What am I doing wrong?????

Hey all...sorry to be a pain again.... I was wondering if anyone else is/has been on a plateau for 6 months....I have been the same weight +5 lbs since Feb 07 and it is really starting to annoy me... I have called my dietican and she said to up my calories, eat pot pies, macaroni and cheese, get protein in daily, and take vitamins daily, and exercise. Well I went to the Dr and he don't want me running/jogging or anything that is hard on my joints so I bought an elliptical machine and I use that everyday 30 - 45 mins, I walk the stairs at work 3-4 daily at work ( I work on the 4th floor), I do 60-90 grams of protein daily, vitamins, and my calorie intake is anywhere between 900-1100 daily...I also mow my grass and I have 1.5 acres and I mow it with a push lawnmower once a week...I do drink 60 oz of water or more daily. I live a very active lifestyle and always have....Don't get me wrong I am very pleased with what I have lost (75-80 lbs)... Am I just a failure when it comes to this? Should I be doing something differently? If anyone has any advise I am all ears since the dietican can't help me...I just don't feel very comfortable with her telling me all this and she is suppose to be training in GBS....Scary. Thanks for letting me ramble about my problems but no one else understands....

I don't have any answers, but I just wanted to let you know I'm in a similar situation and feel your pain. I've lost 96 pounds (as of today, anyway. I keep going up and down a few pounds). I've only lost 6 pounds in the last 3 months and have stayed the same for the last month or so. I have lost inches, so I'm not experiencing a plateau. BUT . . . I have 15 pounds to lose and it's not moving! So while I'm not exactly in the same position you're in, I feel your pain. You are NOT a failure!

I feel your pain. I am in the same situation. I have been gaining and losing the same 5 lbs. for about 3 months. All I can say is to be VERY HONEST with yourself. I know that one of my issues is that I re-introduced carbs and sugar to my diet. I believe this is one of my biggest problems. Are you grazing? Even the little extra snacks that we think wouldn't harm us are slowing us down. I became so frustrated I joined Weigh****cher last week. Hopefully this will give me the boost I need. I encourage you to just keep doing what you know is right to do. Go back to the basics that you started on right after surgery. High protein, low fat, no sugar, low/no carbs. YOU CAN DO IT!!!

You may have a point there, Michele, at least where I'm concerned. My protein intake has been lower than it used to be, though I'm still within the acceptable guidelines set by my doc. I've added shakes back into my diet this week to increase my protein. That and upping my water. I also have a habit of tracking my food through my meals, but if I have something later, I don't ever track it and see just what I did for the day. That makes it harder to be really honest with what I'm eating. It's never junk food, but still . . . . thanks for the advice!

Thanks Allison and Michele...that is great advice...I will start tracking my foods again...I have gotten way off course with that...I normally don't count calories per my dietician, but I always count my protein... Let me know how weigh****chers is working for you if you don't mind...I was thinking about joining them but when I called and spoke to a representative she said that I would have to follow their plan and get in all my points...I find that very scary...I am so scared of gaining back the weight I lost... Thanks again. Becky

Ok, since this post I really started paying attention to what I was eating and I found that I actually wasn't eating enough food. I was getting full off of the wrong foods and not the protein foods. Once I increased my protein intake, by making sure that I have at least one protein with each meal, I have dropped 3 lbs. already. I was actually going too lean before. Everything was low/no fat/sugar. I was eating plenty of fruit and vegetables and getting full. I was also doing alot of snacking between meals. But once I increased my protein, I am satisfied longer and therefore I don't have the urge to snack. Not eating enough can slow weight loss just as much as eating too much. Example: Before Breakfast: 1 c fruit salad yogurt smoothie 1/2 bagel w/cream cheese 2 tbls. snack: pretzels (too many to count) Lunch: Salad w/ 3 slices of lean turkey luncheon meat After Breakfast: 1 small turkey sausage patty 1 hard boiled egg English Muffin snack: 1/2 cup grapes/ 3 watermellon cubes Lunch: Brocolli & Cheese w/ shrimp I'm still figuring it all out, but I hope this helps.

i am going to try this and really write down what i am eating too and get back on track. i want to lose this last 13 pounds and i keep losing and gaining 4pounds. thanks for the example.

I have to say Im actually relieved to hear that others are experiencing excrutiatingly slow weightloss or extended plateaus. I'm right there with you. I had a plateau that lasted about 4 months, and I did realize it began just as I introduced carbs and sugar back into my diet. I've lost 90 pounds now and have just 25 pounds to go. My only advice would be to really watch what you are taking in (like one of the previous responders told ya!) and possibly start weightlifting. I'm beginning my weightlifting program again tomorrow. Also, for everyone, keep taking your measurements. I was shocked that even witha 4 month weight plateau, I lost 11 inches overall. I seem to be avergaing about 3-5 inches a month, and heck, I'll take it even if Im only losing 2 pounds a month. We can do it!

Im right there with u. I only lost 3 lbs last month and none this month. Its very depressing after loosing 10-30 lbs a month for the last yr. Im hoping this breaks soon becouse I still have 40 more lbs to loose. Im down 186 lbs but should would be great to actually make it to my goal so I can get my plastics done. Mariah

Ok guys and gals, I lost 9 lbs. last week alone on this diet. It kicked me off of my 4 month plateau. This is a 3 day diet, where you can lose 10lbs. This worked well for me, because it was actually too much food at one point. But it is perfect to get you back on track and losiing again. It helped me. 222 lbs to 213 lbs. in 1 week. Day 1 Breakfast: Black coffee or tea 1/2 grapefruit or juice 1 slice of toast 1 tbsp peanut butter Lunch: 1/2 cup tuna 1 slice toast coffee or tea Dinner: 2 slices any type meat (about 3 oz.) 1 cup string beans 1 cup beets or carrots 1 small apple 1 cup vanilla ice cream Day 2 Breakfast: Black coffee or tea 1 egg 1 slice toast 1/2 banana Lunch: 1 cup cottage cheese 5 saltine crackers coffee or tea Dinner: 2 weiners (Franks) 1 cup broccoli or cabbage 1/2 ccup carrots 1/2 banana 1/2 cup vanilla ice cream Day 3 Breakfast: Black coffee or tea 5 saltine crackers 1 slice of cheddar cheese 1 small apple Lunch: 1 hard boiled egg 1 slice toast coffee or tea Dinner: 1 cup tuna 1 cup beets or carrots 1 cup cauliflower or greens 1 cup canteloupe 1/2 cup vanilla ice cream This diet works on chemical breakdown and is proven to work. Do not vary or substitute any of the foods. Salt and pepper may be used but no other seasoning. This diet is to be used 3 days at a time. In 3 days you will lose 10 lbs. After 3 days of dieting you can eat your usual food but don't over eat. After 4 days of normal eating, start back on your 3 day diet. This diet is used at Birmingham, Al Hospital Cardiac Unit for patients who need to lose lots of weight in a hurry before having heart surgery. You can lose up to 40 lbs a month.