I'm facing similar issues. Let's do this, A.J. We'll see it as a challenge. There will be lots of things in our lives that we'll have to push through to see results. If we go off plan now, that scale is not going to cooperate and send our weights spiraling downward. You know that and I know that. The only thing we can do is stay on plan. Let's see, you and me, how long it takes for this extra mystery weight to come off. It'll be like a mystery theater. There's drama, right?! Mystery and intrigue! We can do this! Stay on plan, eat clean, get in enough water but not too much. Let's see how long it takes us to get over this plateau. Wouldn't it be funny if we both got a woosh on the same day?!

We're in it together, OK? We can do this!

Great post Kara! You are right - you will regret going off plan. I cannot tell you how often I looked back and thought "if I had only..." not eaten that, or stayed on plan, or started the diet sooner... I'd be thinner today!

You can do it!!

Do you think that's part of it....that you're not getting enough calories? Did you put that into fit day to see what it comes up with? I remember on Phase I and 1.5 that I had to eat a bit more to get me to higher calories...since those veggies are good for you, but not many calories to them!!

I'm at the same spot myself...the scale jumped 3 lbs!! Now, I was quite bad over the weekend, so it's all my fault. I'm also bloated, probably from being bad, as well. It's made me more determined to eat better this week!

Good luck!!

THIS! If you are eating fewer than 1400 calories, you bidy could go into starvation mode. Really! Then you body is holding onto it all, including water. Keep drinking up you water.

BTW what was your cheat a few days ago? Maybe it's delayed on the scale?

I could not eat for 3 days but gain 5 pounds. It's crazy but keep going! Though, if you heart is not in it then maybe you should try to find something out. South Beach really a WOL. How about Wii? Do you have on? Or getting 2 5lb hand weights to use while watching TV or cooking dinner?


You can do it if you choose to do it. It's all up to you.
:broc:

Don't Quit!!!
I have not seen a change in over a week, and am VERY frustrated, but I refuse to give up and give in.
One motivating factor is this eating plan is SO much healthier!!! Keep that in mind, to help you stay on plan.
Maybe you are too salt heavy?
I know since I have been cooking SB style, I am adding more flavorings, ie garlic, pepper, and perhaps too much salt.

I like Kara's idea; make it a mystery to solve!

Mix up what you are eating, too. Try new things.
Good Luck!
Deb

Are you feeling any better about it today, AJ? I hope a good night of sleep has you feeling refreshed and ready to give it another try!

ksloingit- Thanks for caring!

Jen- I had a huge bit of my husband greesy cheesburger from cheeburger cheeburger. The fat was bad but the only really bad things was the white bun.

I am not feeling better. Infact I feel numb. I have not eaten today as of yet. I don't feel like eating at all. I don't know what I am going to do.

AJ - can you see a dietician? I hope you don't take offense to this but maybe you need to talk to someone to figure out why you are sabotaging yourself?

Temptations can be great. Heck, I even went for Mexican last weekend and DIDN"T EAT ONE CHIP! Huge goal for me. And I got fajitas just didn't eat the tortilla and rice...My point is not to make you feel worse but try to really ask you to self-examine why you are doing this.

I quit smoking almost 8 years ago. The only reason why I was successful was because I was READY to do it. There are times in dieting when I feel as though by losing weight, I am going to be more raw and suseptible to the outside world. When something bad happens, I immediately turn to food. When I quit smoking, I needed to change my every day habits and I now recognize I need to do that when dieting as well. Instead of eating when depressed or happy, I am trying to turn to exercise.

This is a HUGE lifestyle change and one you have to be ready for to be successful. Wanting it is not enough. So if you have a bite of a hamburger bun once a week and that satiates you and doesn't make you eat badly thereafter, and it works for you, then do it. Get over the guilt and just do it.

If not then maybe try another plan or again, get in to see a dietician?

Hope I've been helpful and not hurtful. I do want you to succeed!

I can tell you are hurting and disappointed. Please try and hang in there, even if it means switching to a different plan (WW or counting calories). Everyone is different physically and emotionally and there is no one plan that is right for everyone! You may not be getting enough calories, I agree you should track them as well and see. You should not go below 1200.

FWIW, it takes me a week to get over a "treat" meal (I refuse to call them cheats because this is my life, not a temporary diet, and there are times when I will eat off plan. I just have to minimize the frequency, do damage control, and get back on plan. Looking at it as a treat that I allow myself rarely helps me mentally rather than looking at it as a cheat and feeling like I failed myself). Usually I will be up for 3-5 days, then get a whoosh down to get me where I was before or lower. Sometimes it takes longer than that. I am up after a "treat" myself, and I have to go back to p1 for a few days because it wreaked havoc on my craving.

Please take care of yourself, no matter what plan that means. You deserve to be healthy!

PS - 5 lbs is what...15,000 calories?? I giggled when you said you ate a bite of hamburger...not so bad, and definately not 15K calories!!

Twynnb- Yes! Thats exactly why it is upseting me so! I feel like a huge bite can surely NOT be responsible for 5 lbs.

But there in lies the problem. I have had 15,000 over in anything... veggies or meat. I always here... cal in vs. cal out and if that is soooo true... if it is that simple, why isn't it working for me?

I think starting tomorrow I will give this all a new shot with a freash start and a clean frige. BUT I am counting calories too so that I can not only say... I have been on plan but I have been +1200 cals a day for_____ days.

I just hate my body! Its so complicated and for all of those suggesting WW... I was on it for 6 months and barely lost 2 lbs. =) My body is FUNKY! And I have been checked for P gland issues and I have been cleared by my doc. AGAIN WTH??

I have not gone out of control today but not on plan... not on anything. I haven't eaten other than a skinny latte. Today is a break (with no junk food). Tomorrow is a new way to track!

___________________

And Jenn- I quit 2 years ago on 2/1 and this very much feels like that! But not in the I have to do it way but in a "kicking myself in the butt because it shouldn't be this hard" kind of thing. I got myself here eating crap. Now I eat great healthy food and I am still here. Well... lbs lighter but still.. I feel stuck!

I like your idea of taking a day off and starting again tomorrow. I've had to do that in the past. Maybe go online and on here and look for some yummy phase 1 recipes that you haven't tried. Find something that you can get excited about, then make sure that you have the stuff to make it. It sounds like your really bummed about this, and it's a lot easier to lose weight when your excited. Your body knows when your down and it's more likely to hold on to the weight. If you can find something about this that gets you excited about it and you look forward to the next few days, it might just be the lift you need to get through.

No matter what, chin up - you'll get through this :)

AJ - the more you starve and binge the more messed up your metabolism will be. I blamed my metabolism for years but I'm the one that caused the problems. After months of really clean eating and exercising it did start to work better and now it's in a more "normal" range. Just in time for age and hormones to take a toll but that's my next battle.

If this isn't the right time for you the best thing you can do is walk away from trying to lose and focus on being as healthy as you can right now. In the long run that will put you in a better place when it is the right time. I was 46 when it all clicked for me and I had yo yoed so much my body was a mess. Seems like the last few weeks have been pretty rough on your body. Take good care of you

Thanks Cyndi. I am done complaining. You are right. I have done this to myself with yo yo ing and the best thing i can do it keep eating right and move forward. Not really a binger but not eating enough is my bad habbit that has to change for me to be successful.

Thanks every one. I want to stay with SB. I enjoy healthy food.

I will try not to spew out my silly emotions every time I have na up or a down.

Good advice! Onward!

If you decide to try for a clean Phase I, please post in the Phase I thread.