I've been on Sonoma since January 1. I lost five pounds the first week, and not an ounce since. I don't understand how someone could be eating this way and NOT lose weight. I'm not cheating, either.shrug:

Five pounds is a tremendous loss the first week so your body could be playing catch up and taking a break. Could be lots of things. Why don't you post some things you are eating because it may have something to do with that?

Another thing to keep in mind.. your body isn't going to always react how you want it to. Take it from someone who's been doing this for years.

Some weeks you'll lose even though you made a pig out of yourself and deserve a gain. Some weeks you'll be as good as gold and not lose a thing or even... see a gain. Some weeks the scale will stare at you and not budge one iota from the week before. This is all normal and if you expect things to not be perfect every week, trust me sweetie, you'll keep your sanity intact a lot longer. :-) Thie important thing is that over time, and I don't mean just two weeks that you see a downward trend. Be patient is my best advice.

Hang in there! I weigh myself every day and it is a yo-yo.. I just adverage it out over the week or even a month and it still is a loss! So hang in there! Just look at it differently!

This is not my first weight loss; I once weighed 180 lbs. and lost it using "Stop the Insanity." I kept 50 lbs. off for years, but the weight has crept up on me several times, and I've had to go on weight loss programs to lose. I've never gotten higher than 155, though. I turned 50 last September and now find it really difficult to lose anything. I was 41 when I lost my large amount of weight. My mother's family all have diabetes and I definitely want to beat that disease by maintaining my weight!

I lost using Powter's program and kept it off for years also. Did you exercise a lot?? I think that it the life blood of that program was eating low-fat and exercising a lot!! When I started to gain (after years also) is when I started eating that packaged foods (snackwell's). Interesting how this program lets us know from the get go to stay away from those foods. If only we knew before, huh.

You might just be losing a little slower right now. Are you eating a lot of salty foods?? Just hang in here with us. My guess is that if you stick with it that you will get a pleasant surprise next week.

Gina

Yes, I was walking almost every day. I was a homemaker then, and now I work full time. I don't walk outside when it's dark and cold, and we don't have a treadmill or anything at home. I have been doing some weightlifting, but I do need cardio. I have been calling the Y to get membership info, but no one returns my calls, unbelievably. However, there was a day when if I went on a diet, the pounds would just drop off. I had always heard your metabolism slows around age 50, and now I am living proof.

I quit drinking reg cokeand switched to water the two weeks before the start of Sonoma(today is Day 7)--this may be why I am not having major sugar cravings. I lost 9 lbs the two weeks before. This week I am at 0 loss--at least it's not a gain. I exercise at a curves type gym at least 4 days a week. I am trying to look at the positives--my clothes are looser, I do feel better, I am not as depressed as I was and my focus is 100X better.

I seemed to have experienced this metabolic slowdown in my late 30s. My weight shot up a couple of years ago and it has been extremely difficult to lose. I've been at this (eating healthy and exercising regularly) since September and did not experience any changes until November. Like Linda said, be patient. It will happen and you will be so much healthier following this way of eating!

Mind if I chime in?

From what you said above, I think that losing five pounds in the past 20 days is a pretty stellar achievement.

I don't know how tall you are, but if you were 155 prior to beginning the SD, then it doesn't sound like you have that much weight to lose to begin with; ergo, it's going to come off slower than if you weighed 200 or more pounds.

Also - there's the age thing. As medical science learns more and more, it's become even more apparent that as us women get towards the Big M (Menopause) it becomes more difficult to lose pounds and keep weight off. You might want to read Pam Peeke's book Body for Life for Women; it covers the four 'hormonal milestones' in life INCLUDING menopause and how they affect weight loss/maintenance. Also check our Maintainers Forum for some great insights!

Five pounds lost in 20 days? Doesn't seem so bad to me

I've been on the diet since the beginning of January, and I've lost 5 pounds total. Would I like it to be more, of course, but hey 5 pounds is 5 pounds, and I can notice a difference is some of my pants already.

The weight didn't get put on overnight, so it isn't going to come off overnight. I think that our society has gotten use to the I want it and I want it now mentality, so we think things should be easier than they are sometimes.

Even if it takes a while for the scale to move, know that you are making changes to eating habits, the body has to adjust to them.

Thinfor5minutes: I think your name is hilarious (I get it!!). I was a homemaker when I exercised each and every day. Honestly, I loooved it. I looked forward to it and loved being home with my boys.

Now, I work 3/4 time and just can’t exercise like I use to. I want to but it is hard to be consistent and I think that is a key element. If you can afford it keep calling the Y. I certainly is strange that they aren’t making your calls a priority. That might be a red flag. Have you considered video tapes? If you are interested go to www.collagevideo.com the have previews and reviews of the videos. When I first started exercising again I started with Leslie Sansone.

I am not 50 yet but in my mid 30's and believe me I can tell a difference in my metabolism. I don’t plan on letting that stop me though.

Donna your attitude is spot on!

Thinfor5minutes remember that losing weight isn’t the only reason to do the Sonoma Diet. If losing slow is too frustrating for you try to focus on how you feel and the great changes you are making for yourself and your family. The weight will come off. I have an extra book to give to the first person that asks me how I lost weight. I look forward to helping someone in my family make healthy changes. I want to be thin and plan to be thin and in the meantime I am proud of the changes we are making.

I think that I will jump in here. I am on the last day of phase 1 and have lost 3 pounds. I am not unhappy with that amount though because at *68* it takes a lot longer to lose. Talk about slowed metabolism!?! It is still possible to lose, one just has to be more patient, so hang in there!

zoey

and I went and worked out yesterday. Probably coincidence, BUT when I got on the scale this a.m., it showed a loss of 2-3 lbs. (Old scale; hard to read for the visually challenged!) Anyway, thanks, all, for the encouragement. I do expect instant results sometimes, and I all too sadly remember the days when I would lose five pounds in a week, no sweat. P.S. I start an aerobics class tonight! Wish me luck!