I've been on a plateau for almost two months now, and I don't know what to think or do.. I understood that I had not been faithful with journaling, so I got my act together and started journaling faithfully for several weeks... Exercise is not a problem... I still go 1 pound up and or 1.5 down since the first week of September...

I've followed the rules, but can't seem to make this weight move....

I am trying not to let this get to me, but I don't want to stress myself out either being too too careful...

I am trying everything, but haven't really tried everything.. If that makes sense. I will try what someone told me here and one of the weigh in lady's who has known me for the start, add red meat to my meals... I like meat, but just wasn't eating much of it... I have lost 96 lbs, and don't want to really give up... I have thoughts of giving up because I can't talk to anyone at the meetings... It's here, take this book and read it... That is starting to wear thin on me... But, I really wont quit...


I am having thoughts of going out and eating my heart out... I was crushed this morning after thinking I must have lost something, but only to gain a 1.4 lbs back... I went home after the meeting and have not stepped foot out my door, it crushed me that much... I was being good, and still nothing good happened... I know WW works, but at this moment I feel disappointed that I can't talk to my leader in person... My clothes are feeling and looking loose, but the scale says different... How can this be? I don't understand what they mean by, even though you aren't shedding the weight, you are loosing inches... I stopped bringing certain foods in my home, because I'll beng on them... Today I bought sweet cereal and munched on that, instead of candy bars.


I just had to talk, because I am hurt... I don't want to gain any weight back, is the little voice speaking to me... But, just for today I want to go out and eat my heart out...

I wonder if that huge 6 lb loss in August may be why my body has slowed down for a bit? I usually don't shed that much in a month...

Help me understand?

Swan, from 263 stuck at 167/166/165.1 since 9/2/01... Goal weight 155...

Never fear the best may come out of it. I've hit several 6 month plateaus with no change on the scale but lost jean sizes (16s to 12s is the biggest jump I had).

Go to this thread and read about plateaus and how to break them:

http://pub38.************/fdottisweig...opicID=2.topic

Hi. You are so close to goal that your body is saying, "You know, I like it here. I want to stick around awhile, I'm afraid to move." The good news is, you lost all that weight. YES! Congratulation.

The icky news is, your body needs to adjust (I was on a plateau that seemed endless only 2 pounds from goal.)

I know you don't want to hear this -- but be patient and keep working the program. It's perfectly OK to stay where you are for awhile. Stay there. Most important -- DO NOT PANIC and do not revert to your old habits.

Keep on doing what you're doing. Yada Yada. Water. Yes. Activity, absolutely. Journal -- no question.

Relax a little, keep going to meetings, and ask them to hold on to your card. DON"T look at it except once a month (say, the first weigh in of the month.) At this point, don't focus on the numbers. Focus on the good habits you've established, the new eating routines, and all the other good that you've done TO and FOR yourself.

You will do it -- you will get to goal. It took me 25 years to get to goal. I'm 10 pounds below goal and have been here for 2 1/2 years.
Stick with it. YOu will do it because you WANT TO!

xoxoxox

Thanks All... It just feels good to be heard and understood....


I'll keep at it... I guess I could look at how far I've come...

Hi,

You're facing one of the toughest things in our weight-loss journey. The fact that our bodies don't work according to our schedules. They lose weight according to theirs.

Your body is 96 pounds lighter! WOW! That's great!

But it's also a little stressful for it. Maybe it's just saying to you, "Keep going. I need to rest a bit, but I will lose the rest when I'm ready. Continue to take care of me. You will be rewarded with your weight loss and with better health."

As for the inches/pounds thing. It sounds as if you're very focused on the scale as a measure of your success. The problem is that the scale is one of the least accurate measures. It's great for seeing what direction you're going, but it can be affected by so many things that have nothing to do with how well we're following the program.

If your clothes are getting looser, you are making progress, regardless of what the scale says. Patience isn't easy, but remember, every day that you stick with your program, regardless of what the scale says, is a lesson in sticking with it once you get to goal and don't have those losses to look forward to.

You're doing so well. I know that you can, and will, get there. Remember, eating won't help. I write in my journal every morning and those three pages (minimum) have often saved me from eating by helping me to work through my problems or just get them off my chest. And going to the forums for support. That's the best thing--having support 24 hours a day.

Good luck!

Lin

Lin S....

