I've been stuck between 183-184 for a while, then dropped and got a taste of 179.8, I thought I finally broke my platue and would start dropping again. I'm back to 183.4 which hasn't left for the past 2 weigh ins. I feel very defeated and I think I just need something else to get me back in a healthy space mentally. I am doing every thing right with very few will power breaks and I'm gaining. It's so frustrating and I just need something new to try. I just want to see losses on the scale before I give up. My inches are also at a stand still. I'm mostly looking for something new to try that is healthy. I was told about a fasting thing at one point and maybe I could do that? Any advice is appreciated.

A few tid bits so people know a little more:

1) I work as an accountant, so I basically sit down for 9 hours a day M-F at a desk and have 1 hour commutes. (30 minutes there, 30-45 minutes home depending on traffic). Before when I got home, it was light enough to walk my dog or run, now it's dark when I get home, so my fiance walks the dog. I do own a treadmill and I've been using it 3x a week working my way through the C25K.

2) I'm 5' and 183.4lbs. A few websites mark me at 1200 calories to lose lb a week. I track my food very carefully with My fitness pal. I even bought a scale and use a tsp to get sugar for my coffee. I know calorie counting isn't perfect, but I'm getting as close as I can. I have eaten over my daily goals, and occasionally under, it's usually within a 100 calorie range. Weekly averages peg me at 1250 right now.

3) I don't eat back calories unless I'm "shaky" and starving. Usually if I eat anything over my 1200 goal after a work out, it's a boiled egg, some tuna, or tillapia fillet.

4) If I don't have time to prepare food for work, which has been a lot lately, I do eat lean cuisines. I know they have a high sodium content. In fact, my averages of sodium are overall high. This is something I know I will need to work on.

5) I've been getting about 6-7 hours of sleep according to my fit bit.

6) I have been stuck. and slowly gaining again. I am having an insurance headache currently with work. I was getting insurance through my scholarship while I was at University, that ended 2 weeks before my annual check up for thyroid and my birth control. I was unable to get birth control or thyroid checked. Work was suppose to kick in at the end of that month, but... long story short... I'm still uninsured and am now told It will be December 1st for my insurance to kick in. So, No doctor visits until around then.

7) I have a thyroid problem and was taking levroxyn. My old doctor had me stop taking it for 6 months and wanted to check me in August... when my insurance stopped. I'm seriously hoping that this has more to do with my horridly slow weight loss.

8) I have horomonal issues so my periods are evil as all ****. I've been on birth control since the age of 14 because of this. IUDs are a life saver, but this past year I was moved to an oral pill, Sprintec. It was meh... but because of the insurance issue, I've been off of Sprintec since August. I haven't had a period since late August. I'm also hoping this has something to do with my slow gains.

9) Pregnancy tests are negative.

10) Other than calorie counting, I don't really watch what I eat. If it fits in my goal and I want it, I will probably eat it. That being said, 1200 calories is not a lot of food and I'm aware of this, so I do eat a lot of fruit when I crave something sweet. I eat thin breads for 90calories instead of getting real bread. I eat whole wheat out of habit. I do non-fat milk simply because it has less calories than whole milk, but according to my fitnesspal fat was 32% of my intake this last week, I was short 16(g) of total fat. My potassium is also always low... this past week I was 20,372 (mg) under. Wow! I need more potassium in my life... My carbs were also under 236(g) (136(g) under in fiber). I don't eat all veggies and perfect proteins. I mean... if I want pasta and I have the calories to eat 1cup of noodles with some sauce... I'll eat it. Maybe I should switch this? I'm usually over in protein for the week.

Any advice would be great. I'm waiting for the day I can see my doctor and I plan on getting back on an IUD as it was really helpful. Better than the pills. I also want to check my thyroid as it was always high. Right now, I think something new in my routine would be motivation. I am going to start the insanity tonight.

Hmm. Interesting.

Off the bat, I would definitely try to limit your fruit. Berries are best if you must. And for the milk, I swear by non-dairy. Flaxseed milk is awesome (25 calories a cup compared to 120 calories skimmed). I would also try to up your exercise. It is tough to manage with a sedentary day job but consider using the weekends to really ramp it up.

I did a black light 5k last night. I didn't run the whole thing.. but it's working on it. And Bad-mitten today. I'm doing Insanity to up this more, but I do definitely need to do more movement. Sitting all day blows...

Can you get flax seed milk in normal grocery store? What aisle about? I did try making almond milk for giggles and then went to buy it, but most the store bought milk adds a lot of things, mainly sugar, the one that was nothing added was more expensive! I could try flax seed. I don't have a lot of milk, usually for cooking or I add 2tbls to tea on occasion.

Why limit fruit? Just out of curiosity. I currently use it to save from sweet binges. It's been a life saver when I want something sweet I will get a mellon slice or strawberries. Anything else that is sweet, low cal, and healthy to try to replace eating fruit which is replacing candy, soda, and other sugary goodies? I don't eat as much as I use to when I started, I'm down to 2 servings (1 banana = 2 servings, 2 apples (small)). Limit more?

bumping this just because Im so interested in what people have to say...

kuri, I've said this elsewhere, but based on what you posted here and in previous threads, I think number 7 and 8 are probably the biggest factors for you right now. It sucks because those things are totally out of your control at the moment, but beating yourself up over something you can't control aren't helpful either.

Can you call your doctor and see if s/he has any free samples of the thyroid medication you can have in the meantime? Doctors are usually quite sympathetic when you tell them you are currently uninsured.

Otherwise, I have nothing to add except my support.

I bet your thyroid is causing most of it, since you've had medication changes and you haven't been able to get checked up on in a while.

That said, there's no reason not to mix things up. If it's possible you could try parking your car a few blocks away from work. That way you get a bit of sunlight right before work and right after work, and a bit extra exercise. It sounds like you're fairly active though.... Do you do any weights? If you build lean mass up that will increase your base metabolic rate so you'll burn more throughout the day. I think that the easiest way to increase lean mass is to do squats and other leg stuff, since that's the biggest muscle group you've got.

If you have snow near you, snowshoeing is probably great for you... One of the most tiring activities I've done, but also rewarding and uncomplicated.

Salt intake... If you go look into studies on this it appears salt intake isn't actually a big deal, and it's more important to get enough salt than to avoid getting too much. Just make sure you drink a lot of water too, and you'll flush away the excess. Make your pee pale yellow but of course, I'm not a doctor. Listen to your doctor.

What about trying a standing desk at work? Ikea have a trestle table that you could raise or lower. It would be much better for your health and if you did it even for a half an hour a day to start with it would help you to sneakily burn more calories.