/broccoli/mini-peppers, an apple, and a 2 point FiberOne granola bar. I try to keep my "processed" snacks to 1-2 per day (I have a cup of 60 calorie pudding after dinner, or a FiberOne bar after lunch, or a Skinny Cow ice cream sandwich after dinner), and rely mostly on raw veggies and fruit.

I think all the above was excellent advice! I just wanted to add, STOP giving yourself a deadline by which to lose the weight! It will come off when it does, like another poster mentioned. I can imagine how frustrating this must be because you're so close! Stay on plan and the weight will have no choice but to come off. Get rid of that negative energy and do a happy dance for yourself at the end of every day that you've stayed on plan.

P.S. Faerie made me cry. I've had those feelings before too so it was like you were scolding my brain as well.

Aero, it really sounds like you need to be eating more. I realize that may be tough... and I don't think you should jump right in to eating all of your FPs as I'm sure that would feel overwhelming. But I would bet money on the fact that your WL stall is to do with your body hanging on to every last calorie because it doesn't feel it's getting enough energy input. Maybe first try to make sure you eat ALL of your base target points each day? Focus on that for a week. Then the following week work on adding two FPs per day. Baby steps, you know?

This seems to be a really common problem with the way the Flex Plan is designed. People think they should only be eating to the base target number, and the 35 flexies are pig-out points that will stall your WL. This is how I thought first time I was on WW, and I stopped losing after 8 weeks. Think of it this way: why would WW advocate eating 35 extra points a week when it would result in weight gain, not weight loss? They are there for a reason, and I bet if you put your current food intake into a calorie counter it would come up with well under 1,000 per day -- very unsustainable and not helpful.

It's simply not the case that eating as little as possible will result in maximum weight loss. (By as little as possible I don't mean to insinuate that you don't eat - I'm in the habit of thinking of the base points as 'the bare minimum' of daily intake.) Rather, by providing your body with enough fuel to thrive, it will become comfortable enough to burn your spare energy (fat stores) instead of trying to hang onto them for the obviously impending famine. There have been studies conducted that show our bodies still work in that sort of cave-man dynamic - hang on to all energy stores when food is coming in, because soon enough the food will stop. That's what you're making your body think.

As for the fear of eating... I understand that. It's all too common amongst overweight people, because we see food as the enemy, food as the only reason why we're overweight. But it actually kind of works the opposite way -- food is our greatest ally in this battle. Food nourishes us, sustains us, provides us the energy we need to engage in every day activities and use our bodies effectively and efficiently. You are doing FANTASTIC in choosing to focus on natural, healthy foods and limiting your intake of processed foods. I can't say how much I wish I ate as clean as you do. But the volume isn't there yet, and it needs to be.

So anyway, long story short, that's what I'd recommend - try working on little baby steps towards eating a few - then some - then most of your FPs, and make sure you eat all of your target points without question. If you give it, say, two weeks of honest effort to eat more, and you lose, then GREAT! You figured it out. If two weeks go by and you're still stalled, then what's lost? Two weeks? Two weeks in the face of how much of the rest of your life? I think it's worth it to play around with this idea, see what it does for you.

Aero - Let me tell you that I still get very nervous sometimes about using my FP. I was very worried when I had to use 15 FP my first Super High Day on the Wendie Plan (near hyperventilating), but I lost over 3 pounds at the last weigh in. Suite is so right! Food is not the enemy. Those FP are there for a reason. And really, while two weeks can feel like forever, it's honestly no time at all if it means you can find your weight loss groove and move on!

I think I'd like to steal your scale away from you, too, chickie. You may be driving yourself quite nutso by weighing every morning!

Nancy - I certainly didn't mean to make anyone cry! (I do hope your brain realizes I will give it a good kick, too, if it needs it though!)

Hi Aero. I too, feel for you. My weight loss started stalling out a couple of weeks ago. My WW group challenged me to try the core plan for one week to see if the change would help. It did. I lost 2.8lbs and decided to stay on core for 1-2 more weeks. I'm getting bored with the food already, but it's been what I needed to get my weight loss kicked back in the butt.

Just a thought.