Swan Lake,
You have accomplished so much. Your weight loss is fantastic.
And you are sooooooo smart to post here. I know very well the frustration of going up a pound and down a pound and doing everything right and seemingly getting nowhere. Well, double check everything you're doing. When you're sure that you are OP
in all ways, try to do what everyone is suggesting. Understand that the scale may not say exactly what you want it to say, but you are losing inches. You are going in the right direction even though it's not showing on the scale. Keep your head in the right place, enjoy the success you've earned so far, and don't binge!
You're doing this right. You're OP, and your plateau will break soon. Good luck. Hope the hugs from these posts help you.

The hugs help very much, you just don't know how much they have! I to am very pleased that I came here for help, praise God!

I love all the support... Not to tell my life, but I've never had this kind of support in my life. Through the grace of God everytime I return here to read a reply, my spirits are lifted and I feel warmth in my soul.. Thank God.

SwanLake:

Congrats on the 96# loss. I have lost 71# and, like you, had been doing the up/down 1-2 pounds for Months and Months and Months (like 6+ months! What really helped me recently was to cut way back on refined carbs and increase my protein. Look at the week 6 book "eating by the numbers". Take the little quiz for fun.

When I decided to to this, I lost 3.4# the first week and 2# the second week.

For the time being, my starch consists of 2 pc of hi-fibre bread for breakfast, and usually some Ak-Mak crackers for lunch - ie 2-4 points per day in the starch category. I am more satisfied with animal protein than plant protein, so am eating way more lean meat than I usually do, and less yogurt, though I still drink skim milk. I also am allowing a tad more fat for satisfaction (ie 1 T of real salad dressing). For the time being, I have eliminated pasta, cereal (even Kashi), rice, potatos, egg noodles. I eat 3 veggies with lunch and dinner. I will eventually start to add whole wheat pastas and brown rice back in.

The other major component was to quit (mostly) the real sugar -- icecream, flavored yogurt, any kind of pastry.

That makes for fairly dull meals (LOTS of chicken!), but its helping me get those last pounds off.

I started at 234.2, am now at 163.2 and will declare goal next Saturday wherever I am (just celbrated my 3d anniversary w/ WW). My personal goal is either 155 or (maybe) 150 -- we'll see. I am 5'9" and 38 years old.

Wow Doggerham!!! Weigh to go. Thanks for posting because you give hope to all of us on this weight loss journey. Congrats on your terrific accomplishment.
234/209/thinner

Doggerham, I will try...


I am add more ground beef to my meals... I did buy whole wheat pasta weeks ago, when I get in the mood for pasta dishes.

Pastries I love... But... I do like sugar free jam on a low cal whole wheat bread... That is tasty... I went back to my favorite peanut butter, but only use one table spoon, which is enough for me to enjoy...

I'm going to try not to get stressed out about this, and just priase God I have come this far...

I really can sympathize with you. I lost 50 lbs and then hit a 12 month plateau. I tried everything to get the weight loss started again and obsessed about it. Well, after obsessing so long about it I just did not have the mental energy to continue to fight my body and I gained most if the weight back. I feel the strain of obsessing about the plateau just became too much. If I had just accepted the where I was and not obsessed about I probably would not have gained the weight back.

Maybe it is time to shift your motivation ...

You have lost a ton of weight by eating healthier and exercising more. WW just provided the structure you needed to get started. Even if you never lose another pound or another inch you are so much better off healthwise than before. That alone needs to become the motivation that keeps you eating right and exercising. Not the number on the scale. Remember you have to continue these habits for the rest of your life.

It is unrealistic to expect the same motivating factors that started you in WW to be the ones that keep you going forever. Try to shift your goals away from the number on the scale. Focus on maintaining your healthy habits and new shape instead of the number on the scale.

Don't get me wrong, I am not advocating going back to your old eating habits. Just re-evaluating your motivations to reflect the new phase your body is forcing you to. Our bodies have a way of deciding for themselves what is most important right now. And at this time, it looks like your mind and body are disagreeing. Maybe your body has decided that now it is time to repair internal organ damage that being overweight caused and it does not have any energy left over to loose weight.

If you continue eating right and exercising, eventually the weight (or inches) will come off. It may take a more weeks or it may take many more months.

Good Luck.

gsc4,

Thanks... I'm just hard on myself, but your point is well taken.



That is what I need to work on, understanding and appreciating where I came from... I guess my fear is, I had lost 62 lbs as a teen, but gained it all back and then some in my 20's/30'S.. I fear doing or looking and feeling that way again.. But, yes, you are right... I didn't know then what I know now.. I don't use anything as or for motivation, just having the knowledge, know how and proof on weight loss is powerful incentive...