PLEASE help!!! I have a question.

I need your help. I was talking to a couple of gals from another site about the needle on the scale not moving. They were telling me that a good way to break a plateau is to drink a protien shake (or sugar free instant breakfast with skim milk) for breakfast and lunch and then eat a couple of oz. of chicken breast or tuna for supper. Has anyone tried this? Does it work? I am starting to keep a food journal to see what exactly I am putting into my mouth. I know that since Easter the sugar and carbs have been driving me absolutley NUTS! I just want to sit and munch and munch and munch. I know that I have talked to several of your re: not making it to the century club within 6 months. And even tho I am trying to deal with that by talking about it, thinking about it and looking at the wonderful progress that I have made, I think that the disappointment is adding to my cravings. I was just wondering if anyone else has tried the shake thing and what their thoughts were. Thanks again for all of your help and support! Carolyn Sue 331/248/someday slim & healthy (?)

Carolyn, I have discovered that when I started doing my protien and getting my water in, the needle will move. I am doing at least two shakes a day and try to get in at least one protien bar a day. What I have found is tha****er is the key though. I shoot for minimum 80 grams protein and 80 oz of water. I do not count my shakes as part of my water allotment. I used HiTech 100% Whey Protien and 2% milk. I tried some Myocel my friend has and I really liked the taste of it. Protien protien protien...water water water. It got me off the plateau from hell that I was on. Mary Beth

I seriously need to increase my protein as well... but, despite that, I would recommend you trying Syntrax Nectars... the Fuzzy Navel is very good, tastes kinda like Sunny Delight.... and it's a fruity protein drink... the more water you add to it, the more fruit drink and not sludge like it would be... it has like 23g of protein, 0carbs, and 90 calories... There are a bunch of different flavors, but I really like peach, so... Another way to break your plateau is to increase the amount of your caloric intake for a week... increase it by 100 calories a day and then go back down to your normal intake, it should spike your metabolism. I know it sounds crazy to eat more to lose, but that's the truth.

I'm in! I haven't tried it either but I'm willing to give it a shot. I'm just as frustrated as you are and the blues seem to get a hold of me no matter how much things have changed for me. I agree that the water and protein are key in our efforts. also, did you know that carbs increase insulin and make you crave more carbs. I read it in a diet book some years ago by a husban and wife team named Heller. I've known this for a while and yesterday I ate at Soup Plantation, Not the place to go for this diet! I realized that although I tried to be careful the food there offers a serious carb fest! and I paid for it. all night I was snacky for junk and I was miserable. I fought it with cheese, fruit and water. in any case I'm going to give the protein thing a shot, what have I got to lose Hang in there Carolyn, your weighloss will kick in again soon and it will continue even if you do hit a few bumps along the way.

Carolyn Sue, good luck. I think we've all come to realize that the plateaus are a way of life for us now, particularly the further along we get in our journey and the closer we get to our various goals. I'm not a nutritionist, but I can tell you that mine advises that we post-ops stick to as normal a diet as possible. Do normal people nosh on energy bars and slurp back protein drinks to get their daily doses of protein? Heck, even my most Akins-devoted friends and family don't rely on protein supplements (though some do a shake or so a day at times). I'm definitely not a fan of protein supplements. Few appeal to me, and frankly, if I'm going to spend 300 calories on protein, it's going to be the tastiest, most appealing protein out there. For me, that means egg white (w/ one yolk) omelettes with a little cheese, tuna burgers, excellent steak (I get the good stuff these days, since I can make it last a heck of a lot farther) and shrimp. I try to stick to lean protein sources, but I must confess, I absolutely love cheese. Anyway, I guess I just want to throw that out there...by all means, up your protein however you want and feel good about it. But, unless your doc or nutritionist counsels you otherwise, be open to any lean protein source out there -- food or supplement. Perservering through the plateaus can be a pain, but isn't it rewarding to see the scale move so quickly over a few days when the plateau finally breaks? Good luck jumpstarting things! Jen.