Helo everyone. My 6 month bandiversary was on 6/29/09. I've lost a good amount of weight over 40 lbs., but have been bouncing back and forth between 243 and 247 since the end of April. I usually eat what I am supposed to eat and occasionally have a bite of something that I don't normally allow (I'm following a good carb diet due to my PCOS). For example, I had a quarter sized piece of a very moist corn bread at a cookout yesterday. However I seem to be stuck wiht my loss. I've tried eating nothing but Protein, or protein rich foods and I don't eat huge amounts, although I can eat more than 1 cup of food at a time. I was hoping that with my last fill I would be at my sweet spot (I have 6 cc's in a 14 cc band), but I don't really feel any change.

Last month I got my very 1st period on my own since 2004. Then last week I got it again, which is a mini-victory for me, as I haven't had a period without the help of progesterone since 2003. I also spent the days that I did have my period in the bathroom PBing just about everything I tried to eat, with the exception of slider foods. I'm assuming my band was a little tighter due to the bloating that goes along with that time of the month.

Anyhow, I go for a fill on Wednesday and am afraid to hear the doctor tell me that I'm not losing. I'm not quirte sure what to do to kick start my weight loss again. I'm sure that the bite of corn bread that I had yesterday didn't derail my diet, but I'm not sure what's causing me to be at a stand still. I'm thinking that I may need another fill, but maybe 1/2 of a cc instead of a full cc. I'm also worried that I'm not going to be able to tell when I finally am at my sweet spot. I thought I would be with this last fill, but since I haven't lost anything I don't think I'm quite there yet.

Doea anyne have any advice. My normal daily menu looks like this.

8:00- 8:30 - Protein coffee (3/4 c light soymilk, 2 scoops chocolate Protein powder, 2 tsp. Splenda and 3/4 c coffee)

9:30 or 10:00 - 1 rome or gala apple sliced with Peter Pan whipped PB.

Water, Water, & more water (or Crystal Light)

2:00 or 2:30 - Soup. Usually Split Pea, Lentil, Garden Broccoli or Butternut Squash and a piece or 2 of string cheese.

Water, Water & more water (or Crystal Light)

dinner Time (varies) - Usually a meat/chicken and veggies or a salad.

Snack - No sugar added ice cream, high protein yogurt, sugar free popsicle, Jello with sugar free Cool Whip, smoothie (made with yogurt, light soy milk, fresh fruit & ice) etc... (not every night though).

Is there anything on my menu that looks like it could be causing me to be at this plateau. I don't eat rice, bread, Pasta or flour. I occasionally cook with panko bread crumbs and maybe once I month I have a quesadilla when we're out somewhere. My favorte is shrimp, spinach, mozzarella & pesto. You'd think that I'd be losing - especially since I was pb'ing at almost every meal for 3 or 4 days over this past week/weekend.

Does anyone have any advice because I'm extremely discouraged at this point and really don't know what to do. I'm also starting to have thoughts of bad foods by telling myself that I'm not losing anymore when I'm eating right. It's like I'm finding ways to justify eating foods that I don't eat as of now. I'm not giving into those cravings, but I did have 2 5 inch long salted pretzel sticks yesterday mid day. Again, I can't imagine that would have caused this plateau. Yesterday was a fluke and I don't EVER eat pretzels or anything else like that. I was just feeling down on myself.

I'm at that point where I just want to scream. Especially since everyone keeps asking me how much weight I've lost now, or if I have lost anymore weight. I hate having to say that I haven't lost anything, but I haven't gained either. Especially since I have so far left to go.

If anyone has any thoughts or suggestions I'd love to hear them. I just need to know that I'm not failing even though I feel like I am right now. :tongue_smilie:

Thanks in advance for your help!!

It really sounds like you are not eating enough.This will also cause you to not lose.You have done very good so far dont forget that.Good Luck

This is exactly what happened to me. 60lbs in 6 months, then nothing for 2+ months. Now I lost 20 more in around 2 months again.

Plateau's are very normal, don't get discouraged. They will pass.

My own personal non-doctor theory is that your body adapts to what you are doing after a time and stabilizes. As fat people, our bodies are remarkably likely to go into conservation mode and adapt quickly and efficiently. Which is great in times of famine, not so much in modern society.

IMO you have to shock your system every once in a while to break that stability and start losing again. Have a splurge weekend and eat whatever you want, but just for that weekend. Then start fresh with renewed determination. Stop exercising for 4 days, then get back in it more than ever. Try different exercises. Find some new healthy things to eat and change things around. Go low carb for a few weeks, then low fat, then switch back again.

Most important (for me anyway) is to stay busy! I only seem to get hungry these days if I'm sitting in front of the TV or computer. That tells me it's head hunger not real hunger. Learn to play an instrument, garden, paint, swim, anything to get your mind off of boredom snacking.

Good luck.

Hello and thank you to everyone for your replies/responses. I did go to my doctor for a fill last week. He put in 0.5 cc's instead of a full 1.0 cc this time and I am definitely feeling more restriction. He and I also agree that I'm not eating enough Protein as well as enough overall. So, I'm trying really hard to focus on protein now more than anything else!!

The good thing was that I weighed EXACTLY the same amount that I did last month. SO, it could be worse, right. I could have gained!!!:biggrin:

He also mentioned that I may not be drinking enough liquids, but I drink well over 64 oz. a day. In fact, if I fill my Water bottle at work twice (which I do EVERY DAY). Then I've already reached my 64 oz. because my bottle holds 33.8 oz.

I'm also gonna try to stay away from the treadmill for awhile and switch to pilates. I've got my video at home and set to go tonight when I get home. I'm very limited in the time that I have to exercise, so I'm hoping that I try this video tonight and fall in love with it. Everyone is always telling me how much they LOVE pilates. Any thoughts from anybody who's done it or is currently doing it as their exercise???:thumbdown:

Any more thoughts or insights are welcome. I'd also love to hear your suggestions for getting in more protein!!!

Thanks in advance!

Hello and thank you to everyone for your replies/responses. I did go to my doctor for a fill last week. He put in 0.5 cc's instead of a full 1.0 cc this time and I am definitely feeling more restriction. He and I also agree that I'm not eating enough Protein as well as enough overall. So, I'm trying really hard to focus on protein now more than anything else!!

The good thing was that I weighed EXACTLY the same amount that I did last month. SO, it could be worse, right. I could have gained!!!:biggrin:

He also mentioned that I may not be drinking enough liquids, but I drink well over 64 oz. a day. In fact, if I fill my Water bottle at work twice (which I do EVERY DAY). Then I've already reached my 64 oz. because my bottle holds 33.8 oz.

I'm also gonna try to stay away from the treadmill for awhile and switch to pilates. I've got my video at home and set to go tonight when I get home. I'm very limited in the time that I have to exercise, so I'm hoping that I try this video tonight and fall in love with it. Everyone is always telling me how much they LOVE pilates. Any thoughts from anybody who's done it or is currently doing it as their exercise???:thumbdown:

Any more thoughts or insights are welcome. I'd also love to hear your suggestions for getting in more protein!!!

Thanks in advance!