Can't seem to lose....

Hello...well I am 7 months out and can't seem to lose anymore weight! I lost 85 pounds and the scales keep going up and down 5 pounds but never more then 85! I feel like a failure...and I find myself depressed about it and heading towards higher carb stuff. Please I need some food ideas that are good protein and low carbs (meals). I feel like a failure!! D in VA April 1 310/225/???

I am right there with you!!! I have lost 83 pounds and that is it, it fluctuates up and down about 3 pounds but I can't get lower. I think our bodies are "catching up" and of course the weight loss is slowing down. I am going to try the plateau buster diet starting Monday and up my exercise to see if I can get the scales to move. I am so close to onerland I can taste it but I just can't get there!!! Good Luck to you, keep us posted on your progress Mendy 283/200.5/150(ish)

Everyone hits those slumps. Don't despair. Try shaking up your routine a little bit. Getting in a food rut seems to be my problem. When I hit a slump, I change around my eating patterns and foods, so far this has worked for me. It also encourages me to try new sources of protein and also look for them. Have you tried beef or turkey jerkey - great source of protein in only 1 ounce. Remember to rejoice the 85 pounds that you have already lost. Heather 4-11-05 291-189-?

I am sorry you are going through this but I am happy to know Im not alone in this. We have to believe that if we keep doing what;s right it will come off eventually!!! I plan to change my exercise rountine. Jaclyn

Me too. I've been gaining and losing the same four pounds for two months. I've been having "what the hell" pity parties with sugar and stupidity. I don't feel like a failure as I have lost 65% (80-84 pounds depending on what day it is) of my excess weight but I do freak myself out thinking "this is it". I want to lose 40 more pounds to get to my "ideal" body weight but I'm discouraged, thinking it's not going to happen for me. Many of us seem to be going through the same thing. There must be a 6-7 month curse or something.

please dont get discouraged. i know its hard when you hit that plataue and dont seem to lose, but one day soon, you will get on that scale and it will have dropped and you will be surprised. I have already lost a lot of weight, but still have a long way to go to get to goal (98 more lbs) but i look at this as a gift, and i tell myself that even if i were to not lose another single lb (god forbid...lol) i would be happy and be much healthier for having had the surgery done. it is more weight than i have lost in my entire lifetime, and i am at a place in my life where i havent been in over 15 years. just remember that you are still at a changing point in your life, and when its time, it will happen for you. losing 85lbs in nothing to sneeze at. be greatful for what youve lost so far, dont beat yourself up about the plataues and it will happen for you. have faith. also, try changing things up a little. try to up your water intake, and find other sources of protein and dietary needs. your body just needs a little bit of a jolt and those lbs will come flying off again. Keep up the great work, and know that there is support here if and whenever you need it. look to the site for your guidance. Congrats on what youve lost so far and keep up the good work. anita b 420/298/200 someday soon hopefully

Let me make you feel better.....LOL. 7 months out, and down 50 pounds! You are doing great. Also, I just read a post from a woman who weighs 40 pounds more than me, and is in clothing about 6 sizes smaller.......... so celebrate your success cause things could always be worse! Wait 5 minutes and you will pass me up..........LOL. So let me give you the stats so that you can track things........ i started at 250, and lost some before surgery. I am 199 now or maybe 202.......... depends on the mood my scales is in. I'd say give you a month and you will be flying by me. (too many years of one meal a day to try to control my weight..... and exercising........... so my metabolism evidently thinks starvation mode is its normal thing). Good luck, natalie

D, stay away from the carbs. Any white foods. Do as many salads as possible using salsa or honey mustard as a dressing. Jerky has a lot of sodium, you might find you retain a lot of water. You may not be eating enough calories. Can you post a typical day's menu?

Thanks for all the responses....a typical day's menu 5:30am early morning (I am up at 4:30am)- protein shake (unjury and low carb milk (only kind I can stomach) about 8:30am- low carb yogurt mixed with low carb protein bar noon- some kind of meat with usually, yes, a carb and veggie NORMALLY around 3:30pm- either a protein bar-cheese with a few cheeze its...or another protein shake 6pm- dinner-pretty much same as lunch (but normally different meat) IF SNACK- low carb/low cal/low everything....Healthy choice fudge sickle...when I am craving something for my sweet tooth (so i won't eat something BAD!!!!) I will admit-the past couple months I am having probelms getting in all the water I should be...because I retain fluid BAD and when i try to drink a lot i feel sick?!? I know I am bad for eating carbs...well, white carbs...but I don't know how to stop...seriously they are just go down so easily!!! Dawn in VA 310/224.5 (today at least)/??? April 1, 2005

You didn't include white carbs in your typical menu but seems you're eating them. This is defeatest behavior. You need to cut out the bad carbs until your body gets back into a losing routine. The carbs convert to sugar which you may or may not be metabolising - but it sounds like not much. So your body is comfortable with how many carbs it's getting and has established a caloric intake consistent with maintaining current weight. In order to lose more weight, you need to take in fewer calories than you need/use. Go to as much non-fat vs. low carb as possible. Low carb still has fat. Use as many sugar-free products as possible. Cut out bad carbs as much as you can and limit the bad ones to a time earlier in the day when you're more likely to use them up