"Plateau" or "Stall"----I hate them all

Hello September people, I've gone from 370 to 250. And now I have stopped. Never in all my long food history have I EVER stayed at the same weight for a month. It was always either a diet or a binge. Well it's time to stop fighting this myself and ask those who are fighting right along with me. Beating myself up is not really considered exercise. Which brings me to the real issues. So far I have not needed to exercise. Okay that's over now. And the water has to increase ( I have one cup of real coffee a day) past 60 oz. And is anybody/everybody eating carbs? I don't mean orange juice with the protein powder, I mean maybe toast in the AM or popcorn at night? ........What were those rules again? -Ruth 370/250/150

Sometimes what we don't WANT to hear is exactly what we NEED to hear- thanks for reminding me---- Victoria 350/219/160

Hi, I stopped at 260, and I'm getting totally bummed about it. I bounce up and down 5-6 pounds. So i guess I'm going to doing straight shakes and water, and eat turkey and cheese for a while. Grace

Ruth, Congrats on the 120 lbs. I think you have some of the issues nailed. We all need to exercise. I walk 3-5 miles every day. I try to get in at least 80 oz of SF-decaffinated liquid a day. Remember if you drink 8 oz of leaded coffee, you need to drink an additional 16 oz of liquid to compensate for the effects of the caffiene. I had stopped my protein drinks for awhile (had to have a revision in April and suddenly didn't like the flavor of them anymore) and did experience a stall. I am back to drinking them (2 scoops for ~45 g) and the scales are moving down again. I heard it said that the secret is PEW: Protein, Exercise, Water. If you stall, increase at least one of those. Bread and popcorn are not on my allowable list until well after 1 year...now it's 1 yr from the revision. Other carbs such as potatoes are allowed in 1 oz quantities 1 meal a day (for me). Rice and pasta aren't allowed yet at all for me (but would have been had it not been for the revision). I was told by my surgeon that the lower the carb intake, the quicker I'd lose. My weakness is saltines. They are allowable for me and I love them! Good luck! Sherri 344/210/140

Ruth, The more I exercise the more I lose. When I slow up on my walking, I stop losing. I also drink one cup of real coffee every day. I get my 3 protein shakes a day, but I don't get enough water in. I hate drinking water. I don't eat any bread or popcorn, but I do eat a little grits in the morning. Good luck! Lynn J., lap RNY 9/29/04 -123 lbs.