Wish I knew what was going on!

I am so totally discouraged! Are any of the rest of you 7 month-ers at a complete standstill....or worse, gaining?! My 7 month anniversary was July 18 and I was at -105. Today, I'm at -102....where I have been for days. A few days before my anniversary, I was actually at -107 so I'm a FULL 5 POUNDS heavier than I was a couple weeks ago and it is NOT budging. I also had a very small loss for the 7th month to begin with...only 8 lbs. and now 2 of them are back so I'm at a net loss of 6 lbs from month 6 to 7......and going nowhere fast as I head toward my 8th month! Is anyone else going through this?! Jenni

Hi, Jenni. I'm sorry that you are getting so frustrated. It's so hard when the scale starts doing it's Marqui de Sade imitation. I usually respond to that kind of behavior by locking him in a closet and not weighing myself for a week. Fortunately for me, I can't say that I've been having trouble losing this month. I am currently down 7 pounds since my seven month anniversary on the 18th. (And I had to re-lose the 11 I gained in the hospital last week.) I really shook things up this month with the fracture and surgery, so my poor body doesn't know what to expect next. I did only lose 4 1/2 pounds the previous month, but I'm pretty ok with that number, too. I have been an overall slower loser. I'm only down 83 pounds from my pre-op weight, 115 from my high, and still have about 30 to lose. In addition to Mark's wonderful advice, remember that muscle is heavy. As you work out and gain muscle, you may just be putting on a lot of good muscle lately. That's OK, heck, that's GREAT! It just doesn't look good on the scale (but it does look cute in clothes). So...how do you feel? Are you more active, healthy, enjoying the things you haven't been able to do in years? Keep up that good work, and please don't let a number on a machine tell you how to feel about yourself. You are terrific, Jenni, and all of us here know that. Deb

Everyone gives good advice!!!! I need it too. I am right there with ya. I only lost 7 in my last month and I was finally down 4 more and nope... the four are back plus 1!!!! Yes it is frustrating. This is the second time I have gone so far back up. I just TRY to tell myself it will pass and that I am NOT done losing. I also take advice from when I was whining before and I try and do just one day carb free... or I go back to fitday for a while. I don't have any words of wisdom other than just keep on keepin on and soon you will updating your next loss Shawna

How's that chronic pain of yours? Any relief or help?

It isn't as chronic as it had been, which I can only take to mean that whatever the problem is, is improving. I am working on eating slower and less and will go in if it is intolerable again. I am just hoping I will continue on the upward swing

Hi there Jenni, How are you? You are not alone in this weight loss journey and the standstills that come with it. I am a carb addict so I know what is hindering me. I started on this journey at 245 lbs and now I weigh 149 lbs -96 pds. I can't get to the CENTURY CLUB. I feel like I am in the delivery room having a baby and it just won't happen. . We have no other choice but to be patient. The only thing that makes me feel great is knowing I am at Goal. I think the scale is such an evil thing. I am so obsessed with it. I am thinking of throwing that thing away. I just paid so much for it my daughter will be angry if she can't weigh herself. Let's try for a better month. to all the good work we have done so far...... Lorraine

Dear Jenni, I have been a slow loser since the very beginning and I try very hard not to be discouraged. MOST of the time, it works. I try to keep my mind off of it and plan what I am going to eat for the day. I wouldn't worry about it unless you KNOW you are doing something wrong. I know when I do. I try to focus on the fact that I eat healthy now. Usually, I walk one day, then every other day I do a weight and floor exercise. I read about "Walk away the pounds" on the website and thought I would try it...figured it would be great for the winter! I did the 3 mile tape right away 'cause I figured I was already in shape. HA! The next day I felt like someone had taken a baseball bat to my body. It is still making me laugh thinking about it. The point to this story is that it helped me to have a new exercise tape to do and I am thinking about trying some others, so that it adds a fun new way to exercise and I think about that instead of how much weight I didn't lose. The usual advice I read on the website is up your protein and water and most people see weight loss.

I was 6 weeks gaining and loosing the same 4 pounds, and then, BOOM, off they came, with 2 and a half more, bringing me to date, to 197.5. I didn't do any thing different, and it just started moving on its own. Be patient. Plateaus are normal, especially as we get further and further out.

Hi, Nona, What's that saying...oh, yeah... "Lord give me patience, and give it to me NOW!" Deb

I heard it as Dear Lord, grant me patience, BUT HURRY!! I had none during the 6 weeks. I was a bear, but I know the clothes were getting looser, from a size 18 jean now to a 16, which is getting loose, and a medium in a stretch. Nona