Good morning everyone!

I'm at a dreadful plateau. I refuse to surrender to it. It has been several weeks, perhaps even a month or two, but I am also refusing to read the exact date, because I'm afraid I'll fall apart.

Anywho, each day/week I try to tweak just one thing. I've been scrutinizing my diet, exercise, etc, and each day I review it to see what I can change the next day and then a big change for the next week.

For example, one of my biggest changes has been to only have a shake for breakfast, high protein of course. I was having eggs, but that sometimes led to other things with breakfast. This way it is done and over, and I'm satisfied. Then the next week I made sure that I got all the grams of protein I needed. Then last week I focused tracking every morsel that went into my mouth. It has been an eye opener to say the least.

So I'll start this thread with a promise to end my foods after dinner. I have been staying up late, and then having a snack before bed. It may be what is keeping me from moving on. I'll just sip water for the rest of the evening.

Do any of you do things like this to keep on track? I hope you'll join me, because I'd love to read your ideas as well.

I am on the verge of falling apart over this plateau. literally hanging by a thread here... trying not to be a debbie downer...

I had not been doing well for a while. I finally broke down, joined a gym and started tracking everything I put in my mouth in the past two weeks. It seems to have worked, because I lost 2.5 pounds this week.

Mavis:

I eat sugar free popsicles at night. They are very low calories and taste great!

Good luck getting off of your plateau. I feel for you because I'm at the same place, but it hasn't been that long (2 weeks for me). I'm not going to let it bother me until it's been a month.

Take care.

Sue

I'm glad to hear that someone besides me is on a dreaded plateau (although I'm not glad you're on one). I've been on one for over four months. I also began to tweek my diet, going back to a double protein shake for either breakfast or dinner. (If you whiz it up with some unsweetened frozen fruit and some fat free/sugar free instant pudding, it's not half bad.) I have been tracking every morsel of food. I'm now regularly under 900 to 1000 calories a day. Can't seem get it less than that. Less than that leaves me too hungry and I'm afraid I'll go crazy and eat something I shouldn't. My doctor and I have discussed it. The only thing left is to increase physical activity. An increase in aerobic activity can jump start metobolism. I'm trying, but I'm severely arthritic and have some restrictions. If I heat my knees before and ice them after, I can do some stationary bike work. The problem is finding the time. But I perserver. These weight plateaus are very discouraging, but I have learned that when you hit a plateau it is more important than ever not to overeat. Weight gain can occur rapidly on a plateau because metobolism has bottomed out. I'm actually encouraged by the fact that I have maintained my weight for all these months. Please let me know how you're doing. And if anyone else has hit this wall and has some suggestions, or just some encouragement, please let me know. Thanks.

Yep, I've been on plateaus before -- it's so frustrating but hang in there.

Don't go too low on calories -- some people lose well on less than 1000, but most of us need a good 1000+ cals a day to lose well. I'm at 1200 and finding it perfect.

Some of the things that have helped me:

1) Tracking calories (which you're doing)

2) Drinking more (I was only getting in 32-48 oz of liquids and I lose best and feel best when I'm getting 64+)

3) Dropping sugar

4) Upping my fiber intake

5) Getting in my exercise

6) Using body measurements or clothing fit instead of the scale to measure progress. So many people have said they've stayed the same weight but dropped a size when they are working out. That rarely happens to me, but it's worth a shot...

Thanks for the encouragement, MollyMolly. I have indeed gone down a full size without any weight loss. It's one of the things that keeps me going because I know something is happening. I'm going to hang in. I hadn't checked this site in a while (verrrrry busy, two jobs). I'm glad I took the time to do so now. It's helpful to know that I'm not the only one going through this.

Mavis:

I eat sugar free popsicles at night. They are very low calories and taste great!

Sue, excellent idea! I've heard a lot of people do that. I went to visit a friend of mine who just had a gastric bypass, and she swears by it. Thanks ... any suggestions on which is the best?

I finally broke down, joined a gym and started tracking everything I put in my mouth in the past two weeks. It seems to have worked, because I lost 2.5 pounds this week.

Susan I think I'm headed there next. My dh said to join any time but I've been holding out for ??? what I do not know. Congrats on turning it all around.

Yep, I've been on plateaus before -- it's so frustrating but hang in there.

Thanks Molly for the tips... I'm determined to turn this around. ty ty ty

Have any of you kicked the sugar habit completely? I mean I eat a LOT less of it but I've never actually given it up completely... I really want to. I'm thinking that it may be that 'one' change that could make the difference.

Sue, excellent idea! I've heard a lot of people do that. I went to visit a friend of mine who just had a gastric bypass, and she swears by it. Thanks ... any suggestions on which is the best?

I like the Lifesaver popsicles. They don't taste like lifesavers, but they're really yummy. I go through about 4 boxes a week.:frown:

Enjoy!