I've been trying since August to get into onederand. I keep gaining and losing the same four or five pounds. At this rate, it will be New Year's by the time I get there. I just want to give up on losing, and be content that I may just be this weight for the rest of my life (but keep off the fifty pounds I've lost)

Any ideas? I desperately need motivation. I absolutely hate this time of year, since it gets dark before 5pm. I just get down and depressed and tired. I also always gain weight between Halloween and New Years (well, along with everyone else)

I do want this year to be different, though. But I'm really losing motivation. I had been down to 203.5, but this morning I was back up to 206-very depressing!

Please help!
Sherry

I dont know how this works for everyone else but when i get stuck at one weight for a period of time and i am doing everything else pretty good I drink alot of green tea and i seem to get moving on the weightloss again. I dont drink it all the time just when my weightloss has stalled. I used the salada apple spice green tea. That or a major exercise boost.

Sherry,

I understand how you feel. I am where you are, so close to onderland. But for several weeks, up and down over the same few pounds. Have been as close as 203, this am 206. I guess I am thankful that it hasn't just kept creeping up and up. I haven't been trying as hard as I need to and I know it.

I think maybe I will try that green tea that Julie mentioned ~ see if that will help.

Gayle

I don't know that I can be of any help -- but I can definitely relate! I've been sort of "stalling" out with my weight loss the past couple of months. It's so frustrating, especially when you feel like you're really trying. One thing that has seemed to help me a little is making sure I'm getting enough protein. I noticed that when I try to cut calories, I tend to cut more protein than carbs. So now I make sure I have enough protein in my meals, even if it ups the calories a bit. Not sure that this idea will help, but I thought I'd throw it out there.

Thanks, everyone!

I will try more protein, and less refined carbs. I haven't been as "good" as I can be with what I'm eating. I can't blame it on anything but my own eating habits. I'm doing really well with exercising, though.

Thanks,
Sherry

thanks for the green tea idea, julie, but I tasted it and couldn't stomach it!

I have a suggestion Sherry. When I was in my dreaded plateau I was at a loss what to do - I was eating properly and exercising, but the scale wouldn't budge. I knew to eat less would be counter-productive, so I started thinking I was at the set point my body had adjusted to and was comfortable with, but that sucked because I was about 40lbs away from where I wanted to be!

My WW leader suggested that I shake up my routine to trick my body into thinking I was doing something different so it would have to react. I began switching meals ( lunch with dinner, or eating a larger breakfast and smaller lunch) and I switched the combinations of food I was having at each meal. Keep in mind I was still eating the same foods in the same amounts, but I'd varied the times and mixtures at each meal. I did the same with the exercise - did the same amount but changed the time (evening instead of morning). I guess my body did get confused because it started to let go of the fat (albeit slowly - but any loss was better than staying stagnant!) Worth a shot....

All I can add is don't give up! When you're discouraged come here - we've all been at that place at one time or another.

Sherry, I don't have any great advice, but just wanted you to know that I've been there too. It always seems that you hit a plateau just before reaching a big goal that you've set. I know it's so frustrating, but you've accomplished a lot already and should be really proud.

Don't give up now. Maybe try shaking things up like Jillegal suggested. We're all here for you!

Hi, Sherry--

I don't have any great advice either. Are you following your food/exercise plan and are on a plateau, or are you having a hard time making good choices and therefore the weight is fluctuating? I'm asking because I'm in the same boat. I have a week of good choices, and then a week of bad choices so that I'm sabotaging myself rather than being at a true plateau. If you're experiencing a true plateau, I think everyone's advice is great.

With me, I think it's a psychological barrier to getting to Onderland. I have no idea why, but I haven't had this much problem with staying on my program for the last year. What I'm planning on doing to beat this barrier is 1) think about why I'm sabotaging myself, 2) make a contract with myself for the next three weeks. I CAN stick with something for the next three weeks, no matter what, and that should take me below 200. I might even consider not weighing in until I've completed my three weeks because if I'm having a psychological problem with seeing the numbers go down, then I don't want to weigh.

Anyway, I wish you good luck, and I feel your pain!

Sherry -

have you thought of getting Dr. Phil's book? I hate to be an advocate of giving money to yet ANOTHER diet program, but his book is REALLY helping me a lot. A lot of it I do know in my head, but seeing it in black and white, and writing things down, is REALLY helping me. Especially the chapter about Key 5 - which is mastery over food and impulse eating.

I got it for about $15 at BJ's Wholesale club... and I highly reccomend it. I think for me most of the eating problems are psychological and habit based, and he REALLY goes after that stuff.

Let me know if you need anything, and PLEASE jet me an email anytime!! [email protected] I'm here for you girl!