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Embrace the stall? What does that mean?



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So after dropping 31 pounds rather quickly, I hit the dreaded 3 week stall. I was stuck for 13 days before the scale dipped again. I know that stalls are a normal part of the process, but they mess with your head, don't they? I found myself saying that perhaps I should not have my 160 calorie Protein Shake, which I immediately knew was ridiculous thinking considering since my calorie intake is around 500 a day and of course I did NOT skip my shake but stuck with the program. My question is, I hear a lot of very smart people on this site say "Embrace the stall". If you are one of those people, would you kindly please explain to me what that means to you? I think I need a different prospective than the one that I have. All sage wisdom is welcome, including sarcasm.

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To me it just me accept that stalls are as much a part of the process as the weight loss is and not to get frazzled by them. Accept it as part of the ebb and flow of what happens to everyone. Accept it, stay the course and keep on with your endeavors.

You were very wise not to skip that shake.

ETA: I weigh myself once a month or whenever I go to the doctor, whichever comes first. The scale makes me crazy and I lose focus weighing too frequently. Doing this I have missed any stalls that may have happened since every time I go to the doctor's I have shown a loss. That's much better on the ego.

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I second @@BLERDgirl I had already been on this site long enough to know what was more than likely going to happen so I stayed off the scale, I still rarely weigh. Once every other week is good enough. In doing that I've never had a stall at least not one I knew about. It helped to keep me sane. I would not do well trying to weigh all the time. I've also been studying the body for years. Your body is going through some major "trauma" and it needs time to rest and catch up so to speak. If your doing your part you will get results. Being aggravated and feeling defeated does nothing in the way of helping the process but making it a miserable experience. I've enjoyed my process because I just take it one day at a time and 10 months later bam 110 lbs gone!

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Experiencing my first stall now. Yay! ;)

Embrace the stall for me means that I need to get used to this as a normal part of this journey. I can't panic. I know I need to stay off the scale (I'm trying!) and keep on keeping on. Knowing myself, I know that means I have to focus on things other than that damned number. So, some of the things I try to focus more on:

  • I am wearing a pair of jeans today that I haven't been able to wear in over a year because they were too small. And they're not tight.
  • I purchased blouses that were 2X. I've been 3X for a very long time now.
  • My diabetes medicines have been reduced significantly.
  • I was much more comfortable in the theatre seat the other night and it's only going to get better!
  • I kicked butt and took names at Water aerobics last night.

Okay, so, that list was more for me than you - thanks for letting me ramble. ;)

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What terrific answers! Great, great group of people. I think I will take all of your advice at not weighing every morning despite the fact that that was my doctors recommendation. That's a crazy maker.

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      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
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      1. summerseeker

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        BTW, the liquid diet sucks, one more day and you are over the worst. You can do it.

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